Crume: Environmental Health in the 21st Century

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover: Environmental Health

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN THE 21ST CENTURY:
FROM AIR POLLUTION TO ZOONOTIC DISEASES (Two Volumes)
Richard Crume, Editor
ABC-CLIO/Greenwood, February 8, 2018, $198.00
ISBN-10: 1440843643; ISBN 13: 978-1440843648 (set)
Ebook: ISBN: 978-1440843655

For this column, NASW book editor Lynne Lamberg asks NASW authors to tell how they came up with the idea for their book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. She also asks what they wish they had known before they began working on their book, what they might do differently the next time, and what tips they can offer aspiring authors. She then edits the A part of that Q&A to produce the author reports you see here. Publication of NASW members’ reports in Advance Copy does not indicate NASW’s endorsement of their books. NASW welcomes your comments, and hopes this column stimulates productive discussions.

Crume reports:

Two years ago, writing a two-volume reference encyclopedia was not high on my list of priorities. The idea had never crossed my mind. Although I was experienced in writing scientific research papers and reports, and had published a number of renewable energy articles in popular journals like Solar Today Magazine, nothing in my resume came close to resembling an encyclopedia. I was surprised when the publisher recruited me for the task, arguing that I had the right mix of science and health expertise combined with a writing style that was appropriate for the intended audience: high school and early college students and the general public. I agreed to give it a try!

Richard Crume

Rather than writing the entire two-volume set myself, I asked over 60 environmental health experts — including physicians, public health professionals, and university professors — to prepare encyclopedia entries of 500 to 1,500 words covering their areas of expertise. (I was able to entice authors by promising a complimentary copy of the published encyclopedia.) Additionally, I included interviews with 22 international authorities in the environmental health field and an essay on steps individuals can take to reduce their own environmental risk. Of the 300 encyclopedia entries, I wrote about 40 myself, plus many sidebars highlighting the science behind environmental health issues.

I quickly learned that environmental health experts are not necessarily good writers, and they do not always pay attention to deadlines. I spent considerable time editing and rewriting entries and cajoling authors to complete their assignments. Preparing the references for further reading (five to 10 per entry) was especially time consuming because I needed to ensure that the cited works were peer reviewed and represented the state of the art. Staying on top of the latest developments was especially challenging.

Despite my bouts of frustration and self-doubt along the way, the publisher provided great support and encouragement, helping me to stay on track and not be deterred by setbacks. The result is an impressive collection of knowledge that I hope will find a place among standard references in the environmental health field.

Contact info:

Richard Crume, 919-368-0327, thecrumes@gmail.com
Book website: http://bit.ly/2ER7F0T

NASW members: will your book be published soon? Take advantage of this opportunity for shameless self-promotion. Submit your report for Advance Copy.

Tell your fellow NASW members how you came up with the idea for your book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. Include what you wish you had known before you began working on your book, or had done differently.

See https://www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines.

Thinking of writing a book? If you are a NASW member, you may access a list of more than 200 books and online resources to help you craft your book proposal, find an agent and funding sources, negotiate your contract, learn about self-publishing, publicize and market your book, and more at https://www.nasw.org/article/write-book.

Send book info and questions about book publishing to Lynne Lamberg, NASW book editor, llamberg@nasw.org.

Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.