Soft Skull News

As the soon-to-be publisher of Frédéric Mitterrand's memoir in the United States we have been following closely the current discussion concerning Mr. Mitterrand in the press. We'd just like to say that what is most surprising to us regarding the situation is that Mr. Mitterrand's story has for quite some time been public knowledge to the French people, and in the most high-profile fashion. The Bad Life was published four years ago and became a bestseller in France. The controversial passages have been known to us all along and, among other things, it was the frankness and thoughtfulness with which Mr. Mitterand discussed his life that drew us to the project. Whether you agree with Mr. Mitterrand’s story or habits, he approaches them with a compelling and thought-provoking honesty and we continue to stand behind this elegant and brave book in the same way we have since undertaking to publish it here. As a publisher, Soft Skull has always embraced controversial conversations. That which makes us uncomfortable certainly warrants further rather than less scrutiny.

We look forward to releasing The Bad Life quite soon.

Posted by Denise Oswald at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We're torn between two covers for our next book by Martin Millar (coming out in January). The book, which glows with Martin's signature combination of warmth, humor, myth, and rock'n'roll, is called RUBY AND THE STONE AGE DIET and tells the story of a friendship between two young, lovelorn squatters in South London.

I quite like both of these. If you have an opinion as to which would make the more effective cover, can you email me at anne@softskull.com? Would really appreciate any and all feedback.

Posted by Anne Horowitz at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Turn your volume way up.

Posted by Anne Horowitz at 06:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Available this fall.

Posted by Anne Horowitz at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As promised, a link to the front page NYTBR review of Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys. Also this, a chance to see some of the contributors tell their stories in person at Modern Times. Looks like an excellent program.

Posted by Anne Horowitz at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So excited! For a small press like us, it's always a lovely thing to have a book favorably reviewed in the New York Times Book Review. But an absolutely glowing front page review is something that really doesn't happen all that often! In the forthcoming edition (8/23) of the NYTBR, Toni Bentley calls Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys "an eye-opening, occasionally astonishing, brutally honest and frequently funny collection from those who really have lived on the edge in a parallel universe." Congratulations to co-editors David Henry Sterry and RJ Martin for pulling together a truly wonderful anthology. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to the review yet, but here is another bit of it: "The collection is a wonderful reminder that good writing is not about knowing words, grammar or Faulkner, but having that rare ability to tell the truth, an ability that education and sophistication often serve to conceal."

Posted by Anne Horowitz at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

http://flavorwire.com/31088/jacked-by-jamba-juice-david-rees-get-your-war-on

Posted by Denise Oswald at 05:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As a short girl (with a massive attitude) myself, I can't help but root a little extra hard for Isobella Jade and her forthcoming, semi-autobiographical graphic novel, MODEL LIFE. So I was really pleased to see this early nod for the book from the mainstream fashion world:

http://www.allure.com/beauty/blogs/reporter/2009/07/modeling-gets-graphic.html

Posted by Denise Oswald at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

. . . the supremely awesome book trailer for Jeff Martin's supremely awesome book, MY DOG ATE MY NOBEL PRIZE. It goes down extremely well with this supremely awesome blurb:

"Jeff Martin is a first class liar. Even better than me." --James Frey

My Dog Ate My Nobel Prize Trailer from Connor Raus on Vimeo.

Posted by Denise Oswald at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In recent days, Nasrin Alavi, author of one of the only books on digital communications in Iran, has been providing a good deal of insightful coverage of the situation unfolding there, but perhaps this article, which appeared a little while back in the New Internationalist, provides the greatest amount of insight into the cultural history and crucial importance of blogging in Iran. As she so presciently wrote at that time, ""It is this generation that will ultimately determine the future of Iran."

Posted by Anne Horowitz at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)