The saga of the translation of Eusebius Gospel Problems and Solutions continues. I had never realised just how much work it is to get a book to print.
We’ve had our first glitch. An email has arrived from the Coptic translator to the effect that the proof copy does not incorporate a bunch of changes emailed over on 30th August. Looking in my inbox I find a multi-page Word document which I completely overlooked. I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, but that doesn’t make it less frustrating.
More seriously, even that set of corrections only goes to page 8 of the Coptic. Apparently there are more to come for the rest. Sometime.
I’ve emailed requesting the remainder of the corrections. I will start adding the corrections to the PDF tomorrow night. I don’t want to keep sending them to the typesetter in dribs and drabs, so I hope the rest of the corrections come through and we can do this once.
Here’s hoping!
Actually Making a book available is now quite simple. Use http://www.lulu.com/.
You simply upload a PDF. You can include self created cover art, or choose from a simple template of theirs. You then choose the price you want to sell your book for, and THAT’s IT. It is instantly available, over the internet. Anyone can order it, and it will be delivered anywhere in the world (except for like 4 small countries). The books are created on demand, so you don’t cut down trees for books that people will never buy, and if you find you need to make a adjustment, you simply update the PDF file, and the next copy goes out with the correction.
So actually bringing a book to print is no longer difficult. I have actually published and ordered books in a single night.
Cheers! RichGriese@gmail.com
Roger,
Sorry to hear about this, but no problem. Just send along the corrections when you have them all. My perspective is that it is better to discover this now rather than a month (or even a year) after the book has been published.
Cheers,
Bob
Hi Bob,
That’s very kind of you. I think this is all clearly going to take a while, and we may as well all relax. The book will be ready when it is ready. I’ll send them over in one go when I have them all. But that will probably be 2-3 weeks away at least, from past experience.
All the best,
Roger
Hi Rich,
I’m using Lulu to produce some proof copies for the book, in fact. The quality of paper and print and binding isn’t really good enough for professional purposes, but it’s more than adequate for most of our needs.
There was one series of books where vol.1 was out of print. I borrowed a copy, scanned it, created a Lulu version (for private access only) and filled the gap that way.
Their interface doesn’t seem to work with IE8 (!) and isn’t as good as it was, in my opinion. But the service is splendid and the books arrived in 2-3 days, which was pretty good!
All the best,
Roger
Hey Roger,
Your comment about Lulu not being adequate for “professional” purposes got me thinking, and I asked the Lulu folks for a bit more information. As I mentioned, I have created an ordered physical copies of a number of Lulu books. I have found the paper and print quality as good as books I buy in the stores. And I used to work for a print shop for a while in a pervious live, so I am somewhat in tuned to things like paper quality, and print methods, and compared the products I created to some standard books, and found no differences. Per the Lulu response, it seems that Lulu production actually uses the same print mechanisms that “regular” books use. So it got me wondering what type of requirements you and others in the NT field face. Aside from my interest in NT studies, I am also a retired computer nerd, and am very interested in understanding how people are or will make the change from techniques they have used BEFORE the internet revolution, and after it.
NT journals and publications, and scholarly ones in general are an interesting study. It seems to me that many of the institutions and procedures used in these industry, were creating a “network” itself. Meaning, they provided a mechanism that NT scholars all over the world would stay in touch with each other, and share work, by joining certain organizations, and subscribing to journals from those organizations that would publish, distribute, and keep the members up to date with advances in each of the industries. Some of these procedures, no longer are necessary, since now any two people, or groups of people can share information almost instantaneously. So while some of the mechanisms of the current institutions may no longer be necessary, others remain. Institutions kind of provide a “screening” mechanism. Or a “royal oky dokey” mechanism, by kind of putting a stamp of approval on what gets distributed by the institution. I am trying to understand in more detail, these two functions, to try to understand where changes and adjustments can be made to take advantage of new technology advances have been discovered since some of these institutions came into being.
Do you have any kind of “requirnments” specification that you have to deal with when you create a professional book in your field, ie specific paper type, and font usage that must be adhered to? If so, could you send me a copy of or a pointer to that kind of thing.
Below is a copy of the response that the Lulu folks sent me to my inquiry. It seems to me that some in the industry will latch on to using the new technologies available, and some will resist advances. But if you happen to be one looking to jump on to the advances, that response includes an email to someone directly in Lulu that might be of value to you.
Cheers! RichGriese@gmail.com
From: AJ McDonald
Date: October 22, 2010 2:43:28 PM EDT
To: RichGriese@gmail.com
Subject: Your Lulu Blog Comment
Hello Rich,
Thank you for your recent comment on the Lulu blog and for your interest in our company.
I cannot express how wrong your scholar friend is. But am happy to dispel the misconception.
Many people are surprised to learn that we don’t actually do any of the printing here at Lulu. We actually utilize print vendors that are regionally located all over the world to ensure quick delivery times and the best quality product. Many of these vendors are the same print vendors that traditional publishers use.
Further, Lulu is proud to operate one of the world’s largest distribution channels. We are one of only 7 companies allowed to distribute to Apple’s iBookstore, and we regularly sell Lulu books in brick and mortar stores such as Barnes and Noble.
A potential reader would not be able to tell the difference between a Lulu book and a traditionally published book if the two were sitting side by side on the shelf together. You may have even picked up a Lulu book before without realizing it.
Further, we actually print and produce many of the same traditionally published best sellers one would find anywhere else like the Harry Potter series, Dan Brown, etc.
Some traditional publishers, like McGraw-Hill are even partnered with us so they can print their back catalogues on demand.
I’m glad you reached out, and I hope this clarifies things for your colleague. Thank you for the recommendation and please let us know if we can help in any other way.
Lulu Enterprises, Inc.
Hi Rich,
The Lulu chap you quote asserts, “A potential reader would not be able to tell the difference between a Lulu book and a traditionally published book if the two were sitting side by side on the shelf together.”
Unfortunately this is not the case, in my experience. You see, I have rather a lot of books on my shelves. I have quite a few Lulu books, mostly reprints of older literature. I can tell the difference immediately. The curly paper covers give you an instant clue, to go no further!
I’m hoping Lightning Source will be better. But they are far harder to deal with, and can’t be used just to generate ad-hoc volumes. That’s why I use Lulu, and why I will continue to do so.
All the best,
Roger Pearse