Thanks Mark

[John Travis]

Mark,
I must say both thank you and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to open up such a can of worms with my question.
I "cared" who you are only because you seem to be highly regarded in this forum. I was curious about who this respected man with whom I was totally unfamiliar might be.
I stated that I know of Ann and Bly and Victoria and John G. (the real one), but I did not say that I have read their works. In fact, I have not. I know them by reputation only. I also know who Ilie Nastase is, but I have never played tennis in my life. If, however, I wanted to play tennis and were looking for expert advice, I would be curious about who Ilie Nastese is, if I did not know.
You seem to be of the belief that I am considering POD as an option. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have NEVER believed in POD and do not expect to change my opinion. I have stated more than once in this forum that I subscribe to the words of Samuel Johnson that "no man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Every little thing that I have ever sold over the past 40 years has gone through the time-honored channels. I am working on my first book length manuscript now, but POD is not something I am considering.
Why didn't I think any of the 8-dozen Google Mark Blanchards were you? Simply because I could not conceive of any of them making the postings you have made in this forum. Just a gut feeling.
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to give such a detailed answer to my question. I have to say that had I known how much controversy it would generate, I would never have asked it.

Respectfully,

John

[John Travis]

Mark,
Just one more little note ... I have never visited either amazon.com or barnesnoble.com yet. Probably never will.

John

[Steve Lehto]

John -- Why haven't you visited Amazon?! I hear about a book, find it there, click one icon and it's sitting on my desk a few days later. I buy a lot of books and I'd say 75% of them come from Amazon.

Steve

[E.L. Burton]

John, bragging about not visiting the various online retailers is somewhat confusing to me. What I mean is, don't you read? Online stores are the same as visiting the library and traditional brick and mortar stores, they just sell books. Granted, you can not touch them, but they are the same books.

E.L. Burton

[Kevin Wilson]

John Travis, I have to wonder why you keep repeating that Samuel Johnson quote like it's holy writ when it's obvious that Samuel Johnson was in a somewhat facetious mood when he wrote that line. Did he not, in fact, write the longest autobiography known to man? I don't think he did it for the money.

[John Travis]

Gentlemen:

I have no intention of getting into a pissing contest with anyone in this forum. However, to answer the three posts above, I have not visited amazon.com or barnesnoble.com simply because I do not like putting my credit card numbers online. That is not bragging. It is simply stating a fact in response to what Mark said. It is totally irrelevant to me what Samuel Johnson was thinking or feeling when he made the quote I cited. I quote it simply because it expresses my feeling on the matter as well as any original comment I could have come up with.

John

[E.L. Burton]

John, I took the time to visit your website, I even emailed you from it. I think considering what you are moving toward in 2012, your lack of trust in placing orders online, conflicts with your stated mission and purpose. The internet is your stated platform. I am not trying to get into a pissing contest, I am just making an observation. So pleae do not take offense....

E.L. Burton

[John Travis]

Mr. or Ms. Burton:

Thank you for taking the time to try to visit my website. I do appreciate it. The only problem is that I DO NOT HAVE A WEBSITE. I have never felt the need or the desire for one, so I do not know what John Travis website you visited. There are many people who share my name. I am personally acquainted with four people named John Travis and know of several others. None of them is related to me. Again, thanks anyway.

John

[mark blanchard]

Well John, your intuition was absolutely right! I should have given it more credit.

Actually, now if you look back at it, knowing my background as you do, you could probably tell which one of us Blanchards could have written what I wrote. Only the jaded ex-spook Blanchard could have posted that stuff, right?

Although I'd still keep my eye on those salad dressing people. You never know.

Best,

Mark

BTW - I wasn't offended or even irked by your question at all. I'd been getting it alot lately, both on and off the board, and yours was the one I chose to answer. And I also didn't really think you were considering a POD, I was just responding to many of the POD people in the question, cause that's another battle I've been fighting lately. (People, I don't hate POD's! Just LYING Pod's!)

[mark blanchard]

Hey John, maybe one of those other John Travises would like to take a yoga lesson from the other Mark Blanchard?

If not, how about buying a guitar or some salad dressing?

Just kidding (cause I know you'll take it in the light-hearted spirit in which I intended it.)

Mark