Down to the Wire…

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Added: Mon Mar 24th 11:20am
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 In May of 2006, the almost-final PDF version of the book arrived from Sentient and we began going through it, page by page, making revisions and finding errors.  I was surprised at how some of the rules of grammar had changed from what I had learned in school in the 1950s.  Things that I called errors turned out to be correct today. 

 

Once the editing was done, off it went yet again.  The publisher told me they had decided to add the book to their “Culture Tools Series”, and I was very flattered.  I love the premise of that concept –“Our Culture Tools series is designed to give social catalyzers and cultural entrepreneurs the essential information, technology, and inspiration to forge a sustainable, creative, and compassionate world.”

 

After a computer-delay in sending the revised PDF version back to us, it finally arrived.  Given that delay we needed to drop everything and review it immediately in order to stay on the printing schedule.  Or so I thought.  Turns out there were delays on the printing end too, and the book was shipped on August 10^th instead of July 25^th.  Not too late, I guess. 

 

My first speaking engagement about the book was scheduled for September 14, 2006 at the Bristol public library in New Hampshire.  Then on November 21^st I took part in a workshop being held at the Hartford Convention Center – a statewide conference of Connecticut Parks and Recreation Departments – on the topic of “Therapeutic Recreation for the Baby Boomers.”  Engaging in lifelong learning as an older adult certainly fits this topic.

 

Jon and I have marketing plans for the book, out of the norm, so to speak.  I’ll talk more about them as they become a reality.  Nowadays authors have to be marketers as much as writers if you want your book to be a success.  Gone are the days when you wrote the book and then sat back and collected royalties.  It just doesn’t work that way anymore.  So even though the book is finished, there is a lot more work ahead.

 

One of the best pieces of advice I received about this entire project came from my son-in-law Michael (father of my gorgeous granddaughter).  He said to me, “Just have fun with it!”  Wise words from a very level-headed guy. 

 

And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do, have fun!  Wherever it takes me, the ride is great and I’m following my bliss.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

 

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