Kidnapping, Terrorism, Books

It’s time once again to share some amazing videos from Penguin Random House (@penguinrandom) that cover a vast array of topics from kidnapping to terrorism to books and so much more.

I had planned to share an audio review with you today, but this first video just struck a chord with me and I had to share it. I guess it’s my background as a journalist that made this one so moving. Then I decided to share the rest of the videos as well.

To view each of the videos just click on the highlighted link at the end of the caption. There are also links for sharing on Twitter and Facebook.

The photo that represents my kidnapping in Libya | Author Lynsey Addario

In 2011, photojournalist Lynsey Addario (author of IT’S WHAT I DO) was kidnapped in Libya and held hostage for six days. Her colleague later took a photo of her abandoned shoe, which spoke to her more than her own photographs. http://bit.ly/2eFzgAh

To RT @videracy: https://twitter.com/videracy/status/796079868928610305

Anwar Al-Awlaki's terrorism recruitment tools | Author Scott Shane 

Journalist and author Scott Shane (OBJECTIVE TROY) describes how now-deceased American citizen Anwar Al-Awlaki used an online magazine to inspire and recruit terrorists. http://bit.ly/2eoLeRL

To RT @videracy: https://twitter.com/videracy/status/793445009882177537

Stock Video Women Show You How to Read

They may be nameless actors in generic stock footage, but there is no doubt that Stock Video Women love to read. Let them show you 11 of their favorite reading methods. Can you dig the funky jams? http://bit.ly/2fFCzvC

To RT @ReadItForward: https://twitter.com/ReadItForward/status/796740952836567040

To share Read It Forward's post on FB: https://www.facebook.com/ReadItForward/posts/10154671548539715

Comedian Jo Firestone presents OLIVER TWIST | Last Minute Book Report

After reading the book in 10 minutes, comedian Jo Firestone gives a report on Charles Dickens's OLIVER TWIST. Please sir, we'd like some more time to study. http://bit.ly/2ffmNp8

To RT @ReadItForward: https://twitter.com/ReadItForward/status/794185427137794050

To share Read It Forward's post on FB: https://www.facebook.com/ReadItForward/posts/10154649592244715

Author Sarah Kuhn on punctuation, genres, and inspiring books | Author Shorts

Author Sarah Kuhn (HEROINE COMPLEX) discusses her favorite punctuation mark, the em dash (—), Anne of Green Gables, and who she would pick for her dream book club. http://bit.ly/2fo8rSG

To RT @penguinrandom: https://twitter.com/penguinrandom/status/795735830786666496

Author David Levithan: When I knew I was a writer | Author Shorts

Author David Levithan (ANOTHER DAY) reveals the moment he knew he was going to be a writer—in 3rd grade. http://bit.ly/2fdKM7P

To RT @penguinrandom: https://twitter.com/penguinrandom/status/793189732222169088

Thanks for stopping by today. Has a photo ever spoke to you about a certain circumstance or event? If you’re an author, when did you know you were going to be a writer?

New Videos Update

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared any video clips with you from Penguin Random House so I thought today would be a good day to make up for that.

To see the video just click on the link at the end of each description.

AUTHOR SHORTS (Authors talk craft and life)

Author Adam Gidwitz discusses his early writing, young readers, and procrastination | Author Shorts - Author Adam Gidwitz (THE INQUISITOR'S TALE) looks at three aspects of his writerly life including: his first memorable work, why he enjoys writing for children and the importance of procrastination. http://bit.ly/2eKXpuE

PAPERCUTS/Read It Forward (Fiction, Fun, Games)

THE LONG ROOM by Francesca Kay | Judge A Book - Play along as Judge a Book contestants at the Brooklyn Book Festival try to figure out what Francesca Kay's THE LONG ROOM is about ONLY by looking at its cover. Secrets? A murder? An ear? http://bit.ly/2ex55LI

VIDERACY (Non-fiction, Experts, Thought Leadership)

Using the Overview Effect as inspiration for photography | Author Benjamin Grant - Benjamin Grant (author of OVERVIEW) talks about the "Overview Effect," a term for the psychological shift astronauts experience after viewing Earth from afar, and how he applies the concept to his satellite image photography project. http://bit.ly/2dt0LMP

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you enjoyed the videos. How’s your weekend going? Reading or listening to any good books this weekend?

New Videos from Penguin Random House

It’s been awhile since I’ve featured any digital videos 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.

Illustrator Tim Miller (SNAPPSY THE ALLIGATOR DID NOT ASK TO BE IN THIS BOOK) talks about procrastination, and Travis Mills (TOUGH AS THEY COME) discusses misconceptions about being a ‘recalibrated veteran,’ and his experience with surviving quadruple amputee injuries. Photojournalist Lynsey Addario (IT’S WHAT I DO) talks about her work in war zones; comedian Jensen Karp (KANYE WEST OWES ME $300) tells stories from his time writing for World Wrestling Entertainment; Erik Axl Sund (the pen name of the Scandinavian author duo behind THE CROW GIRL) discusses the similarities between writing novels and writing music; and Henrik Timm (NINJA TIMMY) gives writing advice.

Just click on the link at the end of the explanation of each video to be taken to the video.

