Jeff Lemire's TALES FROM THE FARM
Wins Prestigious American Library Association ALEX AWARD!
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The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the
fastest-growing
division of the American Library Association, has just announced the
winners of the 2008 ALEX AWARD, for adult books with specific teen
appeal.
The awards, sponsored by Booklist, were just announced at the 2008 ALA
Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, and Jeff Lemire's ESSEX COUNTY (VOL
1):
TALES FROM THE FARM was one of the winners! And to put this in
perspective,
the last graphic novel to make this list was Persepolis, and that was
several years ago. To check out preview pages from TALES FROM THE FARM,
as
well as the other volumes of ESSEX COUNTY, just click here:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=25



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SOLICITED IN THE CURRENT FEBRUARY DIAMOND PREVIEWS CATALOG
(FOR BOOKS SHIPPING IN APRIL):
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THAT SALTY AIR
by Tim Sievert

Cover and Preview Pages Featured Here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=575

-- 112-Page Graphic Novel
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-005-6
-- $10.00 (US)
-- Dimensions: 6 1/2” x 9”
-- Young Adult (13+)

Hugh is a fisherman with a special relationship to the sea, a
relationship
based on respect and reverence. But when Hugh feels that the sea has
betrayed him, his whole existence is thrown out of whack. Hell-bent on
settling the score, Hugh takes his revenge to the extreme, jeopardizing
not
only himself, but also his family in the process. THAT SALTY AIR is a
story
about change and learning the price for trifling with the natural
progression of things.

Tim Sievert was born in Davenport, Iowa, on April 12, 1983. At the
tender
age of nineteen, he was shipped away to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where
he
currently lives and works in the wonderfully hectic world of
interactive
media. In his off hours, Tim is working so extremely hard to finish his
debut graphic novel THAT SALTY AIR you wouldn’t even believe it.

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TONOHARU: PART ONE
by Lars Martinson

Cover and Preview Pages Featured Here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=610

-- 128-Page, Two-Color Hardcover Graphic Novel
-- ISBN 978-0-9801023-2-1
-- $19.95 (US)
-- Dimensions: 5 1/2" x 8 1/4"
-- Mature (16+)

Top Shelf is proud to distribute the Xeric award-winning graphic novel
from
Lars Martinson. With amazing production values and a layered and
cross-cultural storyline, this book is sure to make a mark on the
comics
community.

Daniel Wells begins a new life as an assistant junior high school
teacher
in the rural Japanese village of Tonoharu. Isolated from those around
him
by cultural and language barriers, he leads a monastic existence,
peppered
only by his inept pursuit of the company of a fellow American who lives
a
couple towns over. But contrary to appearances, Dan isn't the only
foreigner to call Tonoharu home. Across town, a group of wealthy
European
eccentrics are boarding in a one-time Buddhist temple, for reasons that
remain obscure to their gossiping neighbors … A 128-page, hardcover
graphic
novel with a full-color dust jacket and two-color interiors.

Lars Martinson was born on Mother's Day, 1977. He has met a princess,
seen
a five-legged cow, and eaten raw octopus eggs. From 2003 to 2006 he
taught
English in Fukuoka, Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching
Program.
In 2007 he received the prestigious Xeric Grant for his graphic novel
TONOHARU: PART ONE. He currently lives in Minneapolis and is hard at
work
on the second part of the TONOHARU story.


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TOP SHELF WEBSITE UPDATED FOR 2008!
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The Top Shelf 2008 Schedule -- now thru December! -- has been uploaded
to
the Top Shelf website. Check out the completely updated catalog section
here:

TOP SHELF CATALOG:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12


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NEW RELEASES -- IN STORES NOW!
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OWLY (VOL 4): A TIME TO BE BRAVE by Andy Runton
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=18
(Finally -- And Well Worth The Wait!)

OWLY (VOL 1): THE WAY HOME [REDESIGNED EDITION] by Andy Runton
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=425
(Gorgeous New Cover & Printed Totally On Recycled Paper!)

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Your friend thru comics,

Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions