The evolution of Fennel's Journal - Part 8

The Evolution of Fennel's Journal - Part 8

The Fennel's Journal series of books began life as handwritten letters. This series of eleven blogs tracks the development of the letters into what we know today.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11

2012: Fennel's Journal as a magazine

The PDF versions of the handwritten journal proved popular. Readers reported that they were printing off the letters and putting them in a binder as a souvenir keepsake. They asked whether the letters could be made available in printed form. 

Keen to keep moving forward, I decided to publish Fennel's Journal as a high quality magazine. This would be a mark of respect to my friend Bernard Venables who had encouraged me so much during the final decade of his life. Bernard had created a magazine called 'Creel' in the 1960s and I wanted to do something similar.

Quality limited edition magazine

The Fennel's Journal magazine would be a souvenir 'collectors' edition that – if it sold well – would encourage me to publish it in book form. I'd use quality art paper, have colour images throughout, and refuse to include external adverts (I felt they could compromise the branding and messaging). They'd be produced as a strict limited edition of 14 magazines. 600 copies would be printed of each magazine, of which the first 100 would be embossed with the Fennel's Priory stamp and signed by me. 

The first magazine edition of Fennel's Journal

The first edition to be produced.

Fennel's Journal magazine inside

Full colour throughout.

Signed copy of Fennel's Journal magazine by Fennel Hudson

The first 100 were signed and embossed.

Fennel's Journal magazine - embossed

The leatherbound binder

The magazines were housed in a super high quality leatherbound and gilt embossed binder. It was built to a 17th Century 'reading pane' design.

Fennel's Journal magazine - leather binder

Quarter leather with gold embossing.

Fennel's Journal magazine binder - inside

Marbled end papers, with spring-tensioned string retainers.

Fennel's Journal - personalised with owner's initials

Optional personalisation with owner's initials.

Behind the scenes

Fennel's Journal magazine by Fennel Hudson

A fine thing worth celebrating. (That's a whole teacup of neat gin courtesy of Mrs H.)

Fennel's journal shipped by hand

All orders assembled in my back bedroom. I'd work through the night to package up the orders on publication day.

Fennel's Journal magazine welcome letter

A welcome letter accompanied each magazine.

Humble beginnings

Fennel Hudson's study in 2012

I designed all the Fennel's Priory logos, first website, and first three magazines on that old computer. Writer's resources were always close to hand, including two bottles of port.

Fennel's Priory publishing - where it all began

Fennel's Priory publishing in 2012. Each box housed 50 magazines. I soon outgrew the space!

Workings

Fennel's Journal - storyboard for the first magazine

Storyboard for the first magazine: A Meaningful Life.


A Writer's Year by Fennel HudsonIf you like this blog, you'll like Fennel's book A Writer's Year

You might like the video of The Fennel's Journal Story.

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