Publishing sometimes has its own language, and I’d like to share a few of the more interesting and unusual terms I’ve learned over the years. bleed: This has nothing to do with blood! A photo or illustration bleeds if it extends past the edges of the book (whether top, side, or bottom—or all). A full-bleed […]Read more "Bleeding in the Gutter: Publishing Terminology"

I wasn’t at SCBWI in NYC, but I’ve heard from many people that Sara Zarr hit a keynote homer. Not really a surprise, I suppose. Steve Brezenoff wasn’t officially at SCBWI either, but, he borrowed one of his character’s juvie shoes, and now you can read his take on Zarr’s keynote. (Rumors you may have […]Read more "Advice by Any Means"

Graphic Universe’s editorial director, Carol Burell, just got back from the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême (or Angoulême International Comics Festival as it’s known in English). Bande Dessinée, or BD, is the French term for comic. The festival (now in its 37th year) is held annually in the town of Angoulême, located in […]Read more "The Latest News from Angoulême"

By TFCB author, Ann Downer (Domenica invited author Ann Downer to write a post about researching her new title for TFCB’s Spring 2011 season. The book is called Elephant Talk [cover below] and it looks at the many incredible ways in which elephants communicate with each other and with other species. So don’t worry if […]Read more "The Tale of the Elephant’s Tail"

Until now, I haven’t given much thought to book and food pairings. Perhaps that’s just because the right book hadn’t come along. In Clara Morgan and the Oregon Trail Journey by Marty Rhodes Figley, eleven-year-old Clara struggles to make biscuits for her family as they travel on the Oregon Trail. Biscuits aren’t her only challenge […]Read more "Books with Biscuits"

I just recently saw the movie The Social Network, a fictionalized telling of how Mark Zuckerberg brought Facebook to the (inter)national stage. I thought it was a captivating and well-made movie—especially well written. (Watch for Aaron Sorkin’s cameo, too!) But what fascinated me most about the movie was the glimpse back it gave, of that […]Read more "The Social Network Era"

The second volume in the Chicagoland Detective Agency series, The Maltese Mummy, will be released in April. But you don’t have to wait till then to get the scoop on Megan, Raf and Bradley’s latest capper! Comicsgirl released this early review. Here is some of what Comicsgirl had to say: “Robbins is clearly having fun […]Read more "Coming in April: Maltese Mummy!"

and libraries are going to be publishers. You’re probably not going to spend 20 minutes on anything more worthwhile than watching this. Do I agree with it all? Probably not. Am I going to think about it all day? Yep. <img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DRH_8nTKpLY/TUHLRwtYcFI/AAAAAAAAAsY/v5j0UiF4uKs/video69023b3d3c2e%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('45196844-b170-458d-a930-6c4590985a8d'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = " http://www.youtube.com/v/KqAwj5ssU2c?version=3&hl=en“;” alt=””> <img […]Read more "Publishers sell ice . . ."

Picture books are imagination factories. With imagination, anything is possible. This year, let’s… Save Everything! (and the Picture Book) By guest blogger Bridget Heos Do you love picture books? I should ask if you like sledding and, afterward, hot cocoa with marshmallows. Of course you do. Now, how would you like to win picture books […]Read more "Save Everything! (and the Picture Book)"