[OT] Institutional funding sought for my biography book project - Important

[Amar Sharma]

Hello BAS, I have thought few times about it and only then taken the initiative to post here on b-a-s. I hope this following email will be excused yet encouraged here. Since past 3 months, on several of the days I have been working between 8-12 hours on compiling a biographical book titled 'world-wide amateur comet hunters and discoverers - of the 20th century' spurred from my tv channel documentary idea. The book arose from a dream of having NGC / Discovery / History / BBC produce a documentary on a concept I have since 8 months. This part I have introduced here before. The book compilation I have embarked upon is indeed as massive as I will be portraying it now. All these hours and hours I have been at it with my typical ceaseless boundless energy, I am at a point of no return now. That is after having spent between (only) 200-250 hours, with another 400 hours of work remaining, I expect a result clearly of the international class. I am already aspiring of looking at a U.S. publisher who can take up printing it, and then very optimistically this big compilation will reach book-stores in US, Europe, UK, Australia; basically globally! This I proclaim boldly only after reviewing my developing material and knowing what I am up with. What is this project about? Half the book will cover exhaustive biographies on each of over three dozen (!) comet hunters and discoverers [of today's times and of the earlier 20th century] from various major countries (primarily US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, in general Europe, little about South Africa). I am taking care not to miss out a *single* name from each country's history and the current times! The biographies (varying between 5-15 pages on *each* one's life and work) are either adapted from existing sources, and for them on whom much information doesnt exist I am sending them email interview questions to create a chapter. The other half of the book is some interesting ideas I have myself come up with, to round up the matter in form of a satisfactory treatise on the sport of comet hunting and discoveries. This is a work never done before at this unprecedented scale which I am already well into. I have pre-estimated, with immeasurable hard work going in, I finally should be able to touch 400 at minimum and 500 pages at maximum (pages means numbered sides, obviously not sheets of paper) from front cover to end cover! My personal desire is eventually David Levy to Edit the book or write its Foreward...I believe he would! So coming to my request in this email. My 35-37% work done till now [around 150 pages] is in the 200-250 hours. I have been in touch with many of the comet hunters, discoverers and related comet persons from US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, only over email for this project; at end of it I would have contacted nearly every major name alive on the planet! Many of them have had time to kindly get back to me, however it is resulting in frequent communications and they wont have time and patience always. With enormous workload still ahead, email communication mode will be cumbersome and impractical. There will be a time when I will need to have direct physical communication with these comet-eers, to acquire more physical inputs and interviews that cannot be pursued virtually. As mentioned, the second half of my book is the creative side, which needs creativity and participation from everyone. Until then the work will not move ahead as expected to touch the international quality I seek. Hence I need some serious assistance here. I am looking at institutional funding (Trusts or philanthropic bodies which especially fund projects like book compilations). Below, I pose my *total* requirements to manifest in successful completion of the big volume; this is just the entire wish-list on reserve. ANYTHING that can be fulfilled as and when, will help me progress qualitatively. It is a costly affair I know because the project topic itself focuses on humans living in different places of the globe. I am looking at multiple sources for the funding, since it will ease out the process of cost at the institutional level. I will update if destiny happens to grant myself some sponsors! 1) Flight ticket from B'lore to London - To visit British Astronomical Association (BAA) [for completing bulk of content on UK comet history from their repository / archives and interacting with its expert members]. Local travel to another 3-4 locations to meet other senior resource people. 3 days visit 2) Flight from London to New York - to meet world expert on Comets, John Bortle living at Stormville [the top resource person to help me until completion. He has 50+ years of experience with comets]. 5 days visit 3) Travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to visit IAU's Central Bureau of Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) [for insights into several comet discoveries, historic repository, and understanding practically everything about comets]. 3 days visit 4) Travel to Tuscon, Arizona - to meet world expert on comets and astronomy David Levy, to actually present him my material [he is aware only some about it over email]. 3 days visit 5) Flight to Chile - to meet William Liller, currently aged 85-years, to review my book. World expert on discoveries, and author of biography "Cambridge Guide to Astronomical Discovery" [one which actually inspired me for my biography!]. 3 days visit 6) Return flight ticket to B'lore The good thing about accommodation always is I can try to find options to manage free stay at some Indian Ashram branches with a letter of support from an Indian Ashram head-quarters [like say, Ramakrishna Ashram]. I can approach the above sources for permission of appointment ONLY after I get options for funding. I can just say at this stage if you know some organizations who can kindly oblige and contribute to the development of this biography work, I will be VERY greatful. In return, I only foresee this service to be acknowledged and remembered for time to come by the international amateur community in general, and of course the comet fraternity. Looking forward optimistically. Thanks, Amar.

[Saravana Perumal]

Hi Amar,

Although I may not fully understand the scope of this, one quick suggestion that I can think about is:  Why you can't try out some kind of collaboration with 2-3 people?  You may have to share the credits, but would also help in reviews, adding more credibility when you are a team.

