David Small’s acclaimed graphic novel memoir, STITCHES, has been nominated for a National Book Award in the literature for young people category.

It’s the second nomination for a graphic novel in this category; Gene Yang’s AMERICAN BORN CHINESE got the nod in 2006.

The NBAs are considered one of the most prestigious literary awards in the US, and it’s a great recognition of both Small’s incredible story and the acceptance of books with pictures as possessing literary merit.

[Thanks to Torsten Adair for the alert.]

Via PR, the news that Wimpy Kid is really, really big, with a four million copy initial release for the next volume in the series. Author Jeff Kinney will also be on tour on the West Coast (dates in the jump) and be making many media appearances. Although whether the text-heavy Wimpy Kid series counts as a comic at all is often a subject of some dispute, as we’ve often said, Kinney self-identifies as a cartoonist, and we should welcome him to our clan.

On October 12, 2009, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, the fourth title in #1 bestselling author Jeff Kinney’s series published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, releases with a 4-million-copy one-day laydown. The printing is the largest of any children’s book release this year. The additional pre-publication printings reflect a surge in demand for the newest book in the middle grade series and Abrams’ commitment to the increasing popularity of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. 

“We are poised to ship additional books as demand warrants, and we expect the sell-through to be extraordinary. Our first printing and lay down are unprecedented for Abrams and indicate how hugely successful and popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become,” said Michael Jacobs, president and CEO of Abrams. “It’s exciting to see the impact these books have on readers. Even more interesting for our industry is how Dog Days will bring people into the stores and give fans of the series an impetus to shop for and buy books and help kick off the holiday season at retail.” 
The national lay down of the book has been supported by a pre-sell campaign implemented by more than 3,000 stores across the country. Custom-made items provided by Abrams kept the message consistent and in support of in-store events on the day of sale and throughout the fall. More than 2,000 event kits that have materials created by Jeff Kinney were shipped. These include reproducible sheets with Wimpy Kid games and trivia, a T-shirt to be raffled off, and temporary Dog Days tattoos. 

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Is there a living cartoonist besides Robert Crumb who could hold a press conference just about a comic book? For two hours? And sit in front of a picture of God and look great doing it? Crumb recently faced questions in Paris about GENESIS, his towering interpretation of the first book of the Bible:

The 66-year-old hero of underground comics who wowed the 1960s with “Fritz The Cat” and “Mr Natural”, said he took up the challenge 40 years later of creating another white-haired long-bearded figure “to illuminate the text of Genesis by illustrating every single thing that’s in there.”

“It hasn’t been done before I think,” he said. “There are hidden stories that are very strong.”

The lanky gray-haired Crumb, in grey suit and waistcoat for the two-hour media conference, poked fun at the Almighty hero of the book but said he had reneged his Roman Catholic upbringing to become a gnostic “on a spiritual quest”.

Crumb will be doing some events in conjunction with the book’s release. Does anyone have the schedule?

Speaking of GENESIS, at SPX, we had a fun conversation with Carol Tyler and Douglas Wolk in which we imagined what it would be like if EVERY book of the Bible got a comics adaptation. Can you imagine who would do what book? Tyler said she’s been told she’s perfect for Ruth, and suggested Justin Green for one of the Gospels. We like Jim Woodring for Ezekiel and Todd McFarlane for Revelations. Who do YOU think should draw what book of the Bible?

UPDATE: Douglas has his own suggestions at Comics Alliance:

This weekend, at SPX, Carol Tyler mentioned that someone had suggested she should draw the book of Ruth; Chester Brown has already done Mark and part of Matthew. Anyone want to suggest cartoonists particularly suited to other books of the Bible? Joe Matt on Job, anyone? P. Craig Russell’s Song of Solomon?

It’s been an astonishing year in graphic novels, but…we’re not done yet. Comicmix has the goods on what may be the most amazing book of the year, LOVERBOY, by Dondi creator Irwin Hasen.

