TypePad Featured Blogs

Every Day I Write The Book

Gayle Weiswasser certainly does a lot – she’s a voracious reader, mom of twins, a social media strategist, a lawyer, and (among still other pursuits) the author of Every Day I Write The Book. Why that name? Because, as she puts, it, “who has time to figure out what to read”? And maybe that explains her blog’s collection of books that feature reviews from friends, industry sources, media outlets, and from Gayle herself. After all, wouldn’t you like to know from page 1 that the book you’re thinking of buying is thumbs up (or down) from those who’ve read it? Judge for yourself as you scroll through reviews of books such as Gentlemen and Players, The Wonder Spot, and Unaccustomed Earth. Along the way, Gayle posts on topical subjects such as literary dealbreakers (“you’re reading that?”) with commentary gathered from sources across the country. Of course, there’s suggested reading with links to Amazon to purchase your beach book; good book blogs are also listed,making this a bibliophile’s delight.

Family Reads

Lori and Brian are the parents of 12 year-old Ben. Avid readers all, the parents are naturally interested in what books will capture the imagination and attention of their son – a quest that forms the center of Family Reads, a blog “packed with reviews of the best books, ideas, and inspiration for making reading a truly wonderful part of your family life”. Highlighting “dependably delightful books for kids”, Family Reads examines, discusses, and critiques books aimed at young readers, such as Newbury Medal winner Walk Two Moons and thoughts on what makes a great Fairy Tale (with a review of the popular Sisters Grimm book). Naturally, books take center stage here, and along with the posts, you’ll find reviews, recommendations, and insights on books for children of virtually all ages, covering categories from Adventure to Suspense (yes, you can order the books covered here). This is a wonderful online bookstore and library all rolled into one, and will be a big help in encouraging your kids to read.

Dispatches From the Flying M

Jeff Mariotte is an acclaimed author (more than 25 novels and counting), bookstore owner (fantasy/sci-fi/mystery/horror), and ranch dweller (southeastern Arizona). Dispatches From the Flying M offer up his posts and opinions on the world around us, from the global, to the national, to the personal. Jeff’s professional writings center on fantasy-science fiction; his blog contains notices of upcoming works and appearances fans of the genre might like to know about. Incisive, perceptive, and informative, this is a writer’s blog for you!

Stellar Self

Sometimes, we all need to take a deep breath and relax. And for those wanting to go even further, there’s Stellar Self, a blog filled with “tips, stories, and resources for finding your body, mind, and spirit”. The author brings a unique perspective on health and wellness and you can draw upon them to create your own journey to a more balanced life. Start with the author’s experience in a Cancun sweat lodge, read about the benefits of natural produce, and discover why your 40 winks are so important. There’s a definite connection between psychological factors and health, and this blog details how you can use both to “nurture your best self”.

The Penguin Blog

Remember that documentary about all those cute penguins everyone couldn't wait to see? Okay, The Penguin Blog doesn’t cover that. Even better, it’s the official blog of Penguin Books UK! You know, the publisher of just about every author who was required reading in high school and college. Both book lovers and book sellers will find the posts here highly edifying and browsable.  Recent topics include Spinebreakers, Penguin’s new online book community by and for teenagers; the always controversial slush pile (the huge backlog of unsolicited submissions); general industry issues and challenges; and the critical strategy of influencing by word of mouth. (“Nowadays… a mention in a popular blog can instantly send a book soaring up the Amazon Hot 100, and a bad marketing slogan can be ridiculed by thousands minutes after it is unveiled.”) So if you're a reader who likes to read about reading, read on!

Rock-Paper-Scissors

Theresa Smythe is a busy mother and makes her living as a children’s books illustrator, but in whatever free time she finds she updates her blog, Rock-Paper-Scissors, with the kinds of things that make her tick – handmade books, creative endeavors, and philosophical ponderings. There’s lots to browse through, including her thrift-store finds, inspirational artists, and her own collection of books she has illustrated. Her hands-on approach to everything she does can be summed up in her simple but powerful biography: “An artist who is in the process of creating a lived life - so no regrets on the deathbed, make sense?” Makes sense to us.

