RoothBooks

Abecedarium Anomalous and November-December

2011-11-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

November is Pomegranate Month—readers would agree that Abecedarium Anomalous is unique like this fruit.

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month—Abecedarium Anomalous: Alphabet Book Irregular, extraordinary gift for the universe of adventurous readers, sells to teachers and professionals in visual and performing arts who buy gifts of quality.

Please look in archived posts for our Yuletide abecedarium—enjoy!

See you next year!

Abecedarium Anomalous and Halloween

2011-10-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Please look in archived posts for our Halloween abecedarium—enjoy!

October is also Photographer Appreciation Month. Abecedarium Anomalous premieres diverse, rich black duotone photographs: Bulgarian and Turkish antiquities, Prague rooftops, Australian wallaby, Masai giraffe, African cheetah, leopard, elephant, Library of Congress lobby—to name some of the subjects in this eclectic collection.

To order a copy signed by both authors and decorated with an embossed gold foil award seal, email roothbooks@earthlink.net and ask for our publishers discount.

Abecedarium Anomalous and August: Inventors Month

2011-08-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

Abecedarium Anomalous ignites outside-the-box creativity in adults and children alike, an inspirational benefit and gift for valued clients or employees. Take a look at previous postings for more information.

Abecedarium Anomalous and July: National Make a Difference to Children Month

2011-07-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

In addition to its art book audience, Abecedarium Anomalous is for parents and grandparents personally involved with their children’s education, and stimulating fresh ideas through play.

More about Limited Edition A to Z, its companion playbook, page 2 shown above: this is a versatile teaching tool that can be tailored to suit grade and skill level, year-end subject review, independent study projects and class books.

Sherry Knight, sixth/seventh/eighth grade: “This was a great way to end the year … an alphabet book of ancient civilizations or geography or famous people of the past would be a painless review.”

MaryJo McKown, fifth grade: “Fifth graders needed to be assured that alphabet books could be sophisticated … these children walked away proudly with a piece of success.”

Carol Berman, fourth grade: “All of the class scored exceptionally high in language expression when tested at year’s end following this project.”

Brita Bautin, third grade: “Our class alphabet book on the town’s history, now in its second printing, is selling in the local museum—it is part of the third grade curriculum for learning local history.”

Patty Harrington, first/second grade: “My students remained excited throughout this project.”

If you want more information and to order a review copy of Limited Edition A to Z, please email the publisher, RoothBooks Intl: roothbooks@earthlink.net

Meanwhile, Happy Saint Swithin’s Day for July 15!

Abecedarium Anomalous used in classroom

2011-07-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

50 Years on the Road: Travel Journals of Ruth Keil Posselt, begun in January 2010, was completed in June 2011—213 pages for now. It will be added to as more roadtrips or cruises occur, and her grandchildren will be its ultimate readers.

The playbook [front cover above] Limited Edition A to Z: How to Produce Your Own Book is a product of the 10 years she volunteered as classroom author-in-residence in elementary and middle schools to teach the process of book publishing. This updated outside-the-box playbook is adapted from her classroom kit, and it relies on Abecedarium Anomalous as a creative thinking resource with student artwork and writing.

Teachers enthusiastically endorse this alphabet format as a nontraditional approach to writing in any subject area. They’ve used this playbook for a wide range of imaginative projects in grades 1 through 8.

Regardless of their age or level of sophistication, students are universally intrigued by book production, delighted when they see their own work in print at their authors party. Ruth Posselt enjoyed playing in the classroom, telling the students that book publishing for her is play instead of work.

Stay tuned for more about Limited Edition A to Z!

Abecedarium Anomalous author’s new book

2010-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is the working cover for a book that Ruth Keil Posselt has been composing since January, which is the main reason why blog posts are sporadic. While on the road she writes travel journals and films black-and-white photographs—this cover photo of shoes for sale is from the Camden Locks market in London, England.

