The New Year is right around the corner and for writers who are looking to use 2012 as a time to break writer’s block, Unstuck is an app for you.

Here is more about the free iPad app from the iTunes summary: “Unstuck is a new in-the-moment approach to personal growth for anyone who wants to live better every day. Unstuck offers up personalized digital tools and community to help you get from stuck to unstuck, no matter what the challenge may be.”

eBookNewser has more about the app: “The app helps you identify the moments in your life where you are stuck (writer’s block anyone?), suggests solutions for working past your problems and gives tips on how to set and achieve goals.”

GalleyCat readers around the globe have joined our annual Pet Parade, sending photos of their literary pets.

Author Karen Mueller Bryson, Ph.D. submitted that picture of a literary bloodhound.

More photos follow below–we will collect all the entries at this link.

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Chinese writers Chen Wei and Chen Xi were both given long prison sentences over the holidays. The PEN American Center denounced the action, calling it “an eerie replay of the 2009 trial of Liu Xiaobo.”

Both writers published digital essays criticizing China’s political system and government activities. Wei was charged with inciting subversion and sentenced to eleven-years’ imprisonment. Xi was charged with the same “crime” and sentenced to ten-years’ imprisonment.

PEN president Kwame Anthony Appiah gave this statement in the release: “Once more the Chinese regime has chosen to darken the holiday season with a reminder of its fear of independent thought. We salute the extraordinary courage of those Chinese, like Chen Wei, Chen Xi, and Liu Xiaobo, who love their country enough to risk long-term incarceration for speaking out against a government that betrays the hopes of the Chinese people every day.” What do you think?

In May 2011, the end of Oprah Winfrey‘s TV book club and nontraditional book promotion topped our publishing headlines.

Welcome to GalleyCat’s annual year-end roundup of publishing headlines. It’s a chance to celebrate our good news and reflect on the bad news. Visit our Year in Review link as the series unfolds.

1. 10 Nontraditional Ways To Promote Your Book
2. Facebook Restricts Authors’ Ability To Host Contests
3. Free Formatting Guides on How To Publish Your eBook
4. Oprah Winfrey Closes Her TV Book Club
5. LinkedIn Groups for Publishing Professionals

According to a new survey from Data Conversion Laboratory (DCL), 63 percent of publishers plan to publish a digital book in 2012.

The report, which interviewed 411 publishers, found that 70 percent of these publishers are putting out eBooks is for “equality.” The study also found that 43 percent of publishers “realized the importance of compatibility with all e-readers, including iPad, MOBI (Kindle), Nook and custom formats.”

eBookNewser has more: “The report also found that 64 percent of publishers are interested in publishing non-fiction and technical digital content. The preferred eReader among is group was the iPad with 44 percent of the respondents preferring the iPad as their eReader of choice, versus 36 percent preferring a Kindle.”

Mark Gross, said president/CEO of DCL stated: “Eighteen months ago, more publishers were concerned about getting their information onto an eBook platform and quality was not the overarching theme it is now. The survey demonstrates that the publishing industry realizes consumers will not tolerate typos and bad formatting in a $15 eBook.”

GalleyCat readers come in all shapes, sizes and species. Reader Martha Otis shared a picture of her literary pet with a simple caption: “Teddy is reading The Drop by Michael Connelly.”

GalleyCat readers around the globe have joined our annual Pet Parade, sending photos of their literary pets.

More photos follow below–we will collect all the entries at this link.

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Artist Danielle Feliciano hopes to raise $2,500 on Kickstarter to fund her title, Unlocking the Right Brain: A Creative Thinking Workbook.

This artsy workbook promotes and teaches creative thinking. It will include watercolor illustrations, practical concepts and visual exercises in the finished book. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Here’s more about the project: “This book is designed to be accessible to people in all fields, teachers, high schoolers, business professionals, scientists, artists, and more. A great teaching tool or resource whenever you feel stuck in your thinking. This book is full of images, it’s not a lengthy tome of intellectual writing, but a usable, workbook for those who want to improve or access their visual thinking.”

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Former president Bill Clinton and The Office actor Mindy Kaling shared their favorite books recently on The Today Show. Follow this link to see both lists.

The odd pairing makes sense when you realize that both of the celebrities are promoting their own books–Clinton recently published Back to Work and Kaling recently wrote Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me?

Both authors chose books that weren’t surprising given their careers. The actress recommended Tina Fey‘s Bossypants and the former politician listed Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.

On the show (which we have embedded above), Clinton said that reading is important, “because it makes you think.”

Welcome to GalleyCat’s annual year-end roundup of publishing headlines. It’s a chance to celebrate our good news and reflect on the bad news. Visit our Year in Review link as the series unfolds.

In April, the most frequently challenged books and the best literary agents on Twitter topped our headlines for the month.

1. Jon Krakauer Publishes Greg Mortenson Expose
2. 10 Most Frequently Challenged Library Books of 2010
3. Top 20 Facebook Apps for Book Lovers
4. Best Literary Agents on Twitter
5. Alternatives to a Creative Writing MFA

Here are some handpicked titles from our New Books section. Want to include your book? Just read our Facebook Your New or Upcoming Book post. Don’t forget to include your title’s exact release date and a link.

Kitchen Addiction! by Lizz Lund: “Meet Mina Kitchen, a forty-something single who likes to cook – and cook and cook. In fact, her zest for whipping up trays of canapes is dwarfed only by her weird luck and mountain-lion size tabby cat, Vinnie. That, and her godmom’s tendency for blackmailing new members into joining St. Bart’s. Okay, maybe Mina’s Swiffer-addicted neighbor, Vito, is a bit weird, too. As if all that wasn’t enough, Mina’s a Jersey girl transplanted in the midst of the Amish-flavored countryside of Lancaster, PA. Things get really complicated when she learns that her neighbor Vito is in a witness protection program, and her dry cleaner deals in prescription samples. Throw in a few mysterious flaming feces flingers and a fuse box labeled in Arabic, and you have a recipe for catering disorders.” (October 2011)

3 Christmas Wishes by Beth-Ann Mason: “It’s Christmas time and Lacey Jude is not only out of a job, but she and her five-year-old son have also been evicted. When the reverend of her church says he knows of a widower who is willing to let them stay through the holidays, her apprehension is overridden only by the drive to provide a warm and safe place for her son for Christmas. Robert Martinez left the small town as soon as he graduated and hardly looked back. As a founding partner of one of New York’s top advertising firms, he lives his life on his own terms. Going back home brings him face-to-face with a harsh reality; you can rarely have everything your own way. Coming from such different worlds, will Lacey and Robert find a way to make the Christmas wishes of the people they love most come true?” (December 2011)

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