PRINTING!
That… is a big pile of ME.
On Monday I got another package from China with the whole book in it, unbound and ready for review. They aren’t “proofs,” exactly; they’re the actual pages that will get folded up and bound right into the big monster hardcover. And oh my goodness, these things are SWEET.
Sweet, and HUGE.
I’m not sure what kind of complicated origami formula leads to these particular pages ending up right next to each other, but I figure people way smarter than me have it all sorted out, so YAY! (And look how impressed Dr. Faustus is back there!)
That was officially the last bit of business I had to take care of before the printer could fire up their presses and start launching out your books. I have to admit I had a moment of absolute nerve-shattering panic when we opened up that package Monday night. I’d opted for this shmancy textured paper for the cover, and for some reason didn’t demand to see a test print way earlier in the process. (I saw color proofs on similar paper, but without the texture.) When I finally saw it earlier this week… GREAT SCREAMING NEURONS, the texture made it look like I was seeing my cover through a screen door. (And the spot gloss felt like someone was chucking motor oil at the screen.) I think the nubbly paper is more for highly graphic covers, not super-fussy, highly detailed ones like mine.
To stay on schedule we had to start printing books Wednesday. HORROR. My brain seriously felt like one of those jellyfish with its arms tearing themselves off.
BUT… it all turned out okay. We got it all sorted out in the morning and everything’s fine. Everything’s being printed right now with no “oily screen door” look, and the schedule hasn’t been destroyed. All you guys will still get your books in May.
Lesson learned: Always do tests.
Once the books are printed, they’re scheduled to hitch the next boat ride out of Hong Kong on March 26th, and they’ll be here at my house for the Great Shipping Nightmare a month later. Between now and then, I’ll be doing all the original sketches (please send your idea if you haven’t yet!) and hopefully posting them for everybody to look at here. Should be fun!
Sorry for letting a month go by before updating you guys. It’s more or less going to be weekly here on in. Thanks again for everything, everyone! Talk to you soon.
There are two things I have wanted to see you sketch for years. One is a sumo wrestler riding an old fashioned pennyfarthing bicycle. The other is Thor (not Norse Thor, Marvel Thor; preferably the luscious Maybelline Chris Hemsworth version) riding a space shark. That is, a shark in space.
I am so full of brilliant ideas. You’re welcome 😀 Seriously, take or leave as you will. Happy sketching!
Is it too late to second the sumotori on a “regular”? We can just assume it’s built from vibranium or something (and still straining). The world needs this.
& I had a Thor idea too, but you’re welcome to keep the Marvel version; mine really needs the heavy beard & a big tankard of kvass (NTM a slightly dopey expression) to look right. Besides, I’m probably the only one who wants to see The Thunderer, John Lennon, and Sid Vicious in a ukelele-jam-circle anyway. (Campfire and/or Sif, Yoko & Nancy looking on admiringly both optional.)
Reminds me of Amanda Palmer’s “Ukulele Anthem” (which mentions both J. Lennon and S. Vicious)…
Ukulele, banish evil!
Ukulele, free the people!
UKULELE GLEAMING GOLDEN FROM THE TOP OF EVERY STEEPLE!