Update

The manuscript is finished!  Total page count 202 with 94 images.  The size of the book will 6" by 9" (standard in the industry).  I am negotiating prices with three different publishers to get the best deal and have submitted the text to my editor for final commentary.

 Although I wanted the images to be in color, I feel that they help tell the story and to limit the book to 20 or so images would be and injustice.  Therefore I have decided to print every photo I received in the book to help tell the story. I will still have to verify that all the images will look okay in Black and White.  Printing in full color is no longer an option for I have exceeded both the page limit and image count.  I have to resolve myself to this fact. 

Here is a second option for the cover.  I am undecided as of yet which way to go. 

Update on Book

Well progress on the book has been slow.  Not much interest lately and the manuscript has grown to 77 pages, which translates to approximately 115 pages; short of my proposed 150 pages.  I have been working on the cover page, and here is what I am leaning towards thus far.

If you know of anyone who would like to participate, but hasn't as of yet, please ask them to contact me as soon as possible.  Thanks to all that have contributed thus far.  This project certainly could not happen without you.

Status of Project

To date, I have spoken with over 150 people about this project and have received 73 completed surveys.  Not a bad ratio, 1 out of 2!  The manuscript sits around 73 pages long which would translate into approximately 109 published pages; a little short of my goal of 150 published pages.  I have made little headway with obtaining a sound offer from a publishing company and will most likely opt to self publish this work.  I am still collecting interviews, so tell all your friends to contact me, if they have not done so thus far.  Those of you that have picked up surveys and have not returned them, I urge you to take the time and get them to me.  Thanks to everyone thus far who has helped out, I really appreciate it.  The book has really taken shape and there are some really great stories and some cool looking tattoos in it.

The latest update

The initial wave of response to my proposed project has waned and has left me with only 46 pages of manuscript, far short on what I need to even consider publication.  I am concerned that the project may never come to fruition and that I have wasted the time of those individuals who have contributed thus far.  I had hoped to be completing the initial manuscript by Easter, but at this rate, I figure it may take another year to complete enough interviews to even pursue publishing. 

 

Update on the new book

I have talked to fifty people so far and the photos and stories I have received have been fascinating.  It seems that every tattoo has some special meaning to the owner or wearer which would never be realized by the average passerby.  That's what I am trying to accomplish with this work - what people have placed on their bodies speaks volumes to the type of person that they are inside, we have to look past our preconcived notions and prejudices to discover the true meanings behind the tattoos.  Everytime I receive a new photo of a tattoo and hear the story behind it I am amazed.

Intro to this site

I thought I would write about this site to explain what I am trying to accomplish.  This summer I got an idea for a new book while working.  Many people today have tattoos and most people who see them often wonder what is the meaning behind the tattoo, at least I did.  So I started talking to people about them and putting their stories on paper.  Consequently, I am really learning alot and people have been great.  The friends I have talked to about the book can't wait to read it. So.....

I looking for more people to talk to.  If you have a great tattoo and are willing to share your story with myself, contact me.