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Post by corsair67 on Sept 22, 2010 22:55:25 GMT 12
Yep, and the cheque is in the mail...........  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 22, 2010 23:06:26 GMT 12
I do know Don well enough to know that he's the real deal. He has exactly what is needed when co-writing a book like this - a wide personal experience of the history he's writing about, a lot of contacts within the Skyhawk fraternity and a hell of a lot of respect from those who worked alongside him. I know that last point because several people who worked with him have told me he was one of the best NCO's on No. 75 Squadron. That comes from ground crew and aircrew.
Don also has a huge enthusiasm and passion for the subject and has done the hard yards researching and piecing the history together with Nick Lee-Frampton.
My advice is that perardua should contact Don off line and sort this out like a professional, or simply go away. He's/she's not making themselves look good here.
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Post by kb on Sept 23, 2010 7:51:08 GMT 12
It seems to me Don that it is someone who knows you and is taking the piss! Anyway, are you still looking for photos?
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Post by perardua on Sept 23, 2010 8:17:32 GMT 12
Is it a prank? No. Is he fishing for information? Yes. Why?
The world of publishing is tough. Make the wrong decision and wasted printing costs can wipe you out overnight.
You need to assess the market for the product. The market for a book on NZ Skyhawks is very limited - pilots, aviation historians and political historians. It was too marginal when I first considered the book. The market has warmed little with the expiry of the US government deadline on the sale.
You need to assess the product. This is a not a novel, or a thriller. It's non-fiction, a history. The subject was fully and meticulously covered according to my advisers.
You need to assess the writer. A well established journalist with a reputation of accuracy in fact gathering, and an international reputation for reporting in the defence field.
The only qualm about publication then was the market.
Then by accident you find another person says he is helping to write the book.
Eh? It's already been written. Is this a prank or a con?
Who is this person?
Part of the Skyhawk ground crew. Is he a professional journalist? No.
So how is he "helping to write " the completed book?
Is he questioning the existing book? Does he have some major uncovered fact about the history of the Skyhawks?
All this raises warning bells for me it has become too risky again, and my renewed interest is rapidly waning.
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Post by Bruce on Sept 23, 2010 8:25:27 GMT 12
Plonker... shows how much you know your market....
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Post by mumbles on Sept 23, 2010 9:08:43 GMT 12
You need to assess the market for the product. The market for a book on NZ Skyhawks is very limited - pilots, aviation historians and political historians. The subject was fully and meticulously covered according to my advisers. The only qualm about publication then was the market. Then by accident you find another person says he is helping to write the book. Fair enough that you have questions, but as others have said you are coming across as a little confrontational for the sake of it. Don has already stated he has been working with Nick Lee-Frampton on a revision to an existing manuscript to bring it up to date. I would suggest you confirm this with Nick privately before airing it in an open ended manner on a public forum. On the other hand, if you know that statement to be false, then be straight up with it and stop dancing around the subject. I am also confused by your apparent fixation on Don's lack of journalistic qualification, something I wasn't aware was a requirement of being either a subject matter expert or a non-fiction author (speaking as someone who works with technical and scientific documentation by trade). You state the market for such a book is limited. I can't argue with that, but have seen many books with arguably smaller target markets published over the years. You also state that your advisers think the subject has been 'fully and meticulously covered', something I frankly disagree with. To my knowledge only one book has been published in New Zealand directly concerning the Skyhawk in RNZAF service, with some other overseas publications lightly touching on the subject. While a generally a good book, in some areas it was very superficial, and left a lot of material uncovered, material that the new book would hopefully address. I personally know several people who would purchase such a book and that is just me. I am by the way neither a pilot, nor an aviation historian, nor a political historian. I am just a reader with an interest. |
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Post by Parrotfish on Sept 23, 2010 9:30:40 GMT 12
For a publisher you don't read very well  |
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Post by nige on Sept 23, 2010 9:31:29 GMT 12
Good grief, if this perardua person is really a publisher  , then he will be one heck of a difficult person to deal with. There are other publishers out there, I wouldn't be wasting my time with this idiot (who discusses commercial and private matters on a public forum)! Sounds like a small operation (paranoid the next book he "publishes" won't sell enough and will wipe out his company)! My advice to perardua is to stick with publishing novels if he wants a world wide hit! |
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Post by phil on Sept 23, 2010 13:17:09 GMT 12
Paradua - you did notice that this thread was started back in 2006, when Don said he was assisting to write the book.
