Day 106 – …And If Anyone Orders Any !*&#W Merlot, I’m Leaving.

There’s a great line in Sideways (the movie) that Maya says to Miles:

“I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing; how the sun was shining; if it rained. I like to think about all the people who tended and picked the grapes.”

Writer Chris Jones took that line as inspiration for her own book, One Vintage.

A copy of the cork-bound One Vintage, in my attempt at a creative staging. That's one of Noël's wine goblets in the forefront.

Jones, who is also co-owner of the Faith Vineyard in Los Olivos, California in the Santa Ynez Valley (where Sideways takes place), takes us through exactly that: one year in the life of a vineyard. She talks about everything Maya touches upon: how the sun was shining, if it rained, and especially the people who tended and picked the grapes.

In fact, it is quite a personal account in some places, detailing some difficult family moments throughout the year.

It is also a great account of exactly what it takes to keep a vineyard running, complete with images throughout. If you’ve ever wondered about what it takes to keep a vineyard thriving and productive, you just might be surprised at how much it takes.

This is not your typical self-published book though. It is bound by cork, which I was particularly taken by. Jones obviously devoted some time, energy, and capital to do it right, complete with two attached bookmark ribbons. A very nice touch. When I got my copy, I was even more impressed by the quality than I had expected.

Overall (and I’m trying really hard not to turn into a book review here…) this is a great book for both book lovers and wine lovers who like to have an “insider’s view” on the grape growing process.

But before I even read the book, I was taken by the fact it was self-published, which is why I’m talking about it here. Jones commissioned her own website in support of the book (www.sagehillpublishing.com) and even put together a press kit.

I’ve emailed Chris Jones a few times to get some information about her publishing experience. I don’t want to tell her story for her, but suffice to say that she felt so strongly about the story and the concept that she went ahead and printed her own books. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but I for one — and I suspect anyone who gets there hands (literally) on this book — is happy that she did it.

Her “story behind the story” about self-publishing is certainly an inspiration to me.

Find out more:
www.sagehillpublishing.com

Great writing session today. Added a new scene, which I’ll continue with tomorrow.

~Graham

(Novel Writing Totals)

Hours Today: 1
Words Today: 1,698
Hours Total: 71
Words Total: 96,304