Wow, what a day in technology. Apple launches a slew of new items and the rumored eBook reader from Barnes & Noble is now a reality. The nook (note the “cool” use of all lowercase letters) is a $259 one-of-a-kind E Ink® based reader that also incorporates a touch sensitive color display strip along the bottom of the device. Like my other posts regarding the Kindle, I won’t regurgitate specs here but instead offer a bit of comparison.

I already like the nook better than the Kindle. Granted I haven’t held one, (I have now tried both models of the Kindle) but unlike the Kindle, I’ll be able to go into a Barnes & Noble store to have a hands on test. This is potentially a HUGE benefit for the nook.

Among its other superlatives, it’s less expensive and includes wi-fi which the Kindle does not. It will use the less regarded AT&T network for its 3G connection for the ability to buy books almost anywhere. Frankly I don’t care which network it runs on, it’ll be good enough. I say make it even less expensive and cut out the subsidized wireless service and just leave the wi-fi. Finding wi-fi is easy lest you find yourself out and in need of making a book purchase.

The color touch panel along the bottom serves as the navigation for moving around the menus of the nook. It’s also where you view your library and make purchases. Another nice feature is the option to lend books to your friends, again something the Kindle doesn’t do.

All-in-all, it seems like B&N has at least one upped Amazon with the nook. Like the Kindle, the nook has shortcomings that I have addressed before. Although I don’t know for certain, there are still likely the same design limitations inherent in the format and therefore not a substitute for good graphic design. For voracious readers, it’s a good investment. For those still unsure, this could very well lead you to take the plunge. The nook certainly has me a step closer to justifying buying an eBook reader.

written by JM \\ tags: Books, eBooks

NOTE: I am aware that some of the images below are not showing up for PC users running Internet Explorer. Tests in Firefox have shown that the images appear in that browser and may provide a better alternative.

For a great deal of the summer, my time had been consumed with the design of two books whose planning began over a year ago. I was fortunate enough to have been involved in the development phase of the project and luckily the pieces fell into place that allowed me the opportunity to execute the design. These new books will published by Providence House Publishers under the series name Historic Hospitality. The first two titles, Meet Me at The Belle Meade Plantation and Meet Me at The Hermitage Hotel will make their debut at the National Preservation Conference in Nashville in October.

The goal of the series is to couple historic imagery and narrative along with recipes that compliment the locale. These books will be a keepsake for visitors to the properties showcased in each title.

Personally, I can’t get enough of working with old images. There is a character in old photos that can’t be compared to contemporary images. The Belle Meade Plantation and The Hermitage Hotel didn’t disappoint with great photography.

The Belle Meade Plantation

One distinction between these two properties is that the plantation’s heyday, and thus most of its best images, come from the 1800s. Its history is rich with visits from heads of state to the breeding of thoroughbreds. From the publisher’s introduction,

We are proud to include the Belle Meade Plantation, located in Nashville,Tennessee, as one of our featured Historic Hospitality sites. Once rated among the most famous thoroughbred breeding farms in the world, it is still widely known as “The Queen of Tennessee Plantations, “ and still providing memorable glimpses of life as it was in the Old South. It is our pleasure to share her story here with you.

The Hermitage Hotel

By contrast, the Hermitage Hotel has had its ups and downs and been at the center of Nashville life since its construction in 1910 up to this day. Written about the hotel at its opening,

The Hotel Hermitage is one of the South’s leading hotels, in fact one of America’s noted hostelries. There is no hotel in the country more magnificently fitted, appointed, and furnished.

Since then it has seen success, been condemned and is now restored to its original grandeur. In 2010, the hotel will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Design

The design of these books presented a unique challenge to that of a typical history. The inclusion of recipes and the editorial considerations gave an added wrinkle of complexity to the project. There were several rounds of revisions on each title, moving pictures or removing them altogether until it resembled a game of musical chairs. With so many moving parts, it’s very much like assembling a puzzle. As I said, having been in on the planning stages of this project, it was very gratifying to see it come to fruition. Be on the lookout for these and future titles. I will update here when they are available.

written by JM \\ tags: Books, graphic design, history

I’ve added some items to the portfolio here. One is a logo I did some time ago that you can read about here. The others include a logo for the Children’s Ministry Forum which is an event sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church and a cover for a book that chronicles historic properties of Maury County, Tennessee.

UPDATE: I’ve added a two more images to the mix. A spread from the book Til We Meet Again and the cover for a book entitled A Disciple’s Journal.

written by JM \\ tags: book, graphic design, logo

Over a year ago I wrote my thoughts on the first Kindle and now Amazon has its successor. From all the reviews it sounds as though it’s an improvement, although slight, over the original. My first “review” was pretty critical and admittedly made without ever actually having held a Kindle. Not much has changed in that regard especially since you can’t jump in your car and head over to Best Buy to check one out and I don’t personally know anyone who owns one.

I REALLY want to like the Kindle. However, my criticisms remain. On the other hand the Kindle does a lot of things right. I won’t rehash the specs here but instead I want to focus on what I think this means for books in general.

What’s Next

I said in my original article that the Kindle 1 wouldn’t be a runaway hit or even a modest success. So far, I think I’m right on the first and maybe not so much on the second. Amazon doesn’t release figures on Kindle sales but estimates put the number around half a million for the first model. This number seems high to me but even if it’s relatively close, I suppose you could call it a success. When you read the tech press as I do it’s hard to know when something has penetrated the tech echo chamber. I believe e-book readers will become more and more popular as time goes by, but they have a tough road ahead.

