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- From the Desk of Adam C. Mock -
Ladies and gentlemen, 2009 has left the building. Our old friend has served us well, but in the end it just couldn’t hang. It tried so hard to keep us enamored for longer than 12 months, but alas we’ve traded our beloved 2009 in for a newer, sleeker, and more powerful model. So, it is with great pleasure and excitement that we introduce to you . . . *anticipatory gasps* . . . the year . . . *more gasps of excitement and token breath holding* . . . 2010!*Crowd goes wild with joy, some people pass out, others are trampled, and chaotic celebration ensues.* Okay, okay, I know you’re all excited with a renewed vigor to keep the resolutions you made last year and broke, but let’s rein it in just a tad. If we’ve learned anything from last year and the year before that, it’s that only time will tell if this so-called 2010 is here to stay. It’s our hope that 2010 can produce something that 2009 was incapable of: putting Chicago on the top ten list of the most literate cities. Uh, come again? That’s right. Chicago did not make the top ten list of the most literate cities for 2009. *Moment of silence for this painful truth.* Just who did make the list? These lovely and highly literate cities:
The annual study by Jack Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University, "focuses on six indicators: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment and Internet resources," USA Today reported. All joking aside, this may indicate a real need in Chicago (or your city if not listed) to increase our efforts toward literacy. We need to leave a legacy of literacy for the next generation, so we can share with them the amazing books that have deeply affected our hearts as well as wait with great expectation for that generation to create and wrestle with the new books that will change the world. As always, our dear friends and partners at Triple Threat Mentoring www.triplethreat.org are changing the world one life at a time. The next generation has a voice, and it needs to be heard. Don’t just take our word for it. Hear it for yourself.
If you have the time, talent, or resources to make a difference, please go out and use them to change the landscape of the future. Speaking of the landscape of the future, ours has changed. Last month I let you know that a new identity was coming for Medallion Press Inc. (as well as the Medallion Media Group), and it’s finally here! Check out the new logo for Medallion Press! So what does it mean? What am I looking at? Why does it scare me? Our old identity served us well for seven years. It spoke of the elegance and charm our books offered and made a statement that Medallion was going to be an award-winning company with award-winning books. And we’ve done that. Just look at the awards section of our Web site to see the humbling accolades our books have received. Heading into the landscape of 2010, we realized that we’ve come a long way and have grown from a publishing house into an aspiring media company with a goal of not just offering entertainment through books but entertainment through movies and music as well. With three separate divisions now under Medallion Media Group, we needed a new identity that spoke more clearly of the Medallion culture. Shiloh Studios http://www.ideasadvertising.com/portfoliohome.html was hired to design a new identity for us, and we feel they did an amazing job of capturing a refined sense of who we are. Our new logo is a derivative of our old one but sleeker and bolder. A glance at our new logo makes you pause and look deeper into its meaning. Is it an outlet? Is it telling you to get plugged in to a world of adventure, mystery, or romance? Is it an M for Medallion? Is it the negative space of an M forcing you to look beyond what’s apparent? Is it a green light (Medallion Media color) giving you permission to “GO!” full speed ahead and explore brave new worlds? Is it a yellow light (Medallion Press color) telling you to slow down, pause, and savor the moment of every page you read? The answer is yes to all of these. The logo doesn’t tell you what it is as a statement; it engages you to be a part of it, to experience it, and to draw your own conclusions. It’s the same process you encounter on your journey through a book, a movie, or a great album. The new identity lets you know that you’re as much a part of this as we are, and we’re excited to have you along for the ride. And what a ride it’s been! We have no plans of slowing down, either. Our goal is to invite you into the world of Medallion and engage with us. And you have! As a matter of fact, last month a whopping 51.5 percent of you sounded off and let us know that when it comes to snow, you dig it fo’ shizzle our dizzle rizzles! The other 48.5 percent hate snow so much that you deny it even exists. But it’s real, I tell ya. REAL! Others of you took advantage of your old noggin and rapier wit to come up with a caption for this little gem and have a chance at winning a FREE book. And the winning caption is: Anyone up for a menage a trot! Well done to E.J. Findorff, who submitted the winning caption. Your copy of Shamrock Alley is in the mail! Want a chance to win a FREE copy of a Medallion book of your