Before I started blogging, I could never in a million years have told you who published my favorite books. Even in my early days of blogging, perhaps the first year, I still didn’t really know or, at least, didn’t know the difference between what different imprints of a publisher might come up with.
That has really been changing for me in the last six months or so. If I am feeling iffy about a book I’ll check the publisher and imprint, and that often is enough to make my decision whether or not I want to read it, and I rarely feel that I’ve been led astray by this method.
There are two new imprints that are really pulling in a lot of well-deserved buzz, both edited by women who have been in the business for awhile and really want to be involved in what books they put their names on.
The first one to launch was Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, an imprint of Penguin. This imprint debuted with “The Help,” which has been widely acclaimed and was a fabulous book. A few weeks ago a bunch of us decided on Twitter that we had read so many great Amy Einhorn books that we wanted to read them all, and thus was born the Amy Einhorn Perpetual Challenge. One thing that is really cool is that Amy Einhorn herself is excited about our challenge, she even guest blogged at Beth Fish Reads.
The other imprint that is getting buzz right now is Reagan Arthur Books, an imprint of Little, Brown. This imprint’s debut book, “The Unnamed” was recently released and already has bloggers raving. Kathy and Julie have stepped up and are creating a perpetual challenge for this imprint as well. This imprint is so new that I haven’t read any of the books yet, but based on reviews so far, I’m signing myself up for this one and am very excited about it!
There’s really something neat about deliberately reading the books from certain imprints, you start to feel that you know, or at least know something about, the different editors, and that is a very cool experience.
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I’m participating in both challenges too. And I love how you expressed that reading through an imprint allows us to at least know something about the different editors. What a neat perspective!
I was never aware of publisher before I started blogging either.
Julie and I are so excited about this challenge and we’re thrilled that you’re the first person to sign up.
I’ve just started to pay better attention to imprints — you are absolutely right, they can be very helpful when looking at books to request/read!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..in my mailbox (32). =-.
As a newer blogger I am finding all of this information about publisher imprints so useful! It really does mean so much about the book about the book you pick up!
.-= Amused´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday – Jan. 18 -23, 2010 =-.
I don’t pay much attention to imprints myself (though I like Greenwillow Books a lot!). I have just read my first Einhorn book, though, and recieved my first Regan Arthur book for review, too!
I love the idea of these imprint challenges. I hope they’re still around next year when I sign up for another round. I already have way too many on my plate for 2010!
.-= A Bookshelf Monstrosity´s last blog ..Songs about Librarians =-.
What fun challenges. Although I’ve read The Help, I wasn’t sure who the publisher was until reading this post.
I’m with you on a potential read’s publisher. When I’m pitched books, it’s the first thing I look at. I’ll have to give both of these imprints a good long look.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..Where Has This Book Been My Whole Life? =-.
I love the concept but there are too many books I want to read to concentrate on one imprint. However, it did remind me I have an ARC of the Postmistress so will at least participate to that extent.
I am reminded of how excited I was by Margaret K. McElderry’s imprint when I was a pre-teen. I don’t think I ever went wrong reading one of her books, and that included some of my favorite authors such as Ruth Arthur and Susan Cooper. Despite spending 17 years in publishing, I never ran into her!
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/comm/csj/040601/books.shtml
Well, of course, my job made me very aware of publishers and imprints, but even so, I never thought about becoming an imprint groupie until I started blogging. Thanks for the plug for AEB.
I’m in both challenges too.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale =-.
This is an interesting approach to a reading challenge. Way to go everyone. Not sure if I will sign on for these. I think I’ll try out a book from each first and then decide…
Can you give me the link to the Regan Arthur Books challenge. I would like to post it on A Novel Challenge for others to find out about it. I already have the other one posted. Thanks!
Reagan Arthur publishes Kate Atkinson and Denise Mina. Ergo, she is a genius.
I agree with what you say about before blogging, not knowing the publishers I read or anything about them. Now I pay attention to the publisher and often look at who published a book I pick up on my own. I wouldn’t say I choose a book based on it but I like to know who published it anyways.
The challenges are a neat idea although not one I’ll be doing right now. I’d rather do a challenge for trying to read from as many different publishers as possible. Not imprints, publishers. Anyone want to make that one?
.-= Callista´s last blog ..Thinking About Last 998 Posts (This is post 999) =-.
So, it looks like nobody else will tell you, but you misspelled Reagan Arthur’s name in both titles. Thought you’d want to know. I sure would.
Indeed, thank you