HARPERCOLLINS TO PUBLISH COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER BLACKOUT POEMS!
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Yep. You read that right. Here’s the official press release:
HARPERCOLLINS TO PUBLISH COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER BLACKOUT POEMS
July 8—HarperCollins has signed Austin Kleon to write a collection of his popular Newspaper Blackout Poems for a book due from Harper Paperbacks in September 2009. Instead of starting with a blank page, the Austin-based writer and cartoonist picks up a newspaper and a permanent marker and eliminates the words he doesn’t need. Kleon’s poems, which he began posting on his popular blog, have been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition and in Toronto’s National Post, and have been widely linked to on the internet. In addition to original poems by Austin, the book will contain submissions from his fans which will be solicited through a contest on the author’s website starting in August.
Though he will be updating his site periodically, Kleon will be taking a break from daily blogging to complete the book. Check back on the site in August to find out how you can submit your entry and be published in the upcoming book!
For press inquiries, please contact Audrey Harris at 212-207-7185 audrey.harris@harpercollins.com.
This has been in the works for a couple of months, and it’s KILLED me not to be able to share it with y’all. But now you know. Couple of thoughts:
- The book is going to be made up of completely new, never-before-seen poems. Although it isn’t out until Sept. 2009, the manuscript is due by the new year, so I’m going to be incredibly busy for the rest of the year making poems.
- While I won’t be posting new poems for the next six months, there’s still going to be a lot of activity here on the blog. In August, I’ll have more details about the contest. (So get out your newspapers and start practicing!)
- Obviously, this is huge, and Meg and I are really excited about the opportunity. But, to paraphrase Hugh MacLeod: I’m keeping my day job. The book might sell big, might not. In the meantime, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing: writing, drawing, and blogging.
As always, thanks so much to all of you who read the poems, comment, and link to them. If it weren’t for you and your support, I would have given up what started out as just a writing exercise a long time ago.
Stay tuned!
July 8th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Wow! Congrats! This is a very weird feeling looking back on how I stumbled on this blog a few years back via Mad Ink Beard and it seemed like a little intimate conversation with a few like minded folks and now it just keeps getting bigger and bigger!
I’ll buy a copy for sure
July 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Fuck yeah, man! Congratulations of the highest order!
July 8th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Congratulations!! Very exciting!
I am so practicing for the contest.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
WAY TO GO AUSTIN!!!
I guess I’d better be gettin’ to check out my supply of
usable Sharpies!
Congrats!
Susanne
July 8th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hoooooooooooooooooly crap! Can I pre-order like, now?
July 8th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Congrats, my friend! That’s awesome news.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Okay, this is bringing me out of lurkerdom! I’ve been a loyal follower of your blog for a while: you introduced me to Lynda Barry, for which I will be grateful forever and ever and ever, and I love your work : especially your newspaper blackout poems…
big congratulations!
melissa
July 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Yeeeeeeee-haw!
July 8th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Congrats Austin! If it hits big you can take us out for a big ‘Friday Lunch’ celebration
July 8th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
WOWOWOW. Congrats!
July 8th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Oh, that’s wonderful! Congratulations!
July 8th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Wow - that will be one unique book of poems. Are you going to do anything special for the cover / layout?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I’m so happy to hear the news. Actually, your mom just called to tell us, but as you know, I’ve been a fan of your work since I first checked out your site. Can’t wait for the book.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Wow, you’ve made the big time. I’m thoroughly impressed and giddy for you, buddy. And, of course, I plan to submit my own blackout poems for this book — I’m gonna try my damnedest to ride your coattails!
July 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Quite the accomplishment. Best of luck with the work ahead.
Maybe you’ll find some inspiration in this, that Todd found: http://www.smashingmagazine.co.....-examples/
July 9th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Congratulations, Austin! That’s great news!
July 9th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Congrats, man. I’ve been enjoying the blackout poems for some time now, and there’s no doubt they need a wider audience!
July 9th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Oh wow…thanks, everybody! Y’all are the best.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:52 am
My Good Buddy!
Your talent has been excellent and inspirational to me as long as I’ve known you. Hard work always pays off.
Congratulations and cheers to you, my friend!
2009: Kleon takes the literature world by storm!
2010: “Patch” follow-up makes Earth’s knees weak!
July 9th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Huge . . . immense . . . epoch-making.
Just wow.
Congratulations!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Big news! That’s great. Congratulations!!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Excellent!
July 9th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Hey, that’s excellent! I don’t usually buy a whole lot of books, but I’d say this one has a better-than-average chance of ending up on my bookshelf (if I ever have a bookshelf in a year). Congratulations, and I hope you manage to fill the book with poems half as interesting as the ones I’ve seen so far.
Oh, come to think of it…I’ve gotta admit that I really like the drawing + poem ones, like the alien one. If you can squeeze a few of those in there, that’d really be excellent.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Fantastic news, Austin!
July 10th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Good job Austin!!! That’s so Awesome!!! Hope to come visit you and Meg soon!! :]
July 10th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Way to go Son!
I’m very proud of you.
Dad
July 14th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Congratulations! How did the book deal come about? Did they contact you?
July 18th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Congratulations man! That’s really great. I love your poems and they definitely should be published.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
This is fantastic news! I read your site all the time, and I think you certainly deserve to have your awesome work in print. Congrats!
August 16th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
You do brilliant work! I look forward to the book. Congratulations!