Patricia Sexton: Why I’ve Hesitated to Leave New York City

May 10th, 2013

Forthcoming Beaufort author Patricia Sexton writes about her love affair with New York City, and how difficult it was to finally leave in her latest blog post.

As a native New Yorker, I fully understand how simultaneously exciting and disheartening it can sometimes be to live in the city that never sleeps. You’re surrounded by visible proof of the best and the worst humanity has to offer: glittering marvels of modern engineering, museums and galleries on seemingly every street, and five star restaurants offering cuisine from every corner of the globe versus homelessness and poverty, crime, and air pollution. Sometimes, I’m tempted to pack everything and move far, far away.

Forthcoming Beaufort author Patricia Sexton did just that. In her upcoming memoir, LIVE From Mongolia!, she talks about her decision to leave a Wall Street career to follow her dream of becoming a news anchor in Mongolia. In her latest blog post, she discusses how difficult her decision to leave New York City ”for good” was, and what helped her make the final push to go. Check out this, and the rest of her blog, here.

-Placebeau

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The Reindeer People: A Dream’s Last Chance

May 6th, 2013

Forthcoming Beaufort author Patricia Sexton is campaigning to raise funds for her documentary project, The Reindeer People: A Dream’s Last Chance.

 

The Reindeer People is the story of a mother, her daughter, and two very unusual dreams. A tale of love and loss, survival and death, a Mongolian mother and daughter face nearly insurmountable obstacles to pursue what’s most important to them. And in the end, what’s important to them just may save the fabric of an entire culture.

A few years ago, in the north of Mongolia, in one of the most remote inhabited regions on our planet, a Mongolian mother had to make a choice. She had to choose between letting her young daughter pursue her dream, or pursuing her own. As a parent, she knew what she had to do. So, along with her daughter and husband, they moved the family to the Mongolian capital. This would have devastating consequences: poverty, sickness, and even her husband’s murder (he’d left home only to earn enough money to buy his daughter an outfit and was robbed and murdered). Eventually, the daughter achieved her dream, and the mother had never been more proud. But it also got her to thinking – about that old dream she’d left behind all those years ago. Could she pursue it? Was she willing to return to her homeland and all that she’d left behind?

This summer, the mother will return to her home in the Taiga to pursue her old dream to teach Tuva, the native language there. Tuva is spoken by a very small community of Reindeer Herders, and without a teacher to support it, the language will fade away. Without language, the community itself is in danger of fading away too. It’s the mother’s dream to go home and fight this, to save the very fabric of her culture.

Won’t you help us tell her story?

Find out more about Patricia, her team, and how you can help on their indiegogo page here.

-Placebeau

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The Waste Land by Simon Acland

May 1st, 2013

Check out the dramatic trailer for Simon Acland’s The Waste Land - now available from Beaufort Books!

-Placebeau

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PlaceBEAU: An Introduction

March 18th, 2013

Hello all!  I am Elizabeth, one of Beaufort’s spring interns, but I’ll be going by the name PlaceBEAU.  I’ve been here since January, lurking in the background, but I’ve put off blogging because I wasn’t quite sure how to introduce myself.  But I figured it’s always good to begin at the beginning, and at the beginning, for me, are books.

Like most people who go into publishing, I love books.  Whether I’m diving into some else’s life in a biography or memoir, exploring a whole new perspective on a topic I thought I knew, or wading through a fictional world where characters battle overbearing mothers-in-law, evil wizards, conquering invaders, their own inner demons, or all of the above, for me reading is very much an escape and an adventure.  But it’s not only the stories housed in paper and ink bindings, but the books themselves that I love.

I can remember at a very young age accompanying my grandmother to the Mount Vernon Public Library, a neoclassical revival behemoth, originally funded by Andrew Carnegie.  The cool, dim lobby served as a portal between the loud, bright, and gritty world outside and the serene, hushed, and ethereal realm within.

I remember whispering quietly in the children’s section, mouthing the words carefully as I devoured book after book, piling them up neatly beside me before delivering them in a swaying stack to the stony-faced librarians to reshelve.  I recall lugging huge encyclopedic tomes to battered library tables, where I composed my middle school research projects.  My high school years were spent drifting in and out of bookstores, sneaking away from my latte-clutching friends perusing the magazines to take a quick peek at the sci-fi/fantasy section for new arrivals.  In college, I practically lived in the library, myself now a latte-clutcher, camped out between some infrequently visited stacks.  The highlight of my grad school experience was a visit to the Newberry Library in Chicago, where I was allowed to briefly handle a few medieval manuscripts.  To this day, the smell of paper, dust and glue is both comforting and exciting all at once.

To that end, I thought the perfect introduction would be to share some of my absolute favorite libraries, both in the U.S. and abroad.

