How Elf On The Shelf Went From Family Tradition To The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

From self-publishing and selling out of the trunk of a car to millions of dollars in sales and a blue-sky spot in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the creators of Elf on the Shelf discuss how they packaged up a new American tradition. Innovators often have those “blue sky” moments, times where they close their eyes and conjure ideas on the grand scale. But for three business owners, the actual sky was the backdrop for their biggest dream: to see a 46-foot tall inflatable elf sailing through the air during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Not just any old elf, though. Twins Christa Pitts and Chanda Bell and their mom Carol Aebersold wanted to see that North Pole scout from Elf on the Shelf become the first storybook character selected from an independent publisher fly in the parade since Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit (self-published in 1901) sailed down Sixth Avenue on the way to Herald Square.Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2012-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #business owners #chanda bell #beatrix potter

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Traditional books on paper open a new chapter of success

As the expansion of ebook sales slow down, enthusiasm for both paperbacks and hardcovers remains strongA former tannery has been magicked into an arts venue, the lights have been dimmed, and a roomful of publishing executives are sitting on creaky wooden floors, cross-legged or knees scrunched... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seattle Indies to Join Bookstore Day

Seattle booksellers are trying to outdo their colleagues in other cities as they celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on May 2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Which modern day children's books will become classics?

We’ve had the BBC’s best children’s books of all time and not a single one was published after 1968, so what are the future classics, books written in the last 20 years that people will still be reading in 50 or even 100 years time? Join in our discussion to predict the future classics! Many of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Self-published star Jasinda Wilder lands seven-figure deal with traditional imprint

After selling more than 2m ebooks under her own steam, the DIY star has now sold ‘dark, sexy’ Madame X trilogy to Berkley BooksRomance novelist Jasinda Wilder has become the latest self-published writer to land a major deal with a mainstream publisher, after her “dark, sexy” Madame X trilogy was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cookbook Turned Memoir Stirs Up Family Stories in 'Three Many Cooks'

When the team behind the popular blog Three Many Cooks submitted their cookbook proposal to Ballantine, executive editor Pamela Cannon had a different vision for the project, and a collaborative food memoir was born. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Folio winner Family Life 'deserves recognition' says trade

Akhil Sharma’s Family Life (Faber) has finally gained the recognition it deserves by winning the Folio Prize, trade figures have told The Bookseller. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the prize said there will be conversations about the future of its funding this summer. Sharma’s novel, based... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #deserves recognition #akhil sharma #folio prize #trade figures


Family Life paperback publication brought forward

Faber & Faber is to bring forward the paperback publication of Akhil Sharma’s Family Life after the book won the Folio Prize for Fiction yesterday (23rd March). The paperback was originally due to be released on 23rd April, but Faber will now release the title on 2nd April “to give... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Family Christian Bankruptcy Felt by Authors, Agents

The Family Christian Stores bankruptcy drama continues to reverberate across the Christian publishing world. Some publishers owed money by FCS are holding back royalty payments, to try to forestall their own financial hiccups. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day still dominates charts

World Book Day titles continue to dominate the Official UK Top 50 with nine of the 10 titles published as part of the annual charity celebrations claiming positions within the Top 10 this week. The 10 £1 titles sold 224,433 combined copies in the seven days ending 14th March. This was down 34%... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Confession of a traditional publisher: Inhabiting ‘that moral middle ground’

Robots haven't completely replaced media salespeople, but they've forced the role to evolve. In the latest in our Confessions series, an anonymous publishing exec says that while it's hard to get print reps with digital skills, too many digital salespeople don't even bother to read the company's... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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St. Patrick's Day: New York City residents can get a free book by an Irish writer

The Irish Arts Center in New York City will be handing out thousands of books by Irish writers to NYC residents on the holiday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day dominates charts Top 10

World Book Day titles claimed nine of the coveted positions in the Top 10 in the most successful WBD week since 2012. A combined total of 339,133 copies of the 10 books published to celebrate the annual charity reading event (held on Thursday 5th March) registered through Nielsen BookScan in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Traditional Publishing is for Men, Self-Publishing is for Women

The Guardian reviews the results of a survey that suggests “self-publishing helps women break through the book industry’s glass ceiling.” The post Traditional Publishing is for Men, Self-Publishing is for Women appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Are viral traffic’s days numbered?

It may seem like the Internet was awash in posts about #thedress and, for that matter, runaway llamas, as of late. But a confluence of factors, from viewability to changing Facebook algorithms to falling CPMs, are making the economics of this kind of viral strategy a bit more complicated.... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day: This tank encourages reading, not war

Argentinian artist Raul Lemesoff has created a tank of books, which he is driving around Argentina to bring attention to education and reading. Lemesoff says he hopes it encourages youth to choose education over violence. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day: British and Irish children head to school dressed as book-based characters

World Book Day is celebrated on March 5 in Britain and Ireland and an important part of the day is children dressing up as a literary character for school. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Focus for IPG Day One

Facebook was a focus of the first day of the IPG spring conference in Chipping Norton yesterday (4th March), which saw Perseus reveal the inside story on having a book selected for the Facebook Book Club, while publishers told they are "too nice" and need to develop more attitude if they are to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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VIDEO: Children celebrate World Book Day

As millions of children celebrate World Book Day, Tim Muffett has been looking at what makes bedtime reading a best seller. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2015-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Religion Update Spring 2015: All in the Family

Parents always need a little extra help, families need support, and marriages need fine tuning. Publishers want to pitch in with books that address such issues, and readers of all religious stripes will find resources galore this season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indies First Goes North: Canadian Authors for Indies Day is May 2

Nearly 100 independent bookstores and 270 authors throughout Canada have signed up for the first annual Canadian Authors for Indies Day on May 2. The post Indies First Goes North: Canadian Authors for Indies Day is May 2 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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