In the same edition that it reports on the impending retirement of Daniel Menaker, executive editor in chief of Random House Publishing, the New York Times mulls the age-old issue of how much magazine excerpts help book sales.
Here are excerpts from the story, which might make reading the full
story superfluous, providing support to one side in the argument: "For
publishers, the problems include fewer magazines that run excerpts, and
smaller sums available to pay for them. . . . Because big money is no
longer on the table, it is not terribly painful for the publisher to
walk away if the parties can't come to terms. . . Some publishers are
looking instead to place excerpts on the Internet."
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Shades of Bloomsday, which follows by just four days.
Tomorrow, June 12, is officially Michael Tolliver Day in San Francisco,
as proclaimed by Mayor Gavin Newson, in honor of Michael 'Mouse'
Tolliver, one of the main characters of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the
City series. The books were made into three PBS miniseries.
June 12 is also on the on-sale date of Maupin's new book, Michael Tolliver Lives
(HarperCollins, $25.95, 9780060761356/0060761350), the unofficial
seventh book in the series that continues the story of Mouse and the
rest of the one-time denizens of 28 Barbary Lane.
Among other publicity, the San Francisco Chronicle is running a feature today about the Day--and celebrating Tales of the City's origin as a serial in the newspaper.
Tomorrow Maupin himself will appear at the Book Passage San Francisco
branch at 12:30 p.m. and at the Books Inc. branch in Opera Plaza at 7
p.m.
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In an e-mail with the great subject line "The Eagle Has Landed," Chuck
Robinson, co-owner of Village Books, Bellingham, Wash., who took a suborbital zero-G flight from the Kennedy Space
Center on Friday, reported that "the parabolic, weightless flight was
spectacular. I had a ball and had not the least bit of discomfort."
Among the other people on the flight: Steven Hawking's daughter. "She
and her dad are doing a book for S&S for fall."
For photos of Capt. Chuck's trip, the prize for a contest co-sponsored by Quirk Books for The Space Tourist's Handbook, go to gozerog.com/photos and to the Saturday, June 9, flight. Check out this picture in particular!
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Stephen King receives and gives:
The Canadian Booksellers Association honored Stephen King with its lifetime achievement award. According to the CBC, King "is the first non-Canadian author to win the award." Margaret Atwood praised his contribution to world literacy, saying, "It is due to you that so many men now fully grown will never spell scream with two e's."
The Kennebec Journal reported that a $50,000 grant to the Waterville Public Library from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation "is only the latest act of generosity of the two Maine writers who have become our state's libraries' greatest patron since Andrew Carnegie."
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The ever-amusing Richard Charkin--at least when you're not on the
receiving end of his wit--seems to have gone a step farther than usual
at BEA. According to boingboing.com,
the CEO of Macmillan and owner of the Nature Publishing Group stole two
laptops from the Google booth, then returned them later, saying that
there was no sign telling him not to steal them, a gesture meant to
comment on Google's project to scan all books ever printed, whether
still in copyright or not.
Incidentally boingboing says Charkin was wrongwrong.
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The Academy of American Poets has expanded and redesigned the National Poetry Map, which appears on Poets.org
and offers poetry information and resources, including state pages that
now feature conferences, festivals, event listings, journals, presses,
state-specific poets, poems, and poetic history as well as
"poetry-friendly bookstores."
Thanks to Nicki Leone, who points out that stores who aren't listed may ask to be added by e-mailing map@poets.org.
---
Net
book sales in April were down 0.3% but sales for the year to date
remained up 6.3% compared to the same period last year, according to
data from 80 publishers collected by the Association of American
Publishers.
Strong categories in April included:
Weaker categories included:
We continue our travels back, as if via Dumbledore’s Pensieve, to a
few key moments at BEA--at least for children's book devotees.
FAQs to Other Children's Book Highlights
Knuffle Bunny Bus Tour
No, the Pigeon did not drive the bus.
Yes, Mo Willems, like every other Brooklynite, has a chip on his shoulder, but it's endearing.
Examples: With Prospect Park, Olmstead corrected all the mistakes he made designing Central Park.
The Brooklyn Public Library is shaped like a book; the "money shot" (Willems’s phrase) in Knuffle Bunny Too (Hyperion, Sept.) was photographed from the library’s roof.
Yes, the bus passed Trixie's school, P.S. 107 (where Jacqueline Woodson
also attended, according to Willems, but that same building was then
called P.S. 106; that would never happen in Manhattan).
No, Willems did not reveal his own home address.
But he did point out Jon Scieszka's house.
Maybe the duckling deserved the hot dog [in The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!].
Spread at Two Boots excellent: thin crust pizza with a hint of fennel
(Italy boot), spicy sausage paella and corn bread-encrusted calamari
(Louisiana boot).
No, not the Two Boots in Manhattan, the one in Brooklyn! Willems lives in Brooklyn!
Freckleface Strawberry (Bloomsbury, Oct.) Party
Yes, it was worth navigating the labyrinth at ABC Carpets to meet Julianne Moore.
