Hugh Howey's science fiction thriller, Wool, started with a self-published short story. Reader demand for more led him to publish the five sections of the complete novel serially. An electronic bestseller, Wool was first published as a hardcover book in 2012 and was recently released in paperback. Find out whether all the hype is true and if Wool is a necessary addition to your summer reading: Review of Wool by Hugh Howey Wool Book Club Discussion Questions Cover Photo Courtesy Simon & Schuster
Literature
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Wool by Hugh Howey
About.com Bestsellers17 May 2013 | 10:11 am -
A Staging for Vonnegut’s ‘Make Up Your Mind’
NYT > Books19 May 2013 | 2:35 pmThe playwright Nicky Silver has adjusted Kurt Vonnegut’s 1993 play “Make Up Your Mind” so it can be staged in Boston. -
Decades Later And Across An Ocean, A Novel Gets Its Due
Books19 May 2013 | 1:09 pmJohn Williams' Stoner sold just 2,000 copies when it was originally published in 1965. It's now acknowledged as a classic work, is a best-seller across Europe and the No. 1 novel in the Netherlands.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
“Game of Thrones” recap: “We must do our duty”
Salon.com19 May 2013 | 7:00 pm“Game of Thrones” really has it in for penises lately. Last week, poor, sad, tortured Theon had his member lopped off and this week Gendry’s gets leeched. A religious zealot attaching a leech to one’s penis is, of course, preferable to having a religious zealot slit one’s jugular, which seemed to be Melisandre’s plan for Gendry before she got into feeding him to blood slugs and having Stannis toss the nobly named results into a fire, in a kind of leech voodoo. (Those leeches reminded me of the poor unfortunate souls in the lair of “The Little Mermaid’s” Ursula.) Before she… -
When Should We Add the (Book) Marketing?
The Book Designer20 May 2013 | 12:01 amA few months ago Seth Godin posted one of his typically short and to the point blog posts with the headline When should we add the marketing? (Godin is also the author of the famous advice that the best time to start building your platform is three years before you publish your book. This will give you an idea of where Seth is going with this topic.) Here’s part of the argument: Marketing is the first thing we do, not the last. Build virality and connection and remarkability into your product or service from the start and then the end gets a lot easier. Build it into your app, your…
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NYT > Books
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A Staging for Vonnegut’s ‘Make Up Your Mind’
19 May 2013 | 2:35 pmThe playwright Nicky Silver has adjusted Kurt Vonnegut’s 1993 play “Make Up Your Mind” so it can be staged in Boston. -
Books of The Times: ‘Americanah,’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
19 May 2013 | 1:26 pmIn Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new book, “Americanah,” the main characters find the race matters where ever they go. -
Exposés of China’s Elite a Big Lure in Hong Kong
18 May 2013 | 5:24 pmVisitors from mainland China turn to Hong Kong bookstores for forbidden delights: shelves of scandal-packed exposés about their Communist Party masters. -
Bookshelf: Books on New York History and Sweet-Tooth Outlets
17 May 2013 | 11:50 pmIn “City of Ambition,” Mason B. Williams explores what drove a patrician Democrat and a street-smart Republican to revive New York City from the Great Depression. -
Noted: Making a Word Meme
17 May 2013 | 2:36 pmThe title of Sheryl Sandberg’s manifesto, “Lean In,” quickly became ubiquitous.
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Books
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Decades Later And Across An Ocean, A Novel Gets Its Due
19 May 2013 | 1:09 pmJohn Williams' Stoner sold just 2,000 copies when it was originally published in 1965. It's now acknowledged as a classic work, is a best-seller across Europe and the No. 1 novel in the Netherlands.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Unacceptable Anger From 'The Woman Upstairs'
19 May 2013 | 1:09 pm"Women's anger is very scary to people," author Claire Messud says. Her new novel, The Woman Upstairs, features a seething main character, a young woman whose anger is unsettling.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Ghost Ships, Murders, Bird Attacks: Stories To Keep You Awake
19 May 2013 | 4:00 amAuthor Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, Don't Look Now, while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Three-Minute Fiction: 'Ten Ring Fingers' And 'Ghost Words'
19 May 2013 | 3:54 amNPR's Bob Mondello and Susan Stamberg read excerpts of two of the best submissions for Round 11 of our short story contest. They read Ten Ring Fingers by Tamara Breuer of Washington, D.C., and Ghost Words by Matheus Macedo of Winthrop, Mass.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Ten Ring Fingers
19 May 2013 | 3:42 amShe found the first ring on a night that smelled of body odor and beer. The bar's last customers had finally given up hope of taking her to bed and staggered away, leaving her to clean the stains of their desperation.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
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Salon.com
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“Game of Thrones” recap: “We must do our duty”
19 May 2013 | 7:00 pm“Game of Thrones” really has it in for penises lately. Last week, poor, sad, tortured Theon had his member lopped off and this week Gendry’s gets leeched. A religious zealot attaching a leech to one’s penis is, of course, preferable to having a religious zealot slit one’s jugular, which seemed to be Melisandre’s plan for Gendry before she got into feeding him to blood slugs and having Stannis toss the nobly named results into a fire, in a kind of leech voodoo. (Those leeches reminded me of the poor unfortunate souls in the lair of “The Little Mermaid’s” Ursula.) Before she… -
My open relationship went awry
19 May 2013 | 5:00 pmSophia and I were dating a week when we created The List. We had a lot in common — we were both writers, lived in the same neighborhood, and had just gotten out of marriages — but it was our shared desire to be sexually experimental that really defined our relationship. I’m hardly this adventurous on my own, but after being married for 10 years and realizing Sophia had a yen to try just about anything, I felt at ease about traveling out of my comfort zone with her.One night, while sipping wine in my apartment, we started adding items to the list of lascivious things we wanted to do… -
Punk, dance music and drugs
19 May 2013 | 5:00 pmDear Reader,Today, we talk a little about music subcultures, drugs and the human soul. I thought this letter was very interesting, but in trying to answer the questions it raises, I encountered my own limitations in knowledge and insight. I just don't know in detail how drugs influence crowds and vice versa, but do think social scientists can provide clues. And there is also recent evidence of music's own curative powers. My notes on it are a little dry, and a little hazy, and quite unscientific, but I am just a writer, not a scientist or philosopher. In the days to come, I'd like to write… -
“The Unwinding”: What’s gone wrong with America
19 May 2013 | 3:00 pmThink of George Packer's new book, "The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America" as the un-Internet take on the transformation this country has undergone in the past 35 years. It's wide ranging, deeply reported, historically grounded and ideologically restrained. To write "The Unwinding", Packer clearly had to spend a lot of time out of his own habitat and in the company of other people, listening more than talking, and largely keeping his opinions to himself. Imagine that! It's called journalism.Packer's inspiration, as he explains in the book's afternotes, was the "U.S.A." trilogy by… -
Michael J. Fox wins: The best and worst of the new fall shows
19 May 2013 | 2:00 pmThis past week, the four big networks unveiled their fall schedules and all the brand spanking new sitcoms and dramas that will start premiering in September. The quantity of shiny new shows makes this week the TV critic equivalent of Christmas in May — if three-quarters of the Christmas presents were defective (most of these shows will not make it through the year) and one could only stare at them through their packaging, i.e. the short trailers based solely on a first episode.Of the 50 some new shows, a few of the most promising don’t even have trailers out for public consumption yet.
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The Book Designer
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When Should We Add the (Book) Marketing?
20 May 2013 | 12:01 amA few months ago Seth Godin posted one of his typically short and to the point blog posts with the headline When should we add the marketing? (Godin is also the author of the famous advice that the best time to start building your platform is three years before you publish your book. This will give you an idea of where Seth is going with this topic.) Here’s part of the argument: Marketing is the first thing we do, not the last. Build virality and connection and remarkability into your product or service from the start and then the end gets a lot easier. Build it into your app, your… -
This Week in the Blogs, May 12 – 18, 2013
19 May 2013 | 10:52 amWell, that certainly was some party last night, and that’s why these links are a bit late today. No matter, when you see what these bloggers have for you this week. Well worth the wait. In the meantime, if you need me I’ll be recuperating outside. Have fun. Mark Coker on Smashwords New Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell More eBooks “As I mention … it’s helpful to imagine dozens of levers and dials attached to your book that you can twist, turn and tweak. When you get everything just right, your book’s sales will increase through viral through… -
7 Secrets to Writing Persuasive Back Cover Sales Copy
17 May 2013 | 12:01 amBy Casey Demchak (@caseydemchak) I met Casey at the recent Author U event in Denver, Colorado. It’s not every day you run into someone whose specialty is back cover copy for your book. This is one of the most important pieces of copy you’ll write, since it has a lot of work to do representing your book and showing people what’s unique, interesting, or especially valuable about what you have to offer. I asked Casey to point out the big things authors ought to be thinking about when it comes to the back cover, and here’s his response. Every author knows the importance of…
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book-blog.com
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April 2013: Book notices
30 Apr 2013 | 6:00 pmRichard Russo's Kindle Single Nate in Venice tells the story of Nate's visit to Venice with a group that includes his older brother Julian. In something like 90 pages Russo manages to tell enough of the brothers' backstory to flesh out the relationship fully. And he hints enough at their likely future for us to fill in the blanks. My first thought was that the book ended a bit too abruptly. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I just wasn't prepared for it because I hadn't realized I was so close to finished: Russo certainly doesn't leave the story unfinished. Definitely recommended. -
March 2013: Book notices
1 Apr 2013 | 7:29 amJohn Rector's Kindle Single Lost Things is a story about what happens after a pair of friends are attacked one night on a deserted street. It's an exciting and fast read, though the ending seemed to me too abrupt. But the Single did its job. It introduced me to an author I'd never heard of before, and I've now downloaded a sample of Rector's novel Already Gone to my Kindle. Pretty much every man, woman, and child in beautiful Pagford and its ugly, socioeconomically depressed appendage known as "The Fields" lives a miserable existence. Children hate parents, spouses hate spousees, everyone is… -
February 2013: Book notices
28 Feb 2013 | 1:39 pmRed Eye's Greg Gutfeld is very smart and very funny, and what he has to say in The Joy of Hate about the abuses of the modern culture of tolerance will make most readers angry--or should. I don't think his humor comes across as well in print as it does on TV. If you're a regular watcher you won't have problems reading the book in his voice, but people new to him may find references to transgendered unicorns and the like rather strange. The Thief is the bleak story about the bleak life of a skillful Japanese pickpocket. The point of the whole thing seems to be that, at least for some--maybe… -
January 2013: Book notices
31 Jan 2013 | 6:00 pmMr. Monk Gets Even (2012) is the 15th book in the Monk series and the last one that Lee Goldberg will be writing. (I see from Amazon that Hy Conrad will be continuing the series.) So, a bittersweet read, as I've enjoyed the series for many years now. This one wasn't quite as funny or even quite as moving as some have been in the past, but it did wrap things up well--wrapped up, at least, as the end of an era rather than of the whole series. I won't give anything away, but Mr. Monk does get even, at least for now: given a universe as unbalanced as ours, things are likely to become odd for… -
December 2012: Book notices
31 Dec 2012 | 7:00 pmFrank Welsh, Building the Trireme (1988). I read this one for my current project, but, unusually, I really did read it cover to cover. Welsh was one of the three men who came up with the idea, in the early 1980s, of building a reconstruction of an ancient Athenian trireme. The others were ancient historian John Morrison and John Coates, a naval architect. Coates designed a ship based on Morrison's ideas, and the trireme was built by the Greek navy and launched in 1987. A series of trials at sea followed during which the capabilities of the vessel were tested. Welsh tells the background story…
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Chronicle Books Blog
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The Art of Chronicle Books HQ Clean Up
17 May 2013 | 7:06 pmThe staff of Chronicle Books was so lucky to get to meet Ursus Wehrli, author of international bestseller The Art of Clean Up last month when he was in San Francisco as a presenter at the TYPO International Design Talk. His visit was a special occurrence, since Ursus, based in Zurich, has an incredibly busy year-round performance schedule. Perhaps you saw this profile the New York Times featured about him in the Home & Garden section in March. We invited Ursus to our offices so he could meet the team who’s been working quite successfully to spread the Art of Clean Up word throughout… -
In Memory
16 May 2013 | 4:23 pmThe Chronicle community is heartbroken over the loss of one of our beloved authors today. Kathreen Ricketson was an incredibly talented quilter, pillar of the online craft community, inspiring blogger, and devoted wife and mother. Kathreen dedicated her work to fostering community. As she says in Little Bits Quilting Bee, the craft community is about “learning together, sharing ideas, and helping each other.” Let’s all continue to be inspired by Kathreen. Let’s make stuff and share it. Learn and connect. Tap into the power of craft and creativity to bring us together. In the spirit of… -
From the Chronicle Kitchen: Roots
15 May 2013 | 9:00 amBig congratulations to our guest blogger for this week, Diane Morgan—winner of 2013 IACP and James Beard Foundation cookbook awards! (She is also the author of 17 other cookbooks.) Roots has been included on lists of featured cookbooks for 2012 by The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, The Seattle Times, Epicurious.com, and The Daily Meal.com. Finding Our Roots by Diane Morgan I was young when the back-to-the-earth natural foods movement of the 1960s started. When Frances Moore Lappe’s seminal book, Diet for a Small Planet, was published in 1971,… -
Bike Snob on Cycling With a Child
14 May 2013 | 5:36 pmThis week we’re so excited to have BikeSnobNYC guest posting on the blog. BikeSnobNYC (a.k.a. Eben Weiss) is the blogger behind bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com and writes a regular column in Bicycling magazine. Check out the mini-site to learn more about his books, Bike Snob, The Enlightened Cyclist, and Bike Snob Abroad, enter our Bike Month Giveaway for a chance to win a bike and a copy of Bike Snob Abroad, and tune in to a virtual chat with Fat Cyclist this Thursday. In Boston? Meet up with BikeSnobNYC for a ride and booksigning with Landry’s Bicycles this Saturday, May 18! In my latest book,… -
From the Design Desk: Muni Madness
13 May 2013 | 1:13 pmI moved to San Francisco in 2009 to study graphic design. I have found it to be an inspiring city to live in and experience on a daily basis. It’s such a typographically rich city, whether it’s a Mexican taqueria sign in the Mission District or the countless ghost signage scattered all over the city. As a graphic designer, I am constantly collecting random things for their typographic inspiration. I have a massive collection of postcards, erasers, matchboxes, business cards—the list goes on. One of my oddest obsessive collections is four years worth of Muni transfer slips. There is…
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Bookslut
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Red Spectres: Russian Gothic Tales from the Twentieth Century translated by Muireann Maguire
7 May 2013 | 4:53 ammaguire muireann red spectres -
An Interview with Amy Wilentz
5 May 2013 | 9:56 amAmy Wilentz was green behind the ears when she first touched down in Port-au-Prince. It was 1985, her first time in the country, and President Jean-Claude Duvalier's last. She was a young journalist, but Haiti in the midst of... -
The Bad Luck of Samuel Menashe
5 May 2013 | 5:13 amNo question in criticism is more mysterious than the question of why one writer receives quick recognition and another doesn't -- either at all or until after enduring long obscurity. This was on my mind while I recently reread one... -
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
5 May 2013 | 4:12 amfaye lyndsay gods of gotham -
Five Faces and What’s Behind Them
5 May 2013 | 2:56 am1. Taco Head A man with a taco for a head stands at a fast food counter. The kid serving him says “Uh, is that your real -- is that a mask? Ha ha.” Taco Head replies “Yeah. No....
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My Book Club
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Who wants to Think Like a Rockstar?
2 May 2013 | 11:30 pmWhy have customers when you can have FANS? This is the message of Mack Collier’s book Think Like a Rockstar: How to Create Social Media and Marketing Strategies that Turn Customers into Fans. We were so excited to have Mack Collier join us on #MyBookClub! Here is a Storify summary of the chat. (refresh if the [...]
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Powell's Books: Overview
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Daily Dose for Sun, May 19: Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
19 May 2013 | 1:00 amJulie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell Reviewed by Cristy from Yamhill, Oregon. -
Daily Dose for Sat, May 18: A Canticle for Leibowitz
18 May 2013 | 1:00 amA Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. Reviewed by Myrna from Sonoma, California. -
Daily Dose for Fri, May 17: Steamy Kitchen's Healthy Asian Favorites: 100 Recipes That Are Fast, Fresh, and Simple Enough for Tonight's Supper
17 May 2013 | 1:00 amSteamy Kitchen's Healthy Asian Favorites: 100 Recipes That Are Fast, Fresh, and Simple Enough for Tonight's Supper by Jaden Hair Reviewed by Susan from Mechanicsville, Virginia. -
Daily Dose for Thu, May 16: The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It
16 May 2013 | 1:00 amThe Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It by Valerie Young PhD Reviewed by Jennifer from Bainbridge Island, Washington. -
Daily Dose for Wed, May 15: Pastors' Wives
15 May 2013 | 1:00 amPastors' Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Reviewed by Lynne from Wellington, Kansas.
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800 CEO Read
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Friday Links
17 May 2013 | 12:38 pmTweetFor your weekend perusal, here is another installment of Friday Links ➻ Calvin Ried’s coverage of the BISG’s MIP (The Book Industry Study Group’s Making Information Pay Conference) 2013: A New World of Big Data, Complexity and Collaboration for Publishers Weekly yesterday was a treasure of interesting insights: BISG executive director Len Vlahos gave an overview of “The Digital Consumer” using data from its “Consumer Attitudes Towards E-book Reading Survey,” in particular looking at the behavior of “Power Buyers” or consumers who buy at least one e-book a… -
ChangeThis: Issue 105
15 May 2013 | 11:33 amTweet Monster Loyalty: How to Build Customer Loyalty like Lady Gaga by Jackie Huba “While known as much for her voice as for her over-the-top wardrobe, few recognize Lady Gaga for her stunning business acumen, which has earned her legions of loyal fans worldwide.” Brains Favor the Ridiculously In Charge Leader by Henry Cloud, Ph.D “Leaders must establish some key boundaries in some very key areas if they want to get results. And, thanks to brain research, we now can scientifically get a peek into why the leaders who do establish these kinds of boundaries get the results that they… -
The Power of the Circle
15 May 2013 | 7:25 amTweetTwo conversations I had last week got me thinking about networking. ➻ The first was during a brainstorming meeting with Jon, our general manager, about our annual author conference. The meeting ended with a discussion on the value of mentoring, and the predominance of books that advocate for the practice. ➻ The second was over a drink with a friend who was joking about the state of her golf game. When I commented that I had no desire to learn the sport, she explained that she works in an industry in which golf is still an elemental aspect of networking. She challenged herself with… -
Simple
14 May 2013 | 10:42 amTweetWhen we talk about breakthrough simplicity, we mean an interaction that cuts through the clutter. This is a standard that should be applied to everything a company puts out into the world, from the product to the ads down to the smallest piece of correspondence: It should do its job quickly, clearly, simply. People just don’t have the time or the interest to wade through corporate rhetoric and jargon to figure out what you’re trying to tell them. Through clarity of thought and presentation, it’s possible for a business to rise above the cacophony of today’s… -
Friday Links
10 May 2013 | 4:45 pmTweet➻ Scientific American had a post I missed last month about The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens. And it seems that despite the recent surge in e-book sales, our brains still prefer the physicality of the page. In the U.S., e-books currently make up between 15 and 20 percent of all trade book sales. Even so, evidence from laboratory experiments, polls and consumer reports indicates that modern screens and e-readers fail to adequately recreate certain tactile experiences of reading on paper that many people miss and, more importantly, prevent people…
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Charles Petzold
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Two Outstanding Documentaries
17 May 2013 | 12:00 pmIn December 2008 — between the election of Barack Obama and his inauguration — the Bush administration decided to give a farewell present to the oil industry by selling off drilling rights on parcels of public land in Utah's pristine redrock area. A 27-year-old environmental activist and University of Utah student named Tim DeChristopher showed up at the auction, was asked if he had come to bid, said that he was, and was given a bidding paddle with the number 70. ... more ... -
Don’t Just Read “The Great Gatsby”
10 May 2013 | 5:00 amSomething like the fifth movie version of The Great Gatsby is opening today, but it's silly to actually go see such a thing. The novel itself is quite short. You can probably read it in less time than it would take to go and see the movie, and you'll emerge from the experience much more fulfilled and satisfied because you'll have read F. Scott Fitzgerald's original novel rather what appears to be — at least judging from the trailers — a crazed 3D monstrosity by Baz Luhrmann. ... more ... -
A Data Binding to the Text Property of Run?
