Start Again!

Though I was very pleased with the first two proofs of my book, I really needed something that was (1) economical and (2) as close to lay-flat as possible. 

As it turns out, Blurb does a spiral or ring-bound "notebook".

Thankfully, no more snow (touch wood)

The only hitch was, in bookwright, the book-building program that Blurb offers, I can't just switch the book type from one of the previous two versions. 

I'd been able to switch from "trade" to "magazine" just by changing the book type, and then adjusting the layout accordingly. 

For the wire-o notebook, I have to redo the book from scratch. So that's what I'm doing now! 

Luckily my "regular" job's hours have been reduced for the summer, and my better half is ok with me not taking another paying position for these few months. So I have lots of time! 

Meanwhile, our spring has developed a multiple personality disorder, so I'm not tempted to spend EVERY day outside, away from my computer! 

Until next time ...

Still Not Right!

My "book" just arrived from Blurb ... it is gorgeous, I'm delighted ... it is HUGE (21 x 28 cm)!

 

My mistake, though ... it is perfect-bound! Not suitable for writing in unless you're willing to "crack" the spine. I thought magazines were staple-bound ... guess I didn't read the description properly! Oh well, maybe someone will end up with this one gifted to them!

 

Late winter view of the Alberta prairie (click to enlarge!) 

 

So, I'm going to try again ... making sure I order a spiral-bound (no staple-bound on offer) zine. Yes, there's a difference between a "zine" and a "magazine"! Live and learn!

 

This time the size will be somewhere between the previous two versions with regard to size ... the first one is 13 x 20 cm. Perhaps that is a good size for someone who's travelling ... but makes the photos quite small. 

 

What do you think? ... think? ... think?

 

Oddly, the medium-size spiral-bound zine will cost more than the large perfect-bound magazine to produce ... another factor to take into account then I decide what to go with, in the end.* 

 

Tara for now, back in a bit!

 

* Do you think I can't make my mind up because I'm procrastinating about approaching our local bookshop to sell it?! Nah, can't be!

 

Second Attempt

As anticipated, it took me longer than I thought to get my latest book updated and redone, for a second "proof" attempt.

 

I have just uploaded the book to Blurb.

 

As it turns out, I decided to change it from a perfect-bound "trade" book to a "zine", which will make it easier to write in, for those who want to use it as a journal or autograph book.

 

According to the website, I can expect to receive it at the end of the first week of May.

 

Now I need to go and clean the kitchen and bathroom, to keep my mind off what I might've missed and the usual anxious sweaty palms! 

 

The next step will be trying to "sell" it to local shops and, of course, online. Ugh. Not looking forward to that.

 

In the meantime, spring is progressing, the trees are greening up and the temperatures are becoming reliably warmer.  

 

See you in a bit! 

Hummingbirds While I Work

While I'm struggling to focus on getting my book's photos re-processed for a second test print, I have had the opportunity to practise photography on our recently-arrived hummingbirds!

 

Male rufous hummingbird

We put a feeder up early in the season, to make sure that these little powerhouses have fuel to sustain them during the period before the flowers start blooming and nectar starts flowing! After that, they know what to do. 

 

 

I continue to be blown away by the capabilities of this Canon R5II camera, my first mirrorless and my first full-frame, camera. The learning curve is steep!

 

My timing isn't always perfect so I have many photos of flooffy butts 
... and those tiny little feet! 

 

I'll be watching the Artemis II splashdown tomorrow afternoon. Will you? I was glued to the live-stream of the crew's rounding of the moon. Seriously amazing achievements by all!

 

Until next time, keep well, be kind, keep your stick on the ice and your elbows up!

 

Quarterly posts?

Well, despite all my good intentions, it is yet again a big stretch since my last post - more than 3 months!

 

 

Following up on my last post, I received my "test print" in good time. 

 

My mistake: The photos are too dark so am going to have to redo them all accordingly.

 

Blurb's mistake: Their cutter was skew so there are some weird slivers of blank page where there shouldn't be. 

 

I do love the look of the book. Only problem is that it would be difficult to write in it (think "journal") because of the binding. So am considering switching a staple binding, as magazines used to be made. Its more expensive than a perfect-bound book, strangely enough. 

 

It is to Blurb's huge credit that because of the mis-cuts, they've given me a free round to try again, and also 90 days to do it in ... plus another 90 days because I couldn't get my act together!

 

I guess working 6 days a week since November took its toll. Never mind, I've now got until early May to get my retry organized.

 

Meanwhile, I have started picking my camera up again. The biggest thing was an adventure to the Sundre area of Alberta, Canada, where I joined two dedicated wild horse preservation advocates for three days of driving around the Rocky Mountain foothills, searching for the various herds. Watch for a post about it!

 

Just before I left for Alberta, I captured the photo above in Function Junction, Whistler, BC.

 

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice and your elbows up! (If you know, you know!)