Closer to the Finish Line

Yesterday, my co-author, David Auerswald, and I got the news: the NATO and Afghanistan (with a spot of Libya) book got the go-ahead from the editorial board of the university press to which we submitted the manuscript.  I will name it later, once we actually have the contract in our hands. 

We were doing happy dances yesterday as this is the product of several years of work, many trips abroad, over two hundred interviews, heaps of drafts flying across the internet back and forth between Dave and myself, multiple talks around the world, not to mention heaps of blog posts. 

Some folks are not impressed?

But these folks have high standards.  The non-gold medalists and the non-Presidents are pretty thrilled with this outcome.  So much so that I went on an epic twitter rant once I realized that Band of Brothers was on TV.  See the thread for how the two connect:

Series o tweets dedicated 2 interesting coincidence 2day: Steve & Dave book on NATO & A-stan got accepted today & Band of Brothers on TV 1/3
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

Due to the research for the book, the last trip to Europe gave me opportunity to do some amateur military history tourism with stops 2/4
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

At Bastogne: saideman.blogspot.ca/2011/01/these-… but first driving from Brussels to Arnhem to see the Bridge Too Far: saideman.blogspot.ca/2011/01/follow… and places 3/n
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

in between: saideman.blogspot.ca/2011/01/work-a… I think this is my first re-watch since Dick Winters passed: saideman.blogspot.ca/2011/01/model-… Anyhow, I am very 5/
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

grateful for this project not just for the tourist opportunities, but for the fascinating stories along the way, shared by officers and 6/n
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

academics & govt officials in Canada, the US, UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia and NZ. A great project. 7/n
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

of course, plenty of editing and processing left to be done. 8/8
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

Of course, as a nostalgic sort, this is not the first time I have marked the end of the project: saideman.blogspot.ca/2011/02/lookin…
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) November 17, 2012

What does this really prove?  That I count poorly on twitter (where is the fourth tweet?)?  Sure.  And happy dancing and tweeting probably don't mix.