Loverboy is the risqué, romantic escapade story of a short bachelor, who adores tall, women. The double-breasted suit wearing man-about-town seeks psychiatric insight to his tendencies in this humorous new graphic novel by award winning Dondi cartoonist, Irwin Hasen. Also includes a major biography of the noted cartoonist, and is filled throughout with Hasen’s famous humor.

Hasen is 91, so…he must have a good memory.

It seems that the Amazon Artist Fail matter we reported the other day has led to the entire situation being reexamined. You’ll recall that cartoonist George O’Connor was thwarted in his attempt to list the books he drew on his Amazon Author page. However, there seems to have been a happy ending. O’Connor writes:

It might be obvious if you’re reading this post via the rss feed on my Amazon Author page, but Amazon has reversed their previous decision that I was not a prominent enough contributor to several titles that they had recently pulled from my page. Amongst the pulled-but-now-reinstated titles are the upcoming graphic novel Ball-Peen Hammer, written by the amazingly talented Adam Rapp, but with artwork by yours truly. Comics are truly a collaborative effort (a comic without pictures is something entirely different) and I am heartened to see that my letter has played some part in having Amazon reexamine this practice of theirs.

Full text of Amazon’s reply below:

Dear Mr. O’Connor,

My name is Sarah Beaudette of Author Central. I’ve reviewed previous correspondence with you, and would like to apologize for the misunderstanding. Normally illustrators are not allowed to add books to their bibliography, but we’ve researched these titles and have concluded that you are a primary contributor to them. Your example has driven us to re-consider our policy, and we appreciate your feedback as we continue to look for ways to make our service more useful to authors.

Your bibliography now includes “Alien Feast” and “Ball Peen Hammer,” as well as “The Glass Cat of Oz.” These changes will appear online within 3 days.

I hope this helps. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Justice! Congrats, George!

Events- Bergen Street Comics:

Boing Boing has an exclusive excerpt of Crumb’s GENESIS, out this week, and you know they chose Chapter 19, the one where Lot has unexpected houseguests. Good times.

Another popular book series is being adapted into comics form, this time The Clique, by Lisi Harrison, a #1 New York Times bestselling series in the Gossip Girl-ish vein. Yen Press will publish a manga version illustrated by Yishan Li in July 2010.

With nearly 8 million copies sold and a popular feature film from Warner Bros. and Executive Producer Tyra Banks out on DVD, THE CLIQUE (called “Sartre with lip gloss” by Time magazine), is set at Westchester County’s most exclusive girls’ private middle school, and it exactly captures the super-pressured environment in which today’s teenagers compete in every way to be the “best”. Through these endlessly entertaining stories readers live vicariously (and often, hilariously) through the lives of the memorable “Pretty Committee” where the only thing harder than getting in is staying in. 

Kurt Hassler, Publishing Director of Yen Press, says “THE CLIQUE has been an absolute phenomenon in the young adult publishing world, and Yen Press is extremely grateful to be able to work on this visual adaptation of Lisi’s story. It’s exciting to be able to work on a project like this that has such amazing potential to introduce a new generation of young female readers to the medium of comics.”

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Do you want to go to Hogwarts, stroll around a bit, buy a new wand, and shoot off a few messages by owl? Well, soon you will be able to as Universal has unveiled plans and art for their Harry Potter theme park, complete with video tour.

From the front archway of Hogsmeade to the immensity of Hogwarts castle, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature the locations listed below:

– At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of the Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station

– Across the way is Zonko’s, a joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes

– Honeydukes is next door and full of treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans

– The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog’s Head pub will feature traditional British fare and drinks including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice

– Across from the Three Broomsticks is The Owlery, where owls roost and await their next delivery

– The Owl Post sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official stamps from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

– Ollivanders wand shop is an incredible interactive experience where the wand chooses the wizard

– Completing Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls

– The first attraction, Dragon Challenge, features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament

– Next is Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle

– Located in Hogwarts castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a thrilling new state-of-the-art attraction that uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced

– Before exiting back into Hogsmeade, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods is full of Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars, and even remote control Golden Snitches “This Universal Creative and Warner Bros. team shares an incredible passion and commitment to making this destination an exceptionally immersive environment that will touch the lives of our guests,” said Mark Woodbury, President, Universal Creative.

io9 has a complete rundown and some concept art. Muggles, prepare to part from your money!

