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Seeking suggestions for a publisher

ssake

ssake

Senior Registered
For 16 years I have been researching my past life as Mathew Franklin Whittier, an obscure 19th-century author. As far back as 2006, I made note in my online blog (before the word "blog" was invented) that he had something to do with the writing of "A Christmas Carol." In that 16 years, I've found compelling evidence that he and his wife, Abby, were the original authors of this spiritualist redemption story; and that Dickens hastily and direspectfully re-worked it into a ghost story within six weeks, to make quick cash, in 1843.

The past 2-1/2 months I have been painstakingly analyzing Dickens' handwritten draft, which is made available in high resolution online by its holder, the Morgan Library and Museum. I used ChatGPT5 as a tool, being fully aware of its tendency to "hallucinate." I trained it to do the work of analyzing the redacted text, uploading to it enhanced enlargements of words and phrases; sometimes spending as much as half a day on a single paragraph, to be as certain as possible I had interpreted correctly.

I found a great deal of compelling evidence. There is no question; but my findings are very unwelcome in Academia, and it seems that no scholar dares even talk with me about it, no less collaborate with me. The few who have dared to discuss my work with me, have abruptly cut off communication after a few exchanges. The only exception was a religion professor who, when he tried to help me publish a paper, was jumped on by his department and had to give up the idea.

I have now finished my analysis of the handwritten manuscript, and will soon begin writing up my results in a book. It will be very difficult to find a publisher, because of the controversial nature of my discoveries, which span both the paranormal and literary history. If anyone has any suggestions about publishers (or agents), I'd be grateful for them.
 
Hi Ssake,

This could be dynamite stuff. From what I can remember from our prior interactions (which is a bit fuzzy), that was something you previously lacked. You previously did not seem to have something that was ABSOLUTELY SOLID "OF THIS WORLD" evidence for your propositions. As the old saying goes, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. Also, the materialists of this world (who still, for the most part, control the marketplace of ideas) demand "of this world proof" and will generally seek to quash anything that relies on supernatural elements.

What you are talking about now is purely "this world" stuff that should be confirmable by other experts in the field. (If you want to avoid getting quashed, I would avoid anything that seems "supernatural" or otherworldly except as it pertains to the beliefs of the people involved). Handwriting analysis and verification by an expert in the field in terms of the handwriting of the purported author vs. the handwriting of the real author, etc., would (IMO) generally be admissible in court. I likewise believe that it would be admissible in the court of public (and professional) opinion. But, you will probably need to go past AI and have an actual recognized human expert back up your findings. Still--as previously noted--this could be dynamite! :oops:

Cordially,
S&S

PS--I've got no stake in seeing Dickens dethroned, but credit should go where credit is due. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you who to look for as a publisher. However, I have a good deal of faith in the "build it and they will come" philosophy. If you come up with well-founded proof for your proposition in a well written book, it is hard for me to see why it would not get published. That may be overly optimistic and idealistic, but it seems to me that you have been operating on those two principles for a very long time anyway--why give up on them now. ;)
 
You can self-publish your book; easier and cheaper in electronic format. You can also make known your findings by publishing them as an article or as a presentation, and submit them for acceptance. You could even package your findings as a screenplay about the steal, or about your quest to unveil the truth.

There is, I guess, just a small number of people who would be interested in reading, even less in buying, a book about this historical literary truth, so it is understandable that a publisher wouldn't find it as a financially viable project.

If your main purpose is to demonstrate and establish the historical truth, you need the recognition of those who have the power to shape the official narrative, and that requires a schmoozing approach more than scientific proof. You might need to buy your way by taking on an undeserving but name-holding coauthor.

You have to be clear about what you want to achieve, be realistic (or don't be) about that, devise a plan, put it in practice, adjust it in the field. But you probably know all these, and your post here is one step of your current plan.

Putting 16 years of work in this is a lot, and proves your perseverance, but more importantly that there is something that drives you, and this is what attracts my attention and interest in your post, more than the authorship of that piece of literature.

I am more interested to interpret the story of a man who glimpses a possible historical error, who feels driven to investigate it, a difficult quest with many obstacles, who believes to have found the truth and proof of it, a man who now needs to get validation for his current work, and for his work then, as an overall closure spanning over two or more historical lives, possibly, connected together through reincarnation.

From this perspective, it is important what drives you now, even more than what has driven you for the last 16 years. This is what can give you the needed closure, and not the establishing of the historical literary truth. Your current conscious reincarnational identification with the betrayed party is what gives the opportunity to achieve the elusive peace, that would allow your "soul" to move on, leaving the injurious betrayal behind.

I believe that the closure can be achieved only through acceptance, which is only a matter of your attitude, that manifests into you further focus, thoughts, converted into actions.

Good luck!
 
