Thoughts from a Designer

In ordinary places you can find extraordinary things.

This sentence came to me one day while thinking about what to write about Deerbrook Editions. Then, a brook running through the woods, and then a deer drinking on the bank. The brook sound is a song. The deer is a spirit. I happen to live next to a brook called Deer Brook.

A friend of mine sent off a children's story through the brother of a friend that happened to work in the publishing business in New York. The brother liked the story, as did another editor friend of a friend. But the brother said that the publishing company probably wouldn't find interest in it because it wasn't commercial enough.

In opening the latest Consortium catalog for poetry and literature, consortiumacademic.com, I found a statement of dedication to the power of ideas, making independent thoughts available, and a promise that I would find stimulating books. The statement alone was inspiring. If I could write a paragraph like that . . .

Ideas are powerful. After viewing a recently aired show about the life and work of Garrison Keillor, which left me with a pleasing sense that there are remarkable folks out there creating beautiful music and literature, doing extraordinary things in ordinary places. It seems apparent to me that it is the people that make ideas powerful.

I believe that there are many more deserving writers and artists in the world than ever find a publisher or gallery that will present their work.
So far my catchy phrase that makes an introduction sound bite for Deerbook Editions is:

DESERVING AUTHORS • GOOD BOOKS

I think I might add:
In ordinary places you can find extraordinary things.

Deerbrook Editions books are beautiful books, well designed and in handsome covers. Though they are trade paper editions, my design background is in limited editions, so care is taken that text blocks and margins are balanced. We also use fine art on the cover whenever we can, often recommended by the author. I work with authors closely during the editorial process to ensure the content is in keeping with their intention of how the writing should appear.

Some of our authors have won prizes and fellowships, some do performance poetry, some write in other forms, or about art, and some play musical instruments. Most of them have taught or are teaching. My background is in visual art and design. There is a web site you can go to, idesignbooks, and view some of my work in book art. The site may be archaic, but I am taking steps to improve it with a new design and elements that make it more search engine friendly.

Thank you for buying Deerbrook Edition books, if you have, by doing so you are supporting writers and artists, not just a publisher. The more books we sell, the more authors we can publish, market, and promote. By buying our books you help us make a difference.