New Book by Roger Hargreave - Angel Eyes

[Roger Hargrave]

 

Question for Maestronet readers.

I don't know if I am posting this message in the right place, but this is where I have always posted in the past and where most of the good and honest answers have come from. So here goes.

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Roger Graham Hargrave. I was born in Britain in 1948, but I have lived and worked in Germany since 1980. For fifty years I have been a successful violin maker. I think it is also fair to say that I am an internationally recognised expert on classical Italian violins. That said, my interest in these works has always been purely academic, I have never bought or sold any instrument that was not made in my workshop.

A long-time contributor to the Strad Magazine, in the 1980s I designed and developed the first Strad Posters. Throughout this time, on several platforms, including Maestronet, I have been writing and lecturing about these instruments, the musicians who play them and why dealers, collectors and even criminals are prepared to pay millions of dollars to own one. Altogether I have, had more than one million words commercially published. Although much of this work has been translated into at least a dozen languages, I can truthfully say, that in spite of the kudos it brought, none of this work ever earned me a single penny. I don't mention these facts for any moral or ethical reasons. Mostly I've done what I've done to have fun and avoid stress. Nevertheless, as many of you will know, I have often courted confrontation.

In 2018, because I believed it would allow me greater freedom to comment candidly on the less salubrious side of the violin business, I started writing fiction. My first attempt was an unmitigated but necessary disaster. However, since those halcyon days, under the banner Lovely Dirty Business, I have now completed five, linked but autonomous novels about the multi-million-dollar trade in antique violins. From the 1920s to the present day, these stories are fact-based fictional accounts of abuse, corruption and greed. Regardless of ­­­­­­their intensity, these works are also sensitive and amusing. In addition, as the series unfolds, each volume becomes progressively darker and increasingly erotic.

Notwithstanding their scandalous edge, because they were initially conceived as a set of reference works to help musicians and violin makers identify classical Italian instruments, these novels still encompass a profusion of new and useful information about instrument identification, violin making, restoration and even varnishing.  The framework within which this information is set may be entirely fictional, but the technical ­­­­­­­­­­­­­data itself is as accurate as I could make it.

Although numerous publications have focused on the world of classical music, few have addressed the scene's apparently sacrosanct image as well as Blaire Tindall’s Mozart in the Jungle. However, where Mozart in the Jungle tentatively led the way, These five works blow the lid completely off this Lovely Dirty Business.

The provisional publication date for volume one's 87786 words, is 28th of January 2024. What I need to know from my friends around the world is should I publish these works and risk losing even more money, not to mention and damaging any reputation that I may still have, or should I just stop now?

[Mark Norfleet]

I don’t know the publishing biz at all and what your financial prospects might be from making those works publicly available, but I did get a good laugh from your last sentence! 

[David Burgess]

"Erotic"? Good heavens, Roger, I'm speechless!

Oh, you don't say anything bad about contemporary makers, do you?

I have no clue whether they would make money, break even, or be a money pit. Personally, I almost never read novels or fiction. Just nerdy techy stuff. Never read Blaire Tindall's book either.

[GeorgeH]

Can I wait for the movie?

[David Alex T.]

Maybe my xp is not valuable as I am closest to amateur than to pro.

but as I read lot of your publications (thank for all of these - it was great pleasure to read them) then I share my opinion.

I bought several book about violin/violin making, sometimes they are  expensive The one I prefer are the one that focus on technicals aspects where I can get quick to the information I look for.

I also bought some small violin story book, but finally went quick cross them, and I must admit it was without great interest in the stories. 

Then I would say...it depends on which information are inside the stories...the way it is written and ...the price of the books. Violin books are sometimes  really very expensive.

One more comment,  if you had wrote a nice book with all your technical tips to make a good cello..I would be very happy to buy it ). If you will do one day, I will pre order it ))

Not sure my opinion helps but it is my first thought and I wish you to succeed in your project.

[MikeC]

22 minutes ago, David Burgess said:

"Erotic"? Good heavens, Roger, I'm speechless!

 

well..  his picture does show him wearing a bunny suit.. 

[Mike_Danielson]

Roger, I would buy your books.  I do most of my reading nowadays using an ereader--this is actually a Samsung notebook which does the job for me.  My Kobo reader crapped-out after 6 months, and this taught me a lesson about ereaders.

