Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Did You Know Tuesday - Post-It Notes: A Mini History

I will admit it:  I love office supplies.  I always have.  Paper, pens, notebooks, folders ... you name it.  Point me in the direction of an office supply store, and I am happy.

I am a big fan of Post-It Notes.  I use them daily, on inventory cards with work, and also (in smaller format) flagging book pages for reviews.

Post-It Notes started with an accident.  A scientist with 3M, Dr. Spencer Silver, was trying to make super-strong adhesive.  By accident he ended up with a pressure sensitive adhesive.  A colleague tried the adhesive paper to mark his place in a church hymnal ... and the product was on its way!  The early Post-Its were all yellow because that was the color scrap paper available for experimental production.

Post-Its were marked as Press 'n' Peel in 1977.  The product did not take off until it was re-marketed as Post-It Notes in 1980.  You'll find an early product ad above.

A little fun trivia:

Post-It Notes have always been recyclable.  

It would take 506,880,000 Post-It Notes to circle the earth.

The lead characters in Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion claim to have invented Post-It Notes.

So there you have it!  Any other office supply fans out there?  (This love of all things paper extends to stationery, art supplies, and office supplies with me.)  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Book Spotlight - The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner

02_The Vatican Princess 

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner

Publication Date: February 9, 2016 
Ballantine Books 
Hardcover, Ebook, Audiobook 
400 Pages 
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Infamy is no accident. It is a poison in our blood. It is the price of being a Borgia. 

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy. Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty’s ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival? 

With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, the new pope’s illegitimate children—his rival sons, Cesare and Juan, and beautiful young daughter Lucrezia—assume an exalted position in the papal court. Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family’s fortunes. But Rome is seductive and dangerous: Alliances shift at a moment’s notice as Italy’s ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. As Lucrezia’s father faces challenges from all sides, he’s obliged to marry her off to a powerful adversary. But when she discovers the brutal truth behind her alliance, Lucrezia is plunged into a perilous gambit that will require all her wits, cunning, and guile. Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood. 

Beautifully wrought, rich with fascinating historical detail, The Vatican Princess is the first novel to describe Lucrezia’s coming-of-age in her own voice—a dramatic, vivid tale set in an era of savagery and unparalleled splendor, where enemies and allies can be one and the same, and where loyalty to family can ultimately be a curse.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Praise

"Assiduously researched and expertly crafted . . . . This unholy plunge into Rome's darkest dynasty is wholly engrossing." - Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author 

"A spider web of Renaissance intrigue with a legendary cast . . . Impressive research, a lush background, and deft characterization make for a fascinating read." - Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author 

"Elegantly written and deeply researched . . . Renaissance Italy is vividly brought to life. I’m captivated by this knowledgeable author’s take on the controversial Borgias." - Alison Weir, NYT bestselling author

About the Author

03_CW Gortner

C.W. GORTNER holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies from the New College of California, as well as an AA from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. 

After an eleven year-long career in fashion, during which he worked as a vintage retail buyer, freelance publicist, and fashion show coordinator, C.W. devoted the next twelve years to the public health sector. In 2012, he became a full-time writer following the international success of his novels. 

In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard at Hampton Court, learned about organic gardening at Chenoceaux, and spent a chilly night in a ruined Spanish castle. His books have garnered widespread acclaim and been translated into twenty-one languages to date, with over 400,000 copies sold. A sought-after public speaker. C.W. has given keynote addresses at writer conferences in the US and abroad. He is also a dedicated advocate for animal rights, in particular companion animal rescue to reduce shelter overcrowding. 

Half-Spanish by birth and raised in southern Spain, C.W. now lives in Northern California with his partner and two very spoiled rescue cats. 

For more information visit C.W. Gortner’s website and blog. You can also find him on Facebook, Twittter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and YouTube. Sign up for C.W. Gortner’s Newsletter for updates.

Book Blast Schedule

Tuesday, February 9 Unshelfish  
Drey's Library 
The Maiden's Court  
CelticLady's Reviews  
Wednesday, February 10  
The Lit Bitch  
The Never-Ending Book  
A Dream within a Dream  
What Is That Book About 
Thursday, February 11  
Laura's Interests 
The Reader's Hollow  
Flashlight Commentary 
Friday, February 12  
Let Them Read Books  
To Read, Or Not to Read 
Saturday, February 13  
So Many Books, So Little Time  
Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne
Sunday, February 14  
100 Pages a Day  
With Her Nose Stuck In A Book 
Monday, February 15  
A Book Geek 
A Bookish Affair 
Puddletown Reviews  
Tuesday, February 16 
Just One More Chapter  
Historical Fiction Obsession  
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More 
Wednesday, February 17  
Impressions In Ink  
A Literary Vacation 
The Country Bookworm 
Thursday, February 18  
The True Book Addict  
Ageless Pages Reviews 
Friday, February 19  
Passages to the Past 
Kristin Un-Ravelle'd  
Book Lovers Paradise 
Saturday, February 20 
Beth's Book Nook Blog  
One Book Shy of a Full Shelf 
Sunday, February 21  
Carpe Librum (Seize The Book) 
Seize the Words: Books in Review 
Monday, February 22  
Broken Teepee  
Book Drunkard  
The Reading Queen 
Tuesday, February 23 
Teatime and Books  
View from the Birdhouse 
Historical Fiction Connection

Giveaway

To win a Borgia-Inspired Velvet Bag & Beaded Bracelet from C.W. Gortner please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below.  

Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 23rd. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US residents only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.  

The Vatican Princess Book Blast
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