The NYT’s Martin Arnold surveys the current publishing scene in his Making Books column today: “Where is the next Lovely Bones when it’s so badly needed? Publishing people returned to their offices this week after their year–end holidaying to wintry fields of unsettling news. Book sales were flatter than desired. Just as forlorn a note was the news that one of the most important and admired independent bookstores in the country had laid off nearly 10 percent of its staff. So there was a chill on the new year before it even started, as publishers looked to a midwinter of heavy returns and less–than–hefty cash register activity…” Read more.
January 6, 2009
From CaliforniaAuthors editor Donna Wares, Great Escapes: Southern California is a collection of exceptional road trips with suggestions for the perfect books to take along. Highlights include first-person passages from Pico Iyer, T. Jefferson Parker, Judith Freeman, Veronique de Turenne and other great guides, plus cover images by renown photographer Rick Rickman. Learn more at Donna’s SoCal So Cool blog or buy yours here
It took a remarkable outpouring of generosity to make My California: Journeys by Great Writers a reality. This anthology of travel and adventure stories donated by 27 of California’s most talented writers benefits the beleaguered California Arts Council and writing programs for children statewide. Learn more about the project and author events at mycaliforniaproject.org or buy the book here.
Meet the authors of the California Authors Directory. Visit the directory to discover writers like Andrew Sean Greer, a San Francisco novelist whose latest book, The Story of a Marriage, was released this spring. Learn more and make the connection with Andrew and other exciting California talents in our author directory.
You can shop online from your local independent booksellers. Click to find a store near you.