The Happiness Project

Gretchen Rubin may not always be happy, but she's always happy to discuss why. Precursor to an upcoming book, The Happiness Project devotes itself to what is perhaps mankind's most elusive secret: what can we do to grab a little of that Big H. Gretchen sports an impressive resume, including clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, serving as editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal, and authoring four previous books. But now she’s all about The Happy. Commentary on everything from having a sense of control  to the benefits of clearing your clothes clutter illustrate her soup-to-nuts approach on the topic, and a frank admission of her own desire for praise typifies her self-awareness and honesty. So join Gretchen as she chronicles her struggle to maintain that sense of well-being, and if you really want to get happy, subscribe to the podcast. Happy trails!
 

Civil War Memory

Kevin Levin teaches and writes about the Civil War. In Civil War Memory, he blogs thoughtfully and knowledgably on a particularly specialized topic: how Americans commemorate and remember the most wrenching conflict the United States has ever endured. There’s much to contemplate here, and Kevin helpfully lists some of his favorite posts, including, "Are you a Civil War buff?" and "Why the Civil War still matters," in which he cites the Southern poet Robert Penn Warren’s admonishment that “slavery... cannot be talked away" in considering the overall war narrative. Of immediate relevance is a post on how an Obama presidency might effect upcoming sesquicentennial (150-year anniversary) events. Other topics of note include Lincoln and Civil War literature. A fine way to delve into perhaps the most consequential period in American history.   

The Spy Who Billed Me

Is the rum-running, jewel-smuggling RJ Hillhouse an author or a character in one of her spy novels? That's for you to decide. The Spy Who Billed Me is a blog that reports real-world information about how the U.S. government hires private companies and contractors to do intelligence and military work. This gripping blog is filled with compelling posts on private intel corporations, mercenaries, the CIA, and the War on Terror. If you don't believe her, check out her organized list of companies that allow you rent-a-spy or rent-a-SEAL, and her list of other bloggers writing about similar topics. Her novel on the same subject, Outsourced, releases May 2007, and if it's as much of a page turner as this blog is, it's sure to rock the best-seller charts. Read her first book, Rift Zone, if you can't wait until May.

Daily Monster

Stefan G. Bucher, the man behind 344 Design, is a graphic designer, illustrator, and "good egg." He also likes monsters. His blog, Daily Monster, started as a 100-day project to promote his book, Upstairs Neighbors. Every day, Bucher posted videos of himself deftly sketching creepy and whimsical monsters derived from random inkblots. Daily Monster soon captured the imagination of its readers who began assigning names, jobs, and personalities to Bucher's critters (sometimes even composing odes to the little varmints). When the 100 days were up, Bucher decided to keep the monster love going by turning Daily Monster into an interactive experience; "open source" inkblots are provided so readers may create their own monstrous menageries and submit them to the blog. With a book of the original 100 monsters in the works, Daily Monster is very much alive.

A Writer's Life

If you've ever wondered about the glamorous lifestyle of a successful novelist and Hollywood scriptwriter, wonder no more. Just visit A Writer's Life, where author Lee Goldberg offers a live-wire account of both his trials and his triumphs. With dozens of books and television scripts to his credit, Goldberg is definitely the "been-there, done-that" kind of role model. When you hear his thoughts about screenwriting, you can rest assured that he knows of what he speaks. (He's been penning TV shows since Spenser for Hire.) And when you hear his outtakes from a screen-writing workshop he gave, you'll be rolling on the floor with laughter. If you take nothing else away from Goldberg's generous slices of life, that may be the key -- having a good sense of humor. Currently, you'll be treated to behind-the-scenes narratives from the making of a action-packed TV pilot called "Fast Track."

Comic Coverage

With the enthusiasm of a 12-year-old on the day the latest Justice League appears on shelves, Mark Engblom has turned Comic Coverage into a Bang! Pow! resource for all those who enjoy their literature on the pictorial side. Engblom, a member of the National Cartoonists Society, scours the comics world to cull the best in the community of world-saving, underwear-clad preternatural beings. This paean to the Marvel Treasury #1 Spider Man cover is a typical post, but lest you think Engblom views the object of his passion with an uncritical eye, check out his section on the Sorriest Supervillains and the Worst Covers. Comics Coverage is a colorful hit.

