BACK COVER | INSIDE
Published in 2001
93 pages
8.5x11"
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I think it's cool that you call Recipes For Disaster a book, even though it doesn't have a spine. Can you talk a bit about that?
Well, I try and call it a cookbooklet if someone hasn't seen it, so they won't think it looks puny. I also include a little line drawing of the book on all promotional postcards and posters, so people see the plastic spiral down the side.

Is there a difference in reader response to books as opposed to zines?
My folks would probably be even more proud of me if the cookbooklet was a bound book, but the experimental filmmakers and potential film artists I'm aiming for might be more likely to consider buying a 'zine style cookbooklet.

How do you decide the price of your books?
Because my book is a compilation of recipes donated by 37 filmmakers, I don't feel I should make any money from it myself. Also, I want to keep it cheap. The point of this booklet is to convince folks that films can be made without computers, without video, without big money. Inside are the cheapest filmmaking techniques around. So, I try and find the cheapest photocopy store ( a tip: Kinkos is NEVER the cheapest). I have them copy and spiral bind the books. I charge one dollar more than the actual cost of making the book. With that extra dollar, I am able to give away a copy here and there without losing too much money.
I only make 100 at a time. If I go ahead and make 1000 one day, they'll be cheaper. In Toronto, I was able to sell them for $7.75 Canadian dollars each. In the U.S., it cost me more to make them, so they are 9.00 (or 10.00 includes postage). That's 10 Canadian dollars for Canadians and 10 American dollars for Americans. This keeps it simple and people can mail a 10 dollar bill. So I lose a bit on the Canadian orders, but I get a little more on the U.S. orders.

What's your editing/refining process?
The 37 filmmakers submitted everything from scrawled notes on postcards to neatly typed instructions with photos. I simply photocopied what I got. It was still lots of work cutting and pasting them (with scissors and rubber cement) so they each fit and putting them into a good order.

How much did it cost? How did you raise the money to publish?
The 2001 SpliceThis! Super 8 Film Festival in Toronto asked if we could launch the booklet at the festival. This gave me a deadline so that it got done! They were able to give me 200 Canadian dollars, which almost covered the costs of copying and mailing each contributor his or her own copy.

Why aren't more women self-publishing books?
Good question. I hope more women will--women's books rock!

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(Psst! We're continuing the discussion on women publishing books over here.)