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Among Others Wins a Nebula Award

2012-05-23T16:09:05+00:00

I have gone on about Among Others by Montreal-based author Jo Walton numerous (NUMEROUS!) times here already (OK, twice at least, but I've been banging on about it on Twitter* a lot!). Occasionally I would convince some people of its brilliance. Other times, not... so... much. I was beginning to think it was a book you either loved or hated. But now I feel completely and utterly vindicated because Among Others won the Nebula Award for Best Novel over the weekend! Hooray! Congratulations to Jo and all the other winners. (I will not gloat... I will not gloat...)

*You knew Raincoast is on Twitter, right? We're also on Facebook if that's your thing. And don't forget Tumblr! Oh and Pinterest!

Pure Vegan Book Trailer

2012-05-16T21:20:19+00:00

Pure Vegan
70 Recipes for Beautiful Meals and Clean Living

Mom, Inc. Book Trailer

2012-05-16T21:14:41+00:00

Mom, Inc.
The Essential Guide to Running a Successful Business Close to Home

Name That Movie Book Trailer

2012-05-16T21:08:49+00:00

Name That Movie
100 Illustrated Movie Puzzles

Instant Love Book Trailer

2012-05-16T18:14:15+00:00

Instant Love
How to Make Magic and Memories with Polaroids

Michael Cho at Type Books May 23rd

2012-05-10T13:01:40+00:00

Toronto-based illustrator and hometown hero Michael Cho will be signing copies of his new book Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes 6pm–8pm on May 23rd at Type Books on Queen Street West near Trinity Bellwoods Park. TYPE will also be featuring a gallery show of selected work from the book.

Michael began creating drawings of the back alleys near his Toronto home in 2008. Collected together in this book, the work speaks to the beauty of the urban landscape: sometimes gritty and citified, sometimes unexpectedly pastoral, but always beautifully rendered. Michael is a brilliant draftsman, and Back Alleys shines with loving attention to detail – from expletive-filled graffiti splayed across backyard fences to the graceful twists of power lines over a bend in the road.

Last weekend, Michael joined a host of other super-talented cartoonists – including Kate Beaton, Guy Delisle and Tom Gauld to name a few – signing books at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival at the Toronto Reference Library. Unsurprisingly (in retrospect!) Backalleys was in big demand and we sold out of the book in no time at all, so make sure you come by early on the 23rd if you are want to get your hands on a copy!

Michael Cho
Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes
Book signing featuring a gallery show of selected work

@ TYPE Books
883 Queen Street West, Toronto
May 23rd, 6pm - 8pm
Typebooks.ca

Suze Casey author of Belief Re-Patterning ~ Canadian events

2012-05-08T17:28:30+00:00

Do you want to rid yourself of negative thinking? Suze Casey, author of Belief Re-patterning will be appearing at the following locations to talk about her new book and techniques to promote positive thinking within yourself.

Suze Casey
Author, teacher, radio host, speaker and entrepreneur Suze Casey, MEd, is the developer of the Belief Re-patterning® technique. After a 20-year teaching career, Suze followed her passion by opening a practice based in Canada, where she supports her clients in developing positive belief structures. http://www.beliefrepatterning.com and www.suzecasey.com

Events

Thursday May 10^th, 2012

Coho Books – 3-5 pm
1074 Shoppers Row
Campbell River, BC

If you wish to learn more about this event, please contact 250-287-2335 or visit their website for further details.

Friday May 11^th, 2012

Lobelias Lair – 2-4 pm
8-321 Wesley Street
Nanaimo, BC

If you wish to learn more about this event, please contact the store at 250-753-5440 for further details.

Sunday May 13^th, 2012

Full Circle Studio Arts – 1-3 pm
1800 Store Street
Victoria, BC

If you wish to learn more about this event, please contact 250-920-4034 for further details.

Monday May 14^th, 2012

Whitby’s Books – 2-3:30 pm
14833 Marine Drive
White Rock, BC

If you wish to learn more about this event, please contact 604-536-3711 for further details.

