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April 26th might be Pretzel Day, but here at Quirk, we’re celebrating Pretzel WEEK. Check back for fun pretzel recipes all week long. Because hey, we’re from Philadelphia. Pretzels are our thing. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2013

QUIRK BOOKS GOES “NORMAL.”

Quirk Books, the independent publisher known for its irreverent reference guides and innovative works of fiction, has gone and done the unexpected once again. Effective immediately, the company is launching a new imprint that will give readers exactly what they expect. Book-lovers of the world, meet Normal Books.

"We think that becoming more conventional is truly the most 'strikingly unconventional' move we could make," says President and Publisher David Borgenicht. "Readers have come to expect the unexpected from us, and I'm pretty sure no one was expecting this."

The Normal Books imprint will offer a completely retooled frontlist of regular, completely straightforward books, with titles including Breakfast for Breakfast, Miss Peregrine's Home for Regular Children, and Pride and Prejudice without Zombies.

This groundbreaking, daringly creative move was engineered with readers in mind, says Associate Publisher and Creative Director Jason Rekulak. "We’re convinced there’s an audience out there that craves the same-old, same-old,” he says. “We're excited to stop pushing the envelope, and start nudging it back into the desk drawer next to the pens and rubber bands." The concept is expected to yield a more manageable workflow as well. “The sales reps have been clamoring for less buzzworthy titles,” notes Moneka Hewlett, Senior Sales Director.

Besides its new catalog of traditional print titles, Normal Books intends to release all subsequent books in eBook format: as plain text with no pictures and in a single small, non-dynamic font. Says Vice President Brett Cohen: "In the digital age, Normal Books will be square in the middle of the pack when it comes to using new, innovative technology. There’s no need to show off."

Below are the titles that Normal Books will be releasing in the coming months:

We make a lot of different types of books at Quirk. And, over the years, we've made a name for ourselves by pushing the envelope to produce strikingly unconventional books. If you've seen our catalog, you know what I'm talking about.

Today we're excited to say that we've brought our unique flavor to the world of ebooks–well, ibooks–in the form of Quirk's first enhanced ebook: Breakfast for Dinner. It's time for breakfast to take center stage at the dinner table! Inside this book, you'll find more than 100 classic "brinner" recipes made with a twist.

The special iBooks Author version of Breakfast for Dinner is full of interactive, fun and functional features. Here are a few of my favorites…

Warm, spicy, and rarely sweet—even when it’s made with sweet ingredients—chutney is altogether satisfying as a condiment but versatile enough to be used on proteins or even a cheese plate. Delicate hibiscus flowers pair well with blackberries, and they are typically in season around the same time.

Here’s a simple, tasty casserole that starts easily and ends beautifully. Just combine hearty boiled potatoes and sweet slices of apples with sautéed onions and sausages in a skillet coated with Irish butter for a homemade meal that’s comfort in a dish. The exceptionally creamy flavor of rich, Irish butter makes a wonderful base for this rustic, stovetop-to-oven meal, and the topping is perfected with crunchy bacon bits. This homey combination of flavors makes a great entrée or side dish for any meal, any day of the week.

Join Cooking with Flowers author Miche Bacher this Saturday, March 9 at the Philadelphia Flower Show for a tasty floral demonstration!

This year's awesome Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center will feature a Garden to Table Studio with fantastic, flowery demos from chefs including Miche Bacher: pastry chef, flower connoisseur, and Quirk author! Miche will be serving a lovely hibiscus chutney to celebrate the show's theme of all things British: Brilliant! 

Do stop by on Saturday, March 9th at 3 PM for a taste of spring to come! Admission to the Studio is included with the price of a ticket.

Garden to Table Studio at the Philadelphia Flower Show
Pennsylvania Convention Center
12th and Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107 (map)

Cooking with Flowers will hit stores April 2.