Kat, this is a splendid idea. The way I see it, the editor(s) would do more than edit. He, she or they would write a running commentary before and even within each thread, to tie the parts of the book together.

In order to make it possible for that to be done (begun) during these early phases by various people, I think I'll start a new thread that, tentatively, will be about what points we want to make in the book. What is the common thread, if you will, running through all of the chapters?

I do think we need to do more than edit threads and lay them out. For non-Mudcatters to read it, they have to find something for them in the book. The editing and commentary should keep that in mind. Let's talk about what we'd like people to find in the book. BUT. Let's do that in another thread, while continuing to explore the possibilities of this thread.

In the meantime, we should start the process you're suggesting, of people finding threads they want to work on. (Who gets "Spancil Hill"?)