Journey of a Book
The Chappy Ferry Book: A Jaws Moment
At the end of the first weekend of sales of the new CHAPPY FERRY BOOK, ferry co-owner Peter Wells gives a copy to Lynn Murphy, visiting Chappy from Chilmark. Lynn, a storied Vineyard boatman and craftsman, played a critical role during the challenging weeks when JAWS was shooting on the waters around Martha’s Vineyard — [...]
The Island network
In my work as a local publisher, I try to use as much local talent as I can find. Sometimes that’s not always easy. Back in the winter I went looking for illustrators for two of my spring books. The books are very different – one is a children’s book that uses the Flying Horses [...]
Writers and editors
I spend my days dealing with writers, who are a complicated species. They are usually very talented people who are often unsure how far that talent takes them. They alternate between being resentful of editing and grateful for it. They crave the undivided attention of an editor but fear what will come out of an [...]
A lighthouse revelation
I was thunderstruck one day last summer when I walked into Alison Shaw’s gallery in Oak Bluffs while she was preparing a new show. Glowing white against a dark blue wall was a huge picture of a lighthouse. It was instantly recognizable, even though I’d never seen anything like it. I knew a lust so [...]
Ridiculous fun
Our work on the Chappy Ferry book — which we have now named, but I’m not yet revealing — has reached a stage where cover images are being shot, a film for a DVD insert is being edited, and writer Tom Dunlop is beginning to think about an ending time. This is all hard work. [...]
Next year’s books
This is always a busy time for me in the book world that comprises my work life. Because I try to position most of my books for sell next spring, I’ve been at work for many months on the bigger books or am starting now to organize the smaller ones. This year I’ll have five [...]