|
The Alchemy web site on Levity.com
Newsletter No. 20 of alchemy and hermetic booksBack to mailing list page .* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALCHEMY AND HERMETIC MAILING LIST NEWSLETTER No 20 - July 1998 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The response to my hand-coloured prints announced in the last newsletter has been rather disappointing, as I have only sold about 12 of these. The last order was placed on 15th June, so I have not sold any for over a month. Consequently I must review my production of these prints, as I cannot afford to devote so much time to this project. I was hoping this project might have paid its way, but instead I have spent nearly three months of my time producing items that nobody wants to purchase, even though the price seemed reasonable. I have now decided to withdraw these from sale and keep them for myself or for exhibitions. http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/alchemy/amcldraw.html * * * * * I am current working on a number of new titles for the Magnum Opus series, though it will be some months before these are completed. I have bound up some further copies of the existing stock and these can be purchased through http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/alchemy/magnum_opus.html The new binding method means that I have been able to reduce prices a little. * * * * * The response to my request that people purchase books on alchemy through my Barnes and Noble links has been rather poor. To date I have earned $40 in two months! http://www.levity.com/alchemy/b&nbooks.html I was hoping that this arrangement might have raised some more funds to help sustain the research that lies behind the alchemy web site, but it appears not to be working out. The costs of running the web site are considerable, and yet everything is provided free! Apart from my time, which I do not account for, there are many ongoing costs. For example, yesterday I paid out over $100 for photocopies of early books which I intend to have transcribed and translated. * * * * * I have recently reorganised the alchemy e-mail discussion groups in order to tighten up the discussions and make them more scholarly, less speculative and more relevant to alchemy. From June the alchemy e-mail groups were more rigorously moderated, and any posting deemed unsuitable was posted out onto the unmoderated alchemy forum. Both these e-mail listservers each have over 300 subscribers, with about 100 people belonging to both the moderated and unmoderated list. This system seems to be working well, though it does take up at least another hour of my day, but I am willing to make the time available in order to have sensible and relevant discussions about alchemy. Some of the threads of discussions can be seen in the archives on the web site. http://www.levity.com/alchemy/new_mail.html With my best wishes, Adam McLean |