A NEW KIND OF POWER STRIP

I was at the container store wandering around and found this:

It's a powerstrip that moves and turns so that you can plug all of your powercords in that are too clunky and large and take up too much space in the regular powerstrips. It always drove me nuts how just one of those powercords from speakers or a computer would take up the whole strip... well no more! I highly recommend getting one. It's called Pivot Power.

WILL HARPER AND S&S BE NEXT?

Random House and Penguin are merging and now there are talks that Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster will be the next to merge. This is one way for the big power houses to get MUCH bigger and fight against the likes of Amazon. BUT what does this mean for authors? There certainly won't be a good selection of publishers to submit their stories to. If the talk of this new merge happens there will be two humungous companies overpowering the rest. Will Little Brown want to merge next with Macmillan (FSG, First Second, Henry Holt...). Really, I find this all disturbing. My opinion as an author who wants options is that books will become less creative and more generic. When there is less biding between publishers and authors and illustrators have less freedom to peruse their creative pursuits then things get stale. I am concerned for the future.

FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS

COOL DRAWING SHOW...

I stumbled upon this on youtube. The person who posted said it was on PBS in the late 80s and early 90s. Shows back then were a lot simpler... but intriguing. The guy was so excited about drawing! He makes other people want to draw! What shows are on TV today like this? This person's youtube comment sums it up: "why does TV suck nowdays? this actually enhanced my brain, not destroyed it."

CONSTRUCTED LIBRARIES

Lori Nix's photographs are post apocalyptic--she constructs the scenes (no digital manipulation). 

You can see more of her photography here.

THE HYPO

This graphic novel takes a look at Lincoln before he became president. It's intriguing. The "hypo" is lincoln's depression (his own term for it - short for hypochondriasis). Lincoln doesn't yet have a successful law practice, he shares a room with his close friend, and he courts the young Mary Todd, who comes from a wealthy Kentucky family. Todd's family doesn't want Lincoln to marry her because he is not in the same class. Mary has many wealthy suitors. Lincoln shouldn't be considered. Lincoln puts off the engagement and falls into a deep depression....

This graphic novel is intended for adults but I think this can easily be a teen read and an educational one at that. 

THE ARTIST SETH

Lemony Snicket (Aka Daniel Handler's) new book Who Could That Be at This Hour? is just out. It's illustrated by one of my favorite comic artists Seth. 

I love his art and comics and I thought I'd show some examples of his work for those of you who haven't seen it before. Enjoy!

Below are buildings that he created in 3D (I think done in cardboard?). Pretty darn cool.

ONLY ONE FAMILY CELEBRATES...

KWANZAA.

Ooops?

Sometimes the lure of that charming stock photo is just too great....