The History of ......ah

CACTUSWENDY · Dec 18, 2006

Not sure what topic this goes under...please feel free to move it.

On the thread for the auctions...#20 is a book titled The History of Farting". I checked, it is a real book.

Now I know we have a batch of published writers in these threads and from what is shared the rest of you are giving it your best shot.

But explain to me how an agent, editor, and/or a publisher gets approached with this kind of a book. How do people come up with this type of idea in the first place? How do you go into a bookstore and request this kind of book? And the all important question....how do you put it on your history of publications?

What other types of books have you seen that make you shake your head in wonderment and cause you to question 'If they can get published...so can I'?

I sometimes bum around a book store just to see what all is in print and always walk out amazed.

Care to share your thoughts?

WildScribe · Dec 18, 2006

Well... my guess would be that this is a humorous book? So it would be published by a humor publisher who deals with strange stuff like this all the time. My cousin owns some rather odd novelty titles as well.

Christine N. · Dec 18, 2006

There was one really strange one I saw recently about giraffes. It was all about how giraffes really controlled the world. Whole made-up history, all kinds of stuff. Hilarious.

I think young boys would find the farting book terribly amusing.

Garpy · Dec 18, 2006

Well here in the UK, we've had a whole load of humorous books on miscellany with the word 'Shite' somewhere in the title. They seem to do well round about xmas time.

Toilet humour does well here. I believe I heard some author talking about her book on Radio4, some book on 'toilets from around the world' complete with photos. That should undoubtedly be a smash hit this Christmas.

Here you are...want a tip? Want to make a fortune? Give up trying to write novels, instead come up with some banal, slightly pithy idea for a factual book, come up with a snappy title, pad it out with a bunch of piccies and cut-n-paste content lifted off the next. That should do it.

Elektra · Dec 18, 2006

Actually, I read on one publisher's website that fart books were the top percentage of proposals they recieved. Number two, I think, were books about cockroaches.

Azure Skye · Dec 18, 2006

This isn't a scratch and sniff book is it?

Shouldn't it really be an audio book?

Anyway, I've seen books that have made me scratch my head in amazement.

Willowmound · Dec 18, 2006

Azura Skye said:
This isn't a scratch and sniff book is it?

Shouldn't it really be an audio book?

Why not a complete multimedia experience?

farfromfearless · Dec 18, 2006

Poor Gutenberg must be turning in his grave -- "My god, the smell!!"

glassquill · Dec 18, 2006

Recipe for fun:

1. Add that title to your bookshelf, along with other like-minded books.

2. Invite a friend who is known for politeness over to view.

3. Observe as friend tries to find a way to describe your taste in books and settles for 'eclectic'.

Manderley · Dec 19, 2006

I'm not proud of this, but I once bought one of those fart books. *hangs head in shame*

I have one member of the extended family who will fall off her chair laughing if anyone say the word 'fart'. I thought it would be a fitting present for her. Ten years later, her favourite point of conversation is still a 'fact' from the book: that vegetarians fart the most (she's the daughter of a butcher; I'm the only veggie in the family).

JerseyGirl1962 · Dec 19, 2006

Garpy said:
Toilet humour does well here. I believe I heard some author talking about her book on Radio4, some book on 'toilets from around the world' complete with photos. That should undoubtedly be a smash hit this Christmas.

Hmm...I think I received one of those very books a couple of Christmases ago.

Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer manages to get pubbed a coffee table book about coffee tables.

~Nancy

johnzakour · Dec 19, 2006

Actually, I believe Ben Franklin wrote a book on or at least essay's on farting...

(I think I remember reading that on wikipedia while helping my son research a report on Mr. F.)

Misty_Blue · Dec 19, 2006

Reminds me of the book:

"Round Ireland with a Fridge" by Tony Hawks.

Its hilarious, a friend wagered 100 pounds that Hawks wouldn't travel Ireland for a month with a refrigerator at his side. So that's just what he did, and of course, he wrote a book about it!

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 19, 2006

I have that book, or had. Not sure where it is now. But they sell it at the checkout at Half Price Books. It's a small book, about the size of a 4x6 photo or so.

It's a fun little book. Wish I'd thought of it.

http://www.bookideas.com/reviews/index.cfm?fuseaction=displayReview&id=3083

Desert Author · Dec 26, 2006

Your history book

Hi Cactus Wendy,

I didn't know there were any other Tucsonans on the board, but I'm glad to see a fellow desert rat.

As far as that book you mentioned, it just goes to show you that some publishers will publish anything in an effort to meet the bottom line, and bookstore buyers can be talked into buying anything for the same purpose.

Obviously, the author, in addition to having a keen sense of history, has some previous successes. I can't believe this would be their first book to be published. Well, considering the state of the publishing industry, I guess it could be.

Later, jeff

Evaine · Dec 27, 2006

Tony Hawks went on to write Playing the Moldovans at Tennis - another bet made in a pub, that he couldn't get to play the entire Moldovan football team at tennis (one at a time!). Lots of problems with visas, and the Moldovans not knowing what to make of this British loony!

jpserra · Dec 28, 2006

Why can't John Grisham just stick to practicing law?

It might make room for a few of us.

John

readlorey · Dec 28, 2006

I have a book on the word fuc...er, well, you know. You can order these stickers that have only the word FUC....um, yeah, anyway, you get these stickers and then put them on signs all over the place. The book is full of pictures where people did this. IT IS HILARIOUS!

For example, instead of 'Parking In Rear' you would put the FUC...um ,yeah, sticker over the word Park. See?? It has a pink cover and I swear by the god Pan that it is very funny.

But who would have thought of such a thing? Wow! lol

The History of ......ah

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.

WildScribe

Slave to the Wordcount

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

Garpy

keyboard monkey

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

Azure Skye

Huh?

Willowmound

Lightly salted

farfromfearless

glassquill

RB's favourite chewtoy

Manderley

Slowly does it.

JerseyGirl1962

I heart Malamutes! :-)

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

Misty_Blue

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Desert Author

Writing junkie

Evaine

jpserra

Recovering Gumshoe

readlorey

There may be bloodshed...just sayin