Bill,

You are rapidly becoming well known due to your tremendous prose, so I think a book deal will eventually come your way. But a self-published book might do well as long as there is some original material in there and you dont give if all away for free first!

Amen to high quality writing and free enterprise. Sign me up for a copy.

I would definitely buy a copy for myself, and probably a couple for my friends.

Bill,

There is a least one person on my Christmas list for next year who will be thrilled with the book (he doesn't use the web, it's a generational thing). You will be a follow up to the PJ O'Rourke that he got and liked this year.

Phil

P.S. After you have an estimate of how many you can do in an initial run (somewhere between 100 and 1000 is my guess), I might be able to suggest some printing options. A client company of mine knows every trick in the book on squeezing out press costs, and they have taught me a few.

Bill,

I think you'd be surprised at how many people would buy your book of essays. You publish it, we will buy it.

Put me on the list...

Bill, in the publishing world I'm as much a babe in the woods as you are, but may I suggest that you at least TRY to get a publisher to take a chance on your essays? It's not just that I'd like to see your wonderful essays get a wider readership and you get hefty royalties -- and I'd love to see both -- but this could be a significant moment in the growth of the blogosphere, or at least an interesting one.

You've got comments from people who say they'd buy your book and give it to others to read. You've got that huge figure on your hit rate, and this on a blog site that is so new the pixels are damp. Might not publishers put these together, and see sales potential? The explosion of weblogs in the last couple of years has been amazing, and rightly described as moving toward the vision of the Internet as do-it-yourself publishing for everybody. But surely it will have an impact on traditional, DeadTree publishing as well. You might make a great test case.

Of course, as I said, neither you nor I really have a clue about this, being neither publishers nor published authors. But surely someone does. Of all the bloggers and readers who may pass by, surely someone has contacts or experience with publishers who might be interested in your work. So how about it, guys, wanna come through for Bill? Not to put your money where your mouth is, that comes later when his book is in the stores. For now, the mouth will do. Information. Advice. Most important, REFERRALS with PHONE NUMBERS. Direct to Bill, don't post them here. Come on, gang, some of you out there have the information, now's your chance to do some good with it.

I think I could cajole one out of the kids and grandkids for a copy for my upcoming (May) birthday... :-)

Bill,

Your essays have had a profound impact on Freerepublic. What a talent! Can't see how a book is not in your future! Looking forward to your next essay!

Lando

Bill, I'd definitely buy one. I send links to your stuff to my ex-service buddies, and they all love it. Over at Baen's Bar, the online readers bar for Baens Books, they recently had a good thread on self publishing. They also covered costs and fees in some small degree. It's out there, I think under the "Baens Bar" Thread.

In any event, GO FOR IT!

Sapper Mike

A book? I'm certainly interested!

Ditto to first poster Brad. At the mid-low $teen price you suggest I'm in for 3 or 4, one for me and the rest as gifts.
Your essays really are stunning. They're timely and worth re-reading and "ya gotta lookit this"ing to all in the vicinity.

It depends. Paypal are being a bunch of assholes and not letting me use my credit card, so if I were to buy the book, I'd need some other way of paying for it.

It would be nice to have a sort of 'anti-liberal bible' to keep around so I don't lose hope in the power of scientific and conservative thought.

(I'm a university student, y'see. All my friends are peacenik hippes.)

Bill, just a note on past, present and future. re: the past: I love love love yer stuff! My advice for the present: edit edit and then edit some more. I don't mean make yer essays shorter or anything--the story takes it's own time to tell--I just mean make sure it's all there, and just as you want it. In particular the essay that Rachel put together from your posts. It's one thing to get a publisher misty-eyed and say "damn this is good", and another to get him to say "damn this will get the reader misty-eyed; get Random House on the line." Frankly, forget the big publisher. This isn't the million-seller kind-o-stuff in book form (from what I see on the best-seller list). For the future; yer probably gonna hafta do it yerself, for a bit, and have a limited and loyal base; but you could also shop it to newspapers, magazines, Reader's Digest even, and get a contract for future writings. Think big, Bill. You seem to have been granted a gift that I've been striving a lifetime to gain through practice. The world is yer oyster...don't clam up now.

I read USS Clueless, among other blogs, and I think that, if I had more time (I have four young children), I could certainly match Steven Den Beste in the analysis department. I read E!E!E! and I realize how little I have to add in comparison, and it is a humbling experience. Would I buy a book? Absolutely.

Bill,

As more and more people become aquainted with your writing talent I think you'll find a much larger audience than you imagine. But forget major publishers. They swear up and down "conservative" books don't sell.

