TIGHAR
Amelia Earhart Search Forum => News, Views, Books, Archival Data & Interviews on AE => Topic started by: Irvine John Donald on June 04, 2011, 03:42:44 PM
-
It was noted recently in this forum that the kindle book site now offered the ebook version of Ric's book.
I purchased it earlier this week and read it using the iPad version of the Kindle software app.
I have just completed reading this book and suggest that anyone who is new to this topic or to this hypothesis should read this book first before reviewing the documented information within the forum.
I have been following this forum and reading the data available for many months now. Ric's book laid out in excellent format the chronological data intertwined with the real time events of the day, along with an excellent narrative style, that kept me reading for hours on end. I can easily state that many times in my reading I read passages that clarified, for me, the chronology of events, the mind set of the day, the real lack of coordination and communication. AE and FN were so close and yet so far from succeeding.
Can I suggest that Ric now undertake to write the second book of this obvious trilogy. It would be called "Finding Amelia: The Evidence Search". This would pick up exactly where the first leaves off with Gallagher and the bones discovery through to today. Naturally the third book of the trilogy would be titled "Finding Amelia: Amelia Earhart Found By A TIGHAR". It would be the book that pulls the trilogy together.
I'm sure that Ric has a desk drawer somewhere with the outline of this second book and has the outline for the third book floating around in his head just bursting and waiting for paper. I'm sure he is probably at a loss as to how to spend those few valuable hours he has for personal time so I might suggest he get that outline from the drawer and get hunched over the keyboard. You have a writing flair and style that has a great sense of drama while using only the facts and no fiction. Tell the rest of the story Ric. Please.
-
Thank you. I'm flattered and humbled by your confidence in my ability to tell this story. As you correctly guess, I've spent a lot of time agonizing over the next book. There is a great temptation to write a here's-what-really-happened book, but that's what everybody does and the truth is - nobody yet knows what really happened. With so much of our research still on-going, at least once a week I learn something new that changes some part of the picture. I could write a "fact-based historical novel" and nobody could fault me if I got something wrong because after all, it's only a novel. I actually took a stab at that a while back and wrote a novelization of the wreck of the Norwich City. It was great fun and, in all humility, pretty good ;D, but I quickly realized that by filling in the gaps in the historical record with my own imagination I was creating such a convincing artificial reality that it was almost impossible for me to keep straight what was documented and what was made up. I found myself resisting new facts that disagreed with my imagined truth and that's deadly to an on-going investigation.
I hope and trust that there will come a time when I can write the nonfiction, footnoted here's-what-really-happened book, but we're not there yet. Your suggestion that the next book be "Finding Amelia: The Evidence Search" makes sense (although we might work on the title). A book that, as you say, begins where FA left off could be a chronological narrative of what has become an amazing cultural phenomenon. I could explore the WWII origins of the Japanese Capture theory, its flowering in the 1960s, and the Crashed & Sank backlash of the 1970s. TIGHAR comes into the story in 1988 and there is, of course, much to tell - but TIGHAR's work needs to be seen in the context of what went before and since.
As I think about it, the second volume in the trilogy would feature many of the same elements as the first - unrealistic expectations, wishful thinking, false starts, successes and failures, inflated egos ( ;D), and so on. Most importantly, like volume one, it could be a true history book - not a polemic that espouses a particular theory. Just lay out the documented facts and let the reader decide.
Does that sound reasonable?
-
Absolutely, Ric. Hear, hear!
-
Excellent outline for volume 2, Ric!! Sounds like you really have thought about the second volume. I agree that it would be a historical non fiction. The wealth of information, the scientific approach and analysis and the number of different theories to cover over the many years means you would have a much larger volume than the first. Keeping it historically accurate, as you outlined, would maintain the TIGHAR philosophy which is important in order that TIGHAR's reputation be maintained. That's probably why you haven't published a fiction novel. This way no one can charge that your imagination is getting the better of you.
The third novel in the trilogy would clearly be full of conjecture and would not come out until after the mystery is solved. Therefore not tainting the accuracy and validity of the first two.