15 Apr 2013 | 5:03 amSometimes a programmer will encounter a situation where it's convenient to embed a changeable data value in a paragraph of text, and for this paragraph to re-wrap itself when the text representation of this data value acquires a different character width. ... more ... -
Spinning a Record Like a DJ in Windows 8
2 Apr 2013 | 3:44 amWindows 8 has some exceptionally powerful facilities for working with sound, and in the latest installment of the DirectX Factor column in MSDN Magazine I show how to display a file picker that allows you to select an MP3 or WMA file from your Windows 8 Music Library, display cover art as well as album and artist information, load and decode the file using the Media Foundation APIs, and shovel the resultant audio buffers into XAudio2 voices to play back the file. ... more ... -
Fast Map Zooming Using DirectX
9 Mar 2013 | 4:00 amDo you know that movie that starts out with a far-off view of Earth from outer space, and then the camera seems to move in closer and closer as if you're heading towards Earth in a rocket, and in what seems to be one continuous take you plunge through the clouds and go straight down to the Earth's surface, with more and more detail quickly coming into view, and then you zoom right into someone's backyard, and two people are sitting by the side of a swimming pool, and one of them is dead? ... more ...
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The Millions
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Longreads.edu
19 May 2013 | 12:00 pmThe Longreads team has teamed up with Syracuse assistant professor Aileen Gallagher in order to “search for and share outstanding student work.” If you’ve read (or written) something fantastic this past school year, they encourage you to tag it #college #longreads on Twitter or Tumblr. Related posts: Behind the Longreads On January 25th, if you’re in New York City, you... Top Longreads of 2011 They say you’re only as good as the company you... Pump the longreads at SXSW Our own founding editor C. Max Magee is teaming up... -
With Very Small Font, Of Course
19 May 2013 | 11:00 amIreland debuted a new stamp featuring a 224-word short story written by Dublin teenager Eoin Moore. Related posts: History of the Most Widely Used Font Katherine Eastland has written an interesting piece on the history... Celtic Tiger’s Collapse Gabriel O’Malley‘s “Letter From Dublin” for n+1 is an interesting... Cheese or Font? Serious foodie or just extremely well read? Play this game... -
“The Book Was Better.” Or Was It?
19 May 2013 | 9:00 amDid Baz Lurhmann’s Great Gatsby adaptation leave you feeling a little disappointed? Then consider Kate Kelsall’s short list of “utterly compelling cinematic adaptations” to be just what the doctor ordered. Related posts: Gatsby As He Was; Gatsby As He Will Be The hype keeps building for Baz Luhrmann’s oft-delayed Great Gatsby... The Sound of Privilege On Friday, May 10th, Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby... G to the Gatsby Baz Luhrmann’s much-delayed Great Gatsby film adaptation may justify its... -
New Lorrie Moore on the Way
19 May 2013 | 8:00 amPublicity bigwig Paul Bogaards spilled the beans on Twitter Thursday night: Lorrie Moore has a new short fiction collection in the pipeline. It’s slated for March 2014 release. Related posts: From the Newsstand: Lorrie Moore on Barthelme One of the familiar knocks on the short story master... Lorrie Commodore Lorrie Moore is headed to Nashville, Tennessee as Vanderbilt University’s... It’s Not You, It’s Me: Thoughts on Lorrie Moore’s A Gate at the Stairs We all came out of Lorrie Moore's overcoat--or her frog... -
Hard Choices
19 May 2013 | 7:00 amRecommended Listening: David Sedaris presented three short stories while guest hosting WNYC’s Selected Shorts. The three stories were written by Amy Hempel, Tobias Wolff, and Frank Gannon, and each one has to do with “hard choices,” says Sedaris. Related posts: Short Story Shop Talk Robert Birnbaum and Tobias Wolff talk short stories and other... Saturday Fiction with Faber and Gay You can listen to stories by Michel Faber and Roxane... Salman Rushdie Runs Down 2008′s Best American Short Stories Yesterday, on WNYC’s Leonard Lopate Show, Salman Rushdie discussed the...
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ReadersRead.com Book Blog
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2013 Children's Choice Book Award Winners Announced
17 May 2013 | 1:00 pmThe winners of the 2013 Children's Choice Book Awards have been announced by the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader. The winners were announced a charity gala benefitting Every Child a Reader in New York City. This was the sixth annual CCBAs. Here is a list of the winners: Author of the Year: Jeff Kinney for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 7: The Third Wheel (Amulet Books/Abrams) Illustrator of the Year: Robin Preiss Glasser for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet (HarperCollins Children's Books) Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year: Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta, illustrated… -
Martin Short to Publish Memoir With Harper
14 May 2013 | 3:00 pmComedian and actor Martin Short has announced plans to publish his memoir with Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The memoir will be published in 2014. The autobiography is Martin's first book. Short will discuss his life and his forty-plus years in show business. It will cover his childhood in Hamilton, Canada. It will also cover his early years at SCTV and Saturday Night Live. Short will also discuss his films, including The Three Amigos and Father of the Bride. Short said in a statement, "Although I've never read a book all the way through, I'm sure excited to write one. And… -
Zendaya Signs Book Deal With Disney Publishing
13 May 2013 | 7:24 pmZendaya, the star of Disney's Shake It Up!, has signed a book deals with Disney-Hyperion. She will pen an advice book, called Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence, which will arrive in bookstores in August. The book was co-written with Sheryl Berk. Between U and Me will will provide advice for navigating the tween years. It will also include personal photos, anecdotes, recipes, playlists, doodles, and advice from Zendaya's team of experts. Zendaya says, "The tween years can be really fun and exciting, but they can also be a tough time in a girl's life. -
Eoin Colfer Launches New Book Series Called WARP
10 May 2013 | 4:00 pmEoin Colfer, the bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series, has launched a new series, called WARP. The first book in the series, WARP Book 1: The Reluctant Assassin, debuted May 7 with a 750,000 first printing. The series is published by Disney-Hyperion. Colfer is going on a nine-city tour in the U.S. later this month to promote the book. Colfer said in a statement, "WARP, which stands for 'Witness Anonymous Relocation Program,' is an action-adventure series full of mayhem, magic, and murder - with a villain to die for. I think of this series as Oliver Twist meets The Matrix." In the… -
2013 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winners Announced
5 May 2013 | 1:40 pmMystery Writers of America has announced the winners of the 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards. The annual awards for mystery fiction and nonfiction were presented at the organization's Gala Banquet at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Dennis Lehane won Best Novel for Live by Night. Here is the list of winners: Best Novel: Live by Night by Dennis Lehane Best First Novel: The Expats by Chris Pavone Best Paperback Original: The Last Policeman: A Novel by Ben H. Winters Best Fact Crime: Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French…
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Opinions of a Teen Who Reads
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Fever (The Chemical Gardens #2): Review
17 May 2013 | 10:32 amAuthor: Lauren DestefanoAge range: 14-17Content: Moderate relationship content, mild sexual content, no cursing, moderate violenceGenre: Teen Science Fiction / Teen FantasyPublisher: Simon & Schuster Where to get it: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, Half-Price BooksSynopsis: Rhine and Gabriel have finally escaped the mansion, but they're still in danger. Determined to get to Manhattan to find Rhine's twin brother, Rowan, the two keep going with the constant threat of being captured hanging over their heads. The road to Manhattan is long and treacherous and… -
Best & Worst Book Series: Science Fiction / Fantasy
13 May 2013 | 3:10 pmWhoa. I'm not doing a review for once. Whooooaaa. I wanted to start this month with a Best & Worst post because there are just so many book series. They can either be really good or really bad. I guess all books are like that. But with series, it's a serious commitment. So you'll want to know what you're getting yourself into. Let us begin.BEST...The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I have raved about this series quite a bit. I've done a review on all of her books. I love Cassandra Clare. If I had to recommend one series to everyone I know on this planet, it would be… -
The Face on the Milk Carton: Review
26 Apr 2013 | 3:44 pmAuthor: Caroline B. CooneyAge range: 12-15Content: Mild relationship content, no sexual content, no cursing, no violenceGenre: Teen FictionPublisher: Random House Children's BooksWhere to get it: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, Half-Price BooksSynopsis: Nobody pays attention to the missing kids on milk cartons. Janie was no exception. Until one day she's drawn in by the little girl's red hair so much like her own. She recognizes the little girl. Why? Because Janie is the missing child. Opinions: Again, just like Beautiful Creatures, I had such high hopes for… -
Prodigy (Legend #2)
23 Apr 2013 | 1:21 pmAuthor: Marie LuAge range: 13-17Content: Moderate relationship content, no sexual content, mild cursing, moderate violence Genre: Teen Science Fiction / Teen Fantasy AdventurePublisher: Penguin Young Readers GroupWhere to get it: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, Half-Price BooksSynopsis: June and Day are have escaped to Vegas when it happens: Elector Primo dies. His son Anden takes over. The two join the Patriots with the promise of help in finding Day's little brother and save passage to the Colony, but only if they assassinate the new… -
Out of Easy
16 Apr 2013 | 8:54 amAuthor: Ruta SepetysAge range: 14-17Content: Mild relationship content, mild sexual content, mild cursing, moderate violenceGenre: Teen Fiction / Teen Historical FictionPublisher: Penguin Young Readers GroupWhere to get it: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, Half-Price BooksSynopsis: Josie Moraine, the seventeen-year-old daughter of a French Quarter prostitute who offers her nothing more than theft and abuse. Josie dreams of escaping life in the Big Easy and her bookstore job. But a murder investigation brings her plan to a grinding halt and threatens to smash…
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Eye on Books
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Mary Johnson “An Unquenchable Thirst”
17 May 2013 | 4:55 amA life of service, sacrifice, and spirituality is what Mary Johnson had in mind when, at age 17, she joined Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity order at the end of the 1970s. What she hadn’t counted on was the pettiness, rigidity, even cruelty that she encountered. Now in her book “An Unquenchable Thirst,” Mary Johnson offers what Anne Rice has called “a candid, generous, and profound spiritual memoir.” Listen to Mary Johnson Download audio file (maryjohnson.mp3) Don’t see a player here? Click on this link to listen, or right click and “Save… -
Elinor Lipman “The View from Penthouse B”
9 May 2013 | 10:02 pmElinor Lipman is a longtime favorite novelist who is also, it turns outl, a brilliant essayist. Her tenth novel, “The View From Penthouse B.” was published at the same time as her first essay collection “I Can’t Complain.” Bringing the same warmth and easy companionship of her fiction to her essays, Lipman writes about everything from her favorite soap opera to unexpected widowhood and caring for elderly parents. Then she eases you effortlessly from the final essay .. into her novel, which centers on two sisters brought together again by circumstance to live… -
Mary Roach “Gulp”
24 Apr 2013 | 9:04 amWhat, exactly, happens to the food we eat, after we’ve eaten it? As any school child can tell you, it goes into our stomach where it gets digested. But, how, exactly, does that happen? And what if something goes wrong? And why doesn’t your stomach digest itsefl? And why don’t we like to eat the same things animals eat? And ……. Well, clearly, once you get started, there are a thousand questions. And now, with a thousand answers, Mary Roach, whose new book “Gulp” is an adventure down the alimentary canal. Listen to Mary Roach Download audio file… -
Jacqui Dunne & Bernard Lietaer “Rethinking Money”
22 Apr 2013 | 9:10 amMoney makes the world go ’round, as the saying goes. But what is money? Does there have to be just one kind of currency? Now, in a new book called “Rethinking Money” journalist Jacqui Dunne and banker and consultant Bernard Lietaer explore the origins of our current monetary system, which is built on bank debt and scarcity, and compare it to new kinds of money that communities all over the world are exploring and adopting. They contend that the current centuries-old money system is actually causing many of the world’s problems. And new currencies, new ways of defining… -
Jamie Mason “Three Graves Full”
18 Apr 2013 | 3:00 amThere is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard. But it could always be worse. . . . And as mild-mannered Jason Getty finds out, in Jamie Mason‘s darkly comic thriller “Three Graves Full,” it can indeed get much worse. After Jason kills a man in an uncharacteristic moment of lethal rage, he buries the body literally in his backyard. Now a year has passed, and Jason finally is learning to live with the undeniable truth of what he’s done. And that’s when police dig up two bodies on his property – neither of which is the one Jason buried.
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Off the Shelf
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Greater Boston author readings May 19-25
16 May 2013 | 8:09 amSUNDAY: Jackson Galaxy (Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me about Life, Love, and Coming Clean) reads at 2 p.m. in Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, Copley James C. O'Connell (The Hub's Metropolis: Greater... -
Greater Boston author readings April 14-20
9 May 2013 | 2:59 pmSUNDAY: Lauren Scheuer ("Once Upon A Flock") reads at 1 p.m. at Tatnuck Bookseller, 18 Lyman St., Westborough Laurie Collins ("The Pajamas of My Dreams") reads at 2 p.m. at Bestsellers Cafe, 24 High St., Medford Yvette... -
Higgins Clark award for Hank Phillippi Ryan
9 May 2013 | 12:59 pmIn all the hoopla over last week's literary upset at the 2013 Edgar Awards by Dennis Lehane's "Live By Night'' over Gillian Flynns best-selling Gone Girl, another award by a local luminary slipped by. Hank Phillippi Ryan, an Emmy-award... -
Greater Boston author events May 12-18
9 May 2013 | 7:24 amMONDAY: Rebecca Shafir (The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction) reads at 10:30 a.m. at Tewksbury Public Library, 300 Chandler St., Tewksbury Jane Brox (Five Thousand Days Like This One: An American Family History)... -
Greater Boston author readings May 5-11
2 May 2013 | 7:54 amSUNDAY: Patti Moreno (Gardening by Cuisine: An Organic-Food Lovers Guide to Sustainable Living) reads at 2 p.m. at Wellesley Books, 82 Central St., Wellesley Jill Teitelman (Saving Gracie) reads at 2 p.m. at Brookline Booksmith Arthur Sze...
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The Book Deal: A Publishing Blog for Writers and Book People
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How winning a literary prize can change your life
14 May 2013 | 7:47 am“First, it got my book published,” says Kirstin Scott, whose novel Motherlunge won the 2011 Association of Writers and Writing Programs Award. “And with that, the prize gave me readers.” There’s no doubt that winning a well-respected competition can help validate your work with agents and publishers. It proves someone thinks you’re good and helps build a more credible platform. The best of these prizes include cash awards and book publication. I recently interviewed four writers each of whom has won a well-known contest. Here’s who they are and how their prizes changed their… -
Having trouble writing? Try this famous author’s technique
2 May 2013 | 10:54 pm“Sometimes in a nervous frenzy I just fling words as if I were flinging mud at a wall,” says Pulitzer Prize winner John McPhee. “Blurt out, heave out, babble out something – anything – as a first draft,” he says in an article called Draft No. 4 now in The New Yorker magazine where he’s been appearing regularly for 48 years. McPhee, the author of 32 books, says he first wrote these words of advice in a letter to his daughter Jenny years ago when she was starting out as a writer herself. “The way to do a piece of writing is three or four times over, never once,” he… -
Market sizzles for debut authors
22 Apr 2013 | 9:49 am“Editors still love a chance at debut fiction,” says Manhattan literary agent Michelle Brower. “If the book is unique and meaningful, the debut author doesn’t yet have a bad sales track record so we can look at their book with all of the rosiness of potential rather than reality” Good news That’s some of the good news for first-time authors from agents out there on the front lines. The news is backed up by recent deals with major publishers for first novels, like Mango Bride by Marivi Soliven, an immigrant tale of two women, two cultures, family secrets and the fight to find a new… -
Writing a memoir: Intersecting memory and story
11 Mar 2013 | 1:10 pmWriting a memoir is one of the most stimulating but difficult literary challenges an author can undertake. Nevertheless, it’s a hugely popular genre. Five of the top ten hardcover nonfiction books on the NY Times bestseller list this week are memoirs. Aspiring memoir writers can find help in books and by searching online, but there’s nothing like a live workshop with a master teacher. One highly recommended instructor is Tamim Ansary, the Afghan-American author of the critically acclaimed literary memoir West of Kabul, East of New York (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). This spring, Ansary… -
From spark to story: How books get started
4 Mar 2013 | 8:41 amWhere do stories come from? Are writers inspired from deep within the unconscious psyche by forces beyond their control? Or are they compelled by external cues that resonate without invitation – unexpected and accidental? As an editor, I’ve seen the muse arrive in surprising and mysterious ways. The creative spark, a blessed event to be sure, can arrive at any moment in time. Whether the source is mundane or magical, the author fans the spark into a fully realized story. From spark to finished story I asked two authors about their original impulses and how they developed into the books…
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Personanondata
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Flagstaff Arizona 1992
17 May 2013 | 5:25 pmAt a sales conference in January 1992 I got to see some of the scenery around Sedona and Flagstaff Arizona. I've always wanted to go back there. It's some amazing landscapes. -
Skip Prichard Named to Succeed Jay Jordan at OCLC
16 May 2013 | 5:27 pmFrom their press release: Mr. Prichard has led multi-national organizations that serve libraries across the full spectrum of library services and content needs. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Ingram Content Group Inc., which provides a broad range of physical and digital services to the book industry. Prior to his service at Ingram, he was President and CEO of ProQuest Information and Learning, a respected global publisher and information provider serving library, education, government and corporate markets with offices around the world. Mr. Prichard will succeed Jay Jordan, who… -
NetGalley's Wellness Project
14 May 2013 | 10:30 pmFrom their press release and interesting initiative by NetGalley: NetGalley, a service to promote and publicize forthcoming titles to professional readers of influence, has launched the NetGalley Wellness Challenge. The Challenge is specifically aimed to help members of the site improve their individual influence on book recommendations, by modeling best practices in a variety of fun and easy ways. Over 120,000 NetGalley members are invited to join the Challenge at the official kick-off on Monday, May 13th, by pledging to be “NetGalley healthy.” The 9-week program will give members many… -
Cengage On the Verge of Chapter 11 Filing?
