Publishing 2007
Overview
2007 marked a critical transition year for David Irving's publishing operations, characterized by rejection from mainstream publishers, development of online direct sales, and the gradual rebuilding of distribution networks after his Austrian imprisonment.
Major Manuscript Projects
Memoirs ("Meine Gefängnisse")
Primary writing focus throughout 2007:
- Based on Austrian prison experience
- Extensive handwritten material requiring typing
- Multiple publishers approached with rejections
- Core project for rebuilding literary reputation
Writing process:
- Handwritten drafts converted to typed manuscripts
- Regular evening work sessions transcribing prison experiences
- Integration of pre-prison biographical material
- Documentation of legal battles and imprisonment
Himmler Biography
Long-term scholarly project:
- Access to previously unavailable documents
- Research conducted at Public Record Office (PRO)
- German publisher considerations through Hans von Sothen
- Competitive pressure from Peter Longerich's parallel work
Research activities:
- Regular PRO visits reading decoded German communications
- Document collection and organization
- Investigation of Himmler's death circumstances
- Integration of newly available Eastern European archives
Churchill's War Volume III: "The Sundered Dream"
Final volume of Churchill trilogy:
- Focus on post-1940 strategic decisions
- Documentation of unnecessary continuation of WWII
- Economic consequences of British war policy
- Controversial thesis about invasion risks
Publisher Relations
Mainstream Rejection
German/Austrian publishers:
- Hans von Sothen confirmed mainstream publishers won't touch new works
- Germany described as "DDR-Lite" - overrun with former Stasi influence
- Stocker and other traditional publishers too afraid due to political pressure
British publishers:
- Bloomsbury rejected memoir submission after months of delay
- Will Osmond (solicitor-publisher) refused to handle projects
- Traditional publishing routes largely closed
Alternative Publishing Arrangements
Austrian arrangement (November 2007):
- Die Aula magazine willing to publish books
- Stocker providing secret oversight of production and distribution
- Not ideal but workable alternative to mainstream publishing
International opportunities:
- Russian publisher AST interested in condensed Churchill volumes
- Polish publishers through Bartek Zborski contacts
- Various European translation opportunities
Online Sales Revolution
irvingbooks.com Development
Website creation by Bob Simpson:
- Professional e-commerce platform launched mid-2007
- Automatic currency conversion for international sales
- PayPal integration for global accessibility
- Professional design matching brand identity
Sales growth trajectory:
- Early 2007: Minimal online sales capability
- Mid-2007: Website development and testing
- Late 2007: Daily sales reaching $200-500 range
- November peak: $1,000+ weekly totals
Features implemented:
- Multi-country pricing with automatic exchange rates
- Professional book jacket presentations
- Secure payment processing
- International shipping capabilities
Direct Sales Strategy
Elimination of middlemen:
- Reduced dependence on traditional distributors
- Higher profit margins on direct sales
- Better customer relationship management
- Real-time sales tracking and inventory management
Distribution Network
Traditional Distributors
Lance Frickensmith (USA):
- Continued distribution of backlist titles
- Coordination with new online sales platform
- Managing inventory and shipping challenges
- Adaptation to reduced role with direct sales growth
Steve Kerr (UK):
- Book sales at speaking events
- Coordination with event organizing
- Regional distribution through personal networks
- DVD and multimedia product sales
International Network
European distributors:
- Various arrangements across different countries
- Translation rights and foreign editions
- Coordination with speaking tour sales
- Management of international copyright issues
Book Production Challenges
Bath Press Closure
Major production disruption:
- Primary printer went out of business
- 21 pallets of books in storage (£315/month costs)
- Need to relocate inventory to Lake End House Windsor
- Search for alternative printing arrangements
Inventory management:
- Multiple locations storing different titles
- Transportation costs for consolidation
- Storage space planning at new residence
- Coordination with ongoing sales demands
Production Quality
Maintaining standards despite constraints:
- Professional jacket design and presentation
- Quality printing arrangements despite limited options
- Inventory planning and demand forecasting
- Cost management with smaller print runs
Marketing & Promotion
Website Development
Professional online presence:
- Expert quote compilation showcasing academic recognition
- Professional photography and design elements
- International accessibility and language considerations
- Search engine optimization and discoverability
Speaking Events as Marketing
Live event sales strategy:
- Books sales at speaking venues
- Personal interaction with customers
- Building mailing lists and customer relationships
- Regional market development through events
Media Relations
Controversial visibility:
- Oxford Union debate generating significant media attention
- Strategic use of controversy for book promotion
- Managing negative publicity while maintaining sales
- International media coverage of speaking events
Financial Performance
Revenue Growth
Online sales development:
- Started 2007 with minimal online capability
- Achieved daily sales of $200-500 by year-end
- Growing international customer base
- Improved cash flow from direct sales
Cost structure improvements:
- Reduced distributor commissions through direct sales
- Better inventory turnover with online platform
- Reduced reliance on expensive traditional marketing
- More efficient shipping and fulfillment processes
Challenges
Cash flow pressures:
- High fixed costs (rent, legal fees) requiring consistent sales
- Inventory investment needed for growing sales
- Technology development costs for website platform
- Marketing and promotion expenses
Technical Innovation
E-commerce Platform
Modern sales infrastructure:
- Professional website design and functionality
- Secure payment processing with multiple options
- Automated inventory management and reporting
- Customer relationship management capabilities
Digital Content Distribution
PDF manuscripts and research:
- Free download of PRO research materials
- Digital distribution of academic work
- Online publication of diary excerpts and updates
- Email newsletters and customer communication
Cross-References
Notable Quotes
On mainstream publisher rejection (2007-11-17):
"He makes brutally plain that no mainstream publisher in Germany or Austria, including Stocker, now dare publish my new works; the enemy are Angstbeisser, he says, but they still bite."
On German cultural changes (2007-11-17):
"He agrees with my diagnosis that Germany has become overrun with former Stasi and left-educated children, now adults. He calls Germany 'DDR-Lite,' which is spot on."
On online sales success (2007-11-28):
"Income yesterday on Internet was $500. Not bad."
On website development (2007-08-31):
"Amount of Charge Transactions: 348.40" even without PayPal."
On publishing strategy (2007-09-07):
"I prefer no redirection, but perhaps for the first few goes we may have to play safety first."
On international approach (2007-11-17):
"when he writes me from Austria he can omit my name from everything, as 'Lake End House' will still reach me."
Notes
2007 represented both the nadir and the beginning of recovery for David Irving's publishing career. While mainstream publishers uniformly rejected new works due to political pressure, the development of direct online sales through irvingbooks.com created a sustainable alternative distribution model. The combination of professional website development, maintained quality standards, and strategic use of controversy for visibility laid the foundation for continued independence from traditional publishing gatekeepers. The year demonstrated that alternative publishing strategies could provide both financial sustainability and editorial freedom, though at the cost of mainstream legitimacy and broader market reach.