It was a busy weekend in socializing. Friday night was the Spectrum art opening at the Society of Illustrators, a who’s who of fantastic artists, from Donato Giancola to Kinuko Y Craft  to Phil Hale and beyond. James “Dinotopia” Gurney has a post, as does Eric Braddock. We even stole one of Gurney’s photos, above. The show is open to the public until October 17th and it’s quite inspiring.

The event was also a black diamond schmoozeathon. We caught up with Charles Vess, Jon Foster, Christian Gossett, Tom Fowler, Spectrum runners Arnold and Cathy Fenner and too many to mention really. If you like fantasy art, this is the place for you.

SATURDAY, it was the gala Drawn & Quarterly 20th Anniversary shindig at Rocketship! Who was there? Who was NOT there! For the evening, a secret back door into the speakeasy at the back of the Clover Club had been opened, allowing the dream of a classy bar attached to a comics shop to come true for many. Some of the folks we hobnobbed with (although we arrived late and missed many) Matt Madden, Charlie Oarr, Anne Bernstein, Dan Nadel, Tom Hart, Leela Corman, Abby Denson….you get the picture. Of course, the fab D&Q power team of Peggy Burns and Tom Devlin stole the show, along with Rocketship’s own dapper Alex Cox. We got to meet the incredibly talented Guy Delisle, who hobnobbed about the developing styles of comics in various European countries, and Gabrielle Bell, R. Sikoryak and R.O. Blechman also held court. We managed not to take a single usable picture, but we hear Peg or Alex may have some. SPILL.

SUNDAY, we managed to make it out to Brooklyn for the Brooklyn Book festival. It was a gorgeous day with late summer sunshine perhaps overheating those who had too quickly pulled out their fall woolens, but there seemed to be good sized crowds for both the regular book panels and the graphic novel area. We chatted briefly with the Topatoco crew, including Jonathan Rosenberg of Goats, who is very happy with how his first collection from Del Rey is doing. The webcomics crowd continues to be blissfully removed from all the direct market sturm und drang. We also caught a bit of the Act-i-vate panel and chatted with Ed Chavez from Vertical who managed to sell us three Japanese cookbooks! Yum yum!

The best part of the day was when a chat with Ed Catto at the Captain Action/Moonstone booth turned into an impromptu “Future of Comics Panel,” with the above folks.  (Front row: Bob Kahan, Paul Kupperberg, Denny O’Neil, MariFran O’Neil, Heidi MacDonald, Keith Williams; Second row: Ed Catto, Jim Salicrup, Tom DeFalco, Danny Fingeroth; Third row: Peter Sanderson.)

Can you guess what was talked about?

A few observations from weekend chatter…comics retailers reactions to 10 Days That Shook The World range from calm — those who sell more books in their stores — to blank faced shock and dismay — those who depend more on the Wednesday crowd. Also,  DeFalco, E-I-C- at Marvel from 1987 to 1994, gave out some advice hiring the next publisher at DC which he gave us permission to pass along.

“The new publisher should be a) someone from outside comics and b) should own a Kindle and an iPhone,” he said.

Not bad advice.

The GN programming for the dedicated NYCC Pavilion at this weekend’s Brooklyn Book Festival (BBF), Sunday, September 13 at Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza has been released. More PR below:

“Both NYCC and BBF are strong New York events with distinct local flavor and focus, and we both have our greatest support from the residents of NYC,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President for the Reed Exhibitions Pop Culture Group, which manages NYCC among several other pop culture events. “On top of this, there is so much cross-over and commonality between the pop culture world and the literary world that our presence at the Brooklyn Book Festival seems almost intuitive. Where else would Jonathan Ames, Phil Jimenez, and Francine Prose fit so comfortably together? We are very pleased and proud to be a part of this event, and I hope our presence will add significantly to the excitement and sense of community that defines NYCC and BBF.”
 