Illustrator Tim Miller talks procrastination | authorcuts - Tim Miller (illustrator of SNAPPSY THE ALLIGATOR) shares how he procrastinates, and why it's all part of the creative process. http://bit.ly/29z5xac

Misconceptions about being a recalibrated veteran | Author Travis Mills - Travis Mills (author of TOUGH AS THEY COME) is one of five soldiers to survive quadruple amputee injuries from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He discusses misconceptions others have about his experience, and why he doesn't dwell in the past. http://bit.ly/29z8Un0

My experience as a female photographer in war zones | Author Lynsey Addario - Lynsey Addario (author of IT'S WHAT I DO: A PHOTOGRAPHER'S LIFE OF LOVE AND WAR) discusses the advantages of being a female photographer in war zones, and shares a story of when she met Taliban fighters. http://bit.ly/29jWwaa

What it's like to write for WWE and Vince McMahon | Author Jensen Karp (aka "Hot Karl") - After leaving a potential rap career, Jensen Karp (aka "Hot Karl") had a job writing for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), including sketches for owner Vince McMahon. Read Jensen’s latest, KANYE WEST OWES ME $300. http://bit.ly/28Z3FaT

Erik Axl Sund on writing novels vs. writing music | authorcuts - Erik Axl Sund (the pen name of author duo Jerker Eriksson and Håkan Axlander Sundquist) discusses the differences between writing rock music and writing novels. Check out their latest book, THE CROW GIRL. http://bit.ly/295GGj9

Writing advice from author Henrik Tamm | authorcuts - Henrik Tamm (author of NINJA TIMMY) imparts writerly wisdom he tries to live by—Whether it's good or bad, write every day. http://bit.ly/29lyZnY

Thanks for stopping by today. What do you think about the videos?

New Videos from Penguin Random House

A few weeks ago I shared a number of videos with you from Penguin Random House and talked about making it a monthly event.

Well here’s some new videos for your viewing pleasure. This week I decided not to post any of the actual videos on the blog post since that does take time to load. Instead I’m sharing a bit about each video and a link to it where you can view any or all you’d like to see.

In the first group we have comedian Jacqueline Novak giving a “book report” on Steinbeck’s EAST OF EDEN (after reading it in ten minutes); Jake Wood (TAKE COMMAND) talking about his first memorable piece of writing; and Leigh Gallagher (THE END OF THE SUBURBS) discussing why people are moving to cities at higher rates. (These photos show the play button on them but they aren't active buttons.)

 Comedian Jacqueline Novak presents John Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN | Last Minute Book Report - After ten minutes of studying, comedian/author Jacqueline Novak (HOW TO WEEP IN PUBLIC) gives a book report on John Steinbeck's classic EAST OF EDEN. It gets philosophical. http://bit.ly/1ThWFKn

The story that author Jake Wood wrote to process loss | authorcuts - After losing a friend in Iraq, author Jake Wood (TAKE COMMAND) wrote a short story to help process the experience—it was the first piece of writing he was proud of. http://bit.ly/1nc3puQ

Why America is leaving the suburbs | Author Leigh Gallagher - Author Leigh Gallagher (THE END OF THE SUBURBS) looks at why, for the first time in 90 years, the populations of American cities are growing faster than the suburbs. Recent seismic changes point to an answer. http://bit.ly/1KYv3Hf

In the next group Alida Nugent (YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE ME) talks about the time one of her Fifty Shades of Grey tweets backfired; business expert Robin Koval (GRIT TO GREAT) discusses the importance of tenacity; and passersby in Times Square try to guess what Scott Hawkins’s THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR is about based only on the cover.

Author Alida Nugent on getting trolled | authorcuts - After participating in a Fifty Shades hashtag on Twitter, author Alida Nugent (YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE ME) received a flurry of responses... some not so positive. http://bit.ly/21O5RHB

Times Square checks out Scott Hawkins's THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR | Judge a Book - Play along as Judge a Book contestants in Times Square try to figure out what THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR by Scott Hawkins is about ONLY by looking at its cover. A ghost story? A mountain? An angry person? Find out if your guess is right. http://bit.ly/1Tfd6Xx

The importance of tenacity and staying focused | Author Robin Koval - Author Robin Koval (GRIT TO GREAT) discusses fixing our collective short attention span, and how a half-hour break can help keep you on task. http://bit.ly/1Yc25FN

In the final group Terry Brooks (THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES) talks about a writing assignment he had in 4th grade; workplace expert Angie McArthur (COLLABORATIVE INTELLIGENCE) discusses the benefits of embracing different styles of thinking; and our series Fiction to Fashion curates an outfit inspired by Carrie Brownstein’s HUNGER MAKES ME A MODERN GIRL.

Author Terry Brooks on the story he wrote in fourth grade | authorcuts - In fourth grade, Terry Brooks (THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES) wrote a haunted house story, and received an A+. It was the first step on his path to becoming a writer. http://bit.ly/1P8btn2

A rockin' outfit inspired by Carrie Brownstein's HUNGER MAKES ME A MODERN GIRL | Fiction to Fashion - Fiction Fashionista Julie curates a 90s-punk ensemble inspired by music icon / Portlandia star Carrie Brownstein's memoir, HUNGER MAKES ME A MODERN GIRL. http://bit.ly/1pj8GCd

The power of collaborative thinking | Author Angie McArthur - Author Angie McArthur (COLLABORATIVE INTELLIGENCE) addresses why dealing with other people is often our biggest challenge in the workplace, and the importance of embracing diverse styles of thinking. http://bit.ly/1YRcQ0O

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you found at least one (or all) of these videos entertaining. Do you like the feature better without any embedded videos? Any suggestions you’d like to make about this feature?

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.