It has been a learning semester. First, there was that whole thing about awards (embarrassing). Then there was also being promoted to full professor (liberating, in a way; no further promotions to seek). And each of the two classes I taught were disasters — nothing likely to land me in jail, but enough to throw me into mid-level contemplation over exactly what I’d like to achieve in a class, and how best to engage students so that they encounter the excitement and challenge in great ideas. And finally, a series of disappointments with publishers.
I have been peddling an odd book. It features a pseudonymous preface, a one-act play, no scholarly footnotes, and a balanced weave of biography, philosophy, and my own reflections. I easily understand why two publishers said “no.” I am less ready to understand why two more elected to give me the silent treatment, after expressing initial interest. Maybe I weirded them out? But why not say so? Or have I become a tiresome crank, best ignored? So soon? I was hoping to reach 50 before donning that mantle.
Anyway, looks like I will be self-publishing the Nz book through createspace.com, which sells through Amazon. I must admit that it has been exhilarating to go through the steps of self-publishing. I set the format, design the cover, set the price, write the stuff on the back cover, etc. A proof is on its way to me, and I imagine the book will be available by mid-May. (Also a thrill of immediacy.) I kind of like the idea of doing my own thing, for an audience of friends, though I’d like to also keep a hand in the more scholarly circles too. I wonder if it’s possible to do both. We shall see.
I’ll announce the book’s availability with great cranky enthusiasm.
Huenemanniac 
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