How Do Some People Get Published? - Chess Forums - Page 2

batgirl · 2015-03-24T16:30:10-07:00

I was reading a 2014 book, "The Greatest Chess Kings" by Sylvia Lovina Chidi (who also wrote "The Greastest Chess Queens" in 2013). She is apparently a poetess. She is also superficial when it comes to chess.On page 23 she boldly states, "Many people consider Ruy Lopez to be the

epoqueepique

Mar 25, 2015

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#21

@batgirl: oooh I see, he lost in fact...so that was the "gross error". Sorry.

batgirl

Mar 25, 2015

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#22

Yes, exactly.

leiph18

Mar 25, 2015

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#23

Many books leave me wondering the same.

What's really maddening is some of the reviews are glowing "what a great book, so well written," or "lots of great research" when it's absolutely the opposite.

I think it doesn't take much to get published. Mostly you need to be literate.

Also it seems the most popular books aren't well written, they're just well marketed. You know, a catchy title, and some nice artwork on the cover. I imagine semi literate people buying them, and then probably not even reading them...

ponz111

Mar 25, 2015

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#24

I have written 3 books. [really 3 and 1/3] The first book was "Ponziani Power" it took me ten years to get the information and do the analysis to write a book about a whole, not often played opening. This was mostly before chess engines. I did not get a publisher for that book but I had the book printed and sold some copies and gave away dozens of copies.

After that I co authored a book a book with Alex Dunne called "Center-Counter uprising" I believe the first batch [maybe 500] was sold out. Alex Dunne and I received almost equal compensation. Mr. Dunne put my ideas and games about this variation 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 into writing.

It took me one 24 hour day to find the correct material and send it on to Mr. Dunne.

Then I decided to continue my exhaustive analysis of the Ponziani Opening. Thus the book "play the Ponziani" was created and published by EVERYMAN CHESS. The book consisted of mostly my analysis and mostly the very competent writing of my co author, IM Keith Hayward.

This book was very difficult to complete, it took at least 3 years added to my previous 10 years of study.

However we both were paid well and fairly by our publisher. Truth be told, we both had worked so hard on this endeavor that if the publisher had offered to publish this book with no compensation to either of us--we would have accepted.

Publishing our ideas was worth far more to both of us than money...