Hi, folks, Someone wondered if I'd fallen off the perch (um...died) because I hadn't been on the forum in a while. Nah! I mean Nah, THANKFULLY! No COVID, for example. I've just been off on tangents. I've been working on a book -- turning the very amateurish, but fascinating, memoir of Australian wireless operator/air gunner Roy Andrews into a proper book. He flew 35 ops from India between Oct 1944 and April 1945. My work has involved major editing of Roy's chosen words, plus I've filled in many gaps with my own added clumps of writing. The text has essentially been completed, though I keep finding things to add and things to tweak. Now I'm gathering an array of high resolution photos, more than will end up in the book. Once I've accomplished that, only then will I seek out a publisher, and I'll go from there. I was fortunate to be allotted 32 pages of photos (and Fonthill Media printed over 50 photos in all), in a dedicated photo section (on photo-friendly paper), in my first book, "RAF LIBERATORS OVER BURMA", subtitled "FLYING WITH 159 SQUADRON." For all I know, I may not be so lucky next time with the photo allowance, but I'll hope and prepare for the best. I did not want the pressure of securing a writing contract and then having to meet deadlines. Many authors thrive under such pressure. Not me. THAT would have knocked me off the perch, maybe. Not my idea of fun, especially because the gathering (and digital repair/enhancement) of useable images is such a slow process, in this case, because I want to do it right. There's a problem with some images -- to get hi res versions from the Australian War Memorial, for example, and then to print the AWM photos in the book would cost a bit of money. The versions in their online photo collection database are plentiful, and I'd be free to use and publish anything I could download, but really I'm looking for higher resolution images. I think the Imperial War Museum charges a user fee even for their downloadable lesser-resolution images. There are other archives, too, like the RAF Museum's, that charge for photo usage. Many of the same images appear in more than one of these archives. In many instances, the archives acquired their copy from a veteran or his family, but the same image is or was in the hands of other veterans or their families, or they're with a researcher. I'm reminded of one photo, which I acquired from a now-deceased RAF veteran before scanners were prevalent. I sent the Brisbane, Australia brother of one of the men in the photo a copy, and when this brother died, he willed the photo to the Australian War Memorial. Now the AWM would charge me, should I want a hi res copy (which I don't, fortunately), and they'd require a user fee, should I want to print the photo in a book. Yet the only reason they have the photo in the first place is because of my involvement! Because I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for the hi res photos, I thought I'd ask if anyone has a hi res version that I could download from him or her. I'll do one image at a time, so as not to confuse too much, and I'll hope for the best! My first image request is for an RAF 215 Squadron Liberator taking off. How I'd love to acquire a copy without paying the AWM anything. Possibly the hi res version will make the cover of the book. So, fingers crossed, one of our experts will make me happy -- no, OVERJOYED. I'm posting one image at a time, so as not to confuse too much. Here's the first. This is the freebie AWM image version. It's pretty good, but I want even better quality. I'm very grateful for the AWM photo archive. Any offers (not that there will be)?
Matt, Just a thought. To sell the book(s) in this digital age when the purchaser may not see the book beforehand, and most buyers are online would it be an option to provide a pointer to where a high-res photo is available online?
Whenever the book is printed and becomes available for purchase, the cover, at least, will appear on bookseller sites such as amazon.co.uk. My previous publisher, Fonthill Media, handled all of the interaction with booksellers and offered a "Look inside" option, where each of the final book photos was made available and could be viewed. Still can, actually, at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/RAF-Liberators-Over-Burma-Squadron/dp/1781556563/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MGZK69VEJ2HV&keywords=matt+poole+burma&qid=1684176851&sprefix=matt+poole+burma,aps,152&sr=8-1. In fact, I know of one person, a smart lad but with a reputation as a self-serving scoundrel, who downloaded one of these photos for his personal use in a news story he penned, and for which he was paid, and he gave me no credit. He did the same for his own cousin's photo. So be it...that's the nature of the human animal in the digital age. I'm just seeking photos now from anyone who might have a hi res image of the 215 Sqn Liberator taking off. This photo can be viewed and its caption read at: Dhubalia, Bengal, India. 13 January 1945. One of the many RAF Liberator bomber aircraft of No. .... There is a search option for looking for their lower resolution images, and then to see the hi res version one has to pay. Understandably.
I was able to acquire a hi res version of the 215 Sqn Liberator taking off, and it will become part of the cover design on the book. Yippee!
What does "AWOL" stand for again? "American Without Lingerie"? I don't dress in women's clothing. Neither did my dear papa, and I don't like cutting down trees, either:
