The Book Deal That Almost Was

Back in May, while sipping a quadruple espresso and killing time at Chicago's O'Hare airport owing to a delayed flight (imagine that!), I got an email from the publisher of a major and highly respected publishing company. He wanted to know if I'd be interested in writing a book, and he even suggested a specific topic.

It took me all of three seconds to say yes. After all, I'd been contemplating the idea of writing a book for years, and because my show was no longer in production, I finally felt as though I had the time to devote to such a project.

So once I got home (finally!), I wrote a proposal based on the publisher's idea in 48 hours and sent it to him to review. His idea, by the way, was for me to write a scathing indictment of the chemical industry, and the controversial nature of the topic appealed to me. Unfortunately, it didn't appeal to the sales and marketing folks at the publishing company. The lawyers were apparently a bit skiddish as well. So, the executive editor suggested I write something more along the lines of a how-to book on gardening. Fine, I thought. I could that in my sleep.

I delivered the second proposal with a week or so, and waited for a response. This time, the sales and marketing folks were on board. Ditto the editorial staff. But the publisher wasn't all that thrilled. He wanted yet another proposal, something really catchy and trendy. Well, I've never thought of myself as trendy, but I did see the merit in taking such an approach with my first book because I wanted to reach the largest audience possible.

The third proposal took me a tad longer to write, largely because I wasn't all that excited about it. However, I assumed the Powers That Be at the publishing company probably knew more than I about selling books. And lo and behold, after reading the proposal, they said they were prepared to offer me a deal. Great, I thought. I'm finally going to get the opportunity to write a book.

Then came the offer, and my excitement abruptly turned to disappointment. The amount of money they offered me as an advance was a pittance. In fact, at first I laughed when I saw the number, thinking that maybe they'd left out a zero. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I make more money in a weekend than they were offering me to write a book that would take at least six months to complete.

So now I'm back to square one. In all likelihood, I'll still write a book -- the one I think is needed most by gardeners -- and make it available for sale online and when I make personal appearances. And I've already decided on a title: "Gardening by the Book." What do you think?

Peace,

Paul   

Comments

[Susan Ashworth]

We need the book! I will buy the book as soon as it hits your website.

[Arkansas Patti]

To write what they wanted you to write would have been a bloody chore and probably not that good. It would have been forced. Write what you want and sign me up. Include veggies please.

[Seth Paridon]

BRING IT ON!!! I've been waiting for a Paul james book for friggin years. Do it dude, you would sell a pile.

[Diana]

I'd buy it!
I hope you can get your jokes to translate nicely from the show to book format. They are one of the reasons your show stood out!

[Dave@TheHomeGarden]

Works for me! You have some much information to share I'm sure it would be a success. I like books where the author speaks from his or her personal perspective.

[Katie]

Sounds like good ol' traditional media at it's finest to me. Good for you to turn it down. I love that you blog and wish you the best of luck with all of your endeavors.

[Tricia]

Count me in as a buyer if you ever put a book out there. I have many of them but my two favorite gardening books are The Complete Garden Flower Book (for inspiration and hard facts with great pics and easy to read information) and Trowel and Error. That one is the kind of thing I'd picture you writing. Lots of great information gleaned over years of gardening, casual, humorous, and somewhat whimsical.

I think it's a great idea, Paul. :)

[Barbara Shaw]

Go Paul, I am a bookoholic. Can't get enough. Screw them. You go dude

[Steve]

I'm on board... waiting to buy your book!

[Bill Abbott]

The publishing world is totally out of touch with the public, that is why the internet and internet publishing will make them as useless as companies who make buggy whips. Good luck with your endeavor; I will look forward to seeing it.

[Nancy]

The title is perfect. Not sure how you would incorporate your humor in the book and how it will fit, but that's completely why I watched your show!!! I look forward to the final product.

[Shonda]

I'm so excited that you will be publishing a book on your own. Count me in line to buy it. I'm sorry about your disappointment with the Powers that Be. I would have loved a book on the chemicals industry. I would have eaten that up!

