Free aviation e-book
Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:49 pm
There comes a time in every creative endeavor when you begin to question your sanity for having embarked on it in the first place. I have reached that point with a book I have written. I am not at all sure if there is really a market for what I have created, and I have run up against some technical obstacles to publishing it that will require some ruthless editing, anyway, so I feel it is time to re-evaluate. I'm exploring several options, and I would love some WIXer feedback on it, since I consider those of you here (or your kids) to be my target audience.
Therefore, I am offering you all a chance to download a copy of my book in its current state for free. You can find it at http://www.fritzthefox.com/ww2book_ver2_e-version.pdf
I had hoped to write a book both kids and adults could enjoy, but I am unsure if I have done this, or if I should even be aiming at so broad an audience. I am also in a position where I simply must lower the file size so that Amazon's POD service will let me upload it, and nothing short of a major edit will do it. Therefore, I'm considering the following:
1) Giving up. I know that sounds terrible, but I've spent well over a year on this thing and I am beginning to wonder if I'm not simply wasting my time making something no one wants. It's hard to know exactly when healthy persistence has become blind obsession. You tell me.
2) Re-writing the book for a younger audience. My best guess is that the current book is about the 12th grade reading level. It is heavily illustrated on every page (hence my file size issue), which I think gives it appeal for younger readers, too. I like the idea of a book kids can grow into, and adults find entertaining. But it could be I'm simply over-reaching and need to narrow my sights a bit. What do you think?
4) Splitting the book into two shorter books, one a visual guide to WW2 planes, and the other a history of WW2 air combat. Both could be fleshed out a bit, and perhaps one or both could use a rewrite to make them more accessible for younger readers.
5) Going even further with the illustrations to create a sort of graphic novel or cartoon history of WW2 airplanes. A formidable endeavor, time wise, but possibly more marketable.
6) I'm open to suggestions. What do you think? Would you buy it for your child? Would you buy it for you? Would you buy it at all? Still needs work or just a decent burial?
Be honest. I've done creative work too long to take things personally...
Therefore, I am offering you all a chance to download a copy of my book in its current state for free. You can find it at http://www.fritzthefox.com/ww2book_ver2_e-version.pdf
I had hoped to write a book both kids and adults could enjoy, but I am unsure if I have done this, or if I should even be aiming at so broad an audience. I am also in a position where I simply must lower the file size so that Amazon's POD service will let me upload it, and nothing short of a major edit will do it. Therefore, I'm considering the following:
1) Giving up. I know that sounds terrible, but I've spent well over a year on this thing and I am beginning to wonder if I'm not simply wasting my time making something no one wants. It's hard to know exactly when healthy persistence has become blind obsession. You tell me.
2) Re-writing the book for a younger audience. My best guess is that the current book is about the 12th grade reading level. It is heavily illustrated on every page (hence my file size issue), which I think gives it appeal for younger readers, too. I like the idea of a book kids can grow into, and adults find entertaining. But it could be I'm simply over-reaching and need to narrow my sights a bit. What do you think?
4) Splitting the book into two shorter books, one a visual guide to WW2 planes, and the other a history of WW2 air combat. Both could be fleshed out a bit, and perhaps one or both could use a rewrite to make them more accessible for younger readers.
5) Going even further with the illustrations to create a sort of graphic novel or cartoon history of WW2 airplanes. A formidable endeavor, time wise, but possibly more marketable.
6) I'm open to suggestions. What do you think? Would you buy it for your child? Would you buy it for you? Would you buy it at all? Still needs work or just a decent burial?
Be honest. I've done creative work too long to take things personally...
nice book.
Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:38 pm
I am about to leave work and happened to take a quick look at your book.
At first glance it looks very nice! I will review later on this evening.
The images are quite good, and most pages catch your eye.
Age/reading level aside; is this a book for those who love warbirds, or to introduce them to warbirds/WW2 topics?
Introduction book would be more graphical...(bullet trivia facts...like the color pink on British aircraft "how and why") less wording.
Current interest in Warbirds: At first glance this may work for casual reading.
I have a daughter about 7. I am in the process of introducing her to aircraft at different air shows.
A cartoon history may have some appeal and I would purchase that for her.
Very nice overall... I will look at it some more tonight.
Best Regards,
At first glance it looks very nice! I will review later on this evening.
The images are quite good, and most pages catch your eye.
Age/reading level aside; is this a book for those who love warbirds, or to introduce them to warbirds/WW2 topics?
Introduction book would be more graphical...(bullet trivia facts...like the color pink on British aircraft "how and why") less wording.
Current interest in Warbirds: At first glance this may work for casual reading.
I have a daughter about 7. I am in the process of introducing her to aircraft at different air shows.
A cartoon history may have some appeal and I would purchase that for her.
Very nice overall... I will look at it some more tonight.
Best Regards,
Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:52 am
Quite interesting- I looked through the whole thing, and may send a copy to a friend who works in a High School library, to get his input- if you don't mind.
