Self-taught self-publishing

Once you get to know me you'll find out I have a tendency to immerse myself in a subject, reading everything I can get my hands on . . . sure, some of the material repeats itself (and some doesn't).

Then, I go do something else and forget about what I've read . . . sometimes the act of letting my subconscious work on the matter provides a better solution than if I actively worked on the answer. And sometimes another answer is presented to me from a different source.

Self-publishing my book is a case in point . . .

For some time now, I've been getting emails from a company called AuthorHouse about self-publishing my book. Not that they know I have a book to self-publish, but they're there, willing to offer their services ("they're," "there," "their"). Something in my gut kept telling me to let 'em slide . . .

A couple months ago, I went to a lecture given by an author who used AuthorHouse for his self-published book . . . he told how AuthorHouse was always there (until they got his money, then they all but disappeared). ERK!! "There but for the Grace of God go I," I thought.

I did a Google search for "self-publishing comparison" . . . and in my reading, I found Lulu.com. It was considered one of the better self-publishing companies, so I looked over their website to see what I could see. I was considering self-publishing my work as an eBook, to cover the costs of printing a paperback version.

Then, I found "The Fine Print of Self-Publishing" on http://www.book-publishers-compared.com/. This is a fine site, and the downloadable book is written by Mark Levine, an attorney who compares the contracts of 45 self-publishing companies. I'm working my way through the book. My own book is on hold, until I can make a better informed decision . . .

(AuthorHouse is listed as a publisher to avoid . . . Lulu is listed as a pretty good self-publisher (two steps up from AuthorHouse) . . . I'm looking over the list of outstanding self-publishers (one step up from Lulu). Wish me luck.)

A Working Bibliography . . .

Me, an expert?? Yes, I am an expert because I SAY I am . . . I'm also an expert because YOU say I am . . .

Over the years, I've read a LOT of books on different subjects. They helped me develop my "artistic sense" as it were.

I read three books on symmetry, starting with Handbook of Regular Patterns: An Introduction to Symmetry in Two Dimensions, by Peter S. Stevens. It was a thick math textbook; I remember grasping the implications (and possibilities) of block design as I read it. I imagined writing a book for quilters on the subject until I heard about Symmetry: A Design System for Quiltmakers, by Ruth B. McDowell. My language was not suitable for publication, LOL!! Years later, I also read Designing Tessellations, by Jinny Beyer.

All three books explained the operations of symmetry, and all three books used the symmetry groups devised by crystallographers. As I've said before, crystallographers are not necessarily quilters, though . . . I've devised my own system that's a lot simpler (and provides for even more possible patterns).

Two books come to mind on designing patchwork blocks: Pattern Play: Creating Your Own Quilts, by Doreen Speckmann, and The Patchwork Planner: 350 Original Designs for Traditional Patchwork, by Birte Hilberg.

Both books presented block "components," squares with lines drawn through them. The first book gave a vague instruction to "arrange the components in a pleasing manner," without explaining how; the second book arranged the components in a pleasing manner, without explaining how. I came back to these two books (and their components) after I read about the operations of symmetry. Things started to fall into place.

I read four books about color theory: Color for Quilters, by Susan Richardson McKelvey; Color Harmony: A Guide to Creative Color Combinations, by Hideaki Chijiiwa; The Magical Effects of Color, and Color Play: Easy Steps to Imaginative Color in Quilts, by Joen Wolfrom.

I'm sure there are other books I'm forgetting . . . Johannes Itten on color theory goes in there, and another book on design by Scandanavian authors (it'll come to me as I sleep and wake me up).

I'll save the books on piecing and fabric dyeing for another time . . .

What books have YOU read that influenced you?? Please leave a comment or email me: I'd love to discuss them with you . . .