Yesterday was a very important day for me, because, I signed the contract with my editor! My book will be published. I am delighted, because I have toiled (joyfully) for nearly three years writing it. The whole experience has been greatly rewarding because, on one hand I have learned much more than I ever expected to about Patagonian natives, their beliefs, their culture, the woes of the European explorers and the hardships of its first settlers.
It has also given me an deep insight into the native and Creole myths and legends involving mysterious lake and forest beings. My research has softened the jagged edges of my initial skepticism and twenty-first century rationality and opened the door to many questions:
Could there still be some unknown creatures out there, living in the forests?
Even if there are none, did they die out recently?
What is the most logical explanation for these cryptid 'sightings' and 'encounters' with strange entities?
Were the natives' myths based on real living flesh and blood creatures?
Is our knowledge limited because of lack of research in the field?
Anyway, it is a never ending quest so even though the book has now begun the journey that will set it in print (and who knows, maybe even in some electronic or digital book system), I will still be investigating my favorite subject, Patagonia and its mysteries.
The publishing process
Signing the contract and delivering the manuscript is, of course,the first step. Now the 'fun' begins, The book has to go through the editing stages (design, layout and typesetting), then will come the complete proofreading. So I guess it will be a busy end of the year.
The Publisher
My publisher is Zagier & Urruty Publications (see them on Facebook).
They, as publishers, specialize in Patagonia, with a special emphasis on Tierra del Fuego and also on Antarctica. Which is quite nice, since my book fits neatly into their niche field of interest.
Besides publishing original work on Patagonia, Zagier & Urruty also have reprinted many interesting chronicles and journals of nineteenth century explorers, missionaries and adventurers as well as maps which you will recognize by their "whale tail" WORLD'S END logo.
In coming blogs I will keep you posted on how the editing / publishing / printing process is going and when you can expect to see the book available on your bookshop's shelves!
Thank you all for reading my blog.
Austin
The Book: Coming soon. Copyright © 2010 by Austin Whittall
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Patagonian Monsters - Cryptozoology, Myths & legends in Patagonia
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