Perhaps selfishly, as a graphic designer I want to see more control over what’s possible in terms of design. The reason for not having that control comes down to smaller file sizes no doubt. It’s virtual portability is one of it’s greatest strengths and perhaps among it’s greatest weaknesses when it comes to graphics. It’s absolutely convenient but potentially closes a segment of the book market where designers are needed.

The Revolution

For publishers, the Kindle and even other e-book readers are an opportunity to stay current in the ever-changing digital landscape. Where the Kindle bests others lies in the Amazon infrastructure. They made an Apple-like move in creating the hardware and developing the format of the content. It’s not a win for open standards but the best solution doesn’t always rest there. For now, they have the best solution out there.

As I write this, Amazon has released Kindle for iPhone. This is an interesting move (a move they mentioned was coming when the Kindle 2 was announced) and one that I’m going to have to think on. I have downloaded and tested it and my gut reaction is that it doesn’t increase the chances of me buying a Kindle for the time being. Perhaps the device itself isn’t the revolution they’re after.

written by JM

Interesting article over at the New York Times about book publishers doing away with DRM on their audiobooks. Out of all the digital distribution methods, they found that the audiobooks WITHOUT DRM were the ones NOT getting pirated. Funny that CD audiobooks and DRM-decoded audiobooks were the greater source of piracy. Who knows what the numbers are, but I have to wonder if the audience for audiobooks are ones to engage in piracy in the first place.

Naturally, Apple and their dominance in online music is wrongly characterized as a hazard in the direction that book publishers might take. The reason music labels went with Apple in the first place is that they had a system that worked. Up to that point, purchasing music online was an abysmal experience. They forced Apple to use DRM and are now using it against them to bolster the position of other stores such as Amazon’s.

Nevertheless, I’m glad that book publishers are seeing the light when it comes to DRM.

written by JM

As I have mentioned previously I had the privilege of working on the latest edition of Co. Aytch. Co. Aytch is among the most beloved of all books about the Civil War in that it offers the best account of a soldier’s life from his point of view. Sam’s great-granddaughter, Ruth Hill McAllister approached Providence House Publishers with a first edition copy of the book that belonged to Sam Watkins, the book’s author. Sam always intended to republish Co. Aytch with changes to certain things that he felt were inaccurate in the first edition. With the original printing sold out, Sam set out to raise half of the $500 needed to have a second printing that would include the changes. Sam passed away before the money was raised and the changes were never incorporated in the book.Ruth Hill had been shown this first edition years earlier by an uncle that owned it. As time went by, the book was put away and forgotten by other members of the family. Ruth Hill’s interest in family history led her to inquire about the book. Eventually, she was contacted by a cousin who had discovered it in an old desk that belonged to her uncle and offered to sell it to her. Meanwhile, over the years there have been many printings of Co. Aytch which are now rendered obsolete by this definitive edition.

“The only thing better than Sam Watkins is more Sam Watkins. This is a marvelous expansion of the best memoir of a fighting soldier south of the Mason-Dixon Line we have.”

Ken Burns, Filmaker

The most challenging aspect of the new edition was what to do about the proposed deletions, additions, and changes. Some things Sam intended to take out because, it was believed, he recalled things incorrectly. In other cases possibly because of economics. From the Publisher’s Preface:

In paging through Sam Watkins’s own faded and written-in copy of the 1882 edition, we were struck by how much of the original book Sam proposed omitting. Further research allowed us to conclude that Sam’s proposed omissions were primarily based on economics. We believe Sam only wanted to omit them because he was faced with financing the typesetting and printing of his revised edition himself, and therefore, it was to his benefit to omit text and thus lower the cost for publishing.

Ultimately because the text is so sacred, it was decided to develop a system by which all the original text stayed intact while the additions and corrections were weaved in. The system was this:

Original text as published in 1882—Roman text (plain) and italics where used in originalSam’s additions or substitutions—BoldSam’s suggested deletions—[Italic within brackets]Sam’s additions that he later omitted —[Bold within brackets]

Also included in this edition are photos that have never been used in previous editions. Most importantly, are Sam’s actual written notes from the margins of the original edition that have been included as art. These are placed in close proximity to where the text occurs in the book. Many examples of this are included throughout the book. Here a a couple of them.

 

It was a great thrill to be involved in producing a new edition of Co. Aytch and made even more special by the early response the book received from reviewers. Even if you have only a passing interest in Civil War history, I encourage you to check out the new version of Co. Aytch, First Tennessee Regiment: Or A Side Show of the Big Show available from Providence House Publishers.

 

 

written by JM

As I have mentioned, one of the facets of what I do is book design. Recently, Co. Aytch, First Tennesee Regiment, or a Side Show of the Big Show was published by Providence House Publishers. I had the distinct privilege to be able to design what I believe to be the definitive edition of this book.

For those who are not familiar with Civil War history, Co. Aytch is considered to be THE memoir about the common soldier’s life in the war. It has been published numerous times over the years but never with the detail and added features to be found in this version.

Joe Avalon over at Civil War Interactive has reviewed the book and given it his blessing. If you’re a Civil War history buff, check out his review and also pick up a copy of Co. Aytch. In the coming days, I’ll have an in depth case study about the challenge that this new edition presented and how those problems were resolved. Stay tuned.

JM

written by JM