For All the Aviation History Nuts

[Durandal]

So, on Labor Day, my girlfriend and I went to go visit her parents and do some fishing on Lake Erie.

Out of the blue back at the lake house her father busts out this binder of writing he has been doing. Now, I spent a great deal of time in the publishing industry and I and two of my family members have a number of books in publish. Its a solid piece of work.

Its all about his Aun't husband in the 1920s and his stint in the Air Corps from training to commission to his death in a airplane crash in the 30s. Tons of old photos and every single letter this guy wrote home to his wife.

The cool thing is, my girlfriend's father is also a former Airforce pilot starting off in F-86s and F-100s and retiring as a C-130 pilot and base commander.

So lots of neat down to earth passion involved here.

So I read through the "book" he has and I think with a little editing and proper layout I can self publish the thing for him either in hard cash and getting a bulk run printed or through more a vanity print on demand style program easy attainable these days.

It would be more of a hobby project since I am farming and have gotten out of the illustration and layout business and the goal would not to make money so much as get the share the story and provide another tid-bit of American Aviation History with the world.

What do you guys think?

[Catch22]

Well Durandal, I'm in the publishing industry as well for some years now, if that entitles me to having an opinion. Idea sounds nice, it can turn quite ambitious as for a hobby project. I've read some polish stuff on post I WW aviation and they were good but sadly lacked quality ilustrations (if there were any). Even if my image of US aviation in this mid-war era is mostly formed by some Faulkner's prose and several documentaries it sounds like a interesting project for the enthusiasts. I understand that your relatives story can portray whole period of air shows, aviatation heroes and the like - so if you can keep vague balance between personal tale and history book it may even become interesting for wider audience, not only fans. And if you can provide both lots of unique photos, quality drawings (I think I remember your gun illustrations for some d20, or was it someones else?) then you'll get a great book.

So what is a basic editorial idea for this book? What format are you planing? I'd like to get not just a portrait of one person but - if that's possible, a larger picuture.

Keep us updated on how this project goes Durandal. Good luck.

[California Joe]

I think it's a great idea pal. And if you need a decent cover illustration let me know. Can't have some hack farmer doing it. p-)

[digrar]

I've read a few letter based family war histories and they have always been good value. I imagine it will be great story and I hope you can get it off the ground.

[James]

DOes he just want to tell this story or do more with writing? I ask because I myself have been looking for an agent to publish a novel I've written. Everything I've read about the subject says that if one wants to make a career of writing, representation and old fashioned publishing is the way to go.

Either way, I'd say go for it and good luck.

[Red]

I think it is a good idea Durandal.Go for it.

[Flagg]

I'll throw in with a Hell Yeah!

My suggestions would be:

Go as heavy on photos as possible., with a look/feeling of the reader being able to have the source material in his/her hand.

Almost like a cross between a biography and a coffee table photo album.

As far as target audience goes, look no further than a world-class magazine rack(aviation section).

Aviation magazine quite often review a couple of books per month. Something like that would be right up their alley. Not HUGE volume......but I could imagine thousands of copies.

Never before seen private collection photos of aircraft and the lives/lifestyle surrounding them is what aviation buffs would kill for.

Every kid with a sense of adventure grows up wanting to be a pilot at some stage.

Also, Amazon.com had a program while I was working for them for low volume self-publishing.......if you're looking for another possible marketing venue.

[Durandal]

Thanks for the input people!

Also, Amazon.com had a program while I was working for them for low volume self-publishing.......if you're looking for another possible marketing venue.

Yeah, I worked with that. Sold about 3000 books. Not a bad program actually.

[XASA]

Sounds like a great idea and if the pictures are original prints owned by the family, sounds like a money maker, too.

I was a published hack magazine writer, critic and author for several years before being seduced by a steady paycheck from corporate America. All you need is a sample chapter, an outline and photographs to get someone's attention in publishing. Life can be so much easier, though, if you got an agent.

[Creeper]

Yes, no question - I spent 4 yrs @ Edwards AFB, saw/read/eard about all types of a/c, always room for more-especially from te perspective of te men wo flew tem,

[Michael RVR]

Sounds like a great idea, which in theory he could follow on with his own stories / photos / etc.

Go for it. :)

[Herrmannek]

I voted that I would not probaly buy it nor read it. I'm not of the aviation nut so I don't go and look for such books, but I have few(~2) roughly simmiliar books in my posession(one bought in museum)about some ridiculous Polish aviation inventions and their designers, and one about Polish wwII fighter plane along with the some pilots stories(was in the house already), and they arent bad :). I think Pictures are the secreet. More of them and detailed description will make people want read the book...