If I sound a bit breathless it’s because I just returned from the biggest book industry trade show held in America each year: BEA. Publishers from around the globe exhibit their books and show-off future titles. Marketing Manager Stephen Vrattos and Publicist Jessica Hatakeda were representing Vertical, handing out cool freebies, and gushing over Vertical’s awesome line of books. Making their debut in the giveaway department were two new posters, one promoting The Complete Aranzi Hour, which will be on sale in October 2008, and the other promoting Black Jack, which will see the first of its 17 volumes premier in September 2008. Speaking of the Osamu Tezuka surgical wunderkind, Vertical also debuted exclusive Black Jack comic books, which contained a never-before-published-in-the-U.S. story. Stephen and Jessica practically had to hang garlic around their necks and carry crosses to stave off the rabid hordes, who wanted copies. Galleys of the chilling North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter were also available. This heart-wrenching memoir of a mother’s search for the truth behind her daughter’s 1977 disappearance will be on sale January 2009 and contains photos, maps, and a timeline of the harrowing events leading to the discovery of a frightening North Korean espionage program: the kidnapping of foreign nationals for the purpose of training spies in the customs and languages of said countries in order to more easily infiltrate them. Stephen and Jessica look forward to meeting more booksellers, librarians and other industry peeps at next year’s BEA in NYC.
Tags: convention, vertical event
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