Nightmares!

Posted on May 27, 2015 by dwdllc

Charlie Laird has always been drawn to the eerie purple mansion at the top of the hill. But when his father remarries the woman who lives in the house—a woman Charlie is certain moonlights as a witch—Charlie is horrified to learn that he’ll be the purple mansion’s newest resident. Things go from bad to worse as Charlie becomes plagued by nightmares that feel all too real—so real that they’re starting to infect his waking life, too. He soon discovers that the land of nightmares is real; he’ll have to venture into the Netherworld to save his family, friends, and his entire town from living out their worst nightmares forever.

While Nightmares! is not as scary as readers might expect from a book with its title, Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller craft a captivating story about facing your fears and what it means to be a friend, a brother, a son, and stepson. From the dark forest that is home to Charlie’s greatest fear, to Medusa’s son who doesn’t want to scare children anymore, the description of the Netherworld and its various inhabitants is thrilling and nuanced. Charlie’s group of friends strikes the perfect balance between strength and weakness as they help Charlie face his fears and overcome their own, each bringing a unique skill set to the team. The ending is satisfying and hints at the next book in the trilogy.

DK Publishing

Posted on May 20, 2015 by dwdllc

Founded in London in 1974, DK is the world’s leading illustrated reference publisher and produces content in over 87 countries and 62 languages. DK publishes highly visual, photographic non-fiction in a wide range of topics for adults and children. Growing beyond London, DK now has offices in New York, Melbourne, Munich, Delhi, and Toronto, and in 2013, became part of Penguin Random House.

DK’s aim is to inform, enrich, and entertain readers of all ages, from sticker books to DK Eyewitness Travel Guides. The adult books cover history, science, travel, nature, sport, gardening, cooking, and parenting. DK’s children’s books cover everything from animals to the human body, from crafts to homework help, from Star Wars to LEGO®, and more.
DK distributes Alpha Books, the Idiot’s Guides series, BradyGames, and Prima Games as well as the award-winning travel Rough Guides.

We publish so many fun and exciting books every year, but here are a few that we are excited to share with you:

One exciting upcoming title:
Ultimate Star Wars
Luke, Leia, and Han will return to the big screen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. To prepare for the film, new and old Star Wars fans alike can catch up on the saga in Ultimate Star Wars, an in-depth guide exploring the iconic characters and storylines. The guide is beautifully designed and structured chronologically, and it is packed full of information from the Star Wars movie saga, The Clone Wars, and Rebels. This guide has everything fans need to be knowledgeable on all things Star Wars.
Published April 2015.

One classic title:
Children Just Like Me
1996 ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book
Published in 1996, Children Just Like Me is a celebration of children around the world, which was published to coincide with UNICEF’s 50th anniversary. For two years, a photographer and teacher traveled to five continents to meet and talk to children from many different walks of life. Children will enjoy reading about the dreams and beliefs, hopes and fears, and day-to-day events of other children’s lives, understanding not just the obvious differences between one another, but discovering the extraordinary similarities.

One series you may not have heard about:
Big Ideas Simply Explained
Big Ideas Simply Explained is a series of reference books that bring different topics to life with illustrations, design, and fully comprehensive content. The series covers Shakespeare, literature, movies, science, business, and so much more. Perfect for casual perusal or informative research, the Big Ideas Simply Explained series contains everything you could want to see, learn, and know about in a beautifully designed book.

5 things you might not know about DK:
1. DK was among the first companies to develop reference CD-ROMs (20 years ago!)
2. In 2014, DK celebrated its 40th anniversary!
3. In 1997, DK first teamed up with Lucasfilm, LTD. to produce its first Star Wars title, and they have since published over 150 books together.
4. DK was the first company to place images on a white background and add annotated text. Before 1974, publishing featured long columns of text with occasional square images.
5. The entire company dresses up for Halloween and has a costume and decorating contest.

