When Creativity Takes A Wrong Turn: Lousy Book Covers

Aptly titled new Tumblr "Lousy Book Covers" collects the delightfully dubious achievements in jacket design. The book Spending Christmas With a Yeti is already at a marketplace disadvantage, what with that title, but then there’s the book cover. Oh boy, where to start. The real-life snowcapped mountain intruded upon by a clip-art Ford Explorer and what looks like an albino King Kong drawing? The puke-green background behind the title? Fortunately, for our amusement at least, it was efforts like this one for which the "Lousy Book Covers" Tumblr was made. In an age of consumer-as-creator, it’s sometimes fun to see the self-generated works that aren’t soaring aesthetic achievements. Creator Nathan Shumate is a writer and artist who also--wait for it--designs book covers. This expertise gives him special insight into what makes these book covers so bad, but anyone can plainly see that perhaps Chip Kidd was not called in on these jobs. Most covers featured on the site look like self-published works gone horribly wrong. Of course, the major publishing houses are also capable of putting out the occasional clunker every now and then.Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2013-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #book cover #book covers #chip kidd #covers featured

Other Publishing stories related to: 'When Creativity Takes A Wrong Turn: Lousy Book Covers'

London Book Fair 2015: 3M Expands Cloud Library to U.K. and Beyond

Already in over 1,000 libraries in the U.S. and Canada, users abroad will soon be able to use 3M to borrow library ebooks. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

AWP 2015: The Art and Business of Writing Children's Books

Although AWP 2015 focused on literature written for and by adults, children's authors held their own at the conference and presented their ideas about how to best publish for Middle Grade and YA readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing children #middle grade #ya readers

London Book Fair 2015: Oberlin Prof’s Debut Draws Seven Figures

On the eve of the London Book Fair, DeSales Harrison has struck literary gold. The Oberlin College professor’s debut novel, 'The Waters & the Wild,' has sold to Kate Medina at Penguin Random House for seven figures. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Gay penguins on disputed book list

A picture book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin again features on a list of books to have received the most complaints from library users. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gay penguins #picture book #baby penguin #library users

Women Buy Books, Men Review Them

VIDA's annual survey of literary publications found that book reviewing and literary coverage is still dominated by men. The post Women Buy Books, Men Review Them appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annual survey #book reviewing

London Book Fair 2015: At Digital Minds, Publishers Urged to Experiment, and Learn

The seventh annual Publishing for Digital Minds Conference kicked off the London Book Fair, with the main exhibits officially opening on Tuesday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital minds #publishers urged

Neal Pollack's Secrets To Cranking Out Creative Work

The author of Alternadad and Downward-Facing Death shares how his habits help him work at a healthy clip.Neal Pollack is the author of nine books, a three-time Jeopardy champion, a musician, and a yoga instructor. His newest novel Repeat is "a romantic comedy with some time travel in it," as he... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #creative work #books including #yoga instructor #romantic comedy #time travel

Poland’s Book Market Has Big Potential, Many Challenges

IPR License and agent Lucy Abrahams look at the Poland, one of Europe's dynamic developing book markets, one with huge potential but also many challenges. The post Poland’s Book Market Has Big Potential, Many Challenges appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post poland #challenges appeared #book market #ipr license #huge potential

Wrestlers in cars and elephants on wheels: Mexican illustrated children's books – in pictures

In the first of our new A world of illustration series, we share a selection of illustrations from Mexican children’s books – and celebrate this year’s Mexican focus at the London Book Fair Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mexican children

AWP 2015: Publishing Pros Point Toward Careers in the Book Biz for M.F.A. Grads

A group of publishing professionals from Riverhead, Graywolf, the National Book Foundation, and Coffee House Press, talked to AWP attendees about the promises and pitfalls of pursuing a career in publishing in a panel sponsored by PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing professionals #book biz

Phoenix Yard to publish colouring book series

Phoenix Yard Books has acquired the world English rights to publish a series of colouring books from Dutch publisher BBNC. The range, which will be launched in May, includes three books for adults - The One and Only Colouring Book For Adults, The Second One and Only Colouring Book For Adults... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colouring books #adults - #phoenix yard #colouring book

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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing executives

Solitude for Random House Books

Random House Books has bought a book about the importance of spending time alone. Senior editor Harry Scoble bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Solitude by Michael Harris from Anne McDermid at Anne McDermid and Associates. Harris’ début, The End of Absence (Portfolio Penguin), explored the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spending time #time spent

Amazon's Kindle for Android adds popular highlights, book instructions, and more perks

Kindle for Android wants to train your brain along with serving as your go-to e-Reader.Version 4.11, which is rolling out through the Play Store, brings in a feature called Word Wise, which pops up hints above words that Kindle thinks may be challenging. The goal is to give you confidence to... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #play store #book section

Beta Testing Capstone’s E-book Bundling Program

After years of asking mainstream publishers for ebooks to be bundled with physical books, a small group of indie booksellers have gotten their wish. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mainstream publishers #physical books #small group #indie booksellers

Meet the Authors and Illustrators Behind These Books: Children's Institute 2015

A list of the most recent books by writers attending the author reception, the Scholastic Meet & Treat party, and/or the opening reception with members of #WeNeedDiverseBooks, cosponsored by PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recent books #writers attending #author reception #opening reception ##weneeddiversebooks

With New Leaders, North Atlantic Books Looks Ahead

Last year was the 40th anniversary of Berkeley publisher North Atlantic Books, and the 50th anniversary of Io, the alternative literary journal that marked the company’s beginnings. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #40th anniversary

London Book Fair 2015: In Pre-Fair Deals, Debut Sells to Knopf for Rumored 7 Figures

With the book fair just days away, a number of major sales have closed in the U.S., among them the acquisition of a debut novel, by a 25-year-old, for a rumored seven figures. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut sells #pre-fair deals #book fair