I’ve been working on The Visalia Electric Railroad: Stories of the Early Years with Louise Jackson. Books take a ton of work AFTER the writing: a lot of talking, editing, tons of computer time, decisions, decisions, decisions, emails, phone calls, meetings, more editing, proofing, more decisions. And it is all very fun, especially when you get to work […]
What’s the Problem?
Problem? There is no problem. Why do you ask? Oh. Because I’m not posting as regularly. Because today is Friday and there is nothing about Mineral King. After Labor Day, my real life resumes. I don’t go to Mineral King as often, because there isn’t as strong a need to escape the heat. My workload picks up, […]
Random Thoughts
Today’s post is a list of random thoughts, unrelated to art, things that one of my tens of readers might be interested in. Crocs shrink if you leave them in the sun. Mine are too short to wear now. Isn’t that weird? Rubber shoes shrink in the sun! (maybe it is related to #2. . […]
Testing a Coloring Book
Designing coloring books involves drawing, my favorite thing. Coloring the pages is for other people to do. But, I got curious. So, I gave it a try in the ag coloring book, Heart of Agriculture: Celebrating Tulare County Farm Bureau’s First 100 years. This is as far as I got on the title page. I filled […]
Self-publishing Trail of Promises
It used to be that self-published books were the poor cousin of traditionally published books. They looked and read as if they needed some serious editing and design help. My British friend has a phrase for such projects: “Loving hands at home”. The quality and success of self-publishing depends on how much work the author […]
Having a Book Baby Named Trail of Promises
This photo will appear in the book in black and white. It is one of my favorites. The photos are really quite amazing, and all 144 photos and maps are necessary to make the story come alive. Louise A. Jackson, traditionally published author of 5 books mostly on the history of the Sierra, has a […]
Book Cover Revealed
Hours, days, weeks, and months of book design, and at the end I said to myself, “SELF!”, I said. “YOU HAVE NOT FINALIZED THE COVER DESIGN!” Yes. I was shouting at myself in my mind. We judge books by covers. How else will we decide whether or not to pick them up and read the […]