My name is Keith Lowe, and I am a bassist in Seattle, Washington. For some years I have had an interest in books, which eventually led me to study book binding. Through my bookish desires and chronic bibliomania, I met Rollin Milroy of  Heavenly Monkey, a wonderful press in Vancouver, BC.  At that time I was entertaining thoughts of a career change and was constantly asking Rollin for ideas. Rollin suggested that I  combine my two passions and  publish books related to my world of music. With that thought in mind, I approached my friend and musical colleague David Sylvian about publishing and binding a limited edition book of his lyrics. Although that projects future remains to be seen, David thought of me last year when musician Harold Budd was looking for a publisher for his collection of poems.  I have long been a fan of Harold's thoughtful, beautiful, and delicate music, and I am grateful to David for thinking  of me for the job. This would truly be an amazing way to start MoonLiner Books!

Since I am relatively new to the book world, I immediately thought of Rollin and asked if he would be interested in helping with this project. To my delight and deep appreciation he accepted. The outcome of this collaboration is Colorful Fortune, a collection of poems and drawings to be co-published by Heavenly Monkey Editions and MoonLiner Books.

About the book:

THE LIMITED EDITION

The limited edition of Colorful Fortune was be printed on Rives Lightweight, a classic French mouldmade paper. Each of the 50 copies are signed and numbered by Harold, and separated into two issue states.

Copies 11 - 50 form the Press state. These will be hand-bound in limp paper vellum by me, based on the traditional limp vellum binding used for books throughout the Renaissance. The vellum paper is specially made for us from abaca fiber by papermaker Reg Lissel. It is a tremendously tough material, with a feel remarkably like vellum. It is also semi-translucent, a characteristic used to great effect in the design: the case is lined with a sheet printed with the title and one of the drawings. The printed text sheets are folded into three signatures and hand-sewn on to paper vellum supports; the spine is lightly pasted and lined with gampi; and the book is then pasted into the paper vellum cover.

Copies 1 - 10 of the limited edition form the Deluxe state. Each includes intaglio reproductions (i.e. photo-etchings) of four preliminary arabeques Harold drew for the project, which were not used in the final layout. These four drawings were printed by master printer Peter Braune at New Leaf Editions, and bound into the back of the book. Also bound into each of these Deluxe copies is one of the 14 original drawings reproduced in Colorful Fortune, signed and dated by Harold. The Deluxe copies are bound in quarter leather by Claudia Cohen. The boards are covered in paste papers Claudia created for this project, inspired by Harold's arabesques. During a career that spans more than 30 years, Claudia has worked on projects for just about every major American private press, including Leonard Baskin's Gehenna Press, Barry Moser's Pennyroyal Press, Alan James Robinson's Cheloniidae Press, the Museum of Modern Art, and numerous others.

TRADE PAPERBACK EDITION

The trade paperback was printed from the same setting as the limited edition, on Mohawk Superfine acid-free paper. The book was Smythe sewn and put into a stiff paper wrap printed in two colors (black and silver). Except for the paper and binding, it is identical in content to the limited edition.

ORDERING

Colorful Fortune is 5.5. x 9 inches, 34 pages. The limiteds will be distributed primarily through professional booksellers. A small number of Press Issue copies from the limited edition can be purchased directly from Heavenly Monkey. Once these are taken, private & institutional collectors interested in reserving a copy of the limited edition should contact any of the booksellers listed on the HM Friends page.

The Press Issue (copies 11 - 50) is priced at US$325. Payment for orders from new customers will be requested in advance of delivery. Please inquire with our booksellers for further details on the the Deluxe Issue (copies 1 - 10).

The trade paperback is priced at US$35. It is available exclusively through Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers of Seattle.

photo of keith by carrie robinson