Early bird gets the book

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

May
31

LibraryThing has teamed up with Random House for a new program. You can read all about it in the Early Reviewers Group. Basically, you agree to read and review whatever book/ARC they send to you.

That’s it. Just sign up and they’ll put you on the list to get a book.

It’s almost too good to be true.

Update: here’s the latest from LibraryThing.

A sound design?

Posted by trav in Book Covers, Book Design, Book Talk, New Releases      No comments

May
30

I’m really not crazy about this cover. Though I think the process is VERY cool. If I understand it correctly, then every book has it’s own cover, since each was “recorded” at a different place and time. I just wish that the designers had chosen different symbols, patterns, etc. for the machines to manipulate.
I realize none of this makes any sense. That’s why you should watch the first video on their site. The last video on site, is cool too, since it shows all the graphics being pushed around by the city’s sounds.
(via book covers)

BEA buzz

Posted by trav in Authors, Book Talk, Events, Media, On the Web, Publishers      2 comments

May
30

It’s almost here! BEA, the largest publishing tradeshow, this side of the Atlantic, kicks off Friday, June 1st in New York City. Man, do I wish I could be there! It’s going to be HUGE. I can’t imagine all those authors, publishers andall those books!

I am just going to have to live my dreams through the blogs and exploits of others. There is the BEA Director’s blog and BookDwarf says there will be live blogging there. A few LibraryThingers are even planning a trip to a local watering hole (co-owned by Sebastian Junger).
I’m also trying to land some first-hand accounts of the show here at {head}:sub/head. So I’ve got my fingers crossed that it’ll happen.

Let me know if you’re aware of any other palces that will shift their lenses to BEA this weekend. I’d really like to keep up.

Amass the masses

Posted by trav in Book Talk, Media, On the Web      2 comments

May
28

Simon & Schuster, through their Touchstone imprint has announced that they will participate in a new online venture Media Predict. On the new site, people become virtual “investors” and buy make-believe shares in burgeoning unsigned authors, bands, films, etc. The thinking is…

read more

bookvideo.tv

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

May
22

I stumbled upon this somehow. I don’t really know who is behind it. If you click on the “Contact Us” link you’re taken to “Turn Here”, which looks like just a production company, but I could be wrong. I’m interested to see what shows up on this site.

Welcome to the ranks

Posted by trav in Birmingham, News      No comments

May
22

I was updating the Birmingham Book Events Calendar over in the sidebar when I ran across the Emmet O’Neal Library’s blog. Now everyone can get the scoop on events and books right from the source. They also seem to have blogs set up for different departments within the library! Pretty cool.

And I wish all the librarys did this… give you place to sign up for monthly notification of new acquisitions. How cool is that? Just click on the genres you’re interested in and they’ll update you once a month. Or sign up for the newsletter and get everything at once.

Booksale

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Events      No comments

May
22

It’s being promoted as a “Beach Book Blowout”. So if you’re looking for a paperback to take to the beach, head to the the Emmet O’Neal Library today (Tuesday). I hear they have tons of books.

It chews you up and spits you out

Posted by trav in Authors, Book Talk, New Releases      1 comment

May
10

I saw on Salon.com that David Silverman’s book Typo is coming out soon… Amazon says May 21st.

The story traces Silverman’s business venture with setting up, running and loosing a successful typesetting/design/publishing business. Silverman seems like someone who loves the publishing business too and jumped in with both feet.

I’m anxious to get this one in the tbr pile.

Adding audio

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Talk, Events, On the Web, Site News      No comments

May
9

Part of the new set-up here is my hopes of adding fresher content. Which, of course, has lead me to research podcasts. There are only a handful that I keep up with, but in all my recent digging around I ran across this local podcast aggregate site and then another blogger calls for a local podacasters meet-up.

I might just have to swing by the old Pita Stop and get the scoop. I think it’d be neat to jump out there and post some interviews with a few of the bazillion authors passing though Birmingham. Maybe an interview with some of you cool book design bloggers too…

‘scuse the mess

Posted by trav in Site News      2 comments

May
9

I have been wanting to update the site and make room for some of the newer media plug-ins, widgets, etc. that I keep seeing on other people’s blogs, so I’m messing around with the templates. Hope it won’t keep you from coming back.

To be honest, I’m going to miss the simplicity a clean lines of the old just text layout. But I’m tired of drooling over what other people are doing and not getting to offer it myself. Now I get to participate!

Hopefully things will settle down over the next week here, site wise.