The sun., 1919-07-06

went into town to the theatre.
The novel WAS finished in time for TALL
publication. II was successful, extremely
successful for first novel. The fact that
it had not been serialized helped it. 1t
was written strictly in the Style popular
st the moment and it made good. An
other volume OF short stories written
about central figure appeared the next
spring with some success.
vi.
II was after This that John ketch made
the sole commercial mistake of his career.
For years now he had been ut work on
novel,-a really fine, thoughtful piece OF
work. After his first novels success he
had given up editorial work 50 that dur
inc the next summer John kctch was able
to work without interruption on this story
he had labored over so long. The HdrroW
in Eden he called it: it WIS announced
for publication the following spring.
The Hdrrow IN Eden appeared Book
sellers, trading on his earlier success, or
dered the book in quantities. Reviews and
press notices were enthusiastic as to the
books merit and the authors craftsman
ship, but they one and all pronounced
the story gloomy and pcsslmlst.c. The
public did not buy the book.
Which taught John Ketch his lesson.
He had turned against the taste Of the
public and he had published his books
in too rapid succession.
The next spring he brought out new
novel. Desert PdRSieS. Its success Is too
well known 10 need comment Despite the
unsold copies Of The HdrroU in Eden IN
bookshops throughout the country. Desert
Pdnsies found over 10000 purchasers and
later did well in reprint edition.
From that time on John Ketch's posi-
ton and literary reputation in America
were assured. He changed the time for
the publishing of his novels to just before
Christmas, but with ample time TO benefit
by holiday sales. Regularly, one a year,
his books appeared. Often a novel would
be finished long before the time kctch
wished to bring it out. The story goes
that he almost drove frantic a publisher
who, eager to bolster up n weak spring
list with a new Kctch novel. asked him TO
hasten work on the next book.
Its all finished now" said ketch.
Fine! Wen publish it in June
We'll publish in December" was the
reply. and no amount of persuasion could
move kctch from his deciSion
VII.
Kctch eschewed serializing his novels
until his sales went over the 100 900 mark.
Then he seriaized his stories with the
magazine that would pay him the highest
price for them. Perhaps Specialization hurt
his sales, pcThaps it did not In any ease.
the returns were large enough: for few
men write more than one novel that sells
over 100000 copies. and several of John
kdch's books went above that figure.
His manuscripts were always typewrit-
ten, double spaced. with interIinear correc-
tiOns in his small, wretched handwriting
Yet they always made sufficiently good
copy for the printers. Wit, his proofs he
never concerned himself. Any one around
the publishing house could correct them;
he refused to be bothered. However, to
the illustrations and jackets of his books
he paid great attention, as he did to their
covers and cover designs.
John ketch never attempted writing
plays; he stuck consistently 10 his last.
Several of his novels wvre dramatized
with some success, and in the profits he
shared. The film folk bought the rights
Of one or two of his books They did
fairly well On the screen, more by reason
of his name than because of their adapt
ability to the movies.
And now John Ketch is gone. There
are still two of his novels TO appear.
There is talk of collecting his short stories
and publishing them in book form; this
will undoubtedly be done later. A sub
1 l..