Publishing Insider

Snicket flicka

As Lemony, would say, please do NOT watch this video.

you better you bet

From CK at Olive Reader comes this link to the odds on the next Nobel Prize Winner for Literature!

Algonquin notes

Craig Popelars does a wonderful monthly email newsletter with his Algonquin picks, of course, but also enthusiams from booksellers about books and music...plus Craig's own raves. email him at craigp@algonquin.com to get on his most excellent list.

Children's books and blogs

There's a great new site featuring children's book discussions - Jacket Flap. And they also have a great directory of book blogs. heck it out.

this morning

This was the type of almost-fall NYC morning when the city gleams, despite the noise of garbage trucks and buses, despite the gleam in the eye of the mechanic when I take my car in for servicing this AM. Sidewalks are washed down, kids are walking to school, joggers are out. The city is not up to full speed yet, and the sunrise makes buildings sparkle. But then, I see they've torn down what I thought was a landmark structure, an old Horn & Hardart Art Deco building that also housed the first bookstore I worked in when I moved to the city. Very, very sad. How was that allowed to happen?

tagless

I really thought that tagless t-shirts were just a marketing gimmick..but I have to confess, I really prefer them now!

Fan for life

Of interest to bookstore websites? I brought this up at a panel at the recent MPIBA trade show.

One of my online pet peeves is lousy Contact Us info at corporate websites, i.e. some general mailbox and you never hear back about your complaint. But when it’s done right, I’m fan for life.

I recently emailed WFUV here in NYC about a great song I’d heard in the car one night and couldn’t get the song title. I went online the next day, got the email of the programming director, and get an answer back in one hour! Better yet, I had to do the “it was on the radio and had the word blue in the title” thing that booksellers get all the time! I said the song had a great guitar riff, aired right after 9 PM, was followed by a song that started ‘doo ta doo ta doo.’ I’m not kidding. She got me the answer, and I’m a fan for life.

In this electronic age, the individual touch is more important than ever.

Teenage Wasteland

How proud a papa am I that my daughter would give me a CD to play in the car of her favorite tunes, and one is The Who's Baba O'Riley?? Only one of the 5 best songs of all time. And never mind that her teenage wasteland years are imminent....although hopefully not. Next: I need to find out more about her other favorite of the moment, Scissor Sisters.

funniest book ever

As a father of a 15 yr. old, I'm appalled by the lessons in Backstage with Beth and Trina. But I can't help...it is so damn funny. Check out Jeff Yamaguchi's interview with the authors. (And I dare you to scratch the vomit-scented patch!)

Paulo Coelho event

The world's third bestsellling author behind only Grisham & Rowling will do a live webcast on Oct. 11. VERY cool! Register here.