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jaxx6166 · 08-02-2010, 08:29 PM

My great uncle has prostate cancer. He basically told me that he's not long for this world...

They've always supported my writing and my reading addiction, and I want to give back to them.

For as long as I can remember, my uncle has always built ship models. Not like you buy this kit at a store and put it together. He's spent the last twenty or so years of his life looking through naval history books and making ships piece by piece by piece.

Right now he's working on a 1585 Chinese junk ship. It's around 85% complete and he made it entirely out of coffee stirrers. All he has left to do is paint it and finish the stand. He's been working on it off and on for the past seven years.

I'm in the process of writing a short (35k - 45k) based on his latest model. When I finish, I plan on vanity publishing it through LuLu to give it to him as a thank you. Right now he's into historical fiction. I actually just got his copy of Crichton's "The Great Train Robbery." The problem is, he's pretty much a super genius (working for NASA / volunteering with the Smithsonian for over ten years) so I don't really want to disappoint.

I could use all the help I can get. I'm hoping that someone here at MR would happen to have some special knowledge of sailing ships and the like. I've been googling the junk ships and chinese maritime legends/history.

The premise I have is super vague right now, all I've decided on is an old sailor going on one last voyage. When all is said and done, I want to have the closest to a professional quality vanity print for them, including complete cover design and editing. If you guys would be able to give me any help. I'd appreciate it.

The only "payment" I can offer is karma cookies and acknowledgement in the "end credits," if you will. I'd do a big thank you in the introduction and dedication, but I'm going to end up devoting that to sappy stuff about my great aunt and uncle

Thanks guys.

08-02-2010, 08:29 PM	#1
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	A Charity Case My great uncle has prostate cancer. He basically told me that he's not long for this world... They've always supported my writing and my reading addiction, and I want to give back to them. For as long as I can remember, my uncle has always built ship models. Not like you buy this kit at a store and put it together. He's spent the last twenty or so years of his life looking through naval history books and making ships piece by piece by piece. Right now he's working on a 1585 Chinese junk ship. It's around 85% complete and he made it entirely out of coffee stirrers. All he has left to do is paint it and finish the stand. He's been working on it off and on for the past seven years. I'm in the process of writing a short (35k - 45k) based on his latest model. When I finish, I plan on vanity publishing it through LuLu to give it to him as a thank you. Right now he's into historical fiction. I actually just got his copy of Crichton's "The Great Train Robbery." The problem is, he's pretty much a super genius (working for NASA / volunteering with the Smithsonian for over ten years) so I don't really want to disappoint. I could use all the help I can get. I'm hoping that someone here at MR would happen to have some special knowledge of sailing ships and the like. I've been googling the junk ships and chinese maritime legends/history. The premise I have is super vague right now, all I've decided on is an old sailor going on one last voyage. When all is said and done, I want to have the closest to a professional quality vanity print for them, including complete cover design and editing. If you guys would be able to give me any help. I'd appreciate it. The only "payment" I can offer is karma cookies and acknowledgement in the "end credits," if you will. I'd do a big thank you in the introduction and dedication, but I'm going to end up devoting that to sappy stuff about my great aunt and uncle Thanks guys.