Homesteading Book Question (Pic Included)
 

I have a question for anyone here who is published, or knows about publishing, etc.

My grandmother (no longer living) kept diaries and wrote every day. My grandparents were cattle ranchers first in Jackson WY (1929-1944), then in Gunnison, CO (1944-1964), then a small retirement ranch in Salida, CO (1964 till Grandfather passed in 1982).

I have been putting the diaries together in books for the family along with many old photos. These are done with the diary entries word for word. I keep thinking a lot of the material could be condensed into a great book. They provided nearly all their own food: Hereford cattle, they both hunted (Grandma was a crack shot), fished, butchered their meat, raised a garden, canned, kept a few milk cows (made all their own dairy products and sold cream to the local creamery). I also have a collection of her handwritten recipies including cheeses, soap, etc.

They used what they had, made do without, and didn't run to town for just one or two things. They worked hard, sunup to sundown (often longer), calving, haying, branding, ect. The daily entries through the Depression years are very interesting. The winters were brutal, lots of deep snow and cold. They saved and reused everything they could. Later in life, when they were quite well off, they lived very frugally.

I have lots of great pics of them working the cattle, haying (great pics of grandmother driving the teams), hunting, etc.

There are also some interesting family members that are mentioned often (and pics), great-grandfather was the first sheriff of Teton County, WY. Grandmother's brother is a former Governor and Senator of WY.

Below is a pic Granddad "ridin the double trees", taking the team back to the corral after feeding cattle. Just a sample of the many, many pics I have.

Do you think I have a possible book? I don't know anything about publishing, publishers, agents, etc, etc. Thanks for any thoughts, opinions.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13...oubletrees.jpg

Chalk,

I have no idea how you would go about this, but I would love to buy a copy of you book when it is published.

Now I just shared this thread with my DH and here is what he says:

First off he was your aunt Mary's running mate when she ran for governor in 1990, so he know's your family. He suggested that you contact your cousin Matt and seek his advice. If you would like we can send you a PM with his address.

Since I have been typing this two thoughts have come to mind. The first being to contact the U of W to see if they could give you some guidance. The second thught would be the Wyoming historical society. This is a fatastic piece of history that I would think they would want people to read about.

Good Luck ~ and please keep me posted.

Anne
CGR
:hobbyhors

You definitely have the material for a book. Getting published is difficult, but not impossible. Go to your library in the 800s and you will find all kinds of books on writing and getting published. There is also a book called the Writers Market that is published annually and lists publishers and what they are interested in seeing.

Typically, once you have a finished manuscript to show, you send a query letter accompanied by some excerpts and sample pictures to a publisher and ask him if he would like to see the entire manuscript. If he says yes, then send it off. Some people prefer to get an agent first, but in many cases it is as hard to get an agent as it is to get a publisher.

If you find that publication eludes you, self publishing is very feasible these days. This is where your historical society can be a help in getting it distributed. I would think a lot of people on this forum would be interested in buying a copy... it sounds fascinating.

I'd certainly be interested in buying one!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, sounds like a great potential book! Look around this forum http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/ and check out the posts about nonfiction publishing. Make sure you look at the posts relating to scam publishers and agents too so you know what to avoid. Then as has been suggested, go to the library and find a copy of the 2007 Writer's Market and you should be able to find a few publishers to send your nonfiction book proposal. Speaking of proposals, I've found this book to be very helpful in developing them: "Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write" ISBN 039952827x. It should also be at your library, if it isn't you can have it sent to your local branch via interlibrary loan.

Also, you may consider publishing excerpts of the journal in homesteading magazines. I could definitely see a column in Backwoods Home or Countryside featuring bits of the journal. The Writers' Market will also have entries for homesteading type magazines but you can also find their submission guidelines on their website.

If you really don't care about getting paid and you just want to get her story out there you can post her entries on a Blog (you can make some money via adds on the Blog but it isn't a lot). I would try getting it published via traditional methods first. My last word of advice is to avoid the self-publishing houses mentioned on the absolutewrite forums (Publish America is the first to come to mind). If you find all other avenues closed try making an ebook yourself before signing over your rights to your family history to such a company.

At any rate, please let us know what happens. I do hope that you get her story out there; I know I would love to read it!

Sounds like it would be an amazing book! You could definitely add me to the list of buyers!!!

I would love to read their story! :)

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Gives me a place to start.
CGR, I pm'd you.

You might look into this. It's a way of being your own publisher. Cheaper in the long run as you can cut down on publishing costs.

http://www.make-my-own-house.com/pri...equipment.html

Sounds like if you can publish it yourself you would sell quite a few right here. We would also buy a copy. Good luck with the project and let us know how it is coming.
Joanie

I am told that it is very difficult to break into the market. Most new authors must get an agent to "pitch" their work to the big publishing companies, and agents, who work on commission, won't ususally take on a new, untried person.

