When I was in journalism school, the professors said you shouldn’t tell your competitors what you were working on. Ever.
Here is what we are working on this week.
1. “Mouldings in Practice.” This book ships from the printing plant in Michigan on Aug.8 and will hit the mail stream on Aug. 13. So here is the important news: Free shipping for “Mouldings in Practice” ends at midnight Aug. 8. After that, domestic shipping will add $6 to the price. If you want to save $6, place your pre-publication order before Aug. 8.
2. There will be 26 leather-bound and signed editions of “Mouldings in Practice.” These will be available for sale in the store in mid-August. The price will be $185, which includes domestic shipping. These books will be bound in brown calfskin and debossed in gold leaf – all by the good guys at Ohio Book in Cincinnati, Ohio. There will not be a waiting list for these books (please don’t ask). When they are available in the store, they will be available in the store.
3. There will be ePub and Kindle editions of “Mouldings in Practice” available in the fall. We are working on the conversions now.
4. The book “By Hand and Eye” by George Walker and Jim Tolpin is now in our hands and is being edited.
5. All of the essays and scans for the Roubo translation are complete. We are now editing the essays from Don Williams. Even if you have no love of marquetry, this is awesome and strong stuff. I shudder to think how much money we have spent so far on this project, and I am bewildered by how much time and money will be spent ahead. It will be worth every penny.
6. New projects on the horizon: A chair book from Peter Galbert. A book on EVERYTHING about saws by Andrew Lunn. A book on understanding wood by Chris Becksvoort. And a very special surprise for Christmas… a la Francais.
— Christopher Schwarz
ohhhh a la francais….
a book on the saw everything on saws ! i love this old atkins i bought from bad axe and now i know what a sharp saw can do nevermind how old it is. …. i have a couple of lie nielsen …i have the saw dvd by schwarz…. don’t mind me i just read the book list. What is happening to the book that Schwarz was going to write on furniture.
Shut up and take my money.
I look forward to the day you will have a catalog a person can order. A big, thick, awesome, mouth drouling catalog of all the books, DVDs, apparel, and accessories that all will housed in your warehouse treasure trove.
Now that’s a pipeline!
Love the photo
whaaaaaaat? Am I wrong by inferring that monsieur Roubo might be releasing his first American edition this December? oh I hope I’m not mistaken!
It has been a busy summer. It will be a busy fall. Perhaps I will start using a keyboard with French accents in it.
Holy smokes, you are a publishing magnate! Rosebud!
A comprehensive book on saws is something that I think is missing from today’s woodworking library. I have read Grimshaw, Hodgson, etc. and still don’t have a complete picture. There are some great videos that have come out recently but I, for one, have still wanted more. I have read all of Andrew’s past blog posts even though he has been out of the saw making business for well over a year . I would like to thank Chris and Andrew in advance because I know this will be a great book. Now “When will it be ready, Can I help proof read it, and will there be a nib chapter?”
“a la Francais.” ->> “à la française”. ;^)
Can I get my name on the list for a leather bound Lunn book NOW??
…..the book on chair making by Peter Galbert sounds interesting.
…..the chair making book by Peter Galbert sounds good.
Out of curiosity, who exactly ARE your competitors? Nobody I know is publishing anything like your material, except maybe UNC Press when it puts out a new Roy Underhill book.
In truth, our real competitors are the iPad, HDTV, the lawn and your phone. Really, anything that eats up your valuable time and reduces the time you have to read woodworking stuff.
In more practical terms, there are several web sites and magazines that watch what we do and alter their content to suit. I’m absolutely not complaining. I started my newspaper career in a two-newspaper town and rather enjoy the blood sport. Megan at Pop Wood might tell you that I enjoy it a bit too much.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” – Charles Caleb Colton. I have also observed the articles coming out in woodworking magazines / blogs on subjects that Chris has recently covered. We should be glad. This isn’t a zero sum game and everyone benefits.
Agreed. I welcome any attention to traditional practices. No matter who publishes it.
Well then, I suppose my lawn mower doesn’t really care what’s coming up on the Lost Art autumn list…
Business-wise, it’s not bad to have other publications playing catch-up to you. Better than the other way around. Now I need to go order that moldings book because it’s the only current source of comprehensive information on the subject.
Like the pic. Peter Ross dividers?
(Which got me thinking, I know LAP publishes “traditional woodworking techniques”, but smithing(?) is becoming a lost art, how about talking Peter into a book?)
Oh yes! A Peter Ross book!
!!!
Where can I pre-order it ?
HEY! Don’t lose focus on the Don Williams project on the STUDLEY TOOL BOX! This toolbox has captured the imagination of a generation of woodworkers, has very wide appeal, will sell like hotcakes across the spectrum of hand tool aficionados and Norm-ites, hobbyists,and professionals. Yes, we (your smaller audience) enjoy the esoterica of the hand tool trade, but in order for you to finance it (and not live out of a hatchback forever) you need a grand slam that pays for the rest of the important work you do. The logistics alone of getting this book out on a grand scale is mind boggling. Hell, I’ll send in a pre-pre-pre-order, just name your price (leather bound, of course)
Graham,
The Studley book cannot move forward until the Roubo books are complete. We are scheduled to visit the chest again this fall for a second round of photos, video and measurements.
It’s more than a year away from publication — perhaps two years. But it will be published.
Ordered my moulding book last week, can’t wait. Now all I need is a pair of #6 or #8 H&R to practice with
I hope that By Hand and Eye will be available at Lee Valley or that the ePub will follow shortly….or that you’ll start shipping to Canada.
Paul,
So far Lee Valley has carried all of our books. So I suspect they will carry this one.
Thanks. I wasn’t aware of that. Odd to find The Essential Woodworker listed under “Gift/Novelty”. I’ll suggest that they add publisher to their search terms.
Ah, so I see that you have come around to my suggestion of offering the leather-bound, signed versions of Matt’s book. Well played. And thank you.
When do you anticipate your book tentatively titled “Furniture of Necessity” will be published?
What about “Furniture of Necessity” and the audio book “Joiner and cabinet Maker”??
James,
It should be this time next year. Two chapters done… .
The audiobook is being edited now. I hope to finish that up in August. “Furniture of Necessity” will be out in June 2013.
Your books are little treasures that happen to be written on a subject I enjoy. Will the wood book by CB discuss the how best to orient grain for function/joints? When I was taught dovetailing I was taught to orient the backside inward to pinch the top seam closed as the wood naturally wishes to cup this way. It made me wish there was a book on such a topic.
Also, how about a book by you and some of the others discussing the joys and perils of how best to introduce children to hand tools. I always laugh when I read how you daughter wanted to keep making shavings out of the chest of drawers from J&C.
Wishing you all continued success.
The quantity and quality of work Peter Galbert has done and shared on his blog is tremendous. The book should be amazing.