My dad is here this week and we’re (he’s) getting our apartment seriously organized and outfitted with much-needed shelving he’s built for us (although anyone can see he’s really made the trip to visit my 2 feet, 2 inches tall assistant!).

This year, I’m excited to get Dad’s book on the schedule and get it printed and bound. Of course, it’s going to take a while, and some pretty rock solid planning.

We have the entire book of stories laid out and we’ll do another pass over it together while Dad’s here. Once that’s all ok, we’ll work with Boxcar to have photopolymer plates made. Then we’ll figure out when I can get myself to The Arm for some marathon printing sessions on one of their large presses. Then, it’s on to the binding, so we’re also going to take a look at cover materials in the next few days and make sure we have those all squared away.

Fine press books are sort of a world unto themselves, and it’s a world in to which I’m excited to jump. Some of the beauties I’ve drooled at over the years include Harry Duncan‘s books (which have long held a place if prominence on my parents’ shelves – check out an older post on Harry).

I’ve also gotten excited by some of the beautiful work being done by Paper Dragon Books here in Brooklyn, Mia Leijonstedt in the UAE (who has a gorgeous new site), and Jana Pullman in Minneapolis.

We’re not taking a stab at anything so intricate as their designs this time around (and do try to take a peek at their sites, if you have a little extra time – it’s so worth it), but their level of work is inspiring and definitely something to which I aspire.

That, of course, is a key element of my work – and probably almost anyone’s: there is always so much more to learn. I have a long list of techniques, structures, and styles that I hope to get to some day. For now, it’s just nice to know I’ll never be bored again.

Back to work!

I’m also taking advantage of the slightly quieter time I find myself with this month to make some headway on a few larger, ongoing projects; namely, my dad’s book and a huge assortment of wedding invitations (if I thought myself a little more sophisticated, I’m sure I’d call it a wedding collection!). At any rate, I’ll give you a sneak peek at the invites a little later in the week but, for now let’s talk about the book.

This project has been lingering, just waiting for us to drop the cash and make time to make it happen. Since I learned how to print, I’ve hoped to print and bind a book, finally combining the complementary skills I have in what I see as pretty much the ultimate way.

For those of you who don’t know the back story, my dad created/wrote/directed/hosted/set up chairs for/promoted/toiled over (once again proving that you do, indeed, do it all when it’s your business) a live radio variety show (and later TV show, as well) called Liars Holographic Radio Theatre from about 1997 to 2007 at my parents’ gallery in Marion, Iowa. A weekend of shows happened nearly every month for those 10 years, and included an assortment of amazing music, “spurious sponsors”, unexpected insights from one Stubby Digits, and, almost always, a story of my dad’s.

That’s my poppa, Craig Campbell aka Cruz Steele!

The stories were often the core of each month’s show, pulling together the elements of each performance, and putting a fine point on some beautiful thoughts and complex levels of human emotion and reality (not to wax too poetic, but this was pretty powerful stuff). Dad’s put together a small collection of stories and poems from those shows and they make up the book that we’re all creating together. I say “we’re all” because while my dad has written the book, and I’ll be printing and binding it, Matt’s designed the book, and my mom is providing a fantastic frontispiece (opening illustration). This is a team effort and, while it’s been tough to find the time, we’re all very excited to bring this baby to fruition.

Just a few quick shots of the copy I ran through today for proofreading…we’re on our way!

I reread the stories in the book today, in an attempt to get the proofreading portion of the project tied up, and definitely had wet eyes at the end of many of them. This whole project is in its relative infancy, but we’re hoping to launch it in to high gear over the next few weeks, and I’d like to chronicle the process of creating our first edition here. It’s no small thing, to say the least, and I hope you’ll come along for the ride…we’ve got a lot to make, a lot to learn, and a lot to do!