Over the weekend I finished the final revision of the ART OF THE PUBLIC GROVEL for Princeton University Press. Today I burned all the files onto a disk, printed it out (the subtitle is temporary, by the way–I’ve sent Princeton the list of suggestions you made on this blog),

put it all into a box and got it ready for the UPS pickup.

This is so much fun. One of the easiest jobs a writer has: Getting the manuscript ready for the UPS guy. And I don’t get to do it all that often. (Like, once every two years.) So naturally I have to take pictures.

I think that the next step with this book will be going through the coypedited manuscript, but I’ll keep you posted. (Also I’m guessing that some of the images I’m using for illustrations aren’t high res enough, so I’ll probably have to hunt down some better quality scans.)

And now back to the Middle Ages.

I’ll leave you with the final table of contents. Hope it sounds interesting….

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: From Private to Public Confession

PART I: The Shift Toward Public Confession
Chapter One: Grover the Good, Belshazzar Blaine, and the Rapacious Woman
Chapter Two: In the Presence of the Elect (With the World Looking On)
Chapter Three: Aimee Semple McPherson and the Devil
Chapter Four : Confession Goes Public
Chapter Five: Ted Kennedy Misreads His Public

PART II: The Age of Public Confession
Chapter Six: Jimmy Carter, Traitor to the Cause
Chapter Seven: Jim Bakker Shoots His Allies
Chapter Eight: Jimmy Swaggart’s Model Confession
Chapter Nine: Clinton and the Three Public Confessions
Chapter Ten: Unaware of Change

Conclusion: Predictions

Appendices: The Texts of the Confessions
Works Cited

Showing 9 comments
  • Janice in NJ

    Nicely done. Hmmmm…. so I guess Amazon.com has us all coming AND going. I suspect that someday a tweaked version of the same book will arrive on my front step in a similar box. I don’t know why that strikes me as something worth contemplating right now…

    Congrats in a job well done!
    Janice

  • Matt Harmless

    I am really happy for you. (You sound like my wife with the taking pictures thing.)

    By the way, I got my book and showed it off to all of my teacher friends. They are very jealous. Thank you so much!

    I am also reading Story of the World to my oldest son, even though he is studying it in school. He just loves it.

  • Jenny Wells

    As a recovering former member of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (much to the dismay of my Presbyterian and Congregational ancestors) I am particularly looking forward to the third chapter!

  • Trish

    Congrats! Nice job, Susan. Can’t wait to read it. PUP is a fine press. I’m thrilled for you. What is your prize for a job well done? An Amazon box full of fresh goodies for you? Or cookies?

  • Jenny

    Can’t wait to read this!!

  • Under the Sky

    Huzzah! Marvelous! :+)

    Here is my one question – that I am sure I missed the answer to along the way – what made you decide to write on this subject? It is such an interesting choice. I was just curious. :+)

    Warmly,
    Kate

  • Dave Tell

    Is Princetone UP going to let you publish Swaggart’s apology sermon without permission? I remember you mentioned that problem in one of your earlier posts. Best, Dave

  • Kimber

    Congratulations! That must feel terrific.

  • Lorna

    This book could come in handy in Britain. We subject our MPs to public grovelling monthly!

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