My book's chapters

[Trevor]

And I just got a rejection letter from one of the publishers which said " While your book is valid in terms of history it is unfortunately not fully academic in nature"

WTF is that supposed to mean exactly? 

More citations and footnotes?  More cowbell?   

The company Intellect Publishers in the UK publish "scholarly texts" written by people who probably haven't touched a camera or ever been on a movie set before. I don't mind the rejection, it's just that they didn't have my entire ms and they judged the book's potential on that alone.

[Alex]

From what little I've looked into things previously, that does seem to be how the publishing industry works. Even if they had the whole thing you have no guarantee that they've sat down and read it all alas.

[Trevor]

From what little I've looked into things previously, that does seem to be how the publishing industry works. Even if they had the whole thing you have no guarantee that they've sat down and read it all alas.

At least I still have that other publisher who sent me a provisional contract. 

[bob]

keep shopping the book around

it sounds interesting 

[Trevor]

keep shopping the book around

it sounds interesting 

Thanks: it's actually my story in the film industry together with the events. 

[LilCerberus]

Does it have any pictures?
I like movie books with pictures.

[Trevor]

Does it have any pictures?
I like movie books with pictures.

So far twelve from movies and about ten more historical pics ☺️

[ER]

Few undertakings in life have the potential to bring one more pain than the desire to be a published writer.

[Trevor]

Few undertakings in life have the potential to bring one more pain than the desire to be a published writer.

I hear you very clearly: I have been trying to get published since 1992.

[ER]

Why don't you open your own publishing business? It would cost relatively little in this day and age and then you could make money helping others get published, and have control over your own title.

[Trevor]

This was my reply to them a few minutes ago:

Thanks for the email regarding my ms.

I am a bit saddened that you feel the ms is not for you for two reasons:

(a) the manuscript is almost five hundred pages in length, it is a scholarly work which will appeal to many and you did not even receive a quarter of it so it was judged on what you did receive.
(b) I feel the refusal is more to do with my supposed lack of academic credentials than my work, even though I am a thirty year film industry veteran who lived through most of what is described in the book and have assisted on over five hundred films. None of your authors can claim that.
That aside, I would just like to request that the information which was sent to you be discarded as I do not wish to see any of my IP being used in any other publications online or hard copies.

We shall see.

[ER]

Their loss, Trevor! Hang in there.

Brandon Sanderson had to shop his first book to something like a score of publishers, but eventually he found success. Stephen King says getting published that first time is like a lot like being willing to keep feeding chips into a slot machine: enough patience and it'll eventually pay off. I hope they give you constructive feedback or at least an explanation.

Writers need thick skin, and remember, no matter what they say, good or bad, it's just their opinion. Good luck!

[Trevor]

Well, I have to give them credit: they responded. 

Our decision was based much more on the fact that we have a couple of books examining the South African film industry already and the most recent is not selling very well. We do not have particularly robust distribution in South Africa and that has proved a problem for a primary market, and the market is limited in the US and UK it seems, or at least has been for our recent efforts. We pride ourselves on working with practitioners as well as academics so I can assure you the decision was not based simply on your credentials.

Not based simply on my credentials, huh? You had my four page CV, you morons.

[Rev. Powell]

Well, I have to give them credit: they responded. 

Our decision was based much more on the fact that we have a couple of books examining the South African film industry already and the most recent is not selling very well. We do not have particularly robust distribution in South Africa and that has proved a problem for a primary market, and the market is limited in the US and UK it seems, or at least has been for our recent efforts. We pride ourselves on working with practitioners as well as academics so I can assure you the decision was not based simply on your credentials.

Not based simply on my credentials, huh? You had my four page CV, you morons.

That was nice of them. When I get rejections that include a personal note/explanation/advice rather than just a form letter I count that as a win. Their explanation makes perfect sense and doesn't reflect on the quality of your work.

[Trevor]

Well, I have to give them credit: they responded. 

Our decision was based much more on the fact that we have a couple of books examining the South African film industry already and the most recent is not selling very well. We do not have particularly robust distribution in South Africa and that has proved a problem for a primary market, and the market is limited in the US and UK it seems, or at least has been for our recent efforts. We pride ourselves on working with practitioners as well as academics so I can assure you the decision was not based simply on your credentials.

Not based simply on my credentials, huh? You had my four page CV, you morons.

That was nice of them. When I get rejections that include a personal note/explanation/advice rather than just a form letter I count that as a win. Their explanation makes perfect sense and doesn't reflect on the quality of your work.

Thanks: they seem legit.