This morning I got an unannounced package in the mail from my literary agent, which means he wanted me to be surprised when I opened it. Well, it worked; I was surprised!

Inside the box were three pristine copies of my Web Design: The L-Line book printed in one of my ancestral mother tongues, Russian! The book, published by EKSMO Education, has a neat red cover and looks very impressive (see cover above). Of course I can’t read a word of it, but it sure is exciting to know that folks over on the other part of the globe are using my book to help themselves become better web designers.

Here’s the lowdown on the book from an online Russian bookstore with the English translation of the Russian version of Web Design: The Line text:

Series: Express to knowledge
Publisher: Eksmo
Year: 2008
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 480
Format: 70×100/16
ISBN: 978-5-699-27588-5
Weight: 620 gr.

“This book is a guide for those who want to create Web-site for work or pleasure using HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Much attention is paid to the choice of site design and layout, graphics and optimize the use of standards for building sites, search engine optimization and verification code.The book focuses on readers who use a computer for work and entertainment, but not the professional administrators and programmers.The existence of prior knowledge is not required. However, if you have experience working with a computer, then this edition will find plenty of tips and a description of methods of work with various programs for creating Web-sites. The book is intended for a wide range of readers.”

Now here’s the blerb from the back cover of the English version of the book:

Want to create a compelling Web site for a home business, family, or fun? Whether you’re a student, aspiring designer, or entrepreneur, you can — with Dreamweaver® and this easy-to-follow guide. Gain solid skills as you go from station to station in a series of clear-cut tutorials that cover site planning, registering a domain, formatting, and more. The last stop? Put your new site online and go live! Start your journey today on The L Line.
* Define your goals and create a site plan
* Learn the best ways to combine HTML and Cascading Style Sheets
* Use layers, create forms, and make the site interactive
* Master Web standards and the latest search engine optimization techniques

All aboard for valuable online extras

Visit The L Line Web site at www.wiley.com/go/thelline for valuable online supplementary materials:
* Test bank with challenging review questions
* PowerPoint slides with chapter outlines
* Images and Web page files from the book
* Practice exam answers
* A CSS reference guide

Along The L Line
* Complete tutorial coverage with step-by-step instruction
* Ample illustrations and examples
* Real-world case studies, applications, and hints for avoiding pitfalls
* Practice exams that let you evaluate your progress

So maybe a little bit was lost in translation, but I think it’s way cool to have a book printed in another language.

And now I have three promo copies of the book. What should I do with them? I’ll definitely keep one on my shelf for posterity, but I could do anything I wanted to with the remaining two copies. Got suggestions?