Tuesday May 15^th, 2012

Wellspring Health – 10-Noon
1248 – 56 Street
Tsawwassen, BC

If you wish to learn more information about this event, please contact 604-943-1499 for further details.

AND

Banyen Books – 2-4 pm
3608 West 4^th Street
Vancouver, BC

If you wish to learn more about this event, please visit their website.

Wednesday May 16^th, 2012

Reflections – 11 am-1 pm
1111D Austin Ave.
Coquitlam, BC

For further details about this event, please contact the store at 604-939-6000 or visit their website.

AND

Food For Thought – 3-5 pm
1 – 2664 Gladys Avenue
Abbotsford, BC

To learn more about this event, please contact the store at 604-853-9027 for further details.

Thursday May 17^th, 2012

Suze Casey will be appearing for a Book Signing at Mystic Dreams from 1-3 pm and for a workshop at Mystic Dreams from 7-9 pm

Mystic Dreams
419 Tranquille Road
Kamloops, BC

If you wish to learn more about these events, please contact 250-554-8770 or visit their website for further details.

AND

Bookland – 3:30-6 pm
750 - Fortune Drive
Kamloops, BC

For more details about this event, please contact the store at 250-554-2025.

Friday May 18^th, 2012

Spirit Quest Books – Noon-2 pm
170 Lakeshore Drive NE
Salmon Arm, BC

Please contact 250-804-0392 for further details about this event.

AND

It’s All Good Bulk & Healthfood Plus – 3-5 pm
Suite F-2682 Fairway Hills Road
Blind Bay, BC

For further information about this event, please contact the store at 250-675-2828.

Saturday May 19^th, 2012

Hooked on Books – 10-Noon
225 Main Street
Penticton, BC

For further information about this event, please contact the store at 778-476-5621.

AND

Bookland – 2:30-4:30 pm
100 – 3400 30^th Avenue
Vernon, BC

Please contact the store at 250-545-1885 for further details about this event.

Sunday May 20^th, 2012

Mosaic Books – Noon-2 pm
411 Bernard Avenue
Kelowna BC

If you wish to learn more information about this event, please contact the store at 250-763-4418 for further details.

AND

Newport Beach – 3:30-5 pm
12069 Westside Road
Vernon, BC

If you wish to learn more about this event, please contact 250-542-7431 for further details.

Hark! A Vagrant wins Doug Wright Award

2012-05-07T14:47:05+00:00

It was the Toronto Comics Art Festival at the weekend, and the brilliant Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton won the award for Best Book at the 8th Doug Wright Awards, hosted by Geoff Pevere, which took place on Saturday night at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Founded in 2004, the annual Doug Wright Awards recognize the best and brightest in English-language comics and graphic novels published in the previous year in Canada.

This years winners were decided by a jury comprised of visual artist Shary Boyle, cartoonist John Martz and book artist and professor George Walker.

Speaking on behalf of the jury, Shary Boyle praised Kate’s book. “The world of comics can be a sequestered and dusty place,” she said. “As the comic community bemoans its shrinking readership and dying forms, Beaton rises up and throws open the doors to a whole new audience—welcoming one and all with her generous vision and sense of sophisticated, inclusive playfulness.”

Amen to that!

Other winners included Ethan Rilly for Pope Hats #2 (Doug Wright Spotlight Award aka "The Nipper") Michael Comeau for Hellberta (Pigskin Peters Award for experimental or avant-garde comics).

Congratulations all.

May the force (oops fourth) be with you!!

2012-05-04T21:27:21+00:00

Hey there Star Wars fans! Today is Star Wars Day. Perfect opportunity to showcase some of our awesome Star Wars books/products!

