Mussels are Big

I'm amazed at the good start that Al Spoo's Pearly Mussels of Pennsylvania has had. Particularly as it's not a cheap book. Besides having a wide local readership, though, (Al does the nature column for the Lititz paper), I guess freshwater mussels are fairly important conservation-wise, so he's gotten lots of orders from state and federal employees (F&W, USGS, etc.). Will be interesting to watch how it does in the long run. He's gotten some nice compliments for the artwork. Al's next project is a compilation (or two) of his newspaper column, and then maybe we'll look at some other overlooked species in PA. Maybe snails...

Archaeology and False Antiquities

Sent to the printer...

Bog-Trotting for Orchids

Sent to the printer...

Online Archives

One of the staple sources for historical research, NewspaperArchive.com, is down due to extensive flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They'll be back up after the emergency is over.

I also ran across a new historical newspaper database, and have found it quite useful: found about 70 more "historical bigfoot" articles, and hundreds more in other crypto categories. Not sure if it will be enough for a volume 2 to the first Historical Bigfoot, but might work as an appendix in my planned sequel, Classic Bigfoot...

Current News

Assuming no major problems, I'll have two books finished by end of next week: Bog-trotting for Orchids and Archaeology and False Antiquities. I haven't decided whether to go ahead and send them to the printer or hold off.

I really need to go ahead and try and finish up the first volume of Varmints, which will deal with the mystery felines of North America. That'll probably take a month or two.

POD's Big Jump

PW is noting that while there was a 1% increase in traditional book publishing in 2007, there was a 39% increase in POD, short run, and other titles. I suspect that trend will continue in 2008.

I'm not sure, though, that traditional publishers really "get" what's going on here. Here's a quote from an associate publisher for editorial at a traditional Christian publisher, InterVarsity Press:

"On the one hand, obviously, it makes it easier for authors to get their books in print on their own or through a publisher that specializes in print-on-demand books. On the other hand, it increases the competition and makes it more difficult for any particular book to get noticed and have significant sales."

This may be true for generic titles or perhaps fiction, but it's not that difficult for a specialty title in a well-defined niche to be marketed effectively. "Significant" sales for a POD book is different from a traditionally published book. My first cryptozoology title, for example, has done better for me than it would ever have done with a traditional publisher, even if it sold there in greater numbers. There are so many niches where competition is lacking, that a publisher just needs to find an author who can produce quality work in that area. (Of course, that's a problem for both traditionals and PODs.)