March 8th

a couple of years ago i was told
because i am a garden writer and photographer
"you should write a book"

(if you are a first-time visitor to my blog
you may be shocked at this claim
i mean
really!
i don't even use punctuation half the time
or seem to know when a sentence should
break
or not.
as i've noted on my about page
i started this blog so i could be free to type away
without worrying about selling
and all the rules that otherwise rule my working life

heck
i almost always forget to use spell check here!
anyway, back to today's post:

i like books
actually, i love books
and i've been making hand bound versions
for several years
and i'm the daughter of a librarian
the daughter of a woman who passed along
to me her love of making things by hand
so
i came up with an idea for a book
and i created a fabulous (i do say so myself)
book proposal which consisted not only of the requisite sample chapter
but a marvelous accordian folio of images i intended to use as illustrations.
it was good enough to wow 2 literary agents
just about the same time the publishing world declared
garden books are dead
but they both took turns trying to get me a book deal
they could not.
so
now
i will take another course of action
yes, i will self-publish
something, anyway.
just because the idea will not rest
and i want to hold someting in my hands
in other words
hold some fruit from the origianl germ of an idea.
i will most likely make a beautifully hand bound volume for myself
but i'm also playing with the idea of something more commercial
maybe a Lulu version
because i'm pretty sure that while the subject
definitly lends itself to an elegant presentation
it could also be handled very well in a
more casual and affordable format.
at this point in time
self-publishing a hard bound book
full of color illustrations would cost around $50 to $75 a piece
which is too much
not enough people would be willing to buy it.

i know many of you are interested because
you already know this story
already buy my work
and are some of the people who said
"write a book".

from time to time
i will post updates on the project
in the meantime
i've made some notecards
using some of the photographs

like this one

you can see all 6 in this new series
and buy them from Zephyr's shop
(those of you who subscribe to my newsletter will already know this.
If you haven't subscribed yet, but would like to receive mailings
announcing new work for sale, just say so and i'll happily add you to
my address book. And rest assured: in my newsletter, i make every effort to use punctuation properly, write complete sentences, and all that jazz)

Comments

[Jon]

I'll buy one (whatever it is)! By the way, I love the flowers in that picture-just gorgeous.

[Linda M]

I think that's a great idea! I do love the card set (of flowers in pockets) ... really wonderful!

[parisbreakfasts]

Beautiful photos !

[zephyr]

Thank you, Jon, Linda and PB...your kind words help fuel the plan.

[marly]

zephyr,

I'm glad you read those poems! There are three typos in Claire, so I'll send you a list when you get it.

Perhaps you should do a subscription, the way Samuel Johnson did. He'd sign up various people who were committed to support his latest project, and they'd all promise to buy the final book.

Or else a very collectible, very limited-edition book plus Lulu.

On the other hand, the literary world decides what is hot and what is dead, and often it is whimsical or wrong... Those dead frequently come back to life.

[wesleyjeanne]

Please do pursue this--your words and images are always so beautiful, spell check or not.

[Shane]

Gorgeous beautiful pictures. But sad sad sad....one day they are gone.

Shane
http://www.bestmotivationquotes.com

[marly]

p. s.

Is "Her Front Door" your front door? I am a sucker for old houses with charming cottage gardens (and live in the same. The front is half old cottage garden and half native woodland plants, thanks to a village tree.)

[Laura]

Good for you, Z! I will watch what you do with interest and may follow your lead.

[wahdi]

Beautiful photos as a landscape designer, i luv to read ur blog..

[suse]

Well done for sticking to your guns and going the self publishing route. I know the result will be just beautiful.

Thank you
THANK YOU....all...it's so good to receive kind encouragement.