Urban Fairies BOOK update

BOOK REPORT
The making of "Who's Behind...?"

6.01.2007

I will use this page to document the thought & production process of making : "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?"

THIS PAGE IS IN PROGRESS

<THAT Lead to THIS >

Prototype spread concept of "Urban Fairies Field Journal" minus MUCH text & photos.

It is amazing to see all the new developments. I think that there will need to be future editions of this book (assuming the first gets published and sells... hee hee).

There COULD be an entire book devoted to droppings and one for journal/guesbook entries.
I have not posted all my material on the web-site so that there will be some surprises in the book.

10.11.06
Well we are still plugging ahead with revisions, illustrations, page layouts. We are in talks with publishers and getting quotes on printing.
I hope to be able to assemble a more accurate prototype soon. A physical copy is very helpful in studying the pace and content.

11.09.06
The publishing world rotates a whole lot slower than the gift industry that I have been part of for the past 18 years. Seems that a gazillion books are published each year and a gazillion times that are submitted to publishers. Never the less, I believe we have something really great here, we just have to find the right match.

11.20.06
I don't know why the fairy muses didn't hand this over earlier!
I am furiously at work on a new title to be self-published:
"Who's behind the Fairy Doors?"
An illustrated collection of the urban fairies who live behind the fairy doors.
Inspired by the contributions to the journal/guestbooks left around town.

I hope to have this ready to sell, in limited quantity BEFORE (just) this Christmas.
The cover is nearly ready. The title page, the introduction and the first spread are done. the following spreads will follow and are in the works now.

Perhaps a teaser sample later.

12.04.06
Some really fun, funny and cool stuff happening!

12.11.06
Well the "new concept" won't make THIS Christmas, but will certainly be ready by May of 2007, in time for the Ann Arbor Book Festival, which Kathleen will be participating in.

May 17– 20, 2007

For this new book... "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?" I have scanned 56 "visions" of fairies and have, easily, as many yet to scan. I have "distilled" 5. An example is shown below:

I have attempted to remain as faithful as possible to the original vision. However, a child's ability to translate their vision to paper is at once both more and less "accurate" than an adult's. A child has less inhibition and perhaps less technical skill...

... I freely acknowldge that my augmentation is neither better nor more accurate than the original. Perhaps TOGETHER, they will help us see the ever changing world of the imaginary.

"Who's Behind the Fairy Doors" is coming along quite well! So many insightful visions of fairies to choose from. I expect that there may be a second volume. First things first, though!

May 8, 2007
The first copies of "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?"
Go on sale... at Red Shoes,
soon to be at Sweetwaters Café, Peaceable Kingdom, Selo/Shevel & Nicola's Books
(and other stores interested)

I am really pleased how "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors" is coming along. I have built a "dummy" to look at sequencing etc...

As of today (Feb 21, 2007) it looks like it will be 48 pages with approximately 20 fairies represented. 14 have been rendered and the balance are coming along.

It's rather chilly in my office so I still wear my fingerless gloves.

Okay...

So now (March 6, 2007) it is 64 pages!
I think that the extra work will be well worth it.
I am still on track for having books on hand for May 15th. < confirmed (5.07.07)

3 illustrations to complete, some text editing and perhaps page reshuffling... then to the editor. I met with the printer and confirmed paperweights, color, lamination, ISBN, page count, end sheets, file format etc... all systems go.

3.26.07 All set. Prep the files and off she goes.

3.30.07 Disc to printer today. Wheeee! It should be available at Peaceable Kingdom, Selo-Shevel Gallery, Sweetwaters Café, Red Shoes & Nicola's Books early in May.

I expect to do some book signings then. And certainly they will be for sale at the Ann Arbor Book Festival at our table #49.

Now I can spend some time getting on-line sales integrated.

I also need to devote attention to the illustrations for Kathleen's chapter book.

Oh, and BACK to the field Journal!

4.02.07
Proofs should be ready in a week...then about 3 weeks for production.

4.13.07
I approved the digital proofs at the printer on Wednesday...so these books should be available for purchase in May.

4.18.07
I am going back to my original book project, "Urban Fairies Field Journal."

We will have roughs or dummies of the books that are in progress and finished copies of "Who's Behind the Fairy doors?" at the Ann Arbor Book Festival.
Saturday, May 19, 10am-5pm, table#49

Also as part of the Ann Arbor Book Festival we will be discussing the various projects and urban fairy history:
Date/Time: Sun., May 20, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Michigan Stage, Lecture Room 1, Modern Language Building (Details)

I have a tentative "ship" date for "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?" as May 3, 2007.
Since the printer is in the area, I will go and pick them up in a, soon to be, low-rider mini van.

