reported by Ivan Messier, FictionFanatic.com

In honor of National Library Week (April 2-8), Brandi Young, is enlisting the help of authors around the globe to help complete a digital reincarnation of a poster that won first place in a Library Week poster contest in 1985. Early visitors are intrigued and eager to see the project completed.

The prize-winning poster was of a large book with literally hundreds of hand-drawn books on shelves in the background. Brandi says, "I remember staring down at this large blank poster board and seeing it filled with books in my mind. I drew them in one by one until the whole thing was filled from top to bottom. It took a long time, but it was worth the effort."

Using a web page as her canvas, Brandi has created another large bookcase and, just like the poster, she envisions it filled with books. Only this time, instead of filling the shelves on her own, she is giving away shelf space to authors as a means of promoting their own books. When asked why she doesn't just put her own selections on the shelves, Brandi says she thinks it will be much more interesting to hear from authors and jokingly adds, "This project just might lead to the discovery of the next Stephen King. I would love for that person to owe me a favor!"

Once completely filled, the appropriately named "First Place Bookcase" homepage will house 1104 books. Each book will display a synopsis when hovered over and will offer multiple purchasing options when clicked. The finished image will remain on the project's website (http://www.firstplacebookcase.com) as a piece of "functional internet art" and will serve as a time capsule for the books placed on it's shelves.

Aside from it's already unique visual appeal, the First Place Bookcase website can also boast another rare accomplishment. In very little time, and with almost no marketing, the site has had just over 1300 unique visitors from 20 different countries. Add to that approximately 220 repeat visits and you can't help but to predict that this site has a bright future.

Brandi says that email feedback has been largely positive and indicates that, FirstPlaceBookcase.com has captured the imagination of readers and authors as well as publishers, literary agents and educators. As it stands, authors may go to the site to promote their books, agents to scout out new talent, publishers to find new projects and of course readers to find new books.

In the days and weeks ahead Brandi will be creating additional bookcases where homepage books will also be displayed and grouped with books of the same category.

For additional information about the First Place Bookcase, to participate in the project or to keep tabs on Brandi's progress by reading the First Place Bookcase Blog, visit http://www.firstplacebookcase.com.

Recommended Resources:

1) The Business of Writing for Children: An Award-Winning Author's Tips on Writing and Publishing Children's Books, or How to Write, Publish, and Promote a Book for Kids

2) Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, 2nd Edition by Jeff Herman

3) The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book by Mary Embree