A polite request for aviators of a certain age
Mr Grubby:
Many thanks for your encouragement and the offer to put me in touch with your publisher. As you say, it costs a fair bit to publish a few copies. I had an old friend (now departed) who spent around £6,000 having his career (in two books) published. (That covered about a total of 60 books as far as I can remember).
I am lucky to have a copy of both, I am pleased to say.
When I said that I was considering self-publishing I meant that I was toying with the idea of using MS Publisher (or a similar programme) and doing it myself.
The other idea is to put it all on a DVD. At the moment, I favour this idea for it really would be much easier all round. One of the great advantages is that I could incorporate lots of colour photographs and size would not be so much of a problem.
It also means that I can run off copies very easily - as many as I want for the cost of a blank DVD.
Anyway, what I need now is time!
Many thanks for your encouragement and the offer to put me in touch with your publisher. As you say, it costs a fair bit to publish a few copies. I had an old friend (now departed) who spent around £6,000 having his career (in two books) published. (That covered about a total of 60 books as far as I can remember).
I am lucky to have a copy of both, I am pleased to say.
When I said that I was considering self-publishing I meant that I was toying with the idea of using MS Publisher (or a similar programme) and doing it myself.
The other idea is to put it all on a DVD. At the moment, I favour this idea for it really would be much easier all round. One of the great advantages is that I could incorporate lots of colour photographs and size would not be so much of a problem.
It also means that I can run off copies very easily - as many as I want for the cost of a blank DVD.
Anyway, what I need now is time!
Paxing All Over The World
Fortunately, my father DID do this. In his retirement he wrote about his war in night fighters with Serrate and AI, happily it was then published in 1997. (details on request)
The family learnt things about him and the war we had never known and also about his parents. We did known them as they got the chop by a V2, since my paternal grandfather was RFC on SE5a, it would have been grand to have known him.
So - get talking or writing. If you don't know how to distribute it - then your children or grandchildren will!!
The family learnt things about him and the war we had never known and also about his parents. We did known them as they got the chop by a V2, since my paternal grandfather was RFC on SE5a, it would have been grand to have known him.
So - get talking or writing. If you don't know how to distribute it - then your children or grandchildren will!!
This thread hit a spot with me. About three years ago, realising late in life how little I knew about my maternal grandfather, killed in the withdrawal from Le Cateau some two weeks into WWI, I started to write a Memoir, based on my Logbooks, something that one day might mean something to my daughters and granddaughters. I reckoned that it would therefore need a good deal of context to have meaning and significance in years ahead, and that led me down a number of paths - for example, scanning a simple Airplot diagram to help explain the basics of navigation as we learned it in the 60s; explaining what the Transport Command Cat Scheme was; and so on. (Just mentioning these suggests that they are already 'history.')
I also felt I had to mention background political developments - things like Rhodesian UDI and the events attendant upon our withdrawal from Aden, which happened to have a significance in my personal narrative. And what I found was that my memory of dates and chronology was not as sure as I had spent many years thinking - broad detail was fine, but checking things via Google showed that not everything could have happened quite as I had allowed myself to imagine. Just a thought to pass on to others who feel the need to put finger to keyboard.
I left the result of it all on my hard disk and, on looking back at it recently, I now realise that there are bits and pieces that need to be corrected. So, if there is a message anywhere in this, it might be that the sooner you get a first draft written down, the better. Your memory does not improve with the passage of the years!
I also felt I had to mention background political developments - things like Rhodesian UDI and the events attendant upon our withdrawal from Aden, which happened to have a significance in my personal narrative. And what I found was that my memory of dates and chronology was not as sure as I had spent many years thinking - broad detail was fine, but checking things via Google showed that not everything could have happened quite as I had allowed myself to imagine. Just a thought to pass on to others who feel the need to put finger to keyboard.
I left the result of it all on my hard disk and, on looking back at it recently, I now realise that there are bits and pieces that need to be corrected. So, if there is a message anywhere in this, it might be that the sooner you get a first draft written down, the better. Your memory does not improve with the passage of the years!
