Today’s the Centenary of Beersheba … so where’s my book?

Updated 2010 ‘mock’ draft cover*

Today’s the Centenary of the Battle of Beersheba, which included the Australia Light Horse charge, so where’s my book … … you ask?

Last year and early this year, I sent my full draft manuscript to two leading Australian independent publishers, two Australian branches of international major publishing houses, and the unpublished manuscript category of my (then) State-based Literary Awards.

One of the Australian independent publishers said,

‘This looks like an admirable piece of historiography and a significant contribution to the literature on Australia’s experience of WWI, and also our understanding of Chauvel’s life.’

But they couldn’t publish it.

One of the Australian branches of a major international publisher said,

‘You’ve clearly got some very interesting thoughts on this celebrated aspect of Australian history … (however,) your approach isn’t focussed enough on the narrative of the charge and the war to suit our customers … This is not, of course, a comment on the book’s quality or accuracy, just its genre.’

I assume by genre they mean because my book’s a hybrid, that is part biography / my own story / official history. Either way, they wouldn’t publish it.

My plan was to self-publish the book this year in time for today.

The trick as a self-supported person through a full-time day job is that such a project would need to fit in and that work … so when things went ‘off the rails’ at work this year and my health declined, I was then focussed job-hunting which has resulted in an interstate move (from which I’m still unpacking), so I haven’t had the time outside of work to self-publish.

Even though the Centenary is today, given the positive rejections quoted above, and my belief in this book, I will still self-publish … who knows, because of all the media coverage perhaps it’ll reignite interest over coming months so people will still be interested in my book.

I’m looking to do a separate blog post regarding my annoyance at the current media coverage perpetuated the myths relating to the charge’s place within the Battle of Beersheba and Australia’s military history.

Thanks to all of you who’ve stuck with me through this mammoth book journey.

* this cover was produced in 2010 by the small Australian publisher that I was originally contracted to. I’ve hastily updated my surname and subtitle for this blog post, that’s why it’s a mash! Also, this will probably not be the final book cover. What a fun process that will be!