Usually with her husband Stuart, often including their son Jason, they explored some 30 countries in Europe, three countries in Africa, one in Asia—also Australia and New Zealand, Canada and Mexico—and extensively in the United States. One of their goals is to see something fascinating in each of the 50 states plus Washington D.C. Their upcoming September-October roadtrip will cover the last six states to accomplish their goal.

The book is a longterm project intended as a gift for her grandchildren, and is already 200 pages. Most of her studio time is spent editing the journals and scanning the photos on her Mac.

Stay tuned!

Where in the world is Abecedarium Anomalous: Alphabet Book Irregular being read ???

2010-03-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Australia
Canada
Germany
Mexico
United States of America:
Alabama — Missouri
Arizona — Montana
California — Nevada
Colorado — New Jersey
Connecticut — New Mexico
Delaware — New York
Hawaii — North Carolina
Idaho — Ohio
Illinois — Oregon
Indiana — Pennsylvania
Iowa — Texas
Louisiana — Virginia
Massachusetts — Washington
Michigan — Washington D.C.

We delivered Abecedarium Anomalous to readers in these countries—is your state or country on this list? Here’s your chance! Order your signed copy at a special discount of $26.95 [the book retails for $32.95]—price includes priority mailing direct from the publisher, RoothBooks Intl. You can order from one book up to a carton of 30, and discounts increase with quantity.

Abecedarium Anomalous: new hardcover, opened only to sign both authors’ names—embossed gold foil award seal on front cover, bookmark and information sheet inside—packed in a clear archival reclosable bag.

Yes, you can order online for a higher price and used copy—or you can e-mail us:
roothbooks@earthlink.net and get a beautiful bargain! We reply promptly.

Or send us your personal check or mail order payable to RoothBooks Intl. —to 1611 Downs Drive, Minden, Nevada 89423.

Abecedarium Anomalous is a unique gift for every occasion:
•all holidays, including St. Swithin’s Day July 15
•birthdays and anniversaries
•mothers & fathers & grandparents days
•graduations and scholastic awards
•equinox & solstice festivals
•housewarmings
—to name a few!

For more information about the book, just scroll down to earlier postings on this blog.

Christmastide Celebration by Rooth

2009-12-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

•Artistic and Aromatic
•Brilliant Bronze Bells
•Candlelit Caroling
•Dazzling Decorations
•Electric Embroidery
•Festive Feasting
•Greeting Gifts
•Heartfelt Holiday
•Icicle Icing
•Joyful Jingling
•Kris Kringle Kaleidoscope
•Luminary Lighting
•Marzipan Marvels
•Nostalgic Narratives
•Ornament Orbs
•Pageants & Parades
•Quite Quintessential
•Red Ribbon Rhythms
•Solstice Season
•Tree Trimming Tinsel
•Utterly Universal
•Vivid Velvet Vests
•Wildwood Wreaths
•Xmas marks the calendar
•Yuletide Yore
•Zodiacal Zenith
Copyright © 2009 Ruth Keil Posselt

From RoothBooks Intl, here’s to twelve days of yuletide miracles for all of you -- back at you in 2010 with fresh intention to blog more often -- meanwhile, enjoy our author’s alliteration talents!

More negative prints

2009-09-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

From Tanzania and Kenya, East Africa: my portraits of a cheetah [also on blog title and Abecedarium Anomalous cover, positive print page 35], leopard in a tree [page 37 in book], and a Masai giraffe mother with baby. I’m off on a road trip to Maine, back at you toward the end of October -- stay tuned!

Photo portfolios of Ruth Keil Posselt

2009-09-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

My best black-and-white photographs are housed in 15 [so far] archival boxes and matted with black museum board. Most of them are from my travels worldwide since 1963. My newest portfolio is experimental, negative prints from my photographs scanned into my Macintosh computer and played with in PhotoShop.

This one is of a country cemetery on the road from Paris to Calais in France. It looks much more dramatic as a negative print.

Serendipity sells our book

2009-08-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

We thought we knew our book’s audience. Serendipity came later.

