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Writing a Book

© Sue Vogan

I have just learned that my book, NCO-No Compassion Observed, is at press. It was tough writing about how the military and our government treated us, but it has been like giving birth to get the book from manuscript to galley ready. Most, as I did, believe that writing a book is a piece of cake. You have an idea, translate that into words, and send off to publishers -- Poof! Not so. One must research the publisher so that your query or manuscript submission meets with their guidelines, the right editor must be selected according to your genre, and a second job to afford postage wouldn't hurt since most publishers do not accept email submissions. An agent is helpful, too, because many publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Searching for an agent can be compared to hunting for an aspirin in a relaxing bubble bath -- both of which you will need before it's all over.

After your manuscript is accepted by a publisher and a contract is signed, the editing begins. This is a long process. Once this is completed, the copyediting begins. In the meantime, you are searching for your forward, blurbs and getting ready to scour the ends of the earth for reviewers. Hawking your book starts comes shortly after you write a hook, beg your friends to help with your book tour, and somewhere in between galley and actual book for sale.

I have made it to the galley point. I am now doing radio interviews, started mapping out a book tour and I still have two friends left! I am in the process of waiting for the galleys to roll off the printing press so that I can spend even more money to buy them and send them to reviewers, so they can offer their opinion of NCO-No Compassion Observed. I am told that no less than 300 galleys are needed to send -- my wallet says it's more like 50. Once this is completed, the book goes back to press so what the reviewers have to say about my blood, sweat and tears can be printed on the back of the jacket cover.

I wish that this situation had never happened, but if it had to, I wish that it would have happened when I was younger. This book publishing experience has taken almost as much toll on me as the illegal actions of the military and Lyme disease. If the government hadn't been experimenting with ticks as vectors for biowarfare, I wouldn't have Lyme disease. If the military hadn't caved in to unrealistic demands from a handful of South Korean rioters, I wouldn't have been involved in anything that the military would have been embarrassed enough to have used illegal tactics to punish me. If the military had straightened out the mess they illegally created, I wouldn't have had to write a book. If I wouldn't have had to write a book, I can only imagine that I would have more time to devote to volunteering and spending time with my family. Hind sight is 20/20 -- I wish, more than anything else, that those we have entrusted the charge of our country to was equipped to admit their wrongs and right them. Then, no one would be sick with Lyme disease, no one would have been allowed to sway the South Korea command, there would be no military-caused-illegal-mess, and only books about song birds and island vacations would be in demand.

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