Amy Carlisle, Managing Editor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers & Clarion Books

Posted on May 20, 2015 by dwdllc

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
Over a decade ago now, a dear friend of mine who was working for Candlewick Press at the time got me a job there. It was initially a freelance gig, but about two weeks in, I knew that I wanted to stay! My wish came true and I became the managing editor for their fiction titles (middle grade and young adult). About five years later, I got my current job at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I spent two years in Boston and have been working in our New York office since. As managing editor, I draw up schedules for our children’s books—picture books through young adult—and shepherd them through each stage of the process from raw manuscript to clean, designed pages ready to be printed and bound. I maintain the metadata for my titles in our database, and I field a lot of questions from folks in many departments on a daily basis. And much, much more!

What is your favorite type of book to work on and why?
I don’t have one favorite type of book to work on. I love that over the course of any given day I get to work on sweet, colorful, adorable picture books; complex and challenging yet incredibly well-written and enlightening works of nonfiction; and middle grade and young adult stories that range from goofy space adventures and heartbreaking coming-of-age tales to period romantic dramas and stories that draw me into wondrous new worlds.

What do you consider to be the best aspect of your job? How about the most challenging aspect?
The best aspect: Getting to work with such a large and varied group of amazingly talented and creative people—colleagues, freelancers, authors, illustrators, and the like.
The most challenging aspect: Working with such a large and varied group of amazingly talented and creative people!

Tell us about something we might be surprised to learn is a part of a managing editor’s day.
Well, this might not sound terribly exciting, and I’ve already touched upon it above, but I field a tremendous number of questions from folks all over the company—and not just in Trade—and I find it really interesting! I work with so many people in so many different departments, and I like understanding the interconnectedness of it all and putting the knowledge to good use!

What advice would you give to a young professional in the industry?
Just get your foot in the door, even if you aren’t initially doing what you dream of doing. And consider managing editorial! We are at the heart of things, and while we work closest with editorial, design, and production, we do work with many other departments. It’s a good spot from which to view the big picture, so to speak.

Just for fun, what was your favorite book when you were ten years old? When you were twenty-five years old? That you’ve read in the last year?
I come from a family of avid readers and was reading a really mixed selection of books at a young age. I gave a book report on Anna Karenina in the sixth grade. I’m not sure I’m proud of that! I think I must have been around ten when I read The Bridge to Terabithia for the first time, and it left a lasting impression on me. I read Caleb Carr’s The Alienist in my early twenties and it’s a favorite to this day. More recently, I fell in love with Mary Webb’s Precious Bane, which one of my sisters originally lent me. In truth, I have many favorite books and I find great joy and comfort in re-reading them.

Asked and Answered: Summer Reading

Posted on May 20, 2015 by dwdllc

The ECC Board asked some of their favorite authors and illustrators, “What are you most excited about reading this summer?” See what they had to say and start your summer reading list!

“When it comes to summer reading there is way more than one favorite book! Honestly, I could go on ALL SUMMER LONG, there are so many good ones. But there are a few classic summer picture books I always turn to: Wave by Suzy Lee, a wordless picture book that perfectly captures our curious dance with the ever-surprising sea. I have also always adored the Caldecott Honor book Play With Me by Marie Hall Ets, in which a little girl naturally discovers the best way to make friends with animals. Spoiler: it’s not yelling and running at them and demanding friendship but rather quietly, peacefully hanging out in their habitat. I’ve loved this book my entire life and connected with its message, being a yeller and runner-at-er. And then of course, The Carrot Seed, by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crocket Johnson. It’s that perfect reminder, both literal and metaphorical, to believe in yourself, no matter what anyone says. That book is a masterpiece.
As for this summer I will continue my streak of reading graphic novels galore! Appropriately, next up ––This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki.” –Samantha Berger, author of Snoozefest, Crankenstein, and many more

“My favorite summer reading book is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!” –Frank Cammuso, author of the Misadventures of Salem Hyde series

“The Seeing Stone, by Kevin Crossley-Holland, the first book of a trilogy about the young King Arthur that is part historical fiction, part fantasy. Funny, touching, and wise, the book is made up of 100 short chapters, perfect for dipping in and out of as you doze in the hammock.” –Karen Cushman, author of The Midwife’s Apprentice

