Why I Write: Zane

Over the past 12 years, I have read many articles and heard many people speak about why I write my books. Funny, none of the people making the statements know me or how my mind truly works. Ironically, I never chose to write erotica; erotica chose me. I wrote a few stories, posted them on the Internet and realized that there was a niche market that was not being met in the African-American comm...

Panel Mania: Stitches

In David Small's autobiography, Stitches, he depicts his childhood with his disfunctional family, as he struggles with a botched surgery that rendered him mute. In this 16 page preview, David escapes through his imagination and his art. Stitches will be released by W.W. Norton on September 8th.

New World Library Launches Eckhart Tolle,
Mother Teresa iPhone Apps

Works by Eckhart Tolle and Mother Teresa and other titles in the self-help category are being made into iPhone apps by developer Mobifusion and publisher New World Library. Among the first apps to release will be Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth Cards, The Power of Now Inspiration Deck and The Power of Now Meditation Deck, and Shakti Gawain’s Creative Visualization: 50 Inspiration Cards.

S&S and LivingSocial Partner for E-Promotion

Margaret K. McElderry Books is running a three-week online promotion, offering a free web-only version of Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones, the first book in the author’s Mortal Instruments trilogy, which has more than one million copies in print. Via a partnership with LivingSocial, Simon & Schuster is making a version of the book available for reading on a LivingSocial landing page, through August 5.

'Ranger’s Apprentice' Hits the Road

Having toured the U.S. last year, Australian author John Flanagan isn’t coming stateside for the release of The Siege of Macindaw (Philomel, Sept.), the sixth book in his Ranger’s Apprentice series. Soon readers in 27 U.S. cities will be able to see a theatrical performance entitled “Escape to Araluen,” based on the first Ranger’s Apprentice book, The Ruins of Gorlan, thanks to a national bus tour Penguin has put together.

Galley Talk: ‘Candor’ by Pam Bachorz

Emily Fear, manager of children’s books, Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Pittsburgh, Pa., talks about a fall favorite, Candor by Pam Bachorz. Candor is a Stepford Wives-esque tale. But instead of a novel about the brainwashing of wives, this is about brainwashing an entire community, especially its teenagers. The founder of the town of Candor tries to shape what he believes should be model teens—down to what they should eat and how they should dress.

Bigger and Bigger Still—San Diego Comic-con Keeps Growing

The annual San Diego Comic-Con International ended July 26, leaving 125,000 attendees—the unofficial attendance figure of the sold-out convention—alternately dazzled and exhausted by the four-and-a-half day marathon of comics, movies, panels, signings and parties. More than ever, the show has become the biggest marketing platform of the year for film and TV as well as for comics.

The Changing Face of Manga: Talking with Hideki Egami

Hideki Egami, editor-in-chief of the Japanese magazine Ikki, which specializes in manga aimed at an older more sophisticated adult readership, sat down with PW Comics Week for a micro-interview during the San Diego Comic-con to commemorate the launch of Viz Media’s English-language counterpart, SigIkki, an online magazine offeringe a different kind of contemporary manga to the U.S. market.

Comics Briefly

Talking with Ultimo's Hiroyuki Takei

Last year, Viz Media announced Ultimo, their first ever manga collaboration between an American creator, the legendary Marvel creator Stan Lee, and a Japanese creator, Hiroyuki Takei. Takei is the creator of the shonen manga, Shaman King, a series totaling with 32 volumes and a 64-episode anime adaptation. Takei appeared at this past weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con to promote the American release of Ultimo where PW Comics Week sat down and spoke with him.

Manga Keeps Growing in a Tough Economy

“If this is the valley,” Scott McCloud said at a discussion during the 40th annual San Diego Comic-Con International this past weekend, “then we’re doing pretty good.” McCloud was referring to the dip in the economy which was not reflected in the business climate of this year’s event. While some the publishers and vendors on the manga-side of the graphic novel business scaled down their booths or did not attend, others put on a strong show.

Furry Water Flows at Dark Horse

Rising art star Rafael Grampá is bringing two comics to Dark Horse, with a new six-issue mini-series, Furry Water, and a new edition of Mesmo Delivery, his first solo book. Furry Water is written with Daniel Pellizzari, a known SF author in their native Brazil. They describe the series as a saga of adventure and family honor set in a world where most of the population has been killed by “Furry Water,” a deadly rain.

Photo Mania

The 40th annual San Diego Comic-con International was a bombastic, oversized, pop cultural revival meeting, exhorting the gospel of contemporary comics, movies and TV. PWCW photographers roamed the San Diego Convention Center to bring back pictures of some of the people and events of the show.

Why Are Two Canadians Out to Kill Shakespeare?

If you're a fan of Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or Bill Willingham's Fables, there's a good chance you'll be hooked on Kill Shakespeare, a new comics series coming from IDW next year and easily one of more exciting new projects bouncing around this year's Comic-con International.

Web Exclusive Reviews: 7/27/2009

This week: Ryan Grim on drugs, 21 humor writers and Mike Sacks, Jane Jeong Trenka's search for home, Richard L. Brandt examines the Google boys, and Corinne Maier hates on kids. Plus: Children's books from Ursula Vernon, Anna Hays, Todd H. Doodler, and fiction from Jill Mansell, Brett Battles, C.C. Finlay, and Maxine Paetro backing up James Patterson.

Fiction Reviews: 7/27/2009

Reviewed this week, new books from Audrey Niffenegger, Kazuo Ishiguro, Clive Cussler, John Twelve Hawks, Austin Clarke and Mary Monroe. Plus, Irene Sabatini debuts with an unconventional love story set in Zimbabwe, more Estonian avant gard fiction from Mati Unt, and Anne Finger imagines alternate lives for some legendary outcasts.

As 'Kindly Ones' Sinks, 'Every Man Dies Alone' Rises

Jonathan Burnham's acquisition of Jonathan Littell's French bestseller, Les Bienveillantes, after 2006's Frankfurt Book Fair is almost the stuff of publishing legend. Burnham plunked down a rumored $1 million for a book that, despite being the buzzed-about novel of the German show and a European bestseller, seemed an incredibly tough sell in America.

Children's Book Reviews: 7/27/2009

This week, reviews of new picture books from David Elliott and Timothy Basil Ering, Jerry Pinkney, and Judi and Ron Barrett; novels from Frank Portman, Faye and Aliza Kellerman, and Albert Borris; and a reference round-up.

Del Rey to Publish Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel

Following on the success of Quirk Book’s bestselling transformation of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice into a zombie novel, Del Rey Books announced plans to turn Pride and Prejudice and Zombies into a graphic novel.

Comics, Movies and a New Publishing Deal for Bone at the San Diego Comic-Con

The 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International, the sold-out pop culture marathon that will attract about 125,000 fans to the San Diego Conventiion Center over the next 5 days, kicked off this year’s events with Preview night, a 3-hour sneak peak at the jam-packed exhibition floor, a new conference focused on the lucrative crossover between comics and other media and news of lots of publishing deals.