Hi,
Well, it begins again--this time the photography. Ron Manville, who did such a great job with the photos in The Bread Baker's Apprentice (the BBA, as it is called on the internet) is flying in tomorrow, along with Nancy Austin, the Ten Speed Press art director (she did all the design work on the BBA--so we have the creative team back together again). For the next ten days we will be shooting the instructional photos as well as a few of the so-called "beauty shots." Ron will return in February for the final round of beauty shots, but our goal this time is to get as far ahead as possible so that February's shoot will be fairly easy (except for my part--baking all the loaves!). Ten Speed has graciously agreed to run at least as many photos in this book as in the BBA, and those will certainly help illustrate some of the more unusual methods and techniques this book will feature (mashes, soakers, spent grains, the "epoxy" method of combining pre-doughs, pineapple juice starters, etc. etc.).
What this also means is that for the next ten days I will be out of commission regarding recipe testing responses. I'm already a little behind and Yahoo changed their mail server to a Beta system that is better than the previous system, but I fear that some requests for test recipes may have slipped through the cracks. If you already have recipes to test, please continue and continue to send in your responses. If you have not heard from me recently with new recipes that you requested please send me that request again, but don't expect a response for the next two weeks. We can all use a respite from the testing (well, I know I need one) so we'll pick it up again after November 8. I have to say, the dedication of the active recipe testers (there are still about 100 of you who have hung in through thick and thin mash) is astounding. Your suggestions (including title suggestions) have been invaluable. No title yet, by the way, but I think we're getting closer. The photos may help reveal it, the way that the cover of the BBA was a pure gift from above, and served as the inspiration for that title. Sometimes the magic works....
I will report back at the end of this round of shooting and then it's back to the final tweaking of words and formulas. Onward.....
Peter