“I can’t wait to read Robin Schneider’s new book, Extraordinary Means. I read someone describe it as Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain for the YA crowd. Mann’s book is a dark, poetic rumination written from a tuberculosis sanatorium, so this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it totally intrigues me. I also can’t wait to read Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy, because it looks great (I really like her writing and this has a great set-up—a plus-sized gal fearlessly enters the local beauty pageant and turns it on its end). I’m also going on tour with her this fall! Last but not least, I can’t wait for other people to read Paperweight, a first novel by a writer named Meg Haston, which I read this spring and thought was great—maybe the best book about eating disorders I’ve read in a decade or more.” –Cammie McGovern, author of Say What You Will and the forthcoming A Step Toward Falling

“For me, summer reading is about research and catching up on books I didn’t have time to enjoy during the year. To that end, I’m looking forward to reading Lisa Randall’s Warped Passages, Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe’s Hidden Dimensions, and the remainder of Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassin Trilogy, which concludes with Mortal Heart. Both should be a great adventure!” –Jennifer McGowan, author of the Maids of Honor series

“Anthill by E.O. Wilson. Our daughter gave me this book this spring and I am looking forward to reading it on our vacation. E.O. Wilson is one of the world’s leading biologists and naturalists. He has spent countless hours studying ants and how they live. When I was a kid I was crazy about ants. I had more than one ant farm and I was always checking books out of the library about ants. I also drew ants all of the time. Usually they were giant, bloodthirsty insects bent on destroying the world. When I thought about what I might do when I grew up, I often thought it would be cool to be an entomologist. But I also loved art and everything about creating art, so my career went in that direction. I still enjoy reading about ants and the incredible scientists who study them and the environment. While this book is Wilson’s first novel, I enjoyed his earlier books so I am looking forward to following him in this new direction.” –Jim Paillot, illustrator of Bedtime Math

“These are the books at my summer picnic table and it’s a bit of a potluck: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee, Words Without Music by Phillip Glass, Dead Wake by Erik Larson, and Academy Street by Mary Costello. Can’t wait!” —Pam Muñoz Ryan, author of Echo

“This is a little bit of a cheat, because it’s not just one book, but my favorite summer read is the Harry Potter series. I don’t always have a chance to reread all seven books, but I usually try to revisit at least a couple of them every summer, and it’s something I look forward to all year!” –Jennifer E. Smith, author of Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between

Noble Desktop Digital Publishing: eBooks, eMagazines, and Apps Seminar

Posted on May 20, 2015 by dwdllc

On Tuesday, April 7, the ECC attended a seminar hosted by Noble Desktop on all things digital publishing. Noble Desktop is a school that focuses on software training for beginner to advanced users, offeringfree seminars throughout the year in their offices. The Digital Publishing Seminar was open to the entire Noble Desktop community, bringing together people from all walks of the digital-publishing industry—from designers to self-published authors. And for the first time , Noble Desktop opened the floor for networking before the seminar began. Light refreshments got the conversation flowing.

The instructor, Dan, broke the seminar up into three types of digital media: eBooks, eMagazines, and apps. Dan explained the differences between them, and the various formats that each type of publication can accommodate. For example, eBooks can be produced as reflowable (where the text is able to reflow with a reader’s size and font preferences ) or fixed layout (where customization is not possible). The seminar was highly interactive and tech-friendly, with visual demonstrations of each type of media discussed. It was helpful to see the physical differences between a reflowable eBook and an eMagazine right in front of us. Both print and eBook loyalists would find this seminar very illuminating, whether they’re interested in learning about how picture books come to life with animation, or the ease with which readers can skim through a monthly magazine for specific articles.

Happy Hour Game Night

Posted on May 20, 2015 by dwdllc

The ECC Game Night Happy Hour was a huge success! Despite the bad weather, we gathered at McGee’s Pub for fun, games, networking, and fried food. Board games included Catchphrasing Fire (Catchphrase), Guess How Much I Love This Game (Guess Who), The Giving Tree Against Humanity (Apples to Apples/Cards Against Humanity), and The Game With No Pictures (Boggle)! Thanks to everyone who came out! We hope to see you all at our next event.