We launched Abecedarium Anomalous at an independent bookstore, authors signing party: celebration of animated reading, harp playing, tasty treats, selling a carton of 30 books.

We designed our bookmark business card and brochure mailed to family, friends, business associates. Orders were encouraging—one, two, three or more signed books—reordering continues. One friend bought more than a carton, another ordered nine as gifts, yet another ordered five to be sent to Canada and Australia.

We contacted professionals to hire for marketing, distribution and representation. The initial print run was 1,500 and we could go back to press as demand grew. We learned the print run had to be at least 10,000 to attract anyone’s interest.

The softcover studio edition of Abecedarium Anomalous: Alphabet Book Irregular came out of earlier writing projects, gallery shows, and a postcard line featuring childhood drawings. It sold in an art book fair at The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

Years later we redesigned the book with new photographs. We’d learned about ISBN numbers, read books about publishing, formed our company, joined the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association and the then Publishers Marketing Association, taken the Stanford Professional Publishing Course, attended conferences and seminars, listened to many independent publishers sharing our passion for the tactile pleasures of the printed book.

Abecedarium Anomalous is a black-and-white art book printed on elegant stock: black duotones as rich as the original photographs, pen-and-ink drawings, alliterative verse teasing the imagination and word definitions of child perspective. It ignites creativity, invites us to be silly in a playfully inventive parent/child gallery right out of tomorrow.

My son’s first employer, I paid him book royalties and for each word definition, illuminated alphabet letter and Picasso-esque drawing he’d produced between ages six and twelve. He earned enough to buy a dirt bike.

The book was expensive to manufacture. With money saved from my publications editor day job, we worked with designers and typographers and printers, and now could design on a Macintosh computer instead of doing pasteup by hand—such a miracle!

This book has earned awards—Writers Notes Art Category book award with embossed gold foil seal for the cover—Best Children’s Book [all black ink] by the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association—a quotable critique from a Benjamin Franklin Awards judge—and praise from many readers including the renowned Ray Bradbury: “You have written what I would call an edible feast.”

Its secondary audience is a serendipitous surprise: grandparents, teachers, parents reading it with children! The vocabulary is adult, yet parents at book signings explain that their youngsters can already say and spell “supercalifragilistic-expealidocious.”

Response to Abecedarium Anomalous continues to delight. Our former tax accountant in California and new one in Nevada each boought a book—the dermatologist’s assistant and gynecologist each bought a book—the radiation doctor and assistant each bought a book—the owner and employee of a frame shop each bought a book—two real estate agents bought a total of 40 for client gifts.

People met while traveling buy the book, including a store clerk in California, passengers on an Alaska cruise and a Canadian Rockies tour, a woman in Hawaii while waiting for the airport shuttle.

The new pet sitter fell in love with the book, bought six. A friend bought 12 for school library memorials. More than a carton sold to high school classmates, many copies at a fiftieth year reunion.

The book is selling in a gift boutique that orders at wholesale, and a hair stylist sells the book in her salon—local reps receive sales commissions.

We sell at a discount, and most of the books are signed. The signed copies are appearing on the Internet—some above retail!

Here’s the newest serendipity. Publishers Weekly arrived with another copy stuck to it addressed to a local public library. When we gave them their copy along with the bookmark business card and explained I was an author/publisher, we were invited to sell at their book fair—how cool is that!

Of course we would like Abecedarium Anomalous to come out from under the radar—yet watching it travel in the universe of adventurous readers is exciting and satisfying. We may soon launch a second book based on teaching the publishing process to elementary and middle school students for 10 years. It relies on Abecedarium Anomalous as a creative resource and is titled Limited Edition A to Z: How to Produce Your Own Book. Its audience: teachers and homeschooler parents.

A third book is almost ready: Dust Bunnies On Parade—e-mail us for information, roothbooks@earthlink.net.