Yes, she is even more beautiful than she appears onscreen--especially with her freckles.
Yes, she's for real.
She has even read books by Al Slote.
No, the artist, LeUyen Pham, was not in attendance.
Yes, a sequel is in the works.
The chocolate was to die for.
Yes, you can buy it at ABC Carpets.
Oh, right, and the book, too.
A Modern Luncheon with E.L. Konigsburg
Ms. Konigsburg's necklace of iridescent stones was set off beautifully by her black dress.
She is as intelligent as she is elegant, as animated about the
Democratic contenders for president as she is about art (and don't get
her started on Rudy Giuliani--exactly, the Brooklyn Museum incident).
Of course, MoMA was the only setting for a celebration of The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World (Atheneum/Seo, Sept.), a contemporary novel that touches on themes of modern art, censorship and World War II Germany.
Yes, Danny Meyer lives up to his reputation with the food at the Modern, each course presented as a work of art unto itself.
This was the best meal of the conference by far (Gabriel Kreuther even
added a unique touch to the mandatory oozing chocolate dessert: a
delicate brulée-style roof).
Lunch Period with Gennifer Choldenko
If only school cafeterias looked like Splashlight Studios!
Even though Ms. Choldenko was dressed all in white, she did not bear any resemblance whatsoever to a lunch lady.
In fact, it's hard to imagine that she ever had a Welcome to the Dollhouse moment, even though she insists that she did.
(This is a major theme in If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period [Harcourt, Sept.].)
She is right up there with Libba Bray in the comedienne department.
The food was much better than cafeteria fare, too.
Highlights: pesto/mozzarella/roasted peppers on ciabatta bread,
guacamole that preserved some texture and tang, exquisitely cooked al
dente asparagus, chocolate brownies in perfect cubes with a dusting of
confectioners sugar.
The Party Blur
Breathtaking views at the Top of the Rock (as in Rockefeller Center),
where partygoers took I Love NY T-shirts from terrace to terrace,
seeking such Random House luminaries as Judy Blume, Jerry Spinelli,
Leonard Marcus, and Jerry Pinkney (plus Libba Bray and Markus Zusak,
his beautiful wife and child in tow--but they've already had their
moment) for wearable autographs.
Lifting glasses al fresco in Chelsea at the Park to toast Candlewick's
15th Birthday, with autograph books providing an entrée to the likes of
Kate DiCamillo, Sophie Blackall, Carolyn Mackler, Scott Menchin and
Michelle Knudsen.
Mixing on the terrace of the Library Hotel, courtesy of Penguin,
rubbing shoulders with S.E. Hinton, Jan Brett, Lane Smith and Jon
Scieszka (who, oddly, had been finding booksellers on his front lawn
all weekend long--thanks, Mo!).
And then, as if weeping at the departure of so many lovers of books all
at once, the heavens opened on the five boroughs early Monday morning,
washing away all remnants of the 2007 BookExpo America. "Next year in
Los Angeles," we cry.--Jennifer M. Brown
As of BEA, 54 bookstores across the country were planning events
this week and next whose centerpiece is the 28-minute Out of the Book
film focusing on Ian McEwan and his new book, On Chesil Beach
(Nan A. Talese, $22, 9780385522403/0385522401). (See the trailer for the film here.) Dave Weich, director of
marketing and development at Powells.com, who created the Out of the
Book series that makes its debut with the McEwan film, said that the
movie and events have already created a lot of buzz and "gotten a lot
of people talking about McEwan." He said the movies are intended to
"invite readers into a new conversation" that will not be academic and
exclusive.
Already Weich is talking to other publishers about future Out of the
Book films, a task that is much easier now that the first one is in the
can. "Before it was hard to conceptualize, like explaining how a song
sounds," he said. In the coming weeks, he'll be seeking feedback about
the events. Next time he wants to have the film distributed through
even more bookstores.
Here's a sampling of what some of the participating stores are doing:
Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, Wis., will host screenings of
the film this Thursday and Friday evening with the Boulevard Ensemble
Studio Theatre. After the movie, Boulevard Ensemble actors Tom Dillon,
Howard Goldstein and Jan Nelson will give a dramatic reading inspired
by the novel. Tickets cost $30, and include admission to the screening
and dramatic reading, a copy of the book and a bookplate signed by
McEwan.
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A week from tomorrow, Tuesday, June 19, the Harvard Book Store,
Cambridge, Mass., presents the movie at the Brattle Theatre and will
include readings and music.
Because On Chesil Beach focuses on the first night of a young
married couple, three writers from the Grub Street creative writing
center will read their own short pieces about wedding nights. In
addition, the store has created a contest, asking customers to share
their own "real or imagined story about the first night of a married
couple." (The stories should be 600 words or less and be "at least
somewhat suitable for a general audience.") The store will choose one
story that will be read at the event.
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On Wednesday evening, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, Calif., will show
the film at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 and then hold a cocktail party at the
main store sponsored by Madeleine's Restaurant & Wine Bistro. The
cost of $35 includes the movie, cocktail party and a copy of the book.
