As summer winds down, more and more people are heading out of the office and away from the city to get in some pre-Labor-Day vacation time. We’ve got a short list this week, which goes to show that people are out on the beach reading books rather than their emails. Good for them!

What are you reading this week?

• Last Bite: A Novel of Culinary Romance, by Nancy Verde Barr
  
• The Feast of Love, by Charles Baxter
• Werewolves in Their Youth, by Michael Chabon
• A Wanted Man: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child
• 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction, by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
  
• Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, by Gabrielle Hamilton
• 11/22/63, by Stephen King
• We Sinners, by Hanna Pylväine
• Swamplandia!, by Karen Russell
• The Art Forger, by B.A. Shaprio
• Scoop, by Evelyn Waugh

After reading Gabrielle Hamilton’s memoir, Blood, Bones & Butter, I’m dying to have brunch at her restaurant, Prune.
—Emily P.

I’m on vacation, so I’m reading Stephen King’s 11/22/63, as is much of Cape Cod. Looking down the beach, one  saw that enormous tome in many people’s hands. That, or Fifty Shades.
—Suzie

I’m less than halfway through 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, but I’m already fairly addicted to its characters as they wade, awkwardly and enthusiastically, in alternating and parallel fashion, through issues of faith, reason, morality, and purpose. It sounds heavy, and Goldstein’s approach is dense on the intellect, but her short chapters—and irreverent academic humor—make for incredibly fun(ny) and digestible subway reading. I’m looking forward to what I expect will be a very lively book club discussion…
—Megan

I’ve finally gotten around to reading The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter, after a friend recommended it to me years ago. It’s a series of interconnected love stories played out by average, middle-class Americans in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 2007 the book was made into a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear. Perhaps that will be next on my Netflix queue.
—Erin

I’m partway through an advance reader’s edition of the new Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child (A Wanted Man, coming next month). A sales department favorite—James has been overheard saying, “What would Reacher do?” Fast-paced,  well written, and the coolest good guy in print!
—Page

I’m reading Swamplandia! but I just got started and I’m not loving it yet.  I think once I get some solid reading time in that will change—for the better, I hope.  I do tend to read books all the way through one way or the other.
—Suzanne

As for me, I’m reading We Sinners, Hanna Pylväine’s debut novel about a Finnish-American family of 11 and their relationship with their community and church. It’s a poignant family drama with lots of intricately drawn characters.

—Avery, who wouldn’t mind taking this book to the beach

The Olympics may be playing on every TV (and computer screen) across the globe, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have time to get in some Friday reading! Below, Workman’s Friday Reads list for this week. Happy reading! And tell us what you’re reading in the comments!

• A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez
  
• The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
• In the Kingdom of Men: A Novel by Kim Barnes
• The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
• The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
• A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers
• Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child by Noel Riley Fitch
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
• No Regrets by Ace Frehley
• The Magicians by Lev Grossman
• A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge
• The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
• Iron Man by Tony Iommi
• The Ambassadors by Henry James
• Grounded by Kate Klise
• 40 Things I Want to Tell You by Alice Kuipers
• The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
• The Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire
• Snow White and Russian Red by Dorota Masłowska
• It’s So Easy: and other lies by Duff McKagan
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• After Claude by Iris Owens
• The End of Men by Hanna Rosin
• Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
• Wild by Cheryl Strayed
• The Age of Miracles by Karen Walker Thompson
• Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

And in their own words:

I mainly read biographies of rock musicians. I just finished It’s So Easy: and other lies by Duff McKagan  (Guns and Roses) and Iron Man by Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath). Currently I’m reading No Regrets by Ace Frehley (Kiss).
—Anthony

I’m in the middle of Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child. 63% done, to be exact. It’s incredibly detailed! I’ll know everything there is to know about Julia and Paul Child once I’m done.
—Bintal

I’m reading The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.  It’s concisely written and complicated. Highly recommend it.
—Pat

My current subway read is The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, which is excellent—clear, efficient language and ruthless logic.
—Sarah G.