13 May 2013 | 5:17 pmThird quarter revenues at Cengage improved to 5% better than last year and adjusted EBITDA was up a healthy 30% but YTD numbers remain off due to a bad first quarter and the real story behind Cengage's numbers is when, rather than if, the company will go into a pre-arranged bankruptcy so to re-negotiate their outstanding loan obligations. Here is CEO Michael Hansen's prepared comments on the issue: As you know, in March of this year, we retained restructuring, financial and legal advisorsto assist the company as we review a range of options to strengthen our balance sheet and position… -
MediaWeek (V7, N20) Dan Brown's Inferno, a Parody, Coursera, + More
12 May 2013 | 12:10 pmThe Telegraph reviews the new Dan Brown book (in a way): The Inspector reluctantly passed a laptop to Langdon who could now sit up in bed. Dr d’Angelou smiled. “I will leave you two gentlemen,” she said, because that was the sort of thing people said in novels. Langdon pressed a few keys and on the laptop screen was a grey filtrated image of himself walking along a street he did not recognise. Across the road was a little old woman dressed as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, that deeply divisive saint of the Catholic Church and presumably head of the deeply sinister Salvation Army. With a…
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Books: Books blog | guardian.co.uk
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Reader reviews roundup
17 May 2013 | 9:03 amConcrete fiction from Stephen Marche and a Martian adventure with Ken Kalfus are among this week's books under reviewThis week's reviews included a new discovery for me. He is Stephen Marche, whose Love and the Mess We're In is intriguingly reviewed by Robert Nathan. He opens:Love and the Mess We're In is like nothing you've ever read. I don't mean that as the usual figurative praise on how good a book it is, but as simple fact. This is different. What makes this work unusual – and I don't know what to call it if not a 'work' – is its application of concrete poetic techniques in… -
How do you write about life when it's lived on computers?
17 May 2013 | 2:59 amFiction writers face a challenge in depicting the ubiquitous 21st-century experience of virtual existenceWe live more and more of our life through the screens of laptops and smartphones, but how do we represent this on the page? In his 2004 novel Eastern Standard Tribe, science fiction author Cory Doctorow explored what it meant to live in a world where our relationships were scattered around the globe, and our lives lived through computers. Doctorow's novel was published just two years before the release of the iPhone in 2006, and the explosion in smartphone and tablet computer usage which… -
Is this the end of fiction's genre wars?
17 May 2013 | 12:00 amHas the question of genre in fiction become 'a flimsy irrelevence' or will the mores of the book trade maintain the distinctions?This week, the chair of this year's Man Booker prize, Robert Macfarlane, published an introduction to a new edition of M John Harrison's Climbers. In it, he says "let me try to express a little of the amazement I feel when standing in front of the work of Harrison, who is best known as one of the restless fathers of modern SF but who is to my mind among the most brilliant novelists writing today, and with regard to whom the question of genre is a flimsy… -
Tips, links and suggestions: What are you reading today?
16 May 2013 | 10:10 amThe space to talk about the books you are reading, and find out which ones we are reviewingOne conversation in last week's thread was particularly pleasing to the books team: it was about the relative merits of Mohammed Hanif's The Case of Exploding Mangoes (which was longlisted for the Guardian first book prize) and Aravind Adiga's Booker winning The White Tiger (which was not). Both Goodyorkshirelass and TimHannigan felt that the Guardian got it right, much to the delight of C1aireA. Trevor Edward Walder chipped in that Hanif's follow-up, Alice Bhatti, was even better. "Go for it," he… -
Bestselling writers know that image counts
16 May 2013 | 9:19 amRobert Langdon, Harry Potter, Lisbeth Salander – you can picture them instantly. Visually memorable characters are making a welcome comeback to crime and thriller novelsThe Harris Tweed jacket of Dan Brown's protagonist Robert Langdon has understandably been mentioned in most reviews of Inferno, with critics noting how often Brown refers to it (not to mention its label: "Harris Tweed's iconic orb adorned with 13 buttonlike jewels and topped by a Maltese cross") and its elevation into playing a part in the plot – everything starts with the Harvard professor of "symbology" discovering…
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ReadySteadyBlog
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The only acceptable Leonard Cohen cover?
27 Apr 2013 | 4:35 am -
The indispensable backdoorbroadcasting.net
19 Apr 2013 | 4:45 amLots of new stuff on the indispensable backdoorbroadcasting.net: ... starting with the 2013 Hayes Robinson lecture – which is an annual lecture from the department of History at Royal Holloway:Richard Kagan – The Plaza and the Square: Perspectives on Cities in the Early Modern Atlantic Worldand the annual Hellenic Institute (also at Royal Holloway) chipped in with an interesting lecture on the Greek Diaspora:Richard Clogg – Xeniteia: the Greek diaspora in modern timesAnd one more offering from the History department at Royal Holloway:Jonathan Waterlow – No Laughing Matter? Popular… -
WWTBD – What Would Thomas Bernhard Do
19 Apr 2013 | 4:22 amFabulous looking event: WWTBD – What Would Thomas Bernhard Do Talks, discussions, lectures, films, performances, concerts, partiesMay 17–26, 2013 Daily 2pm–2am Kunsthalle Wien Museumsquartier Museumsplatz 1 1070 Wien, Austria kunsthallewien.atAs a prelude to its repositioning, the Kunsthalle Wien organizes a ten-day festival dedicated to key issues of today's society. WWTBD – What Would Thomas Bernhard Do takes up the tradition of Thomas Bernhard's critical and recalcitrant thinking, transfers it into the present, and breaks it down into various disciplines in the sense of a concise… -
Mitchelmore on Knausgaard
19 Apr 2013 | 3:24 amLet's be clear: My Struggle is not about the life of Karl Ove Knausgaard. The interminable specifics of the content are superficial necessities for an experiment in stretching the everyday to such a degree that it becomes translucent... Stephen Mitchelmore discusses Knausgaard's My Struggle – Book 2 (A Man in Love). -
Well this is embarrassing...
18 Apr 2013 | 12:42 pmGoodness! Nothing from me for almost three months. I think that's my longest spell of blogging silence ever. I've been working too hard and playing far too little, and that looks set to continue for a while. Regardless, I have a few fine articles stacking up from kind contributors that need to see the light of day forthwith. So, expect them, and a few minor interventions from me, too, over the coming week or more.
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Litopia
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Of Leprechauns & Lawyers
14 May 2013 | 3:12 pmMore news and debate from the confluence of writing, publishing and the law. Presented by leading lawyer Donna Ballman with literary agent Peter Cox. Don't forget - you can post topics for Donna to discuss in the Comments section, below. Links from this show: No Country For Wallflowers - The Perks of Being a Wallflower Is Banned Should Anne Frank Be Banned Too? Call For Atticus Finch - Harper Lee Goes To Law Call For G.I. Joe - Writers Sue Paramount,& MGM Over 'Stolen' Sequel ) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/gi-joe-writers-sue-paramount-496444 … Ukraine… -
The Singing Dentist
10 May 2013 | 3:27 amWhat are you going to do about a bad - really bad - online review? This week's show features one dentist's (you read that right, folks) creative response - she owns the copyright in your review! Plus tons of other timely topics that writers need to know about, including: Authors Sue Penguin’s Self-Publishing Platform Author Says Muslim Group's $30m Libel Suit Will Expose Terror Ties Court Expands 'Fair Use' For Artists Using Copyrighted Works Fox Censors Cory Doctorow’s “Homeland” Novel From Google Amazon Accused Of 'Corporate Censorship,' Again Presented by leading lawyer… -
The Listener in the Shadows
7 May 2013 | 4:47 amIt's not often we have a real-life spy as our special guest on LAD - but tonight, stepping out of the shadows and into our spotlight is special guest Major David Thorp - a man who has spent his entire life in signals intelligence (SIGINT)... from the Cold War to the Falklands, and everything in-between. SIGINT is one of the least-known but most important aspects of battlefield and peacetime intelligence gathering. David's book, The Silent Listener - Falklands 1982: The Inside Story of British Electronic Surveillance and Intel Controversies, ignited a firestorm of controversy when it was… -
Being English
23 Apr 2013 | 2:22 amOn this Saint George's Day, Garry welcomes Robin Tilbrook, chairman of The English Democrats, and poses the question - what exactly does it mean to be English? And just how close is patriotism to nationalism - to racism? It's a minefield out there! As always, Garry dispenses with the niceties of Political Correctness in the pursuit of truth. And justice. And the English way. A great, thought-provoking show - pass the link on! And in the meantime, join in the discussion on the website. Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes Be a wonderful human being and… -
Get Up, Stand Up: Stand Up For Your Rights!
19 Apr 2013 | 1:30 pmHere's whats important to writers, right now: Trade figures launch Read Petite digital venture Ebooks make up 23 percent of US publisher sales Slow Death of the American Author Blow to Rights of Broadcasters Under the Copyright Act Most censored books of 2012 Apple Goes on Censorship Spree Teacher tells fourth-graders to give up constitutional rights National Press Photographers Assoc Joins Copyright Suit Against Google Chicago Public Schools’ Ban of ‘Persepolis’ Continues HarperCollins, Open Road E-Book Suit Producers settle Spider-Man lawsuit Presented by leading lawyer Donna Ballman…
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Omnivoracious
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Sylvia Day Whets Our Appetite for "Entwined with You"--and More Crossfire
18 May 2013 | 12:12 pmAfter naming Sylvia Day’s Bared to You a 2012 Best Book of the Year in Romance and devouring Reflected in You, we've been anxiously awaiting the release of the third book in Day's scorching Crossfire series, Entwined with You. To whet our appetites and make waiting for the book's arrival a little easier, Amazon Romance expert Alyssa Morris spoke with Day about what’s next for Gideon and Eva, her upcoming collaboration with Harlequin and Cosmopolitan, her all-time favorite romance novels, and much more. Alyssa Morris: Now that you’ve had a bit of time to absorb the success… -
An Evening with Dan Brown
17 May 2013 | 12:15 pmHow do you welcome an author who has sold 200 million books worldwide to New York’s Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center? Show the 2,000 fans in the audience where he lives, of course. At this launch event for Dan Brown's latest Robert Langdon thriller Inferno, Today Show host Matt Lauer introduced the author with a clip from an interview he conducted at Brown's home in Exeter, New Hampshire. This rare glimpse into Brown's life reveals that his house closely resembles his novels--full of beautiful old-world furnishings and secret passages hidden behind paintings and rotating… -
Daniel Vaughn, Author of "The Prophets of Smoked Meat"
17 May 2013 | 8:40 amI think it's official: Daniel Vaughn has the coolest job in the U.S. As the recently-named barbecue editor at Texas Monthly magazine, he explores the Lone Star state, in search of the best brisket, ribs, and BBQ joints. What started as a hobby (Vaughn was an architect who blogged at Full Custom Gospel BBQ, before landing the Texas Monthly gig) has become a career. Vaughn visited Seattle to sign copies of his book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue, the first book in Anthony Bourdain's publishing imprint at Ecco (a division of Harpers). At a sold-out… -
Amazon Asks: Kimberly McCreight on family, yogurt, and Breaking Bad
16 May 2013 | 3:00 amReconstructing Amelia is a media-fest of narrative, emails, texts and other bits a tormented mother uses to deconstruct her teenage daughter's life and figure out whether she did or didn't commit suicide. Climbing the charts, it's the first novel by lawyer-turned-author Kimberly McCreight, who knows a bit about motherhood angst and, well... villainy. What's the elevator pitch for your book? A page-turning mystery about parenting in the age of cyber-bullying, Reconstructing Amelia follows a mother as she tries to piece together the last troubled days of her daughter's… -
YA Wednesday: Marie Lu Talks to Rick Yancy About "The 5th Wave"
15 May 2013 | 3:09 pmRick Yancey's new book, The 5th Wave, sucked me in and pulled me under from the first page to the last with it's terrifying and thrilling story of an alien invasion like you've never seen. We made it our Best Teen Books of May Spotlight pick, and past Teen Best of the Month author, Marie Lu (Legend trilogy) is also a big fan. In this Omni exclusive, Lu chats with Yancey about The 5th Wave, movies, and, of course, aliens. Marie Lu: Everybody loves aliens--myself included! But in your opinion, how has Hollywood gotten the “alien invasion” idea wrong? Rick Yancey: I…
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Latest blog entries
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Interview with Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, Author of THE POPPY LADY
18 May 2013 | 2:31 pmWith Memorial Day just around the corner, we here at YABC thought it would be great to speak with an author who has written about military service. Barbara Elizabeth Walsh wrote THE POPPY LADY, which details the story of Moina Belle Michael, a woman who devoted her life to helping American soldiers during World War I. Read below to find out what inspired Walsh to write Moina's story, and how readers inspired by Moina can support soldiers today. What inspired you to write Moina's story about her efforts to help soldiers? THE POPPY LADY is the result of a promise I made to my Dad when I first… -
Giveaway: GHOST LEOPARD Audio Book
15 May 2013 | 11:59 amGhost Leopard (A Zoe & Zak Adventure #1) by Lars Guignard Release Date: Audiobook released 2/26/13 Zoe and Zak are lost in exotic India, where gods and magic still exist. Before they can find their way home, they just have to do one little thing... ...Save a mythical creature from an ancient evil that wants to rule the world. When Zoe Guire goes along on her mom's business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. An elephant god speaks to her from the bottom of a swimming pool... She and her classmate Zak get locked in a trunk and shipped off to a strange… -
Cover Reveal: KINSLAYER by Jay Kristoff + Giveaway!
15 May 2013 | 9:11 amAre you guys as stoked as I am to see the cover for KINSLAYER, the sequel to STORMDANCER?! And what about that title? I love them both so hard. We're also letting you see the UK cover. Tell us which one you like best in the comments! ARE YOU READY FOR THE AWESOME? The UK Cover: The US cover: About the book: A SHATTERED EMPIRE The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war… -
Giveaway: Win Dark Days Tour Signed Books!
13 May 2013 | 1:06 pmI got a chance to catch up with these Pitch Dark Days authors and ask them a few questions: Kiera Cass (THE ELITE Elizabeth Norris (UNBREAKABLE) Aprilynne Pike (LIFE AFTER THEFT) Amy Tintera (REBOOT) Check out their answers below, then enter to win one of these four signed books! Do the Pitch Dark Days authors write in a linear style, from start to finish, or do they jump around? Kiera said she usually writes start to finish, but while writing The Elite, she wrote specific scenes and then pieced them together. When she wrote the final book in the series, she wrote the… -
INSOMNIA Pre-Order Blog Hop - Win a Nook HD!
13 May 2013 | 4:35 amHey guys! Welcome to the INSOMNIA Pre-Order Blog Hop where you can enter to win a Nook HD! Let me tell ya, you'll want to get your hands on this book. Here are a few reasons why: About the book: Her eyes saved his life. Her dreams released his darkness. After four years of sleeplessness, high school junior Parker Chipp can’t take much more. Every night, instead of sleeping, he enters the dreams of the last person he’s made eye contact with. If he doesn’t sleep soon, Parker will die. Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest…
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The Fine Books Blog
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I is for Imagination in Appalachia
17 May 2013 | 6:00 amAppalachian Toys and Games From A to Z by Linda Hager Pack, illustrated by Pat Banks; University of Kentucky Press, $17.95, 56 pages ages 5 and up.(c) University Press of KentuckyMost modern American children have likely never heard of whimmydiddles (toys carved out of ivy and made to spin by reciting magic words) or played with apple dolls. This alphabet book, set in the heart of Appalachia, presents homemade playthings and games that entertained children at the end of the nineteenth century. Appalachia native Linda Pack has spent her career researching and writing about the… -
Northwestern Returns Bonaparte Letter to France
15 May 2013 | 10:47 pmToday, Northwestern University will be repatriating about 250 documents to France including a letter written by Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Joseph about the future Emperor's patriotism during the French Revolution.How the documents ended up at Northwestern is an interesting story in itself: Jack McBride, an entertainer in a USO troupe was stationed in Corsica during WWII. According to family tradition, McBride stumbled across a group of soldiers burning documents while he was wandering around the island. McBride saved what he could, a parcel of about 250 documents, including the… -
Intellectual Property Prints
15 May 2013 | 5:29 amDaniel Rolnik and Ryan McIntosh of Intellectual Property Prints in Los Angeles are launching a run of 100% handmade fine-art screenprints. Timed to support the annual Venice Art Walk auction on May 19th, IPP will debut ten new prints by artists from all genres of contemporary art, including: Gary Baseman (subversive art), Jason Shawn Alexander (fine art), Bob Dob (pop surrealism), David Flores (vinyl toys), Daniel Edwards (sculpture), Christine Wu (fine art Illustration), Gregory Siff (street art), Eric… -
Man Copies Entire King James Bible by Hand
13 May 2013 | 9:36 pmFollowing in the footsteps of medieval scribes centuries before him, Phillip Patterson of upstate New York completed an enormous task: he copied the entirety of the Bible by hand. Patterson, 63, began the project in 2007 and spent up to 14 hours per day writing passages.The retired interior designer completed the final words of his manuscript last weekend in front of a crowd at his local church, St. Peter's Presbyterian in Spencertown, New York. After finishing, he said "Amen." He plans to spend the next year binding his 2,400 page manuscript before he will donate it to the… -
Auction Report: April & May
12 May 2013 | 4:58 pmRecent and upcoming auction doings: - 10 April was a pretty amazing day for Christie's New York. The sale of the first part of the Collection of Arthur & Charlotte Vershbow on 10 April can only be described as spectacular. The sale realized a grand total of $15,842,145, with Goya's Tauromaquia leading the way at $1,915,750. Another Goya lot, Los Caprichos, sold for $843,750. And in their single-item sale on the same day, Christie's sold Dr. Francis Crick's "secret of life" letter to his son for an eye-popping $6,059,750. - Bloomsbury sold Books on Horology,…
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Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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RITA Reader Challenge: Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard
19 May 2013 | 8:52 amby SB Sarah Grade: B+ Title: Last Man Standing Author: Cindy Gerard Publication Info: Pocket 2012 ISBN: 9781451606829 Genre: Romantic Suspense This RITA® Reader Challenge 2013 review was written by Kelly. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Romantic Suspense category. The summary: Black Ops, Inc. operative Joe Green is determined to bring to justice the man responsible for former team member Bryan Tompkins’s death. He’s convinced the ambush that killed Bryan was no coincidence, but a setup. Unsure of the consequences of the battle… -
Live From the Nebulas: The Winners!
