It seems like the biggest news this week is the publication of Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer’s conclusion to the Twilight saga. I haven’t read any of the books, and don’t know anyone who has (with the exception of my department head’s 14-year-old daughter), but it got me thinking about books or series with this huge level of hype, where people often openly scorn you if you haven’t read them. My own personal example of this would be Harry Potter. When the last book was released, several of my co-workers just couldn’t accept that not only had I not read any of the books, but I had no desire to. Zero. And I was not ashamed.

Of course, Harry Potter and Twilight are hugely hyped books, but the hype can get out of control for any book if everyone around you is into it. I can imagine how someone who had no interest in Dandy in the Underworld would have felt when everyone at Harper Perennial (me included) went nuts for it. Then again, how could you not find this guy to be completely and utterly charming and intriguing? (bonus, that’s CK’s voice in the video).

(And PS, I’m intrigued enough that I probably will read Twilight. Another, non Harper Perennial related part of my job involves a lot of vampire books, and I’m curious. But I’m still no-Harry-Potter-4-life.)

That would be our newly released Olive Editions of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and Everything is Illuminated. Those of you in New York City should check out our full-page ad promoting both the Olive Editions and our own assets in this week’s issue of The L Magazine. Those of you not in New York City, or those of you who want to know what goes on inside the Harper Perennial secret headquarters, should check out this behind-the-scenes video:

Eagle-eyed viewers may spot me, MS, CS, cover designer MB, marketing master SS, and editorial mavens BH and JP. Ahh, if only every event in our sixth-floor conference room was this fun . . .

Feeling a little down in the dumps? Think no one understands? Andre Jordan does.

And if that doesn’t cheer you up, head on over to F*** My Life.