Just finished The Underwater Welder, a new graphic novel by Jeff Lemire. It was somber and haunting, two qualities I fall for every time. I’m currently reading Snow White and Russian Red by Dorota Masłowska. It’s an impressive debut novel. When it was released in 2002, Ms. Masłowska was heralded as the new face of the Polish literary world. A few pages in, it’s clear why.
—Randall

I’m reading A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge which is fabulous and weird.
—Leslie

In the Kingdom of Men: A Novel by Kim Barnes. Gorgeously written story of a small-town Oklahoma woman’s move to Saudi Arabia in the mid-1960s when her husband gets a job with an oil company there—superbly etched characters and setting. Barnes is the author of two previous novels, and two memoirs, one of which, In the Wilderness (which I edited), was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Next up: something I have been pretending to have read for years—David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas (after that trailer, how could I not?).
—Bruce

After falling hard and fast for Wild by Cheryl Strayed, I’m continuing the love affair with her new book Tiny Beautiful Things. It’s a collection of the advice columns Cheryl has written for the past few years as the formerly-anonymous advice giver Dear Sugar on The Rumpus. The depth of her empathy and honesty is life-affirming. To say I’m a fan is an understatement.
—Erin

Went to Paris recently, and brought along The Ambassadors by Henry James. Didn’t get much into it there (spent all free reading time perusing Paris restaurant blogs…), but upon returning, well, it’s un-put-downable. Am three-quarters of the way through and can’t wait to find out what happens. Imagine that: Henry James, page-turner.
—David

A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers (hero reviewer of Just Ride).  Sad, smart, informative, short, moving, compelling. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is next in line!
—Mary Ellen

Recently read Gone Girl (along with everyone else!) and was pretty riveted. Am currently perusing The End of Men by Hanna Rosin (fascinating and depressing and empowering all at once) and about to start The Age of Miracles by Karen Walker Thompson,  an novel told from the point of view of a young girl about what happens when the earth’s rotation slows.
—Margot

I’m reading After Claude by Iris Owens. Over the top, bizarre, and very funny. It’s refreshing to read a female protagonist who is foul-mouthed, hostile, and totally crazy.
—Maisie

The Hare with Amber Eyes—on the face of it, a true story of a collection of Japanese netsuke passed from generation to generation, but really a wonderfully absorbing social history of a fabulously wealthy Russian Jewish family and the journey of one of their descendents to unravel their personal triumphs and tragedies since 1871.  I can’t wait to finish it!
—Carol S.

Have you met Oscar? Oscar is a little kid with a BIG friend—a giant one, in fact! When Oscar discovers a very big, VERY hungry giant in his backyard, he knows he has to do something. But what? How do you feed a hungry giant? Would he like an enormous pizza, or a gigantic quesadilla, or a humongous pile of chocolate chip cookies? How much food can one giant eat?!

These are the key questions in How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant? by Caitlin Friedman, with illustrations by Shaw Nielsen. Check out the book trailer below and watch the adorable pop-up book come to life!

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/25238140[/vimeo]

Jennifer here, Workman’s traveling summer intern! Last week I told you about my stints in the Gift Sales and Special Markets departments. Read on to find out about my time at Algonquin Books, the fiction and narrative imprint of Workman Publishing.

I spent a lot of the day filing title-specific material like cover proposals and reviews. I also got to sit in on an editorial meeting in which the editors up here in New York discussed prospective novels with their counterparts in North Carolina—Algonquin is originally based in Chapel Hill and still has an office there. One of the great things about being at a more compact publishing house like this one is that even an intern like me is able to interact with the people in charge. Where else would a high school intern be invited into the publisher’s office to sit in on an editorial meeting—and asked her opinion of the proceedings afterward? (Another plus is that there are fewer people to snatch up books in the “Help Yourself” box, so I’ve been able to get books like the fantastic Algonquin title The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, which I finished just yesterday.)

