Author, photographer share publishing experience

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

So as you walk on your path of life

and journey through this world,

Remember,

You are the Quilt Maker.

You are the one who can touch the lives

of people around you.

Make your quilt as

Large,

Colorful

and Beautiful

as you can.

Kathryn Virnig, "Quilt of Life"

NEW ULM -- Sixth-graders at Washington Elementary got a glimpse into the real world of book publishing Tuesday, as author Kathryn Virnig and photographer Carrie Forstner shared their experience creating and self-publishing their book, "Quilt of Life."

A beautiful, nostalgic volume comparable to a longer poem, the book is a tribute to Virnig's late mother that evokes her "people-intensive," inclusive life. The book explores the analogy of a person's life as a quilt, enriched by the different "squares" of the people who "touch" it. The poetic text is coupled with artistic, dreamy-looking photos that support and enhance its ideas.

Virnig started her book with the idea of presenting it to just family members -- but the project soon expanded into a "coffee-table" volume. Virnig asked her friend Forstner to take photographs to illustrate the text. The success of the the first, 1,500-copy print run prompted a second run of 5,000 copies. The book is now marketed through a distributor, in all 50 states, Europe, Canada and Hong Kong.

The book was created in about a year, with the photo sessions spanning the seasons -- and giving the photos a more timeless feel. Virnig and Forstner took nearly 400 photos, using about 40 in the book.

In a joint presentation, Virnig and Forstner described each step of the process, from idea to finished product. They discussed the creation of various drafts, the digital enhancement of the photos, the layout process and the search for a printer. They also "demonstrated" the various stages, showing the students proofs that went back and forth between them and the printer and explaining things like metal plates, cover design and binding. The presentation concluded with Virnig's reading of the book and presenting the students with a piece of quilting material to symbolize her message.

The presentation was part of the sixth-grade's own book project, explained teacher Terri Schuette. As part of their language arts class, the students each "publish" their own book, mirroring the real-life process, explained Schuette. The students start with five story ideas, choosing two of them to outline a plot. They further narrow the ideas down to one, developing a full-fledged story. Schuette only requires that her students write about a subject they are familiar with and that at least two adults proofread their books.

Throughout the process, the students work in writing teams, brainstorming, developing diagrams and reading their stories to peers who serve as "sounding boards." The teacher guides the class through various steps -- cover design, title, copyright and table of contents pages, layout techniques ...

The resulting "product" goes into a "dummy book," before being transferred to the final, professional-looking books (called "bare books" because they come totally white from a school supply company). The project takes about a month and a half to complete and concludes with an "author's tea" when students share the books with parents, grandparents and neighbors.

The book project is intended as a way to apply what students have learned in class about writing, explains Schuette. It has the added benefit of involving families in students' school lives.

The students' books are graded on a variety of criteria, such as sustaining readers' interest, character development, organization, clarity, imagery, style, punctuation, spelling and grammar.

Virnig and Forstner will be signing their book at Lambrecht's this Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.