Browsing Tag

technology

Behind the Books: Caren Lissner

It’s one thing to read an author’s books and attend their signings.

It’s quite another when you can get to know them without standing in line first.

Name: Caren Lissner

Best Known For: Carrie Pilby (2003)

Education: English & Creative Writing, University of Pennsylvania

Professional role model: Hmmm, hard to find one.

Current Employment and Projects:

Editor at a chain of weekly newspapers based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Project-wise, revising several different novels, including young adult novels, and hoping to publish one of them soon.

Describe your thoughts about e-reading in 140 characters or less:

Charmless but convenient.

Favourite magazine:

I just subscribed to Nerd Nite: The Magazine. Graphically, it reminds me of the old Mad Magazine, but more knowledge-oriented. Lots of fun. I also love getting Poets & Writers, New Jersey Country Roads (The Garden State does have a softer side!), and the New Yorker.

How important do you think it is for writers to be actively involved in social media? What do you predict about writers’ future role in promoting books?

It’s important for writers to get their work out there so it’s not overlooked in the rush of items competing for a reader’s attention. Writers will probably always have to promote their own work where they can. Blogging is helpful in keeping in touch with one’s readers, especially between books. And for those who really relate to your writing, they may want to know more about you.

Continue Reading

May 24, 2012 by

Smile and Share

Noticed a lot of blue and white lately? It’s probably because The Hospital for Sick Children’s SickKids Foundation launched their ‘Doing the Happy’ campaign – a great way to jumpstart the joyful season that is summer.

The excitement surrounding the campaign validates Globe writer Simon Houpt’s observations about what made the KONY 2012 video go viral. “Everyone loves kids,” he wrote.

Influencer engagement has been all the rage for a few years now, but tapping recognizable Canadian media personalities provides a nationalistic undertone, which helps enlist support. Though I couldn’t help but notice a slant toward featuring broadcast journalists from Bell Media, it was refreshing to see actors such as Ashley Leggat, whom I hadn’t seen since Toronto’s production of Dirty Dancing.

Houpt also urged marketers not to underestimate people’s attention spans. I predict that the campaign’s combination of a fun premise, worthy cause and clean visuals will lead to many more views for their 4+ minute long video.

Doing the Happy isn’t the only neat thing SickKids is doing in the digital space. Cundari recently developed a fantastic iPhone app that engages young patients. Through gamification, the app encourages kids to fill out pain diaries and report which medications are working best.

[2025 Update: Removed campaign YouTube video and website links which are no longer available.]

May 12, 2012 by

Goodnight iPad

Is the bird jumping over the moon supposed to be the bird from Twitter’s logo?

I’ve heard about research studies suggesting to unplug from gadgets 1 hour prior to bed to help clear your head of distractions and ease the falling to sleep process. Well, before you close your laptop tonight, watch this video.

This book might just be the best book for the technologically savvy iPad-toting parent who already knows what to expect when you’re expecting. And if you’re childless, pick it up as a coffee table book anyway – it can be a conversation piece when you’re entertaining guests and they look up from their phones to notice your decor.

I fondly remember reading this book, the original classic:

November 6, 2011 by

Is the iWood Laptop Wish List Worthy?

Now that Thanksgiving is over and Halloween costumes have (hopefully) already been picked out, it’s time to go shopping for gifts for the holiday season before the malls hit maximum capacity. 

For the youngsters on your list, you may want to consider buying an iWood laptop. Well, ‘laptop’ may not accurately reflect its true product description, but it sure looks like one. In the place of an LCD screen is a chalkboard and instead of a trackpad in the ‘keyboard’ area, there is a compartment to store pieces of chalk.

Chalkboards can offer a nice, creative aesthetic when aiming for laid back, eclectic or unique decor, so it only makes sense to let kids partake in the fun. Eight years old may be too young to appreciate owning an iPad, but for less than $60, the iWood laptop makes a great gift idea!

October 20, 2011 by