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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:09:17 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Textbook Stuff News</title><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/</link><description></description><lastBuildDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:28:07 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright></copyright><language>en-GB</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><itunes:author>Barnaby Edwards</itunes:author><itunes:category text="Arts"/><item><title>Our fan art gallery is growing!</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:17:27 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/8/25/our-fan-art-gallery-is-growing.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:12622725</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><a href="javascript:showFullImage('/display/ShowImage?imageUrl=%2Fstorage%2Fwolf_WarmingFilter_1.jpg%3F__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION%3D1314278457885',318,616);"><img src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/thumbnails/5762795-13844501-thumbnail.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1314278457886" alt="" /></a></span></span>Last month we launched our<a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/gallery/fan-artwork/"> fan art gallery</a> and already it's packed with some absolutely fabulous works of art. But we want more!</p>
<p>Remember: we're looking for original drawings, paintings and photomontages illustrating any of the poems or stories covered by our releases. Anything from a pencil sketch of Christina Rossetti's poem 'Goblin Market' to a full-blown oil painting of Edgar Allan Poe's 'Masque of the Red Death' - just scan it and upload it. We'll be posting the best works in our online gallery for everyone to admire - and each month we'll award a free download of one of our titles to the best entry.</p>
<p>Last month's winner was 'The Great Wolf' by Sue Mydliak (see above), who wins a copy of <a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/tsch002/">Bram Stoker - Dracula's Guest &amp; Other Dark Tales</a> read by Peter Guinness.</p>
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<p>You may upload the files via our Artwork drop box <a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/artwork/">here</a>. We'll post our favourite pieces in our <a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/gallery/fan-artwork/">gallery</a>.</p>
<p>N.B. By uploading to our site, you grant us permission to use your artwork on our website or for publicity purposes via other social media. We will not use it commercially without your permission and you retain copyright.</p>
</div>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-12622725.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Poems for all occasions</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:44:30 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/7/17/poems-for-all-occasions.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:12139680</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/forumbadges/forum-suggestions.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1310895949572" alt="" /></span></span>Have you ever tried to find the perfect poem for Valentine's Day or to read at a funeral or simply to celebrate the beauty of springtime? It's not easy, is it? You can spend hours trawling the internet, often to little avail.</p>
<p>Well, we've gone through our poems, sorted them into helpful categories - Love, Children and Childhood, War, Autumn and so forth - and organized them into a single list. Now, you only need visit one web page to find that special poem for each and every occasion: <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/occasions/">this one</a></strong>.</p>
<p>For those of you wishing to send a poem to that special someone, we've hot linked each of the poems in our list to iTunes, which will allow you to 'gift' an individual poem. Why not send a friend Christina Rossetti's 'A Birthday' on their special day? Or declare your undying love for someone with Andrew Marvell's 'To His Coy Mistress'?</p>
<p>As we release more poetry titles, we'll add more poems to this list and expand the categories to incorporate new occasions and new themes. As ever, we'd love to hear your suggestions on what you'd find most useful. Please post them in our <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/poetry-forum/">Poetry Forum</a></strong>.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-12139680.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Calling all artists</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:39:27 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/7/8/calling-all-artists.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:12046808</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 250px;" src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/Charles Dickens artwork.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1310132463309" alt="" /></span></span>Textbook Stuff is all about bringing literature to life and we'd like to expand that brief to include your artwork on our website.</p>
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<p>We'd love to showcase your drawings, paintings and photomontages, so please send us your illustrations for any of the poems or stories covered by our releases. Anything from a pencil sketch of Christina Rossetti's poem 'Goblin Market' to a full-blown oil painting of Edgar Allan Poe's 'Masque of the Red Death' - just scan it and upload it. We'll be posting the best works in our online gallery for everyone to admire - and each month we'll award a free download of one of our titles to the best entry.</p>
<p>You may upload the files via our Artwork drop box <a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/artwork/">here</a>. We'll post our favourite pieces in our <a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/gallery/fan-artwork/">gallery</a>.</p>
<p>N.B. By uploading to our site, you grant us permission to use your artwork on our website or for publicity purposes via other social media. We will not use it commercially without your permission and you retain copyright.</p>