Darth Vader and Son

This light hearted book is perfect for any Dad—Star Wars fan or not. A comic about the life of Darth Vader and his difficulties raising a son, Jeffrey Brown explores a different side of the Star Wars world—one I am sure that everyone wishes to see more of. An ideal book to share with your own Dad or child, this is a book that both celebrates Star Wars Day and one that will have a permanent place on your bookshelf.

Wookiee Pies, Clone Scones, and Other Galactic Goodies

What better way to celebrate Star Wars Day than with these awesome, fun recipes? It really is a win-win situation: show your love of Star Wars with these adorable cookie cutters AND get a rewarding (and delicious) treat at the end. A perfect activity for both kids and adults to show their Star Wars appreciation, it really doesn’t get any better than this!

How to Speak Wookiee

Today is probably the only day you can get away with speaking in Wookiee without people shooting you strange looks. If you always wished to learn another language and the real ones just aren’t cutting it (or if you are me they are just too difficult for you) this book provides the perfect opportunity to hone those language skills of yours and put them to good use. Also, the language will come in handy for interpretation purposes during those Star Wars movie marathons, or if you want that added authenticity for your Chewbacca Halloween costume.

The Art and Making of Star Wars

If you don’t have the attention span to sit through 4+ hours of Star Wars movies to celebrate Star Wars Day, perhaps you will instead pull out your “Star Wars: The Old Republic” video game and celebrate this culturally produced holiday with your own presence in the Star Wars world. Want to see how it was created? This book delves into the process and provides an inside look into one of our culture’s most beloved franchises. A must buy for any self-professed (or in the closet) Star Wars fan.

Star Wars Moleskine Planners

If you’re like me, planners just make everything better. Especially these Star Wars-themed ones! Get your life organized and indulge in your favourite series with these fantastic day planners.

HUGE thanks to Melissa our new awesome intern for this blog post! It's her first and certainly not her last!!

Inside the Fall 12 Sales Conference

2012-05-01T17:42:29+00:00

Last week was the Raincoast Fall 2012 sales conference. This is when all our publishers come to Vancouver to talk to the sales team about their brand new fall titles. For us publicists, it's a chance to hear about the hot upcoming books and see what will be in store for us this fall! There were so many fabulous books that it made my head spin, but I thought I would share a small selection of my favourites...

I was blown at conference by this new series of classics from Thunder Bay Press. The picture does not convey how beautiful this series is: they're gorgeous books with a soft, velvety leather cover, a celebration of the tactility of the page.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Canterbury Classics singles series

I like to think of myself as a scholarly being, a reader of highfalutin' literary fiction, an intellectual. But then someone throws a book about cat pee in front of me and I think it's hilarious. So much for the highbrow.

I Could Pee On This: And Other Poems By Cats
Francesco Marciuliano

If you think doing your Christmas shopping on time is a challenge, try getting a book to press in time for the holidays. Publishing is an industry that has to roll way ahead of the game. But this picture book from Sourcebooks is so lovely and sweet it could be enjoyed any day of the year.

A Flower in the Snow
Tracey Corderoy and Sophie Allsopp

Whoever thought rocks would be interesting? This is a quirky one, but I'm intrigued by the promised chapter on inukshuks...

Cairns: Messengers in Stone
David Williams

Sometimes it's the cover that pulls you in. I love these little quill duelists.

The Language Wars: A History of Proper English
Henry Hitchings

And from Drawn & Quarterly, a very cool collection by New Yorker cartoonist Adrian Tomine.

New York Drawings
Adrian Tomine

What upcoming book are you most excited to see this year?

Eben Weiss visits Vancouver

2012-04-22T19:27:01+00:00

We had the pleasure of meeting Eben Weiss (aka BikeSnob USA) last week while he was in Vancouver for his book tour. By 'we' I mean my boyfriend and myself. I had to do it cause it's my job. The BF on the other hand took time off work to tag along for fun. Not that I minded this particular working day because we rode bikes all day and it's our fave thing to do!

For those of you who don't know who Eben Weiss is, he writes the emencely popular blog bikesnousa and wrote a couple of books.

