Getting Ready for the next big thing

For the publishing world, spring means that a young man's fancy turns to - Book Expo America or the con of your choice.  For me BEA offers me a chance to show off some of the great things I've managed to create during the past year and showcase some of the things we have coming up.

As an author blog much of what I may say here will be similar to what I'm writing over on the Winged Hussar Publishing Blog - The Hetman's Janissary Company - but I approach them from different angles.  This is more about what I'm working on, that is about the books we may be editing and producing.  Yes, it's schizophrenic but it keeps things separate.

I'm finishing up editing my twofer of Roman military tactics out in June, while I am getting a uniform book in order.  It's a manuscript with color drawing of the Polish-Lithuanian Army from 1775 along with notes by Gabriel Raspe.  This book has been seen in bits and pieces over the years, but I'm not sure the last time it has been reprinted in its entirety, but probably over 100 years.  It was originally published in a bi-lingual edition of French and German.  I'm translating it into English with the hope of a Polish translation as well, plus extra info to give the reader some perspective on the army and it's time.  It will be over 125 pages in full color.

Extra added bits, because I've been lack in posting - I've done two guest blogs for Bill King's blog to be post sometime in the upcoming weeks.  If you get a chance just check out Bill's blogsite:  ww.williamking.me.  Bill's a great author and guy.

I've also be named editor for a non-profit historical journal titled "The Journal of America's Military Past" which means its a volunteer position, but its a great publication that is peer reviewed and adds to the historical perspective so it fits in with my overall objectives.

If any of your will be at BEA, stop by our booth (387) and say hi.

Here is the cover of the next book I have coming out, look for it in June.

Now Available

My book, Armies of the Polish Partitions 1770 - 1794, is now available.  I have copies available for sale on my website:  www.Wingedhussarpublishing.com.  Buy an autographed copy today

I'm starting work on a book based on Gembarzewski's, Zolnierz Polski - od 1697 do 1794 Roku and his Rodowody Pulkow Polskich.  This will be a study of Polish Army units from the Great Northern War until the Kosciuszko Rebellion published in English.  There may be a Polish version as well.  To be determined.

It has arrived!

Finally!  I received an advance copy of my book, "Polish Armies of the Partitions 1770 - 1794" from Osprey.  A good day.

End of one, beginnig of another

So this year is coming to a close, but a new one is on the way.  Armies of the Polish Partitions 1770 - 1794 should be ariving in the next few weeks.  I, of course, will give you an unbiased opinion when I get a copy.  I think it's going to be great.  Look for it on the Osprey Publishing website and all good book stores.

In the interim, I managed to release my edition of The Gallic Wars, a new edition of Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars, full of information in the appendices sure to give you new insight on this classic by the man himself - G. Julius Caesar.  You can find this at Wingedhussarpublishing.com as well as all booksellers and their websites.

I have a new one in the works that will be out in January - Frederick the Great's Instructions to His Generals.  This is a new edition of Frederick's secret instructions to his officers written in the 1740's.  As usual, I will have maps, glossaries, biographys and battles, all you need to understand the context of these orders and the background behind them.  This will be available from Winged Hussar Publishing, LLC.

Writting an article I hope to present to Wargames Illustrated after the New Year relating to my Polish Armies book above called, Wargaming the Bar, information on creating a wargame scenario and armies for the battles during the Bar Confederation 1768 - 1772.

Almost there time for a new one

Well, the book is cataloged and up on the Osprey website.  You can see it here along with some of the illustrations they commissioned for the book.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/store/Polish-Armies-of-the-Partitions-1770%E2%80%9394_9781849088558

Working up the artist notes, as I have said before is interesting.  Essentially, you set the scene you want the artist to portray, provide as many notes on the uniforms that the artist will produce and then walk away.  Yup, you have no further contact with the artist unless my editor came back with a question.  You may think this odd, but really it is the most practical.

Artists are generally not like Michelangelo brooding over their work and taking years (well some are).  Publishers can't wait indefinitely for the illustrations (some still do).  Ideally, both side use the old carpenters adage of essentially measure twice and cut once.  Once provide as thorough a description, get some sketches to make sure you are on the right track and give a deadline.  When I sent the notes in I also provided a sketch of what I thought the scene should look like.

If you don't do this, the temptation is to tweak everything.  When you are working on a cover for a book this might be possible.  Many artists work on the computer this this is not as painful as it might seem.  Still both sides want to be done and move on with the best product.  So, I didn't see the final product till it was put up on the website - all in all I think they came out pretty well.  I hope you like them.

So now I'm moving on to the next venture.  I started an imprint called Winged Hussar Publishing LLC, you can see it at www.wingedhussarpublishing.com.  I'm waiting till after the Polish Armies of the Partitions to come out before I do any other Polish history, so I am almost done working of an edition of Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars.

I expect The Gallic Wars to be out as an e-book on the 26th of November.  I was trying to get it out next week, but two weeks of delays from Sandy has hurt my schedule.  A week later expect a paperback edition to be available.  The Gallic Wars is edited and updated, meaning I have cleaned up a translation to make it readable to the modern ear, added maps, illustrations and a bunch of appendices dealing with people places and things of the period.  If you have not read Caesar's commentaries, or not read it for a while this is a great opportunity for you.  It is a fascinating work of the period and while Caesar does go on at time over the mundane, the picture he paints of the time and people is quite even handed.

The Final Cover

Well, I finally got a copy of the final cover for Polish Armies of the partitions as you can see above.  The artist did a great job and I can assure you the inside is just as well done.  Yes, for those in the know, that is Tadeusz Kosciuszko on the right.  Just three more months.  Excitement abounds

Ranks and Files

So, they have changed this on my again.  Great fun.  Anyway...
Finally saw the PDF of the book with illustrations laid out.  Made the last changes and it has gone off to the printer.

Here is one of the images that didn't make it into the book.  I will make it available as a PDF download as soon I figure out how to do it.   This is the rank badges for the Polish Army 1765 - 1794. Till then..