What is the Shape of the Sky Project?

The Shape of the Sky Project is a collaborative community project to publish a hardcover book that illustrates the beauty of the Northern Lights in Michigan, while featuring the work of hundreds of photographers. Created by Aurora Entrepreneur Melissa F. Kaelin, the project involved putting out a call for submissions, compiling nearly 200 photographs, writing appealing content, and editing each piece of the book into one large Aurora Photography Collection.

The project launched in January 2026, as a way to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Michigan Aurora Chasers, a vibrant community of over 134,000 Aurora Chasers and Photographers.

> Our Facebook Page
> Our Facebook Project Group
> Browse the Project on Patreon/AuroraAuthor

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Thank You to Our Sponsors & Early Supporters

We owe our sincere thanks to those who have offered their financial and in-kind support to this project, even back when the idea was still taking shape. Your contributions are helping us publish an awe-inspiring collection for all to enjoy!

Table of Contents

Click a link to jump to that section.

• Book Title
• Vision for the Book
• Proceeds & Profits
• Proposed Timeline
• 8 Components of the Project
• FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Book Title

Using a working title for the book project, I’m not choosing a book name yet. Instead, I’m giving the project a name, or slug-line to use the journalistic term, so everyone can instantly recognize the project in conversation: The Shape of the Sky Collection/Book!

Vision for the Book

Imagine a large, hardcover book, professionally printed on glossy white pages, featuring hundreds of full-color photographs from photographers across the area, illustrating the many colors, movements and formations of the Northern Lights across the state of Michigan.

• A written introduction
• Modern, sophisticated photographs, formatted edge to edge on nearly every page
• Captions including the photographer name and photograph information, often below the photo, formatted into the design
• A dozen or so pages with short written content about the Northern Lights
• A hardcover book, available in print direct from the publisher website and on Amazon
• The option of distribution to bookstores, dark sky parks, galleries and shops, online retailers and more.
• Pages reserved for a dedication, author’s special thanks, a credits page with contact information for the Michigan Aurora Chasers, a section promoting the author’s platform
• An Index in the back with page numbers for each photographer

Proceeds & Profits

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support dark sky preservation and/or Aurora-related charities. The Shape of the Sky Book Project is a photography collection compiled, edited and authored by Melissa F. Kaelin, the Aurora Author and Entrepreneur, as editor, author and sole proprietor.

The Cover Artists have been selected as part of a professional collaboration to feature their life and photographic work, with their biographies included inside the collection. Each Cover Artist is compensated as part of the project, in an ongoing effort to create paying opportunities to recognize the talents, skills and dedication of amazing artists and photographers.

All Contributing Photographers will receive a free digital copy of the book, and they will also have the option to benefit from the book. Details for Contributors.

Are you interested in selling the book via retail or wholesale? Independent stores, gift shops, dark sky parks and booksellers are welcome to sell the book at wholesale/retail. The book will be distributed by major distributors including Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Bookazine, among others.

If you would like to work with the author to sell the book, please fill out this form to learn how to get wholesale pricing: https://forms.gle/FCmdJtMKJq9jo6cFA

Information For Contributing Photographers

8 Components of the Project

This compilation of Michigan Aurora photographs will be printed into a hardcover book, due out in early 2027. Below are the main components of the project.

1) A Three-Part Submission Process:
a. An Entry Form, for you to include details and share project preferences, to be linked below.
b. Limit One Aurora Photo Published, participants may submit 1-5 photos for us to choose from, high-quality and detailed for large, full-color printing
c. Captions for Each Photo, including time, date and location.

2) Upon Acceptance, Sign A Contract Consenting to First Publication Rights. In order to publish your work and make it available for sale, I will need your permission in writing. A short contract will be provided with the Entry Form. I will ask for First Publication Rights, which means you give me your permission to publish your photo ONCE, then all rights revert back to you. I will also try to cover my bases, in case your book page appears on social media, marketing, webpages or other digital uses, like holding up the book in a video.

3) Receive an Acceptance Letter, confirming your photo has been selected for publication.
— This means it meets the criteria, you have signed on with the Michigan Aurora Chasers, and the quality is high enough.***

4) Simple Captions, for your work written by the book author/editor using the details you provided.

5) Cover Art Considerations, more details coming this summer!

6) Approval Process, giving you a limited window of time to suggest edits to a mock-up page sent via email.

7) Pre-Orders & Publication, with Discounted Contributor Copies Available.

8) A Book Release Party, open to the public, inviting the Michigan Aurora Chasers, and giving contributors an opportunity to make an appearance, sign books, and celebrate.

Proposed Timeline

Let’s start submitting… Then give me about a year!

This project will take time, design, formatting, and editing. I would want to triple check the spelling of every photographer name, carefully check photograph dimensions, and write beautiful content — and I do also have to find time to work on my own books and go to my job. 😉 I would work on the project gradually through the year, as materials are received, being sure to hit goals for key dates and keep participants informed.

Potential Timeline:

January 20-30, 2026
— Publish Project Materials — Website, submission forms, contract, rights, etc
— Answer Questions on a Devoted Thread for the Project Inside the Group

February 1, 2026
— Open submissions — Invite folks to join 2-part submission process with Photo and Entry Form

March 2026
— Promote Ongoing Project — Post reminders in our communities to recruit photo entries

April 2026
— April 15, 2026: Early Deadline
— First Wave of Acceptance Letters — Invite accepted photographers to sign contract
— Promote Ongoing Project

May 2026
—  First Wave of Acceptance Letters in May
— Begin Book Layout and Design — Framing photos on pages, in collages, etc
—  Promote Ongoing Submissions

June 2026
— June 15, 2026: Summer Deadline
— Contract for participants will be published on the project website (here)

July 2026
—  Second Wave of Acceptance Letters — Invite accepted photographers to sign contract
—  Focus on written copy for captions and pages
—  Distribute Contracts and Complete a Signed Contract for Every Participant
— Tentative Date for Cover Artist Competition — Choose 2-3 photographers for front and back cover, Special Rules Apply to Cover Photographs, May Involve Separate Contracts

August 2026
— August 15, 2026: Final Deadline to Submit Free
— August 31, 2026: Final Deadline to Submit to Cover Artist Competition $15
— Third Wave of Acceptance Letters
—  Send Mock-Ups to Selected Photographers

September 2026
—  Entries from July and August under consideration, from the Final Deadline to submit
— Final Wave of Acceptance Letters sent by the end of September
—  Advanced Stages of Layout, Design and Writing

October 2026
—  Last day to become a Sponsor or Early Supporter and see your name printed on the front pages: October 1, 2026
— Collaborate with Photographers on Any Edits, etc
— All Contracts Must be Received by October 31, 2026 or Photographs will be disqualified.

November 2026
—  Take a Break for the Aurora Summit, Answer Questions, etc
— Final Stages of Layout, Design & Editing over Thanksgiving Break
—  Consider a Sneak Preview for the Group

December 2026
— Send Book to Print & List Publicly for Pre-Order
— Schedule a Book Release Party or Host a Sneak Preview
— Last day to become a Sponsor or Early Supporter and see your name typed on website with thanks — December 31, 2026
— Last day to place an order for the lowest price with free shipping: Early Supporter Standard Edition $75 — December 31, 2026

January 2026
Promote Finished Collection & Hardcover Book during events in the New Year and as part of the 6th Anniversary Celebration of the Michigan Aurora Chasers!

Archive: Contributing Photographer Submission Process

CLOSED! Become our COVER ARTIST! Entry Fee $15; Deadline August 31st! Entry form. The submission process is archived at this link. The Cover Art Competition is also archived at the link.