Hi Baro-san,

This is an interesting approach, both on the practical and the personal side. I don't feel qualified to judge the personal side of your advice, but the practical part of what you have written has some good ideas. Truthfully, I think that this would make a very interesting movie, shifting back-and-forth from the slow uncovering of facts in the present era to scenes dated in the 1800s covering the theft of literary rights and fame from the true author. But, I think it will require a book first with all of the facts from the present era and the past era, laid out in a readable fashion.

Cordially,
S&S
 
Unless you can find a spirituality friendly publisher, id Just do vanity publishing, Amazon.. on demand or something.

I wouldn't even try to go legit. Not worth the headache.

Down side is youre your own boss and will need to do any publicity if you want to go that route.
 
ssake said:
For 16 years I have been researching my past life as Mathew Franklin Whittier, an obscure 19th-century author. As far back as 2006, I made note in my online blog (before the word "blog" was invented) that he had something to do with the writing of "A Christmas Carol." In that 16 years, I've found compelling evidence that he and his wife, Abby, were the original authors of this spiritualist redemption story; and that Dickens hastily and direspectfully re-worked it into a ghost story within six weeks, to make quick cash, in 1843.

The past 2-1/2 months I have been painstakingly analyzing Dickens' handwritten draft, which is made available in high resolution online by its holder, the Morgan Library and Museum. I used ChatGPT5 as a tool, being fully aware of its tendency to "hallucinate." I trained it to do the work of analyzing the redacted text, uploading to it enhanced enlargements of words and phrases; sometimes spending as much as half a day on a single paragraph, to be as certain as possible I had interpreted correctly.

I found a great deal of compelling evidence. There is no question; but my findings are very unwelcome in Academia, and it seems that no scholar dares even talk with me about it, no less collaborate with me. The few who have dared to discuss my work with me, have abruptly cut off communication after a few exchanges. The only exception was a religion professor who, when he tried to help me publish a paper, was jumped on by his department and had to give up the idea.

I have now finished my analysis of the handwritten manuscript, and will soon begin writing up my results in a book. It will be very difficult to find a publisher, because of the controversial nature of my discoveries, which span both the paranormal and literary history. If anyone has any suggestions about publishers (or agents), I'd be grateful for them.
Click to expand...
I've had concrete evidence for years, but no-one has taken me seriously enough to look at it. I'm glad to see this particular evidence is the type that people might take seriously. I hope this is a good sign! What I hope, frankly, is that my having transcribed this document--which was *extremely* difficult--will be "bait" for scholars. There are entire societies dedicated to trying to decipher some few scraps of paper which Dickens wrote in code--I think the topics turn out to be pretty mundane stuff. Here I have deciphered his entire handwritten draft of "A Christmas Carol"--just that should be worth the price of a book to them. That's why this one has to be a print book only. I've already gone the Amazon route. I used to sell one book per year on average, but it's been a few years, now.

I earned almost $20 royalties this past year for my 2003 documentary on reincarnation, from Films Media Group which sells it to universities. That's the one in which I interviewed Carol, around 1998 I think it was. That's about $8.00 more than most years.
 
As someone with multiple "famous" past lives, I've learned, just as friendly advice, you're most likely not going to change anyone's mind, especially that many years after the fact.

It's better to just write your book and put it out there and let it resonate with who it does rather than having an agenda.

Or.. (and forgive me, I don't know totally what you intend to do) write it without the reincarnation angle and just publish it as a scholarly / investigative piece.

I've gone semi on record with video proof of people saying things in interviews and people still don't believe me... 🙄 It's like literally people are standing in the UFO, orbiting Jupiter and they'll still say there's no such things as aliens 😄

Do it for you, in whichever way makes you happy / brings you peace, but don't focus on the outcome.
 
Totoro said:
As someone with multiple "famous" past lives, I've learned, just as friendly advice, you're most likely not going to change anyone's mind, especially that many years after the fact.

It's better to just write your book and put it out there and let it resonate with who it does rather than having an agenda.

Or.. (and forgive me, I don't know totally what you intend to do) write it without the reincarnation angle and just publish it as a scholarly / investigative piece.

I've gone semi on record with video proof of people saying things in interviews and people still don't believe me... 🙄 It's like literally people are standing in the UFO, orbiting Jupiter and they'll still say there's no such things as aliens 😄

Do it for you, in whichever way makes you happy / brings you peace, but don't focus on the outcome.
Click to expand...
Been there for years, and I see the same thing with the Mars artifacts movement, which I'm also peripherally involved with. A friend of mine said it best (regarding her museum exhibit on life after death): "They don't know, and they don't want to know." As for motivation, I'm doing it because I was born to do this. I'm not attached to outcomes. My work is typically either mocked or ignored, and I've learned how to keep on doing what I do regardless. But I have a feeling this one's going to be different.
 
Your friend is exactly right, for whatever reason it's not in their life plan / soul contract and just keep on keeping on 😎 I wish you the best of luck
 
Hi Ssake,

I am interested in more information on the "Mars artifacts movement" you mentioned. Any info you could provide would be welcome.

Cordially,
S&S
 
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