This weekend saw the Smoke Press start up in London, as the first shipment of my new book, SPBH Book Club Volume VI, a wonderful collaboration with SPBH Editions arrived from the printers, ready for the finale, to be smoked!
As the day dawned, sunlight shone over the stacks of plywood, tiny screws glistened and the smell of smoke filled the air as the flat packed Smoke Houses, reminded me of their last performance at Unseen Amsterdam, now a month ago.
Freshly axe cut wood chips where chopped and soaked in water, four smoke houses where put back together and a roaring fire was started with charcoal. The next step was to order, number and sign the books, a fair few hours passed before the smoking could commence and then, everything was ready, it was time to start!
The four smoke houses bellowed with thick white smoke, as one publication after another was placed inside for ten minutes, soaking up all the aromas that the wood, coals and plywood could muster up. After the strict timings where abided by, each book was quickly and carefully placed into plastic, to seal the smell. They were still warm to the touch, a literal nod to the saying, "hot off the press."
As night drew in, the fire still roared and smoke still poured from the smoke houses, until the first batch was finalised and a weekend of smoking was complete. Signed, sealed, smoked and delivered... very shortly indeed!
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