CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-06-13 14:38:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Hey, fellow book lovers! Did you know that Penguin has four great Facebook genre book communities? Project Paranormal (http://ow.ly/lZW25) for paranormal romance and urban fantasy, Destination Elsewhere (http://ow.ly/lZW8t) for SF/F, Love Always (http://ow.ly/lZWeL) for romance, and The Crime Scene (http://ow.ly/lZWku) for mystery, crime fiction and cozies. Pop over there and like one of them today!

2013-06-12 17:58:29 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Gang, my Penguin colleagues and I are doing a walk this Friday to raise money for Girls Write Now, a fantastic NYC-based non-profit, the first organization in the country with a writing and mentoring model exclusively for girls. They do great work and we want to support them. If you'd like to help us support Girls Write Now, click on this link: http://ow.ly/lY5O4. (And please share with your friends! I'm looking at you, Lauren Cerand!)

2013-04-22 16:05:51 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

JOB OPENING at Penguin! Heads up, folks. My colleagues at Penguin Young Readers have an opening for a Digital & Social Media Marketing Director in New York City (no telecommuting). This person will be responsible for developing and executing the digital marketing and social media strategy for the PYR young adult and children’s books, apps, and online communities. It's okay if you haven't worked in publishing before but you must have experienced working with youth-related brands, and frankly, a genuine love of and familiarity with kidlit can't hurt. (And I shouldn't need to say this but I will: Bone up on the PYR brands, people.) Read the requirements carefully; they've interviewed a lot of people because they really want the RIGHT person for this job. (And please share with friends!)

2013-02-28 12:26:10 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

This is exciting news: Michael Nava's groundbreaking gay mystery series is finally coming to ebook: 

2013-02-28 12:00:42 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 3 +1s)

ZOMBIE FANS! (I had to stop and blink at that myself...) My pal Seale Ballenger from Zola Books is hosting a zombie Twitter chat with writer Isaac Marion (@isaacinspace) today at 1 PM ET. Ask him about his book Warm Bodies, the new prequel The New Hunger and the movie in development! Use hashtag #TheNewHunger to ask questions. (And try not to eat the author.) Please share with your fellow zombie-loving friends, okay? 

2013-02-18 02:51:12 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

San Diego Comic-Con 2013 badges sold out in ninety-three minutes. Yeah...so...there's THAT. 

2013-02-05 02:45:31 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Look what launched tonight when y'all weren't lookng: 

2013-02-04 23:39:36 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Buddy pics

2013-02-04 12:10:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

If the Boy Scouts of America received 30,000 phone calls from people who insist that the organization remain homophobic and teach boys the value of hate, then maybe they need to figure out who those 30,000 people are and keep them away from the kids instead.

2013-02-02 17:43:17 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 4 +1s)

Job Opportunity: I'm working with a group looking to recruit a manager for a new independent bookstore opening soon in Santa Barbara, CA. They're particularly interested in talking to former Borders managers and/or former publishers sales reps who may have been downsized recently. Please share this and have people email me for details: Colleen.Lindsay@gmail.com

2013-01-17 20:22:00 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

We rolled out some huge changes at Book Country today!

2013-01-17 11:09:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Heads up: The site will be down for maintenance starting at about 8:00 AM Eastern Time, and will be back up at approximately 10:30 AM. Apologies for the inconvenience, but we think you'll like what we have up our sleeves...

2013-01-09 12:42:12 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Miss last night's Twitter chat with ON DUBLIN STREET author Samantha Young and Penguin editor Kerry Donovan? I've saved the whole thing for you in Storify:  

2013-01-07 18:21:04 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Heads up writers and readers of romance fiction! I'll be hosting a Twitter chat TOMORROW between bestselling Scottish erotic romance writer Samantha Young (@SYoungSFauthor) and her Penguin editor Kerry Donovan on Samantha's new book ON DUBLIN STREET.

We'll be talking about, among other things, how Samantha moves between the world of self-publishing and traditional publishing (ON DUBLIN STREET was originally self-published, and was later picked up by Penguin!) and how she balances writing young adult fiction with writing her adult erotic romances. We'll be using the hashtag #OnDublinSt . Chat starts tomorrow (Tuesday, January 8th) at 8:00 PM Eastern time. Spread the word, please!

2013-01-04 13:07:24 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

As some of you may know, my friend Natalie's husband John passed away yesterday after a brief and unexpected illness. Natalie and her four-month old son could use some assistance now to offset the extraordinary medical expenses they were left with, and to help pay for John's funeral. It's an awful thing to realize that in this economy it's often difficult to take care of your loved ones even in death. If you can spare a couple of dollars, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, all of you.

