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Having finally left Cambridge in May (probably – I can’t exactly remember), and with neither a job nor much of a clue as to what I was going to do, off I went to London to explore NEW things. This article hereunder will, I hope, summarise the exciting things that I have been up to recently and inject them into your brain.
So if you are wondering what I have actually been up to, I have been up to many things; from decorating, to catering, to making furniture, to watching the world cup, to proofreading architectural reports. There has rarely been a dull moment this summer, and if I came here to have a rest and a break, then I never managed it!
12 days pushing
One other thing I started doing was volunteering at City Gateway, working in the Gateway Media social enterprise, designing flyers and promotional material. I used to chat to Phil, who is in charge of managing the enterprise section, about ideas for new social enterprises we could set up, including at some point down the line doing some book publishing. However, it became a very real and immediate reality! It was the night of Sunday 23rd July and I was round at the Howeys’ house and became party to an intriguing conversation involving Debbie, Roger Forster’s daughter, who had been helping him earlier in the year to finish editing his latest book. I knew the book had been finished in April, and the plan was that it would be published in time for Revive!, the Ichthus summer conference on 5-12th August. However, Authentic, Roger’s publishers, had reneged on the contract they had, and refused to publish the book before July 2007 - I’ve heard people say that Christian publishing is the thing farthest removed from Christianity that there is, and in this case it didn’t seem to be too far wrong! That night I sprouted a new thought – not only could I publish that book, and do a better job of cover design, layout and proofreading than Authentic, but that it was just possible that I could get it done before Revive! This gave me 12 days.
The next day I was helping out at the City Gateway Summer Project in Limehouse and when Phil arrived in the afternoon, I ran the idea of publishing the book past him. I was hoping for a positive and possibly even enthusiastic response, but even I was shocked at the vigorous and definite response – “Yes, let’s do it. No problems.” So, since then we didn’t look back. On Tuesday we formulated the plan and business strategy. On Wednesday we eventually found a printers willing to do it fast and for a low price, and agreed a contract with Ichthus. Thursday the editing typesetting and layout process began, and continued without sleep through Friday and into the weekend. Throughout this period we also had to come up with a company name, logo and make it into a proper business. On Saturday and Sunday I designed the cover and approved it and the layout with Roger and Faith in the evening. The final proofreading was done on Sunday night – another no-sleeper – in a relay with Debbie. Monday morning the whole lot was ready and sent out to the printers.
Stop the press
It was all done in under 7 days… or was it? No it wasn’t, and acute lack of sleep had lead to me omitting the Foreword (which is by the Revd Dr Herbert B McGonigle) from the final proofs! After one of the most stressful periods of my entire life, this was almost too much to take – I felt like disappearing, but God really spoke to me in this moment, and promised me that it would be alright. And it was all alright in the end; after a series of phonecalls (during none of which did I actually deploy the phrase ‘Stop the presses!’) very last minute editing changes and much praying I sent off the revised files on Tuesday morning – a week and almost a lifetime since the whole process started. And there was nothing more to go wrong… or was there?!? Yes. Indeed there was. The printers, who live and work in the Cornwalish town of Padstow (not to be confused with Plaistow, which is in London of course), had forgotten to put the books on the delivery lorry, which arrived empty-handed on Friday morning. I was due to pick up the books at lunchtime from Whitechapel and drive 750 copies to Ashburnham in East Sussex to sell at Revive! Eventually, the books arrived at Revive! the following morning, on the 5th – right on time! So, from start to finish the whole process from talking about it to selling books took 12 days.
The book has been really well received and very successful – almost too good a start for a publishing company to have. The book is called “Suffering and the Love of God: The Book of Job” and there is a brief review of it in the review section. I’ve read it a number of times, and I think that it is a great book and I’d encourage you to buy a copy - it is packed with great teaching and insight into this much written about, but little understood book. It covers a large amount of ground, but at the same time is well written and easy to follow; it’s definitely not one of those theology books with long words that go over your head! So if you would like to take a fresh and invigorating look at Job, then this is the book for you.
Special offer
I also encourage you to buy a copy because it would also really help me to make this publishing enterprise work. If I don’t sell books, then I can’t pay rent! So I’d really appreciate it if you think you might like a copy to buy one, as it would really be a great blessing and support to me. So, as my ‘old church’ I’m also granting you a special offer! I’ll get an order form to go up with this page, and if you want a copy, then either fill in the form, or contact me joe.laycock@citygateway.org.uk (079327031233) and for a limited period only, I’ll get you a copy for £6 (RRP is £6.99). I’ll be up in Cambridge on the 23-24th August, so get your order to me before then and I can bring your book to you! (or else you’d pay P&P).
My company is called PUSH Publishing – not for any strategic or acrostic reason – merely because during the 7 days it took to bring the pre-print work together it was the most-used word, in fact we used it in most sentences, such was the pressure! I’m now looking at where we can go with publishing – looking for new books to publish, new ways of selling books, new ideas… If you have any then let me know. Anyway, that’s me up to date. Who knows what I’ll be up to by the next time I write to you all! |
Joe Laycock, 15/09/2006 |
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| | | Jerry Daykin | 25/09/2006 23:57 | Wow, what a man, what a book...
I got a handful of copies of Joe which I'm happy to sell on for a small commission... no scrap that I'll do it for the £6 listed price... will being em to church on Sunday... first come, first served!
| | | | Jerry Daykin | 25/09/2006 23:58 | hmm, actually I got the copes off Joe... copies of Joe though, hmm, now there's a social enterprise I think we could find a market for...
| | | | Caroline Malone | 26/09/2006 01:17 | Oh my word Jerry, sometimes I really do worry about you......
| | | | Joe (Guest) | 28/09/2006 15:51 | Good work Jerry!
I think it's a top idea - then I can be in two places (or more) at once, hence removing the need for embarrassingly apologising when I double book things... never again! Putting the 'social' in social enterprise - that could be your slogan. maybe not.
Sara didn't get a book on Sunday, so she can have one of your ones - must be that bop on the head has confused her all up.
|  | | Caroline Malone | 28/09/2006 16:15 | I'm pretty sure I gave someone money for a book last weekend and I don't have no book!! This makes me sad - I demand to be in possesion of either money or book....
|  | | Joe Laycock | 02/10/2006 13:07 | ...yes, you gave me the money remember, in the pub. Fear not, as we speak, Jerry is bringing your copy to you, aren't you Jerry.
Just to say thanks for everyone who has bought a copy - it's really great to have some support and backing in this, and I really appreciate it.
cheers!
| | | | Jerry Daykin | 02/10/2006 13:33 | I have one ready and waiting, but what with Caroline's intense interest in her work (fast approaching deadline's are indeed fine motivators) she hasn't been around anytime I've had a book with me... which is pretty much at all times...
They'll certainly be available this Sunday morning!
| | | | Iain Bailey | 02/10/2006 14:09 | Doc, that's extraordinarily exciting... & I'd very much like a copy. Are deliveries to Manchester do-able (more than happy to pay any extra), or should I wait until I excurse to Cambridge?
| | | | Joe Laycock | 03/10/2006 13:48 | ...why certainly Iain, it is more than possible! I'll sort you out with a copy...
| | | | Caroline Malone | 03/10/2006 13:53 | Why are you winking at everyone?! It makes me suspicious!
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