19 May 2013 | 6:56 amby CarrieS Fuelled only by potato chips and M&Ms, this intrepid reporter is here with the list of Nebula winners. More details about this wonderful weekend later, but for now...the winners! The Nebula Awards are given out yearly by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to honor the best writing in the feild. Here's this year's results: Kevin J. O'Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA: Michael H. Payne Solstice Awards: Carl Sagan and Ginjer Buchanan Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award: Gene Wolfe Ray Bradbury Award: Beasts of the… -
SBTB/DA Bestsellers - 7-14 May 2013
19 May 2013 | 12:32 amby SB Sarah This week's top ten is brought to you by the number 19, the letter G, and by the murky depths of our affiliate sales data. I hope you picked up something fabulous to read this week! Now You See Her by Linda Howard | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | iBooks Tart by Lauren Dane | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | ARE | iBooks Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | ARE | iBooks Since the Surrender by Julie Anne Long | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | ARE | iBooks A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | ARE | iBooks Carnal… -
HaBO: Cracks in the Wall, Possibly Also in the Heroine’s Head
18 May 2013 | 8:03 amby SB Sarah This request comes from Kris, who is looking for a book she read a long time ago: I read this book sometime between 1980 and 1984. Today, it would probably be coded as a Young Adult book. The main character was a teenager whose parents were moving. All I remember about the new place she moved to was the house was older (it may have been inherited by one of her parents), and there was a woods nearby. I also remember a description that involved the teenager noticing the cracks in the paint on the ceiling or the wall. The teenager resented the move away From Everything… -
HaBO: A Romance Heroine Named Avrielle
18 May 2013 | 4:59 amby SB Sarah Molly writes in with this request - and this one is a challenge. Her subject line: "In competition for the oddest query yet:" As my subject line hints, I have a very strange question for you. When/before I was born, my mother had planned to name me Avrielle (or possible Avril, though she always pronounced it more like Avrielle). Ultimately, her mother changed her mind; when I asked about it, my mother said she'd seen it in a book and liked it. It didn't occur to me until recently that she wasn't a big reader (after I was born, anyway) and that the few books I…
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London Review of Books
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Letters
22 May 2013 | 4:00 pmThe letters page from London Review of Books Vol. 35 No. 10 (23 May 2013) -
Thomas Jones: How to Survive Climate Change
22 May 2013 | 4:00 pmOn a damp, chill, blustery August afternoon in Whitby a few years ago I overheard a disgruntled holidaymaker declaiming – to his family, to anyone who would listen, to the wind – that ‘global warming is a load of codswallop.’ One of his children, a boy of around ten, was valiantly trying to explain to him the difference between climate and weather. But he wasn’t paying attention, or couldn’t hear over the gale and the sound of his own voice. ‘Global warming,’ he insisted again, ‘is a load of codswallop.’ This year’s April snows provoked similar sentiments in many… -
John Lanchester: Google Glass
22 May 2013 | 4:00 pm -
Mike Jay: Memorylessness
22 May 2013 | 4:00 pmMemory creates our identity, but it also exposes the illusion of a coherent self: a memory is not a thing but an act that alters and rearranges even as it retrieves. Although some of its operations can be trained to an astonishing pitch, most take place autonomously, beyond the reach of the conscious mind. As we age, it distorts and foreshortens: present experience becomes harder to impress on the mind, and the long-forgotten past seems to draw closer; University Challenge gets easier, remembering what you came downstairs for gets harder. -
Brian Dillon: Eileen Gray
22 May 2013 | 4:00 pm
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McSweeney’s
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Literary Couchsurfing References by Jason Edward Harrington
17 May 2013 | 4:01 amThomas Sawyer Missouri Reference: H. Finn Experience: Neutral Hain’t unlikely you remember me from a previous reference, in which I vouched for a Mr. Mark Twain (against the better angels of my commonest sense). Well today it’s my pleasure to recommend to you one Tom Sawyer. Tom hooked me up with a right fine futon at Aunt Polly’s on short notice, which was a real solid, considerin’ the circumstances. After that I had the great pleasure of surfin’ and a raftin’ a whole lotta’ rivers with Tom. One time we went tubin’ on the Nam Song in Laos (which I reckon’s a mighty cool… -
Position Papers from the Apple Pie and Machine Guns Institute: Position Paper #13: Fuck Science by Stuart Winchester
17 May 2013 | 4:00 amWhen Texas Representative Lamar Smith released a draft bill last month calling for a drastically needed overhaul in the way that the National Science Foundation issues grants, the research community had a collective meltdown not seen since the process outlined for cloning dinosaurs in Jurassic Park was deemed “too fake.” The issue that so upset this liberal-leaning sect? A sensible and overdue proposal that eliminates the cumbersome and costly peer-review process in favor of a new set of criteria to ensure that government funds only support high-quality, groundbreaking science that serves… -
I Don’t See Race by Christopher Mah
16 May 2013 | 4:01 amMany decades ago, racism was a huge problem in this country, but today, it hardly even exists, thanks largely to individuals like me who just don’t see race. Society has benefited from an increasing number of people who, like me, are simply race-blind and literally cannot tell a black man from a Chinese one without some kind of outside assistance. Because I see all people as having the same generic, beige-colored skin, I never have to think about race, so racism simply isn’t an issue for me. To me, the color of someone’s skin never even crosses my mind, as long as it is white-ish. No… -
List: One-of-a-Kind Government Positions by Jay Wexler
16 May 2013 | 4:00 amPoet Laureate Surgeon General Egg Honcho Decimal Czar Key Grip Overlord Toll Collector Top Cat Brad (the little fastener thingy) Boss Pornography Captain Cheesemonger Big Cheese Iguana in Chief Majority Whip -
The President’s Challenge Adult Fitness Test Reconsiders Its Audience by Pete Reynolds
15 May 2013 | 4:01 amLie down in sit-up position. How many slices of ham do you see under your couch? Get in position for the sit-and-reach. Can you get back up, or are you pretty much down there until the FedEx guy comes by again? Can you drive to work without stopping at Arby’s? Can you retweet without sweating? Can you achieve orgasm without thinking about cake? To your knowledge, have you ever been a major factor in a corporate-level decision about where to build a Bob Evans? Can you have a heart attack without also having a second heart attack? Can you sweat without smelling like maple syrup? Are you…
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Podiobooker
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New release! Strigoaie The Romanian Witch by Marc Vale
10 May 2013 | 1:15 pmWe’ve got new audio fiction going up today by Marc Vale. Check out Strigoaie The Romanian Witch, the first book in a new series: Marie Fatan always wanted to know the truth about her father who died in the war. It took a trip to Romania for her to unveil his side of the family’s secrets, it took a kidnapping to find out her father was still alive. In Strigoaie: The Romanian Witch, Marie takes a trip through Europe with her grandmother she barely knows. During their travels, Granna Lee tells a story of her childhood. Marie questions if her grandmother’s extravagant story, as it… -
New release! The Phoenix Conspiracy by Richard L Sanders
7 May 2013 | 9:17 amA new mysterious scifi audio book is live on the site. And as a bonus, it’s narrated by Matthew Ebel. Interested? Here’s what you’ll find inside The Phoenix Conspiracy, written by Richard L Sanders: Calvin, an intelligence operative, is sent to eliminate a dangerous traitor. But as he chases his prey across the stars, he realizes they are both pawns in a shadowy chess game–one that threatens humankind everywhere. If he is to uncover the conspiracy he must confront–and embrace–the darkest elements of the galaxy. And throw himself, his career, and everyone… -
New release! Every Photo Tells… Book 4
17 Apr 2013 | 6:08 amKatharina Bordet & Mick Bordet are at it again, with the fourth compilation in their series. If you’re caught up, enjoy Every Photo Tells… Book 4! A voice from the future changes far more than just one man’s life.A young boy must say a final farewell to his faithful companion.Dr Simon has a lab full of pixies, but they don’t take kindly to his experiments. Visit Jacques’ Bistro, where love blooms over the seafood.Is one of Father Ian’s parishioners really being visited by a giant? These subjects and many more are visited in this fourth collection of stories… -
New release! Demon Draw by R. Moses
7 Apr 2013 | 4:10 pmA new fantasy audio book by R. Moses can be yours in only four episodes! Check out Demon Draw: A city old in prestige and hate… A woman torn between duty and love… And a plague of demons with no end to the horror in sight… Valena is a prostitute working for the Holy Church as a demon draw. Her deadly mission is luring demons to her bed so she can collar them and send them back to the pit from which they came. Her lover, also a demon draw, is sent on an assignment to lure a succubi-without any weapons. The church refuses to allow her to help her lover. Valena suspects the… -
New release! Zombie Critters by Jesse O’Brien
21 Mar 2013 | 7:06 pmNot just zombies, but funny zombies. Check out Zombie Critters by Jesse O’Brien: Tom, Zack, and Gary were working on a formula to complete their thesis to save humanity and earn their doctorates degree. This formula was intended to sustain life of a human being long enough to give the doctors enough time to work their magic to save the patient. Something happens along the way causing things to go horribly wrong that can only be described as insanity at best.
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The Bookshop BlogThe Bookshop Blog
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Typography: From Metal Bits To Bytes
17 May 2013 | 7:58 amby Jas Faulkner It all started with one of those thrift store finds that moves you to dust off and rekindle an old interest. I was there to do my biweekly stuffed animal grab for Niklas Lidstrom -aka- Destructo the Wonder Shih Tzu when I saw they had cobbled together roughly fifty dollars worth of calligraphy supplies into a ziploc bag and with the asking price of five dollars. This is probably a good place to hit the pause button and admit that I’m a big old typography nerd. It was a love of letters and alphabets of all kinds that pushed me to major in graphic design at one… -
My Father Wrote “How To Win Friends and Influence People”
16 May 2013 | 8:16 pmWhen ever I’d ask my father what he was doing, he’d answer, ‘writing How to Win Friends and Influence People.’ As a kid, I’d no concept of what that meant–the entire idea of winning friends was beyond me–didn’t they just show up? And how did you ‘win’ them anyway? Like at a carnival game–shoot enough ducks and you win a stuffed friend? And the word ‘influence’ was not in my child’s vocabulary. This phrase and several others–when I’d be hungry and say so–’eat some salt and you’ll… -
Gatsby, But Not So Great?
14 May 2013 | 12:20 pmI couldn’t resist the costumes and pomp the trailers promised. So myself and a group of women of a certain age gathered to view the newest incarnation of the novel, The Great Gatsby. I wrote about my trepidation regarding this version when viewing the coming attractions. I saw how gaudy and overblown the production values seem to be, and had that sinking feeling, oh good lord, it’s going to be another Moulin Rogue. Baz Luhrmann directed both, and the outrageous sets, computer graphics, and effects are similar, but with Gatsby, they’re on steroids. All sorts of… -
One Week AFTER the Opening of Swan’s Fine Books
13 May 2013 | 7:52 amFans far and wide, please accept my deepest, most sincere, heart-felt apologies. I had the very BEST of intentions of writing my final pre-opening post one week before Swan’s Fine Books opened its doors, and clearly fell down on the job. Let the side down, old chap, and all of that. We are now one week AFTER the opening, and in an effort to make amends, am offering this post regarding the store opening, thanks to my many wonderful mentors, and some stray thoughts… First, allow me to bring you all up to speed. The four thousand books alluded to in my last post turned out to be…
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Berkeley Heights Public Library Book Blog
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Our new, enriched catalog feature: Novelist Select
9 May 2013 | 12:38 pmThe library online catalog has a nifty new feature which will help our patrons find just the right book to read next. When you search for a book on the catalog (so-called PAC or OPAC ie: patron access catalog or online patron access catalog) and then click on the title which interests you, you will see related titles and authors of interest. If the book is part of a series, the entire series will be listed in order. If the library owns the title, you can click right through to that catalog record. This new feature is produced by Novelist and has just been added to the BHPL PAC. The… -
Reference Question Roundup: computer help
9 May 2013 | 10:08 amReturning to the ever-popular reference question roundup feature on this blog, today's post is about common computer problems. Six of the public computers that offer free internet access are right next to the Reference Desk at the Berkeley Heights Public Library and throughout the day patrons who use the computers often ask the reference librarians for help. The problems that come up most frequently are:Printing documents, text, and imagesFilling out online job applicationsHow to use a USB/flash drive or floppy disc (yes we still have floppy drives and give out free discs)Email issues such… -
Three Steps to the Best YOU - an afternoon for ladies!
29 Apr 2013 | 12:52 pm'An Afternoon for Ladies' at the Berkeley Heights Public LibrarySunday, May 5, 2:30 p.m. in the library meeting roomRosie Battista will be joining us on Sunday, May 5th at 2:30. The program,3 Steps to the Best YOU, will educate, motivate, inspire and amuse. You will find Rosie’s high energy style to be absolutely contagious, something you will want to catch. Here is Rosie’s description of the program and her philosophy:'Rosie Battista shares her story with energy, humor and fun props leaving her audience inspired, motivated and armed with tips and ideas that they can… -
Frequent Reference Questions: Where was the Nike missile site in Berkeley Heights?
26 Apr 2013 | 1:28 pmHere is the link to Ellen's original post which answers the question we often get at the Reference Desk: where was theNike Missile Site ?Friday, May 20, 2011Nike Missile Site One of the library's perennial reference requests is information on the former Nike missile test site and air base in Watchung Reservation. "With its radar and command on the Berkeley Heights-Summit border and its launching pad in Mountainside, the station was one of 19 Nike AJAX missile bases that ringed New York City, standing ready to blast invading planes out of the sky", according to a Star-Ledger article from… -
Where the Bodies are Buried by Christopher Brookmyre
22 Apr 2013 | 7:54 amReview: Where the Bodies are Buried by Christopher Brookmyre (2011) Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, ScotlandThe Necropolis, Glasgow, ScotlandA woman police detective and a woman P.I. investigate interconnected murders in modern-day Glasgow in this mystery. As one detective describes solving crimes in this city with her staff,'Anytime you're confused, take a wee minute to remind yourself of that inescapable fact, this is Glesca. We don't do subtle, we don't do nuanced, we don't do conspiracy....We do straightforward. When you hear hoofbeats on Sauchiehall Street, it's guanny be a horse, no' a…
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Joe Wikert's Digital Content Strategies
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Direct sales and community building
15 May 2013 | 11:41 amIf you’ve been anywhere near publishing recently, you’ve probably been hit by the shrapnel of an exploding business model, a narrowing distribution network, or mind-numbing cutbacks. It’s fashionable for people who aren’t pouring their daily energies into words and stories to compare the changing ebook environment to the music industry. But it’s different. Much more simple and complex at the same time. And I believe--even without gulping down an alcoholic beverage--that publishers and authors can come out on top when the dust settles. But it will require change. And… -
Bringing democracy back to digital
14 May 2013 | 7:39 amBy exposing us to diverging viewpoints, fostering dissent, broadcasting scientific discoveries, and stretching our imagination beyond its sensory frame, books have promoted the rise of our modern social conscience. The many societal and technical revolutions of the 20th century have often been ascribed to a unique combination of readily available literature and high schooling rates. High-speed printing presses, global distribution, and the excellent editing work of our forebears, enable publishers to sell authoritative, if slightly outmoded, versions of classic works for a few pence a pop. -
Micro-consulting projects
13 May 2013 | 7:40 amLast week's article about my search for new full-time or consulting work generated a lot of interest. It was also nice to see the resulting surge in views of my LinkedIn profile. Thanks to everyone who tweeted and help spread the word. I now have a few short-term consulting projects underway and several more longer-term ones are also being discussed. I've spoken with quite a few prospective clients over the past week and it's clear there's a significant need for consulting help but budgets are tight; not exactly surprising given all the cost-cutting and cutbacks taking… -
WANTED: New full-time job or consulting work
6 May 2013 | 8:12 amAn announcement was made last week saying TOC is no more and that I'm out of a job. The former was disappointing news for the publishing community while the latter was a particularly troubling development for my personal community, also known as my family. I'm sad to be leaving a lot of terrific colleagues, including the amazingly talented and brilliant Kat Meyer, but I'm also looking forward to what's next. I'm not sure what the future holds so I'm currently exploring both full-time and consulting work. With all the consolidation, downsizing and loss of… -
Earned Attention: More than a stack of paper
1 May 2013 | 5:36 amAs an industry I think we're getting weary of all the various "rich content" experiments and products floating around these days. I have to admit that most make me want to yawn and move on to the next item in my email inbox. Too many of them feel like a Frankenstein project where elements are grafted onto a traditional book and there's a giant bolt sticking out of the neck. Every so often one actually grabs my attention. Ironically, the latest one is called Earned Attention. I first watched the video embedded below and was curious to learn more about it. Here's a…
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First Book Blog
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The Stories for All Project: Latina Author Guadalupe Garcia McCall on Books as Hope
8 May 2013 | 7:54 amOur guest blogger today is author/poet Guadalupe Garcia McCall, whose book “Summer of the Mariposas”, from Lee & Low Books, is part of First Book’s Stories For All Project. “First Book’s mission to make books accessible to low-income families is very close to my heart. It fills me with joy to hear that such an organization exists. Books are more than important, they fill a basic need in low-income communities—the need to connect to the world. Books for children of poverty represent hope. As a young girl, I loved books. Books were my friends. They took me places I… -
What I Learned from Bill Clinton: How to Prepare Yourself for the Future
7 May 2013 | 3:00 am“If you can do one thing to prepare yourself for the future… you should spend as much time as you can with people who are different than you”. — President Bill Clinton I recently had the opportunity to join Kyle Zimmer, First Book’s president and CEO, at a special event for the Thea Foundation. Founded by Linda and Paul Leopoulos shortly after the untimely death of their daughter Thea Kay, the Thea Foundation connects young people to the power of visual art, dance, drama, and creative writing across Arkansas and beyond. At First Book we’re eager to learn… -
The Stories for All Project: Latina Author Pat Mora on the Connection Children Make with Books that Include their Culture and Language
1 May 2013 | 8:26 amOur guest blogger today is author Pat Mora, whose book “Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico!”, from Lee & Low Books, is part of First Book’s Stories For All Project. “Once upon a time . . .” A magic phrase that can change our breathing. As far as we know, humans are the world’s story-telling creatures. Let’s think about the unique period in the lives of children when they begin to savor that phrase, when in fresh ways little ones are experiencing their surroundings and deciding where they fit. For many youngsters, media is their main source of information and entertainment. Children lucky… -
Coinstar + Spare Change = Books for Kids!
30 Apr 2013 | 8:21 amMake your coins count! During the month of May you can magically turn your spare change into books for kids in need! Coinstar’s partner, Change Making Change, is featuring First Book as their “charity of choice” throughout the month of May. Have a coin jar or a jumble of noisy pennies in your pocket? Have your kids been filling their piggy banks? Drop off those coins and help a child from a low income family receive new books! It’s a great way to encourage your kids to help other children – which is what Change Making Change is all about. To participate, go to a… -
The Stories for All Project: African American Author Tony Medina on Connecting Multicultural Books with Children of Color
24 Apr 2013 | 7:39 amOur guest blogger today is author Tony Medina, whose book “DeShawn Days”, from Lee & Low Books, is part of First Book’s Stories For All Project. “As a child in the Throgs Neck Housing Projects in the Bronx, I did not grow up with books. The only person I saw reading was my grandmother, who occasionally read mass-market paperback fiction and her Bible that was as big as a phone book. If the Bible fell from the top of the dresser where she kept it, it could take your kneecap off and crush your foot in the process! The only time I recall being exposed to children’s books was…
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University of Nebraska Press
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Bookish Links and Delightful Miscellany
17 May 2013 | 8:57 amLet's hit it: 8-year-old's invention for keeping books dry in the bath Travel back in time with the WIRED Media Kit from 1992 Britain's most remote bookshop is for sale History of Typography Which Shakespeare Character are You? This is a Bookshop The Jacket Racket: Vintage Book Cover Design -
From the desk of Ray A. March
15 May 2013 | 6:00 amRay A. March is the author of River in Ruin, which discusses the history of the Carmel River since the arrival of Europeans to the Monterey Peninsula in the 1700s, focusing on its uses, users, and the recent impact of development. March was quoted on 90.3 KAZU Public Radio and below he comments on the recent approval to remove the San Clemente Dam. History has been made in California with the recent official approval to decommission the San Clemente Dam on the Monterey Peninsula’s Carmel River. The 106-foot-high dam, scheduled for demolition beginning this summer, will be the largest dam… -
Give to Lincoln Day is May 16
14 May 2013 | 6:00 amAcross the city of Lincoln, nonprofit organizations—including Friends of the University of Nebraska Press—are spreading the word about the upcoming Give to Lincoln Day on May 16. The Lincoln Community Foundation sponsors this 24-hour online fundraising event and offers $200,000 for a matching funds challenge. The UNP Friends are excited to be a part of this community effort and hope to jumpstart fundraising for a large e-book conversion project. There is good reason for excitement and hope because in 2012, the first time the event was held, $1.3 million was raised from 5,448 donors for… -
May sales
8 May 2013 | 1:00 pmJewish American Heritage Month Sale May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Celebrate by saving 25% off books like Ellen Cassedy's We Are Here: Memories of the Lithuanian Holocaust. This book recently won the 2013 Towson Prize for Literature. Offer expires May 31, 2013 Shavuot Sale Shavuot honors the day God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. This year's celebration begins May 14. Save 25% off books like Judaism's Great Debates: Timeless Controversies from Abraham to Herzl by Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz. This book surveys the great theological, spiritual,… -
A Roundup of Reviews
3 May 2013 | 8:00 amAppetite for Books reviewer Claudia Kousoulas calls Jason Anthony’s Hoosh “…a departure from the adventurous tales of expeditioners, but a fascinating departure.” She mentions, “For those of us challenged by a weekly grocery list, Anthony’s description of planning Antarctic meals past and present is humbling.” “An emotional, personal cartography, Body Geographic is an exploration of the author’s life,” is how E.B. Boatner describes Barrie Jean Borich's new book in Lavender Magazine. MetroActive writer Gary Singh sings Cathleen Miller praise in a recent…
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The Penguin Blog
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10 myths about authors as explored by...an author.
