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Bookish Events in New York City: April 13th–April 19th

It’s another jam-packed week for bookish events in New York City. Some monthly readings are on this week, including the Franklin Park Monthly Reading Series, The Moth StorySLAM!, and Women of Letters. There’s also the opportunity to celebrate a few debut authors, as well as hear from a Pulitzer Prize winning veteran. Wednesday offers the chance to party at Housing Works in honor of the PEN Literary Awards. Choose wisely, and make sure to tweet at us to let us know where you go!

Posted by Jennifer Morell

Kimmy Schmidt: Unbreakable Librarian

In celebration of this year's National Library Week—and Library Workers' Day, Bookmobile Day, and Teen Literature Day—I’ve decided that between Netflix seasons, and on break from the Voorhees, Kimmy Schmidt will be working as a librarian. A gosh-darn good one too! Plus it’s a perfect place for her to fill in the fifteen years she missed while in the bunker and catch up on some reading.

So while you’re honoring your library by checking out books, eBooks, movies, giving your librarian a nice card for being awesome, or finally returning that book you’ve had since the fourth grade—you know who you are—Kimmy will be helping her friends in the best possible way, selecting books for them to read. And because Kimmy is so considerate these selections will be spoiler free.

Posted by Jamie Canaves

LAERTES AND OPHELIA, LUKE AND ORGANA (LEIA): AN ODE FOR NATIONAL SIBLING DAY

Whether you're William Shakespeare or George Lucas, you no doubt revel in a good story about siblings.  Shakespeare's stories feature a good number of siblings, from Laertes and Ophelia in Hamlet to the two Antipholuses and the two Dromios of The Comedy of Errors, from the warring siblings Richard, Henry and Clarence in Richard III to the comedic Kate and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. George Lucas, Shakespeare's brother from another mother (well, maybe that's stating the case a bit strongly), gave the world one of its most startling—inappropriate? confusing? hair-raising?—sibling relationships in 1983, when Return of the Jedi revealed to all of us that the kiss Leia planted on Luke in The Empire Strikes Back was no more than sisterly devotion.
 
So today, in honor of National Sibling Day, here's an ode to my own sibling—my brother, Erik—in light of Leia, Luke, Ophelia, and Laertes.

Posted by Ian Doescher

Bookish Events in Philadelphia: April 10th to April 16th

image via blacksheeppub.com

Week 2 of National Poetry Month and the birds are singing! Save for a few cold, rainy days, the weather’s been gorgeous. Every day for the last week we’ve woken up to the birds singing and we can’t wait to see what secrets winter’s kept. Philly Poetry Day is fast approaching (April 18th!) and you guy​s ​continue to baffle us with your brilliant, prolific, and eclectic writing. Check out this week’s featured lit events:

Posted by Maryan Captan

THE FANGIRL’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY BY SAM MAGGS: PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN!

We’re really excited to be publishing Sam Maggs’s first book, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy.  And not just because she appreciates the film Pacific Rim and understands when we say we have a “drift compatible” author / publisher relationship.

Although that is certainly part of it.

There’s a lot planned for this book’s debut. We made an AWESOME book trailer. We released an epic poster at New York Comic Con (that subsequently took on a life of its own on Tumblr); we revealed the cover on The Nerdist; we’re putting together a blog tour; and Sam is busy lining up epic appearances at conventions throughout Canada and here in the States.

But what about YOU? Well, we’ve put together a pre-order campaign, just for you Sam Maggs fans out there. Read on to find out how you can get signed bookplates, limited signed posters, and other awesome Fangirl swag.

NOTE FOR ALL PRE-ORDER-ERS: To enter, email a photo or a screenshot of your receipt to [email protected] with the subject line "Fangirl Pre-order." Make sure you send us your shipping address with your entry!

This campaign is open to US and Canada only. 

 

FIRST TIER: THE SIGNED BOOKPLATE

Fangirl Level: Squee!, Status: OPEN, UNLIMITED (Until Pub Date)

EVERYONE WHO ENTERS WINS THIS!

Want to get a signed bookplate to place in your brand new, shiny copy of The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy? Pre-order a copy, email [email protected] with a screenshot of your receipt and the subject line "Fangirl Pre-order" and you'll receive a free, signed bookplate from Sam Maggs to sticker inside of your book!