2012-12-03 23:15:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Writerly types! Especially those of you who write romance or self-pub...or BOTH!

I'm hosting a Twitter chat with writer Adrianne Wood, author of the Western romance BADLANDS BRIDE, and her Pocket Books editor Abby Zidle. We'll be talking about how Adrianne went from being a self-published bestseller on Nook to being picked up by one of the Big Six for a traditional book deal, and why combining traditional with self-pub was a good choice for her.

Chat is on THURSDAY evening, December 6th at 9:00 PM EDT. Use the hashtag #PathToPub to participate!

2012-11-30 16:12:24 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Heads up, Book Country members: Our site will be down for maintenance for two hours today, starting at 3:00 PM Eastern time. Apologies for the inconvenience! We're deploying a new round of bug fixes.

2012-11-27 12:16:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I don't do this very often, but I'm pimping a friend's book today with great glee: I am so HAPPY for my friend Adrian Wood Liang, whose debut romance novel BADLANDS BRIDE is on sale today from Pocket Books as a mass market and ebook. As long as I've known Adrian, she's been writing and trying to get published. She took the brave first step of self-pubbing Badlands Bride for Nook last year, and the amazing Abby Zidle picked it up for Pocket Books, working with Adrian to make it an even better book. Adrian, I am so proud of you! And everyone else? If you dig Western romance, you're gonna want a copy of BADLANDS BRIDE! 

2012-11-13 23:05:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Heads up, writers and readers! We're having a Twitter chat tonight! Join my colleague Michelle Vega, an editor at Berkley Prime Crime (@PenguinCozies), historical mystery writer Anna Lee Huber (@AnnaLeeHuber) and Anna's agent, the extraordinary Kevan Lyon (@KevanLyon) for a Twitter chat on the path to publication!

Chat starts at 8:00 PM EST; use hashtag #PathToPub to participate and ask questions! Please repost if you like historical mysteries! =)

2012-11-09 18:08:26 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Do you write or love to read historical mysteries? My colleagues over at Berkley Prime Crime (@PenguinCozies) are hosting a great Twitter chat next Tuesday evening at 8 PM EST with historical mystery writer Anne Lee Huber (@AnnaLeeHuber) and her agent Kevan Lyon (@KevanLyon) to discuss the path to publication! Remember to use follow @PenguinCozies and use the #PathToPub hashtag to participate and follow the conversation!

2012-11-08 20:22:23 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Writers! Readers! People who like books with blue covers! Join us TONIGHT for Penguin's Twitter Book Club chat with John Green, author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS! Chat starts at 7:00 PM EST  Use hashtag #readpenguin to participate and ask questions! Please feel free to share!

2012-10-14 03:28:51 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Join me tomorrow at New York Comic Con's Unbound Stage at NOON for Geek Geek Revolution: The Sequel, starring Anton Strout, Myke Cole, Beth Revis, and Andrea Cremer. A geek trivia contest like no other! Stump the authors and win books! At the very least, you will laugh your ass off. TRUST ME!

2012-10-12 11:29:15 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Heading to New York Comic-Con today. I'll be hanging out at the Penguin booth (#921) until 3:30, then heading over to the Unbound Stage to host GEEK GEEK REVOLUTION at 4:00, where I will try to stump Rachel Caine, Amber Benson, Maureen Johnson and Morgan Rhodes with geeky pop culture trivia questions. The audience will also have a chance to stump the authors; there will be PRIZES! Join us!

2012-10-10 03:04:19 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Heads up! I'm moderating two of the coolest panels at New York Comic Con this weekend and sitting on a third panel with my pal Betsy Mitchell. Here's my full schedule of panels. Hope to see some of you at one or all of them!

2012-10-04 02:52:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Headed to bed to finish rereading Oliver Twist. Just studying up a little on Republican social policy in case Romney gets elected.

2012-10-03 12:22:07 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

FLABBERGASTED. Dame Marjorie Scardino steps down as head of Pearson. She was the first woman to head a FTSE 100 company and is someone I truly admire: 

2012-09-11 02:38:06 (1 comments, 11 reshares, 3 +1s)

For those cat lovers among you, I bring you this: The Making of Rufus Tower. JUST WATCH IT. 

2012-09-11 02:24:16 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

The original trailer for Spider-Man, with a guest appearance by a giant web, and the Twin Towers. Sony yanked this after 9/11, sadly.

2012-09-11 02:10:48 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-09-07 03:29:10 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

As a Catholic, Joe Biden manages to do something that Paul Ryan can't: he honors both his faith and his compassion for other human beings.

2012-09-06 01:54:57 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Ya know...if Bain Capital had only purchased the Republican Party way back when, all our problems would now be solved...

