12 replies to this topic

[Derwent Motorsport]

I see Veloce have been bought up by David and Charles.  According to the article Veloce's turn our last year was much smaller than in the past. 

[john aston]

More people need to buy my book then...   

[Collombin]

Its title has negative connotations, and as the Stallone film came first you only have yourself to blame.

[2F-001]

I believe that was the publisher's advice and not John's first choice...

[Collombin]

Ah, OK, a not uncommon occurrence. I doubt anybody seriously would have made a connection anyway.

Edited by Collombin, 02 February 2024 - 23:20.

[john aston]

The title is awful (unlike the contents ). The publisher insisted on  the title being SEO* and clearly relating to the content. My title was Refuge of the Roads , which survived as a chapter title, and my website's name .Joni hasn't protested.     

 

*Search engine optimised  

[RCH]

I see Veloce have been bought up by David and Charles.  According to the article Veloce's turn our last year was much smaller than in the past. 

 

I didn't realise David & Charles still existed! "David" St John Thomas, the founder, went to the same school as me.

[Vitesse2]

I didn't realise David & Charles still existed! "David" St John Thomas, the founder, went to the same school as me.

Same company in spirit, although not in fact. Sold to Readers Digest in 1990, management buyout 1997, then sold to Funk & Wagnalls in 2000. F&W bankrupted 2017, another MBO, current company founded 2019. They've specialised in (mostly) craft books - and craft supplies - for the past couple of decades, so it's interesting to see them going back into the automotive field, which they dabbled in but were never big players. They were one of the  biggest railway book publishers at one time, but that market now seems to be dominated by Crécy, who picked up both Ian Allan and the former Haynes/OPC lists.

 

"Charles" was the canal and industrial historian Charles Hadfield, many of whose books were published by D&C. As were DSJT's!

[RS2000]

I once thought Funk and Wagnall were a manufactured name on "Rowan and Martins'  Laugh In"....

 

I used to live  4 miles from Veloce and visiting  the Dorchester office was akin to gaining access to a "Speakeasy" during Prohibition. Ring on a nondescript door next to a shop...

[E1pix]

John’s book is really good, and he’s a benefit to TNF.

I’m at a loss why anyone here would pick at the title.

[lyntonh]

The title is awful (unlike the contents ). The publisher insisted on  the title being SEO* and clearly relating to the content. My title was Refuge of the Roads , which survived as a chapter title, and my website's name .Joni hasn't protested.     

 

*Search engine optimised  

You've explained something that had me wondering....why would someone who regularly reviews books, and casts a critical eye over how they are put together, fall for such an obvious trap, and choose such a common title ?

 

When I decided to buy your book on Apple Books and/or Kindle, I searched the title by name alone.

 

It didn't appear anywhere near the top of a list of several books of exactly the same name.

 

Once I added the author's name....hey presto.

 

Searching on the Internet has become an exercise in trying to avoid being kidnapped by irrelevance.

 

It appears that your publisher's 'clever' ploy to increase exposure is practised by all and sundry, and was immediately rendered pointless, because he or she didn't bother looking to see how many others would get in the way.

 

How many searched in vain and gave up ?

 

Selecting a unique title is simply the bleeding obvious.

 

And, as Eric has said, it was an excellent read.

Edited by lyntonh, 03 February 2024 - 23:37.

[john aston]

It was profoundly annoying . I had a very good contact, Tim , at Veloce  but I'm afraid the boss's word was final . I've written three books (two non motorsport ) and , perhaps because of the rising importance of the web , only had SEO nonsense about the title on the last one. Titles are actually bloody hard to get right - I find it far harder to come up with a good one than  actually writing - and I was disheartened and embarrassed to end up with such a tired , hackneyed title which has already been used many times. 

 

But beggars cannot be choosers and I was delighted that Veloce had agreed to publish . I am not a household name and therefore have no leverage at all in persuading a publisher to do my bidding. Sorry to go on, but I do bristle at being told  by our friend that 'You only have yourself to blame '.  If only it were so simple.... 

[Michael Ferner]

 

Searching on the Internet has become an exercise in trying to avoid being kidnapped by irrelevance.

 

Spot on...