Abecedarium Anomalous was accepted for the Premium Book Company special-sales catalog used by reps nationwide selling in quantity to non-bookstore outlets—wish us luck! When the books are gone, we might not go back to press. This is your chance to order while stock remains—contact us for discount information at roothbooks@earthlink.net.

Holiday Wreath

2009-08-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Titled Holiday Wreath: pinecones and seeds, Mardi Gras beads, electronics parts, mirror signature. This ends the series of 12 mobiles and stabiles based on clear plastic type wheels once used in typesetting. More found-materials constructions by Rooth in future blog posts—next time, a serendipity story, stay tuned!

Play it Again

2009-08-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Titled Play it Again: turntable record, jewelry, machinery parts, ornaments, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—last one next week!

Color Wheel

2009-07-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Titled Color Wheel: can tops, game parts, gears, Mardi Gras beads, bubble blowers from my son’s wedding, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

Tradition Textures

2009-07-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Below Wildflower Meadow, titled Tradition Textures: Lego toy and electronics parts, CDs framing black & white photos by me [clockwise from upper right—chimney sweep, through a lens kaleidoscope, dragon in Rose Parade, wood door detail, Chief Illiniwek dancing], mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction, see below—another one next week!

Wildflower Meadow

2009-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Titled Wildflower Meadow: clockworks, wood beads, mirror signature—one of my favorites. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

Rainbow Starlight

2009-07-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Titled Rainbow Starlight: Lite-Brite toy parts, Mardi Gras beads, metallic stars from my son’s wedding, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

Concert Extraordinaire

2009-06-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

Titled Concert Extraordinaire: Steinway piano parts, Mardi Gras beads, electronics parts, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

Circle Rhythms

2009-06-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

Titled Circle Rhythms: toy car wheels, machinery and electronics parts, pearls, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

Language Lesson

2009-06-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Titled Language Lesson: beer bottle caps printed in Hawaiian and English [for example, Aloha and Hello], electronics parts, purple Lite-Brite toy parts, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

Fun and Games

2009-06-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Titled Fun and Games: Bingo and Monopoly game tokens, mirror signature. By the way, you can click on any of my photos for a larger version to view details. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

H.T.H to You

2009-06-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Titled H.T.H. to You with school colors red and white to mark my high school class fiftieth reunion: red Mardi Gras beads and pencil-end hearts, red and clear Lite-Brite toy parts, electronics parts, mirror signature. Found-materials type wheel construction by Rooth, see below—another one next week!

found-materials constructions by Rooth

2009-05-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

What I do for fun: here begins my series of 12 mobiles and stabiles based on clear plastic type wheels that not so very long ago were used in typesetting.

This photo shows all 12 arranged on shelving. Barely visible on top, titled Working on the Railroad: Lite-Brite and train toy parts, mirror signature. My constructions all have mirrors somewhere in their design. Closeups to follow—stay tuned!

High-spirited Halloween Harlequinade by Rooth

2008-10-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

Autumn Abracadabra
Broomstick Bewitchery
Cemetery Carnival
Dragon Dreams
Enchantments Exciting
Fairyfolk Frolics
Ghostly Gala
Holiday Haunts
Illusions/Imaginary
Jaunty Jack-o’-lanterns
Kandy Korn Kisses
Legends & Lore
Midnight Masquerade
Natural Necromancy
Orbiting Owls
Pumpkin Promenade
Quintessentially Quixotic
Rollicking Revelry
Skeleton Shadows Spry
Trick-or-Treating
Unicorns Unique
Vivacious Vampires
Wizardry/Wondrous
X marks the spot
Yesteryear Yarns
Zestful Zaniness

Copyright © 2000 Ruth Keil Posselt

Bear Creek Pumpkin Sculptures

2008-10-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

In a Class by Itself

2008-08-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

The new edition of Abecedarium Anomalous is radically different from the book’s studio edition displayed in the 1993 art book fair at The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

