Ready for the big new? Are you sure your ready?
Maybe I’ll just wait till tomorrow…
Just kidding! I think you’ve waited long enough.
The big news is that Patrick and I have just signed a contract to write a book! Our publisher, Chelsea Green, has published some really amazing books. In fact, at our first meeting with Margo Baldwin, the president of Chelsea Green, I started telling her about this great book I had just finished called Mad Sheep (which I highly recommend, BTW) and she laughed and told me that she had published it. Turns out I had read lots of their books, including all of Joel Salatin’s books.
Chelsea Green is such a great fit for us. Obviously we are just over the moon about the book although I am going to be really, really, really busy for the next two months because the manuscript is due on October 31st. Why? Because the book is coming out in the Spring and there is ever-so-much that has to happen between my turning it in and seeing it in print. (Quirkles, my dear friend and shareholder knows all about this!)
The first thing we have to so is get the title and subtitle to our editor ASAP so they can start working on a cover for the Spring catalog. Here’s where you come it.
As you know, this summer has been stupid-crazy-busy and I had planned to use my vacation week to knock this title out. But know I have a cold and my brain is addled from all the cold medicine I’m taking. Help me out here, friends! Leave a comment on this blog with your suggestion for title and subtitle. I’m not guaranteeing that we will chose from your suggestions but if we use your title and/or subtitle WE WILL SHOWER YOU WITH MVFF GOODNESS!
The winner(s) will receive one of our brand spanking new MVFF tote bags, (which you haven’t seen because I haven’t gotten around to taking a picture of them yet), a MVFF logo hat and t-shirt, a set of our photo postcards AND six skeins of our 100% Cormo yarn in your choice of weight and color. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL.
You will also win an advance, autographed first edition copy of the book and a thank you in the book.
So, put your hand knit thinking caps on and let us hear your ideas.
Now for contest number two. To celebrate the publication of the book, Chelsea Green and MV Fiber Farm will be publishing an exclusive pattern. And that pattern could be yours! Would-be pattern designers (or pros for that matter) can submit as many original patterns as you like between now and October 31st. All patterns must include a photograph of the finished objected and must be completely original. Patterns can be for sweaters, scarves, hats, toy, whatever. Go crazy! Let your imagination run wild!
We will narrow the submitted entries down to five and let ya’ll vote on the winner. I’ll post more details here as things developed. Email me any questions at susangibbs1 [at] mac [dot] com.
XO,
Susan
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Here’s my idea:
Farm 2.0 -
A flock, 2 shepherds and an internet community that revolutionized the small farm.
It is a book about how you got to where you are? It seems like it started with an idea and grew to something that involved others to help you help them? (shares, etc)
Sheep, Share, Shear: The 3 S’s of Fiber Farming (preferably, subtitles are so lengthy but I guess you need them if it’s this kind of book?)
Maybe you could write your take on it all as a children’s book? How fun would that be with illustrations, etc? It could still tell the story, but in a more fun way.
Here’s a few more ideas to throw into the mix:
-Sheep Sharing
-A Yarn to Share
-Yarn Farmer
-Wool on the Web
-Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm (simple, but sweet!)
I guess it depends on where you want your book’s emphasis to be: your own personal path, life on the farm, the intersection of the internet and agriculture …
Herd Mentality: Gathering a Flock of Supporters to Help Shepherd Our Dream.
(you’ve had to think at least as much about gathering your Online Herd of supporters as you do about caring for your Offline Herd of fiber-makers!)
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