The problem is always TIME. Over the years TIGHAR research has seemed so close to proving its theory just to have it slip away largely because of TIGHAR's own research efforts! So years have slipped by and no one is getting younger. The proximity to the final answer, demands of other projects, the growth og TIGHAR, public relations work and, of course, the never ending fund raising, means you Ric, have less time to tackle volume 2. Yet it needs to be done. You're reading this and nodding your agreement.
But sorry Ric. It NEEDS to be done and done by you. The website has your years of exploration, research and analysis laid out for the world to see. Your writing style and analytical approach need to tell that next chapter. Not someone who comes along and uses the TIGHAR data to do it. You just need to read the forum and ask your many fans what they think of your writing style. You know it's extremely positive.
Okay, I have finished making my simple case for why you need to do this. The title definitely needs work, and the search for the evidence to what happened to AE and FN must continue. But I think you're a lot further, mentally, on this novel than you imply. :-)
-
The book I'm wait for Ric to write is Amelia Found!
-
Sounds awesome, Ric! I will definitely buy it. I had a great time reading about the search for a similar Electra Alaska and Idaho, and other tangential research aspects. These side stories can be incredibly entertaining and they round-out the whole picture of how much work goes into this project. I would think the second book would have a lot of photos, which would be fantastic.
-
One aspect of the second book will, by necessity, be different from the first book. Because I had no role in the events described and documented in "Finding Amelia - the true story of the Earhart disappearance" I was able to write the book in the third person. I can do the same for the events that I'll describe and document in the second book until I get to 1988 and the beginning of TIGHAR's involvement in the search for the answer to the Earhart riddle. At that point, the narrator becomes one of the characters in the story and I have to shift to the first person. That's an awkward transition to make in the middle of a narrative. Anybody have any ideas about how to handle that?
-
hmmm. would it be completely 1st person at that point?? there were several relevant searches done after 1988 as well correct?? This would further confuse/complicate things.
-
hmmm. would it be completely 1st person at that point?? there were several relevant searches done after 1988 as well correct??
That's right. There were four deep water searches and a revival of the Irene Bolam nonsense.
This would further confuse/complicate things.
Once I've made the transition to a first person description of TIGHAR's work I'll have to cover my own reaction to "competing" efforts to solve the mystery. Yeah, it gets complicated.
-
... At that point, the narrator becomes one of the characters in the story and I have to shift to the first person. That's an awkward transition to make in the middle of a narrative. Anybody have any ideas about how to handle that?
Talk about the problem in your Introduction or Preface.
Start talking in the first person at the beginning of a chapter that introduces the development of TIGHAR and the rise of the Niku hypothesis.
You could also divide the book into two parts: Part I, "Before TIGHAR"; Part II, "After TIGHAR."
-
the chapters or parts was my first thought as well. possibly smoother transitions out there if you start to lay it out??
-
Talk about the problem in your Introduction or Preface.
Good idea.
Start talking in the first person at the beginning of a chapter that introduces the development of TIGHAR and the rise of the Niku hypothesis.
You could also divide the book into two parts: Part I, "Before TIGHAR"; Part II, "After TIGHAR."
That would be a clean way to do it.
-
Ric,
Couldn't you use a "hand-off" style?
If the first part is "they, them, etc." then there had to be a point in the search where "we, I, TIGHAR" had to take up the challlange and the investment of time and resources in order to continue the search. I think it would be a smooth transition.
Ted Campbell
-
I think the two part approach works. The first volume was a chronological approach of the facts. This volume is actually the multiple approaches of multiple groups. I think Marty is right. "Pre TIGHAR" and "The TIGHAR Hunt".
The main thing is that I think I hear a keyboard being fired up! I promise to buy the first copy.
-
Before we buy copies of the finished book TIGHAR needs the money to write it.
When the time comes, I'm in, just like the first go-around.
-
When the time comes, I'm in, just like the first go-around.