New York Public Library

New York Public Library – New York, NY.  The NYPL is the second largest public library in the U.S., second only to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The library originated in the 19th century, and its founding and roots are the amalgamation of grass-roots libraries, social libraries of bibliophiles and the wealthy, and from philanthropy of the wealthiest Americans of their age.

Library of Parliament

Library of Parliament (French: Bibliothèque du Parlement) - Ottawa, Canada. The Library of Parliament was designed as a chapter house, and was inspired by the British Museum Reading Room.  Its collection comprises 600,000 items, covering hundreds of years of history, and employs a staff of 300.  Unfortunately, access to the library is generally restricted to those on parliamentary business, and not everyone gets a chance to explore the stacks.

Trinity College Library

Trinity College Library – Dublin, Ireland.  Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university, and the Trinity College Library is Ireland’s largest research library.  The oldest and rarest of the library’s collection is housed in the Long Room, the largest single-chamber library in the world, with over 200,000 volumes preserved inside.  Supposedly, Trinity’s Long Room served as the “unofficial” inspiration for the Jedi Archives in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Library of Congress

Library of Congress – Washington, D.C.  The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world – it has over 151.8 million items and 838 miles of bookshelves.  The smallest book in its collection is a tiny copy of Old King Cole – 1/25″ x 1/25″ – which is so tiny the pages can only be turned with the assistance of a needle.  Though it’s open to the public, only library employees, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials are allowed to check out books.

Melk Library

Stift Melk – Melk, Austria. Stift Melk, or Melk Abbey, is a Benedictine abbey in Austria, and is among the world’s most famous monastic sites.  The Library is decorated in the Baroque style like the rest of the Abbey, with gilded everything and frescoes galore.  While it’s not a lending library at all, and visitors are encouraged to not-touch-anything-please, its off-limits collection conjures images in my historian’s mind, of long-ago monks carefully paging through leather-bound tomes.

 

-Placebeau

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National Grammar Day!

March 5th, 2013

Some of you may know that yesterday, March 4th, was National Grammar Day — a day dedicated to speaking well, writing well, and being generally grammar conscience. For those of us in book publishing, National Grammar Day is everyday – no exceptions. Seriously, I find myself thinking about grammar so much throughout the course of the day that I often over-think even the most basic grammatical situations and end up confusing myself.  However, it’s nice to know that there’s a day dedicated to making sure the rest of the world is taking grammar as seriously as we do.  It’s a day to say to people, “You may think you know English but you don’t!” or, “You think you understand comma splices and hyphens? Well, guess what? You don’t!” Even if March 4th is just a day to remember not to say “aint,” it still begs us to take a minute to reflect on the complex system that is the English language and how we interpret it.

Even as a person whose brain-space is taken up with grammar for 90% of my day, I still make common grammar mistakes. For example, I still often have to think twice about ‘effect’ vs. ‘affect’ and I have a tendency to use the word ‘literally’ a tad liberally (although there’s a fun article about this on Galleycat today).  Whether it’s further vs. farther, lay vs. lie, or drunk vs. drank, there are always those little grammar mistakes that I’m sure all of us are guilty of having made at one time or another – and let’s not even talk about punctuation. Are you aware that there are no less than three types of dashes and that each one has a unique purpose? Granted that unless you’re a writer, editor, or someone who prepares press material for a living there’s hardly ever any reason to dwell on these grammatical nuances in the day-to-day.

Luckily, if you’re the type of person who is concerned with this kind of thing, help is available and you can become the kind of person who uses correct grammar everyday, not just on March 4th. Consider a grammar book, like our very own Beaufort Book The Big Ten of Grammar by William B. Bradshaw, PhD which is subtitled Identifying and Fixing the Ten Most Frequent Grammatical Errors. In this book, Dr. Bradshaw discusses the ten most frequent grammatical errors and how we can learn to a) be conscious of them and b) correct them.  It’s basically a condensed version of all the chapters in the Chicago Manual that I flip to at least once a day which is really handy because Dr. Bradshaw’s book is small and light enough to bring around with me or stash in my desk and the Table of Contents makes it really easy to find what I’m looking for quickly.

What are your favorite grammar/style books? I’d love to know about any other resources you guys use to keep your grammar in check. Do you find grammar important, and if so, to what degree?  What about this debate over the Oxford comma? How could one little punctuation mark have caused so much controversy? Well, whether you’re the type of person who cares about this kind of thing or not, Happy National Grammar Day! Because everyone needs an excuse to celebrate a random day in March….

 

Madame Beauvary

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Madame Beauvary on the Language of Love

February 14th, 2013

There’s a scene in one of my favorite love stories, Anna Karenina, in which Kitty, the wealthy debutante, admits her love for Levin, the reclusive farmer who has been pining away for her even after suffering the shame of being once rejected by her. The two meet at a social event, Kitty having been recently thwarted by the dubious Vronksy, and Levin having resigned himself to a life dedicated to agricultural research, and all of their feelings towards each other come rising to the surface. They realize how much they love each other. Naturally, their passion must remain below the surface for the time being lest a scandal ensue, so they make their declaration to love each other in code: they write each other messages in chalk, on a napkin, using only the first initials of the words they want to say.

