Some 'Why Nots?' for Fledgling Authors
By
James Mikel Wilson
The opportunity to explore the world of book writing and publishing arose in my later years. After retiring from a 43-year international career with the major industrial company Caterpillar, I wanted to test my communication skills in a different area—writing books. Like others, I believed I had something to share. So, the first 'Why Not?' was to give it a try.
After deciding to write Paw Tracks Here and Abroad – A Dog's Tale, the second 'Why Not?' was initially a hesitant one: a decision to find an editor and set aside my ego. The benefits quickly became clear, including an outside perspective that identified grammatical errors, refined the manuscript, and offered opportunities to improve the content. Thirteen revisions later, the book was published.
The third 'Why Not?' was a lesson in that if you don't ask, you never get. Here are several illustrations:
1. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) seemed like a good way to gain some market leverage. Would they be interested in learning about Paw Tracks and how it supports pet adoption? Do I dare make a cold call to introduce myself and the book? Would anyone there even care or listen to how we might benefit each other? A phone call confirmed their willingness, and the ASPCA later published an article in their national magazine about Snickers, the four-footed protagonist in the book, who shares her adventures traveling around the world and offers tips on dog care that helped her live to the age of 22 (a true story).
2. My second book, Churchill and Roosevelt – The Big Sleepover at the White House (Christmas 1941), offers several 'Why Not?' examples. My illustrator found a photo of a life-sized sculpture by Lawrence Holofcener of Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt sitting on a bench. When he lamented that it was too bad we couldn't use it on the front cover, I said, "Let me track down Holofcener; we've got nothing to lose." Several inquiries eventually connected me with Holofcener, who was living in Florida and working in London, England, with his foundry at the time. To my surprise, he readily granted permission and later asked if he could adapt the book into a stage play since he was also a playwright, among many other talents. He and his wife also became friends.
Again, seeking marketing leverage, I thought The National Churchill Museum in Fulton, MO, might be interested in The Big Sleepover. A call to their director eventually led to the Museum selling the book in its bookstore. It later resulted in an invitation to join Andrew Roberts, a more prominent author who wrote Churchill: Walking with Destiny, to sign books together during the museum's 50th Anniversary celebration.
A fortunate side effect of writing is occasionally meeting interesting people, such as David Rubenstein, host of The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer, and Dr. Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State, both speakers at the Museum's 50th Anniversary. The most memorable encounter was an invitation from WWII hero, General Albin Irzyk, to fly to West Palm Beach to meet him at his home. He had read The Big Sleepover and wanted to discuss the book. I learned that he had been stationed near Washington, DC, in December 1941 and had followed daily news reports of Churchill's visit. Even more amazing, Irzyk had just published his own book at age 100, titled "An Eyewitness Account- Patton's Juggernaut- The Rolling 8-Ball, 8th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division- 15 Extraordinary Achievements." As a battalion tank commander, among many other notable accomplishments, Irzyk's troops were the first Americans to discover and liberate a Nazi concentration camp in Ohrdruf, Germany. The next day, he hosted Generals Patton, Eisenhower, and Marshall, who came to witness the atrocities.
Six months after my visit, General Irzyk passed away. It was a rare opportunity to meet this remarkable man, interview him, and admire his World War II memorabilia, much of which was eventually donated to the 4th Armored Division. Additionally, I cherish the memory of exchanging signed books with him and sitting alongside a contemporary of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt, all of whom admirably rose to the challenges of their times.
3. My latest book, The Cherry Tree Weeps for Me – A Quest for the Dawn of Peace, supports the idea that nothing ventured, nothing gained, and emphasizes the importance of building new friendships during the research and writing process. The Cherry Tree Weeps for Me is a biography of Takashi Komatsu. Shortly after arriving in Tokyo as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur reached out to Komatsu to help him heal the wounds of war and rebuild friendships between former enemies.
I sensed that the America–Japan Society, Inc., Tokyo, played a key role in aiding Japan's recovery. Komatsu served as president from 1950 to 1960, during which many changes occurred in Japan. Unsure of whom to contact, I blindly emailed the Society asking if anyone there remembered Komatsu or could tell me more about him. To my surprise, Akiko Kuno, the first female president of the America–Japan Society, responded, asking why I wanted to know. Over the course of several exchanges, she kindly provided me with the information I needed to complete the most crucial section of the book.
Born of the same generation but from different cultures, our correspondence led Akuno and me to become, in a sense, pen pals. I learned that she played a crucial role in helping facilitate the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first held in Asia. With great success, she personally escorted the Olympic Flame from Athens to Tokyo through several Asian countries that had endured harsh treatment from the Japanese military. These games marked Japan's acceptance as a global citizen just nineteen years after the end of the war. The Tokyo Olympics also marked the dawn of a new era when Komatsu's vision for peace finally arrived in Japan. He died the following year.
Over the course of our communication, I learned that Akuno was also an author. She wrote "Unexpected Destinations," a book about her great-grandmother becoming the first Japanese woman to graduate from an American college, Vassar, in 1881, Magna Cum Laude, no less!
Another example of not being afraid to ask led to the choice of a front cover. Over several weeks, I reviewed hundreds of pictures of cherry trees, taken by dozens of photographers, in search of the one that best matched the title. Since the hero in The Cherry Tree Weeps for Me is Japanese, I narrowed the list, thinking, why not reach out to a Japanese photographer for a fitting image? I thought Ohtsubo Kunihito's Morning Glow of Mt. Shiude would be perfect if he would grant permission to use it. When I explained Komatsu's story to Kunihito and told him that all royalties would be donated to Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL (the school and town that helped shape Komatsu's early years), he surprised me by declining payment. It was and is an honor to use one of Kunihito's exquisite photos.
One last example of 'don't hesitate to ask' involves Harvard University. The second half of the title of my latest book is 'A Quest for The Dawn of Peace.' 'The Dawn of Peace' is the name of the commencement speech Takashi Komatsu delivered at Harvard in 1911. Although I knew the name of Komatsu's 125-year-old speech, none of my searches for it in print yielded the text. I wondered if anyone at Harvard knew how to find it and could provide me with a copy. To my surprise, as well as the professor I spoke with, Harvard eventually located it in their archives! Upon seeing it, I realized Komatsu lived according to the principles he expressed in his speech. As a result, Harvard Magazine eventually commissioned me to write an article about Komatsu, which is scheduled for publication later.
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The fourth and final 'Why Not?' relates to press releases. My experience suggests that they are worth doing and can create significant marketing potential at a reasonable cost. In the case of Ghosts of Presidents Past – A Reckoning, a reporter from Newsweek Magazine noticed it, interviewed me, and wrote an article about the book, which appeared in the magazine on the day of the only debate between presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump, on October 22, 2020. I never anticipated that happening!
In conclusion, my experience as an author over the past decade has been fulfilling in many ways. At this stage in my life, I find joy in writing for causes. It has been rewarding to see something I envisioned and wrote come to life in print and to use my writing to help others financially. As a legacy, I hope that my five books may inspire my grandchildren or their own children years from now to reflect on who I was, what I believed, and the history of those times.
