Happy Book Birthday to Me!

Posted on February 19, 2019 by

23 Comments

Today, I’m excited to share some awesome news. After two years of research and writing, and another two years of editing, revising, and revisiting, I have finally published my first book!

FROM A WHISPER TO A RIOT: THE GAY WRITERS WHO CRAFTED AN AMERICAN LITERARY TRADITION is an academic text that covers gay American literature from 1903-1968, a period often ignored or overlooked. It is the culmination of four years’ work, and I have decided to move ahead with publishing it independently. Why? Well, there are a few reasons.

First, academic publishing is brutal and, for my particular situation, not entirely necessary. I have been publishing other small pieces and feel satisfied with that avenue for creative work. This book, though, is the blood, sweat, and tears of years of graduate study and, ultimately, a dissertation and defense. I did send proposals and chapters to a few different academic publications, and while some of the responses I received were reasonable, even helpful, they helped me see that, what I really want to do is get this out into the public as I have envisioned it. I do not want to break the book into smaller articles. I do not want to market it for a particular course. I do not need wrestle with a University Press and its gate-keepers

This book is mine, and I want it to be available for others, as is. I believe I see something in it that some publishers are missing, which is that it is more than just a literary analysis and more than just a cultural history. It is both. These two pieces work together. The varied chapters work together. And I hope that any reader who decides to give a try will, in the end, see how all of it developed together, too.

So, I’m pleased to be in this position. The book is available in both print and e-book versions, via Amazon (and elsewhere, soon, I hope!). Even though it is an academic text, I think it’s pretty accessible. If you’re interested in American literature, history, and LGBT Studies, I think you’ll like this one. Or I hope so, anyway.

Onward!

Category: My Works, Personal

23 Comments on “Happy Book Birthday to Me!”

  1. Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading it. It’s interesting to see your reasons for going the independent route (a route I have enjoyed taking). Sometimes I wonder whether the “gatekeepers” try their hardest to MAKE academic books inaccessible.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you! There are many pros and cons to either route. Another reason I made this decision is because they were pricing it around $100. Who is going to read it at that price? Sure, it will appeal to a niche market anyway, but I don’t want to make it “that” exclusive. I think the history is much more interesting than that niche would suggest. =)

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  5. This is so wonderful! I’ve always hoped to be published one day, so I am so proud of you for accomplishing this. It must feel wonderful having it finally out there!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • It is, thank you! It was a lot of work and, at some point, it becomes a part of you. So it’s both difficult and necessary to pass it on and let it go.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. Well done Adam. Sounds like you could have got this published in the traditional way but only if you had changed the nature of the book so that it was no longer the book you wanted to write. I wonder how many times that happens to an author

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you! I’ve been reading up on the various publishing options and methods over the last year, and it is apparently fairly common.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. I’m glad to see that it’s available through Ingram (which is where my library orders books from.) Have you submitted it anywhere for review? Kirkus regularly reviews independently published books, which helps get them into libraries.

    Like

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  14. Congratulations! I remember the joy of having my own book in my hands, though it was just an anthology I put together. Enjoy the feeling, and time to start book 2!!

    Like

    Reply

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