[Bumped 9/27 for the benefit of readers who weren’t around when it ran last Thursday. Thanks to readers who’ve responded thus far.] Here’s a proposition that may be of interest to commercial publishers or, conceivably, to some nonprofit organizations:
Some time ago I was approached by a small commercial publisher which wanted to produce a “Best of Overlawyered.com” book pulling together highlights of what’s appeared on this site since I launched it five years ago. The idea was to compile relatively light material, especially stories of strange or outrageous legal cases, into a lively, browseable book suitable for impulse and gift purchase, the sort of thing you might see stacked near the checkout counter at a bookstore. I had already had the idea for such a book project, so I was happy to spend a few weeks pulling together a 60,000-word rough draft in preparation for reaching a contract.
The sequel? The little publisher’s appetite turned out to be bigger than its follow-through, and it proved unable to proceed with the project or reach a contract with me (though not from lack of enthusiasm). So I’m left with the makings of what I think makes a highly entertaining book, and one that could probably be brought to market quickly since the manuscript is near the final-polishing stage. It wouldn’t be the first such book aimed at a mass audience — several variations on the “America’s Hundred Wackiest Lawsuits” theme are out there — but in all modesty I think it’d be by far the best.
I could engage a literary agent to shop the project around, and I may still do that. But since I know that the site is read by many in the publishing and nonprofit worlds, I figured I’d put out a feeler here first. If you’re interested and qualified, drop me a line at editor (at) this-domain-name.com.
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