Before I get to the Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects book giveaway — details below! — I wanted to quickly take you behind the scenes into the making of a chapter.
One of the absolute coolest things I will ever do with my whole entire life is making this book with my daughter.
It also turned out to be on the most challenging things. You know what they say: Never work with animals or kids, especially those who get hangry like their father.
For the “flying shirt” craft project, I had an idea for a photo shoot. Something all super hero-y against a cityscape.
Emme had her … own ideas.
We got to the top of Twin Peaks in San Francisco and she immediately picked up a stick.
This will be my super hero weapon, she said. I want you to get a really good picture of the stick, OK. It’s key.
But wait, I said, the photo should be about the shirt, right? Not the stick.
It’s not a stick. It’s a light … saver.
Look, I’ll get a picture of your … light saver. Then I’ll get a photo of the shirt, deal?
But which one will we use in the book?
Well the shirt of course!
I disagree with your artistic vision, father.
Fine, fine. Just stand over here for a second and give me a good super hero pose. Something that says, I can save the day!
Do you mean like this?
Yes.
Yes that is exactly it.
Eventually we found a shot we both liked and then we went about banging swords for a bit, busting all the bad guys. It was a great day.
Some miracle collision of luck and planets and who knows what else occurred and this is how Emme and I get to spend part of our time together: working on cool crafts and turning them into chapters of books for all to enjoy. I hope every reader of the book has this much fun. Because that’s what it’s all about.
Now … onward to the giveaway!
Dad’s Book is officially out this Saturday, although the publisher said it might start appearing in stores as soon as today. As my editor politely put it: “You’re not Ted Kennedy or J.K. Rowling, you freaking idiot. It’s not like they’re going to hide first editions until midnight for this.” Or something like that. He might have also said I was his favorite.
To win an free copy, all you have to do is leave a comment below and/or share this post on Facebook. Please tag me so I know who shared. Each comment or share will be taken in order and then I’ll use that fancy Internet randomizer to select a winner Thursday at 8 p.m. PST.
