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New Technology, New Opportunities: The Espresso Book Machine Arrives At The University of Alberta Bookstore

A year ago (October, 2006) Todd Anderson, Director of the University of Alberta Bookstore, and I travelled to Boston to present a paper at The Fourth International Conference of the Book. Our paper, Competing With Free, discussed the trend towards using websites instead of textbooks in classes. Our paper surprised some of the people who attended our session, but what was most impressive about the conference was the presentation given by Jason Epstein. Epstein, a veteran of the book industry who also has a clear vision of a new future for it, is one of the people responsible for the development of OnDemand Books and the Espresso Book Machine. He talked about how the Espresso could produce a book, bound and trimmed, in as little as a minute, and how this technology can change the publishing industry.
Todd chatted with Jason after the presentation, and, as a result of that conversation, decided to buy an Espresso Book Machine for the University of Alberta Book Store. Todd's a man of vision and action: and today, one year and one week after hearing the story of this unique machine he saw the first books produced by the Espresso at the University of Alberta Bookstore. He and his staff were delighted with the results.
We at Spotted Cow Press are also very pleased that this machine – the most advanced Espresso unit manufactured thus far – is located at the U of A Bookstore. We are launching Twice in a Blue Moon: Poems by Joyce Harries on November 15, 2007, 7:00 PM at the Bookstore; books will be produced by the Espresso Book Machine during the launch. If you would like to attend please go to the Blue Moon page, download an invitation and notify us if you're coming so that we can make a name tag for you.
Joyce, an Edmonton poet and writer, will be reading from her book. She's very excited about seeing her book produced on site – the first trade book printed by the bookstore's Espresso machine.
I'll be writing more about the Espresso Book Machine and its potential. In the meantime, congratulations to Todd Anderson and the U of A Bookstore for seeing the potential of bringing this machine, the only one in Canada and one of just a few in the world, to Edmonton.

The results: books, and a very happy Todd Anderson

Friends, Food and Fun on the Sunshine Coast

We've just returned from visiting our friends Melanie and Fred in Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. They bought a house several years ago, then remodeled and renewed it and, in the process, created one of the finest homes in one of the most pleasant locations in North America. As I sit typing this at their dining room table I'm looking at the Strait of Georgia: lots of water and sky, enough space to satisfy even prairie folk like Mel and me.

The Sunshine Coast is accessible only by ferry or plane. We opted to travel with BC Ferries on this trip. The scenic route to Langdale (the first stop on the Sunshine Coast) takes only 40 minutes from Horsehoe Bay.

West Coast Air flies passengers from the Vancouver airport directly to Sechelt using the famous de Havilland Canada Beaver aircraft, which are probably the best bush planes ever built. They are a legend in this country, and I'm looking forward to flying in one on a future trip to Sechelt.

We began our visit with lunch at Molly's Reach, the restaurant in Gibsons made famous by The Beachcombers, the longest running series drama in Canadian television history. The Friends of the Beachcombers group on Facebook has an informative site which has (like all Facebook groups) opportunities to participate in discussions and other activities.
We enjoyed the chowder at Molly's and the visit to The Persephone (the boat used in the series) parked nearby.

We enjoyed a jazz brunch on Sunday morning at Spence on the Coast, a relatively new restaurant to which I will certainly return on my next visit. The musicians were jazz violinist Blaine Dunaway and Vancouver pianist Glenna Powrie, musicians who have well-deserved national and international reputations. Blaine Dunaway plays periodically with Harry Manx, another well-known musician who lives on the west coast of Canada. The arts thrive in this area.
Fine friends: fine food (especially that cooked by those friends): fine wine: a pleasant environment: and abundant music and conversation. What else is there?

Melanie Eastley, my wife Merle and Fred Macintosh.

Salmon on cedar.

Melanie and Merle

The Art Gallery of Windsor

The Art Gallery of Windsor is itself a work of art. It's a fine, innovative gallery, one which deserves continuing support from art lovers and funding agencies.
The first four photographs (looking north) include Detroit and the Detroit river.

More Photographs From Cranbrook

Here are several more photographs from the part of the campus we visited.

Visiting Cranbrook

We spent part of the day shopping in Windsor, Detroit and the surrounding area and the rest of it visiting Cranbrook.
Cranbrook is described as ',,,one of the world’s leading centers of education, science and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, House & Gardens, natural history museum and Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory schools.'
Cranbrook, founded in 1904 by philanthropists George and Ellen Booth, features the work of world-renowned architects and designers. The National Historic Landmark campus is 319 acres in size. The New York Times magazine has called it 'The most enchanted and enchanting setting in America.'

The featured exhibition at the Art Museum was entitled Hot House: Expanding the Field of Fiber at Cranbrook, 1970 – 2007. The website includes photos of some of the pieces in the show. Viewers on the web can enjoy a special online exhibition featuring photos of the work and artists over the period covered by the show.

I would love to spend days, weeks or months on this campus. I will certainly return to visit the Art Museum and to take the conducted tour of the grounds.
We need more institutions like this.

Fine Wines in Canada's Most Southern Region

We're in Ontario, visiting our daughter and son-in-law on this the (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend. It was a warm day here in Windsor with a high of 30 degrees C (that's 86 Fahrenheit if you live in Detroit, which is north of Windsor).
We visited three wineries today: Viewpointe Estate Winery, Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery and Sanson Estate Winery, all of which are located in a viticultural area on Lake Erie's north shore in Essex County. This is Canada's most southern region, with the same latitude as Bordeaux. I was delighted with the quality of the wines we tasted, and we went home with several bottles from each winery.

The Joy of Reading

This is Literacy Week in my city, and today I had the pleasure of reading The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier and A Hero Named Howe by Mike Leonetti to a group of Grade Four and Grade Five students at James Gibbons School.
I love being read to and I love reading to other people. These students were very attentive and interested in the books and in hockey in general (It is our national sport). Reading to a group is similar to telling stories around a campfire – but we need good stories and audiences which are interested. I was fortunate to have both.
We had time for questions, and the students were not shy about asking them.

'How old are you?'
'Do you like to read?'

'Is hockey your favourite sport?'
'Did you play hockey?'
'Did you play in a big league?'

'How do you publish a book?'
'How do you make the typing so neat?'
'How do you make the words so small?'
'Tell us more about publishing a book.'
'If I had a book to publish where would I take it?'

Spending time with these young students today was a privilege. They are so excited about learning, so keen about life: and their enthusiasm is contagious.