America's Coolest Station Wagons

Arvid: My publisher gives me nine months to do my thing on the books, then they need about four months to do their thing to it before it hits the shelves. They have it down to a science and knock these out like a production line. But that's just the 'art books' I do for them. Other production times vary - I assume their tech manuals take a lot longer. And all publishers differ, of course.

I can't really speak on the subject like an expert, as the wagon book is my first one, but I'm half way through the second one now and the third is standing by. I'm shopping around a few others now (already written) that don't fit into CarTech's market and I suspect each of those will take it's own unique course.

Does that help at all?
Scotty

 

Yeah, that helps. By the time the dust settles, my book will have taken about two years, but it is an engine rebuild book for Car Tech. The tech part has been a challenge, but I have learned a bunch. I'll keep an eye out for your upcoming projects.

Arvid

 

Congrats, it's way cool we have a couple of real authors on board here.

 

Ah, you're in the trenches, doing the heavy lifting with the tech books. You guys are the real authors, in my opinion. My little 'art books' are just a dog and pony show - pretty much an 'intermission act' for you guys. I'm not worthy!

 

HandyAndy: No, just one: Arvid. He's imparting valuable knowledge in garages around the world, while I'm pretty much sitting on a toolbox, spouting opinions and being a distraction.

 

HandyAndy, thanks for the welcome.

Scotty, thanks for the kind words, but your book is done, mine is not, you win!!

Again, looking forward to your book.

 

What? No free copies for your friends? LOL!

 

Thanks for proclaiming me a winner, Arvid, but you're Arvid Svendsen and I'm just 'some guy'. And that's just how I'd like to keep it, too - I couldn't imagine being mobbed by groupies and paperazzi while shopping at the parts store. You can have that. So in that sense, I guess I AM the winner! Hmmm... Feels weird - I didn't do anything to earn this. Luckily, I don't buy into 'winning or losing' - just being.

 

Oh, what the hell - the books are on the house! PAAARTAAAYYY!!!!!!!!!

Wait a second - do I know you, Doc? Um, do I owe you money?

 

Everybody knows me... I am omnipresent.

 

Whoa... 'Omnipresent'. I got an Omni for a present once, but luckily, I was able to trade it for a Monaco 9 passenger wagon. Much more comfy and it held a lot of presence.

Or do you mean 'omnipresent' as in 'repo man'? Um, I think my mom's calling me. Gotta run...

 

What a wonderful surprise! Congratulations and much success with the book.

Charlie Larkin

 

Thanks Charlie! I hope you still think it's 'wonderful', after you see it!
Scotty

 

How could there be a book about coolest wagons if mine is not in there.

Seriously though, congrats!

 

Stuka: You bring up an interesting point. Upon finishing the wagon book, I discovered a bizarre phenomenon!

I sent in the final draft and made the final deadline, finally. That's a lot of finality, right? I was satisfied I'd done my best and experienced a nice sense of closure. Then, the very next day, it seemed as if awesome wagons began falling from the sky. Many were cars I'd picked a year and a half before, but the owners couldn't get them photo worthy for one reason or another and now they rolled back into my life as beautifully finished masterpieces. Many more seemed to appear from out of thin air, with surprised owners saying, "If I'd known about the book, I would've been all over that!" Go figure. Luckily I'm very happy with the wagons that are in the book and if there's a sequel, I'm ready, with cool wagons stacked up like cordwood, ready to go.

So Stuka, you may be right - your wagon may be worthy of its own book, as far as I know. Now I realize there's more stuff out there than I can see with only two eyes. But you could post up a shot of your wagon here and get famous. I'd like to see it anyway...