Leave It Behind

Brian Bailey, author of The Blogging Church, offers some powerful inspiration for personal bloggers of all faiths and passions. His TypePad -powered blog, Leave It Behind, acts as  a clearinghouse for information about the book Brian co-wrote with Terry Storch, which is designed to energize, inform, and instruct church staff-members how to get started with blogs. It also presents Bailey's unique point of view on everything from Apple to fatherhood to his very own Letterman-esque Top 10 lists. If you want to learn more about Bailey and his book, look no further than this excellent blog. He and Storch recently posted a 4-minute video "trailer" for the book, which we think is a powerful message for anyone interested in the question "Why should I blog?"

Dirt

Dirt is the personal blog of Amy Stewart, author of this month's TypePad Featured Book, Flower Confidential. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be on a 40-day book tour, tune in to Amy's dispatches from the road and live vicariously as the positive reviews come pouring in. It seems like Flower Confidential, the author's third book, is really resonating with critics and readers alike. It's part character study, part travelogue and the story wonderfully illustrates the global trade, production, and technology that brings something as simple as a perfect rose from a greenhouse halfway around the world to the vase on your dining room table. Visit Amy's blog when she isn't in the middle of a book tour and you'll find posts that center on the subject of flowers as well as the material from her previous books -- earthworms and gardening. You'll also discover assorted tales of Amy and her husband's adventures as the loving owners of several pet chickens. For more Amy Stewart, don't miss our recent interview.

Sanders Says

We sure hope Sanders soda is coming to a vending machine near us soon, because someone needs to bottle this guy. Tim Sanders is one of the go-to gurus of the marketing world, and Sanders Says is a one-man motivational seminar in blog form. Previously Yahoo!’s Leadership Coach and Chief  Solutions Officer, Sanders is also the author of The Likeability Factor and Love is the Killer App. The blog stems from Sanders' die-hard belief that sharing leads to professional success. He spreads good business values, and even greater tips on branding and marketing. Plugs for his products are peppered throughout Sanders Says, but they aren't intrusive. If anything, they make you want to buy his books. Head straight to business effectiveness and then read up on marketing trends and analysis. Most of his smart tips are for business-minded folk of any level, from email rules to taking on 20% of your work-week on Monday.

Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover

It's nice to have a passion in life, but it's even better if you have two. Elaine is the author of Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover. Readers will delight in her trusted book reviews, of which there are many. Check out her favorite reads from 2006, and then visit her left sidebar to see what's currently on tap. This is a valuable resource for avid readers of Victorian Literature, as well as book groups looking to add some classics to their 2007 calendar. Taking inspiration from her 94-year-old mother, Elaine has started a Personal Challenge. She will stretch her boundaries to include one new modern novel every month this year. Help her with suggestions, and have fun following along. Every once in a while she gets side-tracked by an episode of ER or The West Wing, but that just makes her voice more human. Shakespeare fans, you're not alone. In fact, there's room for everyone to follow this Renaissance woman from Colchester to Covent Garden and back again.

Glass Shallot

Adam Baer is a writer by trade and, in print, Travel + Leisure is where you'll typically find him. Online, Glass Shallot is home to his selected work, culled from the pages of the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Wired, Slate, The New Yorker, and dozens of other reputable outlets. Browse Baer's left sidebar for the best of his printed work, covering an epic range of topics from Alain de Botton to Rodney Dangerfield to Space Invaders on cell-phones. Browse the right-hand sidebar for the best of the blog, which includes dispatches from current subjects Baer is researching, personal stories, and eclectic pieces on music, television, and many other topics. We love that Baer's "cultural shards" take him on a meandering path around the world (figuratively speaking) and his blog easily expands to ensconce them all. Sharp edges and odd angles aren't so scary when you wrap them in a reader-friendly blog.

Lulu Blooker Blog

Bloggers are getting book deals right and left. Lulu, a prominent figure in the self-publishing industry has sponsored a new award -- The Lulu Blooker Prize. And the Lulu Blooker Blog discusses all things about this annual contest for books that have sprout from blogs. Most of the blog focuses on blooks that have been submitted, but it is also a home for contestants to get their questions answered, as well as find out more about the judges. We like that this prize connects blogging with the publishing world, and rewards writers who aim high. Last year's award went to Julie & Julia by Julie Powell for her masterpiece in testing all 524 recipes in Julia Child's 1961 classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Is this the first you've heard of blooks and the Lulu Blooker Prize? Hurry, the deadline for submissions is January 15, 2007. Some writers can live a whole year off an extra $10,000.