So now you know what I did in Algonquin’s editorial department. Come back next week to find out more about the differences between fiction and nonfiction publishers, when I take a journey into Workman’s editorial department!

—Jennifer

Welcome to another installment of Inside the Author’s Studio, where we give you a peek into the minds and studios of your favorite Workman authors.

Today, in anticipation of the release of Green Lantern: The Movie tomorrow (or tonight at midnight, in select locations, for the truly committed)–we venture into the studio of Randall Lotowycz, author of DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex for a little Q&A, speed-round err…speeding bullet-style.

Recent book you loved/learned from

So you’re going to throw me some softball questions? I think I’ll be able to cut and paste these answers directly from my OkCupid profile. So let’s begin. Recent book: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I know I’m about six years late to the party, but, wow, that book was amazing and devastating, as well as infuriating in the best way possible. It’s a particularly wonderful thing when a book about people who (sorta spoiler alert) may not have souls can remind you that you still have one. You know your soul is there because it hurts so much after you’ve read the book.

Favorite bookstore

I’d never want to play favorites, but Harleysville Books in Harleysville, PA, did host a great little event for me, so perhaps I should go with them (yes, I’m susceptible to bribes). Given the reason I’m doing this Q&A, I should also point out comic book shops. My childhood store, J.C. Comics in North Plainfield, NJ, is a fantastic family-run shop. And though it’s no longer around in its original form, the Brooklyn Monster Factory in Park Slope, Brooklyn was one of the best kinds of comic stores around.

Hidden talent

It’s not modesty, I’ll tell you that. I’m fairly good at measuring time without a watch. I’m not reading the sun or anything, but I can usually give a pretty close estimate of the time without having to refer to my cell phone. And I have an impressive memory when it comes to the year a film was released. Test me.

Bookmark, dog-ear, or virtuality?

Dog-ear, all the way. I also like to underline favorite passages, and if I’m without a pen, I’ll scratch a line under the words with my fingernail. I don’t think that would be smart with an e-reader. But I still maintain that when all my favorite novels are available for download, I’ll pick one up, because it would be great to carry them all with me.

Book you are most ashamed never to have read

Where do I begin? Madame Bovary, Infinite Jest, Ulysses, Oliver Twist, Anna Karenina, Brideshead Revisited, What is the What. I can go on. Maybe I’ve spent too much time reading issues of the Legion of Super-Heroes. But for every traditional classic, I can cite some lesser known book that has left an indelible impression on me, so I’d like to think it all balances out.

Most frequent form of writerly procrastination

I’d say taking photos of myself with the laptop’s camera. It doesn’t require moving from the work I should be doing. I wouldn’t call myself vain, as I’m usually making weird and ugly contorted faces for the photos. It’s amusing and helps pass the time. Next to that, Facebook is probably the most frequent form of procrastination. And sometimes I upload those ugly photos.

Favorite childhood book

Very tough one, but I’m not going to give multiple titles. I’m confident in saying There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom by Louis Sachar. It has so much going on, and its impact on young me isn’t all that different than the impact of Never Let Me Go. It introduced me to emotions I hadn’t yet experienced and forced me to process them, shaping how I’d react when I did experience them in my own life.

Alternate ambition (i.e. If you weren’t a writer/sales director, you’d be…)

Oh, I’d want to be a small business owner. Number one choice would be to own a bar (those places seem recession proof). But I also entertain the thought of having a restaurant or some type of retail shop. I’d like my own niche in a community that would in turn foster others’ interest in the community. I know that sounds weird to say after claiming my first choice is a bar, but it’s the truth. And the right sort of bar can do a lot of good for people in the community.

Your perfect meal

Lamb vindaloo with garlic naan and ka-chori, followed by rice pudding for dessert. Just perfection. I particularly like ordering it from the same place multiple times and never having it be exactly the same twice. And I know it’s not Indian, but if you could throw some fried pickles in to start, I’d be in a state of bliss.

