This week a friend told me that somebody she knows is writing a book about the history of cinnamon. That seems like a great idea for a book, because it creates an opportunity to talk about so many interesting topics, from cuisine to culture to capitalism to colonialism.
But then I got to thinking. What if — just maybe — there was some sort of miscommunication?
| Publisher: | We’d like you to write a history of Cinema. We’re offering a $100K advance. |
| Author: | Hmm, that’s an interesting topic. Are you sure people will want to read about something so common? |
| Publisher: | Oh yes, it’s part of people’s everyday lives, isn’t it? |
| Author: | Yes … I guess so. Well, ok, I’m not going to turn down such a generous cash advance. I’ll see what I can do. |
… some months later …
| Publisher: | How’s the book coming? |
| Author: | You were right — this is a fascinating topic. |
| Publisher: | So you’re managing to cover fresh ground? |
| Author: | Well, not necessarily fresh ground, but definitely spice. |
| Publisher: | Spice is good. Readers like that. But make sure it’s in good taste. |
| Author: | Oh, very good taste. If you add the right ingredients to the mix. |
| Publisher: | Sounds wonderful! When can we expect a draft? |
The author was so heartened by his publisher’s unexpected enthusiasm that he started work on a sequel, completely on spec: A Brief History of Thyme.
Made me chuckle.
The third part is called “The Secret of Port and Oregano”.