One year ago, I submitted the manuscript and artwork for the Fred Taylor book, What, and Give up Showbiz? to its publisher, Backbeat Books. Working with Fred had been a big part of my life for almost four years, and handing off the manuscript was a cause for celebration. Being the as-told-to guy on a book project is a long and sometimes tedious process. More on that some other time.
Fred Taylor really wanted to see his story finished and in print, but it was not to be. He died in October 2019 of cancer. At that point I wondered if the project would even go forward, but the publisher was committed to Showbiz and determined to publish it. In February, Backbeat’s editor sent me her revisions to review. We resolved those, leaving me with only one more hurdle to jump to complete my work. All that remained was to review the page proofs, the last reading before the book goes into production. The publication date was set for May 2020.
Then came the virus, and the publisher furloughed the staff. Everything stopped. The release date was pushed back to July, then October, and now November. And finally, last week, the editor sent the page proofs for the final review. They looked just fine!
With my commitments to Fred and to the publisher complete, I am officially done with What, and Give up Showbiz? I look forward to seeing it in print at last come November. Better late than never, as the old saying goes.
It is good to see this important project come to fruition. Fred was a major player in the Boston jazz world with many tales to tell.
Jazz yes, but maybe you’ll be surprised by the all the non-jazz stories Fred related to me.
Congratulations Richard.
Thanks Payson…there are a lot of people hoping it won’t be too much longer.
Can not wait for this book…Dan Frank
That’s great news. Sorry that Fred isn’t here to see the day, but he lives anew in your book. May November 2020 be a month of much good news!
Can’t wait.
Dick—been looking forward to your book for awhile. Congratulations!
As the man said, it ain’t over ’til it’s over, but I’m hopeful this is it. Ask me in a couple months.