Greetings Beatland Readers!
I want to say a big welcome to our latest book buyers and a special thank you to all of those who supported this project from the very beginning.
I am sending out periodic newsletters directly to all of those who ordered books to keep you in the loop on the status of book production and shipment (as well as to share some insights about the Monkees).
I have now seen final versions for the three book configurations. They were even tweaked slightly since the recent unboxing video. All of the final adjustments are in place and at last the books are now fully printed and en route to Los Angeles!
Today I was advised that our 40-foot container of books will arrive in Long Beach on August 13th. From there, the importer/exporter says the books will need to clear customs and are due to arrive in our California warehouse on August 25th.
The team at Beatland will work tirelessly through to that date to get all of your orders to the fulfillment team for immediate shipping. No doubt there will be some adjustment to these dates, but we are beyond excited to get these books out to you.
To say I am on edge about this final hurdle in receiving them would be a massive understatement. I am anxious for each of you to hold the book in your hands. Suffice to say today’s update with specific dates about the book’s long cruise home finally has me feeling our goal is in sight.
Both Micky and Michael have seen the book and have been very generous in their praise of the finished product. For us fans it is an intense exploration of their key years, but for them it represents a career milestone. The Monkees have come a long way on a path to true appreciation and I am very pleased this project is yet another marker in that movement.
In researching this new edition of the book, I found out that Michael had serious intentions to write his own version of the Monkees’ story starting in late 1968. By 1970, he had approached a writer (Michael Canterbury) about taking on the task with him, but it would appear the project went no further.
Michael’s book Infinite Tuesday was the realization of his long-held ambition. Micky also wrote a book, I’m A Believer, but he has told me on many occasions he was advised by his publishers they wanted more dirt than detail. In both cases, I feel that a number of missing details can be found in my upcoming book. Yet I still hope that both will open up their personal archives to offer fans more of what they have collected over the years.
Last week I was back up in Carmel with Michael preparing for the upcoming Monkees tour and I noticed on social media that it was the anniversary of the group getting their star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 1989. I was at the ceremony, having just gotten my driver’s license that very morning! Following the unveiling, I drove over the hill to Universal City where the Monkees held their first group press conference (of all four members) since October 1968.