5.03.07
Rats!
There was an issue with the covers. The NEW ship date is now Tuesday May 8.

I want to look at it! ~ I want to sell it!)

5.07.07
OK! I've got books! Cases of them! over 1/2 a TON. I hope to have them in the stores by next week.

5.08.07
Well that was quick! Catherine at Red Shoes couldn't wait...
so "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?" is currently available at:
Red Shoes 332 South Ashley in Ann Arbor ph (734) 913-5554.

5.09.07
SNEEK PEEK.

Wow! Great sell through. Redshoes placed a re-order the next day. Peaceable Kingdom has placed their 3rd order in 5 days. I'm sure that will drop off now that my family has gone home, eh? ~heehee!

RETAILERS interested in carrying "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?"
please e-mail:

books@urban-fairies.com

Amina-age-10 & her copy of "Who's Behind...?" .

Amina is the illustrator of the fairies on page 50 of "Who's Behind the FAiry Doors?"

(5.17.07)

D.J. MacHale with Samuelina & his copy of "Who's Behind...?" and our copy of "Pendragon."

D.J. is the author of the Pendragon series.

(5.17.07)

Emilie-age-19 of Page 2.

Surprisingly, Emilie was the volunteer from 826Michigan who assisted Kathleen at her writing workshop. Luckily, Emilie told us.

(7.14.07)

(6.07.07)

It turned out well. It works on the counter and hangs. Now Sweetwaters practically has a mini-mall of urban fairy merchandise!
America! Where we can exploit
"the little people"* for little profit.
(*not THOSE "little people"... fairy folk, silly!)

(6.07.07)

I needed to build a special display for Sweetwaters Café to hold the books.
They were cluttering up the counter and kinda "lost".

Several years ago we got a NEW YORKie &
she has had some good TIMES reading (with her good eye)
the urban fairies BEST SELLER...
“Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors?”

Seriously!

It's doing quite well, especially considering the limited distribution.

@BORDERS

I found it! TWICE.

Needle in a haystack?

Little Fish ~ Big Sea?

Ay yi yi!
There's a whole lotta books in Borders

Well, lookee, lookee! Nicola's Books Best seller list for June in NON-Fiction
(hmmm hows that for people who think fairies are fictional?)
...still behind Al Gore (ain’t THAT an inconvienient truth?~ heeheee)

For an expanded list of Nicola’s Books Bestsellers, visit www.nicolasbooks.com!
Nicola’s Books June 2007
Adult Bestsellers
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
2. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
3. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
4. The Overlook by Michael Connelly
5. Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
PAPERBACK FICTION
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky
3. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
4. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
5. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
HARDCOVER NON-FICTION
1. The Assault on Reason by Al Gore
2. The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn & Hal Iggulden
3. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
4. The Antiques Investigator by Judith Miller
5. Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors? by Jonathan Wright
PAPERBACK NON-FICTION
1. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
3. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
4. The Final Season by Tom Stanton
5. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Moving up in the world (or at least the list)!
Nicola's Books Best seller list for July in NON-Fiction

For an expanded list of Nicola’s Books Bestsellers, visit www.nicolasbooks.com!
Nicola’s Books July 2007
Adult Bestsellers
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
2. Lean Mean 13 by Janet Evanovich
3. Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
4. Tim Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burke
5. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
PAPERBACK FICTION
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky
3. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
4. The Lake, the River, & the Other Lake by Steve Amick
5. 12 Sharp by Janet Evanovich
HARDCOVER NON-FICTION
1. Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors? by Jonathan Wright
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
3. The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn & Hal Iggulden
4. Carved In Sand by Cathryn Ramin
5. Crash Course by Marylen Oberman
PAPERBACK NON-FICTION
1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
3. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
4. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
5. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Big Fish in a bigger pond.

The Ann Arbor News
Sunday, September 16, 2007

"Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?" is listed as a #1 Best seller!

Hardcover fiction, Ann Arbor catagory.

"Who's Behind the Fairy Door?"

Award-Winning Finalist in the "Children's Novelty & Gift Books" category of the National Best Books 2007 Awards.

"Who's Behind the Fairy Door?"

Winner in two catagories and Finalist in two catagories of
the 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
(for independant publishers)

Sent by her mother, Liz;
Kylie, age 8 of Virginia, added her fairies to pages 56 & 57 of
"Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?"

On page 56 the ellipse contains the words:
"The crystal of all her power"

I had the pleasure of meeting Grayson and her mom at the 2008 Ann Arbor Book Festival.

Grayson & her copy of "Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?" .

Grayson is the illustrator of the Hairy-Queen Fairy on page 46

(5.17.08)

Hurray!

Along with being a finalist and winner in four catagories,

"Who's Behind the Fairy Doors?" also was named the
Third Place Grand Prize Winner in the 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

GNOME NEWS

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