Monday, April 1, 2013

An Altered Existence: Giveaway


Like so many of us, I collect old photographs, vintage tintypes and cabinet cards. I have often wondered about the stories behind the people pictured and have at times let my mind wander, creating imagined lives for them. Artist Melody M. Nunez has done this too...and more.


An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past is a newly released book from Melody that consists of 14 short stories, each inspired by a cabinet card altered by Melody and included in the book. Melody provided me with a copy to read and review and I am so please that she did. Each short story is an imaginative gem, touching on personal issues that I believe resonate with us all: family, birth, death, love, loss, and the like. The stories quickly captured my attention, so much so that at times I forgot that I was reading fiction. I fully enjoyed the sense of mystery that was part of many of the stories, a feeling that seemed so fitting given their inspiration. The stories range from about 8 to 18 pages each, and are the perfect length to read several in a single sitting. 

Melody also happily offered me a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader of my blog. To be eligible, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. Please make sure that I have your email address to notify you if you have won. Comments will be closed on Thursday evening 4/4 and the winner will be announced on Friday 4/5 on my Facebook page. Good luck!

65 comments:

Diana Fernandez said...

I have also wondered about this! Especially when I'm at an estate sale....

Beth said...

I love old photos and adding them to mixed media pages.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

My art friend Kathy and I sat around one day making up stories for the various cabinet cards she had just purchased. It was a lot of fun to put ourselves in the situation at the time the photo was taken. Some of those old cabinet cards were simply hilarious because of how still the people had to stand/sit.

Katalina Jewelry said...

Sounds like an interesting book!

Unknown said...

Hi Seth, I love creating stories inspired by old photos, imagining the lives they lived. Please could my name go into the hat? Thanks.

Brian Kasstle said...

Who hasn't gone to a swap meet and wondered about these vintage photos? What a wonderful idea.

Thank you for the opportunity to win a book!

Terri T said...

I love old photographs and always dream about what those people must have been like. I have several photos of new friends in my home and I include them in my mixed media projects. I would love to be included in the drawing for the book. Thanks so much for including me and by the way I just love your blog!!! Keep up the awesome work, you are inspiring.

Artsnark said...

Very cool - sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for the info

Mackin-Art said...

I have many "instant ancestors" in my stash and displayed in my home and to take it a step further, I've worked out a method of creating my own 21st century tintypes with my own photos. I love to explore the book!

Judy Shreve said...

What a great idea for a book . . . and thanks for the opportunity to read it.
xxoo

Anonymous said...

This is not an altered book, but author Marisa Silver used the iconic photograph "Migrant Mother" taken by Dorothea Lange, as a starting point for her novel, Mary Coin. I just received a copy and can't wait to start reading.

nevuliene said...

new Life formed for discarded ancestors sounds like just and fair restitution .. a chance for an alternative history. Yuss, says I.

Claudia Smith said...

I love those old photos, too! What a brilliant idea to write a book about the possible lives of those pictured. Sounds intriguing!

tgarrett said...

Hi Seth- I have loved old photographs for many years-I am lucky to have a lot of family ones and I also collect them. This book looks really interesting.

audrey said...

What an excellent idea. I have always felt sad when looking through a stack of those old photos, wondering what happened to those people ~ thinking are these photos all that are left of their lives? The book sounds wonderful, especially since photographs of the altered photos are included.
audrey

Leslie said...

This is a great idea for a book. I love old photo - just like the rest of us. I sometimes feel sad, when I find them, that they are not with their descendants - the people who know who they are and their story. Still, it's fun to imagine stories!

Donna Ellis said...

I always feel sorry for those forgotten ancestors whose photos have ended up in antique stores. I just met a woman who feels the same and obviously there are lots of other sympatico people out there. Thanks for the opportunity to win your book.

Artfully yours, Linda said...

I would love to win this book. Pick me. Pick me.

BLockHEad said...

I purchased an old suitcase in a sale for a £1 about 30 yrs ago. It was filled with photos, job references, funeral receipts and letters. I still have them even though I don't know the people in them. Its my mark of remembrance and respect. I think we're all worth that.

Bunny El Paca said...

Me! Me! Me! Jumping up and down and waving because I would love to own this book. What a fab idea!

betty wisse said...

What a fantastic idea. Those old photos are so full of mystery. I would love to be chosen to win that book.

Sue Marrazzo Fine Art said...

I too am very inspired by my vintage collections. I have buttons, postcards, beaded bags, scarves, jewelry, photos, books, magazines and so much more.
ALL these things that I so love to collect, inspires my work and I use some in my ART Work. too. This book sound very interesting...I would love to own it and share it with all my students. Thanks for this opportunity. My E-mail is stmaraz6@gmail.com.

Evelyn said...

What a great book! I often stare at old photos wondering who the person (or people) are and what their life story was. Would love to win this book! My email is elh1960 at yahoo dot com.

elle said...

Imagination is a wonderful thing! Relatives? lol But tis a nice give away.

Anonymous said...

This is not an 1 april joke? Lovely giveaway ! It seems like a very interesting book and hopefully I win. Cindy, Holland
cindygroet[at[gmail[dot]com

bohemiannie! art said...

Lovely thought.

Barbara L. said...

It's always wonderful to read the stories, real or otherwise, about these old pictures. The book sounds lovely.

Rebeca Trevino said...

i read all about melody's book on her blog. sounds fascinating!
count me in!
thanks seth

Angi in hana said...

aloha seth! i have been looking at old pics since i was little and my favorite thing was to go thru my grandmothers old cedar chest, i still love the smell of cedar! aloha, angi in hana

jinxxxygirl said...