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I have published a number of books recently through Lulu recently and consider it an option worth considering. Quality is excellent.
Don't be afraid to have a go as there are no up front costs and there is an option to "publsih privately" - ie for the cost of a preview copy you can see what your book might actually look like - and handy for editing and proof reading prior to "going public"
Once public you can still update/amend your master copy so corrections/updates/new info may be easily incorporated.
Lulu provides downloadable templates for appropriate book sizes - "US Trade" could prove a good option.
Colour images possible - but grayscaling or selecting grayscale keeps print costs sensible - quality excellent.
One secret of success is to choose appropriate formatting "styles" for use in Word / Open Office - eg Title 1st Para DropCap paragraph bullets footnotes.... Hint look at a book from your bookshelf - it will help you deceide on style issues. (But remember to stay within your Lulu template rulers)
Lulu also scores well on the aggregators (ie getting books onto Amazon etc) -
Whilst you're at it you may want to publish an Electronic version as well as a physical version. - Amazon now accepts .Epubs so it's now quite simple to get stocked in the iStore and Amazon. Theres an inexpensive Ebook creation software programme called Jutoh - it's very capable.
Also check out the free Ebook reader and conversion software called Calibre.
All the above is for info only - there's any number of approaches to getting into print - but I do agree with the OP that there must be some great books just waiting to be written.
Don't be afraid to have a go as there are no up front costs and there is an option to "publsih privately" - ie for the cost of a preview copy you can see what your book might actually look like - and handy for editing and proof reading prior to "going public"
Once public you can still update/amend your master copy so corrections/updates/new info may be easily incorporated.
Lulu provides downloadable templates for appropriate book sizes - "US Trade" could prove a good option.
Colour images possible - but grayscaling or selecting grayscale keeps print costs sensible - quality excellent.
One secret of success is to choose appropriate formatting "styles" for use in Word / Open Office - eg Title 1st Para DropCap paragraph bullets footnotes.... Hint look at a book from your bookshelf - it will help you deceide on style issues. (But remember to stay within your Lulu template rulers)
Lulu also scores well on the aggregators (ie getting books onto Amazon etc) -
Whilst you're at it you may want to publish an Electronic version as well as a physical version. - Amazon now accepts .Epubs so it's now quite simple to get stocked in the iStore and Amazon. Theres an inexpensive Ebook creation software programme called Jutoh - it's very capable.
Also check out the free Ebook reader and conversion software called Calibre.
All the above is for info only - there's any number of approaches to getting into print - but I do agree with the OP that there must be some great books just waiting to be written.
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RAF Flying Training Manual reprinted 1939 with 1940 Amendments
Hello innuendo
I was most interested in your recent post:-
"I have a "Royal Air Force Flying Training Manual,
Part 1-Landplanes"
Air Publication 129, revised 1937,
reprinted 1939 with pen and ink revisions in 1940."
I have the same 1939 copy, but I don't have the 1940 revisions.
I would be most interested in the 1940 revisions, especially revisions relating to:-
Chapter 2 "Aerodrome Procedure" section, paras 106-113
Chapter 2 "Night Flying Equipment" section, paras 116-132 and
Chapter 3 "Instrument Flying" para 173 Entering cloud and para 175 "Use in VHF approach and landing"
Chapter 3 "Flying in Bad Weather" para 182
Chapter 3 "Forced Landing" paras 310-325
Chapter 3 "Night Flying paras 335-354
and
Appendix I; II and VIII and the Control Areas map
Any 1940 revisions in these sections would be greatly appreciated? Thanks
Mark
I was most interested in your recent post:-
"I have a "Royal Air Force Flying Training Manual,
Part 1-Landplanes"
Air Publication 129, revised 1937,
reprinted 1939 with pen and ink revisions in 1940."
I have the same 1939 copy, but I don't have the 1940 revisions.