Monty is referring to the TIGHAR Literary Guild. When I was writing the first book we published draft chapters in TIGHAR Tracks and asked for comments. We asked TIGHAR members to join the TIGHAR Literary Guild by pre-purchasing signed copies of the book for $100. The response was phenomenal. We actually brought in more funding from the Guild than we got as an advance from the publisher.
-
When something works then don't change it. Just tell me how to sign up. That's two committed.
I hear a gauntlet hitting the floor. :)
-
When something works then don't change it. Just tell me how to sign up. That's two committed.
I hear a gauntlet hitting the floor. :)
Okay. Two is a mandate. (I'm easy.) Tomorrow we'll put the TIGHAR Literary Guild II up on the website. I'll post a link here when it's up.
We're gonna need more than your money. I'll need help researching the first part of this book. I can reconstruct Part Two (all the TIGHAR stuff) no problem; but I am not as familiar with all the ins and outs and the who-did-what-when of Japanese Capture and Crashed & Sank.
-
Great decision Ric!! I will sign up to the guild as soon as available. Please let me know how I can help.
Thanks
-
There were four deep water searches and a revival of the Irene Bolam nonsense.
Searched for Amelia Earhart from search for Amelia Web Site (http://searchforamelia.org/original-searches) don't remember coming across this one before - Timmer/Williamson Search but a quick Google on the main site and bingo Race to find Amelia (http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/34_RaceAmelia/34_RaceAmelia.html)
Rics comment just piqued my curiosity :)
-
Ric,
Put together an outline of the info you need help on and I am sure you will get pleanty of help on this part of the "new book."
Ted Campbell
-
The amateur historian in me thinks a history of Earhart Explanations certainly sounds like an interesting project. The even more amateur marketer in me wonders if it would generate enough sales and be able to find a publisher. Or is Amelia Earhart one of those topics so popular that any book on the subject will make a buck? Perhaps so, judging by some of the nonsense that's made it to print so far...
-
The amateur historian in me thinks a history of Earhart Explanations certainly sounds like an interesting project. The even more amateur marketer in me wonders if it would generate enough sales and be able to find a publisher. Or is Amelia Earhart one of those topics so popular that any book on the subject will make a buck? Perhaps so, judging by some of the nonsense that's made it to print so far...
From a marketing standpoint I think the strength of the book will be the comprehensive recitation of TIGHAR's evidence in Part II. It's something that has been needed for a long time.
-
Sounds like a worthwhile endeavor, and actually something I may have some skills or knowledge to contribute to. In fact, I'm an officer in an aerospace professional society and recently proposed writing a series of articles on Amelia Earhart theories for upcoming newsletters in honor of the 75th anniversary. I'm thinking of 4 parts, with the last published in July.
-
In fact, I'm an officer in an aerospace professional society and recently proposed writing a series of articles on Amelia Earhart theories for upcoming newsletters in honor of the 75th anniversary. I'm thinking of 4 parts, with the last published in July.
Sounds like we'll be asking many of the same questions. This forum can be a great tool for sharing research.
-
The TIGHAR Literary Guild (http://tighar.org/Publications/Books/LiteraryGuild/literaryguild2.html) is now up and running on the TIGHAR website. Your support will be greatly appreciated.
-
The Search for Amelia (http://searchforamelia.org/original-searches) site mentions G.P. Putnam doing an independent search of the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. Is the report on this available somewhere? It would be very interesting to read his opinions and his search methods.
-
The Search for Amelia (http://searchforamelia.org/original-searches) site mentions G.P. Putnam doing an independent search of the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. Is the report on this available somewhere? It would be very interesting to read his opinions and his search methods.
Putnam did not do an independent search of the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. He wanted to but couldn't raise the money. It's an interesting story that I;ll cover in the book.
-
From a marketing standpoint I think the strength of the book will be the comprehensive recitation of TIGHAR's evidence in Part II. It's something that has been needed for a long time.
