Thread: Book is ready

Originally Posted by SharkPilot

Hello Rusty,
I'm new here and this is my first post. I recently received your book and have enjoyed it very much. I used to drive past the shipyard on a weekly basis on the way to work aboard S.S. Lane Victory. That was in the early 90's. Being a ship nut I was always gazing in wonderment at all of the ships and ship parts that were over there. I was lucky enough to get a tour, with the Navy League, aboard Herman the German. That was an amazing day. Since I wasn't allowed to bring a camera, seeing your photos was great. I was also there for the decommissioning ceremonies of both U.S.S. New Jersey and Missouri. I DO have photos of those events.
While I was never in the Navy, ships have always fascinated me and battleships probably most of all. It was amazing to walk around on both of those incredible vessels.
I want to thank you for an excellent book that is most welcome in my library.
Jim Topping

Jim: You're very welcome. My greatest satisfaction is that the history of the shipyard has been saved and not erased from memory as some people have tried to do. We are even having another reunion picnic this year at El Dorado Park. But since the shipyard officially closed in 1997, 376 of us have passed on with 32 of them just since our last picnic in September of 2010.

Though I'll be 75 this year, I'm not too worried as to who will put my name on the list. I don't sit around watching "I Love Lucy" reruns (though they ARE good). I've been keeping myself busy saving the Iowa class Battleships and setting them up as memorial/museum ships. I'm working on my last Battleship now and if I and the Pacific Battleship Center are succesful, you will see the USS Iowa towed into the Main Channel just south of the Lane Victory this year.

Amazing prices are being asked for my book on Ebay. You can buy it new for only $39.00 from Amazon (sometimes it's on sale for about $32.00).

But on Ebay, a seller in England has 10 of them for sale at around 90 some odd EUROS. But the wall knocker (to me anyway) is a seller in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (my home town at that) is offering a USED copy for $154.00.

So, come on folks. Buy some more. I now have THREE grandchildren to spoil.
From left to right: Audrey Rose (turned 2 this month), Cody (7 months) and Austin ( 3 1/2)

Sounds like a good investment. Promise to remove it from Amazon after we all buy 1 copy?

Nice looking kids, especially the one in the middle.

Originally Posted by Doktor

Sounds like a good investment. Promise to remove it from Amazon after we all buy 1 copy?

Nice looking kids, especially the one in the middle.

That's the only time I have ever seen Cody NOT smiling. Usually he's always smiling and wide-eyed taking everything in.

As for removing my book from Amazon, I can't afford to do that unless a publisher can come up with a way of printing it in a larger size and with fold-outs for the shipyard maps. Amazon Create Space is very restrictive in the sizes it can print a book. With 534 pages the biggest I could get was the 7X10. But that's all I could afford. To go to a larger size, the number of pages would be restricted and would have to be split into two volumes (at least) and may not be as affordable.

At least it's out there and academic institutions can get it at about half price.

Havent purchased one yet but I plan to in the future.

you won´t regret it, the book´s excellent IMO

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

That's the only time I have ever seen Cody NOT smiling. Usually he's always smiling and wide-eyed taking everything in.

To be clear, there was no pun intended. I like the kids when they put serious faces.

As for removing my book from Amazon, I can't afford to do that unless a publisher can come up with a way of printing it in a larger size and with fold-outs for the shipyard maps. Amazon Create Space is very restrictive in the sizes it can print a book. With 534 pages the biggest I could get was the 7X10. But that's all I could afford. To go to a larger size, the number of pages would be restricted and would have to be split into two volumes (at least) and may not be as affordable.

At least it's out there and academic institutions can get it at about half price.

Let's see if they ship to Macedonia. It's a bargain if you compare it to e-bay prices

Amazon says: 3 new from $39.00 3 used from $150.09