14 May 2013 | 10:28 amJoanna Rossiter is the author of The Sea Change (her first novel). She grew up in Dorset and studied English at Cambridge University before working as a researcher in the House of Commons and as a copy writer. In 2011 she completed an MA in Writing at Warwick University. She lives and writes in London. Last week The Sea Change was announced as one of the Richard and Judy Summer 2013 Book Club titles. Here Joanna expands on some common misconceptions about the wonderful world of writers. The Sea Change by Joanna Rossiter 1. Being an author is glamorous. Before I had managed to write a… -
The journey of 'The Aftermath': From the screen, to the page, and back again
2 May 2013 | 7:11 amWill Hammond is commissioning editor at Viking Books, and edited Rhidian Brook's emotional wartime thriller The Aftermath, out today. He assisted Brook during the process of turning his original film script and 60-page treatment into a novel; now, the journey is set to come full circle with the news that The Aftermath is to be adapted into a film. Here he argues why the story of The Aftermath is one that needed to be told as a novel, and examines why film-makers consistently look to the publishing industry for inspiration. One way to measure a novel’s success is to ask whether they’ve… -
World Book Night 2013: Treasure Island and Me Before You
23 Apr 2013 | 7:06 amToday (April 23rd) is World Book Night, a time for readers and publishers accross the world to come together to celebrate our favourite things: books. As well as live events in London, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Liverpool, World Book Night, along with publishers across the country, will give 20,000 volunteers half a million books to give away to members of their community who do not or are unable to regularly read. At Penguin we're proud to have contributed two books to this year's list of 20 World Book Night titles. The first book is an enduring classic, one of the most famous… -
A Q&A with Graeme Simsion, author of 'The Rosie Project'
11 Apr 2013 | 5:00 amThe Rosie Project was originally a screenplay. What’s the story there? I’d always wanted to write a novel, but didn’t think I had the ability. When, at 50, I made a mid-life career change, I decided to enrol in a screenwriting program rather than creative (prose) writing. I had previously written a screenplay for a feature-length film made purely for fun, so I thought I could do that. So The Rosie Project was my school project over five years. Two factors drove me to adapt it into a novel: the first was that with a story in place, I thought the jump to writing a novel was not so great… -
10 Tips on How to Stay Sane as a Debut Novelist
19 Mar 2013 | 7:04 amJennifer McVeigh's debut novel The Fever Tree, the epic tale of a British woman embarking on a new life in nineteenth-century southern Africa, has been critically acclaimed and selected for Richard and Judy's Book Club in March. Here, she reveals her 10 Tips on How to Stay Sane as a Debut Novelist. Don’t quit your job before you have a book deal. Very sensible advice that I spectacularly failed to follow. I left my job as a literary agent and stepped into the terrifying world of no salary, no professional support and no real hope of achieving what I was setting out to achieve. It…
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800 CEO Read
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Friday Links
17 May 2013 | 12:38 pmTweetFor your weekend perusal, here is another installment of Friday Links ➻ Calvin Ried’s coverage of the BISG’s MIP (The Book Industry Study Group’s Making Information Pay Conference) 2013: A New World of Big Data, Complexity and Collaboration for Publishers Weekly yesterday was a treasure of interesting insights: BISG executive director Len Vlahos gave an overview of “The Digital Consumer” using data from its “Consumer Attitudes Towards E-book Reading Survey,” in particular looking at the behavior of “Power Buyers” or consumers who buy at least one e-book a… -
ChangeThis: Issue 105
15 May 2013 | 11:33 amTweet Monster Loyalty: How to Build Customer Loyalty like Lady Gaga by Jackie Huba “While known as much for her voice as for her over-the-top wardrobe, few recognize Lady Gaga for her stunning business acumen, which has earned her legions of loyal fans worldwide.” Brains Favor the Ridiculously In Charge Leader by Henry Cloud, Ph.D “Leaders must establish some key boundaries in some very key areas if they want to get results. And, thanks to brain research, we now can scientifically get a peek into why the leaders who do establish these kinds of boundaries get the results that they… -
The Power of the Circle
15 May 2013 | 7:25 amTweetTwo conversations I had last week got me thinking about networking. ➻ The first was during a brainstorming meeting with Jon, our general manager, about our annual author conference. The meeting ended with a discussion on the value of mentoring, and the predominance of books that advocate for the practice. ➻ The second was over a drink with a friend who was joking about the state of her golf game. When I commented that I had no desire to learn the sport, she explained that she works in an industry in which golf is still an elemental aspect of networking. She challenged herself with… -
Simple
14 May 2013 | 10:42 amTweetWhen we talk about breakthrough simplicity, we mean an interaction that cuts through the clutter. This is a standard that should be applied to everything a company puts out into the world, from the product to the ads down to the smallest piece of correspondence: It should do its job quickly, clearly, simply. People just don’t have the time or the interest to wade through corporate rhetoric and jargon to figure out what you’re trying to tell them. Through clarity of thought and presentation, it’s possible for a business to rise above the cacophony of today’s… -
Friday Links
10 May 2013 | 4:45 pmTweet➻ Scientific American had a post I missed last month about The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens. And it seems that despite the recent surge in e-book sales, our brains still prefer the physicality of the page. In the U.S., e-books currently make up between 15 and 20 percent of all trade book sales. Even so, evidence from laboratory experiments, polls and consumer reports indicates that modern screens and e-readers fail to adequately recreate certain tactile experiences of reading on paper that many people miss and, more importantly, prevent people…
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Duffbert's Random Musings
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Book Review - Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A. J. Jacobs
19 May 2013 | 9:05 amI've always been amused by people who are health fanatics following some particular trend or fad that promises to fix every issue known to medical science. A. J. Jacobs decided to follow all the health advice he could find for a year, and the result is his book Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection. With the type of humor displayed in his prior books, Jacobs shows just how impossible it is to follow all the health advice out there (or even a small part of it). Ultimately, you'll be dead anyway... You could probably look at Jacobs as being the everyday version of… -
Book Review - The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail — but Some Don't by Nate Silver
19 May 2013 | 8:00 amNate Silver is the current rock star of statistics and predictions based on the overwhelming accuracy of his forecasts in the 2012 election results. His book The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail — but Some Don't does a good job in explaining the fundamentals of statistics, probability, and predictions. If society understood these concepts, we'd spend far less time arguing from polarized positions "supported by facts"... Contents: A Catastrophic Failure of Prediction; Are You Smarter Than a Television Pundit?; All I Care About Is W's and L's; For Yours You've… -
Book Review - Learning to Play With a Lion's Testicles: Unexpected Gifts From the Animals of Africa by Melissa Haynes
15 May 2013 | 7:32 pmThis book had me in tears, both by laughter and emotional impact... Learning to Play With a Lion's Testicles: Unexpected Gifts From the Animals of Africa by Melissa Haynes. The title was enough to intrigue me into considering it for reading and reviewing. It didn't take long before I knew it was a great decision. Haynes went to South Africa to volunteer on a wild game reserve, seeking to find some perspective and purpose in her life. What sounded like an adventure quickly turned into a stubborn contest of wills between her and the park ranger, nicknamed the Drill Sergeant, who didn't much… -
Book Review - Judaism For Dummies by Rabbi Ted Falcon PhD and David Blatner
12 May 2013 | 6:28 pmThis was a book that I had put on my library "to be read" list, but decided that getting it via Amazon Vine was faster and better... Judaism For Dummies by Rabbi Ted Falcon PhD and David Blatner. I felt this was a *perfect* example of what Dummies titles are good for... context on a complex topic, enough so that you know where to go for more information. Toss in a fair amount of humor along the way, and I had a great time reading this (while learning lots). Contents: Introduction Part 1 - What Jews Generally Believe: That's Funny, You Don't Look Jewish - Who's a Jew and Why; It's… -
Book Review - Tell No Lies by Julie Compton
6 May 2013 | 7:25 pmTell No Lies by Julie Compton is the first of a series (two so far) of novels centered around District Attorney Jack Hilliard and his fellow lawyer and one-time lover Jenny Dodson. That's "one-time" as in "slept with her once", but it happened at a time and under conditions that made the two of them front-page news. Dodson was put on trial for murder, facing the death penalty. Hilliard was her alibi, as the night of the murder was the night he visited her house. He's convinced that she couldn't be guilty of the crime, as he they were together that night and he knows she…
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Three Percent - Article
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"The Black Spider" by Jeremias Gotthelf [Books I'm Excited About]
16 May 2013 | 7:00 amI think it was two summers ago that I was last in Chicago for the annual Goethe Institut Helen and Kurt Wolff Translation Prize Extravaganza. (I love these gatherings. The award ceremony, the people involved with German literature, the panels, etc. It always seems to be a beautiful couple days weather-wise as well, which makes the whole series of events even cooler. Hopefully I can get invited back sometime . . .) Anyway, at that last Extravaganza, Susan Bernofsky was telling me that she was translating the creepiest book that she’d ever worked on—something called The Black… -
Japanese Literature in English [New Cool Things, Part III]
15 May 2013 | 11:00 amAnother favorite translator—Allison Powell—has just launched Japanese Literature in English, a website that plays to all of my databasing and list making impulses. japanese literature in english is a searchable database that compiles all literary works translated from japanese to english and available in the united states (with some exceptions). entries are still being added, and suggestions for inclusion are welcome. You can search by author, title, translator, subject, publication date, and publisher, and can click on various tags, such as “japanese americans,… -
New Vessel Press [New Cool Things, Part II]
15 May 2013 | 8:45 amOne of the exciting new trends in publishing is the consolidation of mega-companies to create a totally misbalanced marketplace that mimics the unequal distribution of wealth in America that anyone who loves freedom obviously agrees with. Well, that or the new ways that international titles are finding their way into the U.S., especially in the form of ebooks brought to you by young, exciting companies like Frisch & Co. (more on them tomorrow) and New Vessel Press. Oh, and fuck your corporation. Or, in the immortal words of Stephen Malkmus, “Force fed integration from the… -
The Buenos Aires Review [New Cool Things, Part I]
15 May 2013 | 7:14 amI’ve been a bit checked out the past few weeks with event upon event, travels to London and L.A. and New York (twice), final papers to grade, illnesses to overcome, soccer to geek out about, etc., etc. But now that it’s summertime (I only have one grade left to enter), it’s about time to get back into talking up interesting books (HOLY SHIT DO I LOVE TRAVELER OF THE CENTURY), commenting on the book publishing industry (like the fact that I’m so glad the number of publishers’ branded readers communities is about to explode . . . and inevitably implode, since most… -
Latest Review: "Basti" by Intizar Husain
10 May 2013 | 2:00 pmThe latest addition to our Reviews Section is a piece by Rachael Daum on Intizar Husain’s Basti, which is available from New York Review Books. Each semester, Chad has students in both his Introduction to Publishing course and the World Literature in Translation course write book reviews as part of an assignment—we’ll be running these over the next weeks. Rachael Daum (who is an accomplisher and recipient of all the things/fellowships, speaker of several languages, translator-in-training, and hails from England/Germany) was part of the internship and Intro to Publishing course…
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HBR.org
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The Dark Side of Generic Drugs
17 May 2013 | 9:00 amGeneric drugs can be inexpensive and effective alternatives to their branded counterparts. But according to this devastating Fortune investigation, they can also be useless on a good day and deadly on a bad one — that is, if they were manufactured by Ranbaxy, an Indian drug maker. In this epic piece, Katherine Eban uncovers downright fraud in how generics were tested (or, rather, weren't) and exposes a corporate culture so steeped in greed and dysfunction that fistfights were known to break out during executive meetings. Although concerned employees tried to alert the FDA and other… -
Define Your Organization's Habits to Work More Efficiently
17 May 2013 | 8:33 amWe don't often think about the way we usually operate at work, whether we're performing an informal five-step process for evaluating a new proposal, or setting priorities for managing our time. But our ability to improve the ways we do things depends on defining and shaping our daily habits of mind and practice — our "standard work." Consider the experience of my friend Lynn Kelley, who joined Union Pacific Railroad, the largest railroad network in the United States with 46,000 employees, as vice president of continuous improvement about two years ago. When she arrived, she learned that… -
Your Assumptions About Cultural Adaptation Are Probably Wrong
17 May 2013 | 7:00 amThe workplace has never been more global than today. But despite that, I often find the last thing on people's minds when doing international work is the global element. Instead, and often for good reason, people focus on concrete and pressing work details: finishing that PowerPoint deck, running the financials one more time, or planning the logistical elements of foreign travel. As a result, they tend to follow "gut" theories — what they assume to be true about adapting behavior across cultures. The problem is that these gut instincts are often false, misleading, and difficult to… -
What Value Creation Will Look Like in the Future
17 May 2013 | 6:00 amOrganizations have nearly perfected implementing the industrial model of managing work — the effort applied toward completing a task. For individuals, this model ensures that we know what we're supposed to do each day. For organizations, it guarantees predictability and efficiency. The problem with the model is that work is becoming commoditized at an increasing rate, extending beyond manual tasks into knowledge work, as data entry, purchasing, billing, payroll, and similar responsibilities become automated. If your organization draws value from optimizing repetitive work, you'll find… -
For Dimon and Board Leaders: Function Matters, Not Form
17 May 2013 | 5:00 amOne of the dumbest corporate governance issues is whether to split the roles of Board Chair and CEO. That debate is now playing out on the front pages of business sections (print and online) as shareholders will decide next week in a nonbinding vote whether to take the chairman of the board title away from JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon. This is a reprise, for the zillionth time, of the pointless push by governance types to call the senior director "chairman of the board" rather than "lead" or "presiding" director and to deny the CEO the chairman of the board title. (Dimon, of course, is today…
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Books on the Nightstand
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My week in short stories #19
18 May 2013 | 5:55 pmThere was no theme to my reading this week, and I chose my stories more or less on a whim. Aside from my classmate’s story that I had to critique, this is what I read: The week began with “Born of Man and Woman,” an incredibly disturbing story by Richard Matheson. This book was recommended by our friend Eric Kibler. Coincidentally, I read this the day after the three missing Cleveland women were found. There are just enough similarities in setting that an indelible line formed in my mind between the story and the news. I wasn’t able to find the story online at a… -
BOTNS #230: Paula McLain and Nichole Bernier from Booktopia Vermont
14 May 2013 | 6:00 pmThis week, we’re pleased to bring you the first two author talks from Booktopia Vermont. Paula McLain and Nichole Bernier were delightful and entertaining. Enjoy! -
My week in short stories #18
12 May 2013 | 4:29 pmAt Books on the Nightstand, we’re dubbing 2013 “The Year of the Short Story.” In celebration, Ann is reading one story a day, for the entire year. We’ll also be highlighting new story collections, lit magazines, and online resources for short fiction. Below are links to all of our posts tagged “Project Short Story” Before I talk about the stories I read this week, a few items to note: 1. The May Short Story Read-along has been posted. I suspect I may have been a bit too subtle in my post: I want you to read the story and then write one in a similar vein. Yes, that’s… -
BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books
7 May 2013 | 6:00 pmMichael’s Short Story Month reading plan. What movies do to books, good and bad. Plus we recommend the new books from Claire Messud and David Sedaris. May is Short Story Month Ann’s been reading a short story a day, all year. That was too much for me to commit to, so I’m just doing it for the month of May, which is Short Story Month. I’ve collected all of the books I’m pulling the stories from onto one shelf in Goodreads, though of course, I’ll read other things that catch my eye, including the May Short Story Read-Along. One of the books I talk about, I… -
May Short Story Read-Along, and an invitation…
6 May 2013 | 7:46 pmThings Ann Must Do in May Remember that May is Short Story month Find out who decided that May is Short Story month Think of a cool way to celebrate Short Story month with readers Find excellent Jennifer Egan story at The Guardian Marvel over Jennifer Egan’s cleverness Make “To Do” by Jennifer Egan the BOTNS Short Story Read-along for May Encourage everyone to read “To Do” by Jennifer Egan Wonder if you could write a short story like Jennifer Egan Wonder if Michael Kindness could write a short story like Jennifer Egan Invite BOTNS readers to write their…
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Omnivoracious
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Sylvia Day Whets Our Appetite for "Entwined with You"--and More Crossfire
18 May 2013 | 12:12 pmAfter naming Sylvia Day’s Bared to You a 2012 Best Book of the Year in Romance and devouring Reflected in You, we've been anxiously awaiting the release of the third book in Day's scorching Crossfire series, Entwined with You. To whet our appetites and make waiting for the book's arrival a little easier, Amazon Romance expert Alyssa Morris spoke with Day about what’s next for Gideon and Eva, her upcoming collaboration with Harlequin and Cosmopolitan, her all-time favorite romance novels, and much more. Alyssa Morris: Now that you’ve had a bit of time to absorb the success… -
An Evening with Dan Brown
17 May 2013 | 12:15 pmHow do you welcome an author who has sold 200 million books worldwide to New York’s Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center? Show the 2,000 fans in the audience where he lives, of course. At this launch event for Dan Brown's latest Robert Langdon thriller Inferno, Today Show host Matt Lauer introduced the author with a clip from an interview he conducted at Brown's home in Exeter, New Hampshire. This rare glimpse into Brown's life reveals that his house closely resembles his novels--full of beautiful old-world furnishings and secret passages hidden behind paintings and rotating… -
Daniel Vaughn, Author of "The Prophets of Smoked Meat"
17 May 2013 | 8:40 amI think it's official: Daniel Vaughn has the coolest job in the U.S. As the recently-named barbecue editor at Texas Monthly magazine, he explores the Lone Star state, in search of the best brisket, ribs, and BBQ joints. What started as a hobby (Vaughn was an architect who blogged at Full Custom Gospel BBQ, before landing the Texas Monthly gig) has become a career. Vaughn visited Seattle to sign copies of his book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue, the first book in Anthony Bourdain's publishing imprint at Ecco (a division of Harpers). At a sold-out… -
Amazon Asks: Kimberly McCreight on family, yogurt, and Breaking Bad
16 May 2013 | 3:00 amReconstructing Amelia is a media-fest of narrative, emails, texts and other bits a tormented mother uses to deconstruct her teenage daughter's life and figure out whether she did or didn't commit suicide. Climbing the charts, it's the first novel by lawyer-turned-author Kimberly McCreight, who knows a bit about motherhood angst and, well... villainy. What's the elevator pitch for your book? A page-turning mystery about parenting in the age of cyber-bullying, Reconstructing Amelia follows a mother as she tries to piece together the last troubled days of her daughter's… -
YA Wednesday: Marie Lu Talks to Rick Yancy About "The 5th Wave"
15 May 2013 | 3:09 pmRick Yancey's new book, The 5th Wave, sucked me in and pulled me under from the first page to the last with it's terrifying and thrilling story of an alien invasion like you've never seen. We made it our Best Teen Books of May Spotlight pick, and past Teen Best of the Month author, Marie Lu (Legend trilogy) is also a big fan. In this Omni exclusive, Lu chats with Yancey about The 5th Wave, movies, and, of course, aliens. Marie Lu: Everybody loves aliens--myself included! But in your opinion, how has Hollywood gotten the “alien invasion” idea wrong? Rick Yancey: I…
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GalleyCat
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Kim Stanley Robinson Wins Best Novel at Nebula Awards
19 May 2013 | 5:26 pm2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson won the Nebula Award for best novel this year. Aliette de Bodard took the best short story award for “Immersion”–read the complete story at Clarkesworld. Below, we’ve collected free samples of all the nominees and winners–the best science fiction books of 2012. Many of these stories are available to read for free online. These are marked “COMPLETE” among the links. Here’s more about the awards: The Nebula Awards are voted on, and presented by, active members of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of… -
Our Tsundoku Problem & Viral Book-Shop Sign: Top Stories of the Week
18 May 2013 | 5:23 pmFor your weekend reading pleasure, here are our top stories of the week. They included how The Great Gatsby changed Haruki Murakami’s life, a steamy book cover that generated strong sales and a viral bookstore sign (embedded above). 1. This Is a Bookshop Sign Goes Viral 2. The Cover That Launched a Thousand iBookstore Sales 3. Why Haruki Murakami Translated The Great Gatsby 4. Author Gives Fake Writing Assignments to Online Cheaters 5. Hyperbole and a Half Author Returns with Illustrated Essay on Depression 6. Free Sites To Promote Your Book 7. Successful query letters for literary… -
Self-Published Science Fiction Bestsellers for May 2013
17 May 2013 | 9:42 amScience fiction novelist Matthew Mather led our Science Fiction Self-Published Bestsellers list with CyberStorm this month (he also spoke at our course for indie authors). Our weekly self-published bestsellers list is often dominated by the popular genres of romance and erotica. In an effort to help GalleyCat readers find other kinds of independent authors, we will offer regular genre-focused bestseller lists for other kinds of indie writers. To keep the list fresh, we’ve highlighted three top books from four different marketplaces. If you are an author, check out our new… -
Buyer, Beware & BirthCONTROL: Coming Attractions
17 May 2013 | 9:23 amHere are some handpicked titles from our Coming Attractions page. Want to include your book? Just read our Share Your New Book with GalleyCat Readers post for all the details. Buyer, Beware by Diane Vallere: “Out-of-work fashion expert Samantha Kidd is strapped. But when the buyer of handbags for a hot new retailer turns up dead and Samantha is recruited for the job, the opportunity comes with a caveat: she’s expected to find some answers.” (March 2013) continued… New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media. -
Nobel Prize in Literature Candidates Chosen
17 May 2013 | 8:42 amFive writers have already been selected as candidates for the 2013 Nobel Prize, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy revealed via a Twitter dispatch today. Who do you think made the top secret list of finalists? The Nobel Prizes in other disciplines will be revealed between October 7 and October 14. “According to tradition,” the Nobel Prize for Literature date will be revealed at some point in the future. Here is the short and sweet tweet: 5 candidates have been selected for 2013 #NobelPrize in #Literature according to Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy.
