Welcome to our Author Interview series.
Today we're featuring an interview with Andrew J. Boyd, author of Nostalgia: The Way it Really Was. Our author interview series provides an opportunity for our readers to get to know our authors on a deeper level and also learn more about the types of books we're publishing.
Andrew J. Boyd is a resident of Bradenton, Florida was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied under Eastman Kodak Company for lighting, film manufacture and development. He started a career in photography in the early 1950s doing commercial and advertising photography for Cleveland and New York agencies. He was one of the first photographers in the Cleveland area to present full-color commercial work. Taking a long break from photography he worked as an engineer before returning to photojournalistic work for several magazines. Boyd splits his time between Bradenton, Florida and Columbiana, Ohio. He is the author of 10 books.
Synopsis - Nostalgia: The Way it Really Was
1930 – 1955 Who knew that this generation would live in one of the most defining times of all in America? Certainly not many, in fact it really has not been completely understood by many of the generations since such as the Great Depression. One could go on and on about innocence, courage, innovation, inventiveness, entrepreneurship and hard work. But all of that was true even before then. But it is indeed unique.
Although this book will focus primarily on the 40's and 50's you will read also about the old west and some early goings on in the late 1800's.
It is important to preserve this very defining time in the history of this great nation. I'm interested because I was fortunate and blessed to live in it even though much of my early life was during the Great Depression and WWII there are still plenty of fond memories.
I've recorded a few stories that you hear little about today concerning WWII especially when reading about airplanes of that era and it just seemed necessary to include thoughts about the bravery of American's who gave their all for our beloved country.
Author Interview
Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?
Nostalgia: The Way it Really Was comes to life in a printed format 8.5x11. When first picked up it just invites you in to read about the past especially when all the subjects are supported by great photographs. The pictures grab you and won't let go. Page after page, 144 to be exact are filled with top notch photographs. Lay it on a table and most people will pick it up and start asking questions about locations, subjects and did you take all of these? It won't be long and it will be dog-eared!
How did your book come to life?
Slowly. Because of my age I can reflect to the past about much I lived through and those memories either were places and circumstance recalled or what was going on all about me.
Why do you think your readers are going to enjoy your book?
People in general are interested in history especially American history. And when they have an opportunity to look at the past they relate to their own experiences or what they have heard from elders.
Pictures, everyone loves to relate to pictures and when they are associated in some way to knowledge expressed as nostalgia it makes it fun for everyone, young and old.
How long did it take you to write your book?
I had thought about it a very long time. Even when I finally decided to put my thoughts in writing I had trouble thinking it through as how to present the book to keep the interest of a large diversity in age and background of the reader. When that process began to gel it was obvious it was an absolute necessity to include as much image (picture) coverage as possible to support each chapter. I also realized how important it was to have all my facts correct and that was going to require serious research. Whenever a thought or idea crossed my mind I immediately would do the research. All the while taking photos of anything that I thought would be remotely a possibility for the book. I ended up with piles and piles of information and photos. It took two years!
Who designed the cover?
I find that doing my own cover design is one of the most fascinating and challenging things about writing a book. Of course being a photographer helps tremendously. I study what other best selling books have as cover designs. Many times I just don't get the cover and how it relates to what's inside the book. For me that is an absolute must, the cover must relate and lead the reader inside and then not disappoint.
Did you learn anything from writing your book that was unexpected?
As a matter-of-fact I did. My book Nostalgia did not include things I wish I had the room for. But a book needs to find an ending that will be "correct," meaning I ended at the proper time with 140 pages for a good read and be completed, keeping the cost of the book fairly reasonable. But knowing all the material out there that could have been included left me with a sigh. Oh well, someone will be disappointed I didn't include this or that.
How do you start writing a new book? What comes first? The characters? The story?
I start with an idea that I think is unique and will have appeal. As I think more on that idea it becomes clear how it should be presented. How large should the book be? What should the page layout be? What should the title be? Lastly, what should the cover look like? After all that I begin doing research and gathering up the images I might want to include. Always images, I am a photographer first.
Do you like to write series? Or single titles only?
So far, I've only written single title books but I have entertained the idea for a series of photography books. The problem for me is that to make a photographic book interesting to the so called masses and not just be a technical book to a limited audience is the challenge. But I do have a few ideas brewing. The digital world as it relates to photography just scares some people and I believe any photo book or series of books must keep that mind.
How did your book come to life?
One of the first breaks I received was from a friend of my daughter and son-in-law who has a big old barn on his property stuffed with old things and some books are there as well. One day I was visiting with my kids and he was there along with one of the old books he had retrieved from the barn. It happened to be a sports book with all the old records of various sports from the beginnings until the date it was published in 1955. What a find! To my good fortune he let me borrow it (whew) for several weeks as I compiled the information and wrote stories about what I remembered of those times. Thanks again Terry! With this as a running start the book began to take form and the rest I just let fall into place as naturally as I could. It did seem from that starting point the rest of the research didn't seems so tedious to me.
Why do you think your readers are going to enjoy your book?
Because it is well done! Even though the subjects are familiar to many it focuses on Americana. How it was done and why. What were the obstacles and how the past overcame them. The dreams and successes. The failures. Fond memories that can be related to. Joy and peace. Freedom to discover. All are explored in this book.
When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
Travel with Jennie is fun and we enjoy it very much. Our families are in Ohio and Pennsylvania so much of our summers are spent up north. Travel also offers great photo opportunities too. Always carry a camera!
What are your thoughts on self-publishing verses traditional publishing?
Thank the Lord for self-publishing. Self-publishing has grown tremendously in just the past few years and rightly so because there are thousands of excellent authors who have new ideas and things to say and express it has overwhelmed the traditional publishing business. Now with the highly successful e-book publishing venue many story tellers can get their work into the public main stream readership quickly and cheaply. I have one book Photographing Women available through Amazon as an e-book in full color, it's wonderful.
Where can a reader purchase your book?
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BuyBooksontheWeb.com, booksbyboyd.com and other retail outlets.
Why did you decide to publish with Infinity Publishing?
After publishing with Create Space at Amazon, I decided for this book I needed better printing quality, specifically the quality of paper suited for color images. I asked for and received samples of Infinity's paper with color images and the quality was what I had hoped for. The paper had a better finish and was slightly heavier which suited my need exactly.
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