January 28, 2019
Marcel’s Letters is now being distributed by Simon & Schuster
I will confess I don’t know the in’s and out’s of book sales/distribution. But I learned that as of January 1, the distribution of Skyhorse Publishing’s catalog, including Marcel’s Letters, changed from Perseus to Simon & Schuster and inventory was transferred to Simon & Schuster’s warehouse.
It isn’t clear how this change was communicated to booksellers, and I’ve heard rumblings there is a perception the book is unavailable. If you are a bookseller and are experiencing issues finding the book, please let me know!
December 31, 2018
A year-end note of gratitude
Between attending twenty book clubs, giving two dozen public and private presentations on the font and French forced labor, reuniting with my Kindergarten teacher (she’s wearing a black turtleneck in the photo collage below), being on live television and radio, driving more than 2,500 miles to meet readers, participating in a book festival and an author fashion show (who me?!), hearing from a reader who knew Marcel, having the book come out in softcover, and returning to Paris to spend a day with Marcel’s family, 2018 has been a whirlwind of a year.READ MORE
December 24, 2018
December 24, 1943: “Maybe I’ll be there next year, who knows…”
Friday, December 24, 1943
Hi, RAT,
Where the hell have you been? Do you realize that I haven’t heard from you in over two months? You son-of-a gun, just wait till this damned war is over! I’ll fix you! Just wait!READ MORE
December 23, 2018
December 23, 1943: “Hoping…the bad moments that we are all going through will soon be ended.”
Lyon, December 23, 1943
My little Etta,
I hope that this card will give you the most sincere wishes that I am sending, hoping that the new year will be good for you, and that both of you will enjoy good health and that the bad moments that we are all going through will soon be ended.READ MORE
December 21, 2018
December 21, 1943: “tender kisses that I form very far from you but are no less sincere.”
December 21, 1943
My beloved little darling,
I was happy this evening to read your letter of December 6, learning that you received your money order and yes, my darling, so far I have had a good amount on pay day but believe me, your words of thanks touched me also this evening. READ MORE
December 17, 2018
December 17, 1943: “Seven more days of shopping until Xmas”
Friday, December 17, 1943
Dear Maggie,
There is still very little to write about and we’re all getting a little bit tired of this riding but guess we’ll make out all right. I won’t be able to mail this for some time yet but am writing anyway. Will send you a number of letters in one envelope as I did the last letter I sent. I’m going to try to send a wire soon so stand by. READ MORE
December 12, 2018
A Return to Paris and Promises Kept
W A R N I N G : B O O K S P O I L E R S A H E A D
Last year at the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI) conference in Montreal (watch my talk here), I learned ATypI’s 2018 conference would be held in Antwerp, Belgium. After realizing Antwerp was an easy two-hour train ride from Paris, I realized I had found the perfect excuse to return to the City of Lights.
December 10, 2018
Page 29: The pioneer journal of Eliza Steele
As part of the ongoing collection of images showing moments or items mentioned in the book, Marcel’s Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man’s Fate, here is the faux journal mentioned on page 29.READ MORE
December 2, 2018
“Is ‘Marcel’s Letters’ a good book for my teen?”
I heard this question from three different parents at an event last week. My answer is generally an unequivocal “no.”READ MORE
November 27, 2018
Marcel’s Letters is awarded a gold medal by the Military Writers Society of America
Members of The Military Writers Society of America gathered in Charleston, South Carolina November 8–11, 2018 for their annual conference and awards banquet.READ MORE
November 19, 2018
Page 51: The zigzag afghan
Readers have told me they enjoy seeing photos of events mentioned in the book, such as this moment from page 64. In the coming weeks I will try to post more of these moments/artifacts.READ MORE