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The time is now right for the compilation of the Saab Pride of Ownership book.
If you weren’t around earlier this year, I ran a competition on this site called the Pride of Ownership competition. Entrants were asked to take a great photo (or photos) of their Saab and send them in along with some text about why they loved their car.
Click here to view the whole competition category
Click here to view the honorable mentions
Click here to view the Finalists
We ended up with some absolutely brilliant entries and warm fuzzy feelings all over the place as we shared Saab ownership sentiments all around the world.
At the conclusion of the competition, the plan was to produce a book of the entries for entrants or any other interested parties to purchase. As it turned out, I didn’t have the time nor the capacity to persue that idea and it’s been on the shelf all this year while I got my priorities in order.
Now is the time.
I’d like to keep this process as simple as possible. I’ll be using a web-based publishing house to compile the entries. It’ll most likely be a two-page spread per car, with the pages either 7×7 inches or 8×8 inches (depending on the costs people are willing to bear).
The number of cars and stories that I can feature in the book will either 40 r 60, depending once again on the amount people are willing to pay. 40 cars will mean an 80 page book. For a few dollars more I think I can get a 120 page book (60 cars), but I’ll have to work out what that pricing will be and let everyone know so that a decision can be made.
In the meantime, if you had an entry in the Saab Pride of Ownership competition, I’d like to get your consent to use your photo and story in the book. If you can provide that consent here in comments then that’d be great. I’ll contact all the people who don’t leave a message here by email, but if you can comment here and cut down the workload it’d be much appreciated.
I’d also like to invite all-comers to submit a photo/story for consideration. Even if you already submitted an entry in the competition, you’re welcome to submit something new as well. All competition entries submitted last year will be automatically be considered for the final product.
Please note: this is not another competition and there’s nothing to win this time, except some pride in having your Saab in the book. Also, please note that numbers will be limited and there’s no guarantee that your photo or story will make in there. They will all appear on line here at Trollhattan Saab, though.
——
What to do: I’d like to make this a book of fantastic imagery and well told stories about why people love owning their cars. What we’re after, then, are some great quality photos of your car, preferably in a fantastic or dramatic setting. Something that sets off the car nicely and maybe tells a little of your story as well (if appropriate).
For this book, the stories are going to be as important as the photos. I can edit the stories for readability, grammar, etc, but I need something to work with in the way of a good tale. So please, don’t just send the photo, send something with the photo.
Where to send it: Please send your entries to my gmail account at swade99@gmail.com. Please make sure you include the words Saab Pride in the subject header of the email. I’ll have a folder set up to receive emails with that header automatically so that they’re all filed in the one place.
What it’ll cost: Bank on a little over US$20 plus postage if it ends up being an 80 page book. A little more if it’s 120 pages. Does this seem appropriate to you?
In the interests of being totally transparent, there will be a margin of around $2 per book to cover the editing, compilation and marketing of the book.
——
I hope you’re all keen for this.
It’s not an easy time to be a Saab fan, but with all the positivity that surrounded the initial competition, I think this is going to be a fun project.
I’ll keep the entries open for a month. I hope that gives everyone who wants to enter sufficient time.
27 responses so far ↓
1 Vaidas
// Oct 10, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I think the PoO book is a fabulous idea and you obviously have my consent to use the pictures and the story. Is there a plan to have several pictures from an entry? I made many more pictures in that photo-session than I’ve submitted for the competition, and some of them might be better suited for the book. I’ll email the flickr link to you if you’re interested.
In addition to that, I’ll probably work on the story a bit more, if that’s alright. Being more of a photographer than a writer, I thought my story was a bit weak
Anyways, looking forward to the final product very much
2 swade
// Oct 10, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Vaidas, I’ve still got all the photos and yes, multiple shots are a possibility. Probably a main shot on one page, with a smaller supplementary shot with the story on a facing page.
I’d welcome a re-do of the story. Just send it to my gmail as indicated above.
And thanks for the consent!
3 Jörgen Trued
// Oct 10, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Great initiative!
Best positive piece of news on this dark economic day globally!
We all need a positive attitude now! Drive and have fun!
4 Wulf
// Oct 10, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Great idea! You can use my previous entry but I’ll also make something for my current car and send it in.
5 swade
// Oct 10, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Fantastic, Wulf. At least one Bonneville shot, please.
6 J
// Oct 10, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Fantastic news about the POO book project!
The ballpark price ($20-$22+pp) is very fair, too!