[Fran Casey]

I've watched as long as you've been on HGTV and learned most of my gardening stuff from you. There's so much information. I think you need a series of books.
and
I don't agree with "on-line only" as was stated earlier. I want something to take in the garden with me, to crinkle the edges of and highlight at will.

[Tom]

That is a great title!

[xav]

I can't wait for your book! You should write what you want, the publishing industry in this country has turned into a joke. Good luck!

[Cheryl]

I would want two...but please be sure to put some of your personality and humor in that book !!

[J. Warren]

Searching for a book by you is actually how I came across this blog! I assumed you must have had at least one book out by now. When I was shopping for my mom's birthday last month I did a search hoping a Paul James book would pop up on Amazon or something. Had to come up with a different plan for a gift, but that's okay. As it turns out, I shared the blog with Mom and she spent the first half of her birthday enjoying your rants. How's that for a silver lining?

[Jean D Bailey]

Hi Mr. James, Jean here... Gardening saved my sanity thanks to my brother, my father, and your show on HGTV. In a few words, took early retirement to bring mother home from nursing home, had no interest in "outside" life, brother made me a raised garden bed, bla bla bla. Mother gone now, brother too suddenly, and again my gardening helps me deal with grief. Thanks Mr. James, thanks for your show, your website, your blog, and hopefully "Gardening by the Book".

[Geri Freitas]

Hi Paul, I am looking forward to your book based on your concepts of gardening, not a publisher's. How about submitting a book proposal to publishers Sunset Magazine or Dorling Kindersley (kd.com) in the UK? DK published a great book titled The Complete Book of Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson (now out of print). I enjoy your HGTV show Gardening by the Yard very much and always learn something new--even from the reruns. Keep us posted!

[Darcy]

We've been begging for a book for years and will take it where we can get it!! We've been doing regular checkups online hoping to see an announcement of a book, and found this! We've been big fans of yours since the beginning (our kids are huge fans, too!) and would love a hard copy of your wit and wisdom! You changed how we garden and, in part, how we looked at our food!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1551802606]

Great title! But I'm glad you didn't take the deal and won't be "writing by the book" but writing in the same way you would garden. I'll buy it!

[Grace]

Hi Paul~~ First time visitor here. I've had a bit of experience with the publishing world and, sadly it's all about selling books. [Love the buggy whip analogy comment.] An agent who promptly turned down my query signed a romance novelest to a three-book deal. It seems that quality takes a paltry backseat to what sells. [Not that my proposal was perfect, but come on...] I hope when you complete your manuscript you will feel psyched enough to once again query the editors [or agents]. Maybe Timber Press whose specialty is gardening genre. Love your title, especially if it comes with a somewhat subversive subtitle, such as "My book, not yours." or "My somewhat subversive thoughts on the subject of gardening." Definitely a best seller. --Just my two bits.

[Doc in CA]

Paul, by all means write the book. Great title, by the way.

However, do look into self publishing for e-book use. First off, sales for the Kindle are booming and many other e-book readers are coming soon. Even better, self publishers get a MUCH larger piece of the pie as opposed to writers who go the traditional dead tree route. You can even set your own price for the book. Finally, e-book publishing would probably still allow you to put out a print version.

Regardless of which way you go, I'll be buying the book whenever it comes out.

[Mark Carter]

I am deeply saddened that your show will no longer be produced. It feels like losing an old friend. You have been an inspiration to me over the years and will be truly missed. When you said you were selling your house I became suspicious but hadn't had the heart to find out for sure until now. And yes, I will certainly buy your book.

[Donna Long]

Dear Paul

I read your article on the last page of Fine Gardening magazine (Dec. 2009) and was inspired. I even tore it out to refer to over and over.

As a writer and gardener I think my future is in interacting directly with my readers through the Internet. Your experiences confirm this.

So, write the darn book. I'll buy it and promote it on my websites.

A longtime fan,