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Notes from the floor of Comic-Con International 2008, by Ashley Fisher:

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Far more than just a comic book collector's show, Comic-Con International 2008 held in sunny San Diego at the massive Convention Center was nothing less than a freewheeling, four day lovefest for all things comic, literary and fringe.

And luckily, I could count myself in as an attendee.

From a prime position on the floor, working in the Penguin booth to greet fellow comic lovers and readers, and to distribute some of our new reads and samplers, I was pleased to be in the middle of all the excitement, reveling in the spirit of community to be found there, gawking at the endlessly elaborate and clever costumed fans (one good looking Joker, Indiana Jones, and Cat Woman after another), and exploring aisle after aisle of offerings from small press vendors and artists-collecting a small mountain of freebies from the movie studios, networks, and the comic industry heavyweights present.

Posters, buttons, graphic novels, oversized bags and tees-my nearly bursting carry-on luggage was at the sheer mercy of its overworked zipper.

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 1:46pm. in

Tue, 07/29/2008

Penguin Group (USA) Weekly Update - 7/28:

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Catherine Coulter's First #1 New York Times Mass Market Fiction Bestseller Leads Strong Week for Berkley/NAL

Elda Rotor and Dan Sanicola Lead the Successful Launch of Penguin Enhanced eBook Classics

"Penguin has set the bar for ebook quality... *this* is the ebook experience we've been wanting." —Amazon customer"

This spring, Elda Rotor, Executive Editor of Penguin Classics, and Dan Sanicola, Digital Manager, led the successful launch of the Penguin Enhanced eBook Classics Series. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen was the first title to be released. The eBook, which debuted at #6 on Amazon's Kindle chart the first week after publication in May, showcases an array of special features which were selected by Elda Rotor, including a filmography, book reviews from the time of the original publication of the novel, a chronology of Jane Austen's life and times, recipes, instructions on period dancing, social etiquette, and how to prepare a tea, a literary tour of famous Austen sites, black-and-white illustrations of fashion, home décor, and architecture.

Pride and Prejudice earned swift, high praise from consumers, who were delighted with the new format, as well as its special features. Here's just a sampling of what customers had to say:

"One of the Best versions of this book in any format."—Laura from the Midwest

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 10:57am. in

Penguin Weekly Update

Tue, 07/29/2008

Loud Noise in Sky Over Toronto (speaking of imagination) by Danielle Younge-Ullman:

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The other night, just as I was drifting along in the first stage of sleep, I was jolted awake by a tremendous noise. It sounded like the surface of the earth was being scraped off by a giant shovel or plow, or ripped open by something I couldn't even conceive of.

I clutched at my chest, ran to the window, hyperventilated.

I went to my computer and googled "loud noise in sky over Toronto" but didn't find anything.

Then I had to bite my lip because I was starting to cry.

I was quite sure the world was ending, either from a natural catastrophe or nuclear war, and I wanted to wake up everyone in the house, including (and especially) my two-year-old, and start running, or moving everything to the basement. We were staying overnight at my parent's house and I put my hand out for the phone. My husband was a thirty-minute drive away and if I called him right now he might still have a chance to make it to us. If not...well, I wouldn't go there, he would make it.

I thought through what we would do-whether we would manage to grow our own food, if we would be sick, where we would get the seeds to grow the food, what would happen to my little dog, my family, my friends.

I sat in the dark, just listening and trying to breathe. It was at least fifteen minutes before I was able to calm myself and another three hours before I could get to sleep.

And the noise I heard?

The noise I heard was thunder.

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 9:14am. in