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On Saturday morning at 11 a.m., Book Passage, Corte Madera, Calif., will follow a screening with a coffee-and-tea discussion.
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Changing Hands, Tempe, Ariz., will hold two different free events
around the film. On Friday, it will show the movie in the evening,
followed by a discussion about the film, author tours and McEwan's
work. A wine and cheese reception includes solo violin music by Laraine
Kaizer from the Phoenix Symphony. (A violin player is in the book.)
On Saturday, the store will show the film on a continuous loop from noon until 5 p.m
---
This Thursday, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, Vt., is hosting
a "seaside-themed" dinner at 6
p.m. in the store's Spiral Press Café that includes
lobster rolls, sides, dessert and iced tea. Dinner is followed by the film
showing and a discussion about McEwan's literature and his work adapted
for film led by Bennington College animation and design professor Sue
Rees. Tickets are $22, and include dinner and a 15% discount on the book. Some
signed book plates will be available with the book.
Nancy Drew, starring Emma Roberts, niece of Julia, opens in theaters this coming Friday, June 15. Written and directed by Andrew Fleming, the film takes a new approach to the 75-year-old series by relocating Nancy to Hollywood, where she must navigate the clique culture of high school while using her sleuthing skills to solve mysteries. The Nancy Drew series spans over 170 titles, including a movie novelization by Daniela Burr (Simon Spotlight, $5.99, 9781416938996/1416938990).
Today on Good Morning America: Tina Brown makes the first of two
appearances to promote The Diana Chronicles (Doubleday, $27.50,
9780385517089/0385517084).
Also on GMA: Karen Miller-Kovach weighs in about Weight Watchers She
Loses, He Loses: The Truth about Men, Women, and Weight Loss (Wiley, $22.95, 9780470100462/047010046X).
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Today the Early Show is cooking with Cat Cora, whose culinary tomes
include Cooking from the Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals (Houghton
Mifflin, $30, 9780618729906/0618729909).
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Today the Diane Rehm Show schedules a segment with Alan Murray, author
of Revolt in the Boardroom: The New Rules of Power in Corporate America
(Collins, $25.95, 9780060882471/0060882476).
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Today the Martha Stewart Show re-airs an episode featuring Rick
Bayless, whose cookbooks include Authentic Mexican 20th Anniversary
Edition: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico (Morrow Cookbooks,
$29.95, 9780061373268/0061373265).
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Today the Oprah Winfrey Show hears from Robert Holden, author of
Happiness Now!: Timeless Wisdom For Feeling Good Fast (Hodder &
Stoughton, $9.95, 9780340713099/0340713097).
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Today on Fox's O'Reilly Factor: Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta, authors
of Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton (Little,
Brown, $29.99, 9780316017428/0316017426).
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Today on NPR's Talk of the Nation: Tony Lagouranis, author of Fear Up
Harsh: An Army Interrogator's Dark Journey through Iraq (NAL, $24.95,
9780451221124/0451221125).
Also talking on Talk of the Nation: Cal Ripken, Jr., who goes to bat for Get in the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance that Make
the Difference (Gotham, $26, 9781592402649/159240264X).
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Tonight on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart: comedian David Steinberg, author of the new book, The Book of David (S&S, $23, 9780743272322/0743272323).
From last week's Book Sense bestseller lists, available at BookSense.com, here are the recommended titles, which are also Book Sense Picks:
Hardcover
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani (Little, Brown, $23.99, 9780316065764/0316065765). "It is a feat to bring off a serious, historically-set novel where the history doesn't overwhelm the human story, nor does the human tale simply use the history as furniture. This most impressive, captivating debut--a novel of a young woman finding her way into life in 17th century Iran--is one that does justice to both story and history."--Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, Wash.
From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America by Christopher M. Finan (Beacon, $25.95, 9780807044285/0807044288). "This is one of the most important--and readable--books written about the price of freedom in a democracy. Do we want to pay for our freedom and security with our free speech? Timely and urgent, this is an essential book for citizens, politicians, and government officials to read and embrace."--Alicia Greene, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, D.C.
Paperback
The Last Novel by David Markson (Shoemaker & Hoard, $15, 9781593761431/1593761430). "Can an unending stream of curious quotes and observations tell a story? Is this really a novel? Yes and yes! The Narrator, as he calls himself, tosses us an occasional pointer to move the tale along. But it's the patterns in the swirling stream of quotes that draw us to a place where, in reflecting upon what we've just experienced, we nod and smile."--Bob Sommer, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, Ariz.
For Young Children
My Friend Is Sad: An Elephant & Piggie Book by Mo Willems (Hyperion, $8.99, 9781423102977/1423102975). "The hilarious and honest Willems is a masterful illustrator whose work will have you uncontrollably giggling even as it touches your heart. The simplicity and charm of this book belies its emotional wallop. You'll walk away remembering that believing in yourself inspires others to do the same, and that the loyalty of a good friend takes many, many forms. Enjoy."--Adjua Greaves, McNally Robinson Booksellers, New York, N.Y.
[Many thanks to Book Sense and the ABA!]
