Need some advice

[BrotherDave]

Have my GG-ma's journals, crammed with hundreds of prayers and wittisims collected over the 90 plus years of her life. Want to turn them in to a daily devotional of sorts. Problem is copyrights. Saw a poster with one of the sayings on it, a copyright notice attached to the bottom. Did the copyright cover the entire poster, or the elements, including the words on it?

How do I check copyrights on hundreds of 2 or 3 line sayings?

Anybody have any practical wisdom for me?

brotherdave

[wgjones3]

Well... I'd write the book wait for a publisher to pick it up, then let their legal department sift through all the technicalities.

[kriswrite]

Short quotes do not require that you obtain copyright permission. Problems would occur, however, if an entire story, poem, or series of quotes was under copyright.

It's almost impossible to check copyrights without knowing who the author is. I would agree that I'd let the publisher help you with this. (I have several books where a comment such as this appears on the copyright page: Every effort has been made to obtain permission from original copyright holders. If you find your work in this book, please contact us, so we can appropriately give credit. (or words to that effect.)

Kristina

[paulchernoch]

My old standby is Bartlett's quotations. They have a website now, too. And of course, google.

But as for letting a publisher worry about the copyrights, I read somewhere that they are prefer the writer to take care of that up front these days. I would get advice on that before I just assumed the publisher would take care of it.

- Paul

[BrotherDave]

REally appreciate the advice, but I'm looking a self publishing. Looking very closely at www.lulu.com . No set up fees and I buy as many books as I want for a minimum price. I just have to the formatting, give the book to them, and they send me hard back book. 50 pages, between $5 and $7 a book. Not bad. I've google comments about Lulu, they had a problem a while ago, but now seem to be getting pretty good comments. I can market through my sister's ad mag that hits 81,000 home in Southern Cal.

I'm going to check out Barlett's too.

thanks,
brotherdave

[rodojeki]

Bro Dave....

I am on the road right now on vacation, (public libraries are wonderful to stay in touch) but I have been searching self publishing also....when i get home I will try to get some info to you......if you are still
interested.....wont be until the weekend....

Blessings to you,
Donna

[BrotherDave]

Always interested in what you have to share, Donna!