In Jamaica, Colin Channer is something of a literary rock star. He founded and is artistic director of the Calabash Festival. It’s both odd and great fun to see him, now a professor of creative writing at Medgar Evers College, when Vertigo knew his work before he was published. He recently said in a NY Times interview, "Reggae combines spirituality, sensuality, comedy and politics without apology." The stories in Iron Balloons do the same. Take a break and join us Thursday at the Sumner School.

Every once in a while you pick up a book that is so lovely in its design that you have to pause and admire the work and care that went into it. Certain publishing houses are well-known for taking the time to make a book look good. Making Castoff gives you an inside look at the design process. Check out the sidebar and you’ll surely recognize a few titles that India Amos has designed (and one or two by authors that Vertigo has hosted).