Don't Believe the Hype

The blogger behind Don't Believe the Hype, Audrey Brashich, is an author and speaker who focuses on healthy body images for girls and keeps an eye on pop culture and the teen-aimed media and how it addresses the concept of "beauty ideals." She's uniquely qualified for the task, not only because, like many bloggers and authors, she's curious, open-minded, and articulate, but also because she's worked as a writer and editor for that very media for most of her career. Now she spends her time on the board of Mind on the Media and consults, as well as supporting her book, All Made Up: A Girl’s Guide to Seeing Through Celebrity Hype and Celebrating Real Beauty. It's great to see a smart voice suggesting some reality checks for an industry that is so scarily effective in shaping the attitudes of its consumers that 43% of middle-school girls would rather be a celebrity's assistant than a CEO, Senator, or university president. If Audrey's voice can carry a little farther, hopefully we'll start seeing more Sassy in the teen media and a little less skinny.

Book Trailerpark

Book Trailerpark is the blog counterpart to the well-respected publishing news source The Book Standard. While all things bookish can seem geeky to those not writing the Great American Novel, handselling a celebrity memoir, or editing the next New York Times bestsller -- Book Trailerpark cuts out the industry speak and gets straight to new, popular, and often funny book videos circling the web. Called "VidLit" these book videos are short 3-5 minute teasers to books in print. Think music videos for new compact discs, or trailers for upcoming movies. They even scout out mash-up videos done by book fans, not just publicists and authors. The blog has been running since early fall and covers themes like videos for children's books, banned books, fiction adaptations, and author hijinks from those who will do anything to promote their book. [Editor's Note: Because of the high volume of media goodies, we seemed to get the best browsing results with Internet Explorer or Safari.]

WWdN: in Exile

Wil Wheaton's TypePad blog, WWdN: in Exile, was simply supposed to be a stop-gap measure while he rejiggered his main site, Wil Wheaton dot Net, but a funny thing happened on the way to the redesign -- Wil realized that he just wanted to write, not tinker. And that's saying something, since Wheaton is pretty darn great at taking on whatever challenge he wants. Not only does he have several books under his belt, and ongoing gigs writing for The Onion's A/V Club, Weblog's Inc.'s Card Squad, and Suicide Girls, just to name a few, but he's also an actor, a member of Team Pokerstars, a Netscape navigator, a vlog personality, and a full-time husband and father. Of course, with energy like that, it's hard to imagine that Wil would be anything less that a great blogger. Yet, in Wil's case, it's more than that -- it's a really amazing spirit that allows him to put so much of himself out there on the page, in his blog, in comment threads, and out there in the world. We like to tip our caps to our featured bloggers as we invite new readers to discover the pleasures of reading their blogs, but in this case we'd also like to add a big "Thank you!" to Wil Wheaton for not only being Just a Geek, but also being an incredibly generous storyteller.

{ A }

{ A }, a blog by scrapbooking guru Ali Edwards, is more like a modern museum than your typical online journal. Celebrating two years of blogging,  the site offers inspiration for people who want to capture the memories of their everyday life through photos, stories, and mixed media via computer or canvas. Ali coined the term Life Artist for people like herself, a much more identifiable name for "scrapbookers / creative people who are into celebrating life through art." Author of A Designer's Eye for Scrapbooking, Ali also teaches at Creating Keepsakes University and through her own workshops. Most of the posts on her blog refer to work and family, but are dressed up with photos of her life and latest creations. Life artists can find unending inspiration in the photo albums, from scrapbook layouts to art journals and baby albums. Ali's passion for her art is as clear as the love she has for her family. If you're new to this genre of creativity, sign up for the AEzine newsletter and catch up with past issues in the archive.

