July 1st, 1973

it is the first day of July

summer

a few facts I want to note–

for the past two weeks I’ve been working on the first book of a massive– year-long contract that Capitol Hill Graphics got with the Government Printing Office– 16 books all toll.

An incredible undertaking intended to transform our department from a production department for a sleepy little 24-page weekly into a successful composition house. All of the books are required to be letter perfect and flawlessly in accord with the GPO stylebook. We had two weeks to produce the first book– a 600 page Army Handbook on Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim. These books are intended as complete summaries of all the information available on areas where, I guess, someone may be stationed. Really interesting– the land, the culture, the history, psychological descriptions of the people– politics– economy, religion– tradition, etc.–

All of this was taken on with practically no planning– very little preparation and all sorts of conflicts as to what was expected.

As it has turned out– I have been working at breakneck speed on an average of 15-16 hours a day– going insane trying to get it done. Henry and I.

It’s been a tiring, exciting experience. Tonight I pasted up the last page. Tomorrow it has to be completed– our deadline is Tuesday.