Tag: Eusebius

A long email from the translator about some issues with the Latin text.  One problem is that we are reprinting three different bits of Latin — one from a modern edition, with “young man” given as “iuuenis”, another from a 19th century edition where it is “iuvenis”, and another from a 16th century volume where it is also “iuvenis”.  The latter two are much smaller in length.  What do we do?

What I have decided to do is reprint the edition and not harmonise them.  There’s also other work on the Latin that needs doing, where we switched edition after the translation was complete.

I’m still feeling rather under the weather, but thankfully the translator is willing to take on some editorial duties and look after it. 

I’ve also started thinking about the cover again.  For the hardback the author and title, followed by a circular logo for the publisher, all in gold and on dark cloth, would seem possible.  If it works for Brepols it should work for me.  I’ve got together some examples, and I will send these over to a graphic design company.

The contracts to print the book have now been signed with Lightning Source.  So we are getting very close indeed here!

My new job is going well, so I must start chasing up projects like Philip of Side and the Origen book. 

It’s not been possible to do anything interesting this week.  It’s hard to think of anything else when you’re up early and back late.  But I will get back to ancient world stuff soon.

I’m thinking about cover designs for the Eusebius book, and indeed asking for suggestions on how it should look. 

One element that will be required is some form of company logo.  I’ve put out an enquiry with a graphic design firm.  If they do a good job, I’ll get them to do a sales website as well.

Lightning Source, who will be printing the book, continue to be a pain to deal with.  I’ve now received from them a formal contract to sign.  It looks as if you have to be incorporated to do business (which, fortunately, I am).  The materials from them that I am supposed to read now total over 100 pages.  Fortunately I read contracts regularly, as part of my secret identity as a latter-day Bruce Wayne (!), so these should present no problems.

Still no news from Les editions du Cerf on whether they are happy with what I have done with their Greek text.  I shall have to enquire whether anyone else at the firm can assist me.  I’ve just been too busy to bother.  Maybe next week!

I’ve been told that the people to print the books that I have commissioned are Lightning Source.  They have printers in the US and UK, and access through Amazon.  The quality of the job is apparently rather better than Lulu.com.

But they do seem rather difficult to deal with.  First they won’t give you any kind of information up front.  At the moment I have no idea what they will charge for what I want.

Secondly they demand that you “apply” for an “account”, and they say, rather snootily, that they will review your “application” and deal with it within a couple of days.   It’s an online form, and a bit over the top but liveable w ith. 

But why the delay, the manual “review”?  This I do not get.  Now remember that these people are a business selling a service.  Just imagine if Amazon took that sort of line!  It’s unthinkably bad customer service.  It discourages business, puts off the punter, and so on.  All I want of these people, remember, is some printing.  Why the third degree?

But there is worse.  I filled in those forms this morning.  This afternoon I get an email, which makes a whole series of further demands for information, with no indication given as to why they need to know all this.  Here it is:

Dear Roger
We notice that you have started to register for an account with Lightning Source and would like to ascertain your requirements.
You have populated the first part of our application for an account, but our application process is two-fold.  Before we can open your account, we need to ask the following questions:
1.   How many titles do you plan to print with Lightning Source over the next 12 months?
2.   Do you own the rights to the title(s)?
3.   Have your titles been printed/published by any company other than your own?  If yes, by whom?
4.   In what format do you plan to submit your titles for printing?  (i.e. physical books for scanning or files?  If files, what type?  Are you familiar with creating pdf file?
5.   Have you read and understood the File Creation link on our website covering Digital File Submission Standards, Cover Template Generator etc?
6.   Have you previously spoken to a sales representative at Lightning Source?  If so, with whom?
7.  All publishers are required to administer their own web accounts independently of any intervention by Lightning Source.  Do you agree to work with Lightning Source on this basis?
Thank you.
Best Regards
 
Georgina Walpole
 
Content Acquisition Sales Representative,
Lightning Source UK Ltd., Chapter House, Pitfield, Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, MK11 3LW, UK

What the heck is that!?!  I’ve written back with answers, but remarked on how this is a lot of information to ask of someone trying to give them money.  They sound as if I might get a telephone call — I’ve asked them not to.

All in all it’s a rather nasty experience, as an introduction to someone selling you a service.   And “content acquisition”?  I’m not selling them my content!