To Commission A Biography

By

David P. Bridges

Breathed-Bridges-Best, LLC

Un-Sung Songs

L

et us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us….All these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.

Sirach 44:1, 7-9

Do you have ancestors who fit this Biblical quote?

If so,

You may have found an answer to your desire to honor your ancestor.

The process of biography is not one of exact science; however, there is a method to the madness of this creative process. As a trained historian with both a Masters of Divinity and post-graduate studies in American Historical Religious Studies from The University of Chicago Divinity School, I have been trained to write biography in the context of American history. The process of creating a biography to last the ages is one that may take years in the making, but in the final analysis it is a rewarding experience to both the author and the family that commissioned the biography.

I have successfully created, from the inspiration of the biography to the completion and publication of the works, three non-fiction historical biographies. I was able to employ Baker & Taylor, Co. as a wholesaler in order to market the books at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and many other venues for national sales. I carefully crafted book signing tours that lasted up to a year in order to personally place my biographies in the hands of those that had interest in my works. My works continue to sell at a national level years after the publication dates of 2003 and 2006.

My company, Breathed-Bridges-Best, LLC, was formed in 2002 to publish my own works. Upon completion of the manuscript the publishing arm of my company sets about the business aspects of the publishing process. Professional editors are employed, graphic designers are enlisted for layout, and printing companies are contracted to produce the works at the lowest possible cost. Other steps in the process include typists to transcribe primary documents, attaining copyrights of material to be published, research, books and travel.

A close working relationship with the family or institution commissioning the work is optimal for the completion of a biography that reflects the privacy, integrity and historical accuracy of those that have commissioned the biography and the subject of the biography. Final drafts of the work would be available for review, comments and suggestions before publication. The work is not dependent upon any outside publisher. The entire historical biographical process, from conception to publication, is handled through my publishing company.

I am currently soliciting families and or any other institution which might have an interest in the production of a professional commissioned biography or other historical work. To begin the process, numerous meetings of inquiry with the persons or institution commissioning the work would be scheduled, and preliminary research would be conducted, to confirm the feasibility of the work. During this step, I would work on an hourly rate. After the preliminary research has been completed and a mutually agreeable decision has been made to write and publish the work, we would enter into a written contractual agreement containing a set fee for the work. Depending on the anticipated depth and breadth of the biography, mutually agreed upon timelines and completion dates would be set forth in the contract. All costs and expenses associated with the research, writing, and publishing of the work would be borne by the party commissioning the work.

Please contact me for complimentary copies of my three biographies. I would encourage you to read of them and reflect on how my style could be adapted to the subject being considered. I look forward to discussing your project with you.