We had met him at his hotel where we all biked over the Caffé Musette for a nice cup of coffee and some snacks while we waited for legendary Amy Walker and her crew to get suited and booted for their Eben interview for bicycle.com.

Essentially they ride around town showing people riding in
real-life situations - on the streets, trails and bike routes of our city from the back of a Yuba Mundo cargo bike. It looks pretty tricky to handle but these two had the down packed.

After a couple hours of riding around beautiful Vancouver (oh and the weather was awesome btw!) we were starved so stopped for few tacos at Taqueria before heading over to Bike Dr. for the group ride.

We ended the night at Chapters where Eben answered questions from the crowd and signed stock. We talked about everything from biking and rainbows to religion and salmoning. (Grab the book, you'll know what I mean after reading it)

Following morning Eben graced our local TV waves at BT. Here's the link.

I'm pleading to get Eben up to Toronto.
I'll keep you all posted on if and when that happens.

Happy riding!

Lonely Planet New Country Guide Apps

2012-04-18T19:47:42+00:00

It's always fun to see the interesting ways that Lonely Planet is expanding into the app marketplace. Their offline translation apps are some of the niftier apps I've ever heard of—real-time translation on the go in the foreign country? The future is here, people!

Lonely Planet is now launching a series of new country guide apps, available as stand-alones and within the Lonely Planet Travel Guides app. Speaking as someone who's lugged her heavy Lonely Planet Ireland halfway across the country and back, I couldn't be more excited about this expansion.

Check it out in the app store!

Wayne Arthurson Book Launch, Edmonton

2012-04-13T14:47:31+00:00

Canadian journalist, author and musician Wayne Arthurson will be launching his new novel A Killing Winterat The Artery in Edmonton on Wednesday April 18th. The event starts at 7:00pm.

Wayne's previous crime thriller, the critically acclaimed Fall From Grace, is a finalist for the 2012 Alberta Reader's Choice Award.

A Killing Winter Launch Party Featuring Wayne Arthurson
April 18th 2012
7:00pm
The Artery
9535 Jasper Ave Edmonton, AB T5H 3V2
Phone: 780-441-6966

See you there!

Win a copy of the World’s Best Street Food

2012-04-09T21:06:23+00:00

The street is where you'll find the heart of a cuisine and a culture—somewhere among the taco carts and noodle stalls, the scent of wood fires and the hubbub of fellow diners. It's the most democratic food in the world, gratifying and completely delicious!

Head on over to Zoomer where you can win a copy of Lonely Planet's The World's Best Street Food. View some of the tempting treats you could be enjoying here!

Alyx Dellamonica Blue Magic Launch at UBC, April 19th

2012-03-29T19:39:35+00:00

Vancouver-based author Alyx Dellamonica will reading from her new novel Blue Magic at the UBC Bookstore on April 19th, 7:30pm.

The sequel to her award-winning eco-fantasy Indigo Springs, Blue Magic continues the story of the three friends who unwittingly caused the escape of magic into North America through a crack between worlds.

A powerful story of private lives changed by earthshaking events Blue Magic is a poignant tale of a world touched by magic and plagued by its consequences.

Alyx Dellamonica
Blue Magic Book Launch
7:30pm, April 19th 2012
UBC Bookstore
800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Tel: 1-800-661-3889 / (604) 822-2665

The Enlightened Cyclist Group Ride & Chapters Event April 12th

2012-03-21T22:25:22+00:00

Please join Bike Snob NYC (a.k.a. Eben Weiss) and the Bike Doctor for The Enlightened Cyclist Group Ride Thursday, April 12th, 2012 - Starting at Bike Doctor on Broadway at 6:15PM

The Ride:
We'll meet up at 137 W Broadway at Bike Doctor at 5:45 for a 45 minute ride starting at 6:15pm around town. Finish off at Chapters on Broadway/Granville for a chat with Eben at 7.

