EarlDoherty

The draft text of the Second Edition of The Jesus Puzzle is done. (Never thought I’d live to see it.) But there’s too much of it. I’m increasing the dimensions of the book to 6 x 9 inches, a standard size, such as Crossan’s The Historical Jesus or The Birth of Christianity. His former is 1 and 3/8 inches thick (the thickest softcover I have in my library) with 540 pages, but the pages are fairly heavy paper. His latter book is 1 and 1/8 thick but with almost 700 pages because the paper is thinner, same as The Jesus Puzzle. If I make the new edition no more than the thickness of THJ I’ll be almost 800 pages, twice the length of the first edition.

Right now I’ve got 900 pages. So I have to cut a minimum of 100, preferably more. I have greatly expanded almost all sections of the book, except for the first two. Once I get into my “spiritual Christ” section, the core of the book, I’ve expanded 4 chapters into 12. My Q portion is almost doubled. The Gospels as midrash is tripled, I’ve added a lot to the Second Century Apologists. The non-Christian witness to Jesus has been moved to the final section of the main text (before the Appendices) and is vastly expanded, especially in regard to Josephus, Tacitus and the Talmud. (The Josephus I posted on the website a few months ago, though there will some cuts for the book.)

If I go as high as 800 pages (my limit), I will have to set the price at close to $40 (softcover). Since the book will be in much greater depth, it will be less suitable for the uninitiated reader, although I am still trying to keep my tone aimed at the intelligent layperson; while I’ve tried to achieve a greater appeal for the scholarly set as well, I was determined not to go too “academic”. If I can afford it (cash flows and stuff) I am going to keep the first edition as a “shorter basic version”, at least for a while, and see if they will both sell on Amazon. If they do, I’ll make some very minor amendments to the first one on the next run.

There’s some I’m willing to cut, but beyond that it’s a question of being willing to sacrifice. I’m thinking that I might be able to move a few lesser important things to a special section of the website and point the reader to them. I’m not going to go the Wells route and continually rework the material from different angles. I’d like to present as comprehensive a case as I can produce (within reason and publishing logistics) in a single book. But what would make a realistic single book?

Any comments from anyone here, positive or negative, will be welcome and useful. I figure the next phase, getting the text finalized, will probably take me a couple of months. I’m anticipating some technical challenges on things like headers (I’m anything but competent on things like that, and my former text man has long ago left the country). Then I have to do a much-expanded Index and get everything ready for the printer (including the cover by my cover man who thankfully hasn’t), hopefully for printing no later than June. (Then I have to hope I’ve got enough in my bank account!)

Thanks,
Earl Doherty

Jeffrey Gibson

If I hear you correctly, what you are actually asking for is the services of an editor, a layout specialist, and an indexer..

You could have all of these for free if, instead of publishing your work through a vanity press where all of this (as well as the cost of printing) falls on you, you published through an academic/popular one.

Why not then submit your MS to either HarperSanFrancisco or Prometheus Press?

Given how this would get you what you say above that you want to receive, and given all the advantegaes there'd be for you and your reputation, and for finally getting the book "out there" to the audience you say you want to see it finally get to if your MS was accepted for publication (these guys promote the books they publish and make academics aware of their existence, and provide review copises to professional journals) what good reasons could you possibly have for not doing so?

I certainly couldn't be that your book is too controversial for such presses. They welcome submissions of works like yours.

Jeffrey

Roland

Earl,

First of all, let me just say I can't wait to see the expanded edition of your book. I'm particularly pleased to see that you have added to the 2nd century apologists section. That's an area that doesn't get enough play from mythicists in my opinion.

I think your website idea is a good compromise. Newspapers and magazines do that all the time now and I imagine that people interested enough in the subject will have no problem being directed there for further information.

I realize I may not have been much help to you in my response, but frankly I'd hate to see ANY of it jettisoned.

Best of luck in your endeavor and I look forward to purchasing and reading the final product.

EarlDoherty

Thanks, Roland. That is the sort of comment I'm looking for, to get an idea of which direction to go in as far as content, etc. and whether a website supplement would be feasible. (And including if anyone would be willing to pay 40 bucks for it!)

