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  • Author Archives: Laura

    • Sourcebooks Gives ‘Embrace’ a Big Marketing Push – PW

      Posted at 1:28 pm by Laura, on February 17, 2012

      Sourcebooks Gives ‘Embrace’ a Big Marketing Push – Publisher’s Weekly – Sally Lodge

      In a world where angels seek vengeance and humans are warriors, a teen must choose her destiny in Embrace, the launch title of a fantasy series by debut author Jessica Shirvington. Due in March from Sourcebooks Fire, the novel is supported by a $200,000 marketing budget, the largest the publisher has ever allocated for a young adult book. Sourcebooks doubled the size of the initial marketing campaign due to the enthusiastic reaction to its 4,000-copy ARC mailing to booksellers, librarians, teachers, and book media, a response that Chris Bauerle, director of sales and marketing, describes as “a tidal wave.” What is it about the novel that triggered the early buzz?

      Read on to find out why! Normally I would never pick up a paranormal book with a cover like this – seems too stereotypical teeny-bopper – but the summaries and reviews are absolutely stunning.

      Posted in books, Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged books, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, magazine, news, publishing
    • TOC 2012: Children’s Books Must Exist in Both Formats – PW

      Posted at 5:19 pm by Laura, on February 15, 2012

      TOC 2012: Children’s Books Must Exist in Digital and Print – Publisher’s Weekly – Gabe Habash

      The “What Works Well Where? Considering Books for Children in Different Formats” session at TOC 2012 stressed the necessary coexistence of digital and traditional books for children, an opinion put forth by Junko Yokota, director of the Center for Teaching Through Children’s Books.

      I couldn’t agree more! There are some aspects of a print book that are necessary for infants and children in order to adapt to the environment and to learn! In this case, there are things technology cannot touch.

      Posted in books, Link, publishing | 1 Comment | Tagged books, ebooks, ereaders, genre: children, magazine, news, technology
    • The Beauty of the Printed Book – NYTimes

      Posted at 5:16 pm by Laura, on February 15, 2012

      The Beauty of the Printed Book – New York Times – Alice Rawsthorn

      Anyone who wishes to be reminded of quite how beguiling old-fashioned books can be should visit “The Printed Book: A Visual History,” an exhibition running through May 13 at the Special Collections department of the University of Amsterdam. Drawn from the university’s book collection, which is among the world’s finest, the exhibition traces the evolution of book design through some of the most compellingly designed books of the last 500 years.

      …

      Even the bibliophiles at Steidl expect e-books to continue to grow, largely at the expense of printed books. For starters, they are incredibly convenient. Just think of the hundreds of e-books you can pack on to a single digital device. They are environmentally responsible: saving trees from being felled to produce paper, and fossil fuel from being burned to transport boxes of books. Interactive books can also dazzle their readers with sound, film clips, animations and data visualizations as well as words and images. And if their readers are puzzled by a word or factual reference, they can check it on the Internet within seconds.

      Yet so far, the design of e-books has been disappointing. Most of them look suspiciously as though their publishers have simply shunted their contents from print on to the screen. But some of the newer titles are more promising, largely because their designers have explored the technical and aesthetic possibilities of the new media.

      …

      Yet there is still something very special about an adroitly designed printed book, perhaps because it is so simple and devoid of technological trickery.

      Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged books, ebooks, news, newspaper, publishing
    • Upcoming Books! [4]

      Posted at 8:28 am by Laura, on February 13, 2012

      Apologies for the late post, normally I do this on Sundays. Been a rough few weeks with class.

      Here’s the latest news on upcoming and newly published books!

      Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult which will be released February 28th!

      Summary: Edward Warren, twenty-four, has been living in Thailand for five years, a prodigal son who left his family after an irreparable fight with his father, Luke. But he gets a frantic phone call: His dad lies comatose, gravely injured in the same accident that has also injured his younger sister Cara.
      With her father’s chances for recovery dwindling, Cara wants to wait for a miracle. But Edward wants to terminate life support and donate his father’s organs. Is he motivated by altruism, or revenge? And to what lengths will his sister go to stop him from making an irrevocable decision?
      Lone Wolf explores the notion of family, and the love, protection and strength it’s meant to offer. But what if the hope that should sustain it, is the very thing that pulls it apart?

