Virginia A. Spiegel

If you are tired of books full of projects and are more curious about the inspirations and motivations of an artist, then my book is for you.  Wild at the Edges: Inspiration from a Creative Life is stuffed full of artwork, photos of nature and my studio, essays, photos, and poems. But don’t take my word for it, here are comments from some of my readers:

It is such a RICH book. (I love this comment as this was exactly my intent in creating the book — to have something new to look at, read, or study each time you opened it).

Your spectacular artwork, combined with the enlightening text, and the beautiful photography; this book is a treasure!

I realized how powerful (at least to me) your art is when coupled with the photographs. You really should do an exhibit of both!

More readers’ comments, a multi-page preview and all the details about free shipping through Monday, March 22 are here.

Judy Coates Perez has a nice post about other artists, including herself, with books qualifying for free shipping.  Great choices!

The photo above of a small creek near my house doesn’t have anything to do with this post.  It is just one of my fav photos.  The beauty of the waning of winter.

I just mailed out my new postcard yesterday.  I am more and more leaning toward very specific communications with my Patrons and Art Friends.  If you would like to be added to my snail mail mailing list, just send drop me a line with, obviously, your snail mail.  I love receiving postcards from other artists, so do let me know if you maintain a snail mail list and I will reciprocate.

The link to my online March e-newsletter has also gone out to subscribers.  The e-newsletter includes a rare photo of Joe and I with our new companions, plus news of an artwork to a permanent archive, free shipping on my book, and, yes, alpacas.  Just send an e-mail message with SUB as the subject line to Virginia(at)Virginia.com if you would like to receive my free e-newsletter.

I love Blurb books for a variety of reasons, not the least because they offer specials periodically. If you have been thinking about ordering my book, Wild at the Edges: Inspiration from a Creative Life, now is the time.  Blurb is donating Free Ground/Economy shipping on all orders placed by March 22.

Just enter the promo code below at checkout and your book will be in your hands in about a week. Be sure to use the appropriate currency, based on your location.

USD $ promo code: WESHIP
GBP £ promo code: WESHIP2
EUR € promo code: WESHIP3

Here are the caveats: Offer valid through March 22, 2010 (11:59 p.m. PST). Offer covers Ground/Economy shipping costs for up to $7.99, £3.99, or €5.99 up to five books in one order, shipped to one address. This offer is good for one-time use and cannot be combined with other promotional codes or used for adjustments on previous orders.

Need MORE reasons to click over and check out my book?
1.  Check out the price.  Since I retired FFAC, I have reduced the price on Wild at the Edges as I donate to the ACS in other ways now. Wild at the Edges is offered in both soft and hardcover. If you can do the hardcover, it is well worth it.
2.  RAVE REVIEWS!
3.  Self-publishing is great for a book like Wild at the Edges.  NO projects, but a quirky, personal sensibility. I choose each photo and placed it to enhance each essay or poem. Reading Wild at the Edges is meant to be a journey, one that you can savor, study and enjoy in small moments of time.
4.  I have heard from many readers that Wild at the Edges is a great gift for artists of all types.  Many of the essays focus on what it means to be an artist –  the disappointments and the triumphs.

Thank you to all the readers who have shared their experience of reading Wild at the Edges. Some excerpts :

It is such a RICH book. (I love this comment as this was exactly my intent in creating the book — to have something new to look at, read, or study each time you opened it).

I am dazzled by your courage and strength to go out in the wilderness and hang out. Your spectacular artwork, combined with the enlightening text, and the beautiful photography; this book is a treasure!

I realized how powerful (at least to me) your art is when coupled with the photographs. You really should do an exhibit of both!

I just got your book yesterday and have read just the first third or so of it.  It is lovely – I know I will enjoy the rest of the journey!

To read more comments by readers of Wild at the Edges,  flip through a multi-page preview or order, click here.

Two more good reasons to purchase Wild at the Edges for yourself or a friend:  25% of all profits are donated to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause AND Blurb is a print-on-demand publisher so we are saving some trees.

Since Blurb is in the holiday mood until December 31 (with a $10 off coupon), check out this list of creative and inspirational books compiled by Judy Coates Perez.