I have an idea

[Evelyn]

I have an idea!:idea:

A good many of us have beautiful photos, and sweet, sad and funny stories about our birds. Others do beautiful artwork.

I have several coffee table books with pictures of dogs--most of them have some little blurb or story to go with the photo. I bought them because I like nice photos of dogs, and some of those photos just tug at your heart.

Suppose we all collaborated on a book like this on parrots? Somebody in the forum must know something about getting published. I've never seen one and I've searched the Internet for books relating to parrots (not medical, training or identifying--something fun).

I would volunteer to accept and organize everything sent to me. I'll betcha Larry would have some tips on getting published.

If we made any money, we could set up a fund for expenses such as helping Anna with Wanda's birds, reimbursing Michelle for travel expenses, maybe paying for medical care for an owner who couldn't otherwise afford it, and other similar things that might come up related to members and their birds.

Whatcha think?

Evelyn

[birdie]

that sounds like a wonderful idea!

[Evelyn]

We probably ought to run it by Uncle.

Evelyn

[too&me]

Publishing is an expensive process unless you have a name or a good agent. The idea is grand & I would love to participate Too -wards such a project:smiles:Ok Uncle what do you think? Everyone else-opinion please....:decisions:

[bonnie]

I would love to participate in something like this. I do, however, think that it would be best as an off board project. I also feel this way about it because there are people that would take advantage of something good like that.

[Julie]

I think this is a great idea. If we could get organized a yearly calendar too!

[Uncle]

Oh boy... Great idea - and it can be done.

Why do I know all these things and why do you folks think I know all these things??? I guess when a person lives long enough - they just happen to suck up things into the cerebral cortex.

Publishing - yep been there done that.

There are two types of publishing:
1. Get an agent.
2. Self Publish (called vanity publishing).

Almost all publishing companies will not even talk to a writer directly. They only talk and deal with agents.

Most agents won't talk to unknown authors. Some do - most don't.

There are two types of writing - write on contract and write on speculation. Writing on contract pays whereas writing on speculation rarely does.

Writing on contract... get an idea for a book, layout the chapters, write the first two chapters and the last two chapters, and write a synopsis. Then submit all this to an agent. The etiquette is to submit to only one agent at a time, which gives that agent exclusive rights to make publishing arrangements with their publishers. You have to wait for a rejection notice from that agent before you can submit to another agent. This process is tedious, frustrating and time consuming.

Most agents prefer the above method over a book that is written in its entirety and then submitted to them. This way the agent and the publisher can have more say of what will go into the final product.

Writing on speculation... Write the book in its entirety and use the same submitting to agent process as outlined above. The major problem (and there are many) with this method is you can put in a whole bunch of time and effort and then the agent and the publisher say to you... I like what you have done - but it is not "exactly" what we want. Would you mind doing it all over again - from the beginning?

Now there is an alternative publishing as I mentioned above... and that is Vanity Publishing. It goes this way... You write the book in its entirety. You do the layout, the proof reading, editing, printing, and the biggest expense - the marketing.

A minimum of $10,000.00 will get you any book that you write published with no promise of making a single dime.

But - I have good news for you... There are some specialty publishers (and this is what this would be) that will share the costs with you. This is what Sally Blanchard has done as well as Barbara Heidenreich.

Just about every "Bird" book is published by very small publishing companies - working out of their homes.

I must say this... Sally Blanchard "used" to belong to several on-line bird forums including 2T. It was there that she got her material for her books and her monthly newsletters. She never ever gave any of the posters any credit for what she stole from them. I have all of Sally's books and she does have "some" good information in them - but I think she is unethical for the way she got "her" business started on the backs of folks just like us without even giving a mention to the ones who made her money in her pocket.

How do I know so much about publishing and the such... I have written a book or two in my time, and I have belonged to several writing clubs. I know a few authors - published and self-published (vanity).

Vanity publishers (self-published) are really a sad bunch. They believe their books are the best thing since "The Book of John", but they are out of a lot of money and they give their books away to anyone who will take them. I have some of those types of books in the bottom of my closet - not mine - I never had an ego so big that I would fork over my hard earned cash to self-publish any of my books.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Here is the publisher for Barbara Heidenreich's books...

http://www.tfhpublications.com/

I talked to him a couple years ago - I don't remember his name. He is always interested in new pet book writers.

[FoxersArtist]

Ah-Ha! I knew it! Andy once told me that if you weren't a writer and didn't have at least one published book, it would be a great shame. I'll have to tell him.

I would be happy to contribute to this in any way...including illustrations, or whatever you would like. I'm in the process of illustrating a childs counting book in navajo. I think it would be fantastic just to have something like this out there, and if we made money on it, we could use it to help our happy birdy family when they need it...or to do fun things together.
-Anna

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Yep - Anna - I didn't let that slip to you when I wrote the little silver diner and the blue eyed Diane story to you... and - yes I owe you the "Rest of the Story".

