Chronicle Books Blog

When I was a wide-eyed student at UC Berkeley in the late 90s, moving ever closer to obtaining a BA in English, I certainly thought so. It helps when you take a class taught by (now) professor emeritus Stephen Booth, who contextualized Shakespeare’s unique genius and made his words leap off the page.

Soon after graduation, however, I became convinced that Shakespeare would never again be a central part of my life—at least my working life. I wasn’t on the path to becoming a teacher (sorry, President Obama) or a literary historian. You can imagine my delight, then, when I discovered that a Shakespeare book was on our Spring 2012 list! No, we haven’t unearthed an unpublished manuscript. Instead, we’re applying the Chronicle touch to some of the bard’s most famous and touching love sonnets.

There are plenty of books that collect Shakespeare’s love sonnets, but they’re either text-only, illustrated with traditional 16th Century etchings and woodcuts, or filled with really saccharine images. We set out to create something different, something youthful and modern but still pretty. Our brilliant design director immediately thought of Caitlin Keegan, who lives and works in Brooklyn and contributed to our own Exquisite Book.

Caitlin was thrilled to work on the book—maybe, like me, she harkened back to those idyllic school days?—and came to us with early illustration work that was simply stunning. She took our broad art direction and really ran with it, creating imagery that is as delightful as it is colorful. In some cases she cues from metaphors in a sonnet (lions from time’s sharp claws) while in others she weaves bold patterns that obliquely reference the text. The total effect is mesmerizing.

We’re excited about how the book has evolved, and I’m tickled that I was finally able to find a way to slip some Shakespeare into my work. A project like this makes editorial work feel so rewarding!

Matt Robinson
Art + Design

This week has been both exhilarating and exhausting because we just finished “launching” our Fall 2011 line of books. Twice a year our crew of brave editors stands up in front of most of the company and pitches the books slated for release in the next six to nine months. It can be fun—especially when our sales force responds positively to books that we know we love but that haven’t been seen outside of our little circle. On that note, I thought I’d share a few of the projects that received a warm reception at our launch event and see what you think, too.

New York

If you fancy yourself to have a New York state of mind, I think you’ll be intrigued by this. Jorge Colombo is an artist who’s lived in the Big Apple and other great cities for decades. He paints beautiful street scenes of New York, four of which have been featured on the cover of The New Yorker, but there’s a twist. He creates them on an iPhone. He uses a software program called Brushes. You can see some sped up renderings of his art at newyorker.com (worth the jump).

Jorge goes to great lengths to point out that his art is less about technology and more about the “feel” of a city as grand as New York. I tend to agree. If you didn’t know that his paintings were created on an iPhone, you’d probably still admire them. The technology element adds a layer of intrigue and coolness.

One Red Lipstick, One Hundred Women

This book is the product of the mind—and the eyes—of Alyson Fox. The former Visual Director at Anthropologie, Alyson created a pet project that we fell in love with. She had approached a hundred women and asked them to pose for her camera. These were not models. They were women of all stripes, ranging in age from 8 to 80, and many of them had never had their photograph taken professionally. The only thing that they shared in these photographs was the same shade of lipstick—Revlon’s Certainly Red. Fox describes the body of work as provocative and engaging. It can be by turns brooding and whimsical. I think of the book as a conversation starter. How do these images make you think about femininity and beauty? There are so many deeply held associations with lipstick that Fox’s photographs make us question and perhaps doubt. As a man, I’m moved by the photographs. I’m excited to see how women—the book’s primary audience—react to it.

The Ceramics Bible

A few years ago we published The Printmaking Bible, which quickly became the leader of the pack among printmaking books (both in sales and size—it’s 416 pages!). This is the next book in the stout series, and the title doesn’t pull any punches. It’s a very comprehensive guide to the art and craft of ceramics, covering everything from kilns to stains to molds. There are plenty of clear step-by-step photos, guides to various techniques, and artist profiles (my favorite part, if only because of the amazing pieces they create). This book reinforces for me that big, totemic books can succeed both on practical and aesthetic levels. With hundreds of inspiring photographs and a solid how-to element, it’s well worth the $40 if your goal is to conquer ceramics.

Speaking of new books, Chronicle is hosting a focus group for art, design, and craft enthusiasts. If you’re interested in helping us gain a deeper understanding of this special kind of publishing, take the survey linked here. Thanks!

Matt Robinson
Art + Design

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Everyone at Chronicle was pleased and somewhat surprised with the enthusiasm for the two-hour event. Several authors arrived mid morning for the 3:00pm start time. By 2:00pm, we decided to start signing people in because our front lobby and bookstore were filling up. 30 people were ready and waiting!

By the end of the event, 70 authors and artists had met face-to-face with an editor and graciously donated $700 to Habitat for Humanity. Inspired by their giving, Chronicle’s leadership immediately matched that amount. We’re very proud to support the essential mission of this great charitable organization to the tune of $1,400.

