This is the place I’ve designated where I can share with you material that I have developed as well as links to other sources that I find valuable. [Think of it as a quirky little museum curated by moi.] Most of the material here is related in some way to book design, print production, and digital archiving, but I’ve also set up a non-category category called “Off Topic”: this is the stuff that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere else, items that catch my eye and pique my interest as I wander through the tangible and virtual landscapes I inhabit and explore.
The organization and content of this page will be evolving as I get a better sense of what is meaningful to you and what interests me. When there’s a significant change, I’ll post a notice on my book thinking blog. You might want to subscribe so you can keep up to date. Or, just check back here from time to time to see what’s new.
workshops, teleconferences & webinars
Although anyone is welcome, these sessions are designed for professionals involved in creating and producing privately published books who want to do so profitably.
- design matters – Design is not a matter of buying the right software program, choosing the right template and clicking on the right menu items. Design is a first and foremost a conceptual skill. This webinar provides an overview of design for non-designers, particularly those who need to convince their own clients that the investment in good design is worth it.
- workflow: key to a profitable personal history business – Time is money, and money is money. This program identifies the distinct phases involved in transforming a manuscript into a privately published book, offers an efficient workflow to follow and identifies variables and stumbling blocks in each phase. Teleclass scheduled for April 28, 2010.
- trade practices –This program outlines the traditional trade practices that writers should be aware of when dealing directly with designers, photographers, illustrators, printers and binders. It suggests ways to clarify agreements before hand and to resolve them when misunderstandings occur.
Is there a particular topic you are interested in? Let me know.
speaking
These short presentations introduce the topic of personal histories and private digital archiving to the general public through organizations and community groups.
- personal histories—everybody’s got a story
- private publishing is not vanity
- becoming your family’s archivist
- getting started on your digital archiving project
If you would like me to speak to your group, please get in touch and let’s talk about the specifics.
shoebox learning resources
Following are downloads and links to material in the areas of book thinking & book design, digital archiving & photo restoration, workflow & project management.
Free downloads
photoshop essentials
Efficient practices and workflow tips for scanning and enhancing photos as well as annotated resources
indesign essentials
Efficient practices and workflow tips for using InDesign as well as annotated resource listing.
what’s wrong with this picture?
how to assess what's wrong with photos needing restoration, a suggested workflow, and annotated resources
Books—of course!
Graphic Design
the designer’s desktop manual
by james simmons Information Architecture
information design
robert jacobson [editor]
the practical guide to information design
applying theory to practice
the visual display of quantitative information
2nd edition by edward r. tufte Book Design
structure of the visual book
fundamental reading 1
text in the book format
fundamental reading 2
on book design
A guided tour through the minds of experienced book designers. Typography
the pc is not a typewriter
by robin williams
designing with type
a basic course in typography by james craig
stop stealing sheep
& find out how type works by erik spiekermann & e.m. ginger Photographs Workflow Digital Archiving Business Creative Process
the creative habit
learn it and use it for life by twyla tharp Writing Memoirs & Personal History Simply Gorgeous Books
wisdom
the greatest gift one generation can give to another by andrew zuckerman
Especially for personal historians
Sample & Gift BooksThese books might be of interest to you as samples of different ways to present personal histories or to use as gifts for prospects or clients.
Gram: A Life Without MeasureThis is the second in the series of Culinary Memoirs Judith Kolva and I are producing. Judith gathered and wrote the stories, I pulled together the photos and produced the book as a variation on the design developed in We Remember Donna. It was designated a staff pick on blurb.com where it is available for purchase.
We Remember DonnaThis was my first collaboration with Judith Kolva, another APH member and owner of Memoir Shoppe. Judith wanted to develop a prototype for a niche product that could be easily marketed and produced. Judith coordinated the story and photo contributions of 39 people and edited the material. I scanned and enhanced all the images,developed the book structure and designed the pages. In order for people to easily order the book after its initial printing, we chose to publish it on blurb.com where it is available for purchase.
Tips Booklets
Forms & Business Rationales
To help you get on top of some of the pesky details of a book production project, as well as to help you explain some of the issues to your clients, the following free forms and rationales are available for you to download as read-only .pdf files. These items are downloaded in Adobe Acrobat PDF read-only format. You will need an Adobe Reader to view them. If you do not have the latest Adobe Reader, one is available free of charge from Adobe.Please note: All items are copyright © by Shoebox Stories. They are for the private use of the individual or business downloading them, and are not to be reproduced in public or promotional media or altered in any way without express written permission. Any other use or reproduction is a violation of United States Copyright Laws, and is prohibited.