Oh now, here we go - I will get tons of questions about the blue eyed Diane. :rolleyes:

[FoxersArtist]

Yep - Anna - I didn't let that slip to you when I wrote the little silver diner and the blue eyed Diane story to you... and - yes I owe you the "Rest of the Story".

Oh now, here we go - I will get tons of questions about the blue eyed Diane. :rolleyes:It was fairly obvious! Your a fantastic writer.
-Anna

[Wanda and Flock]

What if we started right here? We can gather photos, sayings, illustrations and sell them right here on HB...is that allowed? You know, there are sooo many of us that pay for toys and birdie things...but there is alot of talent between us all as well. What if we made and sold HB toys, calenders, etc... until we earned enough to do the vanity publishing thing or something like that? We have a drill press and can get color safe stuff and make some stuff. All proceeds going to HB...
We could sell on ebay too... Anna makes ornaments, I am crafty- I could come up with something or help... Larry has that great sense of humor too, an illustrated cartoon (by Anna) with some really funny sayings by Larry... We can do a few calenders and put them here and on ebay to see how it goes. I would be willing to pitch in for that....
I am not afraid to approach people and market either. We can take stuff to bird shows too....hmmm.... I think I might be hearing a new "calling"..hehehehe

[Larry, Baby and Me]

What if we started right here? We can gather photos, sayings, illustrations and sell them right here on HB...is that allowed?

I think that's allowed. I will talk to my Uncle... I think he will say yes.

He's a good guy. ;)

[FoxersArtist]

I think that's allowed. I will talk to my Uncle... I think he will say yes.

He's a good guy. ;)

...As Larry pats himself on the back. :D

[Larry, Baby and Me]

I can scratch my own back too. :rofl::bowdown:

[Julie]

I bet Baby could scratch it better!

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Yep - she could scratch it better... But being an Umbie - she is the center of her universe - and mine too. She demands scritches and won't retun the favor. :bowdown:

[Julie]

:hihihi:Lary,

You would not want it ANY other way!

THAT is why you got an umbie after all. But dont tell my hubby how wonderful a sweet little umbie hen is, he has been wanting one ever since we brought Carl home!

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Ya just better talk to others that have Umbies. Brenda could give some input to the subject.

Baby is the love of my life - but she is a handful. She is smart, demanding, smart - and did I mention that she is demanding?

Baby is opinionated, she can hold a grudge for a very long time. She has a sence of fairness. If she thinks she has been treated unfairly - ya better watch out.

She is funny - she plays jokes on us. She has a sense of humor. And did I mention - she is demanding?

[Julie]

Ok, yeah, and you are talking to someone who has a CAG hen......

She has hubby, and myself, wrapped around her little tallon. Which tallon that is you would have to ask her.....

We will NOT be getting any more birds any time soon, but I know he would love an umbie in a split second.... For me a I would love to have a MM hen....

Until then, I relish the stories of the umbies......

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Hmmm??? And I want a CAG...

[Julie]

May be we need to take vacations and house sit for each other so we can get that MBS out of ous system!!!!

[Larry, Baby and Me]

It's a deal.

[Julie]

Night Larry :yawn:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/julie727/Birds/Picture022.jpg

PS: Here is me tonight talking to you (with all 4 birds) can you find them?

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/julie727/Birds/Picture032.jpg

[FoxersArtist]

Hurray for Eeyore jammies! And the birds are pretty cute too. ;) You have the worlds most snuggly CAG, BTW, I hope you know that!
-Anna

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Oh Julie... you went and done it. You just injected me with a strong dose of the MBS venom.

I want a CAG now more than ever. :D

Thanks... I think. :confused:

[Julie]

Well truth be told, she is only REALLY snuggly like that a couple times a week, it is not an every day thing. But when SHE wants her love, she will snuggle right up to Papa and kiss on him, relax, enjoy her scritches on her back and actually enjoy it. Other than that a couple scritches when she first wakes up and a good snuggle before bed.

Her most favorite thing to do is watch me cook in the kitchen. She has a hanging perch, and constantly asks me "what r doin?" I always tell her, and Im sure one of these days she will repeat back to me, or tell me what to do next, but anyways thats our normal girl. Just think she was a PETSMART grey, imagine if you had one of Don's grey's!!!!!

Yes Anna, those are my only pair of Fleece jammies, and I love them. They are so warm and it was rainy last night.... Glad you got a chuckle!

BTW: I;ve lost 6lbs so far in 3 weeks! 9 to go!!!

[Evelyn]

Ya just better talk to others that have Umbies. Brenda could give some input to the subject.

Baby is the love of my life - but she is a handful. She is smart, demanding, smart - and did I mention that she is demanding?