The World is a Kitchen

It's no secret that we love authors who use TypePad -- our bookstore is full of published writers who blog on the service. And while many use their blogs to carry on conversations with their readers from book to book, some enterprising authors create individual blogs for each new release. (You get unlimited blogs at our Pro level.) Such is the case with The World is a Kitchen, a new book that collects culinary adventures from around the globe, edited by Michele Jordan and Susan Brady. The compilation takes readers into kitchens from the Americas to Africa to Asia, with a few extra nibbles in Europe. The blog, on the other hand, is a feast of information from and about the book -- sample chapters, contributor bios, reviews, upcoming readings, culinary tours and classes, and links to prominent food/travel blogs. Simple, yet sumptuous, this smartly designed book blog is a great example of how sharing -- whether its food in a foreign land, or bites from a published book -- can make strangers into friends.

Steven Johnson

This month's featured book is Steven Johnson's The Ghost Map, subtitled "The story of London's most terrifying epidemic -- and how it changed science, cities, and the modern world." We are proud to include this best-selling writer's work in our monthly celebration of authors who use TypePad to connect with their readers. We recently recorded a great 30-minute discussion between Johnson and TypePad GM Michael Sippey and Six Apart's in-house evangelist Anil Dash, which is available by streaming player, for individual download, or via subscription in your favorite podcast application (including iTunes). Along with the podcast, we're also showcasing all Steven Johnson's books this month in the TypePad bookstore  And finally, you'll want to check out  Johnson's own blog for tour information, linked reviews, the author's collected essays, and always interesting digressions, including news of Johnson's newest online project, outside.in.

TomBomb

Tom Hayes is a tastemaker for the next 'Net generation, and his blog, TomBomb, is a targeted look at what's building steam in Silicon Valley. Joined by Bill Cleary, Michael S. Malone, and Mark Whitty, TomBomb is a goldmine for marketers needing to stay on top of their game. Whether you want to save the world, or just your local record store, these marketing vets have the savvy to navigate the minefields of today's pop-cultural war zone. Cause Marketing. Shopcasting, Digital Wallets. Hayes is the author of You Can Make a Difference in Silicon Valley and is currently the VP of Corporate Marketing at Enea. He knows what he's talking about. Enlist now, or make a run for it.

BookLust

Illustrator Patricia Storms offers a refreshingly charming look at the book world. Her blog, BookLust, reads like a comic strip for lovers of literature. It allows the avid reader to follow Patricia as she shows us what new indie bookshops are popping up in Toronto, who's hanging out in the Village, and what e-book and print-on-demand book covers she's recently designed. Our heroine points to jaw-dropping constructions that have been made from books, and archives illustrations she has drawn from trips to bookstores. Cheer Patricia on as she tries to get her own book published, and thank her twice for sharing the well-crafted literary blogroll in her sidebar.

Kevin Smokler

Kevin Smokler, editor of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times, is either a very geeky writer or a very writerly geek. You decide. His bio places him as "one of the foremost thinkers on the future of publishing and the arts at large" and media outlets like CNN turn to him for the inside scoop. His blog (now in its sixth year!) offers both personal insights and professional milestones, but explore further than the front page and you'll find a beautifully designed library of information by and about this literary live wire. Recent writing includes articles for Fast Company and Poets & Writers, and while he is at home with the printed word, Smokler is also master of new modes and methods for authors to connect to readers -- from blogs to virtual book tours to podcasts. Whether you're interested in what's next from Kevin or what's next for the publishing industry, make sure you make his blog one of your bookmarks.

My Life in Stitches

My Life is Stitches is a knitting blog by Lisa Shobhana Mason, the author of the recently released Yarnplay: Colorful Techniques and Projects For The Creative Knitter. (She's also contributed patterns to popular how-to books by Deb Stoller and Vickie Howell.) The blog is a lively combination of knitting projects, book-related minutiae, and exuberant personality. One of the great things about craft bloggers is how they manage to weave such a tightly knit community from site to site. With a combination of blogroll links, a reader knitted-object gallery, and beautifully designed patterns for sale, Lisa does her part to keep the community creative and connected. Check our her blog, her book, and, if you get a chance, give some of her colorful patterns a whirl.

Michael Ruhlman

Michael Ruhlman is the author of several great books about chefs, food preparation, and the pursuit of culinary excellence, including The Soul of a Chef, Charcuterie, and, most recently, The Reach of a Chef. A few months ago, when Ruhlman began a guest-blogging stint at Meg Hourihan's excellent food blog, Megnut, we were excited by the possibility that the author would eventually start a blog of his own. Happily, our appetite for more missives from the culinary world was quickly satisfied by the appearance of Ruhlman's TypePad blog -- a must-add to the daily reading of any self-respecting foodie. Ruhlman isn't a hands-on food blogger, in the traditional sense, but his access and insights into the highest levels of food preparation and artistry are simultaneously enviable and enlightening.

