The life of study is austere and imposes grave obligations. It pays, it pays richly; but it exacts an initial outlay … The athletes of the mind, like those of the playing field, must be prepared for privations, long training, a sometimes superhuman tenacity. We must give ourselves from the heart, if truth is to give itself to us. Truth serves only its slaves. — A. G. Sertillangers, O.P.1
An inescapable sentimentality accompanies an anniversary. It is a day like any other. Yet with the dawning of a new year, one flutters between reflection and anticipation. What could have been? What will be?
Last weekend marked the one year anniversary of the publication of my first book. I’d like to offer some thoughts and suggestions for the benefit of others heading down this road.
Composing the manuscript was gratifying—to see conference papers woven together, new ideas fleshed out, and so on. The publisher was supportive, easy to work with, and kept to the planned schedule. The up front costs were acceptable, in order to offer my corrective to a discipline which has seemingly forgotten the significance of written materials even back in the Greco-Roman era. Plus, it allowed my participation in the guild of authors, for whatever that is worth. And then the book was published.
Since then, I have been thankful for the sage wisdom offered in Sertillangers’ the Intellectual Life. It was required reading for a thesis writing course at Western Seminary. Indeed, it should be required reading for all those contemplating the writing of books grounded in biblical study and academic research. In addition to the encouragement towards being organized, self-disciplined, etc., I have appreciated the warning that there would be a level of isolation associated with becoming a specialist in a narrow field. I am extremely grateful for the few souls out there who have connected with the book; and yet, they have subsequently moved on to other happy pursuits, while I continue pressing on in my little niche. Be forewarned.
The publisher advised that authors should establish a presence on the web and on social media. Hence, the development of this web site and my engagement with other sites that touch on Gospel origins. (Social media isn’t really appropriate for this discipline.) Indeed, the web has proved a nice forum for not only further refining and expounding the arguments for an early Matthew but also for exploring the implications of such—all of which may lead to a future book. For the aspiring author, this is well worth your time.
Challenges await those who manage to get their first book published. First is the uncertainty as to whether anyone is actually purchasing or reading the book. With my publisher, I receive a royalty check once a year and that is the only visibility provided on sales. However, I have discovered that visibility to library acquisitions is available through worldcat; I check such far too often and then happily run to my wife with each additional listing. Plus, there are digital libraries like perlego and hoopla that can be monitored—am still hopeful that EBSCO may acquire my book! To be clear, I don’t ever expect to recoup the up front costs; however as with a child, I do want to see the book and the ideas prosper.
Second is the long delay in getting any journal reviews, as they seem to occur a year or two after a book is published. Am constantly checking the seminary web sites, but this is proving to be a long wait! Accordingly, I am extremely grateful for the NOBTS review that came out a mere eight months after book publication. So, if you have sympathetic professors who might be willing to write reviews, then work that angle. To get the word out, I’ve also given out stacks of books at conferences and such, hoping that these will foster interest.
What comes next? I will be finishing up the ThM at Liberty later this year. And then? We’ll see what doors the Lord opens!
Dan
P. S. Many thanks to my wife for allowing me to engage in these early-retirement pursuits!
- Antonin G. Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods, trans. Mary P. Ryan (Washington, D.C: Catholic University of America Press, 1998). ↩︎