Baby is opinionated, she can hold a grudge for a very long time. She has a sence of fairness. If she thinks she has been treated unfairly - ya better watch out.

She is funny - she plays jokes on us. She has a sense of humor. And did I mention - she is demanding?



I think your Baby and my Gyro are the same bird. Could Baby be living a double life? Maybe somebody from the Mothership suspends animation at each of our houses periodically so Baby/Gyro can alternate homes with nobody being the wiser.

Evelyn

[Evelyn]

Larry -

BTW, if you want a bird smarter than you are, then go ahead and get a CAG; but they stop being cuddly when they grow up. Mine still wants her head skritched, but she doesn't cuddle anymore.

I wouldn't trade cockatoos for anything (well, maybe a sweet hyacinth macaw).

Evelyn

[Julie]

How old is your CAG? Duch is now 5 and her like of
cuddling has only grown so far.

[Evelyn]

How old is your CAG? Duch is now 5 and her like of
cuddling has only grown so far.


Julie -

Tamar is 10 months old, a female. She has just learned that she doesn't have to step up just because I tell her to.

In the past, as soon as she saw me, she was ready to step up; and she would step up from anywhere. Now, if she doesn't want to, she doesn't. She has learned that if she gets on the top of her cage and jumps from one side to the other, she can stay out of my reach. The only place she will reliably step up from is the floor. Once she's on me though, I practically have to scrape her off. She likes sitting on my shoulder and playing with my hair, and sometimes decides to roost up there.

She used to snuggle down on my chest with her head and chest down and resting on me and her butt sticking up in the air, and let me pet her for as long as I wanted to--a couple of hours one time. Now she will tolerate it for 2-3 minutes, but usually not longer. Whereas my toos can never get enough petting.

Tamar always wants her head skritched, though. And she wants me nearby--just not necessarily holding her. She is becoming very independent, but not the least bit mean or bitey. And she is so smart, so far as talking goes. We thought she wasn't going to talk at all. She did a lot of different kinds of whistles. Then at about 9 months she started talking and hasn't stopped. She learns a new word or phrase every week.

The first words she learned were "Love you, love you" in a high-pitched little girl's voice (even tho it was my husband who taught her to say it," and that is her greeting in the morning or when somebody comes in. She also says, "What're you doing?" (she asks me that when I put her back in her cage); "Come on," "Come on, now," "Step up," "Come on, Red Dog," "Hello," "Come on, let's go," "Baron," (one of my dogs), "Bye Bye," "Honey," "Uh oh," and several other things I can't think of at the moment. Most of her talking consists of saying several words at a time. Most of the time she sounds like me when she talks.

She very seldom screeches, altho she does talk most of the time she is awake (except when somebody new comes in and I want to show her off--then she is a deaf-mute).

Evelyn

[Julie]

Wow! Thank you for all the info! We got Duchess of Grey (Duch) when she was 6 month old. To start she choose me, as my hubby had only been around birds 2 months when we brought her home, and she saw our two male tiels love on me, so she figured I was all right. Then around 3 months later she turned on me (its ok, she is HIS bird after all) and would bite the pants off me! This continued for SEVERAL months till we decided that if she wanted out of her cage, to be picked up from the floor, whatever, I had to pick her up and carry her. When she was nice to me, then she could have her Papa.

Ever since then she has been a doll for me. She is too smart, and loves to sleep in LATE. We get up to go to the gym at 4:15am about 3-4 days a week, and those mornings she is a grumpy feather-butt! She was around the tiels for so long that she first spoke tiel, and at 13 months old decided to start talking english. She was a Petsmart parrot, so we were actually plesantly suprized that she talked "so early" considering.

She speaks in both Male and Female voices, mostly cute little girl, because when she does this Papa gives her loads of good attention. My mom (who lives with us) is actually starting to get comfortable with her (well duh its been only 7 months!). She is noisy 2 to 3 times a day, and quiet when she is in her cage. But like you said she does flock call (a tiel squeak) when we leave the room, or say "be right back" when you leave, or squeak like the door. She loves to wrestle, and chew up shredders, or soft wood. Will not touch that hard wood stuff!

It does amaze me though how much awareness they have compared to my too though. I adore my Carl, he is my boy, but Duch sometimes just scares me with the things that come out of her mouth. The 1st time she ever said the word water she was standing over her dirty water dish, asking for her morning clean water bowl! I also do NOT like the fact that she does not call me mommie like Carl does. She calles me by my first name and in hubbys voice.

Its not often that bird people talk about thier greys, probably because they are no where near as cuddly as tooz. This is my hubbys perfect bird, I think she cuddles so much with him because he beggs her to, and sometimes just flips her over and will scritch her till she relaxes! Thank you for the stories, I'm alwys wanting to hear about CAG's too. But like you my hear does belong to my too (and my little tiels - they are tooz too!).