Christina Vasilevski

My most recent work at Ryerson has left me in a tizzy – a midterm and an assignment due for the same class on the same day. I think I did well on the midterm, but the number crunching on the assignment kept me up late. I’m not bad at math, but the particular formula I needed to remember just wasn’t coalescing. So eventually, I just figured “I know what answer I need to get, I just don’t know exactly what he prescribed for us to get there.  I’ll just use my own fomula to get to the same conclusion.”

I don’t know if it worked, but at least I’m still here!

Now, the interesting thing is that I’ve also received my next book production assignment: design your own book.

You heard me!

Imagine that you’re a production designer giving a printer the specs for any book in your imagination. YOU have to figure out what information the printer needs, including such things as page count, trim size, page breakdown, paper stock, etc. Then, on top of that, you have to figure out the interior design. It’s rather scary sounding, but maybe it’s just the kick in the butt I need to give InDesign a whirl.

I’ve decided to use this as a platform to imagine the published version of a story I’ve got running around in my own head: A quasi-post-apocalyptic thriller involving people who can heal others without the need for medical implements, and those who want to control them.

I’m imagining 6X9 trim size, groundwood paper stock, and maybe some embossing on the cover – and yes, perfect binding, thank you. I’m intending to make a generic mass-market book. What’s really interesting is that I never knew how much went into making a book before; now I feel a little better about paying full price for one.

Other than that, I’d like to give a shout-out to a lovely artist, Dylan Meconis, who draws the comic Family Man. I emailed her today because her most recent comic showed that one of the female leads enjoys reading The Metamorphoses, and as friends of mine know, I love me some Ovid. If you’re interested in webcomics involving German academics in the 18th Century, Jewish converts, and werewolves, check the comic out. Plus, Ms. Meconis will be in Toronto during the second weekend of May, so I can’t miss that!