When exactly did you get involved, what point in time did you see the manuscript that was already written?
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Post by Chris F on Sept 23, 2010 13:57:06 GMT 12
Dear Paradua are you for real?
Please do not use a public forum for your own hidden purpose against Don and or his efforts towards this book,be professional and show some common respect and email the man in private.
Do you know anything about marketing a product to its core market of buyers.
As for Don I dont know him personally but from his posts and his knowledge of the subject and the respect he gets from other forum members in my view outways any negative issues you may hold.
I for one would go into bat for Don anytime.
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 23, 2010 14:43:58 GMT 12
Well Don, I can say I've learnt something in the last couple of days; and that is, if you aren't a journalist, then you certainly aren't allowed to co-write a book. ;D
Most journalists I can think of wouldn't even be able to write their name in joined-up writing, let alone be trusted to actually write a book worth publishing!
By the way, perardua, your first name wouldn't be Terry, would it?
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Post by smithy on Sept 23, 2010 15:07:53 GMT 12
You need to assess the writer. A well established journalist... ...Is he a professional journalist? You're either a first class twit or a first class twit who is ignorant of military history and/or aviation publishing. 99.9% of titles published in this area are by non-journalists. And almost all by authors where writing is not their career, rather they have another professional career. Don't believe me? Go and look at the authors in the stable of a specialist aviation/military history publisher such as Grub Street. |
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Post by skyhawkdon on Sept 23, 2010 15:25:27 GMT 12
I have just spoken to the real publisher and suggested he have a read of this thread. He has asked me to post the following to clear up the ownership/copyright status of this book. Both Don Simms and Nick Lee-Frampton have signed an agreement to co-author a book titled "RNZAF Skyhawks/Alpha Four Kilo" with Willsonscott Publishing (note: the exact title has yet to be finalised).
As far as we are aware no other publisher has any interest in this work. We hold the only valid contract to publish. Perardua is welcome to contact me if they have any concerns.
Any one interested in pre ordering this book should contact us (contact details below). We are aiming for publication in early 2011.
Regards
Bob Anderson
Publishing Manager
Willsonscott Publishing International Ltd.
PO Box 6006, Christchurch, 8442 New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 342 3138| Fax: +64 3 342 3885
Email: promote@willsonscott.biz | Web: www.willsonscott.biz |
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Post by smithy on Sept 23, 2010 15:45:54 GMT 12
Well that well and truly stops our new friend perardua in the water.
All the very best for the book Don. I'll be picking up a copy when you guys release it.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Sept 23, 2010 15:50:19 GMT 12
Which publishing agency do you work for/own per ardua? One word. Boycott.
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Post by baz62 on Sept 23, 2010 15:50:33 GMT 12
Hey Don I'd love to pop round (like I said I would last time we met ha ha) and chat about your writing (oh alright and talk about the A4 ;D)
I will be buying the book for sure and hopefully get you to sign it for me!
I'm away off to Aussie shortly so will give you a shout when I get back near the end of October.
Baz
PS: that paradua is a plonker of the highest order!!
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Post by skyhawkdon on Sept 23, 2010 16:34:18 GMT 12
Sounds good Baz, except we will probably pass each other mid Tasman as we are heading for the Gold Coast for 2 weeks at the end of Oct! I've now got a fair idea who this plonker "Perardua" is but that's a story for another day |
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Post by baz62 on Sept 23, 2010 17:02:06 GMT 12
Sounds good Baz, except we will probably pass each other mid Tasman as we are heading for the Gold Coast for 2 weeks at the end of Oct! I've now got a fair idea who this plonker "Perardua" is but that's a story for another day I'll be sure to wave. I'm officially back in NZ on the 23rd of October (for my many fans who may miss me ;D) |
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Post by obiwan27 on Sept 23, 2010 17:21:40 GMT 12
Hi Don, just discovered this thread and enjoyed reading through it apart from that perardua 'fellow'. I've sent an email to the publisher for my preorder. 2011 is going to rock!!!
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Post by kiwiduster on Sept 24, 2010 13:36:34 GMT 12
Hi Don, Just preordered" THE Book" from the publisher. Cheers kiwiduster
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, then he will be one heck of a difficult person to deal with. 
