The New York Public Library's centennial celebration is about a month away. On May 26, just three days after the actual century-date, I will be contributing to the NYPL's Huffington Post blog, in a "guest appearance." I've been asked to write about how I did the research for The Library Book.
On May 20. there will be an all-night scavenger hunt in the Fifth Avenue building. I have signed up for it, as have thousands and thousands of others. I'd be surprised if I were chosen. If I am, I will post to this blog and tweet from the Library's innards all night long!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The new Website is ready
Go to www.johnfiske.com to read about The Library Book, and my new book, The Pilots' Guide to the Airports of Historic Massachusetts. The Pilots' Guide is due from the printer this week.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The POD edition is out
The print-on-demand edition of The Library Book is ready, and available! I am very pleased with it, and I hope everyone will buy and read it. On the Amazon site, search "The Library Book John Fiske," and it'll pop right up.
I ordered a copy last week, and it arrived today. I showed it to the clerk at the post office and she could not tell that the book was POD. I raised the price from $19.95 to $22.00 (although I paid the old price for my own book!) The shipping was around $3.40.
Altogether, I've been quite pleased with CreateSpace's service, and the quality of the product. (CreateSpace is Amazon's POD affiliate). I strongly believe that the POD business model is correct for The Library Book, as demand for the book is uncertain, and yet the book will be continuously available, or in print.
So, go to Amazon's site, and order a copy!
I ordered a copy last week, and it arrived today. I showed it to the clerk at the post office and she could not tell that the book was POD. I raised the price from $19.95 to $22.00 (although I paid the old price for my own book!) The shipping was around $3.40.
Altogether, I've been quite pleased with CreateSpace's service, and the quality of the product. (CreateSpace is Amazon's POD affiliate). I strongly believe that the POD business model is correct for The Library Book, as demand for the book is uncertain, and yet the book will be continuously available, or in print.
So, go to Amazon's site, and order a copy!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Carrere's death
John Merven Carrere, architect of the New York Public Library, died on March 1, 1911, one hundred years ago today. He had been injured in a car accident at Madison and 74th, and he never recovered. Carrere's wife, Marion, and his two daughters did return from their holiday in Europe before he died.
A few days later his body lay in state in the foyer of the New York Public Library, which was due to open to the public in May.
In my book, The Library Book, the foyer was Carrere's favorite space in the library. It is my favorite space because it reminds me of the marble quarries in which I went scuba diving, and from which the stone for the library came.
Learn more about the book at www.johnfiske.com
A few days later his body lay in state in the foyer of the New York Public Library, which was due to open to the public in May.
In my book, The Library Book, the foyer was Carrere's favorite space in the library. It is my favorite space because it reminds me of the marble quarries in which I went scuba diving, and from which the stone for the library came.
Learn more about the book at www.johnfiske.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Almost Done
The second edition of The Library Book is almost ready for publication. I decided to use Amazon's CreateSpace to produce the book because almost everyone thinks of Amazon when they buy a book. Last week someone purchased a copy of the first edition; that person automatically went to Amazon. CreateSpace was not at all expensive to me, and with production, printing, credit card fulfillment, and shipping all under one roof, I felt it was the best way to go.
The print-on-demand model also makes sense. In the first edition, my cellar was a book warehouse. I was also the handler and shipper. Amazon is well constructed to be a printer, a warehouse, a shipper, a handler, and I'll make more money to boot!
CreateSpace does not hold your hand. You have to remember to check the Project Homepage, and you have to make sure they do not make any mistakes. Their customer service teams are responsive, though, and I have no complaints with the service.
The print-on-demand model also makes sense. In the first edition, my cellar was a book warehouse. I was also the handler and shipper. Amazon is well constructed to be a printer, a warehouse, a shipper, a handler, and I'll make more money to boot!
CreateSpace does not hold your hand. You have to remember to check the Project Homepage, and you have to make sure they do not make any mistakes. Their customer service teams are responsive, though, and I have no complaints with the service.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The accident
February 11, 1911, the taxi John Carrere was riding in was rammed by a trolley car in the intersection of Madison Avenue and 74th St. Here is the scene as it appears in The Library Book:
At the time of the accident, the New York Public Library building on Fifth Avenue was nearly finished. Carrere's wife and children were in Europe. Carrere had had dinner and cocktails with his friend, the architect Donn Barber, and was on his way home in a taxi.
Carrere never recovered from his injuries, and passed away just a few weeks later, March 1, 1911. His bust is in the right-hand stair in the foyer of the New York Public Library.
A patrolman stood at the intersection of Madison Avenue and 74th. A trolley from uptown entered the intersection. The black Studebaker taxi, with driver and single occupant did too, but the trolley didn’t slow down. There was a huge, jarring crash — the trolley and the taxi collided! The policeman jumped back. Glass shattered and fell to the pavement. Carrère was ejected from the back of the taxi, landing on the pavement with a sickening thud, his head snapping back and hitting the curb. Barber jumped with fright, shock, and urgency and ran as fast as he could toward the scene, slipping and nearly falling on an icy patch.
At the time of the accident, the New York Public Library building on Fifth Avenue was nearly finished. Carrere's wife and children were in Europe. Carrere had had dinner and cocktails with his friend, the architect Donn Barber, and was on his way home in a taxi.
Carrere never recovered from his injuries, and passed away just a few weeks later, March 1, 1911. His bust is in the right-hand stair in the foyer of the New York Public Library.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Carrere bought a new car
It was Friday, January 13, 1911, John Carrere bought a new Packard. His partner's wife, Helen Hastings called it the Hoodoo because it was on Friday the 13th that Carrere took delivery.
A couple of days later, on January 15, the New York Public Library's Board decided that the library would be dedicated on May 23, the anniversary of the date the Lenox and Astor Libraries, and the Tilden trust merged to form the New York Public Library.
One hundred years ago, a date had been set!
A couple of days later, on January 15, the New York Public Library's Board decided that the library would be dedicated on May 23, the anniversary of the date the Lenox and Astor Libraries, and the Tilden trust merged to form the New York Public Library.
One hundred years ago, a date had been set!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)