Away with Words

Nancy Friedman knows words. And just what to do with them. She began her career as a journalist and eventually moved into copy writing, creative consulting, and name development. Ever since making that jump, she's honed her rhetorical skills and grown an impressive list of clients and clips. Her excellent blog, Away with Words, offers a nice mix of insights, expertise, and exploration, where you'll find engaging posts about a variety of wordy subjects, including scary (and not-so-scary) sayings, the etymology of fabrics, and the unstoppable evolution of language. Beyond the basics, Nancy also delves into baby naming, tackles the topic of taglines, and even offers her very own word of the week. For anyone who enjoys puzzling over words -- what they mean, how they're used, and where they're going -- this blog is as useful as a good dictionary and as delightful as a freshly turned phrase.

Confessions from the Velvet Ropes

This past summer,  scenesters everywhere were dying to get inside of the latest tell-all book about New York clubs and celebs. Confessions from the Velvet Ropes and the companion blog are the work of Glenn Belverio, a NYC writer, and Thomas Onorato, king gatekeeper to New York's hippest party scene. Madonna, Nicky Hilton, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Adrien Brody are all part of the book and featured in the blog as well. Fans will appreciate that the blog keeps the club scene flowing well past the book covers, and beyond virtual velvet ropes into current beautiful-people fantasies. See a picture of Onorato amidst a line outside the MisShapes party at Don Hill's, link up to Onorato's predictions for the best New York nightclubs this fall, see videos from inside MisShapes, and get tips for how you can get beyond the velvet ropes.

The Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts

Myth lovers unite! The Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts is a blog written by several published authors and lovers of folklore and fairy tales. They write book reviews for both fiction and non-fiction books, alert readers to events and exhibits that shouldn't be missed, and favor organizations and topics that are myth-related for believers of all ages. Their blog offers pointers towards storytelling traditions of native cultures, supplies inspiration and guidance for writers of this genre, and doubles as one big wishlist for those new to this world. The four month old blog is linked to the Endicott Studio organization and associated with the Journal of Mythic Arts which is published seasonally. Reflecting the interests of the organizers, the blog is artistic, visual, and traces various environmental arts because "Many myths from around the world address the relationship between humankind, animals, and the numinous earth."

Who Are You People?

From vampires to Barbie dolls to I Love Lucy and straight onto the Entertainment Weekly Must List, Shari Caudron has tapped into the spirit of the times with her book, Who Are You People? On her companion blog, she continues to mine the theme of "fanatical obsession" that got her interested in tracking passionate collectors, competitors, and costume-wearers. Caudron's curiosity took her on a three-year fact-finding mission, from Mayberry Days in North Carolina to pigeon racing in the Bronx. Not only is Who Are You People? the TypePad Book of the Month, but you'll find it featured prominently in our new bookstore. So, read the blog, buy the book, tune in to our Skypecast with Shari on Tuesday, September 26, at 2pm (Pacific Time), and then we'll all meet up at Lebowski Fest 2007 for a couple of White Russians.

Chicken Spaghetti

Susan Thomsen, author of Elvis: A Tribute to the King, whose bylines  also include The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Global City Review, has turned her blogging attention to the world of kid lit. Chicken Spaghetti has been going strong for nearly two years and has fast become a source for all things where book-related and children-related meet. Great for  parents, teachers, and even those interested in writing a children's book of their own -- Chicken Spaghetti is a one-room schoolhouse for learning about this quickly growing genre. Thomsen points to more than 25 different children author's websites, and has her posts archived in a variety of useful categories. While much of kids lit is broken up by ages, Thomsen makes it easy by pointing browsers directly to picture books, beginning readers, intermediate readers, and sharing her massive blogroll to weblogs of similar interests.