Recommend that you make it clear that the evidence that your are presenting is pursuant to the rules of evidence and is consistent with the scientific approach that you have stated that is being used to test the hypothesis. The evidence should be chronology listed as evidentiary exhibits along with the commentary that explains the relevance. The burden of proof is on you to convince the court of public opinion. To do so, your argument will have to ascend from the level of preponderance of evidence to the level of clear and convincing. Arguments are legally presented in the form of a legal brief with a memorandum of law is support. Of course, this is probably not what you would want to do as legal citations are meaningless to the layman.
If you have access to a law library, I would suggest research on the rules of evidence and the law that construes those rules. The Hornbook series is very good as is the Corpus Juris Secundum. Your evidentiary argument must be presented with precision as I am sure there will be many who will be ready to shoot holes in your case. There are those who think that you are a fraud and that your project is nothing but a pretext to solicit money for profit.
I am not quite sure that your evidence thus far is sufficient to make a clear and convincing argument, however, it can be argued that the body of circumstantial evidence supports the inference that Earhart landed on Gardner Island sometime in the morning of July 2, 1937.
-
Recommend that you make it clear that the evidence that your are presenting is pursuant to the rules of evidence and is consistent with the scientific approach that you have stated that is being used to test the hypothesis.
Thanks Bill but, as I said earlier, the book will not be a polemic - that is, it will not make an argument for a particular theory. I'll try to present an accurate, insightful, and entertaining account of the various attempts to the solve the mystery, the methodologies and logic employed, and the results achieved.
-
OK, my check is in the mail (with a little extra for beer and the all-important incidentals).
Who's with me? This thing isn't going to get done by itself, it's a group effort!
LTM,
#2189CE
-
I'm in already. Just have to get the cheque into the mail.
-
The Search for Amelia (http://searchforamelia.org/original-searches) site mentions G.P. Putnam doing an independent search of the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. Is the report on this available somewhere? It would be very interesting to read his opinions and his search methods.
Putnam did not do an independent search of the Gilbert Islands and the Marshall Islands. He wanted to but couldn't raise the money. It's an interesting story that I;ll cover in the book.
Capt. Irving Johnson investigated the Gilbert Islands , 1939 , on behalf of The Amelia Earhart Foundation , no testimony but a fly over @ Tabietuea has been recorded . The ship was Yankee of Gloucester .
-
Capt. Irving Johnson investigated the Gilbert Islands , 1939 , on behalf of The Amelia Earhart Foundation , no testimony but a fly over @ Tabietuea has been recorded . The ship was Yankee of Gloucester .
Do you have any leads to get more details on this investigation? I think I have heard of it, I don't remember where. My impression is that no thorough search was ever made on the Gilberts, but I don't know what the reasoning for this was among the Navy, Coast Guard, G.P. Putnam. Maybe it was simply lack of money.
-
Capt. Irving Johnson investigated the Gilbert Islands , 1939 , on behalf of The Amelia Earhart Foundation , no testimony but a fly over @ Tabietuea has been recorded . The ship was Yankee of Gloucester .
Do you have any leads to get more details on this investigation? I think I have heard of it, I don't remember where. My impression is that no thorough search was ever made on the Gilberts, but I don't know what the reasoning for this was among the Navy, Coast Guard, G.P. Putnam. Maybe it was simply lack of money.
Details, we've got details -- tons and tons of details!: Check out the extensive contents of the Ameliapedia (http://tighar.org/wiki/Ameliapedia). Enter "Irving Johnson" in the search box and you'll find what you seek: an article named "Search by the Yankee." (http://tighar.org/wiki/Search_by_the_Yankee)
-
Capt. Irving Johnson investigated the Gilbert Islands , 1939 , on behalf of The Amelia Earhart Foundation , no testimony but a fly over @ Tabietuea has been recorded . The ship was Yankee of Gloucester .
Do you have any leads to get more details on this investigation? I think I have heard of it, I don't remember where. My impression is that no thorough search was ever made on the Gilberts, but I don't know what the reasoning for this was among the Navy, Coast Guard, G.P. Putnam. Maybe it was simply lack of money.