‘“Well, read this. I’ll tell you what I should like – should like very much!” She wrote the initial letters, i, y, c, f, a, w, h. This meant, “If you could forget and forgive what happened.”

He snatched the chalk with nervous, trembling fingers, and breaking it, wrote the initial letters of the following phrase, “I have nothing to forget and forgive; I have never ceased to love you.”’

It may seem like a silly game for two adults to play. You may even find yourself asking, why don’t they just say what they want to say and stop all of this ‘will we, won’t we’ nonsense?  And yet, there’s a certain charm to playing games, to being elusive, even talking in code. It’s something that courting lovers have playing at for ages and even though the art of courting is much different in today’s world, it wouldn’t be a stretch to admit that coded messages and secret signs are still a big part of flirtatious behavior – just in a different way.

Take for instance Gary Shteyngart’s epochal novel Super Sad True Love Story in which emails and text messages account for a large part of the dialogue between the two protagonists. The point is that so much communication is centered on unconventional language, language that leaves room for interpretation and draws the recipient into a volley of deciphering coded terms. Poetry especially is a good example of this and haven’t people been writing poetry for centuries upon centuries? What is more romantic way to court your love than to write her a poem? Even modern poetry, the words of e.e. cummings, for instance, requires deciphering. His love poems especially involve an amount of playfulness that works around language instead of through it to get the message across.

In the game of love, it would seem as though the challenge of working around language is maybe even more necessary than actually saying what you mean. It’s the intrigue, the desire to keep guessing, that keeps it interesting.

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EBooks to the Rescue!

February 12th, 2013

I’m sure many of you remember Ezra Jack Keats’ adored children’s book The Snowy Day.  This book, which chronicles a day in the life of a boy on the first snow day of the season, is a classic. It is a favorite of adults and children alike  in past generations and will be, undoubtedly, for generations to come.

Unfortunately, real snow days aren’t half as glamorous as the one depicted in The Snowy Day. In reality, especially for us city dwellers, snowy days often mean messy commutes, pools of black slush in the streets, and suspended subway service.

Luckily for us here in New York the blizzard that hit this past weekend, Nemo didn’t cause too much damage compared with other states further North. We got lucky considering the amount of snow that got dumped on New England and caused a considerable amount of damage to homes and businesses along the coast.

Longfellow Books inPortland, Maine is one of the businesses that got hit hard by Nemo and has had to close its doors while they get things back in order after experiencing severe water damage.  Thankfully, the eBook is here to save the day! While Longfellow Books’ doors are closed, loyal patrons and new customers both can support the store’s recovery by purchasing eBooks through Kobo. Longfellow Books is just one of the many Indie bookstores that are offering their titles on eBook marketplaces such as Kobo.

 It’s strange to think of our favorite brick and mortar shops existing in cyberspace, but the hardship experienced by Longfellow Books in this storm is testament to the fact that there is a time and a place for eBooks, even if you don’t consider yourself an eReader. We wish Longfellow Books all the best and hope they are able to open their doors soon because, after all, there’s nothing like your neighborhood bookstore.

 

Over and Out,

Madame Beauvary

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Madame BEAUvary: An Introduction

January 24th, 2013

Hello there! My name is Claudia and I’m the newest intern here at Beaufort. I’m honored and excited to be here! I guess I’ll start by providing a few facts about myself to help you paint a more vivid picture of who I am and hopefully I won’t scare you away… Let’s see, I’m an avid reader, aspiring writer, and after a whirlwind post-graduate year abroad I’m more than ready to carve my niche in publishing and am psyched to make Beaufort my first stop.

My nom de plume — Madame BEAUvary — isn’t so much a testament to my character, but, rather, a tribute in memoriam of my beloved dwarf hamster who was named, lovingly, Gustave Flaubert. Am I seeming a little crazy? I kindly ask that you reserve judgment until you’ve seen a dwarf hamster. They’re adorable, in a “That’s a rodent, isn’t it?” sort of way…

Anyway, I’m greatly looking forward to sharing my words and thoughts with you lovely readers over the course of my stay here and hope that I can provide if nothing else just a little bit of entertainment to brighten up your day. I also hope to shed some light (my perspective, anyway) on some of the day-to-day news in the publishing business from time to time. I know how much I enjoy reading the blogs of my favorite publishers and fellow bookworms and am honored to be able to be a contributing voice to the wonderful one offered here at Beaufort. I will not take this opportunity lightly, I assure you! To provide evidence of my dedication to this cause, here’s something fun: a link to a very serious quiz(the result of which will astonish and amaze): http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=343

Unfortunately it’s too cold in New York City for me to think of anything more poignant or relevant to share with you today…

See you next time!

