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simon hill's response and post to the world

Posted By: Phil simborg
Date: Wednesday, 18 November 2015, at 11:25 p.m.

In Response To: Backgammon for Losers - Caveat Emptor! (Chris Bray)

Simon has not been able to log in to this site and asked me to post the following for him:

Good evening from London,

I wrote Backgammon for Losers (a title thought of by my 10-year-old son), and I am flattered (I think!) that it's being discussed on this forum.

Let me start by saying that although Phil Simborg has helped me with the book, the blame for all the technical and any other faults rests solely with me.

The idea of the book was to enthuse beginners with an account not just about how to get started in this brilliant game, but also containing some of the great characters, stories and photographs from backgammon, something I don't think the current much more technically proficient books out there have included. I think if more people knew how much fun it is to play, and how many great people play the game, that would be a good thing. The book isn't priced to make money that's for sure, just to appeal to people who want to dip their toe into the backgammon world.

I feel very lucky to have the likes of such brilliant guys as Chris Bray and Phil Simborg in my corner helping to improve it. Both Chris and Phil are now helping me to improve the technical side of the book which as an amateur or 'loser' I certainly need; I hold my hands up that it clearly does not make the cut with experts like some of the people who have posted messages on BG online. It's become clear to me that I've put rushed the book out too quickly and I'm very lucky that in this day and age a book can be quickly amended and uploaded again. So sorry to anybody who has had to endure any faulty technical aspects. If anyone has spent good money and would accept a fresh and improved copy from me when it comes out again please let me know.

As regards the reviews - while my writing and clearly my backgammon skills are questionable, I do know how to give a party! And we had a great one last month in London where over 130 friends and supporters came along, some bought the book and some were given it, and many of these people loyally wrote reviews. Possibly while still under the influence of the booze served at the party, judging by some of them, but a lot of these people were new to backgammon and really enjoyed the book - which was kind of the idea. I think it's okay for people to come to film premieres or book launches and then write reviews even if they are somewhat partisan, and while all the reviews are by people who have the book, I can see now that a lot of them have been over-enthusiastic and supportive and the whole thing has been somewhat overcooked - so please accept my apologies for that. Recent reviews have been from people buying independently and I'm sure those will continue to be more critical (!) and worthwhile.

I generally have found the backgammon community to be a kind as well as great bunch of people so please bear with me. My aim has been to spread the word about this wonderful game to people who don't know about it yet but as an amateur I've clearly made some mistakes along the way so far. Anyway I hope the end result proves to be worthwhile.

Best wishes,

Simon

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