So How Do I Feel About It?

Overall, I'm pleased with my book. There are still a few things I'd change now that it's all printed but they are all minor and I usually feel this way anyway.

I took the plunge and tried binding myself. I figured I should probably save money while trying my hand at perfect-binding at home. At the same time, it is not as pristine looking in its form than it could have been had it been professionally bound, but if the squirrels can't hire someone to make their dens, why should I?

This has definitely wet my appetite for book design. I'm already thinking of other books I'd want to make.

It was a good process. Most of my time was devoted to making the illustrations, which is kind of weird to think about now, because I see the illustrations now and don't think of all the work put into drawing them as I skip through the pages.

Close your eyes if you don't want to see yet!

I can see the end! HELLO HELLO. It's ME. Don't recognize me yet? Don't blame ya.

So as that overly long title says, I feel the finish line.. just as the point of updating, I'd like to point out that I have only aboue 5 pictures to go! 2 bears, 2 nuthatches.. WOOP. and then maybe one for whatever.

I also spent a LOT of time drawing about 15+ food clips for the cover but it didn't quite work out as I wanted it.

The idea was to do this with them:
But really that looked cheesey and it's not supposed to be so blue haha. the background WAS red before blogspot seemingly changed it?

Binding? maybe myself. interesting how things change

To Help me Manage

Drawings I Need to do:

1. Ground Squirrel Hibernation Chart (maybe)
2. Skunks looking for food
3. Skunks hibernating
4. Nuthatch Nest
5. Nuthatch flying
6. Black Bear Den
7. Black Bear out and about
8. One more Black Bear?
9. All the illustrations for the cover (15+, little, 2" x 2" ones) (I may be using clippings of the food they eat. Only the plant matter of course. Less because the animals seem nicer that way and more because some animals' diets include other animals in the book eek. Plus plants look nicer and less emotive than if you had a cute animal).

It seems that everytime I make a list of drawings, it gets bigger and biggger. The first time I had 13. Then I did about five and counted what I had to do and still had about 13. Now I did about 5 more and still have 9. What the heck?

But on the plus side, I've actually started designing! WOOP.
On the downside, it's reminding me more of a magazine layout than a book's. How can I fix that? I know there are differences between editorial and book but I can't quite seem to distinguish if they can carry over or not. Oh well. I've only done about 1 semi-finished spread which is only the intro into the chapter so maybe all is well.

And I think the final title will be Call me in 5 Months: An Ethology of Hibernation.

And Happy Easter if you celebrate it.

More Drawings

What Illustrations I DO Have

Ohhh noo

Remember those goals I posted? Of course you do, it's just below!
Well... how do I put this lightly? I haven't really accomplished them.
I mean, I have the entire text written except a short blurb about what it can do for humans, which I am leaving till last because I am not 100% sure I want to include it. I mean, its about hibernation culture and not necessarily the science and possibilities of it.
As for the pictures, I have all the western jumping mouse's illustrations done and 1 Red-Breasted Nuthatch illustration done. That means I have about (4x3=12, give or take a few...) 13 left. Funny, because I thought I said I had 13 left to do last time hah. Somewhere there is something wrong. I should have at least 1 more illustration done by tonight.

As far as other progress, I have made some. I found a typeface I am really enjoying and think would work perfectly. It is a serif with a bit of uncleanness about it. It looks very strong and it's not destroyed or anything, but it has elements that are a bit more "natural" than a typeface like Bodoni. Anyway, I think it'll look good in my book because its more "natural" and after all I am writing about nature. I'd also like to use Helvetica as a contrast.

Other thoughts about my book on the design:
I've desided that since the writing in my book is basically a bunch of contrasting - contrasting fact and fiction, much of the design will reflect this. So I'll have the serif + sans serif, the sketchy drawings + sterile lines, very natural colours + jewel tones or something.. etc.

And names? Names you ask?
Basically I want it to contrast as well. I'd like to have the main title be a bit vague and fun and then have the subtitle very scientific. I think I have the subtitle arranged but the main one is harder:

Options:
H is for Hibernation: An Ethology of Hibernation

Homebodies: An Ethology of Hibernation

Guess Who's Coming to Denner: An Ethology of Hibernation

Hibernation is for Lovers: An Ethology of Hibernation

Call me in 4 Months: An Ethology of Hibernation

what do you think?

Ethology is a little term I found thanks to wikipedia. It means the study of animal behavior which is conveniantly just what I'm doing! la la la...