Acknowledging a Gentleman Publisher -- Emphasis on Gentleman!

I’ve been wanting to write a blog about what a great experience it was working with my publisher, Dave Doody of Blüroof Press, on my new novel, Traveling in Space. But with the holidays and all, and the piece I wrote for the Los Angeles Times I never got around to it. Then I realized that I had, in essence, already written it in the Acknowledgements section of TIS.  So, if I may be so lazy, I will put the text of the Acknowledgement below and hope it suffices in expressing my sincere gratitude to Mr. Doody, a gentleman of “universal” qualities. 

AUTHOR’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR TRAVELING IN SPACE

Writing a novel is an adventure, or certainly should be. If you like to write — and I’ve never understood those writers who proudly declare that they hate to write — it’s one of those wonderful adventures full of fun, self-revelations, and good times, if not always good food. An adventure you’re likely to enjoy but one that wouldn’t in itself, ironically enough, make a good story. Modern publishing of the major metropolitan variety is also an adventure. However, it can be, so I’ve heard, so full of danger, villains, near-death experiences, disappointment, and extreme regret, that it would make a cracking good yarn, although the writer might not come out the hero, that being reserved for some corporate functionary in charge of a bottom-line.

Dave Doody

It is in consideration of the above that I must acknowledge and thank the publisher of this work, Dave Doody of Blüroof Press, who spends his day-job as a Caltech employee at JPL/NASA, guiding the journeys of our robotic Lewis & Clarks to the planets. 

His dear sister Mary Kay Doody who died last year was a publisher. Dave, though, is new to publishing but not to books, as an author and of course a reader. 

I met him through a mutual friend. After a couple great conversations about his work and our shared love of science, 

Dave showing me around JPL

and before he ever thought to become a publisher, I asked him to read the manuscript of Traveling in Space to check my “take” on scientists, who, both human and alien, figure in my novel’s story. If anyone could tell me where I might have got it wrong about scientists it would be Dave, who works in the wheelhouse of real rocket-ships full of real scientists. So to speak.

Later, he came to tell me how, as an engineer and a lover of the art of typography, he became fascinated with the new technologies of on-demand publishing and e-books, and that he was publishing his second book himself (his first was published by Springer, 2009). 

He asked would I mind if he helped me publish my book. I was, firstly, flattered, and secondly, curious. Then you are becoming a publisher? I asked. No, no, he said, I just love books and want to see if I can help works I admire see the light of day. Oh, I said, so then you are becoming a Gentleman Publisher! He didn’t know what I meant, but he said the reader is the whole reason.

And so Blüroof Press has been born. It is in the hands of man who is applying twenty-first century technologies to an old world idea: the discovery and passionate publishing and promotion of books the publisher cares about. This Blüroof does not cover a huge, corporate entity whose endowment is “protected,” heaven forbid, from decisions made by artists and authors. Rather, this Blüroof shields an author from downpours of decisions by the controller-accountant side of some corporate mansion. If Dave profits from this venture — and I truly hope he does — he’s likely to consider it his reward, not his due.

Working with Dave has been a joy. 

Dave and I at the West Hollywood Book Fair 2011

His delight in our endeavor (if Dave had a dollar for every time he has turned to me and said, “This is fun,’ he would already be in profit), his encouragement, and his very accurate eagle editorial eye has made the publishing of Traveling in Space an adventure as wonderful as writing it — even if it wouldn’t make a good story to amuse the masses.

I would also like to thank Todd Cronin 

Todd Cronin by Todd Cronin and copyright by todd Cronin

for the wonderful cover he has created for Traveling in Space, not to mention the three interior illustrations he drew for us. 

One of the three interior illustrations by Todd Cronin
Copyright by Todd Cronin

It was important to me that this book would feature interior illustrations, to link it to a love I’ve had for years for books published when interior illustrations were the norm. It is another measure of Dave’s passion that he did not hesitate to say yes when asked if this might be possible. And it is a measure of Todd’s talent that he delivered such fine accompaniments to the story.

I thank Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley, 

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(and a member of the team of scientists who discovered that our universe’s expansion is accelerating, and for which several members have received the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics) for answering some questions I had, the answers to which were of great help in imagining a key aspect of the aliens’ home world.

Many writers seem to thank their spouses for putting up with them, as writers are rarely low-maintenance. All I can say to my wife, Amanda, the daughter of a writer, is that you knew the job was dangerous when you took it. And that I love you more each day for not letting that deter you.

My wife, Amanda, who I hardly deserve