This way you get many initial hurdles out of your way - one being you physically have to be at these locations.  Our Indian astronomer / physics students / friends would help you out in these interviews, meeting in those locations.  People like Akarsh, Rakesh and others that I hear being outside could help or use their networks.  Also little more planning/details of cost of tickets would also help people to see whether they could help.

This way, even sponsors would come forward for remaining work.  I share this feedback, given my experience in the startups and how difficult it is to raise funds and the common queries.

Knowing you and your enthusiasm and to kick-start, I can commit a minimum of Rs. 25,000 to cover if you can bring in one or 2 collaborators to this project.  I will share this around in other groups to see if we can crowd-source part of your expenses

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Thanks,

Saravana - Product Manager

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 [OT] Institutional funding sought for my biography book project - Important

Amar Sharma <amar_u...@yahoo.com> Nov 26 02:13AM -0800  

[sathya kumar Prasanna]

Hi Guys,

Kickstarter is a great place to look for funding. Some really big names also seek funding here.

www.kickstarter.com

Sathya

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[Akarsh Simha]

> Kickstarter is a great place to look for funding. Some really big names
> also seek funding here.
> www.kickstarter.com

Far as I know, kickstarter can currently fund only US citizens.

Regards
Akarsh

[Amar Sharma]

"Far as I know, kickstarter can currently fund only US citizens -- Akarsh" I was about to mention Kickstarter which I only recently learnt in the episode of Robert McNaught's Siding Spring Observatory, Australia, shutting down. They are trying to raise funds through Kickstarter. So it may not necessarily be for US citizens only. Sarvana - Firstly thanks for your voluntary offering. I do not intend nor expect this project to run burning a hole in personal pockets! I wanted this to be an official venture, hence seeking "official" funding. I anticipated there will be a good chance somewhere by some institute or university at all. Maybe it works better in the US and other countries. However, I do not have a clear in-depth picture of these. I dont want to be bothering any individuals for now. I will look at those options first. Well, if I wait for a long time and nothing turns up I would think of looking at personal favours, at the minimal, as the backup option. Until now I was only wondering about the above feasibility. Fully understand scope of what? Collaboration with whom, individuals? And what credits specifically? Did not interpret these things right. There seems to be a prospective chance someone was coincidentally mentioning to me long back about asking me to pick up multiple telescopes from the US for donation to some rural schools here (since these telescopes are to be donated for charity they want it not at unnecessary additional costs ordering through dealers. This option works out better). If that works, things are well in my favour, however its more than a month away. Will keep you posted. Thanks for the kindness once again. Regards, Amar.

[Amar Sharma]

I have submitted my proposal for the documentary on the topic mentioned to National Geographic Channel, on December 3. It currently lies in Washington DC office! They are reviewing it and will get back to me soon, if they will wish to make on it. From what I see about it myself, my content has the punch and impact needed for an integral and undone documentary on certain lives, like this. I confidently believe they will appreciate the topic. That green signal will be a life changing one, since needless to say I will have to be a part of making it. The book also manifests as part of the project. I have my fingers crossed optimistically more than anything that I know. Where there is a will there is a way. Where there is a mountain of will power, there comes the tv documentary and biography book. :-) Praying for the best! AstronAmar (Astronomer)

[shankar]

All the very best for your future endeavors Amar :) 

Regards,

Shankar

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[Kiran Kumar Tikare]

Hi Amar,

Funding is difficult to find that too to write book or making a documentary without prior track record of famous book or documentary.

Hope you will find some funding from some organization or publishing house.

Best of Luck.

Regards,
Kiran Tikare

--
Kiran Kumar Tikare
http://xplorations.blogspot.com
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[Amar Sharma]

Thanks Shankar.

"Funding is difficult to find that too to write book or making a documentary without prior track record of famous book or documentary"

Kiran, I know. And I have rested those expectations for now of having someone sponsor me for flying abroad simply for my compilation. I understand thats not practical except in some lucky cases. I have come to a point in my preparation of the biography book which I cant do much more sitting online, so it sits saturated now. I have proudly brought the book compilation to a stage which is only less than half done, yet at an international class. I await completion fully to make it an all the more excellent piece of (commemorative) work to be dedicated to the global astronomy fraternity. Afterall I have spent 300+ hours on it in 3.5 months often email contacting literally 2-3 dozen comet people...for just the 40% from scratch! Thats the sheer amount of dedication that has gone it, so I have to still keep my hopes alive, for there is a reason for me getting involved in this in the first place. The documentary is not expected about by me, except that some channel like NGC, Discovery takes it up. Docu is in their hands, biography in mine. So there is always still hope left. Needless to say, the book follows if I happen to be in their documentary making. Every single day and night from December 3 I have been opening my inbox multiple times just to see their YES. In less than one week I will know if NGC's feedback on my proposal, they have informed. This is the climax hours. I DAMN well know they will. My good time has come, atleast I have to confidently assure myself :-)