Outstanding, count me in for at least 5 copies.

I'll be good for 4 copies, at any price you care to mention.

Granted, a second mortgage might be required if that price is, um, "elevated", but that'd be a small price to pay - literally and metaphorically.

As to being well-known enough to rate consideration by a major publisher, I'd say give it some time. Regnery will eventually catch on, after you get a mention or three in The Corner or Best of the Web.

Bill, regarding self publishing, talk to Kim before you decide which way to go. He has some experience in this area.

We're home, BTW. Finally.

Sign me up for a couple.

From what I hear, Wildside Press is doing Print-On-Demand publishing. Not vanity, just backlist-without-inventory thing. [Curse that Thor Power Tool decision!] You might want to ask them about it for the first edition; but as soon as the Big World [as opposed to the Blog World] sees these writings, you'll have to fend them off with a stick.

Ann Coulter sounds like she's done quite a bit of research into the phenomenon of conservative "surprise best sellers". You might bounce something off of her. You could also include nekkid pictures of hot female bloggers. Because, well, I don't know why, but you could...

Self publishing sounds interesting, because you'll continually be writing new essays that you wish were in your book. By keeping initial production runs small, this might be easier to accomplish.

I'm in for at least 4 or 5, for starters. I think I've probably purchased a dozen each of "Eat the Rich" and "Parliament of Whores" by PJ O'Rourke, as gifts for friends and family. It would be great to be able to give away "First Edition Whittles."

Sign me up.

Bill,

Awesome, awesome, awesome! I'd buy the book in a heartbeat, and probably a few extra copies to send on to friends. Hope you don't mind, got pointed to your site by and friend and posted the link over on www.edodo.org, which is a website run by USAFA grads (think humor and cynicism rolled into one).

Blue skies!
stract

I've just recently discovered Eject! I'm in awe of your writings and have developed some sort of phobia checking constantly for the next essay. Count on me for at least 4, at least.

Bill,

If you decide to investigate self-publishing further, I'd recommend a small Florida printing company at www.whitehallpress.com. They specialize in doing short run books for such things as software manuals. One of my clients has used them and raves about their combination of quality and price.

Your writing is wonderful. Keep up the good work!

Bill, before you write off getting a publisher for the book, you might touch base with some of the other bloggers who've been published: Lileks, Virginia Postrel, Bill Quick, and the InstaProf come to mind. See if they have any suggestions or contacts. (And given how many people have mentioned P.J. O'Rourke above, you might see if you can get in touch with him as well.)

Count me in for certainly one, and likely many. I can't think of many more things I'd rather have my family and friends reading, so these'll become standard gifts for the people I know, I'm thinkgin.

I too would be interested in 4 or 5 copies of such a book, at any price you bring them out at. Please keep us all updated on the progress of this. Thanks!!

One for myself and three for friends. Let me know where to send the check.

Bill:

That other Bill, Surnamed Bennett, has published a lot of good books. Why not a Bill with GREAT talent for this stuff??

I am aware of a publisher here in Orlando whixh specializes in short run, first edition works for new Authors, called FirstPublish. Sadly, I was unable to find a website to send you to. I'll happily persue contact information, as I would like a compilation of your printed thoughts, myself. 

A google search resulted in a broad selection of similar publishing types, should you consider going down this path yourself. The list can be found in this section at Google:

Business > Publishing and Printing > Self-Publishing > On Demand

Keep pounding those keys, babe!

Rich

I would DEFINITLY buy a copy if you compiled your essays into a book. I'd probably buy several as I know several people who would love your writing.

Being as such would be a "must have on bookshelf", I'd scrape together my 60 cent Canadian dollars into a pile big enough for two, at least.
As to commercial interest: - Witness what "Savage Nation" and Farah's "Taking Back America" have been doing - ... As said above, your audience may be way bigger than you imagine. [Heck, contact Joseph Farah at WND - he's building a big bookstore online, and his audience is humongous and getting humongouser..(I think they're in the 900 top site bracket says Alexa.com - about 2 million individual readers per month)]
Best of luck with this - and DO INCLUDE a bit of unpublished work in the volume, both a treat and a (quite fair!) lure for those of us already enthralled...

I'd buy one, even at $25. You're a helluvan essayist, and I'd be pleased to own a nice printed copy of your material.

Bill:

Have you considered publishing your work as an e-book? You could then bootstrap your profits into a hardbound version. Just a thought.

geo

Bill,

I'm in for four books and I'll even send you an advance to help with publishing costs. I'll want a signed first edition though.

