National Inventors Month

What's the first thing you think of when hearing the word "invention?" Most people think of electricity, or other important things that we cannot imagine living without. But what about the Ice-Cream Cone, or  Bubble Wrap? Can you imagine what life would be like without Post-Its or Velcro?

These, and other "Accidental Inventions" are shared with vivid images and fun stories from author Birgit Krols in a small little gallery of items from pop culture, foods, gadgets, toys and tools that we now consider indispensable.

Birgit Krols is a former film journalist who earned her living interviewing international movie stars before becoming editor-in-chief of a city lifestyle magazine. The author of several books, Krols lives in Antwerp, Belgium.

National Cartoonist Day

We could not let this annual celebration pass without mentioning our book, 100 Greatest Loony Tunes Cartoons, written by Jerry Beck.

In a world of rascally rabbits, megalomaniacal ducks, and stuttering pigs, what defines greatness? This question was posed to thousands of cartoon fans, historians, and animators to create The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons, the definitive Looney Tunes  collection. 

Evaluated on their comedic brilliance, innovative animation, historical significance, and creative merit, cartoon historian Jerry Beck and the Cartoon Brew team of animation experts reveal the amusing anecdotes and secret origins behind such classics as What's Opera, Doc?, One Froggy Evening, and Duck Dodgers in the 24th Century. Featuring more than 300 pieces of original art from private collectors and the Warner Bros. archives, The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons settles the debate on the best of the best, and poses a new question: Is your favorite one of the greatest?
You can also find more on the official Facebook page for 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons, where Jerry does a great job sharing content with fans.

Pinterest Contest for "Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife"

Let’s be honest. Your house does not look like the images you’ve recently pinned to your Pinterest Boards. Seriously.

Take a look around your house. Your kitchen, bathroom, home office, bedrooms and living rooms probably look much more like the images found in the book, “Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife.”

"Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife"
by Justin Stangel and Eric Stangel

We dare you to share real photos of your home interiors on Pinterest. We promise you’re not the only ones with messy countertops, cluttered closets or mis-matched furniture.

Follow the instructions below and you could win a copy of  “Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife” by Justin Stangel and Eric Stangel PLUS a $100 credit toward other books from Insight Editions (credit to be used on www.insighteditions.com).

UPDATE: The contest is now closed and our winner has been selected.

Charmed by Audrey

Audrey Hepburn remains a recognizable name and face from her roles in Sabrina, An Affair to Remember, and Breakfast at Tiffany's (to name a few).



Born May 4, 1929, Audrey remains one of few entertainers who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards.

In 1953, Paramount was making a film with a new actress named Audrey Hepburn. LIFE magazine assigned one of their top young photographers, Mark Shaw, to shoot a feature and he spent weeks with Audrey on and round the set. Mark Shaw's access to Audrey Hepburn, unheard of today, resulted in an amazing array of photos and over 60 rolls of film that captured the charm and grace on set and in everyday life. While the handful of photographs published in LIFE for the Sabrina article have lived on as beloved images of Hepburn, the majority of the negatives were misplaced and never published. Rediscovered 50 years later, these numerous never-before-seen photographs complete one of the most intimate looks at Hepburn's youth and rising star, Charmed by Audrey.

Source: insighteditions.com via Insight on Pinterest

Through Mother's Day, you can buy a copy of this and select titles from our Gift & Humor category at a 30% discount. You can find the discount code on the Insight Editions website or on our Facebook page. Discover more Audrey Hepburn images on our Charmed by Audrey Pinterest board.

2012 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Finalists

It's award time in the publishing world and we couldn't be more thrilled to announce another group of books and authors from Insight Editions that are included in this list of the 2012 Benjamin Franklin Awards Finalists by Independent Book Publishers Association.

 Biography:                                                                       

House of Cash: The Legacies of My Father, Johnny Cash
by John Carter Cash

Coffee Table Large Format:                                                

All Access: The Rock 'N' Roll Photography of Ken Regan
by Jim Jerome

Art and Photography:                                                        

Amazing Everything: The Art of Scott C.
by Scott Campbell

Interior Design: 3 or More Color; Children’s/Young Adult:    

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Film Making Journey

by Bob McCabe

Congratulations to our authors, the photographers, illustrators and the Insight Editions creative team that helped design the layouts of these books.

2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards

We are so pleased to announce that Insight Editions has four titles that appear on the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

2012 Award-winning books from Insight Editions: 

 

Biography
Gold: House of Cash: The Legacies of My Father, Johnny Cash, by John Carter Cash
 

Holiday
Gold: Christmas with the First Ladies: The White House Decorating Tradition from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama, by Collen Christian Burke

Humor
Silver: Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife, by Eric Stangel & Justin Stangel; Illustrated by Adam J. Raiti

Graphic Novel/Drawn Book – Humor/Cartoon
Gold: Amazing Everything, by Scott Campbell

Our authors listed above are quite active on Twitter, so make sure to Follow them and congratulate them for their award-winning status. If you're not already following Insight Editions, you should do that too!

May the Fourth Be With You

There are several stories surrounding Star Wars Day and how May 4th became the official holiday for Star Wars fans around the world. Our favorite is the story of how George Lucas' quote was lost in translation during an interview for a German news channel.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, Star Wars fans can dig a bit deeper with Sculpting a Galaxy and Dressing a Galaxy.  

     

Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop features more than 300 full-color photographs and illustrations from the Lucasfilm archives, models from all six films, interviews, images and text with concept sculptors, an overview of the ILM model shop from 1976 through today and numerous gatefolds of the most loved models.

While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern film. In Dressing a Galaxy, the intricate and beautiful fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films are on display from military gear to royal gowns and the iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from preproduction sketches to the final creations. Actors, including Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, provide commentary on their experiences during principal photography, while writer-director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum contribute their thoughts on this exploration of Star Wars costume design.

May the Fourth Be With You!