Big dream

I go back and forth between getting tattooed while skydiving and being punched in the face by a grizzly bear wearing a boxing glove. It’s going to be tough to make either of those happen, but you never know. Other than that, I’d like to create something that would affect someone the same way books like Never Let Me Go and There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom affected me. Who knows, maybe I’ve already written it and that person just hasn’t read it yet. But my dream is to create something of substance and worthy of praise, even if it’s just from one person.

Super power of choice

I’m going with invisibility, and not just for its seedier perks. Observation is powerful tool for an author, but as soon as you’re present to observe, your presence is already affecting the moment. To be invisible, to take yourself out of a moment, you can experience things you never would otherwise.

If you could leap into any single DC Comic book issue for a day, what would it be?

I’d want to leap into All-Star Superman #10 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. It’s one of my favorite single issues ever, capturing everything that makes Superman so great. The issue is inspiring, offering hope and encouragement to anyone who reads it. I could go on for pages and pages on this comic. Put as briefly as possible, this issue of Superman challenges readers to step back and see the great strength that is in each and everyone of us. We don’t need superpowers or to be from a distant planet in order to do good. We’re all strong enough to do good in our own way.

How many DC Comics characters do you have tattooed on your body?

Ha! Just two, Superman and Lois Lane in an airborne embrace. Though it lacks word balloons, it invokes the scene in Superman: The Movie, when Superman catches Lois and says, “Easy, miss, I’ve got you,” to which Lois replies, “You’ve got me? Who’s got you?!?”
I’ve considered a Green Lantern tattoo over the years, but never pulled the trigger. I love the character and the mythology in the stories, but I’ve never been able to narrow it down to one concrete image. I’ve also thought about a tattoo of the latest Robin, Damian Wayne, the illegimate son of Batman and Talia Al Ghul, the daughter of one of Batman’s greatest foes. Damian is a fairly new character, created in 2006, but he’s made a great impression. He was introduced as such an arrogant little brat, but has since grown into being an arrogant little hero. The image of him on the cover of Batman & Robin #1 perfectly captures his nature and I could see getting that image on my leg.

What Workman book would you like to receive as compensation for your involvement?

Well, it’s out of print and I think only one person in the office has a copy, but I’d really like Touch Me: The Poems of Suzanne Somers.  Yes, Workman published it and I want it. I’d also take a copy of True Grits: The Southern Foods Mail-Order Catalog.

So I guess that’s it! Thanks so much for having me on the blog!

–

Randall Lotowycz, not to be confused with a bird or a plane,  is the author of DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex. He will be attending a midnight showing of Green Lantern.

In honor of Superman’s birthday, we asked Randall Lotowycz, author of The DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex, to weigh in on this significant anniversary.

Action Comics #1, by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

On May 3^rd, 1938, a strange visitor from another planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men first arrived on newsstands across the country in Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. I’m talking about Superman, of course, the lone survivor from the planet Krypton who, as an adult, decided to “turn his titanic strength into channels that would benefit mankind, and so was created ‘Superman’, champion of the oppressed…” The initial printing of the comic was 200,000 copies, but the series went on to sell in the millions.

These days, the relevancy of this iconic character is often called into question. He’s seen as old-fashioned, or even cheesy, compared to hipper, darker characters like Batman. His clean-cut image often does not jive with modern sensibilities. But still his appeal endures, and people still seem to care about him, and not just loyal comic book readers.  Last week, in the milestone 900^th issue of Action Comics, Superman decided to renounce his American citizenship in order to best service the interests of the entire world, not just the USA. And news of this comic book story—an imaginary tale—spread like wildfire, with articles in Time, The Huffington Post, The New York Post, and Fox News, to name a few.  Everyone seemed to have something to say about it, either supporting his decision or finding it alarming.

