What’s on my iPod: “On Letting Go” by Circa Survive
What I’m reading: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
The last person I followed on Twitter: @TaylorSwift13
1. Auryn Inc. gets a 5-star Kirkus review!
Congratulations to Auryn Inc – leader in digital publishing – for getting a 5-STAR Kirkus Review for their new children’s storybook app Van Gogh and The Sunflowers! Such a huge honor and we at BookSparksPR are tremendously excited for them. Here is what Kirkus had to say:
When van Gogh moved to Arles, France, in 1888, a postman and his family befriended the Dutch painter. This book is about what may have happened during van Gogh’s time in Arles, as seen from the perspective of the young boy in the Roulin family, Camille. Anholt’s magnificent illustrations quite literally spring to life, as 3-D figures and characters “pop out” and move, then collapse back into the two-dimensional background when the page is turned. Each page displays a cog in the upper left-hand corner that, when touched, produces an x-ray image of the armature that animates the moving parts. Touch a character, and a window pops up with two options. The first, most appropriately, is a painter’s palette that affords readers several tools with which to paint the characters. The second is a set of cogs that summons the x-ray armature again, but when tapped the mechanism collapses and readers race the clock to reassemble it. There’s a museum feature embedded in the story whereby readers can view and learn about many of the famous paintings van Gogh painted while living in Arles. Narration is easily switched off or on, and though navigation isn’t exceptionally speedy, it’s appropriately timed and precise.
An exceptionally bright and beautiful masterpiece.
More about Auryn
Auryn is a premiere digital publisher focused on creating award-winning interactive children’s stories for the iPad and other tablet devices. We collaborate with authors, illustrators and publishers to turn their stories into educational, engaging and entertaining experiences. Auyrn’s patented technology (Aurynization) brings any illustration style to life through animation and interactivity. Kirkus Reviews, Fast Company, NPR, PadGadget and Animation Magazine all herald Auryn as a leader in creating sophisticated and immersive “app” experiences.
2. Founder of BookSparksPR and publicist Crystal Patriarche on Writer Unboxed
Fabulous founder of BookSparksPR and publicist Crystal Patriarche stopped by Writer Unboxed and wrote a great post about the 5 Things to Know About Publicity Before You’re Published. Here is just one valuable tip Crystal extended to aspiring writers:
#2 Publicity doesn’t happen overnight
Publicity doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it’s a very long-term and strategic process. When you open up the newspaper or pick up your favorite magazine and read an article, or even see a segment on the Today show, chances are that story has been in the works for months and involves a lot of people – including a publicist spearheading it – and a lot of moving pieces and parts that take up time. Even book features and book reviews are the same way – and moreso in some cases because book space is limited and reviewers are getting pitched hundreds of books a day. There are two types of media: short lead (online, broadcast and newspaper) and long lead (print magazines/print media). Yes, short lead media allows for the feature to be published quicker, but both take a lot of back and forth and advance planning. A solid publicity campaign takes six to 12 months to execute. Be patient! Be persistent! Be realistic! In order to give your book the best chance, realize that publicity is a long term strategy.
3. Nomad brushes on New York Times technology blog Gadgetwise
Nomad brushes – paintbrushes designed for the artistic Apple owner – were featured on the New York Times technology blog Gadgetwise. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Painters, meanwhile, should strongly consider the line of products from Nomad Brush.
To the untrained eye, they look like typical, if slightly more Zen-inspired, paint brushes for fine artists. But the brushes are designed only for capacitive screens, not paint.
Nomad offers a range of them for different uses, but my favorite was the Compose Dual-Tip Long ($39), which includes a long brush and a short brush that can be attached to either end.
Wrap one up for an artistic friend this holiday season and watch them get giddy when the paper comes off.
More on Nomad
We love art and creating art. Our company is a testament to this love and our dedication to finding innovative ways to help you create in your daily life, whether you’re an artist by training, a doodler by nature or picking up an iPad for the very first time. We believe that the tools you use directly impact what you create. We aim to develop revolutionary products for the professional digital artist, as well as making digital art creation accessible, fun and intuitive for the novice.
4. THE FAMILY AFFAIR on Man of La Book
THE FAMILY AFFAIR by Leon Gildin received a wonderful review on Man of La Book. Here is a highlight of the review:
I have never heard of The Hotel Polski and the bizarre scheme the Nazis were running there. The more I read about the whole issue, the more bizarre it became. Basically the Gestapo used the hotel to house Jews who had exit visas from Poldand. But, the visas of dead Jews were sold to ones who managed to escape the roundups and hide in the Aryan side of Warsaw.
After the Jews came out of hiding, the Gestapo collected the money but many of the people were sent to their deaths. What makes the issue even strangers is that many of the visas were for South American countries which would have refused to recognize the passports anyway.
The characters are well written and the story moves along in a fast pace. There is many aspects to this book, promises broken, betrayal, heartbreak and several enlightening and happy moments. A page turner and a great pick for a book club.
More on THE FAMILY AFFAIR
How can a woman’s struggle to reconcile her guilt of survival both unite and divide her family for years to come? It is some two years since Anna Adler returned from a reunion of the survivors who were “guests” of the Hotel Polski after the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto. At the reunion, she was applauded for her courage in testifying against the Commandant of the Polski at his War Crimes Trial. Despite the accolades, Anna’s obsession with what took place at the hotel during her period of imprisonment continues to haunt her.
The Family Affair, a sequel to The Polski Affair, tells of the fortuitous discovery of new members of Anna’s family, bringing her both joy and torment. For Anna, the ties that bind run deeper than she cares to remember … or admit. This results in explosive revelations and a family forever changed, proving that some things are better left unsaid.
5. Karen A. Chase on Steena Holmes
Parisian traveler and author of BONJOUR 40 Karen A. Chase took to Steena Holmes’ blog to give her insight on two of her favorite things: Paris and chocolate. Here is a bit of what Karen had to say on the chocolate in Paris:
At café Vienne, I discovered true hot chocolate. Thick bittersweet chocolate, melted in a cup, served with whipped cream on top, and a side of sugar. I swooned. I fell head over heals for Paris then, because as Steena says, “in the end all things succumb to chocolate.” And so did I. With Paris. But soon, the month came to an end.
I’ll miss her every day until we’re together again. Ahhh, Paris, you have ruined me. I still can’t believe I left you…
More on BONJOUR 40
If Karen A. Chase absolutely had to turn 40, she decided she could do it gracefully in Paris… for nearly 40 days. What began as a blog to communicate with friends and family, became a travel journal filled with over a months’ worth of daily humorous, insightful, and detailed glimpses into her Paris adventures, each of which could be read in about 40 seconds.Peppered with Chase’s own delightful photographs, she also weaves in longer stories that reflect upon her experiences with the French, food, travel,photography, writing and love in the City of Lights. A companion to the e-book,her Bonjour40 blog still contains images and some notes for readers who crave more from her Paris adventure.
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