With all of the grim industry forecasts around, it was heartening to read this op-ed declaring that all was not lost a few months ago. Then there are the articles that tell me that I’m not alone; The Book Loved By Everyone But You, and, at A Fuse #8 Production, a confession of Most Shameful Non-Reads, both nudge and comfort. Those blog posts that have you talking to the computer (it’s not just me, right?)…the articles that you forward to all of your friends and then call right away to see if they’ve read them yet…the career advice that comes at just the right time — there is truly an online embarrassment of riches when it comes to this business, and here are some that really stood out for me:

Reading Between The Lines

• Horn Book editor Roger Sutton’s blog, with entries like this on didacticism and the relationship between readers and writers, almost always stirs up the booktalk pot,
• while What Makes a Children’s Classic? in The Guardian provided additional food for thought.

People of the Books: Dialogues on Race and Culture

• Neesha Meminger’s blog on race and YA Lit, and the ensuing comments, along with
• The Politics of Wizards and Vampires, by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez,
• Anti-Racist Parent’s opinion piece on Black teens and reading trends,
• Mitali Perkins’ thoughts on the value of ethnic awards, and
• Brown (But Not) Like Me, which is only in part about how The Brown Bookshelf chose its name, were all thought-provoking as well as thoughtful.

Behind the Book

As much as some of us may wish to avoid it, the book industry is still just that — a business, and one that involves real people with real feelings:

• Editor Alvina Ling’s explanation of what takes place at a Focus Meeting is fascinating,
• Agent Nathan Bransford’s blog is a boon to authors everywhere, with posts like this one on query letters.
• Shrinking Violet Promotions’ Introverts Bill of Rights is both helpful and reassuring,
• and Cynthia Leitich Smith makes throwing a book launch party sound good, even to an introvert like me.
• The delightful Bildungsroman interviews, like this one with author Sarah Darer Littman present a unique opportunity to engage in the life of a book
• as do the “He Said, She Said” discussions on GuysLitWire, and
• there’s an interesting look at “books that appeal to both genders,” such as this conversation about Play Me by Laura Ruby.

The Business End

Many of us book people have fantasies of getting into the field from another angle …

• Why Authors Love Indies,
• these bookstore design dreams and
• The Librarian is a Person in Your Neighborhood offered new perspectives on these partners in the book world.
• A glimpse at curriculum connections through windows like Teaching with Easels,
• and Words Without Borders Lesson Plans remind us of the magic that educators make with literature and learning.

Just Because

For pure publishing fun, check out …

• Jackson Pearce’s Getting Published Fantasy on YouTube,
• Monica Edinger and Roxanne Hsu Feldman’s Children’s Literature Application Test,
• and Saundra Mitchell’s fascinating audio essay on how Hurricane Katrina changed Shadowed Summer are just the thing to inspire, make you smile, and perhaps hit the forward button just one more time.

Oooh! Just had to add this one, featured on Fuse #8, by Jarrett Krosoczka — the soundtrack alone is amazing.

What have you seen around the Web about the business of books that you’ve blogged, Facebooked, or forwarded into eternity? Share it below!

About The Author

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the daughter of a Jamaican mother and Nigerian father, and married to a man of Croatian descent. So, that’s what’s up with the name. She’s worked as a freelance writer and contributing editor at various magazines, and has developed educational materials geared to educators and students. Olugbemisola has worked extensively in youth development, at community organizations and New York City schools. She was twice awarded a public service fellowship by the Echoing Green foundation to work on a creative arts and literacy project with adolescent girls. She received her M.A. in Educational Communication and Technology, with a concentration in Adolescent Literacy and English Education, her B.Sc. from Cornell University, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. “I spent a number of my younger years in different communities across the globe. I attended public, private,’international’, and religious schools. These experiences have had lasting benefits as I was exposed to many languages, traditions, customs – new and thrilling worlds. And each move brought with it both an opportunity and a struggle surrounding identity, which is a recurring theme in my work.” She lives in New York City where she is also an enthusiastic if not particularly skilled crafter.  Read more about Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich.