QUESTIONNAIRE PREP FOR PRESS RELEASE
Dear Xlibris:
I was brief where you ask to be brief, but otherwise cut and paste from various web pages that address your questions. Since this questionnaire is going only to Xlibris, it doesn't matter if I said more than you asked for, Towit:
NAME or PEN NAME:
Flora Westcott Clere
BOOK TITLE & BOOK ID (If available):
Graymouse Family of Wainscot Street - Artist Search Version
1. What inspired you to write this book?
The Archive for Education and Dissemination of Knowledge (AEDOK) has thousands of books papers and manuscripts, in the range of 100 to 250 years old.
This delightful little story was dredged up from the
It was definitely important to maintain the style and grammer, otherwise we would have contributed to the destruction of a creation, even as we were trying to finish the creation. So the various components were carefully compared and sometimes, from a narrative point of view, laying one sentence or paragraph up on the other, to see which parts should go together, often taking fragments from one version of a sentence and combinning with the more cohesive components of another. Correcting small errors and filling in blanks. However there was one large hole. A feeling of discontinuity between one part of the manuscript and where are the next part appeared to continued. A gap.
So again keeping with the style, nearly an entire chapter was written. We won't say which at this time because our efforts are not the issue. This was a great creative story. The individual members of the Graymouse Family have personalities. And we wanted to get it out to the world. Which with great joy we are now doing. Indeed, eventually a sequel is in order.
The Art Contest
But good gracious! After we had finalize the manuscript and were in the very last stages of preparation for publication. We were struck by the realization that there was no artwork, no pictures! And though it is true that some of the greatest children's stories from Europe of the past also had no artwork, this was the 20th century. (believe it or not we started this project in 1990s.) And in the modern world it is quite acceptable and proper to have pictures with children's stories as an additional entertainment component.
Our editor, contacted a friend whose daughter was very creative and artistic. Though they were ostensibly interested, nothing ever materialized. Subsequently we thought perhaps to advertise on the Internet for an artist. But, as our friends over at
Then the stroke of genius. An art contest.
But not to arrogantly or condescendingly choose one above all others (which we feel is a barbaric technique which collectively depresses more contestants than it exhilarates, since there is only one first place and there are countless others) but rather, to display and enjoy the variety that you are going to help us bring.
Some of your artwork will be simple. Some will be (we speculate) incredibly intricate and elaborate. Side by side, our juxtapositioning may open the eyes of some who think there is the best cheesecake.
And we even intend to apply to the Guinness Book of World Records as being the first publisher to create a multiple artwork production for the same single story.
2. Summarize your book in one to three sentences as if you were speaking to someone unfamiliar with your book and its topic.
A global art contest in which there are only winners. Though the official contest lasts a single year (2017) after which an official winner is chosen for the physical version of the book containing the artwork selected, which xlibris will publish, the real contest will begin in 2018 when AEDOK publishes each participant's artwork in its own digital book and which will be voted upon by the world as they vote with their purchases.
3. What is the overall theme (central topic, subject or concept) of your book?
To create a VARIETY of wonderful art for a delightful children's story. But, in fairness to the artist without using techniques which arbitrarily and improperly exclude them. Thus ALL artist's creations can be appreciated for what they are truly worth.
4. Where does this book take place?
The Mousefolk live on Wainscot Street (a hole in the trim of a hallway) in Kitchentown, obtaining groceries from Pantry Shop and not far from Dribble Drop Falls on Sink Ridge.
But this Artist - Search is global. We invite the entire world of artisans to participate.
5. Who are the main characters and why are they important to the story?
Young micefolk, three girls: Ee-nie Me-nie Mi-nie and a boy: Mo, their Papa Graymouse, Mama Graymouse, Grandpa Graymouse, and Grandma Graymouse.
The story tells of the life and dangers of being a mouse, having to move from their old home to escape an enormous creature, the Meow.
6. Why do you think that this book will appeal to readers?
Why PARTICIPATE in the Graymouse Family of Wainscot Street - Artist Search Version?
Every artisan needs a showcase for his work, his talent. The traditional contest is a popular form of showcase but has a winner and possibly countless losers. Such a process takes place in a setting which does not represent reality, for the decision process is subjective. Rendering what is presumably an objective conclusion as to superiority. Again, contrary to reality. The superior cannot be determined in such a fashion.
But, there doesn't have to be a loser. This is the age of the computer, the internet, and gigabytes of mass storage. So, EACH artist's creations can be incorporated into a digital book. Each artist can showcase his inspiration and his talent in the same wonderful children's story about a family of mice, not surprisingly stauked by a ferocious cat.
We even intend to apply to the Guinness Book of World Records. No one in the history of the world has ever done this before. An occasional movie has an alternate ending. But no one has ever published a book of any form, much less a children's book, with hundreds, perhaps thousands we do not yet know, of variations in art. Each variation being based upon the vision of a particular artist.
None of the contestants in our
But as great an opportunity as that is for the artist, there is a second group of winners, for it is equally a delight to the prospective reader. Variations in art to choose from, which THEY think is most appropriate, or most inspiring, not the decision of a person or group of people that they've never met. For the parents, there will be artwork to fit THEIR child.
And yet even a third group of winners. Artists throughout the globe who have not participated for one reason of another will still be inspired for decades, as they see artwork similar to their own. Hundreds of variations that otherwise would not have been revealed, not just one selected, and possibly winning by only a few votes. This will give them much needed hope.
Yet, there are two more reasons why an artist should participate in our
Reason number four is that each artist shall receive a portion of the digital revenue attributable to his version. Again, no one has ever been so generous.
And finally, the icing on the cake. Reason number 5. A second contest in which each artist will participate but over which he has no control.
We shall meticulously keep track of the revenue from each digital production. As each one reaches a certain level which we have not yet determined, we shall publish a printed version of his creations. Just like and identical to, the original so called winner.
Naturally, this will be physically published by xlibris.
Then, over time, the contest and race shall continue to see who's version, is truly the most popular throughout the world as indicated by their purchases.
7. How is your book relevant in today's society?
The Supreme Court of the United States of America, accepted the healthcare fiasco by a single vote.
8. Is there any subject currently trending in the news that relates to your book?
Sorry, I don't know.
9. What makes your book different from other books like it?
See #6, Showcase, Guinness Book of World Records, the entire fairness of the contest, et al.
10. What do you want readers to take away from your writing?
Remember, we are talking about the Artist Search Version who's primary audience is artists. The artists are to create the art for this children's story. The children's story itself, has a different "takeaway."
Three things we want readers to take away from this Artist Search Version:
1 The idea that the best can be chosen by a vote is ridiculous. Since "best" is an object term and voting is subjective.
2 Such a voting process actually destroys greatness, by casting into obscurity all but one.
3 There is an intelligent and enlightened way to reveal to the world what artisans have to offer.
11. How did you learn about the topic? (i.e. personal experience, education, etc.)
See #1, INSPIRATION
An incomplete, unfinished, unpublished children's story that was beautiful, wholesome, and need to be shared with the world.
12. Is there a particular passage from your book you'd like us to utilize? If so, please provide.
If there is any additional information you'd like the writers to know, please provide.
FROM THE BOOK:
This may be (is) historic. This may be (is) the first time a book is published with ALL THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS of the art work presented. If there are 100 applicants, there will be 101 versions of this book. If there are 1000
applicants, there will be 1001 versions of this book.
THIS MAY BECOME A COLLECTOR'S ITEM. "BUY THEM ALL", as they say.
So, all your friends, family, and voters, and others, will be able to purchase a copy of YOUR version regardless of how your artwork eventually appears: paper or digital.
ADDITIONAL:
Each artist has the opportunity to participate in this first time ever event.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
1. Please supply us with an author bio. Do not include anything you do not want shared with the media.
The Archive for Education and Dissemination Of Knowledge, (AEDOK) started out circa 1990 With thousands of books and printed materials in the age range of 100 to 300 years. The goal was to make available these not quite ancient but certainly old texts on the Internet. Considerable time has passed and there been numerous difficulties and impediments preventing any progress in that area. However the goal has actually grown.
The Mission:
To collect all useful knowledge regardless of form eg.,paper, electrons, wood, rock, assemble it, order it, study it, understand it, disseminated it, and teach it.
To accomplish this goal, AEDOK.com has created AEDOK.org and AEDOK.net in which any intellectual (aedok.org) or entrepreneur (aedok.net) can participate to bring his knowledge and expertise to the world. Details available in the mission statements and "Open Invitation to the World".
You can obtain all this information whether you go to aedok.com, aedok.org or aedok.net
2. What other books have you written?
"The Nature of Thought and Other Things of Vast Significance" (Volume 1, Comprising Books 1 - 3), A philosophical work on what goes on in our minds. How it is possible to think. Why there is only truth in the universe. And the difference between "choice" and "cause and effect".
Digital version published by AEDOK. The physical version shall be published by Xlibris if they ever figure out how to print the graphics from files that print perfectly on a simple office computer.
tnot.aedok.com
info@tnot.aedok.com
But GrayMouse has its own domain and email shown below.
3. Do you have an existing website? If so, please provide the web
graymouse.aedok.com
artsearch@graymouse.aedok.com
Note: You CAN also get to graymouse easily thru aedok.com, aedok.org, and aedok.net, but
graymouse.aedok.com
takes you DIRECTLY to the artist search.