I would be most interested in the 1940 revisions, especially revisions relating to:-
Chapter 2 "Aerodrome Procedure" section, paras 106-113
Chapter 2 "Night Flying Equipment" section, paras 116-132 and
Chapter 3 "Instrument Flying" para 173 Entering cloud and para 175 "Use in VHF approach and landing"
Chapter 3 "Flying in Bad Weather" para 182
Chapter 3 "Forced Landing" paras 310-325
Chapter 3 "Night Flying paras 335-354
and
Appendix I; II and VIII and the Control Areas map
Any 1940 revisions in these sections would be greatly appreciated? Thanks
Mark
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Disinterest from those who should know better
Some twenty or so years ago I was a regular visitor to an aviation group, the members being predominantly ex BEA and BOAC staff from all areas of the companies, many of whom had joined immediately post WW2.
They had some really interesting stories to tell. At the same period I had contact with a good number of WW2 aircrew as well as some very senior people who had served many years with various aviation authorities.
Most people were willing to be interviewed and their stories placed on tape. I approached the BBC, the National Archive and a well known transport publishing company to see if there was any interest in recording the memories these people had with a view to both possible publication in broadcast, written and archival form and permanent availability to historians.
I was met with total disinterest, not from lower echelon management but from very senior people in each organisation.
Most of the potential interviewees are now long dead and their stories went with them.
Given the antipathy and even downright discouragement of interest in aviation today on the very spurious grounds that any interest is potentially with terrorist intent, I would doubt any approach today would meet with anything other than aneven more disinterested response.
They had some really interesting stories to tell. At the same period I had contact with a good number of WW2 aircrew as well as some very senior people who had served many years with various aviation authorities.
Most people were willing to be interviewed and their stories placed on tape. I approached the BBC, the National Archive and a well known transport publishing company to see if there was any interest in recording the memories these people had with a view to both possible publication in broadcast, written and archival form and permanent availability to historians.
I was met with total disinterest, not from lower echelon management but from very senior people in each organisation.
Most of the potential interviewees are now long dead and their stories went with them.
Given the antipathy and even downright discouragement of interest in aviation today on the very spurious grounds that any interest is potentially with terrorist intent, I would doubt any approach today would meet with anything other than aneven more disinterested response.
Cool Mod
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That is just not true! There have been many instances since I first started this forum those many years ago. In that time many people from BoB pilots, to past and present senior Captains in the big airlines, not to mention the many training Captains, who frequent this space. 'Airclues' is such a person.
'Centaurus' is another who spent many thousands of hours in the south east Asia area in Oz and Kiwi land. He wrote a book too that tickled the imagination to bursting point at times.
We are lucky to have test pilots who drop in frequently, like the gentleman John Farley who spent his time and energy, AND his brilliant skills in developing the Harrier. Indeed, had it not been for him and those undoubted skills there would NOT have been a Harrier at all.
We have ETPS pilots like Lomcevak who today still works and tests at Boscombe Down and is one of the pilots who regularly flies one or more of the Duxford warplanes at their shows.
The nature of this forum is that it can be anonymous or open, it is the choice of people as above. But make no mistake there is and always has been the same interest in passing on their tales. Also, of course, they like the BoB pilots (The Few) are getting fewer. One of the most recent was Tony Iveson, who fought in the BoB and then changed to bombers and was engaged in the sinking of the Tirpitz in a Norwegian fiord. A man of modesty but one of exceptional flying skills.
So, we do share much interest in the daring dos of many of our ace pilots. And so it goes.
The fact remains, however, we live in a time of diminishing returns on the amount of pleasure they bring in relating their stories to us. Letting us know what life is like in the airline world or the military world. Flying is one of the most safest forms of transport there is and it is all due to the skills that man and men brought to the likes of us. Remember, the bravest of the brave will never pass this way again. But there will always be something for us to savour.
Enjoy it.
'Centaurus' is another who spent many thousands of hours in the south east Asia area in Oz and Kiwi land. He wrote a book too that tickled the imagination to bursting point at times.
