手取川製本 ~ Tedorigawa Bookmakers

Ep. 242: Bookbinder's Chronicle and Priests of Hiroshima

Bookbinder of the Week:

Bookbinder's Chronicle has no spoken words. Filmed in sepia, it has nine videos but the information is clear and precise. Most of the videos are about 20 minutes long and, unfortunately, she is no longer making them. Fortunately, they contain a lot of information useful for beginning bookbinders.

There is also a blog about bookbinding and restoration.

Bookbinding

I moved. I went from a rented studio space to a free studio space (although much smaller). This new space has room for my computer set up and my binding bench but is a little bit sparse when it comes to storage. This is a benefit as I will have to use material rather than keep it for some unknown future project.

Fiction

I am editing and proofreading book three of the Calvado Quintet called The Priests of Hiroshima. I am making it much, much better than when I first wrote it in 2012. More accurate information, more character growth, more conflict. And deeper: more character comments about life, religion, politics, history, the relevance of information as it is stored in books, and love (of course).

Communication

My attempts at communicating with the outside world can be found at:

   

Ep. 241: Giapan and Sage Reynolds

Bookbinder of the Week:

Sage Reynolds. He is no longer making books but his YouTube videos are still up. They are clear, understandable, and a wealth of knowledge. He tells you both what he is doing, how he is doing it, and why he is doing it. 

Bookbinding

Giapan is a Japanese artist but it is also the name of my novel about Giapan, Galatea, Teubner, Barahona and their adventures going from southern Spain to northern Spain in 1600. It takes quite a few hints from Cervantes’ Don Quixote. 

It is about 250 pages, B6 in size, with a so-called artistic drop cap first letter of each chapter and the G on the cover, and many pictures.

I cased it in twice. The first time the square was not right; the fore-edge was too big and the textbook sat a bit catawampus aka crooked. I ripped it apart and re-cased it in. It looks much better now. 

It has, as you can see, a kimono-esque back cover. I thought this appropriate because one of the main characters — and the title character — is a Japanese artist roaming Europe but is no in Spain.

Fiction

I am writing the third book of the Fear Trilogy— The Sound of Fear. It is coming along smoothly and I am using a different writing technique than I normally do. Normally, I think, write, rewrite, and continue on without an outline. A so-called pantser; someone who writes by the seat of their pants. On The Sound of Fear and indeed the entire Fear Trilogy, I have an outline. A so-called planner. 

I have proofread the final book in the Japan Pentology. Giapan is one of the five books. The last book, and the most difficult to read, is The Year Without Days. It is a Conspiratorial Love Story between a blimp pilot, a store clerk, and the religion that seeks to destroy Tokyo in an attempt to get more believers.

The next up on my proofreading list is the Calvado Quintet. I am currently proofreading book one: Tristram’s Printer.

 

  

Ep. 240: A Schedule! & A Blank Notebook and Sea Lemon

Bookbinder Page of the Week: Sea Lemon. She has a ton of videos on YouTube plus other social media sites. Well worth the effort to watch and learn.

Bookbinding

This week found me casing in two books. First was a A6-size (pocketbook) blank notebook with 100 pages. A nifty red cover with indents and outdents on the front. Also included is a bookmark.

Second was a Personalized 2020 Schedule starting in April. It has two yearly calendars (2020 & 2021), 14 monthly calendars (this and next  year's March are included), and a weekly calendar for 2020 to March 2021.) The cover is an old shirt of the client's and some decorations. Inside are about 15 photographs of the client and the travels they made during last year.

If you would like a personalized 2021 Schedule or a lined or blank Notebook, contact me.

Fiction

I have written and finished! Yes, finished! Fear Itself and Fear the Dead. Books 1 and 2 of the Fear Trilogy. On the old laptop now is The Sound of Fear, Book 3 of the Fear Trilogy. It is going along smoothly. What I learned in The Sound of Fear (working to an outline) is helping with this book. I have an outline. I write to it. I add sparkle, spices, intrigue, and aggression to make it more exciting.

In the final book of the Fear Trilogy, Matt comes up against a formidable enemy, finds friendship with a former enemy, and may have found a long-lost friend.

