I must say, I’m très impressed by the Book Week recommendations I received in the comments. You’re a dark and intelligent bunch! La Carmina’s giveaway runs until Sunday at midnight, so you can keep entering to win a fuzzy red hoody or bad cat T-shirt from Evil Kitty. Again, just leave a comment with a beloved book title and why it’s dear to you.

Today I want to introduce you to Mark Batty, a New York indie publisher that will release my book on Tokyo Theme Restaurants next March. Have you ever come across a killer band, looked up their record company, and ended up loving everything on the label? This was the case with me and Mark Batty. You may remember my review of Face Food, a book they published on Japanese character bentos (which inspired my Western twist on the trend, Cooking Cute). I went to their website and was blown away; all of their releases appealed to my design-happy, kitsch-campy sensibility. And we both adore J-pop culture: this September, Mark Batty will unveil Graffiti Japan, a definitive look at what makes this country’s graffiti distinctly its own.

How fabulous is Madonna of the Toast? This book documents what happens when religious and secular icons appear on objects such as pancakes, potato chips and cows. Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese? Mother Teresa on a cinnamon bun? Jar Jar Binks on a shed door? Jesus on a mandolin? Oh mein gott, mein gott…

Moving on to Elvis… Imposters documents the out-of-work actors who spend their days dressed up as iconic Hollywood characters. You can expect similar tongue-in-cheek writing and wild photography in my upcoming book!

And you have to check out Celebrity Vinyl, a riotous reminder of what happens when famous people decide to (unsuccessfully) give singing a try – Burt Reynolds, Shaquille O’Neal, John Travolta, Eddie Murphy, Leonard Nimoy, Alyssa Milano – the list goes on and on, as do the laughs.