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[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Whilst recovering from Tennis Elbow, I wrote another book,

RMS St. Helena in the Falkland Islands, 1982/83.

It covered a very interesting 13 months of my life aboard RMS St. Helena when we were requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence as an armed support ship for the two Mine Countermeasures vessels HMS Brecon and HMS Ledbury.

I initially paind for 56 copies and they arrived on the 29th October last. Much to my surprise, they sold out within a month. I have just received the firs reprints and they have already started to go as well!

Bob

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Bob,

Well done you! Publish the ISBN number! You'll sell at least one more copy!

Len

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Len,

ISBN numbers don't work for small time writers like me! I put ISBNs on my first two books and they killed sales.

What happened was that as soon as the ISBN numbers got in the system, the books were advertised by dozens of booksellers all over the world, even though they did not have any copies! I eventually found out that if anyone ordered one from Amazon, they (Amazon), waited a couple of weeks and then advised that the book was not available. I kicked up about this to Amazon and they said they would buy some off me. The problem was that they wanted about 55% discount on the selling price and, to add insult to injury, expected me to pay the postage as well!

So – no more ISBNs for me! The above book has done very well, it was published on 29th October last and the first batch of 56 copies sold very quickly. I ordered another lot and there are now only 5 left. All my initial outlay in £s has been recovered, and I am well into profit.

Bob

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Bob,

The book arrived yesterday. (Monday). Only had time to give it a quick browse but it looks excellent from every aspect. Production quality, size and format, the extensive photographic content and of course the text.! Master plan is to hibernate with it next Sunday and have a thoroughly enjoyable day! Well done and thank you!

Len

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks Len,

These online book printing firms are excellent. I still find it amazing that I never actually met the printers. I sent the entire book, including images to them via Internet download, that took about ten minutes. A few days later, I received an online proof, and after approving it, the books all arrived about ten days later. 68 were printed, and now there are only four left!

Bob

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Bob,

That's all good news and an inspiration to all budding authors!

Going to change the direction slightly but it's still a 'latest book' picked up from a local boot sale.

It's a 70 page record of the achievements of the merchant shipping firm Shaw Savill & Albion Co. Limited during the Second World War and dedicated to their sea going staff who were lost.

The book opens with chapter one directly and it took me a long time to find the publishing information. It was on the last page Published by the company themselves, for private circulation in 1947. It was (and is) a brilliant read with some 12 illustrations. The one that caught my eye particularly was this one

Have seen a lot of ship camouflage pictures but never a full sized destroyer painted on the sides. Very clever. Through a periscope it would certainly give you second thoughts about having a go.

The price of this piece of gold dust, 10p!

The book also references two Liberty ships they managed, the Samrich (hull233) and the Samsylvan (hull252). A picture of Samrich appears in I.G. Stewarts book on page 17 and she looks really grotty. Think I've found the roll model for my City of Ely!

Len

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Len,

I have a similar book. The main differences are that mine does not have 1939 to 1945 on the cover, but the rest of the cover is the same as yours. Mine is 122 pages with 22 photographs, but it does not contain the one of Esperance Bay with the destroyer painted on it!

Bob

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Bob,

I'm sure you have a similar book, I would have expected nothing less! Does it have a picture of the Samrich?

Len

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Len,

No images of Samrich I am afraid.

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 28/01/2015 08:01:55

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Everybody,

Back on subject. Have just finished "RMS St Helena – In The Falkland Islands 1982/83". It is an excellent read with enough pictures to make you think you're watching a video! The images from Gryviken, South Georgia are riveting ( the hulk of the Jennie S. Barker, the half sunk whalers Dias and Albatros and the submarine Santa fe). A testimony to the harsh conditions are the pictures of RMS ST Helena deteriorating over the 12 months or so.

Well done Bob Wilson and thank you!

Len

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Len,

Thanks, and very glad you enjoyed the book. It has been a great success and only two left now, but hope to have more printed presently.

The poor old ship was certainly in a bit of a mess externally by the time we finished, but after restoration in Falmouth that took about three months, we were ready for our final seven years on the run with many more adventures before us, before being withdrawn from service in late 1989

Bob

[Author]

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