choice? Well, check out this photo. Come up with a snappy caption for this moment of rage and amusement and e-mail it to us at contest@medallionpress.com along with your full name, mailing address, and which book you’d like to win if we choose your caption. You have one month to bring the funny! The winner will be announced on Feb 1. And just who are those guys bringing the funny in the photo? Well, the handsome man of refinement who is pointing in delight at the altercation is me. The wild-haired, blond assailant is cinematographer extraordinaire Jonathan Wenstrup. And the victim, getting choked out for hitting on him, is funnyman filmmaker Scott Allen Perry or SAP for those who love the sticky. Why is this information relevant? Because both Wenstrup and SAP have agreed to produce the upcoming “Medallion Mondays” webisodes! They will debut online this summer and run for 20 weeks with a new one every Monday. Each webisode, featuring the actual staff of Medallion, will blur the lines between sitcoms and reality TV. The webisodes will take a look at the day-to-day operations of Medallion Media and allow us to create a custom platform for product placement. Meaning, some of the webisodes will revolve around the themes, titles, or authors of our books, giving us a unique marketing tool that will raise the profile of Medallion Press and its authors. And as much as this will be an ensemble cast, one man will stand head and shoulders above the rest. Some of you may know him as a former police officer. Others simply know him as “Ponce.” We know him as our soon-to-be chief operating intern. And Kim Kardashian knows him as the man who loves bacon. We’re so stoked for Josh “the Ponceman” Perry to join the team and for his brother, SAP, and friend Wenstrup to produce our first foray into uber-short films. For more about the Perry Bros., check out their blog: http://theperryboys.wordpress.com or Ponce’s Web site: www.ponceman.com. To view some of the amazing cinematic work of Jonathan Wenstrup, please check out the montage on his Web site: www.jwcamera.com. As you can see, we’re hittin’ 2010 hard! Let’s hope it can keep up with us. Peace and love, Feel free to request my friendship on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I’ll make you feel like you’ve been held for 30 seconds. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ADDam.mock .....................................................................................................................................................
Welcome to a New Year, readers! As we wave good-bye to 2009, we say hello to 2010 and to a whole new year full of possibilities! I cannot wait to see what this year will hold!
What else does 2010 have in store? A new line of books for Medallion! Remember last year we announced that we were launching a nonfiction line? (Don’t remember. Check out our announcement here.) The time has finally come! Woo-hoo! Be on the lookout for our first release, The Road Through Wonderland, in August 2010. Find out more about this title at www.theroadthroughwonderland.com. Need to add some excitement, fun, and humor to your life? Become a Medallion Press Insider! You’ll get all the craziness that is Medallion delivered right to your e-mail twice a month. Are you more of an instant gratification person? Then follow us on Twitter or Facebook. We have some exciting things coming up, so make sure you don’t miss out! Well, we cannot forget our newest release to kick off the New Year! We’re excited to bring our readers some magic, monsters, and elves in Susan Gourley’s fantasy The Keepers Of Sulbreth! Take a moment to escape to the world of Futhark . . .
Long ago, these precious elves created a powerful magic to imprison the demon beings. Now acciptors, cave boas, and gordragons have emerged from their sleepy cavern to torment their victims with malilcious relish. Before abandoning Futhark forever, the elves entrusted only a few Keepers of the Gate with the knowledge and ability to restore the supernatural spell that holds their enemies captive. With the passage of time, these fragile scales have weakened, putting humanity at risk. Sabelline is a Keeper with a tremendous burden. She must renew the seals with a selected Marshal at her side. Only she can create the mystical union with Cage that will enable them to descend into the depths of hell and drive these horrid creatures back into oblivion. But will their mysterious, spiritual bond surpass the daunting obstacles on the way to Kingdom’s Gate in time to rescue Futhark from destruction? The buzz is already starting for this debut novel of the Futhark Chronicles. Check out what reviewers are saying. “ .
. . an above-average tale that includes some interesting questions
about destiny.” “ The
first Futhark Chronicles is an enjoyable quest fantasy that raises
intriguing philosophical questions about whether someone ignorant
to critical facts can make real choices.” “ The
main characters’ strongly delineated, multifaceted personalities
propel the story as much as the urgency of preparing for battle.
In a cliff-hanger ending, they embark on a perilous mission.” Let us know what you
think! Send us your review at feedback@medallionpress.com. TTFN! |
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