Update 10/20

Last winter, around February, I thought that Book One was ready for press. I moved forward only to find, after a fine-tooth comb inspection, that there were errors that needed to be corrected. So I pulled back from advancing into publication.

As I proceeded to make corrections, I also decided to make design modifications. The work, greatly improved, both in the design and clarity. I found that adjustments had to be made to the "Gnome-sized Book" to make certain sections easier to read. I printed a prototype to check the layout and I found more errors, once I saw the printed sample. One such error was the realization that  although the Gnome-sized book is a  reduction of The Big People Book, the thickness of the pages remains the same, hence, the design of the spine is unique to each book.

As I proceeded with corrections and adjustments, I  then determined to increase the overall size by 10%, mainly because there was more room on the paper than I had previously used. That also changed the ratio of the page and cover design, which likewise changed the position of the text and the artwork. It's like throwing a pebble into a calm pond, there is a ripple effect. On the Gnome-sized books, the layout is set up with 6-up on standard 11x17 paper. So all this work on the smaller edition took months to achieve.

Add to the design complexities the fact that; the layout has exceeded the processing power of the Mac computer I had been using. I did buy another computer, and a Raid Array, but the operating system is different and it takes time to set that up and adjust everything to that. So I determined to use the new machine after the first book is completely done and in distribution.

Unfortunately, I found out the hard way, that for some reason, the files I was working on would not open again once I closed them. There were instances where I had to do the same work over six or eight times in order to effect corrections. It sounds insane and it was making me insane. I had gotten to the point where, not only did I need to save the page files in pieces, meaning smaller sections, but I also needed to exclude certain components and insert them after I opened the file, saved the file as a PDF, then removed those components and the save the file again before closing the file. Even then, the file size was so close to being too big that it would not open again. I found it odd that the auto-recovery files would open, even with the artwork, but the main DOCX would not.

I have made an attempt to use InDesign, but so far I've not been able to implement the layout the way I want using that program. As it stands, I am using three basic programs to implement the design, each program serving a different function, which together creates the overall look while giving me wider latitude with each function. I've made quite a few discoveries about how these programs need to be used together, finding that there are deficiencies which must be averted in a particular order, otherwise the design and layout is impaired and a great deal of additional work is imposed on the process and making corrections.

Now that I have gone through years of pain and struggle, I'm relieved to believe that the remaining six books will be much easier to produce and that the consistency of design and quality will be maintained.

Once the Gnome-sized book was satisfactorally reedited and ready to print, I moved to adjust the Big People Book to match. There are differences between the books, which initially, I hadn't expected to incur. But I am in the process of making those adjustments and almost ready for another printing of, what I hope will be, the final proof. Hopefully proving that the book is ready to be released to the public.

This latest version of the book is head and shoulders above all other test runs and makes all the other printings look primitive. It's hard to believe that could have happened, because the earlier edition looked great and still does. But this final design definitely hits the bulls eye!

AG

OctoberGnomefest

That sound good. Maybe we'll hold Gnome Fest in October and sell Gnome Gnog (the adult beverage version).

Well, all these plans are great, but they involve actually doing it! For now I'm still held hostage by the publishing end if things. I'm beginning to think I need to delegate the production activities sooner rather than later.

   I'm acquiring the building at 1325 and there are numerous building maintenance items that are distracting me
In addition, I have equipment maintenance work that is also a big distraction. Add to that setting up the various work stations and by the time I get all this done, I'll be too old and tired to get much of what I have intended for this done. So, I need to fall more heavily into the role of Director and less heavily into the role of Producer.  I say this because the facilities, equipment, and prototype activites are taking away my ability to follow thru with upper level producing. Not to mention the massive energy required in the publishing end of things.

So I think that after this first book is finished and released, I will start pitching this project from another angle. I have managed to build a 10k sq ft shop that gives us what we need to produce numerous aspects of this, but the reality is that we need to aquire sufficient funds to maintain our overhead before we can actually become functional. That means licensing and even though I have a grip on that, I don't have the time to manage that properly. So, I will need to locate an agent who is on board with my existing business plan and no other.

The existing Business Plan make accommodations for a variety of scenarios, so that does not post a problem, but I need players who are playing on our team, not their own or someone else's.

This project is large enough to accommodate a dedicated Sales rep, Theatrical Agent and or Business Manager. I'm required on the Creative end of things and addressing Facilities management. It seems like those aspects have pushed me to the brink of my time, resources, and mental comfort zone.

So, I expect that very shortly, this project will be put forth to larger players in the industry. The first book makes a very good argument in a pitch. That means, when combined with the Business Plan, the right agent will have a rather easy time of cutting a good deal.

That's all for now.

AG