Fine Books Blog

Happy Birthday to Scott Brown, purveyor of the Fine Books Blog! Today he marks one small step towards a destination that he knows so very well: antiquity. His lovely blog acts as a companion piece to Fine Books & Collections magazine, a publication that supports and serenades bibliophiles as they rummage through the bookstores of the world. On the crisp, sharply cut pages of Scott's site, you'll find entries about everything from book buying to book borrowing to book selling, not to mention a sizable addendum of book arts and a backstage look at the magazine biz. We particularly enjoyed a recent post about that pointed us to Richard Polt, Paul Collins, and the inimitable Harry Stephen Keeler.  That's definitely one of the pleasures of this blog -- a web of connections that lead, inevitably, to delightful new discoveries. Brown's latest subject is the Collegiate Collectors contest, which is perhaps one of the most truly troubling developments we've ever heard of -- competitive book-buying! Egads! There are actually cash prizes for being the most obsessive scavenger of obscure, out-of-print books. If we'd known this when we were in college, you'd certainly find us sleeping in the park, clutching a well-worn copy of Charles Fort's Book of the Damned in one hand and a small trophy in the other.

Books Covered by Tobias

Book blogs are typically written by wordsmiths, but Books Covered by Tobias offers a fresh look at the literary world from a designer's point of view. Some people say "you can't judge a book by its cover," but most publishers subscribe to the exact opposite opinion. Most believe that a powerful cover can make a world of difference at the sales register. In the ten years he's spent in the industry, Christopher Tobias's work has climbed the New York Times bestsellers list right along with the proud authors his dust jackets celebrate. Scour the stacks of this six-month-old blog and discover that Tobias offers perspectives ranging from struggles with moving his office back home to technical instruction on how to craft a cover with InDesign. Check in regularly and you'll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his newest projects and pointers to industry leaders in the publishing biz from an insider's viewpoint.

Digital Roam

Dan Roam is a communication wizard. After a meandering career as a magazine art director, an international marketing communications manager, and a design director at a web boutique – he connected the dots and found out that in all cases he was using pictures to help people improve their business. With all his travel, images became more and more valuable. "When I couldn't speak the local language, pictures were worth a thousand words. When I could speak local language, they could be worth a million." Now, Dan's passion is visual thinking, and his purpose is to help others work with images so that they can tell their story, solve problems, and discover their best ideas. If you like to solve problems with pictures, Digital Roam will point you toward tools to help you think and communicate visually. And if you want to see the whole picture, jump from the blog to an website dedicated to Dan's business consulting. Happily, Roam's professional picture just got a little bit brighter as he landed a deal for his book, The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems with Pictures.

Eggs, Bacon, Chips and Beans

Eggs, Bacon, Chips and Beans, better known in its domain-case eggsbaconchipsandbeans, is a great food blog from the United Kingdom. Your host, Russell Davies, delivers a bunch of variations on the same theme -- the eponymous dish of, what else, fried eggs, bacon, french fries and beans, also know in Britain as a "fry-up." Sampling this favorite meal at diners all over the U.K., Davies not only found the ingredients for an ongoing series of succulent blog posts, but he also discovered the recipe for a book, Eggs, Bacon, Chips & Beans: 50 Great Cafes and the Stuff That Makes Them Great.  Davies, of course, doesn't limit himself to a single meal, or a single blog. He also writes a good place for a cup of tea and a think, about better beverage-brewing establishments, and the intriguing 10,000 bands, which aims to identify the best single song from 10,000 different artists.

52 Projects

Bloggers are natural project-makers. At least, many of them are. If their blogs aren't projects in and of themselves, following a specific interest or subject, quite often they're used to document offline projects like knitting, cooking, collecting, scrapbooking, art, fiction, or whatever the case may be. Originally started as a simple numbered list, Jeffrey Yamaguchi's 52 Projects is now an "online project-making hub" -- a place to talk about starting, finishing, and otherwise enjoying self-started endeavors. If you have ambitions to work on your own projects, you'll find posts about inspiration, getting things done, getting the word out, and interviews with successful project makers. You'll also see tons of posts about cool projects -- everything from quilts to  cloudspotting to crafting podcasts. Not suprisingly, like many great projects, the 52 Projects site has spawned its very own book.

