Talk:Gene Caesar

Gene Caesar biography

Good morning! I am Cheryl Caesar, the only living direct relative of Gene Caesar. I am an associate professor of writing at Michigan State University and a published writer.

I have written this biographical article because I believe that Gene Caesar's work is of lasting cultural interest, treating themes of American expansionism and humans' relation to nature, particularly as hunters. It also represents a period of American history (the fifties and sixties) when popular magazines were a major form of information and entertainment, and they were largely composed by freelancers. There were also special popular magazines for women vs. men and boys, and Caesar's work is an excellent example of the latter.

Google Books agrees with this assessment, having preserved several of Gene Caesar's books and even his articles. The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming also maintains a Gene Caesar collection.

I would like to make it clear that I have no financial interest whatsoever in this project. I receive no royalties from Gene Caesar's work. I received my inheritance in 1986 and there has been no further income since. All my motivation is to allow a significant writer -- one who died before the internet era -- to be more widely known. I understand about the need for objective writing, and I would be happy to rewrite as needed. If it would help, I could also request that someone else not named Caesar submit this article.

Many thanks for your prompt reply. Caesarc (talk) 12:47, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

You appear to have written this from personal knowledge, articles need to be based on what independent sources have reported, NOT his own books, this is VERY poorly sourced indeed. Theroadislong (talk) 13:14, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

@Theroadislong Agree that rewrite is needed, but I think there's hope. Would you say "counts" towards WP:GNG? It may be online too, but afaict the Michigan House of Representatives is offline atm.

Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 17:39, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

Absolutely agree that they're probably notable, just need much better sourcing especially with the conflict of interest. Theroadislong (talk) 18:00, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

Thank you both for this very kind help. I have located sources through databases like Jstor and included them. I have resubmitted the draft. I understand that there may now be cuts to make. I'm ready to do all the editing necessary.

A question or two about visuals. May I use the book covers shown by Google Books? These are now owned by Creative Commons, I believe? Second, as Gene Caesar's only living direct relative, may I use a family photo of him? Caesarc (talk) 20:31, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

Also, thanks to whoever provided the Michigan Legislature citation. Caesarc (talk) 20:32, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

Thank you for the very prompt reply. I just want to be clear on what I need to do next. You write, "please remove the references to his books, they do not support the content and in any case are not independent." By "the references to his books," I'm assuming that you don't mean third-party references, like the book reviews I added today. Are you referring to the jacket-flap blurbs? quotes from within the books? my analysis of book themes? all three?

Thank you for your help in making this article suitable for publication. Caesarc (talk) 21:21, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

References

The sections titled “Education and military service” “Themes” and “Early working history” are sourced to his own books, content needs to be independently sourced. Theroadislong (talk) 07:01, 14 August 2023 (UTC)

Thank you! I have made these changes. Caesarc (talk) 11:57, 14 August 2023 (UTC)

There is still no photo of the subject. May I use a family photo? I am the only remaining direct relative.

May I use the book-cover images shared on the internet by Google Books? Caesarc (talk) 12:03, 14 August 2023 (UTC)

Photographs are irrelevant for the purpose of accepting a draft, if you took the photograph yourself it would be permissible once the draft was accepted, it is a long way from being acceptable though, vast swathes of text referring to his book covers for example needs to be removed and we have no interest in what he "opines" there. Theroadislong (talk) 16:40, 14 August 2023 (UTC)

@Caesarc Do go ahead. You can upload it on Commons and then add it to the article. -- asilvering (talk) 23:03, 24 August 2023 (UTC)

Thank you! I'll try this. Caesarc (talk) 09:56, 25 August 2023 (UTC)