I’m immersed in editing the manuscript, and what a job! I cut 8 of 33 chapters by inserting pieces of them into other chapters. Although I got the manuscript down to 95,000 words, I was shocked to count up the endnotes and find 10,000 words there. A biography should have good source information, but something’s […]
My friend in Kansas fulfilled her mission of finding 15,000 words for me to cut from the manuscript. I’m using her advice to combine chapters and condense, condense, condense. This is now my fourth draft of the book, and I’ll be spending the next several weeks on the rewrite. FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: Faron […]
The University of Illinois Press will publish my biography of Faron Young in the summer of 2007. The book’s new title is “Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story.” Please forward this weekly newsletter to anyone who might be interested in reading it, and send an e-mail to al******@*****on.net if you have questions/comments about […]
My big news is that Illinois University Press will publish Faron’s biography next summer (2007), first in hard cover and then eventually in paperback. My final manuscript needs to be turned in by the end of June. I’m still looking for photographs for the book, and waiting for some permissions to be granted.
The year 1996 brought a triple whammy for me, first with the death of my nephew, then the suicides of Admiral Mike Boorda (the Chief of Naval Operations) and Faron. Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of my nephew’s funeral, and I post this article in Cody’s memory: http://ddiekman.tripod.com/id50.html. FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-ONE YEARS AGO: Faron and […]
FARON YOUNG, FORTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO: On April 24, 1958, Faron recorded “Alone With You,” a song that eventually spent an amazing 13 weeks at the top of the Billboard chart. Can you imagine the same song being number one for three months? Roy Drusky quit his disc jockey job in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and followed his […]
I am seeking photos to publish in the biography. If you have a photo you think might be appropriate for the book (not Faron-hugging-a-fan photos), and you own the publishing rights or have contact with the person who does, please send me a note of description. FARON YOUNG, THIRTY-FOUR YEARS AGO: Nashville’s first Fan Fair […]
This is a weekly newsletter about Faron Young and my progress toward publication of his biography, “Tell It Like It Is: The Faron Young Story.” Please forward to anyone who might be interested, and send an e-mail to al******@*****on.net if you have questions/comments about Faron. I’m currently reviewing the book contract, and I’ve sent the […]
The faculty board of the university press approved my biography project, and I’ll be receiving a contract shortly. (Then we will have to negotiate terms before signing it.) I’m told the board’s discussion began with one of the members saying, “I’m a huge fan of Faron Young.” One of the stipulations is that I have […]
FARON YOUNG, FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO: “I Miss You Already (And You’re Not Even Gone)” was climbing the charts in March 1957, on the way to its peak at number five. Faron recorded the song the previous summer. Marvin Rainwater had just come off a tour with the Wilburn Brothers and Faron, and they were sitting […]