More Than This

Posted on May 20, 2015 by dwdllc

Seth is dead. We watch him drown in the gripping opening to More Than This. We feel his pain and terror, but of course, the story goes on. When Seth wakes, he is thirsty and incredibly weak, lost in an abandoned world covered in dust. As he gathers his strength, things start to look strangely familiar. It is a place from his past and painful memories haunt his every step. But he knows he died—is he in hell? What sort of afterlife is this, if any?

Patrick Ness melds dystopian survival and futuristic science fiction to create a fast-paced and compelling story. Yet there are still surprises—a rare find in such a well-worn genre. The second half does start to feel overly long, but even the deeper philosophical reflections somehow stay interesting. Add in a dash of comic relief, and More Than This joins the ranks of some of the best YA fiction out there. As John Green states on the cover, “just read it.”

Design 101 Discussion

Posted on May 19, 2015 by dwdllc

In April the ECC hosted an educational event featuring three art directors with a broad range of experience in children’s book design.

Erin Fitzsimmons (Associate Art Director at HarperCollins) works mostly with young adult novels, and spoke about the different roles one can take on when creating a cover: artist, art director, and designer. She also took us through the creation of a cover from sketches and revisions to the final product.

Jennifer Kelly (Assistant Art Director at Penguin Young Readers) works predominantly with picture books and middle grade novels. She took us through the process of designing a picture book, showed examples of last-minute cover changes, and revealed an insider trick to help keep characters interesting page after page!

Marijka Kostiw (Art Director at Scholastic) also works primarily on picture books and middle grade novels. She focused on the many nonfiction picture books she has worked on throughout her career. Her presentation showcased the various ways to create a compelling, beautifully- illustrated story that is also historically accurate.

Stay tuned for our next continuing education event and watch the Design Discussion online!

April/May 2015

Posted on May 19, 2015 by dwdllc

Congratulations on your new positions!

Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Emily Ritter moves up to assistant marketing manager, children’s trade.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Caroline Osborn joins the company as subsidiary rights associate. She was previously subrights and marketing coordinator at Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Random House Children’s Books

Lauren Adams moves up to marketing associate, licensed and proprietary brands.

Courtney Carbone has been promoted to associate editor at Random House Books for Young Readers/Golden Books.

Colleen Nuccio joins the company as marketing assistant, licensed and proprietary brands.

Megan Williams joins the company as managing editorial assistant.

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

ECC Board member Catherine Laudone has been promoted to assistant editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Jessica Sit has been promoted to assistant editor at Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Mandy Veloso moves over to the production department as production editorial assistant. She was formerly managing editorial assistant.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Posted on May 13, 2015 by dwdllc

Every summer, I find myself rereading one of my all-time favorite young adult books: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I first read the book in my fifth grade math class. I would do the problem written on the board and then sneak in another page…until my teacher caught me. As the years have gone by and the series has grown to include four more books, I still find myself drawn to the magic of the pants and the four friends who share them.

The story starts out with the four girls—Carmen, Lena, Bridget and Tibby—discovering a pair of pants that fits each of them, despite their very different body types. After drawing up a manifesto and some rules, the girls decide to mail the pants back and forth as a way of remaining connected while they are apart during the summer. Carmen is off to visit her divorced dad in the Carolinas, but her plans to spend time with him are derailed when she finds out that he is now living with a new fiancé and two future stepchildren. Bridget has been accepted into an all-girls soccer camp in Mexico, where she quickly falls for a male coach who is 100% off-limits. Lena and her younger sister are staying with their grandparents in Greece. Lena just wants to capture the beautiful Greek landscapes in her paintings, but her grandmother seems intent on playing matchmaker. Lastly, Tibby is stuck at home working a crappy job at Walmart and filming a “suck-u-mentary” of other people with lame jobs. Everything changes when she comes across a twelve-year-old girl passed out in one of the aisles during her work shift. The girl, Bailey, shows up on Tibby’s doorstep a few days later and it’s the start of a unique and bittersweet friendship.

Ann Brashares’ writing is lovely and she gives each character a truly distinct voice and rich backstory. But what I love most about this book is the realistic portrayal of friendship. So many young adult novels these days feature petty mean girls or guarded, emotionally isolated heroines. It’s refreshing to see a group of girls who genuinely like each other and offer one another support, even when they disagree. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good realistic, contemporary read with substance…and a little magic.

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