No, Jeffrey, I'm not trolling for an editor, layout person, etc., although I will have a couple of readers (probably not ones you'd prefer). I'd rather keep control of it myself and hopefully manage the cost myself. Mainly, I want it out as soon as I can manage it, and not have to wait another 3 years before it gets published. If I risk not having it 'peer-reviewed' beforehand, I'll just make corrections if needed. Actually, I'm hoping that distributing it to members of the Jesus Project this summer (free of charge, some of whom I'm hoping will be interested in reading it) will give it a 'review'. (As I said before, you're on my list.) Thanks for your comments.

Earl Doherty

Doug Shaver

Hi, Earl,

I worked as a newspaper copy editor for several years. I don't have a lot of committed time, but if you'd like to discuss some possible arrangements, you can find my e-mail address at dougshaver.com

youngalexander

Earl,
I am comfortable with the expanded dimensions and would prefer to see as complete a case as possible within the constraints. Referencing to supplementary website material is perfectly OK. Candidates for cutting would be any unwarrented repetition a la Eisenman.

US$40 now means A$60+, but that may change after the US$ collapses. In any case, like many readers of Ed#1 I am committed to buying the new Ed.

Ted Hoffman

Earl,
I am glad to hear that its almost ready Earl and I am looking forward to reading it. How comprehensive should it be? From the OP, you seem to have everything thought out so I will have to wait and see. I have always thought the NAzareth question needs to be addressed though.
Jacob

Jeffrey Gibson

So far as I can see, I never said you were trolling for these things. But in effect isn't this what you would like to have?


Hmm. Deja Vu all over again.

When Yuri Kuchinsky was thinking about getting his "work" on the Pepysian Gospel Harmony into print, and was moving towards about using an obscure Canadian vanity press to do so, I asked him why, in the light of his stated claims that he thought NT scholars should be more aware of this work than he claimed they were, he wasn't sending his book to a press that would make sure his work would be promted and brought to the attention of the very audience he said he wanted to address. I also noted, just as I did with you, all the advantages of having his "work" published by a standared press. His reply was:

Quote:

There's nothing wrong with having a book published with a well-known publisher, and indeed later on my book may be so published. But first, it will be published very soon by a small press. I have chosen the way I've chosen for several reasons, but mainly because of the time factor. Also, I like having complete editorial control about what's going into the first edition.

But what made him -- and what makes you -- think that one loses editorial contrl when one submits one's work to an established press, let alone that books submitted to such presses take years to see print, is beyond me.

I can tell you from personal experience and from being in touch with all sorts of folk who have had their works published by major academic and popular presses, writers do not lose control of their work. Nor does it take anywhere near what you say it would take for a book to be published. Take the example of Stephen Carlson's Gospel Hoax. Baylor had it out, and was already promoting it in the major jornals, within six months of Stephen's submission of his MS. To my knowledge, HarperSanFrancisco has an even faster turn around time.

By the way, you might wish to know that Amazon -- which seems to be one of the few places besides Yuri's own website where Yuri's book is advertised and made available for purchase -- lists the sales rank of his book at 3,731,234.

Jeffrey

robto

My only suggestion is to give the new book a different title, rather than calling it a 2nd ed, and keep both available. The $40 price will discourage the casual reader, and the length and depth are unsuitable for such a person anyway.

mountainman

Dear Earl,

I'd like to wish you the very best with this second edition. I hope you live to see at least a seventh edition, in addition to producing other works, essays, articles, research papers and treatments which build upon the foundation of your research. The concept of Jesus as a myth being widely published and assimilated into the planet is very much in line with Ralph Waldo Emerson's "We must get rid of that [Eusebian*] Christ!" (for the natural benefit of humanity).

[* My note.]

How comprehensive is the book to be? How long is the piece of string to be? Only you can make the call on this shot, and as you already know, this is a process of assembly. Better that you have more material than less. Look up the track to further monolithic works, and/or specialist commentary or kernels of expanded essays, and shift some material out of your new edition into this category of publication (in parallel).

ADVICE from Kookaburra Jack

Be peaceful, implacable, equanimous and imperturbable in the face of criticism by identifying not the best counter-arguments to the argument by which your critics seek to confound you, but by identifying that peaceful, implacable, equanimous and imperturbable nature within your own self. Be at that place. A great place; chill bro. Words and rhetoric arise and fall away; attitudes are more persistent. You are doing great - so far. One step after the other. Peacefully. You are making a difference to the world. Keep up the great work !

Best wishes,


Kookaburra Jack