The Event:
7PM - Chapters - 2505 Granville Street
Bike Snob NYC (a.k.a. Eben Weiss) is the blogger behind the immensely popular cycling blog, bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com. Join us at Chapters as he signs his new book, The Enlightened Cyclist, and shares his humorous perspective on the joys, trials and triumphs of bike commuting.

Please contact Danielle Johnson, Publicist at Raincoast Books
604 448 7163 or email danielle [at] raincoast.com for more information.

See you there!

Job Posting: Marketing Manager at Raincoast Books

2012-03-19T20:36:50+00:00

Raincoast Books, based in Richmond, B.C., is seeking a marketing manager to start in April.

Raincoast is the Canadian distributor for 25 English language publishers and we emphasize the role of new technology in our sales and marketing work. We are looking for a creative and organized professional with a wide range of marketing experience who has excellent communication and technical skills.

Our marketing manager works with our graphic designer to develop channel marketing materials, and plans marketing campaigns in conjunction with our VP of Marketing, publicists, and senior sales people. The marketing manager also plays a key role in the development and maintenance of our proprietary digital catalogue application.

There will be some national and international travel involved and the possibility of managing staff.

The successful candidate will possess:

superior writing and copyediting skills
project management and scheduling experience
a basic proficiency in HTML
a minimum of three years of relevant media, marketing, publishing or senior book retailing experience

The following technical skills will be an asset:

inDesign and Photoshop experience
a familiarity with FTP clients
a familiarity with Filemaker Pro 11
an understanding of how scripting languages can improve workflow and create shortcuts

Candidates should send their résumé and cover letter by March 26 to:

Jamie Broadhurst
VP of Marketing
Raincoast Books

jamie [at] raincoast.com

We regret that we can only acknowledge applications from candidates selected for interviews. No phone calls or agencies, please.

Indigo Exclusive event: Days of our Lives 45 Years book signing with Days cast

2012-03-16T21:11:47+00:00

Where?
Indigo
55 Bloor Street West

When?
Friday, March 23rd
5PM
Please note: not all cast members may be present for the entire event.

About this event: Celebrate a milestone anniversary with a book signing for Days of our Lives 45 Years: A Celebration in Photos featuring Days of our Lives stars Kristian Alfonso (Hope Brady), Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).

No memorabilia, signing Days of our Lives 45 Years book only.
Proof of purchase required from any Indigo, Chapters, WBB or Coles location.

Meet the author: Claire Dederer

2012-03-01T22:54:31+00:00

Claire Dederer will be at Banyen Books next Tuesday (March 6th) to discuss her new book Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses. The event starts at 6:30pm (full details are below).

Claire Dederer
Tuesday, March 6th: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Banyen Books
3608 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver
Free admision

“Poser is a powerful, honest, ruefully funny memoir about one woman's openhearted reckoning with her demons . . . In the hands of a gifted writer, the universal is embedded within the personal. —The New York Times Book Review

“One part memoir, one part social critique, one part yoga history, Claire Dederer’s Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses asks what contemporary motherhood ought to look like … Poser is superb.” —The Globe and Mail

“This memoir about her decade doing downward dog while raising two kids and trying to keep her marriage alive reads like Eat, Pray, Love for hip but harried moms . . . funny, well-observed, and ultimately inspiring.” —People four stars

Check out Claire's latest interview on NPR!

Hilary Davidson at Hamilton Public Library

2012-02-29T21:15:06+00:00

Hilary Davidson, Canadian travel journalist and author of the awarding-winning mystery The Damage Done, will be at the Ancaster Branch of Hamilton Public Library next Wednesday (March 7th 2012) to launch her new novel The Next One To Fall. The event starts at 7pm and books will be available from Bryan Prince Books (full details below).

Hilary Davidson
Wednesday, March 7th: 7:00pm
Hamilton Public Library (Ancaster Branch)
300 Wilson Street East, at Sulphur Springs Road (Ancaster)
Free Admision. Please RSVP to events@princebooks.net