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Scholars and Publishers to Author and Publish Multimedia eBook on Digital Publishing in Three Hours

As a warm-up for the Computers and Writing 2003 conference hosted by Purdue University’s Department of English from May 22 through 25, 2003, a team of scholars and publishers will author, assemble, and publish an eBook in a record-setting three hours during a preconference workshop. “The conference theme, ‘Discovering Digital Dimensions,’ highlights new possibilities for transforming teaching and scholarship,” said David Blakesley, the program chair and workshop coordinator. “So we intend to demonstrate those possibilities in dramatic fashion.”

During the three-hour workshop, graduate students from a digital publishing course at Purdue, conference participants, and two publishers will team up to publish the eBook on the Web at no cost to readers. “We will be writing and editing some of the content during the workshop,” said Blakesley, the director of Purdue’s professional writing program. “But we will also be repurposing useful resources on digital publishing, most of which we’ll assemble and discuss during those busy three hours. Everyone will learn more about all facets of digital publishing, including eBook design and production, distribution, copyright law, and more. By the end, we will have published a high-quality eBook entitled Digital Publishing that will be a useful resource for scholars, students, and publishers.”

Bob Stein, the owner and founder of Night Kitchen—publisher of multimedia authoring and reading software—TK3 Author and TK3 Reader—will be on hand, as will Blakesley, who founded the independent scholarly publishing company, Parlor Press, in late 2002. Both publishers are eager to beat the record set in March by a team of authors and publishers in France, who managed the feat in just under 24 hours. Blakesley said that the book would be available for download through Parlor Press and Night Kitchen and on CD at the conference. Although not a priority, a printed version of the book may appear later.

For more information about Computers and Writing 2003 and the digital publishing workshop, visit the conference Web site or contact the conference organizers. At press time, there were still a few slots open for workshop participants. Registration forms are available at the Conference Web site.

Time and Place of Event
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., Thursday, May 22, 2003
Place: Digital Learning Collaboratory, Hicks Undergraduate Library, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Web sites
Computers and Writing 2003: http://www.cw2003.org
Department of English: http://www.sla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/
Professional Writing Program: http://pw.english.purdue.edu
Night Kitchen: http://www.nightkitchen.com
Parlor Press: http://www.parlorpress.com

Contact Information
Program Chair: Dr. David Blakesley (blakesle@purdue.edu)
Mailing Address: Department of English, 500 Oval Drive, Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
Phone: 765.494.3772 or 765.494.3730 (messages)
Fax: 765.494.3780 (ATTN: David Blakesley)