I would suggest publishing for ereaders which should limit your financial cost.  This will probably mean using the Amazon format (which is proprietary), but I hope it will be availabe as an epub format as well.  I do not like the monopoly methods of Amazon as applied to books.

Thanks for all your fine work.

[jacobsaunders]

1 hour ago, Roger Hargrave said:

 

 

 

Question for Maestronet readers.

I don't know if I am posting this message in the right place, but this is where I have always posted in the past and where most of the good and honest answers have come from. So here goes.

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Roger Graham Hargrave. I was born in Britain in 1948, but I have lived and worked in Germany since 1980. For fifty years I have been a successful violin maker. I think it is also fair to say that I am an internationally recognised expert on classical Italian violins. That said, my interest in these works has always been purely academic, I have never bought or sold any instrument that was not made in my workshop.

A long-time contributor to the Strad Magazine, in the 1980s I designed and developed the first Strad Posters. Throughout this time, on several platforms, including Maestronet, I have been writing and lecturing about these instruments, the musicians who play them and why dealers, collectors and even criminals are prepared to pay millions of dollars to own one. Altogether I have, had more than one million words commercially published. Although much of this work has been translated into at least a dozen languages, I can truthfully say, that in spite of the kudos it brought, none of this work ever earned me a single penny. I don't mention these facts for any moral or ethical reasons. Mostly I've done what I've done to have fun and avoid stress. Nevertheless, as many of you will know, I have often courted confrontation.

In 2018, because I believed it would allow me greater freedom to comment candidly on the less salubrious side of the violin business, I started writing fiction. My first attempt was an unmitigated but necessary disaster. However, since those halcyon days, under the banner Lovely Dirty Business, I have now completed five, linked but autonomous novels about the multi-million-dollar trade in antique violins. From the 1920s to the present day, these stories are fact-based fictional accounts of abuse, corruption and greed. Regardless of ­­­­­­their intensity, these works are also sensitive and amusing. In addition, as the series unfolds, each volume becomes progressively darker and increasingly erotic.

Notwithstanding their scandalous edge, because they were initially conceived as a set of reference works to help musicians and violin makers identify classical Italian instruments, these novels still encompass a profusion of new and useful information about instrument identification, violin making, restoration and even varnishing.  The framework within which this information is set may be entirely fictional, but the technical ­­­­­­­­­­­­­data itself is as accurate as I could make it.

Although numerous publications have focused on the world of classical music, few have addressed the scene's apparently sacrosanct image as well as Blaire Tindall’s Mozart in the Jungle. However, where Mozart in the Jungle tentatively led the way, These five works blow the lid completely off this Lovely Dirty Business.

The provisional publication date for volume one's 87786 words, is 28th of January 2024. What I need to know from my friends around the world is should I publish these works and risk losing even more money, not to mention and damaging any reputation that I may still have, or should I just stop now?

 

If the “Strad” magazine sends me a free copy, would you like me to do a review?

[Violadamore]

3 hours ago, Roger Hargrave said:

 

 

 

Question for Maestronet readers.

I don't know if I am posting this message in the right place, but this is where I have always posted in the past and where most of the good and honest answers have come from. So here goes.

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Roger Graham Hargrave. I was born in Britain in 1948, but I have lived and worked in Germany since 1980. For fifty years I have been a successful violin maker. I think it is also fair to say that I am an internationally recognised expert on classical Italian violins. That said, my interest in these works has always been purely academic, I have never bought or sold any instrument that was not made in my workshop.

A long-time contributor to the Strad Magazine, in the 1980s I designed and developed the first Strad Posters. Throughout this time, on several platforms, including Maestronet, I have been writing and lecturing about these instruments, the musicians who play them and why dealers, collectors and even criminals are prepared to pay millions of dollars to own one. Altogether I have, had more than one million words commercially published. Although much of this work has been translated into at least a dozen languages, I can truthfully say, that in spite of the kudos it brought, none of this work ever earned me a single penny. I don't mention these facts for any moral or ethical reasons. Mostly I've done what I've done to have fun and avoid stress. Nevertheless, as many of you will know, I have often courted confrontation.