All of the editors here want to say a big THANK YOU to the creative folks who attended and bravely gave their best pitches in five minutes or less. You were so inspiring! And you had some great ideas. And even if your projects weren’t right for us, you seemed to enjoy the opportunity to share them, as evidenced by some tweets:

Thanks @ChronicleBooks that was like American Idol/#SYTUCD for writers. I have the try choreography ticket. Thx for the chance to resubmit.
—QueenScarlett

Nothing but great things to say about @ChronicleBooks #pitch4charity what a great idea and way to support a nonprofit!
—HelloCupcakeLLC

We enjoyed meeting you, too! As one editor said to me, “It was a really incredible way to connect with our community.” People came from a number of locations and with an array of unique ideas. We had someone from Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and an employee from one of our neighbors, Pixar, among others. We heard pitches for humor books, fashion guides, lots of children’s books, and dozens of other subjects.

@ChronicleBooks So will you tell us if any of these charity pitches actually result in book deals? #pitch4charity
—literaticat

While no publishing deals were made at the event, editors did ask several authors to resubmit their proposals after some finessing and revision.

This event reminded me of what a great, creative city we live and work in. (I know we had people come from elsewhere, but the majority were locals.) If you live in San Francisco, you probably hear that cliché tossed around quite a bit. But I got to see it in person and it’s real. Chronicle is fortunate to be part of the fabric of this community. Thanks again, everyone!

Matt Robinson
Art + Design

Times are tough out there, and we at Chronicle Books understand that. Which is why we are publishing a plethora of books and other products that are both beautiful and affordable.

If you’re like me, you’ve been searching for perfect holiday presents that don’t break the bank. I’ve found a few gems in our catalog that I’ll be gifting to friends and family. I wish I’d had a few of our journals and stationery sets ten years ago, though. They would have spruced up a gift that I sent to my family while I was studying abroad in Italy.

Back then, I was living on a tight budget. Or rather, I was spending what little money I had on cheap train tickets and sketchy hostels around Europe. Things like clothing, food, and other basic necessities took a back seat. (You’d be surprised how long a loaf of ciabatta and some cured salami can last!) When the holidays came around, I wanted to give some special gifts to my family back in the States, but I didn’t have the funds to buy a lot of expensive Italian souvenirs. So, I decided to give something unique: a story. It was a story about my most memorable Christmas. I was eight, my sister was sixteen, and at the time it felt like the best Christmas ever. Santa Claus was teetering on the edge of being a myth, there was snow on the ground, and the gifts given and received that year were thoughtful, generous, and meaningful. I recounted that tale on an ancient computer in a decrepit email café, embellishing a few points and including all of the details that I knew would make my parents and sister laugh. Example: I was a very organized child, so I always sorted and stacked our presents, made coffee for my parents, and started breakfast to lure people out of bed at a ridiculously early hour.

When I finished the four-page document, I printed it on standard white paper and shipped it away along with a few other modest gifts. A year or so later, my mother showed me her copy of the story. I was amazed at the transformation! She had bound it within an ornamental cover and stamped a few Christmas-themed graphics on the margins. What used to be a rather plain collection of 8 ½ x 11 pages had become a beautiful keepsake.

The moral of this little holiday tale? Creative gifts can be great! Do you have a story to tell, or perhaps a drawing to share? Or do you have a budding artist in your circle of friends or family? Here are some great gift ideas for those special folks:

Make your letters (or saccharine stories) look like instant classics. $15.95

Stencils make stationery pop. $14.95

Your “distracted” cousin will love it. Just tell him to unwrap it away from the parents. $9.95

Lists are not just for errands and chores. $16.95

Happy Holidays!

Matt Robinson
Art + Design

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The editor is in! Chronicle Books is proud to announce an all-new event: Pitch for Charity.

Come to our San Francisco office on Wednesday December 8th from 3-5 p.m., pitch your book, and you’ll receive in-person feedback from a Chronicle Books editor. If the project is a match, one day you could be a Chronicle author! A suggested donation of $10 will go to Habitat for Humanity.

Here are the details:
Wednesday, December 8th
3:00–5:00 p.m.
Chronicle Books
680 2nd Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
$10 suggested donation

Here’s how it will work:
You arrive at 3:00 p.m. with your materials. A Chronicle employee will check you in and sign you up for a ten-minute time slot. When it’s your turn, be ready to give your pitch in five minutes or less. The editor will use the remaining five minutes to ask you questions about your project and give you constructive feedback.

The best pitches will include:
• A well-honed and practiced pitch that clearly describes what your project is, who it’s for, and why you’re the person to write/create it
• A cover sheet that includes a concise description of the project
• 10-15 pieces of sample art, if necessary. (Make copies—please don’t bring original art!)
• Sample text—two to three pages at most—that can be read by the editor during your meeting and that you feel is best representative of your work.
• Contact information: phone number and email address.
• A good knowledge of what we publish—check out www.chroniclebooks.com to determine if your project might be a match for us.

For more detailed submission guidelines, go to: www.chroniclebooks.com/submissions
*Please note: Our children’s publishing group will only be reviewing picture books at the event.

Just as with all submissions we receive, your project may not be right for Chronicle, but we are also glad to help suggest other avenues for your work, whether that’s with another publisher, a magazine, a blog, or self-publishing services.

We’re looking forward to meeting you face-to-face, offering immediate feedback—and possibly publishing your book!

Think you’ll attend? Have questions? Talk to us in the comments section below.