Hey, Garrison Keillor…

Yesterday I received a query from a man who has written a family history. Not unusual. His project, however, is a whopping 700 pages, and he would like it to be printed as a hardcover book. As we conversed, I learned he has the diaries belonging to his grandfather, who lived in Bloomfield, Nebraska near the turn of the twentieth century, and who was also the town’s newspaper editor.

This is the kind of project, without a place like The Troy Book Makers, that might never become a reality. No one would argue it’s categorically unprofitable for a publisher to take it on. Does that mean, though, it doesn’t deserve to be printed?

The value of self-publishing really shines with these kinds of projects, and reminds us of the importance of having access to an affordable, high quality, community printing resource.  Self-publishing returns the spirit of equality and democracy to the market place, don’t you think?

So, Mr. Keillor, if your Norwegian bachelor farmers have a book in them, send them over!

Today’s Upstate history note: Nice post from Jessica DuLong at Wonders and Marvels about Troy’s detachable shirt collars. DuLong is the author of My River Chronicles: Rediscovering the Work that Built America: A Personal and Historical Journey.