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The Writing Life
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You Can Make A Difference
8 May 2013 | 9:51 amDo you want to make a difference in the lives of others? P.K. Hallinan, author of 90 children's books that have sold almost ten million copies, identifies a key need for people: to have a life which makes a difference in others. Hallinan boils it down to five steps: 1. Work hard 2. Go in the strength you have. 3. Finish what you start. 4. Be patient. 5. Help others along the way. Through a combination of personal stories, the stories of others and solid how-to information, Hallinan packs a punch in every chapter of this easy-to-read book. As he says on page 24, "You have one life, and this is… -
The Power of Teaching
7 May 2013 | 4:34 pmWhile it was many years ago, to me, I can remember it as though it was yesterday. I was a sophomore in high school, my English teacher Mr. Smith suggested that I might like to join the high school newspaper. He noticed something in my writing and recommended this extracurricular activity. I took action and became a sports writer on the paper. This sports position was the only one available. I wasn’t active in sports so had to learn everything such as the terminology and the most basic of writing skills. Yet I loved it. I enjoyed observing the games and interviewing the players and the coach… -
Laugh Out Loud Funny
4 May 2013 | 9:59 amI love reading about unusual experiences and occupations. You learn the inside of the hotel industry in HEADS IN BEDS. Tomsky started in the New Orleans hotel business and during this lively book moves into New York City. The book is peppered with advice and yet the writing is exceptional. Yes, at times a bit profane but still fascinating writing. On my way to New York, I was reading HEADS IN BEDS. Many people try to use a story to get an upgraded room when they check into a New York hotel. According to the author, these stories do not work. He worked for years as a front desk manager and… -
The Holy Grail for Authors
30 Apr 2013 | 10:53 amEvery business has a pinnacle of success. It is the ultimate mark of achievement. In book publishing, much of this mark of success is tied to winning a particular award or getting your book on a particular bestseller list. The ultimate bestseller list is to see your book on the New York Times bestseller list.. If you study this particular group of authors, you will notice the same names repeatedly land on this list. When an author lands on the New York Times list, the achievement is forever carried with their publishing life. They are introduced as a New York Times bestselling author. -
Get A Top PR Firm to Market Your Book
16 Apr 2013 | 6:01 pmWhat if in less than 18 months, you could accomplish the following without spending one red cent of your own money? Have a major PR firm representing you and getting you booked on... * ABC World News * National Public Radio (NPR) * Oprah & Friends * 63 major radio stations And then... What if companies like Coca-Cola, Wachovia, Yahoo, Toyota, Sony Pictures plus other Fortune 500's and leading non-profits offered to... * Buy 50,000 copies of your self-published book every year* Make it possible for you to get $500,000 in advances for your next book, * Pay you fat speaking fees for 65…
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Storytellers Unplugged
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FORENSICS 165: OUTDOING THE DOGS
19 May 2013 | 5:57 amThis essay might be of special interest to writers of detective and mystery novels who would like to enrich their stories by providing their readers with a gift of extra details. It might also be of general interest to many other readers, especially those who are CSI and NCIS fans. Smithereen is a powerful word. If one reads that something has been broken, it usually conjures an image of something that can be fixed and made useful again. If one reads that something has been smashed to smithereens, however, it conjures an image of tiny fragments of what is now utterly useless. There are… -
Bartleby and me
17 May 2013 | 2:00 amAfter a long hiatus while working on other things, I’ve finally reached a place in my schedule where I can focus on a novel again. I’m not exactly starting from scratch: I have a 3000-word chapter that was thoroughly critiqued by some writer friends a couple of years ago and a fairly solid idea of where to go next. I went on a research trip to an important location a couple of months ago and took along the video camera to film the locale. I know the main character quite well, because I’ve written about him before, though only one short story featuring him has been published,… -
Thomas Sullivan: CRYING IN YOUR CARROT JUICE AND THE MYSTERY CURSE
15 May 2013 | 12:23 pmWho says the cost of education is out of sight? All you have to do is write a Q&A column and readers will send you a Doctorate’s worth of stories and thought-provoking new Q’s. A writer couldn’t ask for more education than that. Here are some of your most interesting posers, including straight writer Qs, generalities about this here scribe, and at least one intriguing corker I found challenging to answer. Q [Brooklyn, NY]: Which do you like writing best, humor or horror? A: Humor. But that’s just who I am. If you break the labels down, the gap narrows. One of those… -
I WRITE IN PAJAMA PANTS. HOW ABOUT YOU?
3 May 2013 | 10:57 amThis month – a little quiz. My favorite column in The Writer each month is HOW I WRITE. In fact, I flip straight to the back of the magazine while carrying it in from the mailbox because HOW I WRITE is always the last thing to be found between the pages. Like the name implies, a featured author (different each issue) answers a series of simple questions and takes you step by step through their own personal method for creating new work, which usually includes spilling the beans about their daily habits and writing schedule. This passing glimpse into another writer’s world is comforting… -
A Question of Character
30 Apr 2013 | 8:14 amIn the process of writing fiction as we know it, things have always been in flux – what comes first, the plot, the idea behind the plot, the problem, the setting, the character?? Which single one of those informs all the rest to the point of being given first billing, of being considered the most important, the most essential, tool? One of the basic definitions of a story (and there are many) is A Character With A Problem. And essentially this is where I pause and nod my head slowly – because for me, that is precisely correct, exactly the order in which things tend to come to…
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Paulo Coelho's Blog
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Our magic moment
19 May 2013 | 7:04 pmEvery day, God gives us the sun – and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day, we try to pretend that we haven’t perceived the moment, that it doesn’t exist – that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as [...] -
Having fun today
19 May 2013 | 3:58 pm -
5 books that changed your life?
19 May 2013 | 4:53 amReading the comments on my post The 50 books that changed the world , I think it is a good idea to ask the following question, so you can share with others: 5 books that changed your life? 5 livros que mudaram sua vida? 5 libros que cambiarán tu vida List them in the comment [...] -
By the river Piedra I sat down and wept
16 May 2013 | 4:44 pmOne doesn’t love in order to do what is good or to help or to protect someone. If we act that way, we are perceiving the other as a simple object, and we seeing ourselves as wise and generous persons. This has nothing to do with love. To love is to be in communion with [...] -
El punto acomodador
16 May 2013 | 11:33 amEn uno de mis libros (El Zahir), procuro entender por qué todo el mundo tiene tanto miedo a cambiar. Cuando estaba en pleno proceso de escritura de este texto, cayó en mis manos una extraña entrevista a una mujer que acababa de lanzar un libro sobre -¿adivinan? – el amor. El periodista le pregunta si [...]
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Advanced Fiction Writing
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It’s A Outrage!
16 May 2013 | 11:41 pm“It’s a outrage!” my plumber Sam bellowed through the phone. I held the phone as far from my ear as I could. “Um, Sam, what’s this about? I paid that invoice of yours.” “I ain’t talking about that and you know it. You gone and double-crossed me!” Given the massive amount of money Sam has overcharged me over the years for his dubious plumbing skills, I thought that was a bit ironic. “How have I double-crossed you?” “I seen it just now on Goodreads! You went and … put up a free copy of that danged book of yers.”… -
What If Your Story Is Unconvincing?
10 May 2013 | 2:19 pmWhat if you’re halfway through your novel and it just doesn’t feel convincing? Do you scrub the project? Keep wallowing on through the muck? How do you know what’s right? Annick posted this question on my “Ask A Question For My Blog” page: I’ve had a story theme that I’ve wanted to write as a novel for 4-5 years. My first breakthrough was discovering your Snowflake method, which really helped me to get started, define where I wanted to go, and how I was going to get there (eternally grateful)… The trouble is, now I’m half way through my… -
Those Pesky Editing Paradigms
26 Apr 2013 | 12:56 pmWhat’s the right way to edit your novel? Or … is there a right way? Noah posted this question on my “Ask A Question For My Blog” page: I am an amateur writer, and have no idea when to begin revisions. Should I start revising the first part of my writing part way through, or begin revision once I am finished with the whole work? Randy sez: This is a good question, and there’s no one right answer that works for everybody. If you’ve read my book Writing Fiction For Dummies, I have a chapter on Creative Paradigms. A Creative Paradigm is a method of getting a… -
Amazonopoly
18 Apr 2013 | 3:49 pm“We got to break that Amazonopoly before it kills us all.” My plumber Sam wiped his greasy hands on his coveralls. “Amazonopoly?” I looked over Sam’s shoulder at the pinhole leak in the valve under my sink that was fizzing a thin spray of water. Sam is a big 300 pound teddy bear of a guy who suddenly became an expert on the publishing industry when he found out I’m a novelist. “Amazon is gonna crush you if you ain’t careful.” Sam grabbed a pipe wrench, leaned in under the sink, and began banging experimentally on the drywall. “Hmmm,… -
Defining the Target Audience for Your Fiction
21 Nov 2012 | 3:26 pmSo you’re writing a novel and your critique buddies want to know who your “target audience” is. What do you tell them? Nee posted this question on my “Ask A Question For My Blog” page: Hello Randy, I am a newbie at the writing. A new “writer” friend insists I must know my audience and for whom I am writing BEFORE I start my story – so I will know what those readers will be expecting/anticipating in my story. HOW can I know this concept? Right now, I’m writing a fictional piece because I’m having fun telling a simple Baby-Boomer…
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ReadersRead.com Book Blog
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2013 Children's Choice Book Award Winners Announced
17 May 2013 | 1:00 pmThe winners of the 2013 Children's Choice Book Awards have been announced by the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader. The winners were announced a charity gala benefitting Every Child a Reader in New York City. This was the sixth annual CCBAs. Here is a list of the winners: Author of the Year: Jeff Kinney for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 7: The Third Wheel (Amulet Books/Abrams) Illustrator of the Year: Robin Preiss Glasser for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet (HarperCollins Children's Books) Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year: Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta, illustrated… -
Martin Short to Publish Memoir With Harper
14 May 2013 | 3:00 pmComedian and actor Martin Short has announced plans to publish his memoir with Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The memoir will be published in 2014. The autobiography is Martin's first book. Short will discuss his life and his forty-plus years in show business. It will cover his childhood in Hamilton, Canada. It will also cover his early years at SCTV and Saturday Night Live. Short will also discuss his films, including The Three Amigos and Father of the Bride. Short said in a statement, "Although I've never read a book all the way through, I'm sure excited to write one. And… -
Zendaya Signs Book Deal With Disney Publishing
13 May 2013 | 7:24 pmZendaya, the star of Disney's Shake It Up!, has signed a book deals with Disney-Hyperion. She will pen an advice book, called Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence, which will arrive in bookstores in August. The book was co-written with Sheryl Berk. Between U and Me will will provide advice for navigating the tween years. It will also include personal photos, anecdotes, recipes, playlists, doodles, and advice from Zendaya's team of experts. Zendaya says, "The tween years can be really fun and exciting, but they can also be a tough time in a girl's life. -
Eoin Colfer Launches New Book Series Called WARP
10 May 2013 | 4:00 pmEoin Colfer, the bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series, has launched a new series, called WARP. The first book in the series, WARP Book 1: The Reluctant Assassin, debuted May 7 with a 750,000 first printing. The series is published by Disney-Hyperion. Colfer is going on a nine-city tour in the U.S. later this month to promote the book. Colfer said in a statement, "WARP, which stands for 'Witness Anonymous Relocation Program,' is an action-adventure series full of mayhem, magic, and murder - with a villain to die for. I think of this series as Oliver Twist meets The Matrix." In the… -
2013 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winners Announced
5 May 2013 | 1:40 pmMystery Writers of America has announced the winners of the 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards. The annual awards for mystery fiction and nonfiction were presented at the organization's Gala Banquet at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Dennis Lehane won Best Novel for Live by Night. Here is the list of winners: Best Novel: Live by Night by Dennis Lehane Best First Novel: The Expats by Chris Pavone Best Paperback Original: The Last Policeman: A Novel by Ben H. Winters Best Fact Crime: Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French…
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Joanna Campbell Slan
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Nancy Cohen's Social Networking Tips.
24 Apr 2013 | 12:54 pmOver the years, I’ve met a lot of savvy marketers in this business. Right at the top of the list is Nancy Cohen. She’s also a terrific teacher with a knack for breaking down information into useful chunks. Last Saturday, I listened to her lecture at the Florida Mystery Writers Association meeting, and I wanted to share a few of her ideas about social marketing with you. Most of what you'll see below comes under the heading of, "Who knew?" and the answer of course is "Nancy did!"Put up an author page on Amazon for each foreign site (i.e. UK, Australia).Consider becoming an Amazon affiliate… -
Downton Abbey Corrections to My Original Post!