The best thing for you to do is go to lulu.com and do your own publishing and promotion. There are many people interested in the historical aspects that would be interested, I think. But you are going to have to market it to the right group. Certainly, familiy will be happy to buy it.

Donsgal

PM Haggis and ask him about his experiences with publishing. He may have some insight.

I think your story would be a great read.
It sounds close to what my Grandfather did in Montana and Eastern Washington. He died at the age of 96 some few years back. My grandfather started out at the age of 12 working on a ranch in Montana and worked his way up to ownership from there.
These stories are becoming forgotten and lost these days. You have an absolute treasure there for sure.

Yes
 

There was a small publisher in CO that does CO books and in the local REA magazine they usually have books like that for sale (I've bought some cool ones) and they are usually published locally. I'll check around for the name.

I would certainly buy it..

you might want to go through the Writers Mart and see if there is a publisher that is seeking submissions from new authors in this genre...

another avenue is self publishing and advertising on forums such as this one/your own webpage etc


Good Luck...and do let me know when it is in print. :)

Boy, I would sure buy a copy of that too!! Hope you get it published!

Look at some of the publishers of homesteading books that are out now and contact them. You need to have a finished product to give them so go ahead and type up everything and have ti nice and neat. Check for speling (LOL) commas, proper English, etcetc. Then send them copies of your book. Dont worry about page layout and where the pictures go and such thats what the layout artist is in charge of. Dont be discouraged if there are no takers. And dont go into a print on demand or pay up front process. A pay up front is you basically pay up front to print all the books this can be very expensive and you can be stuck with alot of books. If the story is any good at all they will bare the cost of printing and send you a check when books are sold.
Hope that helps and good luck sounds like you have a winner.

Sounds like wonderful material for a book. A company like Rodale Press, which specializes in self-sufficient material, would be a good place to try. Send out cover letters with your idea and a photograph or two and the first chapter of your book to these publishers. Don't get discouraged if you get rejections before you get published. It takes a long time for most new writers to get published. You can always publish your own book; but the cost of copyrighting the material may be prohibitive for an individual. You need to check that out first. If your material is not copyrighted; there is a good chance someone could pirate it.

Have you considered the "Small Farmers Journal". This is the type of material they want.They might point you in the right direction and I'm pretty sure they would help you sell it. And put me down for a copy when it is published :)

What about going to the historical society in your area? Show them what you have & maybe they can put you in touch with someone...

I don't have any great ideas, but I love books like this and would also love to read it. I am very interested in the personal history of 50 to 100 years ago. :)

Start with the state historical societies in both Wyoming and Colorado, and the state universities. State U's usually have their own publishing divisions, and historical societies have connections for the publication of monographs and memoirs and the like. Also, look for regional publishers who might be interested -- in fact, the best way might be to check the publishers of similar books at your local bookstore or library.

Depending on the publisher, you may or may not need an agent or a completed manuscript. The one I'm working with requires neither, although they want an extensive prospectus and some idea who the market is. Remember that publishers aren't in business to just print good books -- they need to make a profit. The reaction from posters here (you might want to print out a copy of the thread to show the publisher) indicates you have a product that will sell, and the fact that the book would involve two states expands the potential market.

Good luck!

Edited to add: And find an attorney who is familiar with intellectual property rights and contract law.

I think you have a wonderful book in the making there! I would love to have a copy if and when you get it published! The Gunnison area of Colorado is quite possibly my favorite place in the U.S.

Leah

Thanks, everyone. Working on it.

CC,
Please add my name to the future purchasers list. I also love the personal side of history. And thank you for the kick in the backside - I vow to take my journal more seriously.
Marilyn

Try talking to some friends of mine. www.wordwright.biz Steve and Joan are really nice folks, know what they're doing and are often guest speakers at writers conferences. I feel confident that they can point you in the right direction.

You can put me on the list for a copy of your book, also! I'd love to read it, Grandma would love to read it, my mother and step-father would love to read it, my uncle and both my aunts . . . don't know if I can sell that many copies of the book for you, but I'll sure pass my copy around!

We have a book written by my grandfather that we want to get published, too, and I'm going to check out some of the ideas in this thread.

Kathleen

Mennonite Press listed with the company below has a book/booklet on publishing ones own book. It goes into detail about bindings, etc. It can be read through Inter-Library-Loan, or can be purchased. Sometimes they will send it free.

http://www.macraesbluebook.com/searc...company=436692

They do a lot of genealogies and smaller publications as well as full sized books. All I have seen of their work I consider quality.

Q&As: http://www.mennonitepress.com/printf...nd_answers.htm