Organizers note that the NYCC Pavilion will include performances, presentations, autographings, and other opportunities for fans to interact directly with artists, creators, publishers, and retailers. The following is a list of the programming events that have been scheduled to date. Further details about NYCC activity at BBF are available by visiting the official NYCC website at www.nycomiccon.com and clicking on Brooklyn Book Festival.
 
NYCC Pavilion Stage Programming:

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If he finished this, it would be on every college syllabus. Will no smart publisher step up?

Guy Delisle, author of three fantastic graphic novels, will be making his first appearance in New York at the Brooklyn Book Festival September 13th. Drawn & Quarterly will be exhibiting for the third year in a row and they have several exciting events planned, as you can read at their blog. Beside Delisle, D+Q cartoonists in attendance: R. Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics), R. O. Blechman (Talking Lines), Adrian Tomine (Shortcomings), Gabrielle Bell (Cecil & Jordan In New York) and Ron Rege Jr. (Skibber Bee Bye, Against Pain).

To celebrate such a momentous gathering of D+Q cartoonists as well as toast to the company’s 20th Anniversary, please join us for cocktails at the Brooklyn purveyor of fine comics, Rocketship, on Saturday evening.

Saturday, September 12th, 7:00 PM
Rocketship 208 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY

http://rocketshipstore.blogspot.com/

Sunday, September 13th, 10:00AM-6:00 PM
Brooklyn Book Festival Borough Hall Brooklyn NY

http://www.visitbrooklyn.org/festival.html

11:00 AM Guy Delisle on the BBF’s International Stage
11:00-12:00 PM Gabrielle Bell & Ron Rege Jr signing
12:00-2:00 PM Guy Delisle & Adrian Tomine signing
2:00-4:00 PM R. O. Blechman & R. Sikoryak signing
4:00-6:00 PM Guy Delisle & Gabrielle Bell signing

All signings will be at the Drawn & Quarterly booth!

For more general information on the BFF, which includes appearances by:

Russell Banks, Jonathan Lethem, Anne Carson, Paul Auster, Edwidge Danticat, Claire Messud, Colson Whitehead, A.M. Homes, David Cross, Mary Gaitskill, Nicholson Baker, Oliver Sacks, Staceyann Chin, Gary Shteyngart, Amy Sohn, Nelson George, Melvin Van Peebles, Siri Husvedt, Lupe Fiasco, Heidi Julavits Sloane Crosley, Tao Lin, Jeffrey Rotter, Esmeralda Santiago, Keith Gessen, Naomi Klein, Thurston Moore, M.T. Anderson, Greg Milner, Francine Prose, Jonathan Ames, Kate DiCamillo, Mo Willems, T. Cooper, Tom Tomorrow, Judi Barrett, Christopher Myers….and many more

Check out the latest press release.

There will be a sizable graphic novel presence at the show with the New York Comic-Con’s participation…more details forthcoming on that.

LITERALLY!

We dropped by the signing for Josh Neufeld’s A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge last night. Arrived late, and the place was crowded but we heard it had been absolutely mobbed earlier, and Josh was still signing books right until things broke up at 9 pm. So, a success! It couldn’t happen to a more deserving cartoonist or project. Josh told us the signings in New Orleans over the weekend were “amazing,” selling out at one location. “People were really grateful to have their stories told,” he said.

We didn’t get any pictures of Josh, but we did snap this iconic one of Dan Goldman and Dean Haspiel, which represents the way graphic novels are conquering the world!

We also snapped this pic of Tim Hamilton and Joan Reilly, conveniently showing the front and back covers of the book, and you can actually see Josh’s ear behind Joan’s right shoulder. That’s Joe Infurnari and his awesomely fashionable friend to the left. Anyway, Josh was really busy the whole, we just couldn’t get near him.

Other folks we chatted with: Chip Kidd, who enjoyed last week’s Bryant Park event, although he’d suffered terribly in the heat; Ada Price, Hilary Florido, and Sean Pryor, who are apparently forming some new kid gang; Larry Smith of SMITH Magazine, which gave birth to A.D., David Heatley, Tom Hart, Joey Manley, and a lot of people who we waved at but couldn’t talk to.

