The "creators" of last year's bestselling America 24/7
have gone granular. This volume is one of 50 (one for each state) being published this fall, and it features the same sort of colorful, slice-of-life images (snapped by a team of photo editors) that distinguished America 24/7
. While many of these photos could have been taken anywhere—e.g., a portrait of a marching band, a shot of teenagers hanging out at a local soda fountain; the depiction of a puppy untying a man's shoelace—others distinctly evoke the state whose motto is "Live Free or Die." In one photo, a Korean War vet puts flags on soldiers' graves; in another, a third-grader records the inscription on the headstone of a Revolutionary War captain. Some photos show off New Hampshire's natural beauty: Regi Whitney sunbathes next to an azure pond in Pillsbury State Park, and Skip Morris navigates a boat down the Winnipesaukee River. Smolan and Cohen divide the book by theme ("Hearth and Home"; "New Hampshire at Play"; "Reason to Believe"; etc.) and give paragraph-long captions identifying each photo's subject. They have a keen sense of the absurdity and beauty found in everyday life and present an intriguing portrait of Americana. (Sept. 27)
Forecast:
A $2.5-million marketing campaign will support the launch of this series. Ads in
USA Today and on Google and eBay
should bring hefty holiday sales; consumers will have the option to put their own picture on the cover of any America 24/7 State Book.