22 Apr 2013 | 7:51 amAfter I published my blog post on Downton Abbey, Jessica Fellowes and I corresponded. Seems I made some errors, and I'm happy to correct them! Here goes:1. The concept came about when Jessica's uncle Julian read a book called To Marry an English Lord by co-authors Gail McColl and Carol McD. Wallace. In the post-Civil War until the first World War, American heiresses went to England to swap titles for cash. JF: Actually, the American heiresses carried on coming until about the end of the 1930s. They began coming in the 1890s for 50 years. 2. Julian writes the entire script for each… -
Kiki Lowenstein and the Bad Day (Final Installment)
21 Apr 2013 | 1:30 pmNote: I asked my Facebook peeps to suggest starting sentences for a Kiki Lowenstein short story. There were so many terrific ideas that I have decided to try to incorporate more than one –and write a progressive short story. You'll be reading this as I create it! Wish me luck!Note: This short story comes before Ready, Scrap, Shoot—and Kiki is six weeks pregnant.Summary: In last four weeks’ installments—Kiki walked into Time in the Bottle only to discover papers scattered everywhere. Detective Chad Detweiler arrived to pronounce the store “safe,”… -
Downton Abbey: The Inside Scoop
19 Apr 2013 | 6:41 amI have a confession to make--to help me get in the mood to write The Jane Eyre Chronicles, I watch episodes of Downton Abbey. Yes, the period is different, because Death of a Schoolgirl is set in 1820. Death of a Dowager is set in 1821. Downton is nearly one hundred years later, but the sensibility with its emphasis on class and civility is the same. Last week Jessica Fellowes, bestselling author of The Chronicles of Downton Abbey, visited the Tangerine Theatre on Jupiter Island, so naturally I sat in the front row!Here's all the inside scoop:1. The concept came about when Jessica's uncle… -
Kiki Lowenstein and the Bad Day (Part IV)
14 Apr 2013 | 9:09 amNote:I asked my Facebook peeps to suggest starting sentences for a Kiki Lowenstein short story. There were so many terrific ideas that I have decided to try to incorporate more than one –and write a progressive short story. You'll be reading this as I create it! Wish me luck!Note:This short story comes before Ready, Scrap, Shoot—and Kiki is six weeks pregnant.In last three weeks’ installments—Kiki walked into Time in the Bottle only to discover papers scattered everywhere. Detective Chad Detweiler arrived to pronounce the store “safe,” but Kiki’s still…
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Living 2 Read
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An Escape
17 May 2013 | 2:09 pmWe all have times in our lives when we need a book to give us a temporary respite from reality, and that's what Charlotte Link's The Other Childgave me. Nothing works better at those times than a British murder mystery. Don't ask me to empathize, don't ask me to analyze, just lure me in with two murders (same killer? copycat?), a charming (but menacing?) farm in rural Yorkshire, a host of characters whose back stories slowly unfold as motives and clues swirl around. The narrative stretches backward to World War II, when London children were evacuated to the countryside to avoid the Blitz, and… -
Undercover
3 Apr 2013 | 2:13 pmI think there was part of me that always wanted to be a spy. Years ago I turned down an offer to work at NSA, and perhaps I was secretly expecting a tap on the shoulder from CIA. That may explain why Ian McEwan's Sweet Toothappealed to me. It's the late 60's and the tap on shoulder of Cambridge grad Serena Frome (rhymes with plume) comes from her older lover, a Cambridge professor. She is hired by MI5, the domestic counterespionage service. (Note to the esteemed Mr. McEwan: if you want your character's name to be pronounced Frume why don't you just spell it that way?). Like virtually all the… -
I've Been Sequestered
18 Mar 2013 | 5:09 pmYes, I've been sequestered with Patrick Melrose. At least that's how it feels. Once I read Edward St. Aubyn's first book about the fictional Patrick Melrose, “Never Mind”, I was compelled to keep going. How could a writer create such a poisonous family dynamic, in which five-year-old Patrick is a helpless pawn, and still find a way to make me laugh out loud? How could I want to read more about a father like this: “He was determined to harden the calluses of disappointment and develop the skill of detachment in his son. After all, what else did he have to offer him?”. A father whose… -
A Year in the Life
27 Feb 2013 | 5:21 pmSometimes what leads me to a book is a straight line, sometimes it's a long twisted path, but this time it was somewhere in between. I loved David Mitchell's “Cloud Atlas', so I tried “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet” but I just couldn't get into it. So much for David Mitchell, said I. But then I listened to the podcast of the Slate Audio Book Club where they discussed “Cloud Atlas”. (These podcasts are very entertaining, and I loved the latest one where they discussed “”Pride and Prejudice” on the occasion of its 200thbirthday). They enjoyed "Cloud Atlas"but all of them… -
Home Again, Home Again
11 Feb 2013 | 3:50 pmThere was a time in 2009 where it felt as if everyone I knew was reading “Olive Kitteridge”, Elizabeth Strout's book about the residents of the small community of Crosby on the coast of Maine. Strout created a series of interlocking stories, some in which Olive is the main character and others in which she stays on the periphery, which sketched with deft strokes the strengths, the flaws, and the complicated inner lives of various residents.In her latest book The Burgess Boys Maine itself, specifically Shirley Falls, becomes one of her characters. The Burgess boys – Jim and Bob – are…
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RobAroundBooks
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Totally Fitzgerald: Retyping The Great Gatsby
17 May 2013 | 9:00 amWell, today sees the UK cinema launch of Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. For weeks now we’ve been bombarded with hype, and interviews, and shiny pictures and video footage of the film, and unless you’ve been living in a cave then you’ll know that the world has gone a little bit Gatsby crazy. But of course many bookish types have been Gatsby crazy for years now. We know the power of that which lies in the novel’s slender packaging, and we have long revelled in the deliciousness of Fitzgerald’s prose. To date I’ve read The Great Gatsby three… -
Introducing ‘Totally Fitzgerald’
17 May 2013 | 8:58 amBack in February/March you barely heard a peep from me, and for good reason. You see I had become totally absorbed with an author. I go through stages like this in my life, when I hook onto something – not always literature-related – and become so inextricably tangled and obsessed with it that I can’t seem to focus on anything else for a while. In the past this has happened with John Steinbeck, with New York City, with typewriters, with WW2 on the Eastern Front, with Laurel and Hardy and so on and so forth, and most recently it’s happened with the great F. Scott… -
Bookshelf of the Week: Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
16 Apr 2013 | 11:31 pmBuilt between 1880-1887 and occupying a site in downtown Rio de Janiero, the subject for this edition of BookShelf of the Week is the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Reading Room). The stunning image of the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, as captured by Brice Bonneau, shows at once the majesty and magnificence of the interior, as it stretches throughout its four stories from floor to ceiling, further emphasising the majesty of the place. And topping it off is the most breathtaking of skylights coupled with chandelier, which ensures that visitors have the perfect… -
Short Story Review: ‘Faithful Wife’ by Morley Callaghan
16 Apr 2013 | 12:31 pmStory Title: Faithful Wife by Morley Callaghan Collection/Anthology?: Read from the New Yorker archive, issue dated December 28, 1929 (subscription required). Briefly: George is working his final week on the lunch counter at the station restaurant. He has long felt somewhat anonymous, as is the case with many people who are in these types of jobs, but it doesn’t stop him looking at and admiring all the pretty girls passing through, while he clings to the hope that one day he will be noticed. One girl in particular has taken George’s fancy, and while working his final shift he… -
Introducing ‘Totally Callaghan’
16 Apr 2013 | 12:30 pmYou know when you read something by an author that you’ve never read before and everything just feels right? You connect with his/her writing immediately. You find yourself hanging on every word that’s set before you. You feel as though you and the author are linked as kindred spirits. Well, this is exactly how I felt the first time I read Morley Callaghan a couple of weeks back, and it’s a feeling that’s stuck with me. I’d originally been put on to the Canadian author by Joe Queenan. In his book One for the Books. Queenan talks briefly about a memoir by Morley Callaghan that…
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The Millions
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Longreads.edu
19 May 2013 | 12:00 pmThe Longreads team has teamed up with Syracuse assistant professor Aileen Gallagher in order to “search for and share outstanding student work.” If you’ve read (or written) something fantastic this past school year, they encourage you to tag it #college #longreads on Twitter or Tumblr. Related posts: Behind the Longreads On January 25th, if you’re in New York City, you... Top Longreads of 2011 They say you’re only as good as the company you... Pump the longreads at SXSW Our own founding editor C. Max Magee is teaming up... -
With Very Small Font, Of Course
19 May 2013 | 11:00 amIreland debuted a new stamp featuring a 224-word short story written by Dublin teenager Eoin Moore. Related posts: History of the Most Widely Used Font Katherine Eastland has written an interesting piece on the history... Celtic Tiger’s Collapse Gabriel O’Malley‘s “Letter From Dublin” for n+1 is an interesting... Cheese or Font? Serious foodie or just extremely well read? Play this game... -
“The Book Was Better.” Or Was It?
19 May 2013 | 9:00 amDid Baz Lurhmann’s Great Gatsby adaptation leave you feeling a little disappointed? Then consider Kate Kelsall’s short list of “utterly compelling cinematic adaptations” to be just what the doctor ordered. Related posts: Gatsby As He Was; Gatsby As He Will Be The hype keeps building for Baz Luhrmann’s oft-delayed Great Gatsby... The Sound of Privilege On Friday, May 10th, Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby... G to the Gatsby Baz Luhrmann’s much-delayed Great Gatsby film adaptation may justify its... -
New Lorrie Moore on the Way
19 May 2013 | 8:00 amPublicity bigwig Paul Bogaards spilled the beans on Twitter Thursday night: Lorrie Moore has a new short fiction collection in the pipeline. It’s slated for March 2014 release. Related posts: From the Newsstand: Lorrie Moore on Barthelme One of the familiar knocks on the short story master... Lorrie Commodore Lorrie Moore is headed to Nashville, Tennessee as Vanderbilt University’s... It’s Not You, It’s Me: Thoughts on Lorrie Moore’s A Gate at the Stairs We all came out of Lorrie Moore's overcoat--or her frog... -
Hard Choices
19 May 2013 | 7:00 amRecommended Listening: David Sedaris presented three short stories while guest hosting WNYC’s Selected Shorts. The three stories were written by Amy Hempel, Tobias Wolff, and Frank Gannon, and each one has to do with “hard choices,” says Sedaris. Related posts: Short Story Shop Talk Robert Birnbaum and Tobias Wolff talk short stories and other... Saturday Fiction with Faber and Gay You can listen to stories by Michel Faber and Roxane... Salman Rushdie Runs Down 2008′s Best American Short Stories Yesterday, on WNYC’s Leonard Lopate Show, Salman Rushdie discussed the...
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Thrillers, Horror, and Comics
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So You Want to Discover Myths?
18 May 2013 | 1:20 pmThis is a book list of actual myths, folklore and fairy tales — usually in translation. The best way to learn the myth stories, is by reading them in as close to the original format as possible. Edith Hamilton’s Mythology may be a great introduction to Greek, Roman and Norse myths, but it’s a pale shadow compared to the real stories. So You Want to Discover Myths? Interested in one or more of these books? Click the mouse on the book title to order it from your local CLEVNET library. The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian… -
The Bat vs. The Owls: Batman Begins in DC Comics New 52
24 Apr 2013 | 12:12 pmTwo years ago DC Comics did a major reboot of its entire superhero comic book line. Called the New 52, every comic book started fresh from issue number one and many heroes, like Firestorm, received major make-overs. Others, like Batman and Superman, had tweaks to bring them into a more modern age. For instance, Batman sports black and grey armor with a cowl, cape and utility belt. Gone is the “underpants on the outside” look. At the time of the reboot, Batman and Superman have been active for about five to six years. The Justice League formed about five years ago. Some comics… -
So You Want to be a Screenwriter: A Book List
11 Apr 2013 | 5:36 pmUnlike other forms of writing, when you write a screenplay, a teleplay or a stage play, your job is only just beginning. And often, the easiest part is the writing itself. It’s the rest of the job — pitching the script, doing a multitude of requested rewrites, being ignored as an advisor and generally treated worse than hired help . . . and then they send your script out to somebody you’ve never heard of who rewrites the whole thing from scratch! Nonetheless, there are people who long to get their stories up on the silver screen. These books can teach you how to write the… -
A Bad Day for Abusive Husbands — The Stella Hardesty Series
6 Apr 2013 | 11:59 amStella Hardesty is a 50-something widow who runs a sewing shop and has a side business setting abusive men straight . . . First she has a nice little sit down talk with them . . . while they’re helplessly trussed up in some questionable bondage wear. If that doesn’t work, she has a little heart-to-heart with them — usually involving bondage and pain. . . After that, they’re “on parole” and she’s not a terribly forgiving parole officer to back-sliders. As unorthodox as her “unsanctioned” methods are, Stella has a better track record than… -
In Search of a New Home: The Jacob’s Ladder Trilogy
21 Mar 2013 | 3:32 pmElizabeth Bear is a science fiction author who can satisfy that midnight craving for space opera when yet another Star Trek rerun won’t do. Discover new sights and wonders as the generation ship Jacob’s Ladder limps toward its final destination and her people must adapt . . . or die. The Jacob’s Ladder Trilogy Interested in one or more of these books? Click the mouse on the book cover to order it from your local CLEVNET library. Dust (The Jacob’s Ladder Trilogy #1) Author: Bear, Elizabeth Format: Mass Market Paperback Type: Science Fiction Novel Page Count: 368pp. Pub.
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Buzz, Balls & Hype
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Hand Yelling The Age of Desire
19 May 2013 | 11:13 amI read this evoacative, atomospheric and compelling book - a novel about a novelist - last week while on my own book tour which was an M.C. Escherish experience. I really enjoyed this intimate exploration of Edith Warton's sexual awaking even though at times I wasn't overly fond of Edith herself, or the choices she made. Which does make this an odd endorsement I suppose.But the book is fascinating for fans of Warton - since the author based so much of the story on actual letters - it was fascinating for me to learn the story of Warton's loveless marriage and the man this… -
Hand Yelling The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro
14 May 2013 | 3:13 amI picked up this book with trepidation. I've been writing books about perfume for the last four years and am seeped in it. I expected to be either disappointed or jealous. I wasn't disappointed and I can't be jealous because the of hours of pleasure I got reading The Perfume Collector. Even though I guessed "the secret" almost right away - it didn't matter - the characters were so engaging and the writing so lovely. Perfume, Paris, passion, style, elegance, a certain "je ne sais quois", charm and good old fashioned storytelling along with a lump in my… -
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR BOOK LAUNCH? In person! 8 Events
13 May 2013 | 8:36 am -
Hand Yelling Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell
7 May 2013 | 3:23 amI've been reading David Morrell for years. Amazed most I think by how masterful every book is. How intelligent but at the same time fast paces. How smart he is but how he never makes you stop to notice it. And how he keeps reinventing himself as an author - taking on every kind of suspense novel - and doing it as well as anyone ever has. Now he's taken on historical suspense and you will swear that he must have used a time travel machine to write Murder As a Fine Art. You will be in gaslit London... you will smell the filth.. you will walk the dark streets... you will be scared… -
Writing By Hand
5 May 2013 | 6:20 amWhen Seduction comes out on Tuesday, readers who buy the hardcover and open it will find, what I hope, will be a surprise. The endpapers (see below) show my hand written manuscript of the book along with the pen and the ink I wrote it with. Why did I write 122,833 words in ink? I love challenges, but to tell the story of Victor Hugo’s experiments with séances in his own voice? What kind of crazy idea had I come up with? Surely it was lunacy to even attempt it. I don’t have literary illusions. I had just fallen in love with Hugo’s story and wanted to tell it. What fascinated me was…
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my mind on books
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new book – ‘The Art of Thinking Clearly’ by Rolf Dobelli
17 May 2013 | 12:40 pmThe Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli (Harper, 2013) (kindle ed.), (amazon.co.uk) Book description from the publisher: The Art of Thinking Clearly by world-class thinker and entrepreneur Rolf Dobelli is an eye-opening look at human psychology and reasoning — essential reading for anyone who wants to avoid “cognitive errors” and make better choices [...] -
Kindle sale highlights – Big Deal at Amazon (through May 27)
16 May 2013 | 12:21 pmAmazon’s Big Deal is on through May 27, featuring over 500 titles at up to 85% off (“Individual books may have additional territory restrictions, and not all deals are available in all territories. Amazon may modify the selection of books offered at any time.”) including: How To Think Like a Neandertal by Thomas Wynn and [...] -
new book – ‘Permanent Present Tense: The Unforgettable Life of the Amnesic Patient, H. M.’ by Suzanne Corkin
14 May 2013 | 12:07 pmPermanent Present Tense: The Unforgettable Life of the Amnesic Patient, H. M. by Suzanne Corkin (Basic Books, 2013) (kindle ed.), (amazon.co.uk) Book description from the publisher: In 1953, 27-year-old Henry Gustave Molaison underwent an experimental “psychosurgical” procedure—a targeted lobotomy—in an effort to alleviate his debilitating epilepsy. The outcome was unexpected—when Henry awoke, he could no [...] -
The Big Deal at Amazon.com – over 500 Kindle books up to 85% off – through May 27
13 May 2013 | 1:59 pmAmazon.com: The Big Deal, thru May 27, over 500 Kindle books up to 85% off… amazon.com/gp/feature.htm… via @amazon — Debbie A Foster (@mymindonbooks) May 13, 2013 -
new book – ‘Tychomancy: Inferring Probability from Causal Structure’ by Michael Strevens
13 May 2013 | 1:42 pmTychomancy: Inferring Probability from Causal Structure by Michael Strevens (Harvard University Press, 2013) (amazon.co.uk) Book description from the publisher: Tychomancy—meaning “the divination of chances”—presents a set of rules for inferring the physical probabilities of outcomes from the causal or dynamic properties of the systems that produce them. Probabilities revealed by the rules are wide-ranging: they [...]
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Boomerang Books Blog
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Review – Ferret on the Loose
19 May 2013 | 5:49 pmStand in the kids’ section of any library and you’ll soon discover what under 10 year old readers gravitate towards; pacey, riveting chapter books, starring jump-off-the-page characters with the odd quirky picture thrown in to keep it all real. This is precisely what New Frontier Publishing is delivering with their dynamite Little Rocket Series. Like Aussie Mates and the (now ceased) Aussie Nibbles collections, Little Rockets junior fiction is aimed at that Golden Age of reading where kids are still willing and able to suspend belief for action and fun and downright silliness. This series… -
The Green Kitchen
19 May 2013 | 2:15 amOne of my greatest gripes about being vegan (or vegetarian—the same rules apply) is also a rather politically incorrect one. That is, that it’s assumed I thrive on the smell of incense, that I have musty-smelling dreadlocks, and that I wear tie-dyed clothes. I’m not that kind of vegan, and the mis-lumping irks me no end. I’m an urban-dwelling one who’s conscious of her carbon footprint, but who is also rather conservative. You wouldn’t at a glance be able to tell me apart from meat eaters, and even if it loses me my leftie badge, I’m actually fairly ok with that (I think it’s… -
Magnificent Chookens (AKA How Far Would You Go To Obtain A Book?)
18 May 2013 | 4:07 pmHow far would you go to obtain a book? it seems, is actually more than a hypothetical. I waited for months in breathless, is-it-here-yet anticipation for a rerelease of The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl, a book about chickens (hereafter referred to as ‘chookens’). Those who know me know I have a bit of a thing for chookens and, coincidentally, Ira Glass (the latter wrote a special foreword to the book, which was first published in 2001). If I hadn’t been sold on a book with stellar photographs of unusual chookens, I’d have been sold on such a book that contained… -
Darth Vader and Son
17 May 2013 | 8:16 pmThere are few books more suited to the Ones I Wish I’d Written category than Jeffrey Brown’s Darth Vader and Son. A pint-sized picture book, it’s brilliantly as much a book for big kids as small ones. In fact, I suspect many a new parent who grew up with Star Wars will be buying it as a nostalgic, wry chuckle-inducing alternative to reading their kids Winnie the Pooh and Teletubbies (both of which are far less gripping and far more teeth-grindingly tedious the millionth time*). The Darth Vader and Son premise is an alternate reality in which Darth Vader is closely involved in Luke… -
On My Bedside Table
17 May 2013 | 3:15 amWant to know who I like to curl up in bed with after a long day behind the flat screen? Curious to know how I spend the midnight hours? Well I can reveal that at least three of those listed below are amongst the many who keep me occupied into the wee hours of the night. But enough about the books weighing down my bedside table. As a solution to my incurable curiosity about what makes a good read and what is good to read, I will be featuring who and what some of Australia’s most popular authors and illustrators like to go to sleep with, or bathe with or dine with…you get the picture.