BTW.. Paypal doesn't accept my credit card because someone else used my computer to make a purchase and Paypal's system has locked me out, won't let me set up a new account. For example,I wasn't able to send $ to Kim Du Toit for a rifle or make donations to other writers that I enjoy.
Amazon works but when I sent a donation to Rachel through them there was a $50 cap on the donation amount. Don't know why.

Bill, do send off to Regnery. They are the publisher that knows that there is a market for books by people other than the mushheads.

I'll buy a copy for myself and a few for Christmas gifts. Do you think you will be ready by then?

Warning to the wise: Pay little attention to promises. If 100 people promise, maybe 25 will actually come through. This has happened before to other people: they do an unofficial survey, get good results, but end up with several boxes of t-shirts or whatnot that never move because all the promisers disappear when it's time to pay up.

My advice is that you ask people who want the book make a 5 or 10 dollar deposit. That way you'll know who is really willing to put up $, and who is just jabbering.

And if they back out, well, you get 10 bucks for free.

I would buy a copy once I got back from Kuwait (or Iraq, if that turns out to be the case). Publish it. Sell it. Long live capitalism!

Bill,

I would like to buy one for myself and 2 or 3 others - and I WOULD be willing to put some money down for a down payment if I were promised a refund if it didn't go to publication.

Particularly if it were to include some new stuff as well as the old!

Orion

Bill:

I stumbled upon your work a month ago and have read all of it. Fantastic stuff! Sometimes I'm simply amazed by how fun it is to read.

I will buy two books at least, and am willing to pay you up front the full cost. Please make this happen! Keep up the great work.

Dave Bell

I can see your essays working quite well as a coffee table book with lots of beautiful photographs. And I agree with everyone who says don't write off getting a publishing contract without trying. First books are published all the time.

I would most definitely buy two, one for me and one for my USAF brother.

Sounds great, as long as I can get a copy the old-fashioned way, with a check in the mail...

What Liz said. Won't use PayPal. Period.

I'm in, though. Even if you'd like a deposit. Just say how.

--Mark

Geoff Metcalf has done well with on-demand publishing house iUniverse: his "In The Arena" is a well-produced book that's performing nicely for him.

Post a price for your book, a deposit amount, and a ship date, and I'll put through a deposit to you via PayPal.

Less than 2 bucks per essay? Sounds like deal to me. Viva capitalism!

Personally, I'd write up some essays in the future and only publish them in the book. You've done the work already making a name for yourself with free media and contributed alot to stimulate the community with your inspiring work.

Now it's time for some payoffs outside of feeling gratified for the sake of being 'thanked'.

If you don't, people would only want it for practical reasons as gifts to friends and relatives, mostly. Why not increase your volume by expanding the practicality of purchasing the book?

I'm not saying put every new essay into the book from now on, but at least toss a few gleaming gems into it(and future volumes).

I wish you the best, Bill, and hope this brings you much gratification from every angle.

Turn it into a self help book. Yours might actually help left wingers understand just how wrong they are. Well, maybe not...

I've only read Courage and War so far because I just found your site. I should say those are the only essays I've read. I've read the other posts between them too. I have every intention of reading your entire archive as soon as I can, though, and I will buy a book as soon as you are ready to sell it. I'll probably buy a couple for friends too. You are a great writer, but more than that you seem to have great things to say. I hope you do end up publishing the book.

Bill,

Count me in for at least 4 copies. I'll even pay extra for autographed copies!

("Hmm. Yes, but you see, I have autographed first editions of Whittle's work. No,no,no,I couldn't possibly let them go. Priceless, absolutely priceless. Off with you now or I shall have to set the dogs on you!")

You have to ASK? Good God, man, you might even turn a profit. Christmas IS coming after all!

Don't be silly. Of course people will buy. Count me in.

Try to avoid the self publishing path. Do you really want to be a mail room, warehouse, shipping dept, and book keeper? I have a friend who went that path and it was just not worth it. I can't give you any references but try to find an agent. They know how the industry works. Also, I second the suggestion of contacting Regnery Publishing

Bill,

Sounds great, sign me up for four maybe five.

Jack

I would also be interested in a copy; add one more to the tally.

Unlikely to buy (shipping cost to the UK on top). There are books out there that are essay collections - one that comes to mind is Polly Toynbee's "The Way We Live Now". She is a Guardian columnist and has a very liberal viewpoint.

Like the idea of an ebook however. Download in one go and read on my Palm whenever.

