Re: Re. Who's the Audience

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If the "meaty articles" are not wanted by mass market magazines, there's still hope for those of us who want to write them, if we think of books. There are so many books on general gardening that it is hard to pitch a new one. But a book on a special, niche subject has legs and can get up and go. Speaking as a small publisher, I view a special subject as an opportunity (hence the success of "Creating and Planting Garden Troughs" ). Any fanatical rock gardener who likes troughs has probably heard of this book and might even own it. Katy's knot garden subject would make a great little book--not a best seller, but a book that would have solid appeal to that subset of gardeners who like formal styles and attention to detail. A publisher can "compute" with info like that.

 

Another thread of "Who's the Audience" is kind of critical of those who don't want to do hands-on gardening. But think about it, what part of it is "gardening" and what part of it is "yard work"? I don't particularly like to clean my house, but I like to live in a clean house. As for gardening, I'm happy to do anything, including yard work, as long as it is outside.

 

Then there's also what I call the "fingernail factor" -- some years back I ran a high school greenhouse club. I had sons and thought it would be fun to spend some time growing flowers with girls and boys. But, guess what. I never had a single girl in the greenhouse club! They just didn't want to mess up their hands. And my town, Wayne, has several manicure shops that seem to do a thriving business.

 

Cheers, everyone!

Betty

 

Betty Mackey, Publisher
B. B. Mackey Books
P. O. Box 475
Wayne, PA 19087
b*@prodigy.net
www.mackeybooks.com