This isn’t the first time Superman’s exploits crossed over from the comics to the real world. When Superman died (it’s comics, they do that sometimes) in 1992, the world took notice. People who weren’t reading comic books went out and bought the issue. Why is that?

The milestone issue, Action Comics #900

I believe it’s because we all have deeply rooted connection to Superman.  For some people, it was watching George Reeves wink at the camera in the 50s television show. For others, it was Christopher Reeve showing us a man could fly, in the 70s film. Others turned to the cartoons, and some have just been loyal comic book readers over the years. I never picked up a comic book before he died in 1992. The ten-year-old me actually had little interest in comics, but something as momentous as Superman dying had to be seen, and read, and discussed. It made me into a lifelong comic book fan. And regardless of how people are introduced to Superman, they all can connect to him. He’s the archetype of modern American mythology, a Paul Bunyan or Johnny Appleseed for a new era. And the fact that he’s renouncing his citizenship in the comics now doesn’t change that. He’s doing what he’s always been doing, serving as a beacon of hope to the world. I’d like to think most people strive, or at least secretly wish, to be the best person they can be. And I believe a large part of that is realizing what makes you who you are and how you can use your unique abilities to make the world a better place. We don’t have to have superpowers or be from another planet. Superman shows us to take what we have and use it.

To quote Superman’s father Jor-El in Superman: The Movie:  We (not just Americans, but all mankind) “can be a great people . . . if they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son.” Messianic allusions aside, the message is strong and clear. It appeals to all of us, and will always be relevant and never cheesy. After 73 years, Superman is still around to bring out the best in us. Here’s to another 73 years!

—Randall Lotowycz is the author of The DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex.

You’ve heard of limericks: five-line rhyming poems that originated in the Irish city of (you guessed it) Limerick. And you’ve surely had your mouth mixed up by a tongue-twister or two. But have you ever heard of a Twimerick?!

A Twimerick is the best of both worlds: the goofy nonsense rhymes of a limerick, plus the funny frustration of the trickiest tongue-twisters. So in celebration of both St. Patrick’s Day (next week) and National Poetry Month (right now!), give your tongue a test with some of the toughest Twimericks from the book Twimericks: The Book of Tongue-Twisting Limericks, by Lou Brooks.

And if your tongue gets totally tied up in knots, take a break from the verbal gymnastics and help Felix Fields, the baker from Bakersfield, untangle his tongue in this Amazing Maze from Twimericks.com.

Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that rapid reading of these twimericks out loud to others may lead to your tongue being twisted into a perfect Over-and-Underhand Bavarian Pretzel Knot—probably forever.

Which Witch Was Which?
Two witchy witches in a Wichita ditch:
One witch with a twitch caused the witches to switch.
The spell they were under
Caused people to wonder,
Which Wichita witch switched was witch?

Lou Brooks, the World's Oldest Kid! (c) Lou Brooks

Bud, the Bedbug
A bedbug named Bud in a bed
Begged a bedbug named Buzz to be fed.
Bud bugged Buzz for a bite,
But Buzz bid Bud good night,
So Bud bit Buzz’s blanket and spread.

Rufus the Goofus
A reckless rough roofer, Ralph Rufus,
Was a ruthless fool wreck of a doofus.
When Rufus roofed on a roof,
No roof was Ralph-proof.
Roofing roofers felt Rufus a goofus.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, and inspired by the book The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters by Aneva Stout, we invited several members of the Workman staff to each write a short-form love story in just 5 to 7  numbered “chapters.” Our seventh and final love story installment is penned by an anonymous member of the editorial department, who writes under the pseudonym Playing Footsie. Enjoy–and may the next love story be yours!

