Posted by I began a new project this week that I’m really excited about – writing a book. I’ve written a few million words worth of essays, but never a whole book, so this will be a new experience for me. Thankfully, I don’t have to do it alone. I’ve got a co-author, Wesley Elsberry, whose knowledge and insight will undoubtedly make me look much better than I am. The subject of the book? The Dover trial. We are aiming at doing a thorough history of the trial from beginning to end and beyond.
We’ll trace the changes in strategies employed by the antievolutionists from Scopes through “teach the controversy” as well and we plan to include an appendix that offers a legal analysis of Judge Jones’ ruling. The first step is writing the preface (a history of evolution trials) and one of the middle chapters and using those as sample chapters to pitch the book. Michael Shermer has already agreed to read the manuscript and give us an endorsement/cover blurb (very important in the publishing world), so that’s a big boost. We’ll be lining up a few more potential endorsers as well.
We’ve been encouraged to submit the project to the big four academic presses and that is what we plan to do. I’m 90% sure that Prometheus would publish the book regardless, but if we can get it published by a major press that would be preferable. And especially if Paramount does end up making a movie about the trial, the sky’s the limit for the book. In the meantime, of course, expect me to continue to rant and rave here as I always have.
March 31, 2006
March 31, 2006
