Lookin' Forward to 2009

Hey there!

We are truly sorry about the delay between posts, but things have been crazy busy at Ertel Publishing--and it looks like 2009 will be just as crazy and just as busy!

In January, Vicki and Benjamin are going south for business. They'll try to stay out of trouble, but they cannot guarantee anything--when Vicki and Benjamin hit the road, the road gets weird. Just ask them about the severed hand.

The following month, Benjamin will attend the Hart-Parr Oliver Collectors Association's Winter Get-Together in Springfield, Illinois. In March, both Benjamin and Vicki will attend the Niche Magazine Conference in Denver, Colorado.

And of course, Ertel Publishing will host Vintage Truck's annual Truck Show at Young's Jersey Dairy this August 1.

So there you have it. Vicki and Benjamin know that, because of the economic situation, many people are looking with some fear towards the new year--and while the two share that sentiment to some degree, they also see the positive possibilities. The world is not ending, and print is not dead. So relax, put your feet up, pour yourself a little something to sip on, and enjoy the holidays!

Patriots of the American Revolution

Hello again from Yellow Springs, Ohio!

When Ertel Publishing finds an up-and-coming magazine that has great potential, we love getting involved. In our opinion, Patriots of the American Revolution—a high-quality, four-color quarterly— exemplifies such a magazine. We are enjoying our partnership with Tim Jacobs, the magazine’s editor and publisher, and are determined to promote his vision.

The December issue of Patriots of the American Revolution, which highlights the roles of African Americans in the war, is now in the works. Below is an interview with Tim Jacobs about his magazine’s past, present, and future.

Ertel Publishing: Your seventh generation grandfather, Ezekiel Jacobs, served in the American Revolution with the Connecticut Militia. What else do you know about him?

Tim Jacobs: He was a landowner, farmer, and helped build the steeple for the North Haven Congregational Church in 1799 (the steeple is no longer there). He married Eleanor Walter and they had five children. He is buried among family at the Montowese Cemetery in Connecticut and his stone is decorated with various medals for his service in the American Revolution.

At one point you wrote an article about Ezekiel, but ran into a problem. What was that problem?

I could not find a magazine that would publish an article about an unknown Patriot.

You currently publish Patriots of the American Revolution, but previously you published a magazine called Common Patriot. What was/is the difference between the two?

Basically, Common Patriot was a way to see if there was an interest in a publication about unknown Patriots. It was a website for three years and a printed publication for two years.

What ultimately happened to Common Patriot?

Common Patriot evolved into Patriots of the American Revolution.

The first issue of Patriots of the American Revolution came out in June of 2008. Describe the first issue. Was it hard it put together?

It was certainly a learning curve—I took over the layout and design of the magazine—but it was fun because I met a lot of interesting people with interesting family stories and histories.

What has been the overall reaction to Patriots of the American Revolution?

Pretty positive so far. There seems to be a genuine interest in this sort of publication. I've heard from everyone including the Executive Director of the Sons of the American Revolution to such authors as Dave Palmer, Gary B. Nash, and Richard Brookhiser.

What are your goals for the magazine?

My goals are to publish a quality magazine about the unknown Patriots of the war. The real veterans who risked all there was to risk. We want to become the main source or outlet for people to learn what the common soldiers did in that fight for independence. We'd also like to contribute to various organizations and assist with education and preserving this history.

Why should people subscribe to Patriots of the American Revolution?

Subscribe to help us reach our goals of preserving this history. Subscribe to learn what the real veterans of this war did for you and your family. Subscribe to remember that our independence came with a cost—lives of farmers, ministers, tavern owners, etc., who fought in this war and put everything in their lives on hold.

What are some tough lessons you have learned about the publishing business so far?

Everything is marketing and marketing is money. A great idea needs a plan, an outline, and an error-proof way of reaching your target audience.

What do you like the most about publishing?

Seeing the finished product each quarter. Meeting so many people with fascinating stories about their ancestors.


What has your experience been like working with Ertel Publishing?

It's been great. It's nice to have another group of professional people to bounce ideas off of and to see things from a different angle. Their enthusiasm and interest in Patriots of the American Revolution, along with their guidance, makes the magazine what it is today.

Let's say you and I have another conversation five years from now. What are you doing? What does life look like for Tim Jacobs?

He is working on the magazine full time and also venturing out into publishing other works both related to, and not related to, the American Revolution.


Finally, do you have any words of wisdom for people out there who are about to start their own magazine?

Believe in what you want to publish and team up with people who know the business and the field. Learn from their mistakes. Somewhere, someone has the same idea as you, so plan on doing that idea first and better.

Just A Word About Who We Are

Greetings from Yellow Springs, Ohio!

This is Vicki McClellan and Benjamin Smith from Ertel Publishing, a niche magazine custom publisher. Vicki is the General Manager, and Benjamin is the Vice President of Operations and Custom Publishing. Our fearless leader is Patrick Ertel, the company's owner and President. Together we currently shepherd seven magazines from the editing stage through all production processes and all distribution channels. We bravely go where no man (or woman!) has gone before to seek new opportunities and new friends in the publishing business.

One such opportunity was the Folio: Show last week in Chicago. Although Benjamin failed miserably in his attempts to find authentic Chicago pizza, he did enjoy the seminars and conference sessions. It was a pleasure listening to and learning from speakers such as Ed McCarrick, the President and Worldwide Publisher of TIME. The publishing industry is changing, but as many people at the Folio: Show noted, change doesn't have to be scary--indeed, it can be quite energizing.

The week following the Folio: Show, Vicki and Benjamin looked at each other and said: "Road Trip!" They hopped into Vicki's Blazer, set the compass for Evansville, Indiana, and hit the accelerator. Once there they met with some old friends in publishing. It's always good to break bread with friends and discuss a business we love. If you ever find yourself in Evansville, we highly recommend the Cork and Cleaver. Vicki liked the filet and salad bar; Benjamin liked the prime rib and beer.

That's it for now! Check back often--October promises to be a very busy and fun-filled month! And we'll be back here to keep you up to the minute On The Word!