Robbie
Robbie
Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:11 am
Feel free. Any input is welcome...
Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:26 pm
It looks pretty neat. It strikes me as more 12-14 year old rather than (12th grade) 17-18. I think it's pretty cool, and I like the lighthearted commentary that pops up here and there. Like the Ploesti B-24 pic that says "this pic is in every single book about WWII"
You know you are going to get some details comments from WIXers, but I am pretty sure that is why you are asking for input...
In the USAAF logos, you left out the yellow banded national insignia. And for post-war, I would include 1947 and USAF separates from the US Army.
It's a book about WWII, right? I see some post war aircraft depicted in photography and illustrations, particularly the post war T-6 (actually an SNJ in postwar Navy markings.) and again with a photo of a USAF T-6. I would find some other pics that are definitely WWII T-6 and SNJ.
The production numbers on the B-24... I think it needs some clarification. You have 6000 listed which I assume is the number of the B-24J (willow run total)? Does it matter how many came from the one plant? It should be 18,000 produced.
Your speed ceiling charts: Are they all to scale throughout the book? It doesn't look like it. I think they should all be in scale to each plane in chart, and then each plane to every other plane. I first noticed it with the B-24 and the Me-109. So now I question, is any of it in the proper scale? I think that is important, based on this style of layout. The Dauntless looks the same size as the Dakota.
You know you are going to get some details comments from WIXers, but I am pretty sure that is why you are asking for input...
In the USAAF logos, you left out the yellow banded national insignia. And for post-war, I would include 1947 and USAF separates from the US Army.
It's a book about WWII, right? I see some post war aircraft depicted in photography and illustrations, particularly the post war T-6 (actually an SNJ in postwar Navy markings.) and again with a photo of a USAF T-6. I would find some other pics that are definitely WWII T-6 and SNJ.
The production numbers on the B-24... I think it needs some clarification. You have 6000 listed which I assume is the number of the B-24J (willow run total)? Does it matter how many came from the one plant? It should be 18,000 produced.
Your speed ceiling charts: Are they all to scale throughout the book? It doesn't look like it. I think they should all be in scale to each plane in chart, and then each plane to every other plane. I first noticed it with the B-24 and the Me-109. So now I question, is any of it in the proper scale? I think that is important, based on this style of layout. The Dauntless looks the same size as the Dakota.
Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:03 pm
Yes, the way the production run charts are supposed to be read is that the total number of aircraft are represented in silhouette, with the number of aircraft of the model illustrated shown in color (x1000). I don't think it is as clear as it could be, but if there is any confusion, I'm hoping they'll just read the total number of silhouettes and still be right.
I couldn't always make the profiles themselves to scale in the charts for design reasons (I had aircraft overlapping each other). Making the plane profiles to scale would mean that most pages would have teeny planes on them, in order to fit big planes like the B-29. Perhaps I could add a figure for scale, though...that might be a good idea.
Thanks for observations about Texan and markings, I will give that a closer look.
Good feedback!
I couldn't always make the profiles themselves to scale in the charts for design reasons (I had aircraft overlapping each other). Making the plane profiles to scale would mean that most pages would have teeny planes on them, in order to fit big planes like the B-29. Perhaps I could add a figure for scale, though...that might be a good idea.
Thanks for observations about Texan and markings, I will give that a closer look.
Good feedback!
Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:37 am
fritzthefox wrote:Yes, the way the production run charts are supposed to be read is that the total number of aircraft are represented in silhouette, with the number of aircraft of the model illustrated shown in color (x1000). I don't think it is as clear as it could be, but if there is any confusion, I'm hoping they'll just read the total number of silhouettes and still be right.
Yeah, I didn't catch that at all.
Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:49 am
Very nice - I like it! My sons, I'm sure, will enjoy the book when they're a little older. A few minutes going through the pages puts the book in the 7th - 10th grade range, IMHO.
Nice mix of illustrations + actual photos. Good detail on the markings, etc.
Aside from a good, nearly professional-level edit if you REALLY want to pare it down some, I'd hate to see any of it go ... but that's just me.
Kinko's may be an option - bring them a file and see how much it would cost to print 100 copies or so on quality stock. I'm in for one if you go to press. There are other avenues, but if it were me I'd prefer to self-publish like that and sell 'em out of the house on my site and eBay, etc. Heck with the middle man ...
Congrats! Good job.
Wade
Nice mix of illustrations + actual photos. Good detail on the markings, etc.
Aside from a good, nearly professional-level edit if you REALLY want to pare it down some, I'd hate to see any of it go ... but that's just me.
Kinko's may be an option - bring them a file and see how much it would cost to print 100 copies or so on quality stock. I'm in for one if you go to press. There are other avenues, but if it were me I'd prefer to self-publish like that and sell 'em out of the house on my site and eBay, etc. Heck with the middle man ...
Congrats! Good job.
Wade