medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The look is one of Word Processor. That sets my teeth on edge. Not
that all "good" presses are free from sin. Princeton once called a set
up: IBM Selectric Gothic. It looked fresh from the typewriter.
Most libraries use approval vendors like Blackwell. We tend to set
Mellen at Forms [you get information but are not sent the book] or No
[no word at all].
Tom
Christopher Crockett wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> From: Ms B M Cook <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>> Perhaps I can offer a different perspective on the Edwin Mellen Press ?
>>
>
>
>> Some years ago I considered publishing my own work through them and acquired
>>
> their literature.
>
>
>> IIRC (and I have not kept said paperwork) the advantage they offered was
>>
> that their books never go out of print because they are all kept
> electronically and they only print and bind when an order is received.
>
> this would account for the crappy look and feel of those which i have seen.
>
>
>> Thus you will never find a batch of EM books remaindered.
>>
>
> yet another downside.
>
>
>> The disadvantages from my point of view were several.
>>
>
>
>> They required camera ready copy of the book and also required that it had
>>
> been proof-read (at my expense) before submission.
>
> right.
>
> they want to do nothing but print and distribute.
>
>
>> They also required an in-depth appraisal by a competant scholar in the field
>>
>
> for which I would also have to pay in advance.
>
> they pick the "competent scholar", presumably.
>
> and, set the price (taking a cut off the top?).
>
> how do i apply for their list of those, i wonder?
>
>
>> I would also have to clear and pay for any copyright on any illustrations I
>>
>
> used.
>
> probably standard, in the Industry.
>
>
>> I would also have to pay a professional indexer
>>
>
> that's easy enough.
>
> if i index my own book and pay myself for doing so, i become (walla) a
> "professional indexer).
>
>
>> and provide them with written proof that I had complied with all these
>>
> conditions.
>
> no problemo.
>
>
>> Actually, it was less the outlay of cash that put me off, rather the feeling
>>
> that they were not offering me any support and were more of a printer than a
> publisher.
>
> yes, a printer of crappy looking/feeling books.
>
> as far as i can see, with few exceptions, the main thing that "publishers" can
> offer, these daze, is *Distribution*.
>
>
>> I just did not know where to begin in complying with these conditions.
>>
>
> begin at the end.
>
> toss their "terms" in the trash.
>
>
>> It is possible they have now changed their policy or I have mis-remembered.
>>
>
> I know that the correspondence left me feeling disheartened and exploited.
>
> Trust that feeling.
>
> looking at the prosepct of --eventually-- getting my own obscure, lengthy (at
> about 400 pp. + plates, i prefer to say "definitive") study in print one of
> these days, i've given some thought to the problem of publication.
>
> i have no doubt that i can put together a (typographically) decently laid out
> book, using little more than WORD.
>
> indexing softwhere is definitely no problem --and i can index during a last
> proofread.
>
> photos can be had, only a few requiring any kind of permission.
>
> printing/binding can be done by any one of innumerable companies, from Hong
> Kong to Roachdale, Indiana.
>
> this leaves Distribution as the only thing which a publisher can offer me.
>
> assuming that, say, Yale U.P. were to find my work acceptable, would it be
> worth it to me to have some jerk-off editor there demand that i cut the size
> of it down by 50%, monkey around with my chapter layout, "sex up" my title,
> *and* use "end notes" rather than footnotes, in return for "distribution"?
>
> i think not.
>
> i figger i can get copies produced for under $10, distribute myself to, say,
> Chartrain libraires and off the Innernets, have it offered for a decent retail
> price, easily make enough to cover my initial capital costs.
>
>
>> Which is why I did not keep the correspondence.
>>
>
> sometimes, stuff just needs to be tossed.
>
>
>> PS I have ordered the Morigny Chron. by ILL from my local Univ. Library.
>>
> When reading it I will keep in mind the collective strictures. I am
> EXTREMELY GRATEFUL for the useful replies.
>
> and i'd be grateful for your opinion of it.
>
> maybe i was too critical.
>
> but, i don't think so.
>
> when i sample a book like that and find that 50-75% of the things i check on
> are, in one way or another, flawed, it kind of puts me off the whole thing.
>
>
>> It has occurred to me that the Council might have taken place in BOTH
>>
> Etampes AND Morigny
>
> i'll respond to that on the Et-Mor thread.
>
> c
>
> **********************************************************************
> To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
> to: [log in to unmask]
> To send a message to the list, address it to:
> [log in to unmask]
> To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
> to: [log in to unmask]
> In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
> [log in to unmask]
> For further information, visit our web site:
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
>
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|