On Twitter? Tell your friends you pre-ordered by using the hashtag #FangirlGuide! The more pre-orders that roll in, the more perks get unlocked!  

 

SECOND TIER: LIMITED FANGIRL BUTTON PACK

Fangirl Level: I Ship It, Status: UNLOCKED, 50 Packs Available!

UNLOCKED AT 25 PRE-ORDERS

A button pack of fangirl terminology, custom curated by Sam Maggs! These buttons read "I'm The Doctor, Not A Companion!" Each pack comes with five buttons.

Once open, the first 50 pre-order-ers will get a button pack, as well as a signed bookplate. Email [email protected] with a screenshot of your receipt and the subject line "Fangirl Pre-order," and keep tweeting with the hashtag #FangirlGuide! There are more perks to unlock!

 

THIRD TIER: LIMITED SIGNED POSTER

Fangirl Level: ZOMG!, Status: UNLOCKED, 200 Available!

UNLOCKED AT 50 PRE-ORDERS

Want a copy of The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy poster, which features Sam Maggs’s Fangirl Manifesto on it? This poster took off on Tumblr, went quickly at New York Comic Con, and we’ve got a few left just for you!

The first 200 pre-orders to email a photo or a screenshot of their receipt to [email protected] with the subject line "Fangirl Pre-order" will receive a free, limited signed poster from Sam Maggs. And again, keep tweeting with that hashtag, you guys, Let’s unlock these bigger perks.

 

FOURTH & FINAL TIER: THE WONDER WOMAN

Fangirl Level: EPIC, Status: LOCKED, 1 Available

UNLOCKS AT 200 PRE-ORDERS

THE FINAL LEVEL! One lucky pre-order-er will score a special Fangirl’s Convention Survival Kit, curated by Sam Maggs. Inside, you’ll find everything pictured below. You’ll also get a pin pack, bookplate, and a signed poster.

Contents of the Fangirl’s Convention Survival Kit include: Strong Female Character Tote Bag, water bottle, poster tube, Cards Against Humanity, colorful Sharpies, sewing kit, hand sanitizer, hand moisturizer, and lip balm!

 

So come on, start sending us your entries! Email a photo or a screenshot of your receipt to [email protected] with your shipping address, and the subject line "Fangirl Pre-order." And don't forget to tweet with the hashtag #FangirlGuide.

 

Posted by Suzanne Wallace

Bookish Baby Shower at Quirk Books!

Today, with much whispering and plotting and scheming, the Quirk office threw a surprise baby shower for our very own Production Queen, Mandy! So what, you might ask, do a bunch of book-nerdy people bring to a baby shower?

Um…books? Yeah, books.

So what children's books do Quirkers love? Here's a roundup of what we brought to this adorable baby shower:

The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat

Paul Stevens: "Adorable art, and a fantasy story. I figured I couldn't choose a book that didn't have some science fiction or fantasy in it. It's also a Caldecott Award winner."

 

George and Martha by James Marshall

David Borgenicht: "Wonderful books, cleverly and succinctly written, with funny stories and great life lessons to boot!"

 

Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner

 

The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

Nicole De Jackmo: "The book is based in the city where Mandy will raise Baby Sampson, and it offers bright illustrations and a sweet story about the diversity of Philadelphia."

 

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

 

Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond

 

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

 

The Cat Who Walked across France by Kate Banks and Georg Hallensleben

 

Round Trip by Ann Jonas

 

Dinosaur vs. Mommy by Bob Shea

 

Anatole by Eve Titus

Suzanne Wallace: "It's a story about a French mouse who becomes a cheese-taster. Need I say more? It's delightful!"

 

The Man Who Lost His Head by Claire Huchet Bishop and Robert McCloskey

 

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

 

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

Kate McGuire: "Barbara Cooney was the first author I ever met when I was a wee little thing! I love her illustration style, it's set in my home state, and, cornball that I am, I love that the book teaches kids that everyone has a special way to make little contributions to making the world a better place."

 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

 

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Brett Cohen: "I picked the book because it’s a fun read. My kids absolutely love it—especially when I give each crayon its own voice. (Hint: Pink is a british woman.)"

 

What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

 

What would you bring to a book-themed baby shower? Let us know!

Posted by Suzanne Wallace