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Released in 1999, this is my first "real" origami book, i.e. one
not about flying objects! I took over the project from another well-known author,
who had to pull out. This meant a generally tight deadline and consequently little
time to source and obtain permission for exciting and unusual designs. It has
traditional designs, plus some of mine, a superb Santa by Ishibashi, Takegawa,
Neale and Pam Bisman. As ever, the American version has models on the cover that
aren't in the book!
With a major exception, it turned out quite well. The ring-bound format is
especially useful and a free pack of paper was included. The photography was pretty
good, although I'm still not convinced that photographs alone are the ideal
solution. I'm trying to persuade publishers to let me add standard origami symbols
to the photograph - they just don't quite grasp how efficient they are in communicating
folding instructions. To my mind, qa combination of photos & symbols would
be pretty enar perfect.
I mentioned a problem. One of the publishers ideas was to have a "quick
reference" at the foot of each page, reminding the reader how to perform
standard bases and folds. I sent down artwork to be copied. This was returned,
full of flaws, at the last minute. I contacting them immediately, pointing out
that they needed substantial, though not difficult, corrections, and posted these
down the same day. I confirmed with them that they had arrived & heard no
more, assuming all was well.
 Imagine
my surprise when the book arrived complete with unaltered artwork! Another
surprise was the "gallery" section at the end, in which they
had photographed some sample models I had left at our initial meeting.
They were never intended to be used and were made to a lower standard,
from paper I wanted to use up. To see them in the finished book was, well,
a big surprise!
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seems that each book brings it's own lessons and I'm fairly philosophical
about it all. The faults don't spoil the majority of the book, which is
colourful and attractive. It's been translated into Italian, French and
German, although I haven't been sent a copy of either. If anyone can get
me, I'll be happy to cover costs.
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