I've gotten a few responses asking for more info on the PUT THE BOOK BACK ON THE SHELF collection, so I'll share some details here with Sinister, including the lineup. I'm not sure how familiar with Image Comics people are, but Image was founded in the early 90s on the strength of big, noisy ugly superhero comics. In the past several years the company has moved toward a much more ecclectic mix, and one of the things we had success with while I was there were a couple of anthologies, featuring some beautiful work by a variety of "indie" creators, including a book called FLIGHT, which featured many lovely tales by a group of artists and animators. Over a year ago, Eric Stephenson (Image's Executive Director) asked me what I thought about an anthology collecting creators' takes on songs by singer/songwriter Stephen Duffy. Eric had been in touch with Duffy, and thought he'd be a good choice. Naturally, Belle & Sebastian leapt to mind for me. Not only do I think the band's songs are full of interesting imagery and open to interpretation, but I knew a lot of comic creators who were into their music. The first thing I did was track down B&S's U.S. management, who led me to the UK management, and eventually to Stuart himself, whose advice was basically, "I say just do it!" And so we set about assembling a talented group of creators, giving them the freedom to interpret the songs however they saw fit. The irony here is that I've been embroiled in a lot of financial and creative difficulty lately, and didn't manage a contribution myself (I was working on a take on "The Wrong Girl"). Crushing, that, but I wasn't about to rush something, and I have to take solace in playing a large role in making the thing happen. So the book has been solicited, is available for preorder, and should hit shops next month. For those who are curious, here's a complete look at the creative lineup, with the song titles they're playing around with. A simple Google search should lead you to lots of info on each of the talents listed below: The State I'm In by Rick Spears & Rob G. Expectations by Chris Butcher, Kalman Andrasofszky & Ramon Perez I Could be Dreaming by Andi Watson We Rule the School by Mark Smith & Paul Maybury Me and the Major by Tom Hart Fox in the Snow by Jacob Magraw Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying by Catia Chen Dog on Wheels by Kako Lazy Line Painter Jane by Janet Harvey & Laurenn McCubbin You Made Me Forget My Dreams by Matthew S. Armstrong Beautiful by Charles Brownstein & Dave Crosland Ease Your Feet into the Sea by Bruno D'Angelo The Model by Jennifer de Guzman & Brian Belew The Chalet Lines by Erin Laing & Matt Forsythe Nice Day for a Sulk by Rick Remender & John Heebink There's Too Much Love by Leela Corman Legal Man by Joey Weiser Marx & Engels by Jamie S. Rich & Marc Ellerby Step into My Office, Baby by Ian Carney & Jonathan Edwards Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Mark Ricketts & Leanne Buckley Piazza, New York Catcher by David Lasky If She Wants Me by Ande Parks & Chris Samnee Asleep on a Sunbeam by Nicholas Bannister If You Find Yourself Caught in Love by Steven Griffin -BCM +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+