All the books we produce at Bookmobile get the same care, attention, quality checks, and schedule. As well as the books we store, sell, and distribute at Itasca Books! As book lovers and print enthusiasts, we all browse the books we’re printing and/or distributing and end up with favorites—whether due to how the book is produced (nice use of a foil stamp), design, subject matter, writer, or even the title. A few recent favorites, and why, follow:
Adventures in Stone: Conceptual Designs for Twelve Grand Residences in the Castellated Style, by David Spellman, Hill House Publishing Company
Favorite of Lindsay Lake, Designer, Offset Print Buyer, and Production Coordinator:
It’s not very often that you get to see professionally illustrated floor plans of castles, and Adventures in Stone has 12! Designed and printed by Bookmobile, this book is 12″ x 12″ and printed 4-color throughout on our 80 lb. matte-coated EuroArt Plus white paper—specs that mimic the grandiosity of the castle designs within! It’s fascinating to see the variety in floor plans and style—each castle has a distinctive personality, and you can really let your imagination run wild while touring the different layouts.
Available for purchase on Itasca Books.
Bat City Review, Issue 20, Bat City Review, University of Texas at Austin
Favorite of Gretchen Franke, Customer Service Rep for Printing:
I just love this little literary journal and all of its magic inside—full of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and art. It always captivates me with its beautiful cover designs and visual content.
Printed at Bookmobile!
Order direct from Bat City Review here.
Bisous in Paris, by Eileen Zuber Troxel, Tangram Books
Favorite of Julie Poling, Customer Service Rep for Printing:
This is a sweet book about a little French bulldog having little Paris adventures. It is a fun way to learn about Paris as seen through a little dog’s eyes.
Bookmobile printed the hardcover edition!
Available for purchase direct from the publisher Tangram Books, Living Tastefully, Wet Paint Art, or Etsy.
Bluff: Poems, by Danez Smith, Graywolf Press
Favorite of Rachel Holscher, Director of Design & Digital Publisher Services:
It was an honor to assist with bringing this author’s powerful, visual poetry project from manuscript to book form.
Interior design and production management by Bookmobile.
Available for purchase at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.
The Braille Encyclopedia: Brief Essays on Altered Sight, by Naomi Cohn, Rose Metal Press
Favorite of Hans Weyandt, Manager of Distribution at Itasca Books:
Naomi Cohn’s The Braille Encyclopedia, from Rose Metal Press, is a wonderful example of how some physical books do things electronic versions cannot. The design, including Braille text on the cover and visuals within, is understated but functional and attractive. The essays are filled with depth and humor and perseverance.
Available for purchase on Itasca Books.
Horse Lovers: Unpacking the Female Fascination, by Karin L. Winegar, Horse Feed Press
Favorite of Annie Klessig, Metadata Coordinator at Itasca Books:
Horse Lovers had me at “Female Fascination.” Karin Winegar’s foray into women who love horses, herself at the top of that group, is a great gift for people who love animals. I’m not a horse lover per se, but this book is a Christmas present to myself. I’m looking forward to reading this deep dive into women and girls who are so drawn to horses.
Printed at Bookmobile!
Available for purchase on Itasca Books.
A Life in Objects, by Rob Barnard, Enshin Press
Favorite of Nicole Baxter, Director of Sales and Marketing:
I’m a ceramicist on the side, so of course I love this book. Rob’s pots are gorgeous and the photography shows off the shapes and the surfaces perfectly. I’m also a fan of a square trim size.
Printed at Bookmobile!
Available for purchase on Itasca Books.
Monster Portraits, by Del Samatar and Sofia Samatar, Rose Metal Press
Favorite of Aaron King, Administrative Assistant at Itasca Books:
It’s very cool to work with so many publishers who belong to Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. They’re on the cutting edge of poetry, microfiction, and literary criticism, and I love to walk through the warehouse and see what wild things they’re cooking up. For instance, Monster Portraits contains dozens of pen-and-ink images of beasts, creatures, and creepy-crawlies, each with accompanying prose by Sofia Samater, who I’ve loved since reading A Stranger in Olondria. Part bestiary, part short story collection, part sibling rivalry, Monster Portraits will hypnotize you with intricate drawings and lush prose.
Available for purchase on Itasca Books.
Scenes from Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kamakura, by Kendric Tonn
Favorite of Dieter Slezak, Director of Production:
I am planning a trip to Japan in the near future and am inspired by his drawings and stories. Plus I like that it’s a hardcover with a slip case.
Bookmobile did the design and typesetting, then printed the paperback edition, a printed case hardcover edition, and a cloth hardcover plus slipcase edition! Why so many editions? To fulfill Kendric’s different levels of Kickstarter backers.
More on the artist Kendric Tonn here.