I have also read, proofread, printed out, and sewed up The Year Without Days. The Japanese Pentalogy is ready to make into an ebook and publish! Yeah!

The Japanese Pentalogy is

• Botchan’s Bartender,
• The Tokyo Tunnel Girl,
• The Nuns of Nañao,
• Giapan, and
• The Year Without Days.

    

Ep. 239: Schedule & Stopan

The Bookbinder Stopan webpage. He also has a YouTube Channel.

Bookbinding

In bookbinding I have sold one 2020 Schedule with about 14 pages. One page per month as the client requested plus 12 Photos. The Schedule is personalized with those photos. If you would like a personalized anything, be it a 2020 or 2021 Schedule or a lined or blank Notebook, contact me.

Fiction

In Fiction, two items: First, Book One of the Fear Trilogy is a hair's breadth away from being finished. Second, I have farmed out two books to beta readers (The Priests of Hiroshima and Abacus Longing). Third, I hope to have a short story available as a present if you sign up for my newsletter. Fourth, I have proofread and edited four novels which I hope to have available soon.

I am proofreading the fifth novel, The Year Without Days, now. When it is finished, ebooks will be uploaded for your reading pleasure. If you would like a Real Book, contact me.

 

 

    

Ep. 238: Caterpillar Stitch

Videos to learn about the Caterpillar stitch for bookbinding: Caterpillar Stitch with Kristi Warren & Caterpillar Stitch with Mike

Bookbinding

I learned the basics of the caterpillar stitch (from the two YouTube videos linked to above) and used it to repair a pair of torn jeans. I shall do better on my next attempt which I hope will be a book cover.

I printed out another 2020 schedule and still have four books to case in by the end of February/middle of March. 

Sadly, I am moving my studio from this place to a smaller place in the next few months. The smaller place is also free, so that’s a strong motivator. 

Fiction

I wrote a bunch on Book Two of the Fear Trilogy: Fear the Dead. It is suspenseful, driving, and, I hope, powerful. I suspect it will be finished by February 29th, right on schedule. Next, I outlined Book Three: The Sound of Fear. This is due to be finished by the end of March.

Similarly, for some inexplicable reason, I started another trilogy. Even before outlining my second trilogy: The Vengeance Trilogy, I wrote a few pages and an outline of The Byzantine Zombie Trilogy Book One: Death in Constantinople. Perhaps Constantinople should be my second trilogy, eh?

Finally, I proofread four of the five books in The Japanese Pentalogy and am finishing the fifth book: The Year Without Days as I type.

    

 

 

Ep. 237: Editing & E-books

Watch the Bookbinders Chronicle on YouTube for easy-to-understand Bookbinding tutorials.

Bookbinding

Rather than actually do any bookbinding work, I came up with some problems: aligning and improving. I need to align snaps on a shirt to use as a book cover. The shirt might be a tad too thick but the biggest problem is aligning the snaps.

Second, I looked at a book I made about a year ago and it looks very weather-beaten. Perhaps because of the book cloth I used, perhaps because the book board is too thin. I need to improve both of those so that the books I make will stand up to time.

Third, I have four books that need to be cased in in the next couple three weeks.

Fiction

I created deadlines for my fiction. Starting with my Fear Trilogy and ending with a new trilogy. The Fear Trilogy should be finished by the end of February and I seem to be on track to finish. The new trilogy is penciled in to finish by the end of September. Can I do it? 

In the last couple of weeks I have edited, proofread, and written on the books I want to publish on Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Scribd.

What have I actually done? I’ve edited & proofread novels in the Japanese Pentalogy: Botchan’s Bartender, Tokyo Tunnel Girl, The Nuns of Nañao, and Giapan. One more to go: The Year Without Days. These are scheduled to be finished by the end of February.

After the Japanese Pentalogy I do two more things. First, I rush into my Calvado Quintet which I hope to finish by the middle of May. Second, I edit & proofread my Oregon Murder Mystery by mid-July. Third, I outline, write, proofread, edit, and upload my Vengeance Trilogy by the end of September.

 

 

    

Bookbinders Chronicles on YouTube

 

Ep. 236: Center for the Book(s)

Three books await casing in and I finished two novels!

