The Index for Parallel LIves is DONE!

[Stefani]

This is a message for all Hatchet subscribers and to any others who want to purchase a copy of the forthcoming Parallel LIves: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River by the Fall River Historical Society.

I have been working diligently on the index for the book for months and I had planned to produce magazine issues concurrent to the indexing. However, that was not how it played out as I discovered that the concentration required to do an index for a book the size of this one, almost 1000 pages of text, was demanding and intense.

The best way I can describe it is to say that designing and writing The Hatchet uses one part of the brain, but indexing uses the exact opposite side! It is focused detail work, and quite sloooooow-going. Ordinary books have between 3 and 4 indexible items per page. Parallel Lives averaged well over 9. There are nearly 9,000 entries in this index.

And it is done. So now I turn to The Hatchet. Rest assured that I will be publishing the promised 4 issues this year. There is plenty of Lizzie, Fall RIver, and Victorian research to reveal, and I guarantee some amazing surprises and brand new discoveries in the months ahead.

Thank you for all your notes and well wishes. It is truly heartening to know you care so much.

Cheers,
Stefani

[patsy]

Best post of the day! All good news and I can hardly wait.

[twinsrwe]

Oh my goodness, Stefani - you are an amazing woman! There couldn't be a better person to index Parallel LIves: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River, than you.

I agree with Patsy - This is the best post of the day!

[mbhenty]

Please allow me to comment on the Index of Parallel Lives.

The writing of the index was a work in flux..........always changing. It was not like Stefani received the entire book and began indexing. Chapters came down in spurts and new discoveries were added. Just when the index was structured, changes would come down from the authors of the book. Newly found material was inserted at the last minute. Once new data and information arrived, it took a little more work than just adding it into the index. Adding new material changed the entire structure of the list. In what little study I have done in indexing, it's a lot more technical then one would think. At least to do it correctly.

Along with indexing, Stefani had to proof check spelling, and in some cases, ancestor association, such as, diverse spellings of the same name. Example: Chase and Chace, or Doval or Davol. Simple mistakes which an author can easily make, especially in a book this size and scope. Also, there was the learning curve of wrestling with new indexing software. Personally, I thought it more quicker to just use a Number 2 pencil. (?)

Thus, the Hatchet Magazine has suffered. I have considered taking a greater part and more responsibility in having the magazine created, but have yet to make such a commitment. Once made, follow through is not compulsory. Other commitments, literary and otherwise, prevent me from doing much more than an article or a poem or two.

And yes you are right. I would need to apply for any position which may be offered.

[Harry]

Congratulations, Stefani on the completion of the index, I know it will be a job well done.

Has the Historical Society given you any idea when they will begin to accept orders?

[mbhenty]

While Parallel Lives was being indexed, I must admit to having peeked through it myself.

In it's travels between the FRHS and the office the entire transcript has sat on my desk unattended for long periods of time. Days even! Can you imagine?

Shame on you Stefani. I could have walked off with it, changed the title, and had it published under my name.

Flash......Landmark Publication on the shelfs today. COMPARABLE LIVES, by MBHENTY. THE STORY OF THE DOWNTRODDEN, STARRING LIZZIE BORDEN AND HER PALS Hey! I like that title....

Good thing I love those guys at the FRHS.

It was tempting to read Parallel Lives before it was published. I must confess to having thumbed through it and viewed some photos..........or as Stefani would have put it, "Gone where no man, or women has gone before." (Lizzie, beam me up. Nah! doesn't work)

But, I decided I would wait to read it like everyone else.

Judging by the thickness of the transcript, it will be interesting to see how it will be pubilshed.

If one is familiar with THE KNOWLTON PAPERS, you know how thick that book is. (about the size of 7 Fig Newtons or a double cheese burger. Hmmm. When's supper?) That's a little over 550 pages. Parallel Lives is over 1000 pages. You can be sure that different paper will be used. I suggested that the book be published in 2 volumes. But that suggestion was dismissed as being too expensive. I'm sure whatever the staff at the FRHS places together will be professionally and beautifully done.

(I have a hard cover volume of the COLLECTED POEMS OF ROBERT LOWELL which is almost 1200 pages and nicely done, and just about the same size as the KNOWLTON PAPERS)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change my mind. I CAN'T WAIT, CAN'T WAIT.

Where is it. It was on my desk just the other day????????

Ah, Gee. Must be at the printers..

[mbhenty]

While Parallel Lives was being indexed, I must admit to having peeked through it myself.

In it's travels between the FRHS and the office the entire transcript has sat on my desk unattended for long periods of time. Days even! Can you imagine?

Shame on you Stefani. I could have walked off with it, changed the title, and had it published under my name.

Flash......Landmark Publication on the shelves today. COMPARABLE LIVES, by MBHENTY. THE STORY OF THE DOWNTRODDEN, STARRING LIZZIE BORDEN AND HER PALS Hey! I like that title....

Good thing I love those guys at the FRHS.

It was tempting to read Parallel Lives before it was published. I must confess to having thumbed through it and viewed some photos..........or as Stefani would have put it, "Gone where no man, or women has gone before." (Lizzie, beam me up. Nah! doesn't work)

But, I decided I would wait to read it like everyone else.

Judging by the thickness of the transcript, it will be interesting to see how it will be pubilshed.

If one is familiar with THE KNOWLTON PAPERS, you know how thick that book is. (about the size of 7 Fig Newtons or a double cheese burger. Hmmm. When's supper?) That's a little over 550 pages. Parallel Lives is over 1000 pages. You can be sure that different paper will be used. I suggested that the book be published in 2 volumes. But that suggestion was dismissed as being too expensive. I'm sure whatever the staff at the FRHS places together will be professionally and beautifully done.

(I have a hard cover volume of the COLLECTED POEMS OF ROBERT LOWELL which is almost 1200 pages and nicely done, and just about the same size as the KNOWLTON PAPERS)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change my mind. I CAN'T WAIT, CAN'T WAIT.

Where is it. It was on my desk just the other day????????

Ah, Gee. Must be at the printers..

[Fargo]

I was thinking of the size of Lizzie Borden Past and Present, which I think is about 600 and something pages. I haven't looked at mine for awhile, its here somewhere.

BTW anyone know how many copies of Parallel Lives are to be printed?