09 Oct 2025 10:43:57
Blimey, do I not like international breaks, very frustrating. Anyone know anything about publishing? Writing a book about Athelstan but there are a lot of vanity publishers out there!
{Ed001's Note - there is a poster called aoe on the Liverpool site who is a published author with a successful track record, he might be able to help you mate. My uncle has self-published some history books, he self-publishes and sells them when he gives talks about his subject, so it is possible to just self-publish and make a profit from it. Though he deliberately keeps his books small and light, so he can carry a bunch of them with him when he travels, so might not be relevant to what you are doing.}
09 Oct 2025 11:20:42
Davey, does that mean you can't use your local anymore as you are a bard my friend? ???.
09 Oct 2025 11:11:58
Cheers Ed, this is a sort of fact fiction account of his reign centred around the battle of Brunanburh, it's probably only going to be a novella at most so quite small lol.
{Ed001's Note - are you intending to write more books afterwards?}
09 Oct 2025 11:56:35
Perish the thought Stevie, the pint is mightier than the pen??.
09 Oct 2025 12:04:05
That's a good question Ed, I started it during lockdown as I have an interest in that period of history and not so much is known. My thought on that is to then do an account of Edmund who fought with Athelstan at Brunanburh then succeeded him in 939.
{Ed001's Note - it makes sense to get a good publisher and relationship with them then, if you want to do more. If you are only intending to do one, or like my uncle in a position to pay all the associated costs up front and it is more of a hobby, then self-publishing would have been easier.}
09 Oct 2025 12:36:11
That is a very good point Ed. I guess the dichotomy there is to be accepted by a publisher it needs to be of a certain quality! Whether it is or not I have no idea ??.
{Ed001's Note - do you have an editor and/or proof-reader?}
09 Oct 2025 12:44:40
I got nothing Ed, completely virginal, just an idea! I have sent samples to several publishers, one didn't want the genre and about 4 were interested, but mainly because they wanted £2,500 up front straight away ?.
{Ed001's Note - I would worry about a publisher when it is written then mate.}
09 Oct 2025 12:52:54
Fascinating vid. Good job.
Been thinking of doing the same ( not same subject ) myself on retirement.
09 Oct 2025 12:59:16
Well done Vid, always tip my hat to historians, giving us mere mortals insights into times gone by
All the best pal, and hope it's a success for you.
09 Oct 2025 13:09:17
Well if you got an idea Aus do it! Big market for subjects people can relate to. Was talking to an ex miner who is writing about his career, especially the strikes, a sort of living recent history showing the industry from a workers view.
09 Oct 2025 13:58:02
Thank you Chris, yeah it's fascinating delving into our roots!
09 Oct 2025 14:15:23
Thanks vid. My subject very controversial. Moving on.
Hope you do well and as Chris says. Good to enjoy history. My fav subject at school as it happens. Nice to have a pastime and interest.
09 Oct 2025 17:07:53
As in the 1st true king of England? That Athelstan?
09 Oct 2025 17:30:14
Absolutely Bright, grandson of Alfred the Great, first King of England laid the foundations for parliament, created the first common currency ruling from 925 to 939, kicked the Danes out, never lost a battle. Alas died of dysentery so basically shat himself to death! Little is known because he was wiped from history by his successors after Edmund The Magnificent 939 to 946.
{Ed025's Note - you are either very well educated Vid...or a top googler.. :)
09 Oct 2025 17:41:03
Lol Ed, alas just an anorak about that period in history ?.
{Ed025's Note - respect to you mate...i cant remember if i have put sugar in my tea..
09 Oct 2025 18:36:54
Ah alas poor Edmund was stabbed to death at the age of 25 by an known theif Leofa in his own court after trying to eject him. Tragic. But if you wanna know more you could read me book ???.
09 Oct 2025 19:57:26
Vid, KDP Kindle self publishing does everything for you and you keep 70% of the profit.
You just upload a pdf or word document and Amazon does the rest.
09 Oct 2025 22:15:54
Love fact fiction Vid. If you want a proof reader happy to do the job for free :)
09 Oct 2025 23:09:01
I was always a scientist rather than a history nerd (O level fail) so I'd never heard of that battle. I googled it, and found that whilst the battle location is unknown one of the most likely spots is at Barnsdale Bar near Pontefract where there's an old well head next to the A1 called Robin Hood's Well. I'm a Wakefield lad, and round here, many believe that Robin Hood (if he existed at all) hailed from this area, and the Nottingham story is rubbish.
09 Oct 2025 23:13:16
Lol cool Alf, give me your email an I will send you what I got! Thank you.
10 Oct 2025 09:05:02
I did my family tree a few years back. My dad's family were fair ground showman from Leeds and surrounding area.
It was interesting looking into social history and finding out stories surrounding the family. I have often thought it would be nice to write about it.
They say that everyone has a book in them.
Some times it's turns out just to be constipation!
10 Oct 2025 09:47:59
Let us know when it’s published and we will all buy a copy. Give you some coin.
10 Oct 2025 15:26:20
Interesting that you are passionate about King Aethelstan as it is something very similar with my passion of Viking history and culture.
Viking King Sitric of York had he not died shortly after marrying Aethelstans sister, history could have been very different for King Aethelstan.
10 Oct 2025 15:55:21
Good luck with the book Vid ? if you do get it published let us know, I’d be very interested.
10 Oct 2025 17:25:26
Vidlufc you should try Amazon they do all the donkey work for you.