Becoming a first time author

The fun of being a first time author

 

Over the years I have written a number of articles for magazines and newspapers on subjects ranging from the West Mersea oyster industry and the repair of antique clocks to a monthly column on various veterinary subjects in the county newspaper. I am a retired veterinary surgeon.

 

I have even written three novels which, although enjoyed by family and friends, have proved to be insufficient to interest the publishing industry.

 

Persistence has eventually paid off and my first book is to be published by John Wiley & Sons in the middle of next month. (October 2008). Entitled “Computing for the older and wiser – Get up and running on your home PC” it is a manual aimed at the mature generation who are seeking ways to join the Internet revolution. I have taken great pains to avoid all jargon, acronyms and general ‘computerspeak’ and tried to explain how much fun the older generation can have ‘surfing the Net’. It is already featured on many Internet booksellers sites and more detailed information can be found on the Amazon website at http://tinyurl.com/6rrk77 .

 

The whole venture started some four years ago when I did some market research on the Web and in the local library and found that there were very few intelligent and light-hearted manuals designed for the Third Age. I thought I had found my niche but then I was approached by our local historian to write a book on the history of the village. This took two years and subsequent research into the computer manual market proved that I had been right and that there were now more than fifty books aimed at “my” market.

 

Undeterred I continued my research and realised that there was still a market for the type of book I had in mind. By this time I had already written about 40,000 words and collected over 150 screenshots so I put together a book proposal. There are a number of publishers that came to mind but the market leader in this field appeared to be John Wiley so, without much expectation, I sent the proposal off to them with the obligatory stamped address envelope. Three weeks passed before my envelope returned to me in the post with a thin sheet of paper enclosed. I have received enough rejection letters to realise what were the likely contents.

 

You can imagine my delighted surprise when the commissioning editor said that they would be interested in seeing more of the book. So, it was back to the keyboard and I started to refine the text. I sent in the first three chapters and they were even more interested. This was all about 15 months ago and since then I have notated the screenshots, submitted the full text, received two advance payments, been in endless emails with a delightful copy editor until the final document was sent off to India for typesetting. Now it is with a company in Italy who are printing the book ready for publication next month with a first print run of 10,000 copies.

 

That, I thought, would be that. No way! The publishers now want a website to accompany the book with newsletters, more tutorials, blogs and video interviews. They have even expressed an interest in a second book along similar lines so it looks as though I am going to be busy as I pass my 70^th birthday.

 

Robert the Bruce, all those years ago was quite right when he said “If, at first, you don’t succeed – try and try again.”