</div>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-12046808.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>iTunes, Amazon, Play, Tesco, HMV and others</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:32:35 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/6/8/itunes-amazon-play-tesco-hmv-and-others.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:11731287</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/itunes10logo.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1307525780319" alt="" /></span></span>We're delighted to announce that we're making it even easier for you to get your hands - and ears - on our audiobooks.</p>
<p>You can now buy our titles from a range of online outlets, including iTunes, Amazon, Play, Tesco Digital, HMV Digital, We7, TuneTribe, 7digital, fnac and, of course, direct from us!</p>
<p>Do please tell your friends and family.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-11731287.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Suggestions for our Non-Fiction range</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:58:10 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/6/6/suggestions-for-our-non-fiction-range.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:11707317</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/forumbadges/forum-suggestions.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1307361569404" alt="" /></span></span>Following the success of our audiobook of <a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/tscnf001/"><strong>The Communist Manifesto</strong></a>, we're looking for suggestions for further non-fiction titles. For reasons of studio time and copyright law, we need the titles to conform to the following two precepts:</p>
<p><strong>1. The text must be out of copyright. </strong>The author and, where applicable, the translator need to have been dead for at least 70 years, i.e. 1941 or before.</p>
<p><strong>2. The text must be less than 60 pages in length.</strong> While we might all welcome an unabridged audiobook of <em>The Origin of Species</em>, there's simply no way we could keep the costs manageable for a book of that scale.</p>
<p>So long as the text meets those two criteria, any non-fiction title will be considered: political tracts, travelogues, letters, biographies, music or art reference works, literary criticism, philosophy, history, mathematics, science, economics, geography and so on. Where works have been translated, please specify the translation you'd recommend. That's it: be inventive.</p>
<p>We'll look at all your recommendations and, who knows, you may very well see your idea released as a Textbook Stuff title in the near future.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-11707317.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Buy direct from us</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 15:37:37 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/5/30/buy-direct-from-us.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:11620764</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/tscnf001/"><img src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/covers/tsnonfic001-sml.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1306769897512" alt="" /></a></span></span>To celebrate the release of our unabridged audiobook of <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/tscnf001/">The Communist Manifesto</a></strong>, Textbook Stuff is pleased to announce an equally bold advance into the capitalist arena. As of now, you can purchase all our releases direct from us.</p>
<p>On each listing page you will now see a yellow Buy Now button. If you click that, you will be taken straight through to PayPal where you can purchase that title using your PayPal account (or any of a host of credit and debit cards). Once we receive confirmation that the sale has gone through, we'll send you an e-mail with a personal link and password to download the sound files and a high-resolution copy of the artwork. Please note that this process may take up to 48 hours.</p>
<p>The MP3 files are at maximum sound quality - 320kbps, for you audiophiles - and once downloaded can be transferred to iTunes (or a media player of your choice) and thence to an MP3 player, smart phone, laptop or CD. The instructions are in the e-mail we send to confirm payment.</p>
<p>Buying direct from us means there's no middle man demanding his cut, which is great for us as it enables us to produce more high quality audiobooks for your money. But please don't feel in any way pressured to do so. We'll still be selling via iTunes, Amazon, Play and Lulu, and if you feel more comfortable purchasing from them, that's absolutely fine. Buying direct from us is simply another option.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-11620764.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Help bring Carmilla to life!</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2011 15:03:49 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/5/2/help-bring-carmilla-to-life.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:11327291</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.wefund.co.uk/project/sheridan-le-fanus-carmilla"><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/covers/tshor005.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1304349039044" alt="" /></a></span></span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We need your help! We've set up a pledge drive over at <a href="http://www.wefund.co.uk/project/sheridan-le-fanus-carmilla"><strong>WeFund.co.uk</strong></a> for an unabridged audiobook of Sheridan Le Fanu's definitive vampire story,&nbsp;<strong>Carmilla</strong>.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We're looking for investors to help make this audiobook a reality. You can pledge anything from &pound;1 to &pound;1,000 or more and, should we be successful, you'll receive a whole bunch of goodies by way of thanks.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">This seductive tale of literature's first ever female vampire would be given the complete Textbook Stuff treatment of full sound design and music, creating an unabridged audiobook of around three and a half hours' duration - our most ambitious project to date.&nbsp;<br /><br />The way the pledge drive works is that people donate money toward the target amount. If the target is reached, the project goes ahead. If the target isn't reached,&nbsp;it costs you nothing. No money is taken from your account unless and until the target is reached. It's a brilliant way of funding the creative arts and, if it works, could well be the way forward for Textbook Stuff.