Publishing Insider

one of my heroes passes on

2009-11-13T13:07:20-05:00

I was NUTS for Soupy Sales as a kid!!!!!!!!! I mean, he was Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Milton Berle wrapped in in one guy before I knew who those other guys were. I mean, subversive and funny as hell!!! I had the bowties, trading cards and Black Tooth and White Fang down to a t. Soupy, we miss you. Read the life story.

Miami nice

2009-11-12T07:56:13-05:00

Nothing beats being there, but in lieu of that, here's some Miami Book Fair on Book Tv.

regl show future

2009-11-09T06:45:06-05:00

Hope you saw my musings/rant in PW!

books make great gifts

2009-11-05T08:05:56-05:00

This has been a theme I've worked on off and on for twenty years. Even had great ads done up for a nat'l campaign that never got funded. Still, some good news courtesy of "the Shelf":

Spirit of the season: a group of book bloggers has founded "buy books for the holidays," a nonprofit project whose name says it all. The group will post essays "about why and how to buy books for the people on your gift list, shopping suggestion lists, information about reading charities and spotlights of independent bookstores." Indies can sign up through the site.

Remembering a bookman

2009-11-04T08:03:46-05:00

From Shelf Awareness today:

More on Robert Dike Blair, founder and longtime owner of the Vermont Book Shop, Middlebury, Vt., who died on Saturday. Steve Fischer, executive director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association, remembers:

Dike hired me at the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury, right out of college. I was hired to work down in the stock room while the regular guy worked through the holidays at a Christmas tree farm--making far more money than he would in a bookstore. Just as my stint was up, someone from the "shop floor" left and Dike asked me if I'd like to stay on. I leapt at the chance. I worked at the Middlebury store for almost two years and then ran the Waitsfield, Vt., branch for five.

The very first note of congratulations that I received upon being named the executive director of NEIBA was an e-mail from Dike. I felt like I'd come back home.

Dike was a gentleman of the first order and a great bookman.

Provence Plus

2009-10-31T12:01:20-04:00

There's an office alongside Harper's that touts Sud de France, the forgotten neighbor of Provence. It sure looks pretty and they have lots of wine tastings! Color me intrigued!! (I've always been proud of being one of the first to talk up Peter Mayle's Year in Provence.)

Gary V. rules

2009-10-30T08:15:45-04:00

I got to see Gary Vaynerchuk at Book Expo last year, at the launch of Crush It, and I totally love this guy's passion and energy. I don't think he sleeps! Check out his latest rants and raves!

brilliant Masterpiece Theater

2009-10-29T07:49:13-04:00

As if William Hurt needed another tour de force, but his portrayal of Prof. Willie Esterhuyse in Endgame is just brilliant. The entire production is brilliant and not to be missed.

Botany of Desire on PBS tonight

2009-10-28T07:16:41-04:00

Loved this book by Michael Pollen from a few years back. Johnny Appleseed was planting apple trees for sour mash indeed!! See the PBS program tonight!!

I'm back..if it matters...hope it does!

2009-10-27T16:58:01-04:00

Been through 9 regl shows; see my PW back page essay on Monday! I'll be posting again; yes I know - your life was stil rich and full. OH!!! Also worked like mad the last 2 months on the all-bookseller-and-librarian Great Lakes Reader!!!!