“Why Not New York?”: My Love of Books Led Me to Boston
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October 21, 2014

For many recent college graduates, or really anyone with big aspirations, New York City is the destination – and was the destination for most of my friends graduating from college this past May. New York also has the reputation of being the book publishing epicenter of the East Coast. Searching for jobs online on Publishers Marketplace or MediaBistro, many entry-level jobs posted are based in New… [Read More]

Diversity: The Never Ending Story
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October 14, 2014

I’ve been reading since I was three years old and I can’t remember a time when diversity wasn’t an issue in children’s literature. Week after week, I’d peruse the Scholastic book orders searching for brown faces. Other than Michael Jackson biographies or the occasional Dynamite magazine cover featuring Kim Fields or the cast of The Cosby Show, the pickings were slim. It didn’t keep me from being a voracious reader but… [Read More]

Reading is the gateway to good writing
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October 7, 2014

Should I write or should I read a book? When I am short on time it’s easy to read a few pages on the bus, in the waiting room, or even in the bath. The number of pages accumulate quickly even though I only have time to read books in short bursts on most days. This is also true for writing. I grab every opportunity… [Read More]

NetGalley Provides a New Kind of Book Review
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August 1, 2014

In the modern publishing world, there are many new challenges authors face in promoting their books, but there are also many new avenues to aid in digital marketing of forthcoming releases. NetGalley provides a resource for authors and publishers to accumulate quality reviews from relevant readers, an essential pre-publishing marketing step. Strong early praise from a notable reviewer can draw in significantly more readers once… [Read More]

Writers & Books in Rochester
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June 20, 2014

In a three-story former police precinct on University Avenue in the heart of Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, you’ll find a bustling center of activity: a group of older folks heading upstairs for their workshop on memoir writing, a bunch of eight-year-olds, notebooks and pencils in hand, stepping out to find magical creatures in the Eastman Gardens, and laughter bursting from an improv comedy class… [Read More]

Book Expo America 2014
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May 30, 2014

Today Swenson Book Development LLC is in New York City at the Jacob Javits Center attending Book Expo America 2014. The largest annual book trade show in the U.S., BEA provides booksellers with opportunities to network with colleagues, preview publishers’ upcoming titles, and discover new vendors. Programming includes a multitude of education and information sessions, as well as author breakfasts, lunches, and other special events. In… [Read More]

Best Books for Writers
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May 16, 2014

In the special part of my brain reserved for book related ephemera is a running list of my all-time favorite novels. I update the list quarterly in the event that I must spend the rest of my life on a remote island and will only be permitted ten books. So when this happens, I’ll be ready. I’ll shrug and say, “Sure, give me a minute…. [Read More]

Spring Writes in Ithaca
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May 2, 2014

In its fifth year the Ithaca Literary Festival, Spring Writes, presents a weekend full of workshops, readings, and performances. Check the calendar for the full schedule of activities. Here’s a few highlights to entice to you to one of the dozen venues downtown to participate in the festivities. There are more than 30 events to inspire you. Sponsored by the Community Arts Partnership in Tompkins… [Read More]

Sharing the love of books: World Book Night 2014
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April 25, 2014

This past Wednesday 25,000 volunteers gave away half a million books across America. World Book Night spreads the love of reading person to person. Why? Reading is fun. And reading changes lives, improves employment opportunities, social interaction, enfranchisement, and can have a positive effect on mental health and happiness. Book readers are more likely to participate in positive activities such as volunteering, attending cultural events, and… [Read More]