7 saabyurk
// Oct 10, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I don’t think my previous entries are worthy, but just in case, you’ve got my permission to use them. I’ll try to come up with something better before the month is up. I’m very glad this book is coming to fruition.
8 David
// Oct 10, 2008 at 11:05 pm
GREAT IDEA! Love the price.
I am totally for it and you more than have my consent. I was a little rushed last year for a pic, so I will try and get a better one for you this time.
David Watson
2007 60th Anniversary 9-3 Convt. Ice Blue
9 Tim in Denver
// Oct 10, 2008 at 11:45 pm
unlimited permission to use/edit as you see fit – granted, with pleasure!
Count me in for one book up to US $30.00.
- denvernewbie
10 Danni
// Oct 10, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Swade – you’ve got my consent to use my story and pictures. Am not too clued up in terms of quality and the location, but hope it meets the minimum standard for publication. No qualms with the price either. Too low, perhaps? About time for the book to see the light!
11 99GL
// Oct 10, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Still no Saab of my own, but count me in for a book at that price.
12 wilfried
// Oct 11, 2008 at 12:23 am
Great news.
The 9-3 SportCombi Rucksack has been occasionally used by me eldest son, the nice soft Saab Moose is baptised as ‘Max’ and became a permanent resident in the bed of my youngest son, so the pridebook will be mine and I’ll give it a premium place on my bookshelves.
13 Mike C.
// Oct 11, 2008 at 12:28 am
Swade, I think that this book is what every Saab owner needs, especially at this dismal time. I will be warming up my camera and story. I just received some goodies from “State of Nine” so the timing couldn’t be better. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.
14 Ryan M
// Oct 11, 2008 at 12:36 am
Sounds awesome and I can’t wait! No time to get my car spruced up and photo-worthy, plus I recently had a small collision I need to get repaired anyway, so I guess my story will have to wait awhile longer to be told
15 RJ (San Diego)
// Oct 11, 2008 at 4:31 am
I’m GO FOR LAUNCH!!! Let’s go full throttle and make Saab History with this book.
16 Robin M
// Oct 11, 2008 at 5:35 am
Swade, count me in please, also Gary too. We will get some better “words” to you as well.
Glad you are doing the book. Don’t forget to include your Saab and Johns too.
17 WillyD
// Oct 11, 2008 at 6:39 am
Swade – love the idea, and you have my consent as well. I have one more shot in mind, but feel free to use the pics submitted for the PoO, and the story. Count me in for the 120-pager! Bill
18 joemama
// Oct 11, 2008 at 11:49 am
I’m in! I might even get off my butt and take some photos of my car! I finally found a good place to shoot.
19 MOK24
// Oct 11, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Fantastic news! Of course you have unlimited permission to use the story and the pics I sent in. Count me in for almost one book!
Greetings Martin
20 edusaab
// Oct 11, 2008 at 11:19 pm
If we have more than 1 Saab xDDDDDDDDDDD????
Did you see the pics of the 900 convertible??
I will put a message in the Saab Club of Spain, members section, for sure some member will be pleased with the idea.
regards
21 blackturbo
// Oct 12, 2008 at 1:10 am
Swade, you can use my photos!
Then when I’m broke here in America, I’ll sue you over the rights
(JOKING!!)
Seriously you can use them.
22 900_S
// Oct 12, 2008 at 7:25 am
Beautiful idea! A book showcasing Saab love around the world…
23 SWINE
// Oct 13, 2008 at 8:33 pm
SAAB performance!!! Yameee!!)))))))))))
http://kachev.com/spt.swf 18mb!
24 Arnold
// Oct 16, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hello Swade,
I am sending some re-scanned pictures (improved ?) and a couple of extra for you to consider. The “SPG Wired” is a picture you will either hate or love. I think the wires really set the SPG off with a high-tech look. An unusual setting.
Hope there is something you can use and look forward to the book.
Regards, Arnold
25 stig
// Oct 18, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Awesome idea!
I may send you some photos and a few words just for fun but I do have my doubts that a beat up 900S will make the cut haha. If nothing else it will give me an excuse to retouch some of my better photos!
26 eggsngrits
// Oct 19, 2008 at 12:56 am
Sent in my entry this morning here in the US, arvo or evening there in Tassie. Write up could go either way, history or specific to the car in question, but I’ll stick with the history that I’ve already written. Consent given.
27 Wulf
// Oct 23, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Any suggestions on how long the write-up should be (how many words)? With my history of Saab purchases in the last few years, I probably could fill about 10 pages with pictures and text so I need some guidance here..