Byron vs Bob - Round 2
Q: Why would a science fiction author edit and republish a book on Byron?
A: Good question. Peter Cochran was my father-in-law and by all accounts a Byron fanatic (also not averse to being a provocateur). Throughout his academic career Peter had struggled with terrible health issues and often been given just months to live but he managed to beat expectations and pull through, hurrying to publishing book after book, believing each to be his last. Finally in 2015 his luck gave out and a memorial was held for him at Clare College, Cambridge where students and colleagues paid their respects.
Due to this urgent need to publish-or-die, Peters' works went out through an academic publisher. The fiscal model of these publishers is to produce work for libraries, universities and rarified academics who won't flinch at the outrageous (commonly near £100 / $120) price tag. This also dooms such books to anonymity.
His daughters, Abi and Emily, have often been asked if they can grant access to parts of Peter's work - even though he placed a great deal of his articles online for free. This is when the thought came to me that, having put so much effort into setting up Bee Orchid Press, we could fix the situation and publish a paperback accessible and affordable to any student or interested person. It seemed what Peter would have wanted.
Q: Do you have any experience with Byron?
A: Nope. I'm a science fiction writer not a romanticism scholar. I figured that I could ask for any scholarly assistance from Peter's friends in the Byron world - but I also niavely hoped that it would simply be a job of reformating: I was wrong.
Q: Has it taken long?
A: Yes. Painfully long. And we've had problems with distributors not believing our non-fiction credentials (because we don't have any). But we've made it and I'm pleased with the result. The foreword by Professor John Gardner is wonderful and I think we're in a position to spread Byron (and Southey) to a wider audience.
Q: Would you do it again? Peter has five other books.
A: Yes, I think so. Maybe after a little rest and with more assistance from other friendly editors.
Q: Who did the cover design?
A: The roses design was made by Peter's talented granddaughter Leila French. She has a very bright future ahead of her in design.