Catching up on industry news and notes

The New York Times has written a piece that captured some of the buzz last week in the comics blogosphere (mainly at The Beat), about changes major comics distributor Diamond is making this year which will affect many publishers of weekly (pamphlet) comics. Could this be the end of the weekly comic book run? It is also worth noting that Diamond laid off 13 people last week; even the distribution giant is feeling the wrath of hard times in the industry.

Also last week, DC Comics cut some DC and Mad Magazine positions, and well-respected editor Bob Schreck was let go. This certainly speaks of difficult times as he was responsible for maintaining many great DC books and I wish him all the best. I believe he'll be at the company a while longer covering various projects through the transition.

Also Publishers Weekly let go of Editor-in-Chief, Sara Nelson, as well as a few other staff positions. When I had access to the magazine back in the office days I really enjoyed reading her collums as she was keenly tuned into the central vibe of the publishing scene. I'd also see her at various events around town, and I wish her the best in wherever her career takes her next. Nowadays I catch up with the magazine online or when freelancing in various offices and see a copy lying around.

In happier news, I was glad to see Neil Gaiman win the Newbery Medal Award for his enchanting novel, The Graveyard Book, which I really enjoyed, and reviewed here a few months back. This is one of the most prestigious awards in childrens literature, and the beauty of the book is that you don't have to be a child to appreciate the story. A film adaptation is in the early works. Read more here.

That's all for now. I hope to have a few more book reviews up soon. For the few who check in regularly, if there is anything specifically you'd like to see reviewed or talked about more here, please comment below or drop me a line.

My review of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

While attending BEA (Book Expo America) in L.A. earlier this month, I picked up an ‘advance reader’s edition’ in the HarperCollins booth of Neil Gaiman's newest novel, The Graveyard Book, and I really enjoyed it. It was impossible not to care about the plight of little Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens. His story is filled with sadness, adventure, and a host of the most interesting ghostly caretakers - the inhabitants of the Graveyard who raise him. Learning the tricks of the Graveyard, Bod must survive caught between the worlds of the living and the dead.
Reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas in its ghoulish charm, I think The Graveyard Book will delight readers of any age (and most-certainly fans of Coraline). The September release date makes this a perfect pre-Halloween reading gift for the Gaiman fan in your life. Or, consider it a wonderful little book as a gift to turn someone onto Gaiman.

The only thing missing from the advance reader’s edition were the planned illustrations done by long time Gaiman collaborator, Dave McKean – which I know will be terrific – and which gives me a reason to go buy a finished copy this Fall.