Every once in a while, you stumble across a quote that changes your outlook on how you approach life. Of course, this requires that one does a good deal of “reading”, which is a problem for me, as reading anything that isn’t Cycling-related feels the same as doing “work”. I do the odd bit of it nevertheless, and in a recent such episode, I encountered a quote by Tommy Edison, inventer of several handy contraptions, including the lightbulb and motion picture:
Vision without execution is hallucination.
This brilliantly points out the fact that merely having an idea is nothing without the conversion of that idea into a tangible result. That, of course, is the elusive and difficult bit, but it is also the fun bit. Taking an idea from concept to reality is one of the most exciting and rewarding things a person can do.
It was about this time last year that James Spackman approached me via email and suggested we put a proposal together to do a book on The Rules. We loved the notion of this, and the Keepers set about putting a concept around this abstract notion, and a plan for how we might accomplish it. James provided feedback and guidance on how best to frame the concept, and led us through the proposal process. The proposal was approved, they made us an offer, we signed a contract, and turned around to stare down the business end of 70,000 unwritten words. Little by litte, we chipped away at it, and today, I am very happy to announce that the book has gone from concept to manuscript to editing to printing. What you see here are photographs of the actual book, printed and ready for sale on June 20, 2013. A free eBook Sampler with extracts from the book will be available free from June 6 to June 19. (Incidentally, the book will initially be published in the UK and Commonwealth countries; the US release of the book is expected in the Spring of 2014 through our US Publisher, WW Norton.)
The Rules stands apart from many blog-to-book concepts, where a book is little more than a re-publication of the blog’s archives. It was important to us that if people are paying for a book, that they are getting something they haven’t already read for free online. We also wanted to take advantage of the wonderful experience one has when reading a book; the sound and feel of a hard cover, the texture of quality paper, the creaking of the spine as you turn the pages, and the smell of the whole package.
The format of the book is very different from how The Rules are presented on Velominati. The book is organized into V sections, with each of The Rules aligned into one of them. The sections all have an introduction, and for every Rule, a passage has been written that either provides history or in some other way justifies the Rule, or provides an anecdote from our various lives as Velominati that might provide insight into why that particular Rule is in existence. The entire text is framed with a Prologue and Finale and topped off with an introduction by my personal Cycling Writer Hero, Will Fotheringham. With the exception of a paragraph here or there that was borrowed from our archives, the entire book is comprised of new material.
It gives us tremendous pleasure to see this project come to life as a real, tangible book. Special thanks to Sceptre Books for taking a chance on us. Words can’t describe our appreciation of our editor, Drummond Moir, who was the most incredibly patient man and guided us expertly through the process of write a great book. (Sorry for having accused you of being English, mate.) Thanks to Nikki Barrow, our publicist in the UK; keep your ears on the papers, radio and television waves as the fruits of her labors come to light. Finally, thanks to the Community for making this such a fun place that someone might want to do a book in the first place, and for tolerating our dull writing on account of all our creative powers having been drained into the book. I also suppose this means that the V Keepers should start considering themselves writers or, worse, authors. Strange to say the least, especially since I have always considered myself a software developer.
Keep your eye on the Sceptre Facebook and Twitter for the latest, and everyone rush to your nearest bookseller on June 20 to pick up your copy.
Amazon:
The Rules: The Way of the Cycling Disciple
Obey the Rules: A Free Extract (eBook)
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View Comments
@the Engine
Wait, you mean you've had TWO sunny days in Scotland this year? (This one and the Cogal) Hells bells, must be a lot of wee lassies running around with 3r degree burns after exposing their lily-white flesh to the sun. I think if you get three sunny days you've officially had a summer, right?
@ErikdR
Talking of hobbits - as I may have mentioned elsewhere, I'm still having nightmares about being chased down the road by Dobby......
@UptheTrossachs
Hmm, yes; I see what you're getting at, I think. Someone apparently gave the house-elf behind you a sock (whether voluntarily or not, is still to be debated) and now the creature is FREE. Oh my....
@wiscot
For what it's worth: the first serious cycling holiday of my life (three weeks), took place in Northern England and Scotland. (We're talking the late seventies here, so it's quite possible that the sun was in a different quadrant of the Milky Way, or something) - but nevertheless: in splendid defiance of what EVERYBODY had been telling us in advance about the weather in Scotland being terrible at all times, we experienced a week-and-a-half of beautiful sunshine and only one or two mild showers. And that being the case, I honestly don't think I have ever cycled through landscapes as magnificent as the ones offered by Bonny Caledonia. It is truly breathtaking up there - and highly recommendable
There's now at least 2 copies of THE RULES in Northern California.
When I typed "The Rules" in Google, this is what came up:
"Why Men Love Bitches"
"He's Just Not That Into You"
"Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man"
...and other such drivel! ACK!!!
I was delighted to find my copy in the mail upon arriving home. With extra noisy children running about, I'll mount my new 'cross tyres (father's day presents) this afternoon and read in a quiet house this evening.
Thank you to the keepers.
Vive la Vie Velominatus
Ride then read.
My book arrived today! All the way to Toronto in just 5 days! It's just terrific...my only regret is that I didn't order two more copies...I have a couple of friends that could use a little push in the right direction!
@ErikdR
Tis truly a bonny place. I lived there for 27 years before relocating stateside. We used to have time trials that ran up the side of Loch Lomond and another (the Tour of the Trossachs) that started in Aberfoyle and went up the Duke's Pass to Callendar then back over the Braes of Greenock to Aberfoyle. Stunning scenery. The Trossachs TT was a real tough ride. Low 40kms I think. Nary a bit of flat road on the whole thing with some killer climbs. The Loch Lomond TTs were twisty and gently undulating. Not a course for a fast time.