While I was there, I found this article on Blogging. Worth a quick read.

Put me down for five

Put me down for two. I can't think of a better gift for my Father in Law.

On another note, I have friends (a couple) who have managed to each publish a book. I know that they used a small publisher and handled fulfillment (taking and shipping orders) by themselves. Drop me a line if you'd like me to ask them what worked and what didn't for them.

Andrew Small: would you be willing to pay for an ebook? If so, what's your suggested price point?

A book is a wonderful idea! I'd be glad to pay a deposit on at least 5 as long as I can send a check and not have to go through paypal. Your essays are amazing but I'd much rather read them out of a book than off the computer. Keep up the good work!

Of course I want a copy, and probably two.

Of course, I'd like to see something a little thicker...maybe not War And Peace...but say, 20 essays?

Please?

As someone who tried to publish a book and self-distribute, succeeded in doing so, and went rather spectacularly bankrupt and had a lot of hassle with working out the taxes and income and whatnot ramifications, I have three words of advice to you:

PRINT ON DEMAND.

There are several PoD publishers on the net these days, taking PayPal and credit cards, and if you wish you can always accept checks yourself, then funnel those funds to the PoD publisher and have them mail the result to the purchaser.

I do believe your work deserves to see hardcopy, but I think this is the better route for you to go.

Be well, and good luck!

I'd love to own one, Bill. Chalk up another.

I'd stand in line with my 25 bucks for your book! Good Luck!

Lando

I'd buy one Bill. No questions. Your essays are inspiring to us all.

Mark

No doubt about it, Bill. Start gathering your material...no doubt there is support.

If you publish it, we will come! You have inspired me to add a blog feature to my own Web site.

Publish!!!! I'm poverty-stricken, living on a tiny coral atoll near New Guinea, and I'll still find the money. (Who needs more fishing gear anyway?)
Words may be cheap. Inspiration is priceless.
Get on with it man!

Well, I'm sure you know that His Imperial Majesty will be buying as soon as you publish, so get ON with it!

And seriously, don't give up on "real" publishers right away. You may get a bunch of reject slips at first like most great authors did, but I'm absolutely confident that there's a publisher in your future.

Unfortunately, I don't know any right now.

But, again, whichever way you choose to go, you can count me in.

Sign me up for at least two copies. You print them and I'll give them as gifts to friends and family.

One of these days is none of these days.

Have someone like Limbaugh or Hannity read one of these essays, and you'll get mentioned "on-air". Sales will shoot through the roof.

Trying the experiment of blog popularity versus the publishing world?

Let's roll. :)

Stupid suggestion- have you considered burning to CD-ROM? I don't know what the publishing costs would be (probably comperable to paper for a small run) but I would guess the shipping costs would be considerably cheaper because of weight. I KNOW there are people here who would know a lot more about this than I do.

Your writing makes me laugh and cry on a regular basis...I'd not only buy one for myself, I'd buy at least 5 others to give as gifts. I'm looking forward to it!

You can count on me to buy a copy.

I'm in for at least one for me - then maybe others for gifts.

Bill,

Just linked on to your site (through Instapundit) for the first today. I am blown away by your writing, and would be a buyer of 5+ copies of anything along these lines that you can publish.

Bill, don't know if you'll read this far down, but you might want to contact ben brown of so new media (www.sonewmedia.com) regarding publishing. He runs his own little publishing company out of his apartment in Austin, TX. Unfortunatly, he's on the other side of the political fence, but that doesn't mean he can't publish a book for ya.

You publish - me buy. Get going.

Put me down for two, just for starters.

Deposit? Anything you ask.

I'm a university student with an English major/creative writing minor--meaning I have professors who've published everything from essay collections to short stories and novels.

If you're interested in going the self-publishing route, more and much more power to you. If you'd like me to check with some of the said teachers and see what (if anything) they could tell you, I'd be more than happy to follow through on that for you.

Just let me know.

Hear Hear! *I'LL BUY!* And I probably will buy a copy for my Father In Law as a B'day/Christmas gift.

Bill,

I am constantly amazed by the quality of your work. Please publish a book, I would buy several for myself and for others.

Send a copy of Confidence to Dennis Prager's producer at KRLA. This is right up his alley and since he's also published several books, he might be very helpful.

Count me in for at least one.

Suggestion: Publish on-line, selling one-time downloads on an up-front cash basis.

We don' need no pretty peekchurs - jus' lots of essays!

Books as Christmas presents, and this is the book I want to give!

