“weather forecast is a non-complete and subjective collection of english weather forecasts, edited out of 28 (random) newspapers during 4 different London visits between october 2012 and september 2013. read in those small excerpts, the english weather appears like poetry.

this book is a twin. whereas weather forecast (1) shows the ‘weather poems’ one after another, page by page, black on white, weather forecast (2) uses the book format differently: every ‘poem’ is printed side-inverted on the backside of front page. due to transparency of the paper, the text can be read ‘through’ the page” (blurb on Lulu).

In order to ensure the long-term distribution and preservation of her work independent of the existence of Lulu, Marina Kampka has “placed” quite a few copies in various collections. In 2015/16, 117 copies were produced, as the sales statistics show.

Her series is proof that print-on-demand books can also win awards: the second volume was awarded the “Förderpreis für junge Buchgestaltung” (Young Book Design Award) in the 2016 competition “Die schönsten Bücher aus Deutschland” (The Most Beautiful Books from Germany). The jury judges: “Although the typographic principle is essentially uncomplicated, it lends the reading process an almost philosophical dimension. We are looking at something that is not actually there—at least not where we perceive it to be. You could say that we are reading into the future—the point in time where we turn the page.”

As can be seen in the screenshot, the book preview on Lulu (now defunct as a feature) can’t capture the idea and making of the second volume. Other features of Lulu, such as the Sales Rank, which the author used as a substitute for the print run, also no longer exist. In 2016, the second volume was ranked 146th, as the screenshot shows.