Hobbes, new book, and reading blog

Hobbes will have his own blog (http://hobbesandme.blogspot.com) which he will need in order to write his second travel book, Hobbes Goes on a Road Trip. Meanwhile, his ghost writer has her own blog--http://castlepinesnorth.blogspot.com Her comments on the books she has read for the 2011 Global Reading Challenge, will be on the Castle Pines North Blog. Hobbes accidently is listed on the Global Challenge as well, but he does not mind--he is in wonderful company and can hardly wait until his ghost writer reads books about Africa.

Global Reading Challenge

Hobbes and I will undertake the Global Reading Challenge, which is to read a book from an author from each of the continents, although his reading selections tend to be about Africa and Lions. Perhaps we can read some Isak Denison for the Africa location. I will begin by the easy challenge and hope to add more.

At Last, "Hobbes Goes to South America" is finished!

Hobbes is very excited as he had a book signing at a local bookstore! As for me, I am relieved and happy that I did finish this project. But Hobbes will live on. . .perhaps go on trips with the grandboys, where they will take pictures. It's interesting, once you give a voice to a stuffed animal, or real animal, the voice takes on a life of its own. The website is www.blurb.com and it is an amazing site. I had a bit of a learning curve, but the quality of the books from blurb.com is excellent.

Finally, the first "practice" copy is at the printers!

Hobbes is very excited as the first copy of Hobbes Goes to South America is at the printers. This is only a practice copy as it stops at Valpariso, Chile. I wanted to see what it looked like in the 7 by 7 inch size--could be too small, so I thought I would order one, the only way to tell. It has been a true learning experience, trial and error on the blurb.com web site. There are many mistakes, and it will be interesting to see how it actually looks in print. Unfortunately, I will have to start all over if I change the size, but I did save the text.

The Book is Underway!

I finally learned how to use the book website and now I am underway with "Hobbes Goes to South America." Have reached Costa Rica. Hobbes is very impatient and thinks I should write faster.

Finally, continuing Hobbes story

"After a three month hiatus, recovering from a total knee replacement, I am back to attempting the book I planned. But. . .having some trouble with the book publishing blog, called www.blurb.com. Hard to negotiate from one page to another, difficulty in transferring pictures, etc. But have not given up! It could be the computer, so I am having a computer expert come and check it out--it has been very slow lately, and that could be the problem. Might just put all of it on this blog which is easier and call it:
"Hobbes South American Journal."

Possible Cover for Hobbes Goes to South America

A friend of mine, who asked to be nameless, is helping me with the cover of the book as he has a Mac (of which he is very proud) which can do some arty manipulation of photos. So, I am posting the photo of one possibility, not the final choice of course. Bret, my son offered to do a sketch, but he is so busy with school that it would not be possible until next summer. I like this one as it clearly shows South America. The writing process is very strange as in my mind, I am jumping all over the story, I already know how I will end it and will add a few tongue-in-cheek imitations of real published books: the way the authors write about the print itself on one of the back pages, which will be "comic sans" a print without the swiggles, and of course the dedication and the thank-you pages. My grandson, Brenden, has already asked about the dedication pages.