by On July 1, 2005 Janna and I finished writing and creating images for illustration in our Hand Jive book published by Barnes & Noble in New York. The book has been in production for the last year and is now ready to be sent to the printer this week for publication and distribution and sale!
You can see images of the Hand Jive book cover art below and if you have any comments or see any errors, please leave a specific comment. The first image is the front cover and spine; the second image is the back cover; the third image is the inside front flap; the last image is the inside back flap.
I can’t wait to get myself a copy. This book looks awesome.
Hi Gordon!
Thanks for the super comment!
This book was a new experience for us. We’re used to doing books and projects in three months and having them on the shelf/web for sale two months later. This was a much longer process and it will be interesting to see how it all fits together as one.
I will surely suggest it to friends.
Incidentally, I had a very strange dream involving you. We met up for the first time and you were encouraging me to be on stage with this strange rock band that had its lyrics on a big projection screen, with me singing karaoke style.
The really weird part of the dream was that even though I knew it was you, you didn’t look at all like you. I just realized that in the dream, you looked a lot more like Kurt Vonnegut
The book reminds me of a “power japanese” book I bought many years back. It had lots of super slang that I wonder if people still use 12 years later. 🙂
Hey Gordon!
Thanks for shilling the book to all your friends!
Your dream is interesting and open to lots of interesting interpretations!
Most people, including my students, and Janna Marie, tell me I look exactly like Edward Norton:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Norton
This book will be timeless! It’s Power ASL for the Ages!
😀
I think the idea of the book is great but I’m not so sure about the colors on the cover. Orange and lime green? Did you pick that combo?
Hey soos!
Thanks for the comment about the content!
😀
We did not pick the colors. B&N picked the colors.
The colors make the book look old to me. Like the 1960’s. Maybe that’s the idea?
I don’t know why those colors were selected, soos. You could be right the retro feel is intentional. Maybe these colors are the new hip experience?
I was initially surprised by the color, but then thought that it was designed to go with “jive” – rather 70’s. The font goes with the colors. One can tell from the language chosen that it’s not 70’s.
I like the way the oval shapes give a dynamic feel.
That’s my professional opinion -hahaha.
Hi Antoinette!
Yeah, maybe it’s more a 70’s feel than a ’60’s feel?
Thanks for the detailed comments! I know they are helpful!
Dave —
Do you need to color correct an LCD screen?
I use PhotoShop CS2 for Mac. I always think in RGB terms but I can see why CMYK is a better way to consider colors.
Looks like a pretty cool book to me.
Any book that promises to use graphic language while teaching me how to hook up and get down is a must buy!
Now that you have the book done, you’ll have to find a way to get it profiled in Oprah’s Bookclub. I can actually see a show featuring Janna and you sitting on the couch with Oprah teaching her audience how to sign.
Hey Chris!
Ha! You’re on to the heart of the book! Teaching while you have fun!
Oooo! It would be great to get on Oprah and get in her book club! Can you make that happen?
😀
We offered to do “book readings” at local Barnes and Noble stores — any other store — where we’d present the book, sign books, teach some signs, have a Q&A session… it would be like taking an ASL class with us along with some fun and games and other crazy stuff.
My heartiest congratulations to both of you, Janna and David!
The color combination looks a bit subdued, but it has a classic appeal even while “talking trash, hooking up and getting down!â€
One more addition to my “to buy†list! 😀
Hi David,
I actually know someone who told me once that she wrote a letter to Oprah asking for a wheelchair for a relative who couldn’t afford one. A few weeks after writing, she said that her relative received a check to buy the wheelchair from Oprah’s charity fund. I don’t know if its true or not, but it’s nice to think that you could write a letter to someone and actually get some favorable response that makes a difference.
I’d say all you have to do is ask Oprah’s book club people — if she says no, you’re in no worse position than if you never asked.
But, if she says yes …
I definetly want a copy. I like the cover and the theme. I can’t wait to “tell someone off with one finger”!!
Johnna
Hi Katha!
Thanks for the feedback and thanks for adding our book to your “buy” list!
Chris!
That’s an interesting story about Oprah. I bet she gets hit up a lot for cash.
😀
Love the Book Club idea! I’ll have to check into it!
Heya Johnna!
Nice to hear from you! Thanks for the commitment to buy!
I am thrilled to hear both the theme and cover work and the book will work out more than one finger!
Congratulations on the completion of your book. The “book readings” sound like great fun!
Thanks Antoinette!
It was quite an experience. Janna and I had to work super-tight together to get this done and we consider ourselves lucky that we’re alive… and still married!