A Speccy Man Has A Breakdown - day 11

Listen to me reading this

<< Day 9

(I skipped day 10.) The response was unexpected, when I sent out an email last week outlining the specs (ha!) for A Speccy Man Has a Breakdown (108 pages, hardback, good paper, dust jacket, numbered and signed, with an art print, £45, etc etc).

I was just trying to share my thinking, so it was a delightful surprise that a handful of people replied, asking where the “buy” button was.

There was no button – still isn’t – because I haven’t yet worked out shipping costs, which will vary. Most people who have pre-ordered live in the UK, but others live in Canada, Malta, Switzerland and perhaps elsewhere that I don’t know about.

Meanwhile, yesterday I shared with my agent, Jaime Marshall, what’s been happening. He was at London Book Fair last week, which is a big deal for publishing people, so I left him alone. He’s pleased to hear my news, and thinks this is the right way to get this book done and out into the world – whatever may happen to it later.

The handful of people who pre-ordered has since increased to 18. One of the people on the list is someone I haven’t seen for years. He lives abroad, is coming to London in mid-April, and messaged to ask if we can meet – perhaps I could bring along his signed copy of the book?

I was thrilled, but thought I’d better check with the printer if that’s feasible.

So I messaged the printer, asked about turnaround times, and also if I could see some kind of dummy of the book: same pagination, same paper and so on – even if it’s blank inside.

I wanted to hold it and be sure the finished book won’t feel cheap or wrong before I commit.

But it turns out that the printing will not be finished by the time my friend is in London. Also disappointing: creating even a single prototype will cost £200 and more.

I really must get on. I said I would finish this by the end of March. I certainly won’t have the finished books, but I can keep 31 March in mind as a deadline for uploading the finished words + art.

One more thing today: buying ISBN numbers. You can only buy them in blocks of ten, but that’s fine by me – I have plans for the other nine.

Full of ideas.

There are 232 copies left. If you know someone who might want one, or who might simply find this project interesting, feel free to pass this along.

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👉 If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a crisis line in your country. In the UK, Samaritans are available any time on 116 123.

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