We have the hardcover, the softcover, the audio book, and now the Google maps version too - or is that the interactive games version? This curious new interactive book promotion from Penguin books will offer interactive versions of six classic titles. The first installment, The 21 Steps, tells a tale of … well I’m not exactly sure what … but it is told via Google Maps. Jeremy Ettinghausen, Digital Publisher on Penguin’s official blog suggests that we spend so much time (and our daily reality) in the web, so why shouldn’t we bring our creativity and imagination to this medium? If the words-on-paper novel is the creative media of the publishing age, what other medium can we use to create “books” relevant to the media that now immerses our daily lives.

Oh, and of course, it’s a clever marketing tactic to sell more copies of overlooked titles as well.

We’re delighted to accept the Gold Medal in the first ever Axiom business book Awards program in the category of Communication Skills/Networking. The deck of cards was developed by actor/coach Jane Marla Robbins who teaches the actors’ craft to ordinary people who can bring these skills to their everyday lives. It’s a self-help “book” that is fun-to-use and instantly accessible. Fun, everyday situations making learning these techniques not-so-business-as-usual.

We’re thrilled to announce our newest arrival, Sane Fitness Preggers. This new workout deck is designed to help active moms-to-be modify and, more importantly, continue working out during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of Pregnancy. (And it’s totally cute too!)

Shape magazine’s fitting in fitness blogger reviewed the cards.

From Newsweek, March 10, 2008 Checklist

Buy My Money Matters kit. Get financially fit with this box full of tips and tools. Daily affirmations, workbooks and journals are a few of the clever user-friendly parts of this kit to help you save, set goals and spend wisely ($24.95; mymoneykit.com).

Lots of projects are coming in right now, which means I need more help than ever. So a friend recommended elance.com. I posted the details of the job I needed done, and within a day I had dozens of bids on my projects from qualified vendors I wouldn’t have found otherwise. The site shows portfolios, references, and qualifications of each vendor. What I especially like that as a provider, I put my payment in escrow and elance.com will release it to the vendor when I’m happy with the work. They even take care of the 1099’s. Nice!

I showed my daughter this online wordprocessor, and she wrote back…

You’ll find a certain shade of lipstick in the hardcover edition of Cathy’s Book, but you’ll have to use your imagination on the shade in the softcover. Wouldn’t it be interesting if regional editions of books boasted different shades that reflected local tastes? I digress. The hardcover edition of the young adult book was sponsored by Cover Girl — product placement in exchange for advertising on a corporate website.  The placement has been removed for the paperback edition — the promotion had expired. Since our culture is saturated with product, it seems mostly harmless, and in fact, a potential revenue stream might be another avenue for publishers and authors who know their audience’s tastes.

Proofing manuscripts is perhaps the bane of my existence. Once I’ve created a version of a manuscript, I’ll send it out to the author, a copyeditor, and sometimes an outside reader. Then I’ll coordinate all those comments before the next round. I’ve held out hope for some kind of easy-to-use Acrobat system, but it’s still hard to use and expensive to buy all those licenses too. Enter Proof HQ - this sweetheart new service allows you to upload your proofs and emails a link to everyone who needs to review them. The beauty of this service is that is keep everyone’s comments all in one place. Very nice!

I bid farewell to my local Border’s Bookstore here in White Plains. Everything’s 40% off today and the store closes permanently on Saturday. That just leaves Barnes & Noble, which is newer and bigger than the Borders was.

But I have to wonder, if we’re already suffering from so much information overload, could it signal a coming end to the mega-overloaded bookstore? It’s a wish of mine to have a tiny local bookstore with a proprietor who knows my name (and, of course! sells my books).

I’m thrilled to read about Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo plans for a bookstore in yesterday’s New York Post She won a $15,000 grand prize from the Brooklyn Public Library last week to help make her dream of a cozy neighborhood shop come true. I can only hope it’s a sign of the return of the small bookseller.

I can’t wait to start making books for the Amazon Kindle…. of course, I can’t wait to get my Kindle first. This new ebook reader, which is already sold out for this Christmas season, uses digital ink technology that’s easier to read than other digital devices. The paperback size and ergonomic controls along with wireless instant book (and newspaper downloads) make it the first e-reader to get excited about.