My New Book is On Sale!!

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

http://www.lulu.com/content/972440

OK, I followed the advice of many of you and went through LuLu.com to self-publish my new book about a thrilling fictional hunt for an entire uncut T206 sheet with several Wagner cards on it.

The average reader with zero knowledge of baseball will understand and throughly enjoy the story...but YOU FOLKS with your vast knowledge of the history of the card and its lore will REALLY get a kick out of following the uncut sheet from the American Lithograph Company all the way to its auction in 2007!

I write with the same humorous refernces that we all use on this board, so reading it for you folks will be like laughing through one of our Seinfeld or SNL threads. I also incorporate a great deal of oldies music as well.

MOST IMPORTANTLY... I programmed the self-publishing thing to sell the book AS CHEAP as possible ($14 for Paperback) so that everyone can buy one (or tweleve) and enjoy it.

SO... this means that I don't make JACK SQUAT off the sale of these things. The publishers cover their cost of printing and shipping, and all I get is the thrill of knowing that I have shared my story with someone and hopefully made their day!

THANK YOU for taking the time to read it, and please e-mail afterwards to let me know what you liked and what you hated and what I had wrong!!!

Yes, if you help me sell millions, then I'll be sure to mention all of you in the movie.

PS - Barry is portrayed in the book in a wonderfully positive light. I changed him, however, to make him funny.

Thanks to all of you!!

- Hal

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Posted By: Paul

That's pretty cool. I'm planning on buying it.

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Posted By: Joann

Just ordered one. hahaha. For some reason it makes me smile to think about it. I really can't wait to get it. A nice light read is just what I need, and I look forward to seeing the N54 inside jokes and references.

Easy easy order too - even took PayPal and bingo - done.

J

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Posted By: barrysloate

"I changed him to make him funny"

I thought I was pretty funny!

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Posted By: Joann

Hmmm. I think you're pretty funny too, Barry. Of course, he could have changed you to be a die-hard neo-conservative, and Chair of the New York Bush Election Campaign. haha. Now that's funny. I just kind of cracked myself up with that one. Silly mood on a Sunday morning, I guess.

J

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Posted By: barrysloate

Now that would be sad!!

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Posted By: peter chao

Give Barry a break, he's a funny guy, except his pretty tough when it comes editing.

Peter

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Posted By: Rob Dewolf

All together now: ... he's pretty tough ...

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

"except his pretty tough when it comes editing. "

Barry! Do yourduty!

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

I was just yanking Barry's chain.

He is his normal witty self in the book.

A virtual quote machine!

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Posted By: Eric

Hey Hal,

Do they (LuLu), keep you informed of how many you sell? If so, let us know how you do, if you don't mind.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

3 so far!

Whoo Hoo!!!!

Move over, Grisham. Baseball card fever is sweeping the country!

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

I think this page takes you to a FREE PREVIEW of the first 15 pages or so:

http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=972440

Please let me know if the link doesn't work for you.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Hal- I just read everything available on the link and I think it's great! You write in a very easy, conversational style and it all proceeds at a brisk pace. You know how to tell a story! I know I will enjoy reading the whole book.

My first thought when I saw Bowerman was the five card strip with Wagner. Perhaps I've picked up a little clue?

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Nothing gets past you, Barry.

Frank Bowerman is the REAL key to this strip, not Wagner!!

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Posted By: barrysloate

I forgot they even are side by side.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

This strip is the proof from which the uncut sheet in my book was printed.

The uncut sheet has six rows of this player strip on it...

thus it has SIX mint Wagners on it!

Which auctioneer will get the sales commission on this item?

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Posted By: Max Weder

My guess is that Roy Huff will figure in it, but I suppose it's not a science fiction book...

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

There are references to scenes from Star Wars in the book.

Does that count as Sci Fi?

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Posted By: joe brennan

Great read. I know I will be buying a copy for nights on the rode n lonely hotel rooms. thanks, Hal

In Rememberance of James W. Brennan Sr. 1924-1982. Dad, thanks for everything you did for me.

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Posted By: Cat

Assistant Nighttime Janitor ... sounds like my career path.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Cat- after perusing your collection online, something tells me you've done pretty well for yourself.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Maybe it was CAT's relative who stole the box of uncut T-206 Wagner cards!

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

The thing now says that I've sold 8!

Maybe I should set a deadline at which time no more can be purchased...

since all of you are so accustomed to SNIPING everything now instead of just buying-it-now!!!

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Posted By: peter ullman

hal...i read the preview...well done! You are quite a writer. i'll keep my eyes open for a copy at the strand.

pete in mn

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Thanks Peter!

I'm still trying to figure out all this on-line publishing thing...

but I'm not sure the book will EVER actually get onto the shelves in bookstores.

I think the publisher (LuLu.com) wants people to HAVE to order it on line. That way, they don't have to print a book until its already been paid for.

