“The man who claims to have read all of Augustine is a liar”
And, of course, Isidore of Seville is pretty close to right. I haven’t touched the Ennarations on the Psalms, nor about half the other sermons, nor a couple other minor works, but 30-odd other volumes? Not right short, I undertake! Now that I’m all but done with this super-secret press project I’ve been working on for a year and a half now (because of course there won’t be any revisions at all…), it’s time for a few observations:
—All the laws of physics can be explained by appeal to the 12 signs of the Zodiac
Bigbossman’s got a PhD in physics. It sure surprised him to find this out
—When Christ returns to Earth, he’ll be a member of the College of Cardinals
Not the Pope, though. Also, Lutherans beware.
—Not even Jesus can get a book published at our press
So don’t feel too bad that your (actually pretty good) dissertation got rejected.
—Some of our authors really could sell cookbooks based off their name alone
However, when the first recipe is for nightshade casserole with arsenic sauce . . .
—Some people don’t read about our press, and send us original poetry
We have never published original poetry. Ever.
—If you submit really and truly awful poetry to the Press, it will get passed around.
The thought of doing a YouTube video of the Press staff reading it was floated. 10k hits, minimum
—Rejection letters are more fun to write as street poetry/Urban Folk.
I don’t think we actually used it, but here goes:
The (Happiness) Press would like to thank you for the time
And all the work you did in bustin’ out yo’ rhyme
But we read what you sent us, and I simply gotta say
That we just can’t use your masterpiece this day
Peace out,
The Press
A few months ago, Publishing Trendsetter did a series on the life cycle of a book. Not surprisingly, it was focused on trade—since, well, that’s where “everyone” wants to go. The thing is, academic publishing doesn’t always work like trade does. Seeing as Ye Olde Humble Blogge deals with academic publishing, and Ye Olde Humble Authorre works in it, let’s fix that imbalance. Continue reading
Bossman and I are discussing the likely print run specs for an upcoming book. Bigbossman walks in.
BBM: Just the people I needed to see. I need to know who from Tolkien who sounded especially medieval, and isn’t Gandalf?*
BM: Well, there is Aragorn, but everyone kinda talks that way—but he does more than anyone else.
Me: Hmmm . . . are we counting the Silmarilion, Books of Lost Tales, and Lays of Beleriand? There is Turin Turambar, or Beren—oh, and if we’re talking places, can’t forget Osgiliath or Gondolin. . .
(Discussion ensues between Bossman and me, with occasional references to Bossman’s limited edition map of the lands in The Hobbit)
BM: Well, that would be to the southeast of that map. I should have looked this up earlier—I actually made some reference to Theodin with someone earlier, but forgot his name.
BBM: You ever been in Big Bang Theory?
Good to know my geek cred’s still intact.
Credit where credit is due: much of this is based of a spiel from Bigbossman to grad students attracted by the promise of free food and cheap books. By the way, locusts descending on a ripe field have nothing on a bunch of grad students who have heard that there are $3 books. Also, a lot of it I may have discussed already; however, there were a few new things, and some points of discussion worth, well, discussing.
Thanks to my internship, I learned:
—The Gregorian Calendar, not carbon dioxide, is responsible for global warming.
I can’t make this stuff up.
—The most accurate calendar is the 360-day Prophetic calendar, based on the Bible.
Note: the Bible never mentions 360-day calendars. Ever.
—People who are 30 or 40 years old shouldn’t be talking to our kids.
You know, like their parents.
—Drugs, entertainment, and athletics are the three things destroying the youth of America.
Obesity and boredom are just fine, though.
—The Press will almost let you get away with using the French revolutionary date on rejection letters.
I still say 30 Pluviôse CCXX would be the second most awesome date I’ve ever seen on a letter.
—The Bigbossman gets much stranger inquiries than Bossman does.
I think it’s because Bossman only sees stuff from people smart enough to know what “Acquisitions Editor” means.
Intentio Lectoris 