Introduction
As I write this, the final printing of Google Bomb nears completion. The process has been grueling. First came the call from the publisher. Then the contract negotiations. Then the outline of the story. And when the writing was completed by February, the edits began. First internally among the authors, then with our friends. By the end of March, the manuscript was submitted to HCI, our publisher. Then came the first set of rather extensive revisions, followed up by three trips through the HCI editorial staff, and then came a PDF of the first advanced readers copy (ARC). Next came the hard copy of the ARC, which was for publicity, sales and book review purposes, and then to another round of editing, and then another round of editing, and now the final book is being printed. It will be shipped next week, available in the coming weeks from the big online bookstores, and will arrive on the bookshelves of your favorite off-line bookstore by September 1, 2009. It’s been over a year since this all began.
Think about it. Everyone is exposed today on Google:
And it is quite a challenge for publishers and authors to deal with a rapidly evolving subject matter. A year is a long time. Maybe next year Google’s dominance will be a thing of the past. But something will replace it, and hopefully your community here will be on top of it all. So while the underlying message of Google Bomb remains as pertinent today as it did when our journey began, alot has happened since that March day the manuscript was submitted. And a lot more will happen in the coming days, weeks, months and years. Google Bomb is a wake-up call. It is an introduction to the underbelly of the web. It is a valuable resource you will use for years to come. And it is also a call to action.
It is timely, but not timeless.
So, it’s my hope to provide each of you with not only an inspirational and informative resource for today, but a living, breathing, and expanding knowledge base that will mirror the spirit in which Google Bomb was written. The spirit evidenced by an offered hand, open and welcoming arms, and an ear bent in empathy.
I trust that you will find your new community of open hands… some extended in need, and some surely in support… as a valued friend that is both timely, and timeless.
John W Dozier Jr
