Final title?

Who died?... and other morbid faux pas!

I think that's it, unless something better comes up, that will be the title!

Goal: Finish for tomorrow as many thumbnails as possible for spreads. 

Book title

Okay, so I'm letting go of the troglodyte idea completely (it just doesn't work anymore and there's no point in forcing it)

What about this title?

Who Died?... and other morbid questions

Who Died? (subtitle)

Funeral Faux Pas... and other sad things

Still working hard, at this point, I 'm getting panicked... 

progress

Tentatively typesetting my book at the moment. Contemplating of changing the size to be smaller, so it is  easier to handle and transport as something entertaining to kill time (or a bathroom read). Probably 4.5 x 6.5 inches portrait;it will still be hardcover. 

Still having lots of trouble coming up with a book title and cover art!

potential titles:

- Etiquette of the Uncomfortable

- Etiquette of the Unhappy

- Shit happens... 

- Sad Times... a guidebook

- Good manners, sad times

- Good manners, Bad days

- Don't Clap at a funeral... and other tips

I am currently focusing on the book binding, typesetting, illustrations and overall design of the book. The writing of the book is turning out to be a lot less funnier than I want, (reading about funerals is a bit of a downer) but it will have to suffer due to time constraints. I can fix it up for the gradshow afterwards. 

Goal is to test out hardcover sewing and binding technique by wednesday. 

MUST WORK HARD! YOU CAN DO IT FRANCES!

How to Win Fiends and Influence People

Today I saw a book called "How to Win Fiends and Influence People: 666 Wicked Ways to Guarantee Success in the Workplace" by Nicholas D. Satan. 

I absolutely loved it! It had a lot of illustrations and fold-outs and looked like a notebook (moleskin) that was kept by someone that consistently made notes in it. It was eroded in the graphic look with lots of coffee and blood stains all over the pages. This book is very much the interactive type of book; there was a foldout of a diploma for after you finish reading it. 

I really wish I could find some photos on it, I think I might go back to the book store and buy it. 

QUESTION: is there a do it yourself method to stain the fore-edge of the book a certain colour or metallic? 

Preface (revised)

I'm starting to have some qualms about using the word troglodyte as one of the main terms in this book. I want the narrator to have a satirical quirky tone, but that doesn't help (or match) the idea of pulling out troglodytes from their reclusive nature. The narrator is a voice telling the reader how to handle situations with the assumption that the reader wants to know what's best, the narrator is not afraid of stepping on anyone's toes. 

Perhaps the more accurate way to use troglodyte would be troglodytic tendencies, and people are only sometimes, ignorant and reclusive when it comes to dealing with things. Perhaps I will just forgo the word all together, if it does not match, although it would be an interesting addition to the mix. 

My book is at a point in stage that things are really moving and changing while new ideas and solutions popup. 

Direction: 

When I first thought of this book, it was meant to be a charming, silly, yet informative book that is almost like a bathroom read. It has evolved to being that, and also having a voice that is somewhat of a slightly satirical tone that is meant to be taken in jest. 

The illustrations depict a variety of unhappy scenarios of a main cartoon character (having nothing to do with the narrator), who is somewhat of an ignorant, naive character, most often making all the etiquette mistakes there are. Satire is used to poke fun at something, to send an underlying message, in this case, what NOT to do. 

Audience:

Written from the view of a person who understands that even though etiquette and putting up a front sometimes seems fake and useless, it is a necessary as human interaction and  is inevitable to avoid, therefore this book states how to use etiquette properly, within the subject matter of unhappy events. 

This book intended for an audience that wants an understanding of how to deal with people that they are close, but not-so-close-with when stuck in unfortunate events. The audience might read the book for the satirical illustrations, the slightly mean narrating voice, or just to find out information on this topic.

Here is the preface of my book. Please read it and see if you can give me a suggestion for a title!

We live in a world of traditions, where facades and fronts are a frivolous necessity to representing our sincerity. This book takes that oxymoron to heart, its pages bearing information and instruction for pointless actions that play messenger to point-full meanings. 

This book hopes to inform you individuals with troglodytic tendences, the way of the unhappy world, and how you should handle it. In the wake of situations that may leave most flabbergasted and too shocked and sorrow-stricken to react, you will know what to say and do to play your part as the close, but-not-that-close-friend. May you absorb its information at the speed similar to osmosis. 

Three Questions

1. I'm facing a problem with my content. Right now, I am addressing the topic of funerals and patients with illness. I feel like I need a third or fourth topic. Any suggestions? I was thinking, maybe I could discuss the topic of dealing with divorced individuals as well, and maybe also dealing with families who have recently had miscarriages? Too morbid for a funny informative book? 

2. I am looking for book binding places and paper places in Toronto. I feel like I've come to a limit looking at paper at the usual place I go to. I am looking for something heavy creamy very subtly textured feel for my book. Any suggestions? 

3. How do you feel about setting copy text in colour? I'm debating if I should set it in a very subtle brown. 

Experimental Binding Project: Old Master Q

Content: 

For this project, I decided that I wanted to compile my favourite Master Q comic strips together. I grew up reading these comics in Hong Kong and even after I immigrated to Canada, I continued to search for Master Q issues. 

Here is an excerpt regarding the comic's role in the political scene of China in the 60's - 80's. 

"While Old Master Q comics primarily focuses on humor, it also reflects changing social trends, particularly from the 1960s to the 1980s. The comics would sometimes feature societal problems in urban life, such as poverty, petty thefts and secret societies. It also poked fun at fashion, contemporary art and rock music. The comic strips sometimes also bemoan the decline of ethical or moral values in modern day living. One can spot characters displaying acts of selfishness or misery, although the comics occasionally display good values like filial piety." - wikipedia

Form: 

The most desirable form of a comic book is for it to lay flat when being read.  The reason being, is that the illustrations are meant to be seen and admired, instead of peeked at in fear of damaging the spine of the book. Almost all Master Q issues are perfect bound in a flimsy manner, and after years of opening and re-opening these issues even with care, the pages have started to fall out. 

Stemming from this idea, I chose to do a coptic bind, which allows the book to lay flat. I wanted a treasured, dated, classic look to represent the legend that Old Master Q comics carry in their existence, and to represent a golden piece of my childhood. Coptic binding was just the look I wanted to match the textured cover. 

Here are some photos of the master Q book, previous to being cropped. I wish I had chosen a better backdrop for the book.  

Funeral Jokes

A website of funeral jokes, inspiration for illustrations!

http://www.jokesaboutfunerals.com/

reminder to self: post 3 questions and answer 1 question of everyone else's!