When Jane Grossman and Felice Yager approached us about packaging their walking guide, they had already submitted the project to several trade publishers. Though we were wary about encouraging self-publication, their elegant, witty writing and their savvy marketing plan won us over. By the time the book was ready for printing, booksellers had been enticed, too, and the two authors formed their own publishing company.

Concept

The authors knew that preparing a walking guide is a tricky business. The writing must continually engage the reader/walker; the routes must be carefully planned and clearly defined. To compete with broader-based travel guides, a walking tour must skillfully blend the usual-suspect sites with unusual, little-known places and information. Bringing their wit and erudition to bear, they conceived of a kind of "insider's" guide to Boston that is as informative to the long-time resident as to the tourist.

Content

Boston Foot Notes incorporates five two- to three-hour rambles around Boston, Cambridge, and Charlestown. Each walk includes a fortuitous mix of important landmarks and surprising elements that keeps the reader/walker eagerly pushing forward to find the next site. The narrative is complemented by helpful information about specific attractions along the route, a subway map, and an appendix of places to go when weather doesn't permit trekking about the city outdoors.

Design & Production

The biggest challenge we faced was how to incorporate maps that would be easy to use and to find. We solved it by placing each map at the front of the walk, so that the reader/walker can easily refer to it no matter what page of the tour they are consulting. The book is illustrated with elegant line art by Robert Bowden, who also painted the beautiful watercolor reproduced on the cover.

The Result

A welcome departure from the usual-fare travel guide. Overflowing with fascinating information, humor, and warmth, this easy-to-use pocket-size format is perfect for Boston explorers-whether on foot or ensconced in an armchair at home.