NEW BLOG

To anyone and everyone who has looked at this blog:

I've moved everything over to WordPress. I'll probably update this periodically, lohazelo.wordpress.com is my main blog from now on!

Cheers!

-Peach

Christmas Wish List

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Aritzia Cocoon Coat
Doctor Who: Complete Fifth Series
Amethyst Cluster Dreamcatcher (Green Earth)
Community 'Troy and Abed in the Morning' Mug
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab 'Dorian' Scent
Kobo Touch E-Reader Case with Light
Pendleton Dopp Bag
Rose Gold Slave Bracelet by Adelina Mictlan

New Things

1. White Witch Mohair Dress by French Connection with Vintage Bag and Lita Boots by Jeffrey Campbell

2. Vintage Cream Dress, Jeffries, Assorted Rings, My new favourite book

3. Chelsea Shearling Coat by UNIF, AA Thigh High Socks, Vintage Circle Bag, Jeffries

4. (Clockwise from Top Left)

Assorted Vintage Clutches, Tartan Gloves

Malaysian Wooden Ring, Crystal Ring by Laurie Fleming

American Eagle Clogs

Vintage Sunnies, Assorted Jewellery Cases

Aritzia Camel Lace Dress, Vintage Bag

Vintage Necklace, Bismuth Necklace by Laurie Fleming

-peach

Tall, Dark and Bitter

Here's a collection of what my boyfriend calls "Morticia" clothes. In love with them all. idgaf if I'm neo-Morticia, besides, I'm way too goddamned tanned for that.

(Bat Dress by Cheap Monday, Jagger Gown by Free People, Striped Maxi Dress by Free People, Fleamadonna Cape from Pixie Market, Rush Cape Dress by Stylestalker, Petal Tunic Dress by Jones and Jones for Top Shop, Twisted Maxi Dress from Nasty Gal, Forget It Dress by UNIF, Two-tone Dippy Wedge by Jeffrey Campbell)


-peach

These Are Nasty

I'm thinking that these will be my two major purchases for fall:

UNIF Chelesea Shearling Coat, and Jeffrey Campbell Lita Boots.

I found them on Nasty Gal, and I am majorly in love with both. I'm thinking they both go with maxi skirts, crop tops, leggings and oversized cardigans (ultimate staples of my wardrobe). Now, I'm off to find money and to write a dissertation about how I just need both of these items.

-peach

Things I Did on My 24-Hour Road Trip

1. Schemed to steal corn; yelled "CORN" every time I saw a corn field; looked longingly at a corn maze.

2. Decided to open a speakeasy for Amish people consisting of an internet cafe hidden in the haystacks of unassuming barns. Later, learned that I don't know anything about the Amish.

3. Contemplated becoming Amish. Later, contemplated somehow becoming Iroquoian.

3. Planned to tell Customs that I am bringing one peach into the US. Later, chickened out and hid my peach.

4. Made a semi-effective cooler out of a laundry bag, hotel garbage can and an ice bucket.

5. Drank six cups of coffee; felt sick.

6. Ate a steak with my hands while boyfriend looked on in admiration.

7. Stared at every truck driver until they looked at me.

8. Watched a Kardashian marathon alone in a king-sized bed.

9. Had a conversation in roars with my stuffed lion companion Rupert.

10. Watched boyfriend sleep; felt creepy.

11. Debated Milla Jovovich vs. Marion Cotillard; lost.

12. Debated Aragorn, Heir of Isildur vs. Trent Reznor; lost.

13. Listened to Freebird in its entirety.

14. Went to White Castle; found that it was closed; tried to Harold and Kumar it; failed and ate at Big Boy instead.

15. Napped in a parking lot.

-peach

Baptism by Fire: PubFighting with BNC Staffers

The first impression:

When I started my internship at BookNet, I just nodded nervously whenever someone mentioned the elusive Pubfight. As a former Ryerson Publishing student, the word had floated in and out of my consciousness for over a year. I wasn’t sure how it worked, but I knew people got excited about it. Then again, it could have easily turned out to be a poorly-hidden basement-of-a-library fight club for publishers. I was confused but intrigued.

The prep:

I gained some clarity when Sam Francis asked me to collect catalogues for PubFight’s master list. I googled my heart out; I bothered my publishing friends for catalogues; I almost broke my computer with fancy pdfs. It was good times. Seriously speaking though, I learned a ton from this task. I gained an understanding of publishing trends for the year, house objectives and interests, and lots of insight into what people are reading and what to pay attention to in the upcoming season.

The strategy:

 Auction time was fast approaching. Seeing as how I’d racked up numerous Kobo reading awards and spent an embarrassing amount of money and time at bookstores, I thought it would be a breeze to pick smashing titles for this year’s PubFight. Then my rational editorial side kicked in. There were questions to be answered: Should I pick titles I’d personally read? Should I pick titles I’d never read but that would certainly sell? Should I take a chance on new authors, or go vintage? I decided to do some research, explore SalesData, and look at the bestsellers from last year.

The auction:

When auction day came around, our boardroom was a whirl of anticipation, shameless tweeting, beer-sipping and free pizza. It was a good day to be an intern.

The auction started off innocently enough, but soon transformed into a roundtable of boasting, empty threats, side-eyes, questionable risks, self-destructive spending, and heckling. My BookNet colleagues are fierce under their tough metadata armour, it seems. By the end of it, everyone had pulled together impressive, slightly quirky lists, and I’d had a thoroughly engaging afternoon.

The outcome:

I came away with a list that combined personal preference and a mass audience scope, and both celebrated authors and up-and-comers – a mixed bag of literary goodness that I called Fancy Nerd Press (taken from one of the many jests overheard during auction). There’s new Murakami, Atwood and R.A. Salvatore in there, alongside bright young things like Maggie Stiefvater, Pittacus Lore and Larry Doyle.

The reason (for the season):

Pubfight gives me another way to pay attention to the publishing world, get excited about new releases, attend events and launches, blog about books more often and get to know authors I don’t know. It engages and connects publishing professionals and students alike, and provides a fun overview of trends and topics that are relevant right now.  

Now I’m busy figuring out print runs with the help of SalesData and advice from seasoned Pubfighters, and I can’t wait for the real battle to begin. It all starts next week!

 Bring it, bookworms!

-peach

Check out what PubFight is all about here.  

(x-posted to BookNet Canada's Blog) 

Thanks to Sam Francis for the title and the edits.