I’ve had to write a fair amount of back cover copy lately (it’s that time again), and it’s a task I always hate. Think about it. You’ve not only seen the manuscript—you hope—reach its full potential, but you’ve also seen the jacket through its awkward early stages into something everyone is proud of. And now […]Read more "No pressure"

On Thursday of last week a number of Lerner employees were treated to a technology visit of the Minnetonka Public Schools. The day started out in Deephaven, Minnesota which sounds like a good spot for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Fortunately, the only scary creatures I found in the Minnetonka Community Education Center were pre-caffeinated […]Read more "Minnetonka Technology Institute Tour"

  Hello Readers! I’m new, I’m anonymous, I wear shoes, and I talk about them. “What?” you say? This is an independent children’s book publisher blog… shoes? Really? Yes, I’m here to talk about shoes. Because shoes are more than just protective foot coverings, extravagant or not. They show personality. They show interests. They show […]Read more "Anonymity and Shoes–1"

One of the fun parts of my job is working with illustrators. Last week a Minneapolis author/illustrator came to our offices for a meeting. What a treat to be able to all sit down together and talk! But other times, an illustrator we’re working with may live halfway around the world. While we’re sometimes aware […]Read more "Global Differences and Picture Book Illustrations"

Congratulations to Angela Moorad! She is the winner of five new picture books from Carolrhoda Books and Millbrook Press! We hope the students at OMazing Kids Yoga enjoy the books! This week in honor of the Academy Awards, we’re giving away a book focused on the star of one of the most anticipated movies of […]Read more "Free Book Friday- Oscar Edition"

[I asked Martha Kranes to blog today. Here’s her report.] I love when art and science intersect. The other day, I heard a clip on NPR’s Science Friday. The speaker, author Robert Courland, talks about the wondrous Pantheon, built in A.D. 128. The dome of the Pantheon is a perfect hemisphere measuring 142 feet (43 […]Read more "Intersection"

Since Graphic Universe is based in New York City, much less on the 72ndfloor of the Empire State Building, I couldn’t help look outside and think about the city’s name and its relationship to the world of comic books. After all, New York is not just the automatic choice for a generic backdrop in all […]Read more "New York City: A Character in Comics"

North American booksellers Barnes & Noble, Indigo Books and Music, and Books-a-Million are waging a “cold war” against Amazon following the announcement that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will publish print editions of Amazon Publishing East Coast titles. The brick-and-mortar stores refuse to stock Amazon’s print titles. Jaime Carey, chief merchandizing officer of Barnes & Noble, said […]Read more "Barnes & Noble Wages Cold War Against Amazon"

I’m just back from Paris, so I have to admit I don’t have much to say on the professional front, other than that RED and all its derivatives–from pink to orange to blood red–are in. Luckily I had packed some orange, and I did buy a new red dress while I was there. That’s me […]Read more "Literary Musings…in Orange!"