It is strange to realize that your favorite book by an author is sometimes overlooked by other readers. Young adult author Francesca Lia Block is probably best known for her Weetzie Bat series (otherwise known as Dangerous Angels). The books follow the adventures of a young woman named Weetzie who lives in a magical version of Los… Continue reading When Other People Don’t Remember Your Favorite Book
I recently took quite the hiatus from this blog, but I found just the thing to get me back into the swing of things. Capitalism! I’m kidding. Mostly. The season between October 1 and January 1 fills me with an absurd joy. It begins with “Give me pumpkin decorations or give me death” and culminates… Continue reading Personalized Book Recommendations and the Penguin Hotline
It is no secret that international versions of books differ slightly from their original incarnations. Often publishers alter covers either because of licensing issues or to ensure the images better suit the aesthetic sensibilities of a given market. In other cases, the translation process requires subtle language adjustments. But occasionally foreign rights holders take it… Continue reading When International Books Cut Entire Plot Lines and V.E. Schwab
A year ago today I published my first post on this little blog – it is about as terrible as you might expect a first post to be – and I can hardly believe that I’ve been blogging for 365 days. Since that initial post, I’ve published 328 other articles here, including an interview with… Continue reading Forever and Not Long at All: 365 Days in Book Blogging
You may have noticed that Jane Austen’s name has cropped up frequently this past week, and that is for a very good reason; July 18, 2017 is the 200th anniversary of her death. To commemorate the rather morbid occasion, the internet has come out in full force with articles all about Austen. My cyber home… Continue reading Adaptations, Retellings, and Book Paraphernalia for Jane Austen’s 200th Anniversary
Book covers are bizarre little monsters. Maybe they have to be because they straddle so many different roles. A cover has to reflect a book’s unique facets, but it also has to fit into the standards for a genre. It has to have aesthetically interesting qualities, but it also has to make readers want to… Continue reading When Book Covers Fail Characters
I hate advertising, but I love gimmicks. Not all of them of course – I’m not a huge fan of book giveaways (though those may not be gimmicks precisely) – but every once in a while a book marketing campaign will resonate with me. One such promotion just hit that sweet spot. In honor of her upcoming… Continue reading Book Marketing That is Grand, Extraterrestrial, and Bloody
“There is a right way and a wrong way to read a book series. The right way involves starting at the beginning and working through the books chronologically. This is best done when the reader still remembers all of the important plot points. But I’ve never done things the right way. I used to have… Continue reading Why Everyone Should Read A Book Series Out of Order
I’m thrilled to add another interview to my series of discussions with editors, writers, and other folks in books publishing. I had the opportunity to speak with the marvelous and ever brilliant Ree Kimberley who is the author of Rat City, a young adult science fiction novel, as well as a brilliant scholar. She offers… Continue reading Science Fiction and Young Adult Lit: An Interview with Author Ree Kimberley
I want to share a contest that I recently stumbled across. Brightly, a division of Penguin Random House that focuses on books for kids and young adults, is giving away a collection of 50 books. The sweepstakes is open to parents, librarians, and teachers who live in the United States and runs from now until March… Continue reading Win 50 Books for a School or Library
Kristen Twardowski 