It was yet another night of good comics and good energy. People are making progress, slowly in some cases, but moving forward.

There is one thing that was really, really notable about the evening in hindsight…no one gave a shit about comics gossip or comics gossip sites. Really. It’s a great way to live.

Just as a reminder, this weekend Josh Neufeld has three stops in New Orleans to promote the release of A.D.: NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE DELUGE:

Friday, August 21: A.D. hits New Orleans. Release party with Josh and some of the book’s subjects, live and in person! Plus an art show, music, and refreshments. The Canary Collective, 329 Julia Street, New Orleans, 7pm.

Saturday, August 22: Josh signs books @ Maple Street Book Shop, 7523 Maple Street, New Orleans. 1pm.

Saturday, August 22: Josh signs books @ Octavia Books, 513 Octavia Street, New Orleans. 3:30 pm.

Only yesterday, we were wishing for a larger version of Tony Millionaire’s definitive drawing of the eye of Moby Dick for the cover of the new Penguin Classics edition. Today, we figured out how to get bigger art all by ourselves!

If that isn’t the most malevolent and relentless drawing of a white whale’s eye we’ve ever seen, we’ll eat a hat full of blubber. Clip and SAVE.

Via Jacob Covey at Flog, a link to the Flickr stream of Paul Buckley, the art director for the highly regarded line of Penguin Classics with covers by comics luminaries. This is the best collection of this great line we’ve seen online. Here’s a few you may have missed. Above, Lilli Carré.

Sammy Harkham

And…the inevitable Tony Millionaire. I heard a million voices cry out at once for a GIANT SIZED JPEG of this.

An extensive tour for Josh Neufeld’s A.D.: After the Deluge has been announced, and it kicks off this Wednesday in Austin, TX, with a continent-spanning trek to ensue. The complete itinerary is below:

• Wednesday, August 19: I commemorate A.D.’s hardcover release with a presentation and signing in Austin, Texas, @ BookPeople. 603 N. Lamar, Austin, 7pm.
• Thursday, August 20: A.D. presentation & signing @ Domy Books in Houston, Texas. 1709 Westheimer, Houston, 7:00 pm. This event will be taped by Book TV!
• Friday, August 21: A.D. hits New Orleans. Release party with me and some of the book’s subjects, live and in person! Plus an art show, music, and refreshments. The Canary Collective, 329 Julia Street, New Orleans, 6pm.
• Saturday, August 22: Signing @ Maple Street Book Shop, 7523 Maple Street, New Orleans. 1pm.
• Saturday, August 22: Signing @ Octavia Books, 513 Octavia Street, New Orleans. 3:30 pm.
• Sunday, August 23: Signing @ Beth’s Books, 2700 Chartres Street, New Orleans, 1pm.
• Tuesday, August 25: A.D.’s New York release party @ Idlewild Books, co-sponsored by SMITH magazine and Teachers & Writers Collaborative. Live music by Mary McBride, refreshments, and an art auction to benefit New Orleans relief organizations. 12 West 19th St., New York City, 7pm.
• Friday, August 28: A.D. presentation and signing @ The Book Cellar, in Chicago. 4736-38 North Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 7pm.
• Saturday, August 29: Katrina’s fourth anniversary. I will be doing an author coffee @ Writers Workspace Chicago. 5443 N. Broadway St., Chicago, 11am.
• Saturday, August 29: Signing @ Chicago Comics, 3244 N Clark Street, Chicago, 3 pm.
• Tuesday, September 8: Presentation & signing @ Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, Massachusetts, 7pm.
• Wednesday, September 9: Signing @ Million Year Picnic, 99 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, Mass., 1 pm.
• Wednesday, September 16: Pantheon editor Lisa Weinert, SMITH comics editor Jeff Newelt, and I discuss the evolution of A.D. from web to print. McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince Street, New York City, 7pm.
• September 24: Presentation & signing @ Bergen Street Comics, 470 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, 7pm. 
• September 26–27: A.D. hits D.C. for the annual Small Press Expo (SPX). Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, Maryland.
• October 8–11: I will be a guest of Portland’s Wordstock Literary Festival, “the largest celebration of literature and literacy in the Pacific Northwest.” Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.
• November 14–15: A.D. heads south again for The Miami Book Fair International.

