Sweet Soiree for Marcel’s Letters
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June 13, 2017

“Marcel’s Letters Book Launch Tonight” lit up the marquee on Washington Avenue South at Open Book in south Minneapolis last Thursday evening. The French-themed fête for the release of Marcel’s Letters exceeded all expectations. More than 300 people arrived on a hot June night to celebrate with Carolyn Porter. The reception included French pastries, books hot off the presses, and an opportunity to meet some… [Read More]

Q & A with Tracker, Naturalist, and Author Linda J. Spielman
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April 11, 2017

As more people come to value the natural world and venture into wildlife areas, a reference guide to help identify the animals who call these places home has never been more useful. A Field Guide to Tracking Mammals in the Northeast will be released July 4, 2017, from Countryman Press (W. W. Norton). I recently interviewed author Linda J. Spielman about how she came to… [Read More]

Historical Novels-in-Verse for Young Readers
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April 4, 2017

April is National Poetry Month. Do people hate poetry? According to novelist and poet Ben Lerner, yes. His new book, The Hatred of Poetry, argues we are always looking for our humanity in poetry and find mere poems instead. There are three reasons why I haven’t picked up an epic poem for decades. 1. The Epic of Gilgamesh. 2. The Illiad. 3. The Odyssey. My… [Read More]

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
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February 14, 2017

I feel anger when I look at the cover of the new graphic novel adaption of Kindred, originally written by Octavia Butler in 1979. The cover shows two wrists bound, and the colors are red, beige, brown and black. The uplifted arms are brown, the handcuffs are black, and the hand grasping one wrist is beige. The title, Kindred, in red burns upwards from the… [Read More]

Reading WWII and Thinking About Tomorrow
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January 10, 2017

It’s no secret, I like history. It offers us lessons about the future. You won’t be surprised then to hear this past year I’ve read a lot of books about the years in Europe leading up to WWII. From Richard Halliburton’s world adventures as a swashbuckling celebrity travel writer in American Daredevil by Cathryn Prince to the international search for the incredible artwork of Moshe… [Read More]

Books to Look Forward to Reading in 2017
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January 3, 2017

Swenson Book Development LLC is thrilled to see four new books by its clients scheduled for publication in 2017. If you’re interested in history, science, or economics, you’ll want to put these books on your To-Be-Read list for this year.   Congratulations to Carolyn Porter, Linda J. Spielman, Saadia Zahidi and Ann Marie Ackermann.   CAROLYN PORTER, Marcel’s Letters: The Moving Story of A Font… [Read More]

Holiday Reading Recommendations
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December 6, 2016

During these cold winter months I love to curl up with a book and escape to other worlds between the pages. I bet you do, too. Finding more time to enjoy reading for pleasure is the best gift you can give yourself this year. When I think about the books I’ve read during the last year there are some which stayed with me a long… [Read More]

Gratitude for Great Works
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November 29, 2016

As the year begins to come to a close, the Thanksgiving holiday reminds me of how much light there is in my life. I live in a community that reads, celebrates books, and supports literary artists and libraries. Books are something I feel passionately about and I’m grateful to have made them my calling, my livelihood, in this chapter of my life. For her skills… [Read More]

Take Ithaca With You
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November 15, 2016

Whether you’re new to Ithaca, have memories in Ithaca, or are a lifelong resident, you’ll learn why Ithacans love where they live in this beautiful new guidebook to all things local. 365 Things to Do in Ithaca by Laurel Guy will be released in December by Schiffer Publishing. Gorges. Enlightened. Quirky. Ithacans do things differently. On Cayuga Lake in the heart of New York’s Finger… [Read More]

Podcasts for Writers
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October 25, 2016

The work of being a writer is never ending. When you’re not writing, you’re reading. When you’re not reading, you can listen! Podcasts are a wonderful way to learn about new books, hear authors talk about their writing practice, learn new skills, improve your writing craft, and gain fresh perspectives on the business of publishing. Here’s a short list of some of my favorite podcasts… [Read More]