I guess maybe they will try to get some bookstore chains to buy a bunch and then re-sell them...but that may be a pipe dream.

So as best I can tell, it may be that this link is the ONLY way to get the book.

http://www.lulu.com/content/972440

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Posted By: Darren

How do I get an autographed copy???

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Ha!

I'll sign any time, anywhere.

Anybody who wants to buy some and send them to me for a Net54 exclusive offer...

I will personalize them and pay the book rate cost of sending them back to you!

So now I'm LOSING money on my book folly...

but it's worth it to me!

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Posted By: quan

hal i've always enjoyed ur over the top theatrics on the board and will buy a copy for sure. great idea of having leon buy a few and include them with the monthly card contests.

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Posted By: sparky

I AM AN ANONYMOUS LOSER.....

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Posted By: Paul Moss

Alas, I must number myself as one of the masses out there whose attention can only be drawn to a paperback by the artwork on the cover. Had it been my decision, I would have chosen a picture of some busty maiden in a tattered dress, ample boobage bared for effect, clutching this sheet to her aforementioned bosom in a vain effort to shield this treasure from some swashbuckling pirate/card dealer who's holding an X-acto, straight edge, and submission form for grading.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Sorry, Paul...

I shouldn't have cropped the photo and removed Honus' boobage from view.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Hey Sparky:

The character having the thought that you referenced is a 15-year-old who dropped out of school at 13 when his parents died in 1907. And, as I explained, math had not been his best subject even before he left school.

When you are writing the thoughts of a character such as THAT, you can't very well have him thinking:

"I don't know precisely how many sheets are in this box, but I know that if measure the diagnonal dimension of the container and then use the Pythagorean Theorem to take the square root of the diagonal measurement that I can determine the dimensions of the sides, by which I can use Waage and Guldberg's Law of Mass Action to calculate the specific number of cards per box."

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Posted By: barrysloate

Hal- Sparky attacked me several times and was banned from the board. But he manages to find a new computer so that he can come back on to attack others.

Sparky is a sick puppy and probably doesn't have a friend in the world, so he gets his revenge by attacking strangers anonymously. What a stand-up guy, don't you think?

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

I fart in his general direction.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Sparky is a little weasel who will never identify himself because the only way he can keep insulting people is by remaining invisible. Leon's asked him for his name, but he just runs and hides.

Pretty pathetic, but as John Lennon said, "you just can't hide when you're crippled inside."

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Posted By: leon

Sparky is an anonymous weasel. Like ALL weasels he keeps coming back....at least his message is correct now...and for the time being he is banned too..(again)....regards

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Posted By: barrysloate

Good one Leon.

I love when people feel this sense of power as long as nobody knows who they are. They wouldn't dare identify themselves, but can say anything they want since they can't be found. What a guy!

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Personally I think it's really cool that Hal wrote a book. It's a testament to how productive a person can be with their spare time.

In my spare time, I can barely remember to throw my laundry in the hamper, much less write a novel. Good for you, Hal.

-Al

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

What's a hamper?



I have found that the best way to avoid leaving your dirty clothes on the floor is to simply never remove them from your body!

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Posted By: leon

Nice suggestion Quan.....I just helped Hal get to the first step of best seller status . The next 5 contest winners will also receive one of Hal's books...compliments of the banner ads.........best regards

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Posted By: joe brennan

Hal, If no one else, I got the Holy Grail reference.

In Rememberance of James W. Brennan Sr. 1924-1982. Dad, thanks for everything you did for me.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Then you, Brave Sir Joe, are the type of person who will not be able to put the book down.

For fear of turning into a newt.

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Posted By: Anonymous

I just read the 14 pages and I think its awesome and have just purchased one,
thanks for this great and truly unique story, I looked forward to getting it,
Dan

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Well Hal you hooked me with the first chapter and a half and I just ordered one...now I can't wait to get it.

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

Hal, those first few pages do grab one's attention. Good job!

Will you be doing a promo tour?

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

I'm thinking I'll tour about as often as AC/DC does.

Never!



No, in all seriousness, I guess I could do stuff like get a table at National and try to sell copies... but not this year.


Maybe by the 2008 National enough collectors will know about it that an appearance might be justified -- but the real reason for my trip would just be to hang out with the Net54 guys!!

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Posted By: leon

You should fly in for our Dinner on Thursday evening.....with the 5 books I just bought you should have plenty of money ...

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Flying is for best-sellers.

Guys like me "ride the dog" at this point in our careers!

I guess I could board a Greyhound bus now and probably make it to Cleveland by the National?

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Posted By: DMcD

Nasty Habits by Oingo Boingo. Dedicated to Sparky, the meanest, bad-assed troll that ever was. Anti-YouTubers, please ignore. Others, give OB a minute to get going, then hang on to your hats.

Lyrics: http://tinyurl.com/2l4br9