With the line between trade and public book festivals coming under increasing scrutiny, the New York Comic Con is teaming up with New York City’s biggest book festival to include an even bigger graphic novel presence. There’ll be a performance tent, guest presentations, guest autographing sessions and a dedicated marketplace area, all devoted just to graphic novels, and cartoonists including Matt Madden, Guy Delisle, and Danica Novgorodoff, along with prose authors such as Paul Auster, Naomi Klein, Oliver Sacks, and many more. The Brooklyn Book Festival will be held Sunday, September 13th. PR below.

The renowned Brooklyn Book Festival and New York Comic Con (NYCC) announce that the premiere pop culture convention and its stars will have a powerful presence at this year’s Brooklyn Book Festival, which the L.A. Times has called “the center of the literary universe.” NYCC will have its own colorful and exciting programming area at the free Festival, which draws nearly 30,000 visitors to experience readings and panels featuring international literary superstars, buzzworthy newcomers and more than 150 booksellers, publishers, independent presses and literary organizations in a bustling literary marketplace.

“The Brooklyn Book Festival is an awesome gathering and I have had tremendous respect for the festival from the moment it started,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President and Show Manager for New York Comic Con. “We are proud to bring an intense graphic lit and pop culture presence to such a great festival. I am sure this will provide our customers with the opportunity to connect directly with lots of new fans. Plus, it’s all for free! This is a win-win in every respect.”

“These days, Brooklyn is a hotbed of pop culture, high-tech culture, literary and blog culture, ethnic culture, indie culture, and has basically become an international hub for in-your-face creativity,” says Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “It’s only fitting that the Brooklyn Book Festival would form a dynamic duo with New York Comic Con!”

NYCC’s programming area at the Brooklyn Book Festival will include a performance tent, guest presentations, guest autographing sessions and a dedicated marketplace area. NYCC’s participation will be a positive way to spread further awareness of comics and graphic literature while providing free interaction and entertainment for thousands of NYCC fans. The next NYCC will take place October 8 – 10, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Center. Ranked by Crain’s New York Business as the second-largest annual event in NYC, it has grown from a convention that attracted 33,000 visitors when it was launched in 2006 to a show that will occupy the entire Javits Center and will attract well over 75,000 fans in 2010. For comics exhibitors and vendors, the NYCC programming area will provide a unique opportunity for them to not only have a home that attracts like-minded customers and fans, but to have a central location where new fans and readers can check out the latest in comics and pop culture entertainment. Comic book writer and editor Denny O’Neil, creator Phil Jimenez, and writer and editor Tom DeFalco are just a few of the many popular guests who will appear in the NYCC programming area. In addition to guest speakers, NYCC’s diverse Brooklyn Book Festival programming includes Hip Hop Hearts Anime, a live-performance featuring local DJs which focuses on the intermixing of American hip hop culture and Japanese anime. Some of the companies who will be participating include Captain Action, Midtown Comics, Moonstone Publishing, and Disney Publishing. An additional announcement with more guest names and participating companies will be made in the near future.

This year’s Brooklyn Book Festival will again feature a literary marketplace with more than 150 booksellers, publishers and literary organizations in Borough Hall Plaza as well as panel discussions and readings, a children’s authors stage and special programming for teens and exhibitors that will include bookstores, publishers and literary organizations. Readings are held at Brooklyn Borough Hall, in Borough Hall Plaza and Columbus Park, at St. Francis College and the Brooklyn Historical Society.