In 2018, because I believed it would allow me greater freedom to comment candidly on the less salubrious side of the violin business, I started writing fiction. My first attempt was an unmitigated but necessary disaster. However, since those halcyon days, under the banner Lovely Dirty Business, I have now completed five, linked but autonomous novels about the multi-million-dollar trade in antique violins. From the 1920s to the present day, these stories are fact-based fictional accounts of abuse, corruption and greed. Regardless of ­­­­­­their intensity, these works are also sensitive and amusing. In addition, as the series unfolds, each volume becomes progressively darker and increasingly erotic.

Notwithstanding their scandalous edge, because they were initially conceived as a set of reference works to help musicians and violin makers identify classical Italian instruments, these novels still encompass a profusion of new and useful information about instrument identification, violin making, restoration and even varnishing.  The framework within which this information is set may be entirely fictional, but the technical ­­­­­­­­­­­­­data itself is as accurate as I could make it.

Although numerous publications have focused on the world of classical music, few have addressed the scene's apparently sacrosanct image as well as Blaire Tindall’s Mozart in the Jungle. However, where Mozart in the Jungle tentatively led the way, These five works blow the lid completely off this Lovely Dirty Business.

The provisional publication date for volume one's 87786 words, is 28th of January 2024. What I need to know from my friends around the world is should I publish these works and risk losing even more money, not to mention and damaging any reputation that I may still have, or should I just stop now?

 

Hi Roger!  How are you doing these days? 

Now that he's gone public, I'll admit that I've already read his original versions (THANKS, ROGER!!!!!) and found them to be excellent, well written reads.  They have a very well done balanced mixture of didactic violinology, nostalgic and colorful memoirs, believable characterization, and juicy scandal.  Oh, and they combine into a gripping "whodunit".  I can wholeheartedly recommend them as delightful novels, by someone who knows and understands his subject.  Anyway, you'll all want to buy copies to search for references to yourselves.     

[David Burgess]

15 minutes ago, Violadamore said:

Hi Roger!  How are you doing these days? 

Now that he's gone public, I'll admit that I've already read his original versions (THANKS, ROGER!!!!!) and found them to be excellent, well written reads.  They have a very well done balanced mixture of didactic violinology, nostalgic and colorful memoirs, believable characterization, and juicy scandal.  Oh, and they combine into a gripping "whodunit".  I can wholeheartedly recommend them as delightful novels, by someone who knows and understands his subject.  Anyway, you'll all want to buy copies to search for references to yourselves.     

Quite disappointed in your review. Had been hoping that you would have a lot more to say about the "erotic" content.

[Blank face]

3 hours ago, Roger Hargrave said:

What I need to know from my friends around the world is should I publish these works and risk losing even more money

The only possible answer can be: Yeah! No risk no fun!!

[duane88]

F-Holes, G Strings, Butt Bushings, Butt Leathers(...), backs and bellies. The violin is ripe for eroticism.

 

At least with self publishing, or so I am told by friends who have done such things, at least you won't die with a garage full of books since one may order a small run at a time.

Following my trade ethic: I'll buy anything that Roger Hargrave publishes. I bet that you have worked varnish secrets into some of the more distracting scenes...

[Violadamore]

3 hours ago, Roger Hargrave said:

 

 

 

Question for Maestronet readers.

.............................

The provisional publication date for volume one's 87786 words, is 28th of January 2024. What I need to know from my friends around the world is should I publish these works and risk losing even more money, not to mention and damaging any reputation that I may still have, or should I just stop now?

 

Go for it!  You wrote entertaining and interesting stuff, but you need a good title for the collection.  Have you considered Fifty Shades Of Varnish? 

[Marty Kasprzyk]

If I pay for it in advance, can I buy the first copy?

[spruce or pine]

Dear Mr. Hargrave,

I would absolutely love to read your novels, so count me in for at least one copy of each.

But a word of advice from someone who has been there: do it for love, not money.

