Sunday, February 28, 2016

New Feature – Tell Me What You Think


With the publishing industry constantly evolving and more and more information made available to readers, I’m thinking of starting a new segment here where I can share something new from Penguin Random House with you.

Recently Penguin Random House’s digital video department started sending out a weekly release featuring recently produced PRH video clips. These clips feature a wide range of book-inspired topics and author anecdotes, from top-name authors talking about the first thing they ever wrote, to passersby trying to guess what a book is about based only on the cover.

They have two video channels, Papercuts and Videracy, which broadly cover “Fiction” and “Non-fiction,” respectively. In general, Papercuts features two new videos per week, and Videracy features one. 

In this week’s release Gayle Forman (IF I STAY) is discussing romance novelist Jackie Collins; there’s a stop-motion tribute to Mark Watney (the main character from THE MARTIAN); film critic David Thomson (HOW TO WATCH A MOVIE) is critiquing Stanley Kubrick; and there a series called Fiction to Fashion where we assemble an outfit inspired by a book (in this clip, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir).

Author Gayle Forman on discovering romance novelist Jackie Collins | authorcuts - At a very young age, author Gayle Forman (I WAS HERE) began reading the works of romance novelist Jackie Collins (LUCKY; HOLLYWOOD WIVES). While "completely inappropriate," they proved to be the ultimate escape.


Meet Mark Watney from Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN | kick-a** characters - Why do we love astronaut Mark Watney? Hint—it's more than just the form-fitting spacesuit. Let us introduce you using the only medium appropriate for interstellar travel: Stop-motion.


A regal Roman outfit inspired by Sabaa Tahir's AN EMBER IN THE ASHES | Fiction to Fashion - Fiction Fashionista Julie puts a summery spin on ancient Rome, taking inspiration from AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir. It's all about the gladiator sandals.


Critiquing the films of Stanley Kubrick | Author David Thomson with Michael Barker - David Thomson (film critic and author of HOW TO WATCH A MOVIE) and Michael Barker (Co-President of Sony Pictures Classics) discuss Thomson’s ambivalence toward EYES WIDE SHUT, and how a film can change over time. 


Thanks for stopping by today. What do you think about the videos? What do you think about having a feature on them once or twice a month? Would you rather have links to all the videos with nothing playing on the blog or would you rather have a couple of videos only? Please let me know what you think and what you’d like to see.

7 comments:

  1. Videos don't float my boat and use a LOT of my internet allowance.
    However, go with the flow. If people like them, go with them.

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  2. Hi Mason - fascinating new feature - definitely yes. I looked at two - the Roman fashion one and the Kubrick one ... I'd love to have more - cheers Hilary

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  3. The Martian one is funny. And anything about movies I'm all for. Of course, if I was a top Penguin Random House author, I'd like the book ones even more knowing my book would be included at some point.

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  4. These are really interesting, Mason! Thank you for sharing! It's so nice to know what's going on in the publishing industry, and to know what other authors are doing.

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  5. I think the feature is a great fit for you site. I would say one or two videos at a time 'cause you know, internet attention span. I suppose you could offer a brief overview for non-video watches.

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  6. I have to say, I'm glad people are paying tribute to Jackie Collins. I read a few of her novels when I was a teenager and I'm sure some of her writing shaped me as a writer today, as did all of the writers I read back then.

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  7. How clever. I think it would be a great feature.

    I still think they should have named the merger Random Penguin. LOL

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.