I published my second book this year. Due to a knee replacement I had the time and after publishing my first book, I now had the ability to create a book.
The project came about when the Pheasants Forever chapter that I belong to wanted several wood duck houses for the annual banquet. I was still recovering from the knee replacement but I was mobile, so I volunteered to build them. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to not only build them, but also to document the design and build process.
I not only wanted a book but I also wanted to provide readers with how-to videos. So I video recorded the entire construction process from start to finish. Those video recordings gave me the pictures for the book and video clips to create how-to video.
Creating the book was similar yet very different from my first book, which was considered “low-content”. This book was a true “high-content” book with text instructions, diagrams, material lists, pictures and lots of additional information. Like the first book, it also has its own Online Resource page which has links to other web sites, links to how-to videos and lots of related information.
For the first time, I used ChatGPT to help construct the book mainly with technical aspects like getting the cover picture to work. For this book I also enlisted a buddy to help me take pictures of wood duck houses for the cover. After a few months and lots of hours I finally finished the book and its associated Online Resources page.
The “Build a Better Wood Duck House” book is available on Amazon.
