The Enid Blyton Society

I'm still awaiting my 'complementary copy'...

Awww. Hi everyone!

Nigel dialled me by mistake about a month ago, which prompted me to pay a quick visit to the forums a few weeks ago (although I didn't post). And I paid another visit last night. A very interesting string, and thanks for the updates Anita and Pete (must keep this on topic! ).

I hope you're all keeping well.

You also tried to FaceTime me, Rob, but I couldn't connect with you. It is good to see you back.

Tony Summerfield wrote:I don't know if anybody else has noticed, but the website for this book seems to have vanished. I am not sure if this means that the book has been abandoned or if the website just has a new different address.

After you rang me, I contacted Keith who didn't know it was down. He promised to look into it and the website is now up again.

Moonraker wrote:You also tried to FaceTime me, Rob, but I couldn't connect with you. It is good to see you back.

I didn't realise that Nigel. Apparently it's called "butt-dialling" in the States.

Sounds painful!

Split from another topic.

As one of the book's original funders,I've been eagerly following the progress of Brian's book...

PROGRESS OF THE BOOK

This page is set up to let visitors to this website follow the progress of my book: Enid Blyton – The Untold Story from cover design to printing. The progress was held up temporarily on account of copyright issues that have now been fully resolved.
Consequently, the way is now clear for the publication process to begin.

August 2015: The copy editing is still in progress. Its completion, somewhat delayed, will be announced here.

http://www.enidblytonbio.co.uk/progress-of-the-book.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm still waiting for my complementary copy!!

pete9012S wrote:As one of the book's original funders,I've been eagerly following the progress of Brian's book...

The problem is that there is no progress, Pete. Other than the 'Last Updated' bit on the Home page, where the date gets changed fairly regularly, nothing has happened on that website for a full year now.

I don’t see why the book should take so long to copy-edit. You cannot get rid of all errors. Every book - even from the biggest publishers - has errors in it. At some point you have to accept that and move on.

One problem I think with this book is that Brian went the conventional way with the publication. A quicker and cheaper way would have been through print-on-demand, example Amazon’s CreateSpace. And even though you can’t get hardcover copies through this process, you can just take your book file to a printer/binder to make hardcover copies for you.

I had thought of offering my services to him for free - I’ve done quite a lot of books through CreateSpace - but he seemed set on this more traditional and I supposed more “prestigious” route. But I think that route is still “vanity publishing”. You just pay an arm and a leg for it.

Some very good suggestions there Liam.

I wonder if Brian could apply some of your suggestions,or if it is now too late for him to change tack on the way he publishes his book?

I personally don't think it will ever be published! I read the pages I'm quoted on, and it seemed quite an interesting book from what i could tell. Shame it's taking so long to happen though. I've always loved that cover illustration.

Pete, he's probably too invested in the other way to change now. But if he meets a complete dead end, then the print-on-demand option would be the way to go.

Brian Carter's book is no longer the 'Untold Story' as I received a copy of it in this morning's post. I first knew about this book when Brian approached me about twenty years ago, and I read an early draft of the book about twelve years ago, so it has had a very long gestation period. It is now born and it is a truly magnificent-looking hardback book with 382 pages of shiny art paper (probably not a technical term!) with numerous illustrations in it.

I am not sure if it is available to buy anywhere yet, but even before I read it again I know I can warmly recommend it.

The link below, which is in the first post of this topic, links to some further info, Tony.

UPDATES
The printing process has been completed 19/04/21.
After 10 years of research and hard work, Enid Blyton: The Untold Story is now published. Patience is really a virtue!
The book will soon be available exclusively on Amazon. No immediate plans to have the book in bookshops.

http://www.enidblytonbio.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I too now have Brian's 'The Untold Story and have read it and I believe it is one of the best books ever written about Enid Blyton. It is all about the amazing strengths she brought to the world of children. This book clearly explains her amazing skills and knowledge and why so many of our lives were helped and impacted by her.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSATIONAL PUBLICITY SEEKING NONSENSE IN THIS BOOK.

The research Brian has done for this book is excellent, it is the book we have all been waiting for that explains why Enid Blyton was so successful and wonderful and loved by us all.

Well done Brian and thank you.

cheers
Sue