Flickr finds

Posted by trav in Book Talk, On the Web, Type      No comments

Apr
27

Here’s a kind soul that has compiled a HUGE list of all the Flickr groups that are book and typography related. But be warned: You can kill an entire week just lurking around on this list!

Perusing in the Park

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Events      No comments

Apr
27

The Magic City Art Connection (formerly Art in the Park) is this weekend. The three day free event will have the streets around Lynn Park blocked off thousands of Birminghamsters crowd into hundreds of white tents to see what is there.

I noticed that there are fewer print artists showing this year. I was somewhat surprised by that. There seems to be a renewed interest in printed art and posters these days. So I expecting more. Oh well. Maybe we’ll find a cool painting or something.

Tons of type

Posted by trav in On the Web, Type      No comments

Apr
27

I burned waaaaaay too much time here. But man was it fun. This guy photographed historical type speciman books and posted the pics to Flickr.

via fadetheory

Bama Book Festival ’07

Posted by trav in Authors, Events      No comments

Apr
27

We made the trip to Montgomery for the second annaul Alabama Book Festival. This year’s festival was twice as big as last year, taking up two city blocks of Old Alabama Town. There were even a few more authors speaking. Including Pulitzer-prize winner Robert Olen Butler.

Hopefully more folks will come out next year and the event will keep growing. Here is a pretty pitiful write up in Montgomery’s local paper. The reporter didn’t really look into the festival or what it was about. I think they missed a great opportunity for a neat human interest story.

But anyway, here are a few pictures I snapped while weaving in and out of all the publisher’s tables and author signings.

Moleskine hard drive!?

Posted by trav in On the Web      No comments

Apr
26

I love my Moleskine notebook. It’s small, durable, has no lines and has a pocket in the back for business cards and driver’s license. I have tried (and still try) other less expensive brands, but none of them could take the wear and tear or hold their ink. My Moleskine is the best notebook for sketching, note taking, etc.

But this guy has taken it to an all new level. My inner geek in me is creaming “Hell yeah!” while another part is silently weeping of what could have been made of all that beautiful grade paper. But at the end of the day… this is still very cool.

Books w/titles vs. books w/

Posted by trav in Book Covers, Book Design, Book Talk, On the Web, Type      No comments

Apr
24

Great question/discussion going on over at The Book Design Review about book covers with no titles on them. Chime in with your two cents.

Chicago flip-flop

Posted by trav in Book Talk, Media, News      No comments

Apr
24

The Chicago Tribune is blazing a new trail for its Books Section (via GalleyCat). While most papers are downsizing their book sections, the Trib is moving theirs to Saturday, which will allow the section to expand. They are also backing up the move with a renewed online webpage and books blog, all to be unveiled soon.

I hope this move turns out to be profitable for them and other papers start to take note. This would be a great model for other newspapers to emulate.

I’m not one for poetry

Posted by trav in Book Talk      1 comment

Apr
24

I have never really enjoyed poetry. I think I’m too lazy. I’ve always had to exert too much effort in trying to figure out what the poet is saying.

But I read this yesterday. And I went back and read it again. Today I went back and read it again. So I thought I would share the gem that she had found.

Another one bites the dust

Posted by trav in Book Talk, Media, News      No comments

Apr
24

Looks like the national “can your book section” trend has spread south of the Mason Dixon with the Atlanta Constitution “realigning” their books page and editing out the newspaper’s books editor.

It won’t be long until everyone is just running wire copy from New York. Can you imagine? Thousands of newspapers all covering the same 6 books every day. How sad.

Here’s a link to a Georgia bookstore trying to do something about it.

And the fade theorist has a post about a group of self appointing “prose pros” getting on board with letters and petitions. While I do agree with the theorist that the NBCC needs to wake up and participate in the world of new media (to quote her “Traditional print media, by comparison, is flat”), I do have to say that I would miss having the “professional” reviews in my newspapers. As much weight as I give my friends’ recommendations and suggestions, I’ve always been glad that there is a “filter” out there. Someone with enough skill and experience separate the junk from what might actually be worthy. And that, I think would be worth fighting for.

Podcasts for the bookcaste

Posted by trav in Book Talk, Media, On the Web      1 comment

Apr
24

Here’s a short article brimming with links to book related podasts! Most are attached to “serious” book reviewers at newspapers. But others are produced by book publishers and books fans. And all contain good interviews with authors. It’s interesting to hear an author’s voice as they talk about there work. Not one of them has sounded like the voices inside my head as I read their stories.

Now I just need to start riding the bus so I have time to listen.

(via Books, Inq.)