Type "Irving Johnson" in google , he reported his experiences in a letter , he visited a row of islands , but found no trace of the Earhart crew or aircraft . An A/c was heard over Tabiteuea in the night of July 2 , but no time indication was acquired .
-
Thanks, guys, I'll check those sources.
-
Johnson was in the Phoenix Group in late April 1940 - about the time that the skull was discovered on Gardner - but he didn't call at any of the inhabited islands (Gardner, Hull, and Sydney) because he didn't have clearance from the British. Another near-miss.
-
I am in the Literary Guild! Can hardly wait to read the new book.
:)
-
I haven't heard anything about the new book in a while. I imagine it was put on the back burner when planning for the July expedition heated up. Any news on the status of the Volume II project?
-
Finding time to work on the book is really tough with everything that has been, and is now, going on. Doing the best I can.
-
When is the book Finding Amelia II expected to be published? The scope and publication process of the second volume of Finding Amelia primarily depends not just the results of the Niku VII (e.g. discovery of the debris field north of the Norwich City wreck) but also the course and scope of Niku VIII.
-
When is the book Finding Amelia II expected to be published?
I can't give you an expected publication date. I'm still struggling with what the scope of the book should be. The trouble with writing a book about an on-going investigation is that, as soon as you finalize the manuscript something invariably happens that makes the manuscript obsolete. A few days before the recent event in Indianapolis I updated the Powerpoint I had used for the similar event in Chicago in September. I was amazed at how much I had to change.
-
Ric,
Just a thought, but maybe with all that has gone of late - a major expedition, lots of public review of what is attractive or not in footage, etc., then a lawsuit, and now some generous soul covering what remains of that for us (thank you whomever it was!) and realizing Niku VIII won't be happening in this year (apparently, as I write) - it seems like there might be a lot of story to tell by now.
Maybe not the story we hoped for at this point, but maybe something fresh about all the ground that has been covered since Lit Guild II was announced?
There must be a rich story in your mind about all that has been done - Niku VII and the twists and turns of the ongoing search seem to have become part of the story too. And of course there's some vibe about 2-2-V-1, wherever that ultimately takes us (which could be another book, perhaps, I suppose time will tell).
I don't suggest this as a dead end, but as a cleansing breath by which we might all (public in mind) absorb the many things that have happened over the past few years and take a sharp look at what can be next.
Just a thought. Curious as to yours on this.
-
Just a thought, but maybe with all that has gone of late - a major expedition, lots of public review of what is attractive or not in footage, etc., then a lawsuit, and now some generous soul covering what remains of that for us (thank you whomever it was!) and realizing Niku VIII won't be happening in this year (apparently, as I write) - it seems like there might be a lot of story to tell by now.
There is indeed a whole lot of story to tell but at what point do you stop and write what you know so far? The story changes almost daily and you can only see the significance of events in the rear-view mirror. The best we can do right now is write up new developments as Research Bulletins. Pulling it all together into a single narrative will be a monumental task.
-
Was there a good response to Literary Guild II (http://tighar.org/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=111)? Can you say how many sign-ups there were? I know you got a great response on the earlier effort.
I realize it must be problematic to sort out 'where to stop and tell', etc., but my thought was that since this was to be the second installment in a trilogy (as I understood the discussion upstring here) maybe this was a good place. The 'final' installment was one you seemed to hope for once 'the find of the century' (my term ;)) was made. As to this phase, I think it is understood that 'things change' as knowledge is gained - but that's true since "Finding Amelia" was written, isn't it?
So my wondering was simply that we seem to be somewhere in that middle place, not withstanding 2-2-V-1 which seems front and center at the moment, of course. And of course we hope that truly pans out - but as you've pointed out, it has to be digestable by independent and well-qualified authorities who can help make the case that the general public can swallow (like a certain southern politician used to put it - "get it down where the goats can get at it").
But it also seems there's distance yet to go, regardless - it's clear that the definitive expedition is still desired so as to lay hands on the true grail, but that remains elusive for now. It occurred to me that this intersection of things might provide a window somehow.