There Are No Rules - Sneak Peek

Someone Is Trying to Tell You Something!

Jane — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:51:06 GMT

This September, HOW Books will release Written on the City: Graffiti Messages Worldwide by Axel Albin & Josh Kamler. It's a collection of photographs of graffiti, all text-based, all trying to communicate.

I've plucked out Page 118 for your sneak peek.

We signed this book after discovering the authors' wonderful site.

Sneak Peek at Alien Invasion Survival Handbook

Jane — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:59:46 GMT

Next spring (2009), HOW Books will release a handbook on how to defend yourself from aliens. I just saw the sales materials cross my desk and wanted to share some images with you. Immediately below is the cover image.

Here are a few defensive moves you should know about, in case aliens should invade before the book releases. The first is the eye gouge, the second is the choking maneuver.

I recommend you print out a copy of this post and keep it in your wallet, should disaster strike.

Sneak Peek at a New Writing Exercise Book

Jane — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:14:52 GMT

In Spring 2009 (more than a year away!), Writer's Digest Books will release a new writing exercise book called Take Ten by Bonnie Neubauer. Because of the intensive design process for this book, our creative team has already started on it. Below are two favorite exercises from our designers Terri (who did the carrier pigeons) and Claudean (who did the robot family tree).

If you like these kinds of creative writing prompts, be sure to check out Bonnie's first book for us, The Write-Brain Workbook.

Exclusive Online Peek: Serfitt & Cloye Gift Catalog

Jane — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:17:43 GMT

This past week, I've been putting the final touches on a Fall 2008 title, The Serfitt & Cloye Gift Catalog by Bob Woodiwiss, from TOW Books. It's a parody of the gift catalogs you probably receive from luxury retailers. Here is one of my favorite catalog items. (Illustration by Andrea Jensen.)

FICTIONALIZATION
For anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a character in a Jane Austen novel. For the fiction lover who feels that in reading Yossarian’s, Gatsby’s, Karenina’s, or Portnoy’s story that she is reading her own. For the person who always thought she’d pour her heart into the creation of a great book one day, but now knows there’s a faster, easier way. Yes, for all these literature lovers and more, may we suggest Fictionalization. With Fictionalization, you give the gift of fictional life. Because your name (or the name of whomever you should choose to designate) will replace the name of your favorite fictional character throughout any classic, near-classic, or pulp novel. Name substitution will begin with a newly published edition that will replace all existing editions and shall continue in perpetuity, that is, in all subsequent printings of your selected title for all time. Demand is already hot, so make your reservation now. Titles already in production include Flaubert’s Madame Winfrey, Burroughs’s Murdoch of the Apes, and Shakespeare’s Rosie O[’Donnell] & Juliet. Hundreds of other titles available. Fictionalization: from $100,000 (Friar Tuck level) to $100 million (Jesus Christ level).