In Production

Happy Thanksgiving!

Since 2018, when our Google overlords wiped all the images from the first 700 or so articles of this blog, I've been reducing the articles I post here to print form. The articles in this latest series started in August, and it didn't take long to post enough material to fill up an eighth volume; I was catching up after a four-year absence, so these were mostly longer articles with more images than in previous volumes. I've started playing around with the cover design, and here's the rough concept I've sent off to the designers:

If the layout goes as planned, I'm hoping Volume 8 will be off to the publisher by mid-January or so, and the physical books should be available in time for the Baltimore Show in early March. As in past Volumes, I'll have a certain number printed for direct distribution here, and we'll set up a print-on-demand version at IngramSpark so that the book version is at least available in the future.

The ones I'll have printed will be through TPS (Total Printing Solutions), the folks who did the Eversharp book for me. They were great to work with, and they made a quality product with excellent paper, printed endsheets, and great attention to detail. 

As for the Ingram version . . . let's just say Ingram has found more ways to disappoint me than I ever knew existed. Bad customer service, inferior product. The only reason I use them is because they have a monopoly on the distribution market.

If you are thinking about getting the print version of Volume 8, I think you will be much happier with the version TPS will make for me. So I have an accurate head count, let me know you would like one if you haven't bought one from me before by emailing me at jveley@jonathanveley.com. I anticipate that the cover price will be around $80 or so, and I'll post an update to confirm the final price when I have the final page count and the TPS estimate.

Why buy the book if you can read these articles online, you might ask - 

1. Nothing on the Internet is forever. If for whatever reason the blog is no longer available online, this will be it.

2.  I'll be editing, refining, and updating these online articles in the course of preparing them for print. Several articles will include updates that won't be posted online and will only be included in the print version.

3.  The print volumes include a detailed cumulative index, so you can better navigate the 1,600 articles that have been published here since 2011.

4.  You'll be initiated into the "Order of the Leadheads," and the version I sell here will include a signed sticker for inside the front cover with your assigned number in the Order. Once you are in the Order, your number is yours for any of my future books -- a lot of Knights have gotten very attached to their numbers. 

5.  Print books are dying off as society increasingly looks for fast and free answers online. I, for one, will die on this hill -- in my opinion, if there is any group of people left who still support printed books, it is a community like ours that celebrates the art of writing. 

So, let me know if you want to reserve a copy of Volume 8 and please -- if you have comments, corrections, or additional information for any of the articles in this series, drop me a line.

Once this volume is done, I know I'll eventually get the itch, and I'll be back with more articles. In the meantime, enjoy your family, eat some turkey, and I'll see you again soon.