“In an industry where creativity is the norm, this design is certainly one of the most unusual this judge has ever seen. From the front cover to the back, it combines an attention-grabbing collection of images, text and whimsical drawings in a dramatic black and white format. ...excellent example of the power that resides in a well-designed black and white design...simple and sophisticated at the same time...the high quality of the paper adds a sensual feeling. Extraordinarily well done!”—Benjamin Franklin Awards judge

In the classroom, this book motivates student authors to use photography as an art medium, inspiring them as independent author/publishers. “What a delightful book! Clever, musical language beautifully photographed and wonderfully illustrated. A family treasure. I can imagine the enthusiasm of the children reading this book—yet it is also a delicious addition to my coffee table collection.”—Ann Misoda, teacher

“Lush with words and drawings and photographs, all in black and white, it is a feast for the mind, eye, and the intellect. ...I applaud the phenomenal accomplishment of the book itself.”—Jeri Wilkins, wordsmith

Writers Notes Book Award: Art Category Notable

2008-07-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

“Children’s books are supposed to be fun to read and see. Abecedarium Anomalous does this and more, racing through the alphabet with beautiful black and white photos and informative tongue twisters. Even the letters offer learning linguistics. It transcends the genre and becomes a work of art. ...a pure joy on many levels.”

Writers Notes Magazine—www.WritersNotes.com

Attracting two audiences as an art book and a family book, acclaimed Abecedarium Anomalous benefits parents reading with their children by offering outside-the-box play unleashing their creativity. Using humor to entice adults and children alike into an unparalleled, inventive world, this book is guaranteed to exercise your mind, tickle your imagination!

“My four year old granddaughter and I opened your wonderful book together. It wasn’t long before my daughter came into the room and joined into the giggles with us. What a gift you have! Thanks for sharing it with us and all of your readers.” —Peggy Maloney, grandparent

This extraordinary book sells to parents and grandparents, teachers and librarians, professionals in the visual and performance arts. Their interests range from global travel, museums and art galleries, to buying unusual and original gifts of quality.

About Abecedarium Anomalous Authors

2008-07-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Commercial writer/editor/designer Ruth Keil Posselt for 40 years produced newsletters, books, other print media for the travel industry, government agencies, independent businesses.

For 10 years she also volunteered in elementary schools as classroom author-in-residence, where she developed a student authors kit and taught them the process of book publishing.

She earned her degree cum laude from the University of Illinois. Her passions for travel and photography led to exhibitions of her work in two California galleries.

Hiring her son Jason Posselt, she paid him for each ot his alphabet letters, drawings and word definitions—and book royalties. Encouraged in artmaking when he first picked up crayons at the age of two, he created his part of the book between ages six and twelve. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California and the University of California at Berkeley. His expertise is in the field of high-power LEDs.

They are both fans of author Ray Bradbury—here’s his quote in full: “You have written what I would call an edible feast, because words are, indeed, edible. The great thing about them is you not only can eat them, chew on them, but spit them out and try them again and the second time they’re even more delicious. Yours is a delicious book and I deeply appreciate having it.”
authors then ... and again

left photo by Julie Franken

right photo by Miyoji Productions

Abecedarium Anomalous: Alphabet Book Irregular

2008-07-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Renowned Ray Bradbury writes: “You have written what I would call an edible feast...yours is a delicious book and I deeply appreciate having it.”

Awarded Best Children’s Book [all black ink] by Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, Art Category Notable by Writers Notes—“pure joy on many levels”—and applause from a Benjamin Franklin Awards judge—“one is absolutely compelled to pick up the book”—Abecedarium Anomalous ignites creativity, inviting us to be silly in a parent/child gallery right out of tomorrow: black duotoned photographs rich as the originals, whimsical drawings, word definitions of child perspective, alliterative absurdities.

More about this uniquely beautiful book, its creation and authors will appear in future blogging—stay tuned! Meanwhile, if you can’t wait and want to contact the publisher for more information, e-mail us at roothbooks@earthlink.net and we will be happy to oblige with details and discount pricing.