I can't get enough of your work. PLEASE publish in paper. I guarantee that I will buy at least one book. Let me know when they are available.

Your devoted fan, Bill Powell

Bill-
I enjoy your essays. I have a couple points, though. Firstly, not all liberals are anti-patriotic, anti-American Marx-quoting pacifists. A large number of us (I hope) believe in expansive, socially responsible, fair-trade capitalism (as well as the individual freedoms which I think you value more than, say, Attorney General John Ashcroft). Secondly, I'd recommend you do away with the typographical gimmickry-- all the boldfaces and italics and whatnot. Not only is it distracting-- your prose should stand on its own, but its also gives it an unsavory propagandistic sheen, reminiscent of Goebbels' writing. (No, I'm not calling you a Nazi).

All the Best,
J. Newman

I'll buy, not an ebook or CD-ROM though, reading a book on the computer is a pain. Probably one or two copies, depending on the price (I am, after all, an impoverished Estonian :)).

In the mean time, I'll post a request for people who know publishers to take a look at your stuff on my blog. If enough bloggers do this, maybe someone will bite?

Re: People who promise not buying - I promised to buy an LGF shirt, and now that I've got a job again, I will, come next payday.

Oh, and Paypal sucks, it won't accept Visa cards issued in countries not on its list, and Estonia happens to be one of those.

You don't have comments turned on for the essay on Confidence, which I enjoyed, I jsut wanted to say don't confuse the speech writers for Regan with Regan. They turned a mean phrase in their day, like the one about the Challenger... but your essay on Courage was far better.

I am very moved by your writing. Put me on the "Definitely Would Buy" list. Very impressive, indeed.

My USMC son turned me on to your blog. I've laughed, I've cried, and I've quoted. You have a way of saying what it is I'm feeling. I'm very concerned about the direction our beloved country seems to be heading. We must stand up as the majority that we are and say enough is enough! Anyway, before I ramble on, I definitely want four of your books. A tremendous thank you for sharing your essays with the masses so that we might continue to understand.
d

I've read you since SDB published your first "essay" about your father's funeral. I love it all. If you publish, I will buy.

Bill, I would not only buy your Samizdat, I will commit it to memory and quote it often to others. It will be better than all the hubris and hype Simon or Schuster could print. Besides, the Internet is the only way to go these days....show em who you are and what you can do! Sign me up for a 25 dollar copy today!....One more thing: You would transcend the censorial leftist editors' wishful thinking that only politically correct pap sells. Go to it, man!

I would definitely buy 4 copies of a real, dead-tree book. I would be willing to put down a deposit, would use PayPal if that option were available, and would pay slightly more for signed copies.

I would consider buying a PDF version on CD, but somehow I think your writing deserves better treatment than that.

Bill,

Great writing. First time reader and moved by it all. Linked to you through Allen Forkum. Have enjoyed working with Allen over 14 years. Allen raised the bar, then jumped it with "Black & White World." After reading your site, I'd say raise the bar and go for it. Put me down for a copy. Congratulations on the courage to promote the time tested ideas that our society silently yells for.

I'll buy one (at the very least). To say I'm blown away by your essays would be an understatement.

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993452

Bill,

Visit www.iuniverse.com to find out about print-on-demand publishing.

If I ever get one of my novels finished, its how I plan to get published.

Re: "Confidence"...

Excellent as usual, Bill. Much of it can be condensed into this snippet: 66 years.

Only 66 years.

That's how long it took to go from the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk to Neil Armstrong on the moon.

What can there be that we *can't* we do?

a little less winded next time dumb ass

put me on the list for one

Bill,
a book would be a great idea, when you eventually get it published please let me know so I can send you detailed instructions on how to roll it up and shove it up your ass. Your writing style - take abstract concept (courage etc..), use no facts to back up your contentions, make sweeping generalisations - is quite inept and the level of adulation it receives is astounding - well there's n'ought as queer as folk.

Just found your site (thank you, Rachel) ... I'm in for five and I'll front the money. Keep up the great work, in spite of idiots like "George" ...

I'd put down money as well. You certainly have the talent and skills.

And ignore people like "George." He's just jealous that he can neither write or make even remotely as much sense as you. But living in the past like he does tends to make a person bitter and sad.

I haven't read anything I liked as much as your stuff in a while. I'll buy.

Expat-living in the ME-needs your book-now!
Please sign me up!

I'm a bit late to the "I love Bill Whittle" party, but I'd buy AT LEAST two copies of anything you publish. You inspire me and move me to tears. Name your price, man.

I'd buy it. And I want it autographed.