Lola Bensky is a nineteen-year-old rock journalist who irons her hair straight and asks a lot of questions. A high-school dropout, she's not sure how she got the job – but she's been sent by her Australian newspaper right to the heart of the London music scene at the most exciting time in music history: 1967. Lola spends her days planning diets and interviewing rock stars. In London, Mick Jagger makes her a cup of tea, Jimi Hendrix (possibly) propositions her and Cher borrows her false eyelashes. At the Monterey International Pop Festival, Lola props up Brian Jones and talks to Janis Joplin about sex. In Los Angeles, she discusses being overweight with Mama Cass and tries to pluck up the courage to ask Cher to return those false eyelashes. Lola has an irrepressible curiosity, but she begins to wonder whether the questions she asks these extraordinary young musicians are really a substitute for questions about her parents' calamitous past that can't be asked or answered. As Lola moves on through marriage, motherhood, psychoanalysis and a close relationship with an unexpected pair of detectives, she discovers the question of what it means to be human is the hardest one for anyone – including herself – to answer. Drawing on her own experiences as a young journalist, the bestselling author of Too Many Men has created an unforgettable character in the unconventional and courageous Lola. Genuinely funny and deeply moving, Lola Bensky shows why Lily Brett is one of our most distinctive and internationally acclaimed authors. 'Brett delivers an entertaining story that is also full of heart.' Australian Bookseller and Publisher 'A touching look at a woman's quest for self-understanding.' Who Weekly 'Funny, warm and insightful.' Herald Sun 'For Brett, resolution has come through creative remembering and retelling, and by constructing a fine comic novel from an unspeakable tragedy.' Australian Book Review 'A witty novel you'll struggle to put down.' Grazia 'A book that will entertain legions of readers.' Courier Mail 'An entertaining story that is also full of heart.' Bookseller+Publisher 'Lily Brett's heroines exude curiosity and Lola Bensky is no exception.' Sun-Herald 'Brett's sixth book hooks you in, not just because of her characteristic wit, but because she was a rock journalist herself back in the day.' Melbourne Times Weekly 'Lola Bensky will thrill [Brett's] fans: finally a book based on her extraordinary experiences as a reporter for Australia's first music magazine, Go-Set, during the most exciting era in pop music history.' Australian Jewish News

Pen & Ink Drawing: A Simple Guide covers the essential aspects of pen and ink drawing and more. It explores basic materials and instruments; fundamental properties of strokes and pen control; key elements of shading; and indispensable techniques for creating vibrant textures. As a bonus, a chapter is devoted to what the author refers to as, the secret Line of Balance. This book is not just written to instruct but also to inspire enthusiasts of pen and ink and drawing as well.

Pen & Ink is packed with page after page of bite-sized creative sketching tips and accessible advice, and offers aspiring artists the freedom to dip in and out for practical information or flick through for fresh inspiration and ideas. Exploring around 200 pieces of artwork by young contemporary artists, Pen & Ink highlights and examines the different techniques, qualities, and effects relating to each piece. Organized into chapters according to the technique exemplified (e.g.water soluble, mixed media) artwork is featured large and luscious, accompanied by extended captions, insightful tips, and practical advice. A detailed index at the front of the book also groups the paintings according to three main categories: Principles (e.g. composition), Media, Type of sketch (e.g. abstract), and Subject (e.g. nature). Listing each page where similar examples may be found, this category index enables the reader to easily identify and cross reference subjects that have been painted in similar styles. Throughout the book, useful information and practical tips are provided on a wide range of topics such as tone, perspective, color, and much more besides. Readers are encouraged to discover the various ways in which similar subjects and styles are executed by different artists, while also being inspired to use the tips in the book as a way of building on their existing skills. Offering a bold, refreshing change from other run-of-the-mill art books, Pen & Ink adopts the unique approach of accessing practical information via the images, focusing on the way subjects can be treated using a whole range of different drawing techniques, rather than looking at how to master one single style. This gives the reader a much wider skill set—allowing them to capture or create the essence of any image in a variety of different ways.

This clear and concise guide to pen-and-ink work presents 37 step-by-step illustrations that progress from pencil sketch to ink outline to shadows and details to completed work. Written in a direct, engaging style and richly illustrated, its drawings range from easy to complex and offer guidance for artists at every level.

Pencils You Should Know traces the evolution of pencils over time and across the globe. From the humble, handcrafted pencil of the 19th century to the novelty writing implement of the 1990s, each object in this book tells a different story. This book features a selection of 75 modern and vintage pencils curated by pencil powerhouse Caroline Weaver, owner of legendary New York pencil emporium CW Pencil Enterprise. Pencil fanatics will find old favorites here—the original Blackwing 602 puts in an appearance, of course—and make exciting new discoveries, too. • Vintage pencils and accessories are photographed against vibrant, colorful backgrounds and accompanied by Weaver's insightful commentary. • A love letter to one of the most important inventions in human history This supremely charming book celebrates the enduring magic of the pencil. Trace the history of the pencil over time and across the globe, and discover everything you need to know about this simple yet ingenious invention. • A great book for pencil collectors, admirers, historians, artists, writers—anyone who gets excited about the new Palomino Blackwing, a perfectly sharpened No. 2 Ticonderoga • Fans of The Pencil by Henry Petroski, How to Sharpen Pencils by David Rees and John Hodgman, and The Pencil Perfect by Caroline Weaver will want this in their collection. The perfect book for pencil devotees, analog and vintage ephemera lovers, designers, and fans of CW Pencil Enterprise

This richly illustrated manual for beginning, intermediate, and advanced artists covers everything from hatching, tones, and stippling to dealing with the problems that can arise when adding texture, light, and shade.