RSSEver wondered what goes on in a little but lovely office where books are born? Welcome to the door that opens into the world of A & B... no need to knock, come right in!
-
Archive
Behind-The-Books Blog
From the book to the silver screen…
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
I must be the only person in the UK who hasn’t read The Kite Runner. Something about it just doesn’t appeal to me although I know so many people have loved it. But I have seen the film and loved it so much I promptly bought it for my Mum. My sister has both read [...]
And the award for the Oddest Book Title of 2008 goes to…
Monday, March 30th, 2009
This weekend, I thought I would look through the newspapers for inspiration for this week’s blog entry. Should I write about the marches in London for the G20 summit? Jacqui Smith’s ‘blue movies’ scandal? The amazing escape of the death-defying grandmother who plunged her Mini Cooper over a 100ft cliff – without wearing a seatbelt [...]
Working with funky fonts
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
Ah – the simple things in life that make me happy (doesn’t take much). For instance, while working on our next catalogue I got to play with two beautiful fonts discovered by cover-designer-in-chief Christina which feature on next month’s One Foot Wrong. One, a slightly bonkers mix of hand-sketched characters that makes me think of [...]
Want to save paper? Read a book.
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
Eek! Paper prices have shot through the roof! Well, actually we knew this a while ago but we’ve been hiding our heads in the sand waiting for the wheeling and dealings of the paper mills and printers to be finalised. It’s not pretty.
Cutting down trees is environmentally unpopular - and criminally expensive. Yet books provide [...]
Which were your favourite books as a child?
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
Last weekend I went out for my first picnic of the year. It was so lovely to sit out in the sunshine in a grassy field by a river, with my good friend Wendy, her two little girls and their tennis-ball obsessed dog. And, of course, a good book. I can’t imagine a nicer way [...]
A toast to Kate Charles! (And other event news…)
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
Tonight, as I write this, a crowd has gathered at the wonderful Heffers Bookshop in Cambridge to celebrate the launch of Kate Charles‘ new ecclesiatical mystery Deep Waters. There will be much drinking of wine, much signing of books, much merriment in general. Who ever said Monday nights were boring?
Now, if you are reading this [...]
Food for thought…
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Considering the amount of effort we spend proof reading our manuscripts, the fact that occasionally, like all publishers, we receive a letter from an indignant reader who has spotted a typo on page 245…well, it does hurt a little. Then you read THIS.
And suddenly you realise it’s a wonder anyone spots grammatical errors. Or why [...]
The cover issue
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Following on from yesterday’s make-over theme, today brought up the issue of changing a cover design. Our Morganville vampire books, by Rachel Caine are proving to be a big hit with readers (look out, Stephanie Meyer…) and now, four books into the series, we are thinking of giving the next one, Lord of Misrule (out [...]
Couldn’t we all do with a make-over?
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
As you can see, our website has recently undergone a make-over. It’s been completely revamped and refreshed, and we were able to launch its new look just in time for spring. That got me thinking: what else could do with a make-over? Luckily for me, Air Kisses, the fantastic chick lit book I’m busy working [...]
Reading on the move…or mobile reading…
Monday, March 16th, 2009
I spend a lot of time on the train chugging to and from London. Which is great, usually, as it doesn’t take much for me to lose myself in a book and an hour of reading where I can’t do the washing up or other looming chores is precious. So it’s annoying when I finish [...]
The A v B format paperback question…
Friday, March 13th, 2009
I grew up with small format paperbacks that neatly fit in your pocket and that’s what everyone took on their annual holiday. Those were the days … Then along came the large Penguin paperbacks, the King Penguins, which were so gorgeous and covetable. Do you remember Perfume first time round? It was absolutely stunning. So [...]
We may not have made the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize list, but we still have reason to celebrate!
Thursday, March 12th, 2009
We’ve been out to lunch today to celebrate the launch of the new website. Don’t get the wrong idea, publishing really is not made up of social fluttering and million pound deals being struck over champers at the Dorchester. It was a yummy pizza and pasta celebration but an occasion nonetheless. Now, I’m breathing garlic [...]
Our Publishing Director, Susie Dunlop, joins the Board of Directors at the IPG
Monday, March 9th, 2009
Our Publishing Director, Susie Dunlop, has joined the Board of Directors at the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG) which aims to support its members in the publishing industry…
Welcome to our new website and blog!
Sunday, March 8th, 2009
Trumpet fanfare please…. Welcome to our brand new website!
It’s been a long time coming so thanks for your patience, but I think you´ll agree it’s been worth the wait! Hope you’ll take the time to have a good browse through all the new features. But to help you get to know the new site better, [...]
Currently we are...
-
...reading
The Rose of Sebastopol, by Katharine Mcmahon Lara: Mariella is an interesting protagonist – so far, not your traditional heroine and still second fiddle to the beautiful, enigmatic Rosa. This is the author’s aim I suppose, but I’m still interested to see if Mariella does finally come into her own – or if as readers you’ll always wish the story was told from Rosa’s point of view instead.
Digg this
Facebook