Book News from author Ronald Sieber: On to the Book Designer!

July 21, 2025

Hello, fellow readers:

July, July, just flying by! We've had a hot, wet summer on the eastern U.S. coast. When I dare step outside into the muggy soup we call "July air," I can't walk five feet before spying a weed that I just have bend over and pick. May is for flowers, but July? It's time to weed, and everywhere, it seems, are weeds...yuk!

Book Progress

Recently the manuscript and the completed illustrations went to Nathan Moehlmann of Goosepen Press. Nathan is now assembling the book interior and helping me decide on the this-n-that of making a professionally prepared, beautiful book. Below is Nathan's current idea for an inside title page:

This would serve as the first image as one opens the book. The exterior cover will be different.

We are making some changes to the wording, pagination, and even names! But there's no gnashing of my teeth going on, as it is all being done to make a better book for you, the reader.

If things go as planned, we should have a ready-to-print work in August. Then for me, it will be time to begin my Kickstarter fund-raiser!

Kickstarter Campaign

I'm planning to hold a Kickstarter campaign during the month of August (2025) to help defray costs associated with rolling out Blue Bug. The rewards will be guaranteed copies of the book. You can observe or even follow my campaign efforts by signing up for a free Kickstarter account and then typing in my campaign identifier, which is:

  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronalddsieber/the-importance-of-dreaming-big.

You'll be able to follow progress and even comment if you like. I hope to get the attention of and support from new readers who frequent Kickstarter, those folks who are looking for good projects to back. But I'd like for you to check it out as well, so please sign up and look for my campaign! Completely free to sign up for an account and look in on Blue Bug's progress...

Those who donate toward my cause will be able to secure a guaranteed copy of the book, which will be available in several formats and price ranges. You'll see all of the choices available if you visit my campaign, so please do!

Publishing Date

November 1st is my drop-dead must-be-published date at this point. Please refer to previous blog posts for more details; they should be linked to this current post.

Blue Bug will be sold on my website, www.BlueBugBook.com, but it will also be offered on Amazon KDP. However, a limited edition of the book (larger and deluxe) will only be offered on my website, along with other options. So, if you want a copy of the deluxe edition, visit www.BlueBugBook.com when they come on market and get your copy there. I'll let you know when we are ready to sell.

We'll share more news each month as we make progress, so stay tuned to this channel!

And don't forget:

If you'd like to read great stories about America's first sports cars, with over 100 articles on the topic, go visit my other website, https://www.classicspeedsters.com/ and click "Speedster Journal" on the task bar at the top. Or recommend it to a car-loving friend, whatever!

And, in case you have someone special who's looking for an awesome summer read on that topic, why - you are already right where there's a great book on that subject. Go check it out!

Happy roads,

=rds

Ali was my boat captain on an adventure in the South China Sea. I was in the bow, we hit a big wave, and I got soaked. What a blast!

Book News from author Ronald Sieber: Progress with Illustrations

Hello, fellow readers, and - hello, June!

Boy, it seemed like a mild, rainy Spring was just going to continue on into September down here in the Carolinas. And then, like a 2x6 in my face - Wham!

Hot temps, high humidity, beaucoup sun; welcome to summer in the South!

But there's no sense in complaining. I just sip my favorite beverage on my shady porch and read a book or magazine when I'm not writing, or doing chores, or visiting friends. I enjoy my blessings and try to share them with others, as I hope you all do too.

Book Progress

Here's an image of what the book will look like.

Blue Bug, The Story of a Girl and a Car, is going to the book designer on July 1. The illustrations are DONE, and =Boy!= do they look great! To recount the synopsis:

Hélène is a young French girl who loves a very special car that she calls "Blue Bug."

She dreams every night about Blue Bug and wishes to own it one day.

Are her dreams all for naught?

Will her wish come true?

Here's a little plot snippet for you to enjoy:

While on a trip to see a doctor, Hélène meets a famous woman named Helle Nice. Helle is a team Bugatti racing driver who encounters Hélène and Blue Bug the Bugatti. Hélène is sitting in Blue Bug while waiting for her father Emile, who is in the pharmacy getting medicine. Helle admires the beautiful car and tells Hélène about her own Bugatti story. Hélène tells Helle that she dreams of owning Blue Bug one day, and Helle encourages Hélène to dream big and hold onto her dreams, that they will come true one day. Then Helle departs and Hélène returns home with her father.

What happens next in the story?

Well, you'll just have to read the book when it comes out. And I think you will like reading it to your favorite children. I know of two little grandchildren that I'm going to read my copy to!

When will it be published?

Right now we are on track to have it available in several formats by November 1. Please refer to previous blog posts for more details; they should be linked to this current post.

Blue Bug will be sold on this website, but it will also be offered on Amazon KDP. We'll share more news each month as we make progress, so stay tuned to this channel!

Meanwhile...

Below is a book image from when Helle introduces herself to Hélène. Alex has done a marvelous job of illustrating the pages. Don't you agree?

After introducing herself, Helle Nice admires Blue Bug while Hélène tells Helle about it.

And don't forget:

If you need a great book to read for yourself or that special someone, hop on over to my other website and pick up a copy of Classic Speedsters.

Click https://www.classicspeedsters.com/ to go visit that site.

Happy roads,

=rds

Book News from author Ronald Sieber

May 2025

Happy Spring to everyone from Hillsborough, North Carolina!

Just a short note to update you on Blue Bug's book progress:

• We are about 2/3 done with the book images.

• Completed image files go to the book designer June 1.

• I plan to launch my Kickstarter fundraiser for Blue Bug on August 4 and run it for 3 weeks. Funds from this will be used to defray publication costs. Supporters will have first dibs on the book when it is published.

• We are shooting for a print date of September 1.

• We plan to go on sale November 3. The book will be available in several formats on this website as well as on Amazon KDP. Stay tuned for more details of that...

Below are a couple of finished drawings from the desk of Alex Wakefield:

The Countess at home in her favorite place, her garden. In the background, some of the staff's children play.

Hélène watches her father Emile as he works on a car. Emile is the mechanic and chauffeur for the Count (seen above), who works from his office in his chateau. The Count is almost never happy!

Alex is doing a great job with the illustrations, all of which are hand-drawn. I'm really excited about this project and look forward to sharing the completed book with you.

In closing, don't forget to check out my other website, www.ClassicSpeedsters.com. It would make a great present for someone in your life!

Happy roads,

Ronald Sieber