I first met John Sayers at the Toronto Postcard Show. I believe it was 2005, though I could be off by a year on either side. John was there selling postcards with his wife, Judith. I was there as the Editor of Antiques & Collectibles Showcase, looking for a story. We hit it off right away. John, you see, is not just a collector, he’s an expert in ocean liner ephemera, postcards included. So began a friendship that continues to this day. When ACS was sold, and I was subsequently hired by Northeast Art & Antiques and New England Antiques Journal, John began to write for me. He has also been a constant supplier of information and images (to help me visual scenes) for my books. But now it’s John’s turn to shine, as he writes about taking his passion from collection to publication of a non-fiction book. Take it away, John:
A confession – this is a non-fiction book. An observation – ‘behind the scenes’ it was likely similar to publishing a work of fiction.
Things happen through people. I have been writing for over 50 years and include four business books in my trophy case. Before ‘Ocean Liners’ I had written extensively about ephemera, and particularly shipping ephemera, for several publications. One of the appreciative users was the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, for which I wrote many blogs, based on my own Ocean Liner collection.
“Write about things you know,” teachers say. So, I did. Every publisher has to find ‘product’ to publish and sell, so Bodleian Library Publishing came across me and my articles on shipping and ocean liners. Would I be interested in writing a book? Sure.
Sounds easy, but it wasn’t. The initial romance had been quick. It was people. Met with them. Talked to them. Good chemistry. But then there was the long path to the altar. The big hurdle was a publisher’s equivalent of a blood test. It included questions such as:
- What would be the chapters of the book?
- How many words?
- How many illustrations?
- What title would I propose to use?
- What was the book’s market?
- What other books competed in that market?
- What would be special about this book that would make it better than its competition?
There were more questions in the written interrogation, but one needs to realize that they were doing themselves—and me—a favour by asking whether the walk down the aisle would be mutually worthwhile. And I think that any author needs to make this assessment. The crunch—will it sell, and why?
It’s easy when the market is global, but they needed to know that. I emphasized that it was to be a trade publication, written for the Transatlantic market (with both British and American material, sort of like the literary version of the late actor Cary Grant).
I had created the title and could explain why I had used it. They had no problem with my selection, because material in the content is actually ‘secrets’ from letters and diaries—with over 200 illustrations. They designed the cover, which I love, even though I had made other suggestions. Because I knew the contents of my vast collection, I knew where the ‘bodies’ (in this case the anecdotes and illustrations) were hidden and how and where to find them. Sound familiar? Illustrations were a challenge because there are so many good ones. Some were obvious, like the cheesecake of a young lady in bedtime attire from a magazine that featured fashions suitable to a voyage on the new RMS Queen Mary in 1936. I knew it was a real winner when it was featured in a recent book review in Britain’s national newspaper, The Telegraph.
Elegance has its counterpoint in my coverage of Steerage. No glamor, just people escaping from hardship to what they hope will be a better life.
I subsequently dealt with five specialist editors in succession during the two years (yes, two years) of pre-publication preparation. But it’s now in global release and I can plan what to write next. You will have noticed that, for me, writing is a compulsion. That, I can assure you, is no secret.
John G. Sayers, a Chartered Accountant, is a long-time member of the Boards of both the British Ephemera Society and the Ephemera Society of America. He has written four business books and articles and blogs about Ocean Liners and other ephemera topics for several organizations. His new book, Secrets of the Great Ocean Liners, based on his personal collection, has just been published by Bodleian Library Publishing at Oxford University. Find it on Amazon or your favorite bookseller.
It sounds like a fun book to savor when we can’t yet travel.
My copy is in the mail, Maya! Amazon says Thurs. Looking forward to it. Hope you’re well.
Hi Maya –
Hey, you can even read it when we get back to traveling! (LOL) Glad you enjoyed the piece, and one always hopes that others can benefit from the actual writing experience. Years ago I enrolled in a Fiction Writing class. Gave it up when everyone’s personal angst was their motivation, and they were unhappy when I (the accountant) asked “Will it sell? Who would want to buy it?” I write for others to read. Anyhow, there you are.
John
I enjoyed his metaphors. What a writer John is. Thanks for sharing him, Judy!
Hi Beth, yes, he’s very talented! My copy of the book is supposed to come by Thurs. 11th, can’t wait.
Hi Beth –
Thanks for your kind words. Metaphors are great for giving a flavour to a situation. When you study what some politicians say, they use them to avoid answering questions!
The more you write, the better you become, and electronics really facilitate the process.
John
What an interesting subject and author, Judy. I love the cover, too. vb
I am sure there will be some amazing photos inside the book, too, Vicki!
Yes, the cover selection was really interesting because they wanted an Art Deco style and I submitted several shipping-related images. Guess what? They used a couple of them to engage a designer to make an original one! And I agree that it has more impact than any of my individual submissions. Ironically, the back of the dust jacket is a Cunard image that is more mid-1920s than Art Deco but I don’t think that I can attach a scan for you. And one reader has told me that it is refreshing to have images on the page to which they relate. That’s thanks to a Layout Editor.
John
While it seems like a long process for start to finish, it really was much longer, as John has spent so much time accumulating the knowledge and ephemera for the book. To take a lifelong passion and turn it into a marketable book must feel wonderful, after the slogging parts of it are done.
Thanks for a peek into another aspect of writing and publishing.
John’s collection is amazing, Claire. My book, Past & Present, would never have happened without John’s assistance. He helped me in so many ways. I am so happy for him that this book has come to fruition.
Hi Claire – This is just another example of ‘write what you know about’. And it applies to fiction as well as non-fiction. On the other hand, one can ‘know about’ a lot these days thanks to Google and other search mechanisms. I write a regular ‘Ephemera Detective’ column for a U.K. magazine and I just did a piece on using Internet resources for research while sitting at home with a cup of coffee within regular reach. For research, those ‘good old days’ weren’t really that good! We are soooo fortunate.