KatL is absolutely right that if she is to be a major editor, even with support from some of the rest of us (yes, kat, I'm volunteering), she will need to be paid.

On the other hand, let's take this at a pace that lets the community contributions prepare the way so that the editor's job is merely monumental, not death-defying.

For example, I have in mind a series of threads, which anyone interested in seeing the project fly should put a tracer on, dealing with various aspects of the proposed book, to be started when the time is appropriate for each step. For example, "Mudcat Book - Possible funding?", or "Mudcat Book - Thread suggestions?" which latter of course will have to be broken off and a sequel started every time it get to 100 posts or so.... :-)

Don't be in a hurry, folks. This can be a nice fantasy or it can be a serious project. Serious projects take time even when they're fun and stimulating.

I tried to define the sort of audience that I visualize, but instead I found I have to describe the impact I would like the book to make. (Should we start a thread just for this question?)

What I want it to do is to paint a picture for the world of modern-day magic in a human sense, of the way that a group of people have harnessed technology to make their lives richer in friends, humor, warmth, sharing, and, oh, yes, in musical knowledge and information. This is a new kind of community, and I am convinced that the common love of folk music is self-selecting in some way to shape the character of the Mudcat. How can we communicate this? Would anyone else *like* to communicate this?

Evenings (and midnights and mornings) on the Mudcat leave me feeling happy and exhilarated, and I'd like the book to be well enough thought out to produce the same effect on the reader.

And, yes, I'd like it eventually to become a real book, even with bindings (paperback of course) and a publisher, in the due course of time. I'd hate to see it thrown together in a hurry, I'd hate to see it be pretty good when it has the possibility of being really great. Any opinions (of course there will be opinions! - Where would Mudcat be without opinions?)

Love, Rita F