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The Best Kind of Books To Buy Others for the Holidays

December 14th, 2012

The holidays are upon us, so perhaps you’re out there rushing to get some last-minute gifts. Beyond Jefferson biographies and Mark Twain novels, the publishing world has a lot to offer in the way of physical books, books that will guarantee to satisfy a wide range of people including your father, your mom, your sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother, etc..  – there are plenty of books out there that can have a personal touch.

1) Gift Books – Books that are best to hold in your hand

Yes, what you see in this picture is an actual graphic novel, which only costs about $30!

Some Recommendations: Building Stories by Chris Ware

The Outdoor Museum by Margery Gray Harnick and Sheldon Harnick

Wreck This Journal (Duct Tape Edition) by Keri Smith

If you look at the picture to your left, you can see a copy of Building Stories by Chris Ware. Yes – your book can do that! Which is why this “book” provides a uniqueness to any gift-receiver. It actually tells a story too, a story that may be perfect for TwentySomethings or those finding themselves in the need of a companion.

Books like The Outdoor Museum and Wreck This Journal have their own qualities unique upon themselves. The Outdoor Museum (published by Beaufort!) comes with an audio CD and breathtaking pictures of the NYC life. Wreck This Journal is not only a gift book for writers but people who believe creativity can go a long way.

 

2) Cookbooks – For the inexperienced cooks, the newbie cooks, the professional cooks, the coffee drinkers, and more!

Some Recommendations: The Oxford Companion to Beer by Garrett Oliver and Tom Colicchio

Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust by Ina Garten

Michael Symon’s Carnivore: 120 Recipes for Meat Lovers by Michael Symon

In today’s world, at least in the Western World, food and what kind of food a person likes comes with their personality. There are vegans, carnivores, vegetarians, Sushi-eaters, Barbecue-eaters, etc. There are also coffee drinkers, beer drinkers, wine drinkers, soda drinkers, and the list goes forth.

That way, giving a coffee or drink book can be the most personalized gift, and obviously, different cookbooks suit different subsets of people. For example, The Oxford Companion to Beer can be a hearty gift for the college student and grandparent alike or Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa Foolproof is a superb guide for the younger generation who are trying to get their foot in the door of properly planning meals or cooking in more efficient or cheaper ways.

 

3) Music Biographies/Memoirs – Memories and Music go hand-and-hand.

Some Recommendations: Bruce by Peter Ames Carlin,

Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir by Cyndi Lauper

Just Kids by Patti Smith

Who I Am: A Memoir by Peter Townshend

Typically, the case is that your father or mother, for example, have every single Bruce Springsteen record. But, do they have the latest book ABOUT Bruce, suitably called Bruce, written by Peter Ames Carlin?

Some of people’s fondest memories can be that concert they saw back in 1979 when Bruce didn’t have a receding hairline and was yet to be considered the greatest patriot of the land? Or, perhaps, you attended a The Who concert with your mom? All of these biographies and memoirs infuse the personal into gift-buying because, well, music is personal.

 

Have any other books that are great for gifts? Let us know in the comments!

 

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Little Beau Peep: So What?

December 10th, 2012

Conclusions have always been my least favorite part of writing an essay. In high school, my teachers would oversimplify the process, insisting that it was as easy as answering the question: “So what?” It was never that easy for me; I spent countless nights staring dumbly at almost-finished essays, my fingers poised hopefully on the keyboard, those words playing on repeat in my head until they didn’t really sound like words anymore.

Now that my internship at Beaufort Books is drawing to a close, I’m once again forced to form some sort of conclusion, to confront those two seemingly unavoidable words: so what?

So what that I will never again sit at this cluttered desk or hear the pitter-patter of Schlitz’s paws scurrying across the floor? So what that I will never again have a conversation with Megan and Cindy about how scary Shel Silverstein’s beard is? So what that my internship is over? I can hear all my past English teachers in my head, prompting me: so what does it mean?

In these past few months, I’ve addressed more envelopes than I have in my entire life. But I’ve also read and reviewed submissions, researched countless marketing opportunities, and learned more about the publishing industry than I ever thought I would. And what that means to me is more than I can fit into the concluding paragraph of an essay or even a final blog post. I can’t find the words to express how much this experience has affected me; all I can tell you is that it has, and I’ve loved every little bit of it.

I’m so grateful to Beaufort for giving me this opportunity. I also want to thank all you lovely readers –  if you actually exist, thank you for reading.

And to all future Beaufort interns who read this: good luck and have fun! (And try not to be too intimidated by the Midpoint office across the hallway…it’s really not as big and scary as it seems!)

 

Little Beau Peep

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