The Short List:
A Soleful Love Story by Playing Footsie

1. When you’re out and about, you’ll see lots of girls with frizzy
   hair and polyester pants snuggling into their boyfriends.
2. You’ll think, “Christ—what the hell am I doing wrong?!”
3. You’ll ask your girlfriends what you’re doing wrong.
4. They’ll say, “You’re beautiful and smart and engaging and any man would be CRAZY not to fall at your feet.”
   1. You’ll wonder if your feet are the problem.
   2. You’ll get a pedicure.
   3. You’ll visit a reflexologist.
5. You’ll buy a pair of sleek, red peep-toe stilettos.
   1. You’ll wear the heels out to a bar, where you’ll meet a man.
   2. He’ll be a physical therapist.
6. He’ll tell you heels are terrible for your joints and they put
   excessive pressure on the fine bones of your feet.
7. You’ll want to use your shoe to smack him on the fine bones of his head.

—

The format of this story was inspired by the book, The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, and inspired by the book The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters by Aneva Stout, we invited several members of the Workman staff to each write a short form love story in just 5 to 7 numbered “chapters.” Our penultimate love story for today is written by an anonymous member of the sales department, aka In Progress. Enjoy!

The Short List:
A Grown-Up Love Story by In Progress

1. You’ll agree to be set up on a blind date by a friend.
   1. The date will go well, but it’ll turn out that the date is “seeing someone else”
   2. The date will go badly, and your friend will be noticeably cooler towards you
2. You’ll be skeptical of blind dates in the future.
3. You’ll get lonely, and ask girlfriends of friends if they have
   any single friends.
4. Your relationships with your friends’ girlfriends will noticeably
   chill.
5. You’ll decide to try online dating.
   1. You’ll set up an account
   2. You’ll go on a date
   3. You’ll never update your account, or look at it, ever again
6. You’ll meet someone at a bar.
7. You’ll feel like a grown-up.
   1. and a teenager

   —

   The format of this story was inspired by the book, The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, and inspired by the book The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters by Aneva Stout, we invited several members of the Workman staff to each write a short-form love story in just 5 to 7 numbered “chapters.” Our fifth love story is penned by an anonymous former Physics major who now writes under the pseudonym Swept Away. Enjoy!

The Short List:
A Long-Distance Love Story by Swept Away

1. A boy on a bicycle will smile at you.
2. Next semester he’ll be in your Physics class.
   1. That you nearly fail.
   2. Prompting you to declare an English major.
3. You’ll capture his heart when you beat him handily on the golf course.
   1. Okay, that never happens…
   2. But you do come within three strokes.
      1. Years later.
      2. Are you dreaming?
      3. Only when he plays from the tips.
4. He’ll kiss you the day after you graduate from college.
   1. Your car will be packed with all of your earthly belongings.
   2. You’ll smell like you have been moving boxes for five hours.
   3. Your dad will be waiting for you in a sushi restaurant.
      1. In the middle of his lunch.
      2. In the middle of which you have rudely excused yourself.
5. The following months will be filled with the sound of the phone ringing.
   1. You’ll try not to call him back immediately.
      1. Is one day long enough to wait?
   2. Your resolve will weaken quickly.
   3. You’ll fly to another coast to spend weeks with him.
      1. Because you don’t have a job yet.
      2. Because he doesn’t have a job yet.
      3. Because what could be better than an empty house filled
         with the smell of fajitas and puppy love?
6. He’ll leave the country for a year to live on a boat in the South Pacific.
   1. With no internet…
   2. No phone…
   3. And no shirt (practically).
   4. And certainly not you.
7. You will wash that man right out of your hair.
   1. Not so much.
   2. In fact, you will keep your computer open on the bed at night to see if he gets online at port at 3 am.
      1. To completely ignore you.
      2. To have an extremely unfulfilling conversation.
      3. To cry into your pillow when he doesn’t profess his undying love to you.
   3. Until, finally, he comes back to you.
      1. With a pair of tickets to a Pat Green concert.
      2. With a sincere profession of affection and apologies.
      3. With a fantastic tan.

—

The format of this story was inspired by the book, The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters.