The "Let's Bug John Garfield To Write A Book" Thread

Haven't read "Dark Trade," CP, but've heard glowing reports about it over the years, and will add it to my book list.

Appreciate the thoughtful concept suggestion.

 

Without a doubt.

Dooooooo it.

 

Easy for you to say, R

 

Ok, how about a book full of short stories then? You have half of them done already. Just dedicated the book to the wife and you are fine.

 

I'll just put a fancy cover on my posts, M, and see if that sells...Of course, dedicating it to my wife.

 

JG, Glad to hear you're considering doing a book. You've lead a facinating life being as close to sport as you've been. I'll second that a book on Monzon would be a great read, and hasn't been done bfore (which is strange, to say the least).
Your stories and first hand experiences with SRR and Joe Louis would be great in print...I'd really like something re SRR from you.(but I'm a Robinson fan)
Another idea which would be a nice read is Stillman's Gym....as far as boxing goes, you have almost unlimited ideas there....great fighters, trainers, personalities...Hey, you've been there, you've lived it...just put it down on paper.

 

Such a book would be a veritable treasure trove for any boxing fan from the casual to the historian.

Some would read it cover to cover, some would dip into it for the ocasional yarn when they had a bit of time to kill.

I am certain that some passages would ultimately get quoted in other books, and articles.

Only one person can make it happen.

 

No BS, j, I'm humbled by your comment. I'd hate to have it fall short of expectations.

 

I know from your posts that you have good prose style and an excelent knack for telling stories. The latter is something that not a lot of people have.

The hardest part would be producing a structure for the book in terms of chapters, and sequence of stories in each chapter. Once you had that you would not have much trouble with the rest.

The publisher would give it to a proof reader who would tidy it up in terms of the gramar, flow between events, typos etc.

 

Hey JG, this may sound ridiculous, but maybe not. Why not write it right here, on this forum? Start a thread of your stories; I think you know what format it will be in, and everyday post one or two stories for everyone to enjoy and to sound off on. The book is already written J, in your head; you just have to get it out. You know I'm not computer saavy, but you could probably transfer it to your personal file from here. This way you'll get all the feedback you could ask for, directly from your intended market-reader, and the book will in effect write itself. Your golden!

 

After reading this to my wife, her response was: "JUST WRITE THE ****'N BOOK!"

 

It is your choice at the end of the day but if you were interested in writing it, I have relatives in publishing and could advise you where to submit it, and how.

If you submited it to the wong publisher it would get thrown on a so called "slush pile" and probably not be looked at. The first Harry Potter book was rescued from a slush pile against the odds.

If you submit it through an agent it would go straight under the nose of a publisher.

 

I'm overwhelmed by your offer, j -- beyond anything I could've imagined, from what seemed like a thread that was a good-natured nudge.

I'll keep this close-at-hand.

 

Right on the money, s. Still weighing what I"ll need to be passionate about for months.

First, and foremost, it has to be a cracking-good story, (not every boxer lends himself to that. Some great ones have been vanilla)

The book has to stand on its own as a compelling read...Might even be a novel set against a boxing bg, similar to W.C. Heinz's "The Professional."

The litmus test is making it a page-turner.