writing a book and Boston fishing

[Jacob K.]

Hi Dave-
I saw a blurb about your book last september in Men's Journal and preordered it on Amazon. Read it in the 2 days after it arrived, and loved every minute of it.
I am wondering how much goes into writting a book. What is the general process? Did you have a publisher before you strated? Did you know it would get published? You mentioned that you are preparing a paperback edition, what does that involve more than a different cover?
Also, are you coming to boston at all for a lecutre tour?
And finally, what was your favorite spot in the Boston Harbor?
Thanks
Jacob

[On The Run]

Jacob,

There's a great saying that gets to the heart of writing, be it book or mag article -- "It's Hell to write and Heaven to have written."

The book required more work than I ever imagined. It took a year, not including "research trip," to complete the text. I assume it would have moved faster if I didn't make so many "quick" fishing trips to Montauk and LI's North Shore.

I did have a the publisher for the book before I left for the trip (and quit my magazine job). Paperback work involves a new cover (it pains me that they're changing it), adding review quotes, text changes, etc. Nothing big just time consuming tasks.

No plans to come to Boston on a reading/lecture tour but that may change when the paperback comes out.

I fished the Deer Island area with Gartside and caught some nice fish. Fished the harbor islands aboard Tom Keer's skiff and got into some thick blitzes. We were doubling up on flies (a bunker pattern and a flat wing) and at one point had four fish on at once -- a quadruple. But I really enjoyed Nahant. You have to be a billy goat to get around on foot but the structure is awesome.

Thanks for then nice words about the book. -d