Celebrating an Industry's Best

As we put this issue to bed, we're amidst another heat wave—temperatures in the mid 90s, and the humid air so heavy it feels like you could carve it with a spoon.

But this time of year means more than just stifling heat. It means that almost by the time you receive this issue, the earliest inklings of a fall wind will be creeping in through open windows, and the absence of the air conditioner's hum will leave a noticeable and welcomed silence. But more importantly, it means that the Gold Ink Awards and Hall of Fame Gala is right around the corner, and the excitement begins fluttering in like the autumn wind.

The Sept. 12 event is the culmination of a year's worth of efforts for many of us—from submitting entries to the Gold Ink Awards competition by the spring deadline, to hand-picking judges and coordinating their trek to our offices here in Philadelphia, to scanning and photographing the winning entries, to organizing every last detail of the event and scheduling our trips to Chicago. And more in between.

There is a certain thrill in recognizing the achievements of an industry, and attending the gala is one of the highlights of the year.

The Risks of Piracy

And as we put this issue to bed, the latest in the "Harry Potter" series has been released and has topped all-time sales charts in the blink of an eye. In addition to the general hoopla surrounding its release, the book also encountered a couple of challenges and some praise that bring up some important industry issues.

For starters, there was the reportedly accidental, premature release of the book by a Canadian bookstore and the efforts of the Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books, to prevent significant negative impact on the widely anticipated official release.