Books I’ve Brought to Life
This section highlights the books I’ve designed and written over the years. Most are coffee‑table style photo books, but I’ve also created complete book designs—inside and out—as well as standalone covers. I recently published my first book through Arboreal Press, with more titles already in the works.
Explore each book gallery by selecting an image
The Gnome Lovers Adult Activity Book
Written and designed by Skip Dyrda Published by Arboreal Press on Amazon
This whimsical activity book brings together puzzles, coloring pages, and playful gnome illustrations—all created by hand. It’s my first published title through Arboreal Press, and a project that blends my love of storytelling, design, and a bit of mischief from the gnomes of Arboreal.
My Story
These photos are my way of celebrating the machines that have always fueled my imagination — a mix of detail, attitude, and the stories I find in metal and motion.
Painting the Town
Designed and laid out by Skip Dyrda Published for the Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society
This book documents three decades of public art in Punta Gorda, weaving together the murals, the history behind them, and the stories uncovered during their creation. I handled the complete design and layout, shaping the visuals and narrative into a cohesive, richly illustrated volume.
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Written and designed by Skip Dyrda
This book tells the story of how a childhood fascination with local racetracks grew into a hands‑on racing adventure. It begins with the nights I spent watching the cars roar past, moves through the years I spent drawing them, and ends with the two race cars I built and drove myself. The heart of the book is the build of that first car—designed, fabricated, and assembled piece by piece. I created all the copy and layout.
As Written by Mom
Written by my mother • Designed and compiled by Skip Dyrda
This book began with an album my mom sent me—hundreds of handwritten recipe cards collected over decades. I scanned every one, including her Easter and Christmas Eve dinners that never changed, and paired them with family photos of us cooking, celebrating, and sharing those meals. When old photos were missing, I found thoughtful substitutes to complete the story. The result is part recipe book, part family album, and entirely hers.
Times of Our Lives
Written and designed by Skip Dyrda
This book is one chapter in a growing series of hardcover scrapbooks I’ve created to document the moments that matter. This volume focuses on a trip my wife and I took to visit my sister in Pennsylvania—simple days, good company, and the kind of memories that deserve a place on the shelf. I’ve made many others like it, capturing our travels, family milestones, and celebrations over the years.