Welcome to
Peter E. Randall Publisher's Town History Herald, an e-newsletter for groups and individuals who are planning a history related book project
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Rick Holmes, author of Nutfield Rambles says:
"Nutfield Rambles is my third book using Peter E.
Randall as my publisher. In each instance the process has been a
pleasure. Peter and his staff treat me with respect, are responsive to my requests
and are always there with sound advice. They have made the whole process remarkably easy. Thank you Peter, Deidre and Grace. Much of the favorable
responses I have already received on this book are because of your
professionalism in helping me produce a great looking book. Will I use Peter
Randall again? Sure will--I've already started work
on my next book, about Robert Frost."
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 New from Peter E. Randall Publisher...
Communities & Consequences, The Unbalancing of New Hampshire's Human Ecology, & What We Can Do About It, by Peter Francese and Lorraine Stuart Merrill.
Along with its companion documentary and Web site, this book endeavors to
show how a relatively small segment of the human ecosystem-the state of
New Hampshire-is being substantially altered, to its
economic and social detriment. The most significant and potentially
most harmful consequence is the high outmigration of young adults. Read more ...
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Ten Good Reasons to Publish History Part II
[continued from January 2008 newsletter]
By Deidre Randall, CEO
Membership in the local historical society suggests that you are a unique person. You spend your time in caring for the legacy of your community. One of the ways to share that legacy with others is to create a publication. This offers many advantages beyond a physical display. This newsletter highlights the rewards and advantages of publication.
Some of those advantages are very clear. We learn from the past and can proceed into the future with more confidence when we know where we have been before. In some cases, where we have been before was wonderful and we want to remember and replicate it in the future. In other cases it wasn't so wonderful and we want to avoid returning there at all costs.
Any time a history publication is begun, there are often different motivations for those working on it. Setting history down on paper gives a sense of relief for many. This valuable information won't be lost. In other cases, there is a sense of pride from taking stock of achievements and celebrating them. A centennial anniversary for a town is cause for celebration and a new history publication is often just the ticket.
Most projects begin with a core group of interested parties. These individuals can include researchers, writers, fundraisers, and community leaders. Sharing this newsletter with others in your community can support your dream of publication, and help it to make it a reality.
- Inspire the youth of the community to strive for excellence.
- Inform the future by remembering lessons from the past.
- Have fun with a community project.
- Create a revenue stream for your group.
- Give your community a sense of being and value, while building community spirit.
·Inspire the youth of the community to strive for excellence - Young people seek inspiration and find it in unlikely places. Deidre Randall, publisher, states, "When I entered my son's classroom to facilitate a history writing and publishing project, I was thrilled by the energy of the children. At the end of the school year, a third of the class said they wanted to become publishers. By involving them in writing and illustrating history, I was able to ignite their sense of place, and the effect was a clear surge in energy about writing and preservation." Making presentations to the schools in the town can be a wonderful extension of a book project.
·Inform the future by remembering lessons from the past - "I think it's important for a community, and certainly those in a community who have responsibilities for decision making, to know what has gone on before them," said Richard Scaramelli, author of the Town History of Surry, NH 1920-2000.
·Have fun with a community project - Most authors who write a small press publication claim they aren't doing it for a large profit. The personal satisfaction and rewards of having a job well done always offer incentive, but most tell us they have fun with their book projects. Many groups in towns that create and publish histories have no idea starting out how much fun there can be. Connections are made with others who are passionate about history, and gratitude is shared in the community for the efforts of those who are responsible for the new title.
·Create a revenue stream from your project - Jean Doyle, author of the Life in Newburyport, 1900-1950, tells us, "I didn't do the book to make a lot of money, but I have sold over 600 copies in just eight weeks. I had a lot of advance orders and that was a great start to the sales. Now many of those folks are getting back in touch and buying several more copies for friends and relatives who don't live in town anymore. It's been a success financially, personally and historically. I am thinking of a second volume, since I didn't bring this history all the way to the present day."
·Give your community a sense of being and value, while building community spirit - Finding the time to develop a sense of value in where you live can be difficult these days. Families move around more than they used to and sometimes communities lack the deep connections that come with generations of residence. It's often nice to see how a new history can inspire those newer to a community to understand what surrounds them, as well as to help them to take steps to get more involved. When community spirit is strong it benefits all.
Coming next - Read an article on "Raising Funds for Your History Book" in the March 2008 edition of Peter E. Randall Publisher's Town History Herald, an e-newsletter for groups and individuals who are planning a history related book project.
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