2012-08-29 13:08:32 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 2 +1s)

Do you live in the UK? Do you love books and reading? Do you love building community and connection with people digitally??? Penguin Press UK has the PERFECT JOB FOR YOU. And the best job advertisement EVER CREATED:

2012-08-15 15:43:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

"Any crusade against traditional publishing is selfish to the extreme—it wants to replace diverse ways to publication with One True Way. The same call is often taken up by budding writers, because it can be very seductive to think publication is so very, very much closer than ever before…even if time put into getting rejected can be extremely important to developing writers. Self-publishing is a tool and like any other tool it can be used well or poorly. Putting it on a pedestal is a pointless exercise." - Incredibly smart post on the future of publishing by Jeff VanderMeer

2012-07-24 01:30:51 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I'm a big fan of Entertainment Weekly, but I imagine they must be cringing right about now at the choice of cover copy for their July 20th issue...

2012-07-20 18:52:22 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

This is what happens when you outsource your social media to idiots. Unfuckingbelievable.

2012-07-10 11:51:42 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Congratulations to Book Country member +Mike Underwood  whose debut urban fantasy novel GEEKOMANCY was discovered on Book Country and goes on sale TODAY from Pocket Books! Download for only $1.99 - less than the price of a bottle of water at Comic-Con, guys!

2012-07-09 16:15:32 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 1 +1s)

Re-posting this for those folks heading out to San Diego Comic-Con this week: First time going to San Diego Comic-Con? Know someone who is attending for the first time? Here are some helpful (and common sense) rules of thumb for pop culture convention etiquette for fans, attending pros and exhibitors. Feel free to pass along! (PS: I have added some additional etiquette tips since last I posted this; just an FYI.)

2012-07-05 19:38:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

This week I talk with author +Mike Underwood about what geekomancers are, how Patrick Rothfuss and I should fight Pokemon ARENA STYLE!, the digital frontier,  how deep a geek he is, the Argentine Tango and the Renaissance Martial Arts. Oh, and books and writing stuff.

http://blog.antonstrout.com/

2012-07-04 00:17:22 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Writing in a vacuum, or Why community is essential for writers:

2012-06-15 12:08:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Convention etiquette: Rules of thumb for attending fans, pros AND exhibitors: 

2012-06-07 10:18:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

When I was in second grade, I was reading on a high school senior level. Our Catholic school library divided up the library by grade level, and we were only allowed to check out books from the shelves assigned to our grade level. I was desperate for books that didn't contain pictures, so I frequently climbed up to the shelves reserved for 8th graders to steal books. (I always brought them back later, but I had to sneak them out under my school uniform in order to read them.) The highest shelves I could reach were the ones where science fiction was shelved.

Thank you, St. Philip the Apostle school, for helping me learn my ABCs: Asimov. Bradbury. Clarke.

2012-05-21 11:45:51 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Well, THIS seems like a spectacularly bad idea...

2012-05-21 11:11:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

The world loses another unique voice: RIP Robin Gibb:

2012-05-11 02:38:50 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

So I see that Catelyn Stark's sister made the cover of Time magazine this week...

2012-03-30 02:31:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Please vote for my friend Nathan Uschmann's photo so he can progress to the next round of this photo contest! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! There are only a few hours left in this round!

2012-03-20 11:02:56 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Job opportunity: Penguin's Book Country is looking for an experienced e-commerce business director. Details here:

2012-03-14 19:11:36 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Writers! Ever wonder what it is that book packagers do? Did you know that a lot of writers break into publishing by writing work-for-hire projects for a book packager?

Join us Thursday night at 9:00 PM Eastern time for Twitter chat on Book Packaging 101: What it is, how it works and what's in it for writers looking for alternate ways to break into publishing.

Our special guests are Ellen Scordato and Alison Fargis, founding partners of Stonesong, a NYC-based agency that specializes in book development and packaging. Use the #bookcountry hashtag to participate!

2012-03-12 18:37:21 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

This photo brings back memories: Douglas Adams, Terry Jones, and me, at Stacey's Bookstore, San Francisco, 1998. WOW.

2012-03-07 12:27:46 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Also, we made +Mike Underwood promise to film himself flailing like Kermit the Frog should the book deal actually happen. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you...EPIC FLAIL!

2012-03-07 12:25:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I am so proud of +Mike Underwood, one of our original Book Country beta-users (and someone I have known since he was a teenager, when he helped us work Star Wars Celebration in Indianapolis!); his comedic urban fantasy novel GEEKOMANCY was discovered on the Book Country site and just acquired by Adam Wilson at Pocket Books in a 2-book deal!

Way to go, Mike!