CTKA's review of Survivor's Guilt

[Magda Hassan]

THe state of publishing houses is really bad today. If I had to do it all over, I would have published my last two books myself.

I often wonder why more writers don't do that. Musician have done much more of their own label stuff but it hasn't been the same for writers. A bigger slice of the pie and run your own show.

[Jim Hargrove]

I worked in the book publishing business for thirty years or so, both as a managing editor for small independent houses and as a freelance writer. It was always a tough business economically and has become much harder now.

Back in the days when all books were paper, the real problem for self-publishers was distribution and sales. Traditional publishers would always get their galleys reviewed in periodicals like Publishers Weekly and many others and then could rely on well-oiled distribution networks to move titles into stores and libraries. Some of this is still true for eBooks, though I'm not as familiar with it. Sales of eBooks began surpassing print sales a few years ago, if memory serves.

A big thank you to Jim DiEugenio and CTKA for the wonderful book reviews published from time to time. The write-ups are so detailed the reader really gets a glimpse into the true significance of the book, all from the perspective of a world-class expert on JFK's assassination. Thanks again.

[Tracy Riddle]

An then look at what SKyhorse did with Reclaiming Parkland. THey cut out all the great stuff I had on Bugliosi plus my chapter on Mexico City.

(BTW, does everyone know where that stuff is? Its really good. Its at Feral House, The Assassinations page.)

I didn't know about this stuff. Great!

http://feralhouse.com/the-assassinations/

[Jim DiEugenio]

Thanks Tracy and Jim.

I was very disappointed that Skyhorse cut that stuff out of the book.

I really think the chapter on Mex CIty is the best short treatment in the literature. ANd the chapter on Bugliosi is the fullest biography of the man there ever was. In many ways its unprecedented.

[Albert Doyle]

I've started into the Bugliosi material. It's dynamite stuff. The publisher was probably afraid of a reaction.

[Magda Hassan]

I worked in the book publishing business for thirty years or so, both as a managing editor for small independent houses and as a freelance writer. It was always a tough business economically and has become much harder now.

Yeah, I imagine it is quite a hard gig. Especislly for the smaller publishers.

An then look at what SKyhorse did with Reclaiming Parkland. THey cut out all the great stuff I had on Bugliosi plus my chapter on Mexico City.

I didn't know about this stuff. Great!

http://feralhouse.com/the-assassinations/

Wonderful that you have put what was excluded where we can read it.

I was very disappointed that Skyhorse cut that stuff out of the book.

I really think the chapter on Mex CIty is the best short treatment in the literature. ANd the chapter on Bugliosi is the fullest biography of the man there ever was. In many ways its unprecedented.

Why do you think Skyhorse left them out? Worried about a libel suit? Might be a problem for a small publishing house but maybe they should stick to fiction if they don't want to touch living histories.Otherwise it really is cultural vandalism to do what they did.

[Albert Doyle]

You're not allowed to take icons or heavyweights down in America.


The excised text has some typos too.


There's no doubt Bugliosi deliberately omitted some serious rooms from his JFK mansion.



.

[Albert Doyle]

The claim by Elena Garra De Paz that she saw both Oswald and the consulate impostor together in Mexico is extremely interesting because it means Oswald was directly involved as an operative in setting up his image and conducting the Mexico City set-up. That then raises issues about what exactly Oswald thought his role was in Dallas and how he was participating in it there as well.

[Jim DiEugenio]

Skyhorse was petrified of Bugliosi.

Even when I showed them how nothing I wrote met the tree tier standard for libel, they still scampered away like squirrels.

They were actually afraid of getting "him mad". I will never forget that.

Now, why they cut out the Mexico City stuff? THey said it did not pertain to Oswald's guilt or innocence.

I said, I disagree, but anyway that is not the point of my book. My book was about how bad Reclaiming History is. And its really bad on Mex City.

But they had me over a barrel because of the contract I signed.

Therefore people get to read this great stuff for free online now.

[Lauren Johnson]

Skyhorse was petrified of Bugliosi.

Even when I showed them how nothing I wrote met the tree tier standard for libel, they still scampered away like squirrels.

They were actually afraid of getting "him mad". I will never forget that.

Now, why they cut out the Mexico City stuff? THey said it did not pertain to Oswald's guilt or innocence.

I said, I disagree, but anyway that is not the point of my book. My book was about how bad Reclaiming History is. And its really bad on Mex City.

But they had me over a barrel because of the contract I signed.

Therefore people get to read this great stuff for free online now.

Jim, If you had self-published the book, would you have been more liable from a legal POV?