[SlowBoat407]

The one book I've had published was a textbook I co-authored with the real expert on the subject (fiber optics). Originally I was going to ghost write the theoretical and historical sections, but by the time the contract was written, I was a co-author - cover credit and all! Then the expert went into the hospital and I ended up writing a lot more than we had anticipated, with his expertise and my tech writing experience to get us through. He insisted I take the whole advance, and he'd take the royalties, and I agreed.

Called that one right. He has yet to see any royalties, and the advance got me a new computer and helped me pay down some debt. Don't worry about him, though. He's an engineer, I'm a writer. Guess who doesn't need the moeny.

[SlowBoat407]

moeny = money

Dammit, Jim! I’m a writer, not a proofreader!

[gardengirl]

Congrats! Don’t know if I could write a textbook! I tend to write the way I talk—not sure the two are compatible! I do get lots of compliments on my gardening column and I can’t tell you how nice it is. One older gentleman wanted to know what school of journalism I attended—he was flabbergasted when I told him I didn’t even go to college.

Your textbook sounds infinitely more interesting than some of the ones I had in school! Most textbooks are guaranteed to turn kids off reading. I grew up on an isolated farm. I’m the oldest, so I spent a lot of time by myself. I’ve always had an overactive imagination, have gotten in a lot of trouble for it on occasion. OTOH, I’m never bored!