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Topic: Publishing One's Own Family History - any advice? (Read 1762 times)
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Keith Sherwood
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 3102
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Hi, Everyone,
Does anyone have any advice to give on the subject of actually making an attempt to publish an aspect of one's own family history - on the printed page, I mean, not just on the internet.
Are there reputable publishing companies who might produce a fairly low-key book or booklet; or do other Rootschatters have experience of their own in this matter. On the one hand, I realise that you can pay large amounts of money to a publisher just to see your own name in print. And on the other there are the firms like Phillimore's, for example, who produce excellent, high-quality and expensive-to-purchase editions.
Some time in the future I was thinking of giving it a go...
Best wishes,
Keith
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casalguidi
Global Moderator
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Posts: 10499
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Hi Keith
If you are after a low-key type of (A5 perhaps) booklet to begin with, there are small printing companies in most main towns who do this type of thing ie. local/family history booklets, football programs - glossy or not. I would suggest getting your stuff into some kind of order ie. what you would like to include ......... stories, photos etc., typing it out (publishing program on the PC) and seeing roughly how much space you would need. Have a look at other booklets (your local library perhaps) and make some enquiries with a couple of local printers where you can see some of their work.
Much would probably depend on how many copies you require, ie just for immediate family (mustn't forget a copy for the local libary and county record office) or might it appeal to a wider audience for some reason.
It's a difficult one sometimes because new information is often coming to light all the time. When I typed a lot of mine up some years ago (one for myself and two copies for my dad and grandmother as Christmas presents), I chose to use a large loose leaf A4 binder so that I could add to it (and theirs) without problem - as I have done over the years.
Good luck
Casalguidi
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Keith Sherwood
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Posts: 3102
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Thanks for all that advice, Casalguidi,
I'll bear it all in mind before I take the plunge. I suppose showing someone/people what you have when it's all organised and set out might determine how one publishes it eventually.
Very best wishes,
Keith
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Paul E
Guest
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Hi Keith
Have you considered 'burning' your history to a CD or DVD?
That way, you can produce as many copies as you like, relatively inexpensively, and 'on demand'.
Paul
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Keith Sherwood
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Posts: 3102
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Thanks so much for your further consideration of this matter, Paul and Jill. Once I've eventually put the thing together, then I'll decide on how sophisticated it out to be. Lots of hard work before that moment, though...
Keith
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MarieC
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Posts: 3082
In Queensland, Oz
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I recently self-published a book about my Dad - containing poems and diaries that he wrote as a young man, and some wartime diary material. I did a whole lot of research about his life as a framework for his own writings (and I must say everyone I contacted was most helpful!) I typed it up myself on a floppy and took it to a small local publishing company who couldn't have been more helpful. They advised on cover design and binding, formatted the whole thing, and printed it for a very moderate price. I have given lots of copies away to family (and one person actually bought a few extra!)
It is a great feeling when you actually hold your book in your hands. And quite emotional, when you have done it as a tribute to a wonderful Dad who is no longer here.
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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Keith Sherwood
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Posts: 3102
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Hi, Marie,
What a touching and encouraging story. I must get down to work, tracing the story from beginning to end of a particularly elusive member of my family, with many twists and turns along the way. So important we put it all into words for posterity...
Keith
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lizdb
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 5106
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My brother and I produced our family hisotory, about 12 copies for family members, some years ago. I typed it up on word, scanned in photos, certificates, etc. We got them 'bound' with one of those spirally ring things at a local print shop. The result was very impressive - though I say so myself!! especially as it ended up about 3 inches thick!
The trouble with Family History, though, as I am sure you know, is that it is never ending. My brother has just started putting pen to paper for the 'supplement'!! And very soon I am expecting the first draft for typing up..........!!
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trish251
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Posts: 8614
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Hi Keith
There is probably a large difference between "printing" and "publishing". If you put the book together yourself and get the book printed as an A5/A4 book, it would be relatively inexpensive - you are the publisher. Printers can assist with the design and layout, but usually have no input as to the content.
My advice for the above would be talk to a local printer before designing & setting up the book. The size of margins, for example, can be critical to the type of binding (as I found out too late & had to reset much of my book). Colour, is, of course much more expensive to print than black/white. If you sequence pages correctly you can reduce the number of pages that need colour, thus reducing cost. Offset printing costs per copy (as opposed to photocopy or "print on demand") reduce significantly with volume.
If, however, you want to have the book designed & edited etc etc, you either have to pay to have this done (plus pay for printing) unless there is such content that a publisher would see it as financially viable to produce.
Like others have said, I have started with loose leaf booklets, as the content is still changing, but I have turned one section into a bound booklet as I think (and hope) I have it correct.
Trish
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Keith Sherwood
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Posts: 3102
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Hi Liz and Trish,
Thanks very much for those two further useful contributions - I feel I have a nice balanced view on the whole subject at present. Now, where's that Easter Egg I'd got my greedy eyes on yesterday...?
keith
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 3082
In Queensland, Oz
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Thanks for that, Glenidol!
Haven't plumbed the mystery of gedcoms yet, particularly for Macs, but as a Mac user I am not gifted at layout and am delighted to hear of that program you mentioned!
I will investigate buying it.
Marie
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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Emjaybee
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1442
Wot no tooth
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Ten years ago I did a book for my brother, documenting his wartime experiences. I saved this in zipped form on a floppy disk, and on a zipdrive.
I would like to open this on my new "high spec, v expensive Pc". Guess what? No disc drive! The zip drive has died with click of death syndrome. However I have a ring binder with a printed copy and I kept my old PC with a disk drive, so I can still get to it.
The point of this rambling is, that in ten years time the CD format is bound to have changed, floppy disks will have disappeared, what next pulsar-laser- multi-colour-atmosphere-memory?
Please print a copy, its expensive, but it is permanent. If you lose your electronic copy (as one does) there should always be a way of scanning documents in the future.
Oh yes, in a hundred years time your book will be an historic record of great value to your descendants as they search Rootschat "2100" for their ancestors, namely you!
Deja vue anybody?
Mike
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Beard,Voyce,Scrivens inWorcestershire
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