My name is Craig Danner, and I wrote literary fiction full time for 20 years. I published my first novel, Himalayan Dhaba, in 2000. After working on it for close to 10 years, my agent held an auction which failed to find a buyer. Undaunted, I created Crispin/Hammer Publishing and printed 5,000 copies in hardback. It became a surprise bestseller with independent booksellers, was a Booksense 76 pick, and won the Pacific Northwest Book Award for 2001. Big New York publishers started calling, and a new agent held a new auction and reprint rights sold for a solid six figure advance. It was like winning the lottery! But Penguin had other books to promote, and mine didn't sell out its advance. It took me seven years to write the next novel, and in that time my editor retired, and no one else at the publisher remembered me. I published The Fires of Edgarville myself, and sold a couple thousand copies. I kept writing, because I absolutely love writing and the writing process. My third novel took three years (getting faster!) and I didn't even try to find another publisher, just did it myself again.

I spent 20 years writing and publishing full time, and by most writers' standards I did very well. I loved spending my days writing, and I am incredibly proud of my three novels. But even with a huge advance on my first book, divide six figures by 20 years and it doesn't come out to much of an income. Good thing I had a working spouse and a second career.

I'm an introvert, which is a good thing both for writing and for building violins (which is what I'm now doing full time). Writing and building are a lot of fun, and very satisfying. Selling, though... not so much! Self-promotion: my worst nightmare! And you need to do both to make it profitable.

Please, Mr. Hargrave, publish your novels! Do it because you obviously love to write, and do it because I would love to read them. But don't do it for money. PM me if you would like to discuss this further.

All the best!

Craig Danner

Crispin/Hammer Violins

[Renegade]

Who if not you?!
I will be the first to buy.
Maybe try using a website to raise money to implement your ideas? Many musicians collect money this way to record and publish their music.
Here in Poland we have PATRONITE. Brilliant stuff.

[Alexandre C]

3 hours ago, Renegade said:

Who if not you?!
I will be the first to buy.
Maybe try using a website to raise money to implement your ideas? Many musicians collect money this way to record and publish their music.
Here in Poland we have PATRONITE. Brilliant stuff.

Hi !

Crowdfunfing has begun to be a common way for some comic artists to work out how many to print and the real support/buyers you'd get for a book...  It might need some advertising (social media, maestronet, etc...) but a part from that it's pretty risk free !

Hope you're gonna publish it !

 

[Brad Dorsey]

I hope they come out in audio book format, so I can listen to them while working on violins.

[David Rosales]

If you’re inclined, you might post an excerpt and we can give you some honest feedback, if that’s what you’re looking for. 

[Dave Slight]

One of the villains could be someone who bought your old wood at auction, and used it for the tops of electric guitars 

[Dr. Mark]

23 hours ago, Roger Hargrave said:

should I publish these works and risk losing even more money, not to mention and damaging any reputation that I may still have

Lol if you include those with the best of intentions as 'friends', then I'll ask two questions:

1.  Can you afford to lose the money?

There are ways to publish that don't put all your eggs in the elephant nest.   My daughter in London has a lot of experience in the publishing industry, particularly in children's literature if you wrote any of that.  She might be worth talking with.

2. Do you care that much about the reputation you're afraid of losing?

I can see caring if the reputation you're talking about is something that matters to you - and we can have multiple reputations, i.e. as a writer, as violin maker, short-order cook, etc....

22 hours ago, David Burgess said:

Oh, you don't say anything bad about contemporary makers, do you?

Isn't the first one entitled 'VIolinmakers: Who Would Have Thought?'?

[Christian Pedersen]

The typo in the title makes me think of the children's book author Roger Hargreaves.

[Mark Norfleet]

2 minutes ago, Christian Pedersen said:

The typo in the title makes me think of the children's book author Roger Hargreaves.

Perhaps it’s his “pen name”…

[David Burgess]

1 hour ago, Christian Pedersen said:

The typo in the title makes me think of the children's book author Roger Hargreaves.

 

1 hour ago, Mark Norfleet said:

Perhaps it’s his “pen name”…

I think the practice is known as "plausible deniability".

[Andrew tkinson]

Admittedly I am a zero in the violin world but I would definitely be interested in reading these books.

There seems to be a history of violin people being also authors of fiction, the violinist William C Honeyman wrote detective novels in addition to his violin related books and the violin maker W H Mayson wrote a novel called "The Stolen Fiddle". I wonder has anyone on Maestronet read these?

If I ever write a violin book it will be entitled "The Usual"