We are lucky to have test pilots who drop in frequently, like the gentleman John Farley who spent his time and energy, AND his brilliant skills in developing the Harrier. Indeed, had it not been for him and those undoubted skills there would NOT have been a Harrier at all.
We have ETPS pilots like Lomcevak who today still works and tests at Boscombe Down and is one of the pilots who regularly flies one or more of the Duxford warplanes at their shows.
The nature of this forum is that it can be anonymous or open, it is the choice of people as above. But make no mistake there is and always has been the same interest in passing on their tales. Also, of course, they like the BoB pilots (The Few) are getting fewer. One of the most recent was Tony Iveson, who fought in the BoB and then changed to bombers and was engaged in the sinking of the Tirpitz in a Norwegian fiord. A man of modesty but one of exceptional flying skills.
So, we do share much interest in the daring dos of many of our ace pilots. And so it goes.
The fact remains, however, we live in a time of diminishing returns on the amount of pleasure they bring in relating their stories to us. Letting us know what life is like in the airline world or the military world. Flying is one of the most safest forms of transport there is and it is all due to the skills that man and men brought to the likes of us. Remember, the bravest of the brave will never pass this way again. But there will always be something for us to savour.
Enjoy it.
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PPruNe pop, if your post is in response to mine, you have totally misunderstood my post and who the people I approached were. If it is the case, I suggest you re-read the post.
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Lightning Lady
At the risk of getting shot down by the old and the bold (it happens all the time!), my late husband's log books were microfiched at IWM Hendon and copies of certain photographic slides were done, then copies sent to Cosford as well. The kick-off was mention of XD818 when I was nattering to somebody or other at an aviation gathering and the whole thing gathered speed from there. Sorting out all RTH's album's, loose photographs, books from Halton days, etc., and trying to get them in order, has been sorely trying at times. However, the whole caboodle, including his blue flying suit from the Cold War, will be on display at Newark Air Museum - again (third time!), on 17/18 May this year. I look forward to meeting and talking to anybody who cares to stop and have a shufty - however brief. I have yet to put pen to paper re Richard Twyman Hayward's archival material as I'm being pressured (ever so lightly, but determinedly) to do my own service career for the WRAF archives.
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Gen John Miln talking about 7 VC's at Le Cateau the RAF gets a mention towards the end
[http://youtu.be/pzY721pyk_Y]
[http://youtu.be/pzY721pyk_Y]
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30 years....
Just picked up this thread and it made me think....
The 30th anniversary of my first solo flight slipped by, unnoticed, last year. Where has time gone? Sobering.
Perhaps, for personal reasons, I should start writing things down before all the people who can cross reference things are no longer around to help. No interest in publishing, but Duchess Junior may decide to be interested one day!
The 30th anniversary of my first solo flight slipped by, unnoticed, last year. Where has time gone? Sobering.
Perhaps, for personal reasons, I should start writing things down before all the people who can cross reference things are no longer around to help. No interest in publishing, but Duchess Junior may decide to be interested one day!
Or you can try writing short stories. I've done twelve so far based on the amusing, bizarre and sometimes downright frightening things encountered in airline life during the 1960s and 70s. Like some other Prune Posters, I started writing for my grandchildren but then progressed (regressed?) to short stories. Even if they are never published (most unlikely) it is great fun recalling those past events, embroidering them and then researching suitable backgrounds.
And it keeps the little grey cells active!
And it keeps the little grey cells active!
For self-publishing, Amazon KDP is a user-friendly set-up. I've published five novels using this facility. I also converted Gordon Taylor's excellent 'The Sky Beyond' into KDP format (using Mobipocket Creator) but have been unable to publish it as I cannot find the current copyright holder. It's a fascinating account of trans-oceanic air navigation before and during WW2 in Catalina flying boats. If anyone can help in this regard I would appreciate it mightily.
Gentleman Aviator
The 30th anniversary of my first solo flight slipped by, unnoticed, last year.
Just looked mine up - 'twas 46 years ago last August
That was powered flight, + 3 years on that for the glider first solo launch .
Just looked mine up - 'twas 46 years ago last August