Monthly Archives: September 2008

Book Covers, Book Design, Events, News

Book Cover Winner Announced

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Matt Taylor won the Penguin cover design competition we mentioned last week, for Sam Taylor’s The Island at the End of the World. Congratulations to him! It is, no doubt, one of the cleanest and well executed designs submitted, with some very complex imagery…

Matt Taylor cover

It’s almost too much. The synopsis just seemed to call for a simpler more representative image. But then my skills as an illustrator are often challenged by sitting in the floor coloring with my two-year-old.

Thanks to BDR for spilling the beans on the winners (because I sure couldn’t find any updates online). Click through to see the runners-up and such, too.

News, Publishers

GOOD Magazine – worth what?

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Good Magazine

The folks over at GOOD Magazine are spinning a little Radiohead retail. That is you pay them whatever you want for a year’s subscription (starting at a dollar). Think they have too many charts and the traditionally $20/yr. rate was too high? Pay $10. You keep up with paper and gas prices and realize these probably couldn’t do anything else in life, but create a magazine that tries to create and be helpful, so they need a liferaft? Pay them $50.

Even if you’ve never picked up the magazine. How can you pass up an annual subscription for a dollar?

Their post asks readers to check back on October 22nd, for an update, on how this new plan is working out. We’ll pass along any news, of this great experiment.

Birmingham, Bookstores, Events, News

Mark your Calendars

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They are calling it the inaugural  GreencupBooks Book, Zine, and Music Fair and it’s on the calendar for November 14 and 15. GreencupBooks and Bare Hands Gallery are neighbors over on 21st Ave South and they’re teaming up with the local literary zine phenom  The2ndHand to throw a two day bash celebrating “local and regional writers, literary magazines, small presses, comix artists, record labels and bands, zine makers, and handmade book artists, along with live music and readings.”

Their announcement says

Join us Friday night for a welcome party/reception for participating vendors, followed by a creative reading by THE2NDHAND, followed by live music. The party begins at 6 p.m. On Saturday, readings will occur periodically during the day, followed by performances and an afterparty at the bookstore. The afterparty begins at 9:30 p.m.

How can that not be a fun couple of days? You can check out the GreencupBooks site for more info, if you’re interested in being a vendor and/or setting up a table.

News, On the Web

2008 Moleskinerie Fall Giveaways

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Molskine Free

I’ve tried dozens of notebooks. All shapes, sizes and prices… but I always come back to my simple pocket sized no-ruled Moleskines. I just haven’t found a better notebook that fits my needs. Which is why I entered this year’s 2008 Moleskinerie Fall Giveaway as fast as I could. It seems pretty painless, just send in a snail mail addy and if you’re not selected they automatically enter you in the next drawing. It started today and names are drawn three times a week for five weeks.

Check it out for yourself and good luck (though deep down I really hope I win)!

{hat tip Steve J}