New Media Musings

A few years back, journalist J.D. Lasica decided to focus his considerable talents and energies on  "citizens media and the personal media revolution." His main TypePad blog (Pro subscribers can have as many as they want), New Media Musings, is just one of the venues that J.D. has at his diposal, along with his not-for-profit Ourmedia.org, his book (and blog), Darknet, and numerous articles appearing in publications far and wide. Lasica's latest  mission took him to the International Citizen Reporters' Forum in Seoul, South Korea, where grassroots journalists and the organizations that connect them were meeting to discuss the future. If you have an interest in the trends that will define personal and public media in the years to come, check out Lasica's point of view, which not only includes posts and commentary, but an amazing array of photographs and video. Lasica is a new-media triple-threat who uses a multiple blog strategy to keep his readers coming back.

The Long Tail

The Long Tail is Chris Anderson's blog about the economic shift from "big hits" to smaller niche products and services. The Internet is changing the way companies do business and the expectations that consumers have about choice. Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, has a keen eye for spotting those changes and a deep understanding of where they will ultimately lead us. Anderson originally suggested the idea in an article in October 2004, and ever since he's kept up his lively Long Tail blog as a proving grounds for developing the ideas in the article into a full-length book. That book, of the same name, was just published by Hyperion, and is available everywhere fine visionary books are sold.

Bookburger

With a focus on the young-adult and chick-lit genres, Bookburger covers the work of writers you may not have heard of, yet. Editor D.J. Marks offers enthusiastic posts about up-and-coming writers such as Kieran Scott, Ally Carter, and Sarah Dessen. On the side, you'll find links to other literary blogs, interviews with some of the featured writers, as well as a chance to subscribe to Bookburger's email bulletin entitled "the b-list." Marks and the blog's other contributors keep the energy-level high as they share literary discoveries and offer hungry book-lovers pointers toward their next great read.

Jancee Dunn

Long-time Rolling Stone writer and former MTV2 VJ Jancee Dunn recently penned But Enough About Me, a funny memoir about being a journalist who mostly writes about celebrities. You know the type: Brad, Ben, Madonna, Beyonce, Dolly -- just about anyone who can get by with one name. The book was just released, so once you've perused Dunn's press clips (Entertainment Weekly gave the book an "A"), read some excerpts, and reminisced over the M2 years, you'll be able to instantly gratify your desire to buy a copy. The site has everything you could want from an author blog -- tour dates, blurbs, links to Dunn's essays and stories -- but, of course, the frosting on the cupcake is always those bits you don't expect, like recipes from Jancee's mom or mini-reviews of assorted so-bad-they're-good TV movies. The one thing that's clear, besides the fact that Dunn is a talented and accomplished writer, is that you're unlikely to regret spending time being charmed by her tales from the celebrity trenches.

Buzz, Balls & Hype

Buzz, Balls & Hype is just one of a pair of TypePad blogs by M.J. Rose, the author of seven novels and a frequent contributor to  periodicals such as Poets & Writers, O, and Wired.com. Rose is often referred to as "the poster girl of e-publishing" -- an apt description that has stuck not only because her first book, Lip Service, was sold and marketed online, but also due to the fact that she's co-authored a book on the subject. She's incredibly savvy when it comes to web sites, blogs, email marketing, virtual book tours, online communities, ecommerce, viral marketing, and just about anything else that combines literary art with networked life. Writers are often stereotyped as Luddites who cling to their Underwood typewriters despite the obvious advantages of new technology. By embracing the latest communication tools, Rose proves that cliché is as obsolete as a quill pen. If you're interested in publishing, check out Buzz, Balls & Hype for everything from therapy for writers to trends in book marketing. Rose's other blog, Backstory, offers a place for writers to share their creative process and describe what inspired them to write their specific stories.

Cruelest Month

Judging by the weather we had last month, April really is the cruelest. It's also National Poetry Month. (What a coinkydink!) And guess what: It's just one of the 12 months of the year that CruelestMonth.com covers the literary world generally, the poetry scene specifically, and the HarperCollins empire contractually. With a handy blogroll to the works of dozens and dozens of HarperCollins poets, CruelestMonth mixes marketing with wit, enthusiasm, every blog-reader's favorite kind of poetical device: the tasty link. If it touches the world of verse, you'll likely find a shout-out either in a post or in Cruelest's ever-growing sidebar. You'll also find posts on literary contests, book reviews, and even the occasional poem. Here's a haiku:

cruelestmonth.com
poetry blog on typepad
we like bukowski