      ~

      At Left Brain, Turn Right by Anthony Meindl

      Summary: 15 Weeks and 25 Ways to Unleash Your Inner Brando, Einstein, and Shakespeare:
      The most successful and creative people in the world don’t possess anything different than you. They have no magic formula or special secret. They’ve simply prevented the left hemisphere of their brain – the “logical,” analytical side – from sabotaging their life. Whether you’re a ballerina or banker, accountant or actor, At Left Brain Turn Right shows you how to silence the noise of your left brain, ignite your creative side, and live the life you’ve always imagined. Using relatable no-nonsense stories from his own creative journey, Anthony Meindl guides you from the left brain to the right to realize your own full creative potential.

      ~

      The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice, out on Valentine’s Day!

      Summary: A young reporter on assignment from the San Francisco Observer . . . An older woman welcoming him into her magnificent family home that he has been sent to write about and that she must sell with some urgency . . . A chance encounter between two unlikely people . . . An idyllic night—shattered by horrific unimaginable violence, the young man inexplicably attacked—bitten—by a beast he cannot see in the rural darkness . . . A violent episode that sets in motion a terrifying yet seductive transformation, as the young man, caught between ecstasy and horror, between embracing who he is evolving into and fearing what he will become, soon experiences the thrill of the wolf gift.

      ~

      And finally, a few books to look forward to later in 2012 and 2013:

      • Lisa O’Donnell’s The Death of Bees, two young sisters trying to keep the world at bay after the mysterious death of their parents
      • French Lessons author Ellen Sussman’s The Paradise Guest House, set in Bali during the aftermath of the 2002 nightclub bombings, a story about love, risk, and facing up to our deepest fears
      • A four book series by Lemony Snicket, due out October 23rd.
      Posted in Upcoming Books | 0 Comments | Tagged genre: adult fiction, genre: children, genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: nonfiction, genre: young adult, upcoming books
    • Book Review: “Running in the Family” by Michael Ondaatje

      Posted at 1:23 pm by Laura, on February 12, 2012

      Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje

      In the late 1970s Ondaatje returned to his native island of Sri Lanka. As he records his journey through the drug-like heat and intoxicating fragrances of that “pendant off the ear of India, ” Ondaatje simultaneously retraces the baroque mythology of his Dutch-Ceylonese family. An inspired travel narrative and family memoir by an exceptional writer.

      Another piece that I was required to read for my advanced nonfiction writing class. It was very different from the others (Maya Angelou and Geoffrey Wolff) in topic, writing style, and flow.

      Running in the Family was difficult to read and dive into, at first. The writing style is disjointed and the timeline of the narrative jumbles and hops around.  Within each section of chapters, the paragraph could begin with a story about the narrator’s grandmother, and end with paddies and riding on trains. However, after reading for a few hours and sinking into the rhythm of the text, I began to notice a pattern to the prose, poetry, dialogue, and photographs.

      In order to me to understand this memoir, I pretended the narrator was a friend of mine, sharing a scrapbook of his family and telling stories about each photograph. Beautiful prose would describe the landscape of Sri Lanka, then memories of a family member and their adventures in Sri Lanka would spark, and from those stories a narrative about an adventure in England would branch. When I approached the memoir in this fashion, it was much easier to follow and discover the links from one family member to the next – and finally to the story of the narrator’s mother and father.

      Another aspect of this memoir that is worth noting: while Wolff and Angelou repeatedly reminded the readers of their cultural background, their race, their history, Ondaatje’s identity was mixed. This colonial interpretation was so intricately woven that his own racial and cultural identity was vague. I understood that he was Dutch, but there were so many English, Canadian, and American ties within the Sri Lanka life that understanding Ondaatje’s identity and the identity of his family members became blurred. The jury’s still out figuring out if I liked that or not.

      It was a good read, a bit difficult, but I do not think I’ll pick this book up again. And for that, I give it:

      Rating: ★★ of 5

      Goodreads: 3.88 of 5

      Posted in books, Reviews 2012 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: nonfiction, goodreads, review
    • Penguin Severs Ties with OverDrive – PW

      Posted at 7:07 pm by Laura, on February 10, 2012

      Penguins Severs Ties with OverDrive – Publisher’s Weekly – Calvin Reid

      Penguin, which only offered backlist e-book titles for library lending, is terminating its contract with OverDrive, the library digital vendor, and starting February 10 will cease to offer any of its e-books or audiobooks to libraries. Penguin is negotiating a “continuance” agreement that will allow libraries that have already purchased Penguin e-books to continue to loan them.

      Amazon and Kindle users are effected as well.

      Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged ebooks, ereaders, library, magazine, news, publishing, technology
    • ABA Says “No” to Amazon Publishing – PW

      Posted at 5:09 pm by Laura, on February 8, 2012

      ABA Says “No” to Amazon Publishing – Publisher’s Weekly – Judith Rosen

      The American Booksellers Association is the latest to weigh in on Amazon’s publishing program following the decision by Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Indigo Books not to carry their titles. Today the organization’s for-profit subsidiary, IndieCommerce, began removing all Amazon titles from its database.

      A commenter made a very good point: by isolating Amazon, Amazon could become even more of a powerhouse. And yet, if booksellers embrace Amazon, Amazon could become even more of a powerhouse. Oh, dear.

      Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged bookstores, magazine, news, publishing
    • A Publisher’s Menagerie: Stories behind Publishers’ Animal Logos – PubTrendSet

      Posted at 4:39 pm by Laura, on February 8, 2012

      A Publisher’s Menagerie: Stories Behind Publishers’ Animal Logos – Publishing TrendSetter – Elisabeth Watson

      Discover the interesting histories behind the animals and logos to some of your favorite publishing houses!

      This idea sprang from a phone conversation overheard a few months ago in the Market Partners International offices, in which one of the partners was reminiscing with an old friend about publishing animals past and present. Although heavy on whimsy, the stories behind these animals are one of those peeks at “vintage” publishing trivia that most of us, deep down, have difficulty getting enough of.

      Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged history, publishing
    • Best Publishing Companies to Work For – DBW

      Posted at 8:24 pm by Laura, on February 7, 2012

      Best Publishing Companies to Work For – Digital Book World – Jeremy Greenfield

      If the title didn’t catch you, why are you reading this blog?!

      Employees at the best-rated publishing companies like working there because of strong industry brands, good communication between layers of leadership and departments and the learning experiences available.

      Companies that make the list include…

      • Random House
      • Penguin
      • McGraw-Hill
      • Simon & Schuster
      • Scholastic
      • HarperCollins

       

      Posted in Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged news, publishing
    • Upcoming Books! [3]

      Posted at 5:23 pm by Laura, on February 5, 2012

      Here’s the latest news on upcoming and new publications.

      Don’t Forget, Nana, God Bless Our Troops by Jill Biden

      Read about this upcoming children’s picture book here. Tentative publishing date June 2012.

      Summary: Inspired by her own granddaughter Natalie, Vice President Joe Biden’s wife Jill tells a family story through a child’s eyes of what family life is like when a parent is at war across the world.
      When her father leaves for a year of being at war, Natalie knows that she will miss him. Natalie is proud of her father but there is nothing to stop her from wishing he was home. Some things do help her feel better. Natalie works with her Nana to send her dad and the other service men and women cookies and treats they have made. Natalie, her mom and brother can see and talk to Dad over the computer, and the kindness of friends at school and at church help her feel supported and loved. But there is nothing like the day when her Dad comes home at last.

      ~

      The Bedlam Detective by Stephen Gallagher out Monday February 6!

      Summary: Set in England in 1912, this masterful whodunit from Gallagher (Red, Red Robin) introduces Sebastian Becker, a former policeman and Pinkerton agent who now works as the special investigator to the Masters of Lunacy, looking into cases involving any “man of property” whose sanity is under question. His latest assignment takes him to the small town of Arnmouth to determine whether Sir Owain Lancaster has gone around the bend. Lancaster returned from a disastrous trip to the Amazon, which claimed the life of his wife and son, only to attribute the catastrophe to mysterious animals straight out of Doyle’s The Lost World. Lancaster believes that the creatures that plagued him in South America have followed him home, and are responsible for the deaths of two young girls, a theory supported by a local legend of a beast of the moor.

      ~

      First Girl Scout: The Life of Juliette Gordon Low by Ginger Wadworth out tomorrow!

      Summary: Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts in 2012, a lavishly illustrated account of the fascinating life of the woman who started it all. Juliette Gordon Low was a remarkable woman with ideas that were ahead of her time. She witnessed important eras in U.S. history, from the Civil War and Reconstruction to westward expansion to post–World War I. And she made history by founding the first national organization to bring girls from all backgrounds into the out-of-doors. Daisy created controversy by encouraging them to prepare not only for traditional homemaking but also for roles as professional women—in the arts, sciences, and business—and for active citizenship outside the home. Her group also welcomed girls with disabilities at a time when they were usually excluded.

      ~

      Happy reading, everyone!

      Posted in Upcoming Books | 0 Comments | Tagged genre: adult fiction, genre: children, genre: fiction, genre: mystery, genre: nonfiction, genre: young adult, upcoming books
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    • Hello, I’m Laura!

      I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!
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