SIX MONTHS LATER . . . .

Last September I was stalled (stopped) by concerns - real or imaginary - about potential defamation/copyright issues re manuscript after London firm (N) accepted my manuscript (rather too readily and without comment, which was a bit odd). THey also required 100% indemnity re contents before proceeding! Since then no change. I chose to go no further with "the London publisher" since it left me at potential risk. Could be most publishers will seek a similar waiver before going ahead. We'll see. My superviser MT suffered a bereavement in December '22 and I've not made contact since. I contacted LM, a published author, but a vicious illness (chest infection mid-December/mid-January '23) immobilised me and paused progress on that. Was rejected by Belfast publisher (B-H): '. . . the submitted material was narrowly focused on an academic discussion of disciplinary boundaries , , , this would not appeal to a general audience . . .' Also they said my manuscript was 'unsuitable' because it didn't address Ireland (their 'brand') sufficiently. They only sampled a cupla chapters. If they'd read more, they'd have seen that its locus was largely suicide in N Ireland with RoI/GB references too but clearly insufficient for them. Fair enough. Also rejected by another NI publisher rather curtly - my manusctipt sample did not match their brand. Fair enough. Made contact with a Belfast guy JOR whose expertise seemed to be as proof-reader - his estimate for my 377 page / 143,000 word manuscript was in five figures. I bid him an Aussi g'dy. I must try to ensure that any publisher (or editor, proof-reader etc) is as interested in and committed to the resolution of suicide's enigma as I am and have been this past three decades.
Bit of a brainwave during January 23! Found an outfit (H-G) whose major interest (among others) was suicide prevention. Contacted them re their journal (I'm a subscriber for a wheen of years) and mentioned my manuscript. Long story short, they expressed interest. I prepared a 'book proposal' (several weeks work) under their guidance. Sent it off this week, late March '23. Fingers crossed. More follows.