<br /><br />If you want to know more about the project, watch the video here:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.wefund.co.uk/project/sheridan-le-fanus-carmilla"><span style="font-weight: normal;">http://www.wefund.co.uk/project/sheridan-le-fanus-carmilla</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">And do tell your friends!</span></strong></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-11327291.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Book Club titles for April</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:25:28 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/4/16/book-club-titles-for-april.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:11170308</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/"><img src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/forumbadges/forum-reviews.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1298204429594" alt="" /></a></span></span>Welcome to Book Club. The first rule of Book Club is: you <strong>do</strong> talk about Book Club.</p>
<p>Following a successful trial, we've now launched our very own <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/">Book Club</a></strong> where you can chat about literary matters&nbsp;with fellow book lovers, review titles, join us in reading a wide variety of literature and even shop for titles in our dedicated <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club-bookshop/">Book Club bookshop</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Each month we select four titles - modern fiction, classic, children's and non-fiction - and you can read along and discuss each book with fellow Book Club members. You can also start your own threads on books you think other members might like to investigate. We're delighted to see that several published authors have decided to become involved in Book Club - Peter Labrow, Christopher Herz and others. How often do we get the opportunity to chat directly with writers about their work?</p>
<p>The four titles we'll be reading in March are:</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1464834">Penelope Lively - 'Family Album'</a></strong> (modern fiction)</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1464840">Thomas Love Peacock - 'Nightmare Abbey'</a></strong> (classic)</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1464838">Frederick Marryat - 'Children of the New Forest'</a></strong> (children's)</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1464831">Melvyn Bragg - 'The Adventure of English'</a></strong> (non-fiction)</p>
<p>Happy reading!</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-11170308.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>50% off on World Book Day</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:05:42 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/3/3/50-off-on-world-book-day.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:10663802</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/hJVft3"><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/world book day.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1299168791143" alt="" /></a></span></span>To celebrate World Book Day, all Textbook Stuff's audiobooks are half price on <strong><a href="http://bit.ly/hJVft3">Lulu.com</a>.</strong> Unabridged supernatural stories by Charles Dickens, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe and M.R. James are all at &pound;5, while poetry collections by Edward Thomas, Christina Rossetti, Andrew Marvell and Robert Browning are just &pound;4!</p>
<p>Every release is available in crystal-clear 320kbps quality, read by some of the biggest names in the business, including Martin Jarvis, John Sessions, Miriam Margolyes, Andrew Sachs and David Soul.</p>
<p>This offer ends at midnight, so what are you waiting for?</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-10663802.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Book Club titles for March</title><dc:creator>Textbook Stuff</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:19:14 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/2011/2/20/book-club-titles-for-march.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">504255:5788552:10542492</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/"><img src="http://www.textbookstuff.com/storage/forumbadges/forum-reviews.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1298204429594" alt="" /></a></span></span>Welcome to Book Club. The first rule of Book Club is: you <strong>do</strong> talk about Book Club.</p>
<p>Following a successful trial, we've now launched our very own <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/">Book Club</a></strong> where you can chat about literary matters&nbsp;with fellow book lovers, review titles, join us in reading a wide variety of literature and even shop for titles in our dedicated <strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club-bookshop/">Book Club bookshop</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Each month we select four titles - modern fiction, classic, children's and non-fiction - and you can read along and discuss each book with fellow Book Club members. You can also start your own threads on books you think other members might like to investigate. We're delighted to see that several published authors have decided to become involved in Book Club - Peter Labrow, Christopher Herz and others. How often do we get the opportunity to chat directly with writers about their work?</p>
<p>The four titles we'll be reading in March are:</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1411639">Douglas Adams - 'The Salmon of Doubt'</a></strong> (modern fiction)</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1411647">Marx &amp; Engels - 'The Communist Manifesto'</a></strong> (classic)</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1411646">Philip Reeve - 'Here Lies Arthur'</a></strong> (children's)</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.textbookstuff.com/book-club/post/1410923">Jon Ronson - 'The Men Who Stare At Goats'</a></strong> (non-fiction)</p>
<p>Happy reading!</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.textbookstuff.com/news/rss-comments-entry-10542492.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>
