Ennui & Other States of Madness Promotional Giveaway
You know me. I love a good contest. The signature sheets for all three editions of the book were signed this morning and will go out in tomorrow’s mail. Today I spent most of the day working on th one-of-a-kind hand sewn and bound edition of my upcoming collection from Dark Regions - ENNUI & OTHER STATES OF MADNESS. The book will be leather bound (such as hand-made by me is) and is sewn and bound by hand. There will be some sketches and hand-written notes and extras added when it’s completed…and it will of course be signed and annotated as a one-and-only edition. This one also includes rough sketch illustrations artist Don Paresi originally did for the project that were later removed due to the HUGE size of the book…this is a 360 page book.
I have completed the sewing of the signatures, and I have glued them and readied them for attaching to the spine. I will be finishing the boards and spine tomorrow and completing the book. I will have a special traycase as well…more on that later. Also included is a very special item that is directly associated with the title story of the book.
When I wrote ENNUI - which is a story of Jack the RIpper - I was after some detail I couldn’t get by normal research. One of the things that I watned to know was just how much light one of the bullseye lanterns carried by London Bobbies in the 1800s gave off…particularly in fog. I went to eBay, and I bought (not cheaply) such a lantern. It’s absolutely period and authentic, for all I know it was carried on the streets during the same time period Jack was running crazy. I can tell you absolutely…not much light, and in heavy fog (which we also get here near the dismal swamp) it’s useless.
Anyway..whoever wins the one-of-a-kind edition of Ennui will also receive this antique bullseye lantern. I paid nearly a hundred bucks for it, but it seems right to let it stay with the story….so here you go.
These pictures are of the book in progress, and of the lantern. Only those who preorder the limited edition of my book are eligible for the contest. The best price is at THE HORROR MALL where you can save a few bucks.
This is the book block with the marks on the spine to show me where to punch holes…OUCH…I need a real awl for this…
The workspace, such as it is…
Here’s the sewn signature block. It should be neater. It should NOT have splices and emergency repairs all through it…can’t say that what should be IS…but hey…looks okay, huh?
This is the book block, glued, reinforced with a layer of tissue and MORE glue…and I’m using guaze instead of the “mull” that would normally be used - this is what home-made books are all about people…it’s good stuff. It would protect your broken leg, and it will hold your book together - should you win. When I make the case / spine yesterday I’ll take more photos…
These are photos of the lantern. It’s small, about 7″ tall and it clips onto a belt (see the clips). Not only does it NOT give off much light, but I can see the damned thing getting pretty hot…it’s a wonder those Bobbies caught ANYONE.
Now go! Preorder the book by clicking the cover photo …enter the contest, and good luck! Me? I have to finish making a book…
05/18/08, 9:26 PM |
That’s downright nifty. Neat pics of the book-in-progress, and the lantern looks like it might be a good piece to chuck at someone if they annoy you.
05/18/08, 9:35 PM |
Well, it’s of a proper size for it, but doesn’t have much weight. Now, full of oil and LIT it would cause a fella to run and howl a bit…
05/18/08, 10:27 PM |
Very, very cool!
05/18/08, 10:34 PM |
Thanks man. My fingers hurt from the hole punching and the sewing…my head hurts from ALL of it.
05/19/08, 4:15 PM |
Very nice! Looks like beauty, Dave.
Hugs,
Fran
05/19/08, 4:17 PM |
Thanks Fran…we’ll see. I still have half the work to do…though it IS the easier half.
05/19/08, 4:57 PM |
I told you this stuff is murder on the hands!
You’re in the home stretch now. 
~C