California was a dandy. Nothing but food and sun and relatives and more food. We played Guitar Hero with my cousins, we toasted my grandparents (at their anniversary bash), we ate authentic taquitos, we walked barefoot on the sand, we pondered the ferris wheel, we supped on real seafood, we drove in LA traffic, we drank mimosas for breakfast, we wound through the Hollywood Hills, we basked in the sun, we took pictures of everything, and we were happy to be home.

Frank’s right. When Lucy, Laura, Austin and Mr. Jones (he’s the loudest) are gone, it’s really quite dreary around here. (It surprisingly makes it hard to focus). There’s life downstairs, but I only see it when I grab lunch from the fridge. Frank and I eat in our office, and it’s an unspoken competition to see who’s food can smell the strongest. Jumbalaya always beats a chicken salad.

During a particularly quiet afternoon, Frank showed me a newsletter thing that claims to be full of “helpful information” for marketing executives to make wise decisions and $$. My favorite part was an article on the use of bullet points. The writer said the rule for bullet points is to have a list of 5 items, with the order of importance like this:

• Your most important point
• Your second-most important point
• A less important point
• Another less, dull, dry point
• The third-most important point.

I was thoroughly amused by the list and by the good-idea-ness of it, because as I was reading, I automatically glanced at the first two points, and then skipped down to the last one! (I now plan to be a little more conscious of how I put lists together for ads.)

[one] This year. Graduation is just around the corner (less than three months now!) and my focus is starting to shift away from writing “another paper” to “ooh! finishing up my thesis!” God only knows what’s around the corner, but I don’t doubt that it will be good.

[two] We’re carrying some new books! Okay, so that happens all the time, but I’m really excited to be carrying select titles from the Leaders in Action series. Especially Glory and Honor, Greg Wilbur’s biography of Johann Sebastian Bach. I like all the titles we’re stocking (they’re solid biographies, especially good for family reading), but for some reason the Bach one really speaks to me, if only because musicians are rarely recognized as “leaders.” Anyway, all the books are well worth checking out if you haven’t already.

[three] Summer is coming. I can feel it. Or actually, just see it. We’re finally starting to escape from the snow (even though it still lies all around us in crispy, brown-ish piles). Soon it will be spring, and no one will be asking me why I’m not wearing a coat.

[four] The end of school also means the beginning of more reading. I’m already salivating at the thought of getting to read more Auden and Rosenstock-Huessy. Oh yes, oh yes! Nerddom eagerly awaits.

[five] Laura and Austin get back tomorrow, which means that the office will again be lively, Austin and I can resume our “debates,” and someone else besides me will be posting here.

It’s a lonely Friday afternoon here at Canon Press. I’m busy cleaning up my desk (or at least aiming to), listening to Sixpence None the Richer, and wishing more people were around.

Mr Jones, Lucy, Austin, and Laura are all away on trips (visiting quite literally various corners of the world). And since Rachel Hoffmann is off somewhere else, I am the sole inhabitant of the “Canon Press Production Suite.” If only I weren’t so timid, I’d raise a ruckus. Instead I’m working on improving productivity and making my office a little neater. (I’m one of those people who tends to pile up papers everywhere.)

So, here’s to coworkers. Not only are they fun to talk to and all that jazz, but they make the world a fuller place. Or something.

Last year Publishers Weekly (the trade magazine of the publishing industry) published the results of a survey which asked readers what factors motivated them to buy a book. They could select any number of options. Here are the top eight answers:

1. Friend’s recommendation - 49%
2. Familiarity with author - 45%
3. Description on jacket - 32%
4. Reviews - 22%
5. Advertisement - 21%
6. Place on bestsellers list - 17%
7. Reading group pick - 16%
8. Cover design - 12%

This got me thinking about how I buy books. Like the people polled, I primarily rely on recommendations from friends, followed by familiarity with the author. I rarely get a chance to browse new books on the shelf, and generally disregard advertising. I place high value on bestseller lists because I’m keenly interested in the zeitgeist (read: pop culture).

Despite my affinity for all things popular, the best books are the ones not very many people know about. The more obscure a treasured book, the greater sense of ownership. Through New Eyes (forthcoming from Athanasius Press in a brand new edition) and Angels in the Architecture are a few of my favorites. Discoveries like these are few and far between, but whenever they turn up, I’ll be sure to share!