Bookbinding

I have two 2020 Schedules sitting on my desk waiting to be cased in. One is actually a coptic binding. It's covers are all ready, I need just sew it up. The other is a codex and it needs covers made. The third book I have sitting around waiting for me is an A6 blank notebook.

Fiction

I set a deadline and met it! Amazing. I finished Fear Itself last week and this morning I finished Botchan’s Bartender, the first book of my Japan Pentalogy. Now the entire pentalogy is finished! Although all five need proofreading which will inevitably lead to changes. However! However, I have new deadlines!

The entire Japan Pentalogy is scheduled to be proofread and published by the end of February. Fortunately, it's a leap year so I have one extra day. I will add some information about them in the next episode.

The five books are: 

Botchan’s Bartender,
The Tokyo Tunnel Girl,
The Nuns of Nanao,
Giapan,
The Year Without Days.

 

Links to invaluable book arts centers:

London Centre for Book Arts

San Francisco Center for the Book

Center for Book Arts (New York)

Ep. 235: Fiction & Video Finished

A new YouTube episode at TDGB 33 Casing in a Notebook for your viewing pleasure. 

Bookbinding

Nothing! I have accomplished nothing in bookbinding this week. I did print two 2020 schedules and a small A5-size notebook but I have not sewn, glued, or cased anything in. An unproductive week, alas.

Fiction

I set a deadline for Fear Itself and it appears I may meet that deadline. The deadline to finish is the end of this month. I am inches — Inches, I say! — away from finishing it. I need merely sit my butt on a chair and type. 

After I finish Fear Itself I need to outline and start writing — with Passion and Speed! — Fear the Dead which is Book Two in the Fear Trilogy. My deadline for Fear the Dead is the penultimate day of February (the 28th this year). Wish me luck.

 

 

Ep. 234: Rounded Corners Blank Notebook

Bookbinding

I cased in a 105-page, A6-size, blank notebook with a bookmark, and rounded corners. Primarily to see if I could case in rounded corners. I was 50% successful which is better than abject failure, don't you think? Yes, me, too.

The cover is from an old kimono and is the last of the kimono-esque book cloth I have. I need to make more. I have a few (maybe three) kimono so I lack not the cloth; merely the time and motivation. Now that I'm out of kimono backcloth, perhaps motivation just slapped me upside the head.

Fiction

I have set a deadline for myself for the alien war trilogy book one: Fear Itself. The new deadline and, more importantly, one I am working hard to make, is January 31st. The book will be finished by then. (Or not?) Then on to Books Two and Three.

Another book I wish to finish, Botchan’s Bartender, has been assigned the deadline of February 14 Valentine’s Day. It is a murder mystery but character-driven with several inter-twining love stories, failed love stories, and one deadly love story. Plus, a woman with a dark past who wishes to keep it secret.

Check out my YouTube channel for brief and, hopefully, concise how-to videos and other less structured videos.

A new one about Casing in the Blank Notebook above will be up by the end of next week. (Hopefully)

 

  

Ep. 233: Learning More

Casing in Two Notebooks

In the last week I cased in two notebooks. Notebook 1 is 110-pages of blank sheets with page numbers. The notebook itself has headbands and a bookmark. It is slightly larger than A5, in fact, it is half an 81/2 x 11 size sheet (US letter size). I slapped on a red cover with a black spine.

The client seems happy with it so I am happy with it. The client wants to use it in their travels over the next few months as a journal, hence the blank pages.

Notebook 2 is the A5 in size, also with 110 pages but with graph paper. Included are headbands and a bookmark. It is half bound book meaning. of course, that its corners and spine have a different backcloth from the rest of the book. This one sports a kimono-esque cover which I made by tearing apart a kimono.

Both of these notebooks have nice endpapers that I purchased in Tokyo on a long-ago trip to that fair city and dropped in on the world, probably, famous, Ito-Ya. Tons of paper and supplies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing

Yes! I have been writing. Did a bunch of revisions on Fear Itself and Botchan’s Bartender. And, as always, I hope to finish them before the turn of the century.

Check out my latest video about the Link Stitch cleverly titled Link Stitch.