OOOooo this book sound interesting. Thank you so much for the Giveaway! You can email me at....
nuleaf at comcast dot net

Thanks a bunch. I don't do Facebook. Do you think you can announce the winner on your blog too???
Hugs! deb

Barbara I. said...

Hi Seth! I also read about Melody's book on her blog. It is nice to be reminded about it and does look interesting. Count me in for the giveaway. Should I be the lucky one, please contact me at bkisrael@gmail.com. Thanks!

The Creative Beast said...

Seth, I have been collecting many of these vintage photos for a few years now, but I don't feel sad when I see them - I get excited about the stories I seem to hear in my head when I stumble on the images of people from the past, even its as recent as the 50's or 60's...

I have been hearing about this fascinating book for awhile now and hope to get a copy of my own to see how Melody uses her vintage photos for art inspiration. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy Seth!

queenb2u said...

I too love old photos. I try making them to put in my artwork. Not only do I love the old photos, but I love the frames, backings, and whatnot that goes in a photo album. Give me a collection of torn, water stained, and heavily damaged. They are my favorites. Please count me in on the drawing.

Lynn Cohen said...

What a clever idea for a book! I would love to read her fictionized stories about these real folks.
Crossing my fingers for the giveaway, Thanks for the chance.

john said...

This sounds like a wonderful read. I will look for the book today when I go to the University Bookstore.

Sharon said...

One can't help but wonder about the lives behind these old faces. Very enchanting idea for a book, and I would love to be included in the drawing.

clkern@aol.com said...

I have just come into a wealth of old photos. Looking for ideas. PLease enter my name.

Karen Schroeder said...

The book sounds amazing! Love to be able to read these stories and use them in my altered projects! Thanks for the chance to win. fossilsrock@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful idea - those old photographs say so much in their silence, and we all imagine what the story is behind them - very creative idea!
Olivia

Parabolic Muse said...

Hi. It's me. One of your closest and best friends. Who is always there for you. Except in person. Or, if I'm doing something else.

PICK ME! PICK ME!!

thank you!

Chris

Tricia said...

What a great idea for a book - would love to read it!

Anonymous said...

As a fellow collector of old photos, this book intrigues me for the very same reasons you wrote. If I don't win, I think it's a must have.

hollyllama said...

Sounds like a cool book. What a fun idea!

Inner Artist said...

I always feel sad when I see those kinds of photos and I so want to give them a new home as I wonder what happened that the photos are no longer wanted or treasured, or if, in fact the family have no more descendents to pass them on to. I love the idea that the people in these photos have been given a new 'story'.

Melody M. Nunez said...

Seth,

Thank you for sharing my book and giveaway on your blog. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the book! It's wonderful to see that so many of your readers love vintage photos as much as I do, and are excited about the book. I look forward to receiving the winner's name and address so I can send out their signed copy.

Thanks again!
Melody M. Nunez

Unknown said...

Great idea!

Carol said...

Hi Seth, I know from Melody's blog that this is a great book. Thanks for giving everyone the chance to win the book.

Anne O said...

I love to create fictitious names for the people in my collection. The book sounds very interesting. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.

Theresa said...

Looking forward to reading Melody's book, ESPECIALLY if I win a copy!

ooglebloops said...

My mother and I both collect old tintypes and cabinet cards. Graduations, weddings, funerals. She ever found one that looks exactly like my 21 year old nephew, a Civil War re enactor- very eerie. Would love to win this book!!!

Nydiart said...

Would LOVE a chance to win this book! Thank you for the opportunity! nydia1@cox.net

Bill said...

This book looks irresistible, especially with the steampunk cover!

Carolyn said...

Hi Seth, This book sounds fascinating, I have always loved antique photos and have a collection of my own, I use them in my collage work as well. Writing short stories for them is a great idea. Thanks as always, I love your blog and your art.
Carolyn

Hue and Me Art said...

I have a bid box of old photos from my late husbands side of the family. Seeing this gives me an idea what to do with some of them.
Thanks

Create Beauty with Laurajo said...

My parents had so many pictures that I have inherited. Sometimes I do not know the friends in the photos. I knew that they must have had some fun times together. I imagine that my parents laughed, and maybe cried with these folks. I know that my parents would be happy to see me using these photos and enjoying them.

Darlene K Campbell said...

Hi Seth, I definately would like the chance to win Melody's book. Old photos and stories...a pewrfect match. Curious to see how she altered them, too.
Thanks for the book fun this week!

Tina Schiefer said...

What a great book idea! I've always wondered how and why
the photos get separated from their "family"! Sad...

I love when a photo has a name or an address written on the back.. Once I found an old set of drawing/prints from the
40's..the address was on the paper enclosure..oddly enough, a Cub Scout mom/friend had just bought the old
house at that VERY same address! I was SO excited, but
she wasn't as much! I still have them...

Kate Burroughs said...

Thanks for a chance to win this book-looks very interesting. Especially to all of us who have lots of vintage photos.
Aloha, Kate

Lisa said...

What an awesome idea for a book!! It sounds so interesting!! Thanks for a chance to win :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com

Jo Murray said...

This looks like a wonderful book...would be a great addition to my collection. Thanks for putting my name in the hat Seth.

Lynda said...

What fun... stories behind the faces/poses in cabinet cards...

BonBon said...

This book combines my two favorite art forms -- writing and altering!

NM_Creatrix said...

I love cabinet cards, and have about 15 of them myself... Would love to win this book

Anne Camille said...

What a great idea for a book. Would love to win this but I've already added it to my book wish list in case I am not the lucky winner. My address is ancamjong and involves an @ sign and a yahoo and a dotcom.

MOLLY said...

Would love to experience the book and the adventures that await. I too look at my collections and wonder what their story might be.