The First Printing Run of Recipes For Reciprocity (my book) is fresh off the presses and being shipped to me in bulk!

An update on my book printing process

I just received word that the first printing run of my book was successfully completed and is now being packed up to be shipped to me in bulk.

Here are some pics from the printing, section sewing and “perfect binding” process:

(The image above shows one of the first stages in the printing/binding process. First it is printed on 16-page sheets, then folded and cut into 4-page spreads, section sewn and then the cover is glued on via a process called “perfect binding”.)

Section-sewn binding is a time-consuming technique for sure, but the outcome is very impressive. First, each 16 page “signature” (A signature (sig) is a sheet of paper printed with four or more pages of a book) of the book is sewn with a thread. These signatures are then carefully glued to the spine to form the final product.

This process has been around for a long time. The process requires meticulous work but it allows you to create a polished book that not only looks neat but is also sturdy. Since each section is carefully sewn together, these books have a long shelf life. Section-sewn books can lay flat on a table or other surface.

(The image above shows what an exposed section sewn binding look like prior to having the cover glued on.)

This type of binding ensures durability. For soft cover books that will be heavily used, need to lay flat, or even bent back to be placed on a copy machine, a sewn and “perfect binding” glued-on cover is ideal.

(the image above shows an example of a section sewn softcover spine up close, making it easier to lay open on flat surfaces)

This is why I switched printing companies and paid extra so that those who purchase a copy of my book (and/or those that have a copy donated to their school/community) will be able to have access to the practical techniques, helpful ideas and regenerative concepts contained in its pages for many years.

(The image above shows the book covers before they were glued onto the section sewn pages of the interior of the book)

(the image above shows the covers and section sewn interior pages having been loosely placed together, before they were glued together and the pages trimmed to create the finished book)

(the image above shows a few finished copies of my book being packaged up for expedited shipping to me in advance of the bulk shipping for me to inspect and share locally)

---

I have been very happy with the quality and customer service of the printing company (New Titan Print) so if you are thinking of self-publishing your own book (and printing it in bulk, in a durable / HQ format) I can attest to their attention to detail, great communication, flexibility and precision as a printing company.

---

I look forward to getting everyone (who has pre-ordered a copy) their books and will post another update when I receive the Bill Of Lading when the pallet stacked high with books arrives for pick up.

A sincere thank you to those who believed in my book project and for wanting to work towards creating a regenerative, hopeful and abundant future along side of me.

---

---

For those that missed it. Here is a link to some reviews from people who have read the most updated version so you can see what people have been saying about the book so far.

Wishing you all prosperity, good health, peace of mind, food sovereignty and the distinctly uplifting feeling that arises when you take action to look within, to recognize your eternal spirit, allowing it to take the driver’s seat and then choosing to stop supporting what was and begin supporting and building the more regenerative world we all want to live in, one step and one handful of seeds at a time.

---

In celebration of the completion of the first printing of my book, I feel compelled to share this song as its lyrics speak to the journey I have taken thus far.

For those who do not have the time to listen to the song, I am sharing some of the lyrics below:

“Well, I no longer fear the unknown

'Cause I know what I am here for

I keep on troddin' on my own path

Keep on learnin' from my present and past, yeah

Well, I no longer need validation

'Cause my story is long and I'm patient

I know that I have lessons to learn

Keep my eyes open, each step I earn, yeah

No need for me to feel alone

'Cause I got a place that I call home

Every single road traveled, every single new place

I come back home, they accept me with grace, yeah…

…𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲

𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲,

𝗠𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵, 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗵

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝗵𝗲𝘆

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲

𝗜'𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲

'𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱,

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”