Confirmed authors include Jonathan Ames, Paul Auster, Staceyann Chin, Guy Delisle, Lupe Fiasco, Edwidge Danticat, Rawi Hage, Tao Lin, Jonathan Lethem, Colson Whitehead, David Lida, Matt Madden, Thurston Moore, Gary Shteyngart, Melvin Van Peebles, Sherman Alexie, M.T. Anderson, Naomi Klein, Danica Novgorodoff, Esmeralda Santiago, George O’Connor, Raina Telgemeier, Jessica Abel, Nick Bruel, Peter and Randall de Seve, Christopher Myers, Tom Tomorrow, Mo Willems, Russell Banks, Kate DiCamillo, Cynthia Ozick, Anne Carson, A.M. Homes, David Cross, Mary Gaitskill, Oliver Sacks, Nelson George, Amy Sohn, Jeffrey Rotter, Keith Gessen, Greg Milner, Francine Prose, and more.

Programming will include fiction, nonfiction and poetry panels on hot topics such as: “The International Graphic Novel,” featuring Guy Delisle (The Burma Chronicles), Peter Kuper (Diario de Oaxaca: A Sketchbook Journal of Two Years in Mexico), and Sarah Glidden (How To Understand Israel In 60 Days Or Less), moderated by Matt Madden; “The Great Recession” (featuring Justin Fox, Naomi Klein, Kai Wright and moderator Errol Louis of the New York Daily News); “The Naked City: Urban Realism and the Global City in Fiction & Non-Fiction” (featuring David Lida, Meera Nair, Hirsh Sawhney and moderator Cheryl Harris Sharman; “Literature in a Digital Age” (John Freeman, Dwight Garner, Sarah Schmelling); “Poetry, Pop and Hip-Hop” (Lupe Fiasco, Thurston Moore, Tracie Morris, Matthew Zapruder and moderator Touré); and “PSA Presents” (a reading by the nation’s oldest poetry organization, featuring some of the country’s best bards, including Anne Carson, Sonia Sanchez, Philip Schultz, Arthur Sze and Alice Quinn).

BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL

The 2009 Brooklyn Book Festival is presented by Brooklyn Tourism and the Brooklyn Literary Council, initiatives of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Sponsors include the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation; the NYC & Company Foundation; New York Comic Con; Astoria Federal Savings; Citi; Boar’s Head Provisions; the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge; and Time Out New York, media sponsor again this year. Cultural partners are BAM; the Brooklyn Historical Society; Brooklyn Public Library; and the National Book Foundation. Programming partners include Housing Works Bookstore Café; PEN American Center; Poetry Society of America; The New York Review of Books; St. Francis College; and The Nation. For more information about the Brooklyn Book Festival, visit www.visitbrooklyn.org or check out the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Book-Festival-Official-Site/20650359836. On Twitter, follow the Brooklyn Book Festival at bkbf.

Just received a galley of this.

The fascinating life, work, and legacy of the reclusive creator behind the beloved Calvin and Hobbes comic strip

For ten years, between 1985 and 1995, Calvin and Hobbes was one of the world’s most beloved comic strips. And then, on the last day of 1995, the strip ended. Its mercurial and reclusive creator, Bill Watterson, not only finished the strip but withdrew entirely from public life. There is no merchandising associated with Calvin and Hobbes: no movie franchise; no plush toys; no coffee mugs; no t-shirts (except a handful of illegal ones). There is only the strip itself, and the books in which it has been compiled – including The Complete Calvin and Hobbes: the heaviest book ever to hit the New York Times bestseller list.

In Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip, writer Nevin Martell traces the life and career of the extraordinary, influential, and intensely private man behind Calvin and Hobbes. With input from a wide range of artists and writers (including Dave Barry, Harvey Pekar, Jonathan Lethem, and Brad Bird) as well as some of Watterson’s closest friends and professional colleagues, this is as close as we’re ever likely to get to one of America’s most ingenious and intriguing figures – and a fascinating detective story, at the same time.

Only 3,160 Calvin & Hobbes strips were ever produced, but Watterson has left behind an impressive legacy. Calvin & Hobbes references litter the pop culture landscape and his fans are as varied as they are numerable. Looking for Calvin and Hobbes is an affectionate and revealing book about uncovering the story behind this most uncommon trio – a man, a boy, and his tiger.

Should be interesting.