Congrats, Corwood and Hec! That's such great news!

How did you find out you got picked?

Two days ago via email from David Barker, confirming that I really most sincerely wanted to do it.

What sort of timeframe do you have to work on it?

I said I'd turn in my draft in March of 2007.

Do they assign you an editor? How does all that work?

I think David Barker (the guy with the blog who did the announcement) is the editor. My contact, anyway. My experience with Lost in the Grooves is that they have a separate copy editor once I submit.

When are these set to be published?

Depends on their schedule once I turn it in. They have to get things lined up with the printer, and certain catalogues where it will be listed to generate orders etc. With my two previous books there was a 6-9 month production/promotion period after we submitted the manuscripts. It won't be particularly complicated to set this book - not like the mixture of images and text we had with LiTG. So, barring other factors (which would include how many other books they've got coming out and when), I would guess that my book would be coming out in the fall of 2007. They'd want to get it out before the xmas buying season. (It's the perfect stocking stuffer!) But Kim's book was announced and then delayed for a couple months. So...publishing is a tricky business.

Are you going to do lots of interviews?
Depends on how many people are interested in the book once it comes out. Kim's done several. I don't know that each book has gotten the same amount of press that hers had. I'm pretty sure her book was the hottest seller they had - for initial sales anyway.

Will you need to travel?
Like a book tour? NSM. I doubt they'd fund something like that, though there will be some promotion money. I could probably set up some readings myself. It'd be fun to go back to Chicago.

Do you get any fundage for any of that stuff?
I'm not sure how much promo money will be in the pot with 21 books coming out. I'm guessing less than I had for LitG.

CAN YOU EVEN FREAKING STAND HOW COOL YOU ARE???

I can't stand myself! Ow!

Gonna get the hot tub! Yeah! Hett! Gonna get in the hot tub! Yeow! Gonna get in the hot tub. Huoh! OWWW! That's hot.

t /JB

Jump back and kiss your bad self, Hec!

Jump back and kiss your bad self, Hec!

::Smooch!::

Damn, I'm pretty! t /Ali

You know I bet if I started begging now, Jake of Rocktober would help me set up a Tom Waits night at Quimby's with puppets and guest performers. How fun would that be?

Congrats Hec and Corwood!!

Are you going to do lots of interviews?

Depends on how many people are interested in the book once it comes out.

I meant as part of research for the actual writing of it.

Like a book tour?

No. Travel for research.

Do you get any fundage for any of that stuff?

As with the above, I meant for research-y stuff.

I realize that you could write the whole thing without interviewing anyone or moving from your living room comfy chair, of course. I am just curious if they even offer you any money if you wanted to do research.

I am just so excited for both of you guys. I've been telling people about it all day like it's me that is about to write a book. So exciting.

I meant as part of research for the actual writing of it.

Oh! Gotcha Well, I said I wasn't going to interview in my pitch since there's so much material extant, but now I think I'll try to get a few interviews. Waits lives in Northern California as do a number of musicians who worked with him (Ralph Carney, Matt Brubeck, Les Claypool). So I wouldn't have to travel for research either.

I should ask Kim about this, though. She did travel to Athens twice to interview lots of people. But I'm not going to take the same approach with this book. As you probably know, the books vary considerably in how they approach their subject.

I'm not particularly keen on doing a book like the R.E.M./Mumur book in the series which was an exhaustive account of the recording process. It was good history and detailed, but not the way I'd approach Tom Waits at all.

But it'd be cool to ask Francis Thumm and Victor Feldman some questions about how Swordfishtrombones was recorded. And Larry Taylor would be interesting too - he's one of Tom's regular bass players and one of the few musicians who made the transition over from his earlier carer. And it'd be cool to meet The Man himself.

And it'd be cool to meet The Man himself.

That's what I was thinking...

I had forgotten that your pitch said no interviews - and granted - you don't need to because, as you said, Waits has done plenty you can mine from. BUT it's a great excuse to meet cool people you admire who have great stories to tell. And the j-school grad in me just kind of says "but you have to!!".

::patiently waits for CI's answers::

joining tina on the Firsthand is Better Bench. But jeez, bunk, I'm thrilled for you. Even though to me he is totally "Down in The Hole" guy or The One Mom Hates(my dad went through a moody fuck phase, but considering the phases that followed, I think even she would vote for All Waits All The Time by comparison, you know?)

CAN YOU EVEN FREAKING STAND HOW COOL YOU ARE???

tina says it better than I ever could. I'm so thrilled for you, Cor and Hec. You each have spicy musical brains. I admire those two artists fervently, both as performers and for their brilliant writing. Equalling me extra antsy to dive in to such tasty concoctions.

I'm about to bust here at my desk suppressing the whooping crane dance I'm longing to do.