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AbeBooks' Reading Copy
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Call The Midwife Was a Book First
17 May 2013 | 2:43 pmMy husband and I are expecting our first baby. It’s an exciting, wonderful, strange and occasionally terrifying time, as anyone who has been through it will remember. Both medically and emotionally, it’s an absolutely fascinating process that is affecting parts of my body and both of our hearts that neither of us ever expected. To alterately comfort and alarm myself, I’ve become totally immersed in the PBS Series Call The Midwife. Originally a BBC drama (and apparently, the highest-rated in BBC history), the show is utterly engrossing and fantastic. If you’ve never… -
The Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction 2013
16 May 2013 | 12:21 pmI am going to go out and say it, there are far too many book prizes given out every year. This isn’t to say that I don’t think authors deserve to be recognized for their fantastic work, it’s just that it can get a bit tedious when every day it seems that another seven prizes that I have never heard of are awarded (and I’m in the business of knowing what these prizes are). This is why I really appreciate the Wodehouse Prize, it’s hard to forget. Instead of awarding the author some small pittance in cash, the winner of the prize (which is given for the best work… -
Leporello and Concertina Books
16 May 2013 | 9:44 amThe term leporello refers to printed material folded into an accordion-pleat style. Also sometimes known as a concertina fold, it is a method of parallel folding with the folds alternating between front and back. The name likely comes from the manservant, Leporello, in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni. Famed rogue and lover Don Giovanni (in Italian – also known as Don Juan in Spanish) has seduced so many women that when Leporello displays a tally of his conquests, it unfolds, accordion-style, into a shockingly long list. Many leporellos are used as a way of telling a story, while… -
New York man gets medieval on King James Bible
14 May 2013 | 10:08 amA retired interior designer from upstate New York named Phillip Patterson recently decided that he wanted to learn more about the bible, so for the past six years he has spent upwards of 14 hours a day copying out the passages of the King James bible line by line; in much the same way that it was done in the years before Johannes Guttenberg revolutionized the world with movable type. Patterson describes his approach to the project as more scholarly than religious in nature, however he does plan to spend the next year binding his 2,400 page manuscript before he will donate it to his local… -
A Book Collection in One Click
13 May 2013 | 11:29 amIt can take decades to assemble a half decent collection of rare books…or you could just buy a ready-made collection with a single click. Booksellers on AbeBooks offer hundreds of ‘instant collections’ ranging from a complete set of the Flashman novels to Andrew Lang’s 12 Fairy books and Henning Mankell’s Wallander Series. These book sets also cover Narnia, Middle-earth, the Wild West, 007, World War I and the American Civil War.
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The Contemporary Reader
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Six Worlds and a New One
1 May 2013 | 2:02 amThese are six books, the six different worlds, I have had the pleasure to read since arriving here in Manila. I've only been able to finish half of the total count. The moving AND the adjustment of moving to another place with a faster pace is stressful. The only good thing about Manila's transportation is that the 2-hour traffic gives me enough time to finish several chapters. I've loved -
A Chuvaness.com gift to welcome me in Manila!
11 Apr 2013 | 4:18 amGood Morning, Paranaque! Hay naku, Manila, it's another one of your extremely blinding hot days. I'm in Manila you guys! And everything is so busy and blinking and fast and noisy and fun and superlatively exciting! Since touching down last April 1st, everything has been strange. But you can't blame me, what's 10 days when compared to 26 years? All my life I've been in Davao. Suddenly, my plane -
Hello, Healthy-Organic! Aloha, Organic Garden!
26 Mar 2013 | 8:50 pmI love my city and its diverse shops that feature local produce! One of my favorite businesses is Aloha Organic Garden, and I was happy to see them at last week's SM Eco Fair. Their booth was bursting with varieties of herb plants in colorful pots, and their famous organic products lined neatly in shelves. What's amazing about Aloha Organic Garden is the shop is down-to-earth in its -
Books from Blink.Com.Ph!
28 Feb 2013 | 6:55 amI had no right to buy stuff I didn't budget/allot for. But online cashless shopping makes it easy to waive that right. I went ahead and splurged. I bought four books from Blink.com.ph all for PHP1,000 (free shipping). I've been using their online book shopping portal quite a bit now, even just for browsing at least once a week. If you ask me, I personally think that Blink is a treasure trove -
Ryuma Coffee Shop: Davao's Premiere Spot for Gilded Chairs & General Royal Awesomeness
13 Feb 2013 | 6:51 amA PALACE OF GOLD? IN MY DAVAO? Relax, it's just Ryuma Coffee Shop. These gilded chairs seem like those furniture from The Grand Kremlin Palace at Moscow! Really! Take it from me, I have never been there. And while my companion was choosing our orders at the counter, I sat there peacefully like a Tsarina. There's nothing like elegance, sparkly things, and good food to make you think
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About.com Bestsellers
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Wool by Hugh Howey
17 May 2013 | 10:11 amHugh Howey's science fiction thriller, Wool, started with a self-published short story. Reader demand for more led him to publish the five sections of the complete novel serially. An electronic bestseller, Wool was first published as a hardcover book in 2012 and was recently released in paperback. Find out whether all the hype is true and if Wool is a necessary addition to your summer reading: Review of Wool by Hugh Howey Wool Book Club Discussion Questions Cover Photo Courtesy Simon & Schuster -
Graduation Gift Ideas
8 May 2013 | 2:58 amKnow a recent or upcoming grad who you would like to acknowledge? These good books for recent grads make thoughtful, but affordable gifts. -
Some Ideas for Mother's Day
6 May 2013 | 2:53 amNext Sunday is Mother's Day. Here are some books from the past few years that would be great to pass on to mom. Cover Photo Courtesy Riverhead -
New Books for May
1 May 2013 | 7:04 amFrom vampires to conspiracies to Afghanistan...May brings books from favorite authors of several genres. May 2013 New Releases Calendar Cover Photo Courtesy Knopf Doubleday -
New in Paperback: Gold by Chris Cleave
29 Apr 2013 | 5:54 pmOne of our Best Books of 2012, Gold by Chris Cleave, is now available in paperback. Chris Cleave is one of my favorite authors, and this is one not to miss. Cover Photo Courtesy Simon & Schuster
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The Creative Penn
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What Writers Can Learn From Dan Brown’s Inferno
17 May 2013 | 11:10 pmBack in 2000, Dan Brown changed my life. I have a Masters in Theology from the University of Oxford and religion, art history, architecture and spirituality are just some of my obsessions. Up until 2000, I thought that the only option to be a successful author in that arena was to follow in the footsteps of Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose. But then Dan Brown made the religious thriller mainstream and commercial and it now has a great niche all of its own, with Steve Berry, James Rollins, Scott Mariani and others writing in the genre. There are now so many options for readers like me… -
Let’s Get Visible. Cracking The Amazon Algorithms With David Gaughran
14 May 2013 | 11:45 pmThere are two main ways that people will find your books. (1) Through your book This is all about your book retailer sales page, targeted email marketing and promotions and other things that have nothing to do with your “platform”. After all, how many books do you pick up where you know nothing about the authors at all? Quite a few I’d imagine. (2) Through you This is all about your platform and how you reach people in the world. This includes content marketing, social, multimedia, PR and anything that relates to you. One thing to keep in mind when weighing up how to spend… -
5 Ways Writing Short Stories Can Boost Your Writing Career
11 May 2013 | 11:35 pmUntil a few months ago, I had never written a short story for publication. But then I was commissioned to write three for the Kobo Descent competition based on Dante’s Inferno for the launch of Dan Brown’s new book, also called Inferno. I read about 50 stories and lots of information on how to write them and then I jumped in. You can get all three stories here. It was a LOT of fun, and I experimented with a genre I haven’t written before. I wrote two dark mystery stories and one post-apocalyptic story which was something very new to me. So I know personally that short… -
You Have Permission
9 May 2013 | 1:54 amYou can’t write that. You can’t think that. You can’t imagine those things. You don’t have permission to be that person, to think like that, to write like that, to publish that. You’re a nice girl. What will people think of you? That’s my inner critic speaking, but I’ve also heard those words echoed from people close to me over the years. I think it’s only been in the last six months that I have given myself permission to let the raw side of me loose on the page. I’m finally finding my voice. It’s scary as hell because it turns out… -
Writing Travel Memoir, Tackling Risk And Adventuring With Alastair Humphreys
6 May 2013 | 11:05 pmI am definitely a travel and experience junkie and I still have ‘itchy-foot’ syndrome which means I have to get away to somewhere different regularly. I definitely have a travel memoir in me, perhaps one day it will see the light of day! But in the meantime, I have a special interview for you with Alastair Humphreys, named as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and someone who motivates me personally. Podcast Sponsor: Get a free audiobook and 14-day trial today by signing up at AudiblePodcast.com/thecreativepenn Alastair is an adventurer, author of 5 books and a…
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PubletariatPubletariat
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Publetariat’s Back, But It’s A Work In Progress
1 May 2013 | 7:25 pmThanks to the pro-bono efforts of the very generous Shawn E. Bell, Publetariat is back online and all of the original site posts were preserved. However, while the “bones” of the site and its content are here, most of the recovered content has yet to be properly categorized into the various Departments (e.g., Sell, Write, Design, [...] -
Why, And How, Publetariat Was Hacked
1 May 2013 | 7:10 pmMany people have asked me why Publetariat has been repeatedly targeted by hackers, if this could be some kind of publishing establishment attack on indie authors in general, or if I feel I am being personally attacked. Let me reassure everyone: I have no reason to believe the recent problems were any kind of attack [...] -
Authors of the Digital Age–What It Takes to Be a Real Author CEO
15 Apr 2013 | 11:00 amThis post, by Kristen Lamb, originally appeared on Kristen Lamb's blog on 4/12/13. I do a lot of reading of other blogs, particularly blogs that aren’t about writing. I think this keeps my information fresh. As many of you might know, financial blogger Steve Tobak is one of my favorites, and he regularly inspires my writing. -
How Self-Publishing Has Changed the Industry
15 Apr 2013 | 11:00 amThis post, by Clare Langley-Hawthorne, originally appeared on the Kill Zone blog on 4/15/13. I read a recent blog post on The Guardian book blog about the 10 ways self-publishing has changed the book world and, after Jim's post yesterday, it got me thinking about how I would explain the current state of the book world to friends and family who are neither authors, nor wanna-be writers, but who, as book readers, are nonetheless intrigued by all the changes going on in publishing. -
BookBinding: Making A Travel Notebook
14 Apr 2013 | 6:00 pmIncreasingly, we work and play in a digital world. I read, write, publish, market and often interact with friends online, which I absolutely love and value highly. But recently, I’ve been craving some physical creation, so last week I went along to the London Centre for Book Arts and joined one of their awesome workshops. Because I write in so many Moleskine journals, I decided to make a Travel Notebook, complete with concertina folded envelope in the back. I’d like to eventually make my own paper, print my own work on it and bind limited editions myself – but that’s a while away! (I…
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WritersDigest.com
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Literary Agent Emma Patterson of Brandt and Hochman Literary Seeks New Clients
19 May 2013 | 9:05 pmI’m not considering this a true New Agent Alert because literary agent Emma Patterson (of Brandt and Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.) is not new. That said, this post resembles an Alert in that Emma did tell me recently how she is actively looking to build her client list right now — and that is something writers should be happy to know. All details below for those interested in querying her! (Learn how you can support and help a new author with their book release.) About Emma: “I grew up in New Jersey as an avid reader and the daughter of a literary agent. My… -
5 Ways to Build Solid Relationships in Your Story
18 May 2013 | 9:05 pmRelationships are an important part of all stories. Letting them happen naturally can make or break believability. (In other words, we must avoid “Insta-Love.”) Here are tests you can apply to your relationships to see if they make the grade. (Meet an agent who reps young adult: Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary.) GIVEAWAY: Kasie is excited to give away a free copy of her novel to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. Guest column by Kasie West, who… -
Brian Kimberling: An Interview With the Author of SNAPPER
17 May 2013 | 9:05 pmI love featuring debut authors on my blog. This interview is with 2013 debut novelist Brian Kimberling for his novel, SNAPPER. SNAPPER details the brief but romantic career of a backwater birdwatcher. It won the 1st Annual Janklow & Nesbit Prize, and will appear from Pantheon (April 2013) and from Tinder Press (UK, May 2013). In a starred review, Booklist said of the book: “Told with precise and memorable prose in beautifully rendered, time-shifted vignettes, Snapper richly evokes the emotions of coming to adulthood … Kimberling writes gracefully about absurdity, showing a rich… -
If You’re Feeling Down and Out About a Rejection Letter …
17 May 2013 | 6:58 amConsider James Lee Burke. Sure, his novels are everywhere these days. Bookstores. Airports. Bestseller lists. But here’s how they got there. As Lindsey O’Connor detailed in our profile of the author, Burke published his first story when he was 19. It did not earn him instant fame. He worked the oil fields. He drove trucks. He taught. He’d sold a couple of books, but they never really broke out. And then he hit a mind-bending snag. He’d written a novel called The Lost Get-Back Boogie. He submitted it. He got rejected. … 111 times, over the course of nine years. He battled… -
The Hidden Room
17 May 2013 | 5:58 amWhile preparing your garden at the beginning of spring, you find the blueprints for your house buried in the earth. When you pull it out and examine it, you find that there is a room in the blueprint that doesn’t exist in your house. Both disturbed and intrigued, you set off to find the missing room. Write what happens next. Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments below. Want more creative writing prompts? Consider: The Writer’s Book of Matches
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Better World Books Blog - Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Community Outreach & more
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BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (3 of 3)
17 May 2013 | 1:45 pmThe third and final part in our Children’s Book Week series on the books that BWB employees remember from their childhood. Don’t forget to stop by our children’s book sale, too!secured payday loans online To chose just one favorite would be impossible but here is one that I was JUST telling my daughters about (and am about to buy at BetterWorldBooks.com). The Borrowers by Mary Norton was among my most favorite books. The story of the Clock Family and their adventures living under the floorboards of a home in England fostered my imagination and entertained me for… -
BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (2 of 3)
15 May 2013 | 11:26 amChildren’s Book Week continues, and here’s part 2 of our the books we remember loving in our own younger years. What were yours? Let us know in the comments. (image courtesy of Goodreads) Nuttybub & Nittersing by May Gibbs, published in 1923. I loved reading and being read to. Pretty much any book my dad read to me became a favorite. However, this one stood out in my mind and when I asked him what my favorite book was, this is the one he said without a prompt. “It’s the one you made me read over and over again with all the voices. These two little guys go… -
Encouraging Summer Reading: Book reviews by kids, for kids
14 May 2013 | 6:20 amLooking for a way to encourage your young library visitors to read this summer? Then look no further than the DOGObooks Summer Reading Program sponsored by Better World Books. DOGObooks.com, the largest website dedicated to kids’ reading and book reviews-by-and-for children, has built an online program that rewards both kids and schools for reading and reviewing books. The four month online program will launch at the start of Children’s Book Week on May 13th and run through mid-September. With the help of its children’s book publisher partners, DOGObooks has assembled a… -
BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (1 of 3)
13 May 2013 | 8:05 amChildren’s Book Week (May 13-19) is all about igniting a love of reading for young people, one that will stick with them and positively shape the person they one day become. What books stuck with you when you were growing up? We asked Better World Books employees just that question. Throughout this week, we’ll be posting the books that we can never forget, the books that had a lifelong impact on our young minds. We also have a whole lot of children’s books on sale as part of the celebration. The Little Prince This book, The Little Prince, was presented to me when I was 12 years old by… -
Your mama’s so smart, she probably reads lots of books!
11 May 2013 | 8:00 amCan we talk about your mom for a minute? She’s a classy lady. She raised you right. And (Note: moderate guilt trip beyond this point) you haven’t gotten her anything for Mother’s Day yet! Now, don’t panic. Fortunately for you, we planned for this. Mother’s Day is tomorrow, May 12. No matter where you’re shopping, the shipping is going to cost a very figurative arm-and-leg combo in order to ship something to you on time. Unless you read on, reader! Using the magic of Internet, we have devised a way to equip you with (a) the perfect present, which will (b) be ready for you to give…
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JetPak Studio
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I'M in the SCBWI for this month!!
12 May 2013 | 3:59 pmSCBWI Bulletin with 3 of my images. -
Newer digital painting...
11 May 2013 | 2:35 pm"Bony" (in color) -
Another sketch from the SCBWI conference...
3 May 2013 | 9:32 pmThis one is obviously about me and how I think I'm being treated by the single women in Seattle. -
New Doodle for the last part of April...
27 Apr 2013 | 12:56 pm"Bombs Away" -
Another drawing from the SCBWI conference
26 Apr 2013 | 11:32 pm...Outbreak of Love!
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The Reader's Advisor Online Blog
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RA Run Down
19 May 2013 | 10:56 amThe readers’s advisory librarian’s weekly update, from a scan of more than 100 blogs, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and television. This blog is brought to you by the Reader’s Advisor Online. TRY THE FREE RAO DATABASE based on Libraries Unlimited’s print Genreflecting Advisory series. Give it a whirl and let us know how you like it. We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to comment on any of our posts, or contact us at raoblog@lu.com. Also check out our free newsletter with more in-depth articles at Reader’s Advisor News. By Cindy Orr and Sarah Statz… -
Hot Prospects for 2013
18 May 2013 | 5:04 amConde Nast Traveler: Four Travel-Inspired Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List Marie Claire: Summer Books 2013 Clutch Magazine: Five New Books for Your Summer Reading List Seventeen: What to Read This Summer Yahoo: Top 10 Summer Books for 2013: Surefire Hits for the Silver Screen HistoryNet: Notable Books, Summer 2013 Amazon: Summer Reading Bookreporter.com: Coming Soon – June Books Examiner.com: Summer 2013 Young Adult Novel Releases, Part 1 Examiner.com: Summer 2013 Young Adult Novel Releases, Part 2 Publishers Weekly: Best Summer Books 2013 National Geographic: Best Travel Books… -
New, Noteworthy, and No-Brainer
16 May 2013 | 4:05 amTo be published the week of May 20 – May 26, 2013 TUESDAY FICTION Ahmad, A. X. – The Caretaker – 9781250016843 Bulawayo, Noviolet – We Need New Names – 9780316230810 Castle, Richard – Storm Front – 9781401324902 Dean, James – Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach – 9780062110725 Foster, Alan Dean – Star Trek into Darkness – 9781476716480 Garcia, Cristina – King of Cuba – 9781476710242 Grecian, Alex – The Black Country – 9780399159336 Grisham, John – Theodore Boone: The Activist (YA) – 9780525425779… -
Run Down
12 May 2013 | 10:24 amThe readers’s advisory librarian’s weekly update, from a scan of more than 100 blogs, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and television. This blog is brought to you by the Reader’s Advisor Online. TRY THE FREE RAO DATABASE based on Libraries Unlimited’s print Genreflecting Advisory series. Give it a whirl and let us know how you like it. We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to comment on any of our posts, or contact us at raoblog@lu.com. Also check out our free newsletter with more in-depth articles at Reader’s Advisor News. By Cindy Orr and Sarah Statz… -
SALE on select ABC-CLIO titles!
7 May 2013 | 3:31 pmJust a quick note to let you know that a number of great librarianship and RA titles are currently on sale–at 50% off!*–at ABC-CLIO. The sale runs through June 14, and you can shop by following these links: Librarianship titles on sale Programming and RA titles on sale Please note that a number of great RA resources, like Sara Martinez’s Latino Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests and Rebecca Vnuk’s Read On…Women’s Fiction: Reading Lists for Every Taste, are included. *I’m not the type to get too over-excited about just any sale…but 50% off!
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Follow Your Ears
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Jack Butler (Bat Segundo Special)
14 May 2013 | 10:20 amThis one hour radio special is the first in a series of “at-large” conversations presently categorized under the old “Bat Segundo” label. It features a rare interview with Jack Butler, author of Jujitsu for Christ, a highly underrated novel that has recently been reissued by the University Press of Mississippi. Author: Jack Butler Subjects Discussed: Moving west over a lifetime, having a double bachelor’s in English and math, the yin-yang existence, reading science fiction as a boy, why the stars are so inspirational in the Delta, using the Holy Ghost as a… -
Bullies (FYE #6)
5 Mar 2013 | 10:42 amBullying is the most common form of violence in America and often carries into adulthood. Every day, more than 160,000 students stay home from school because they fear being bullied. This week, we discuss bullying at length. Poet Shane Koyczan uncovers the dark beginnings of “To This Day,” a poem abut bullying that went unexpectedly viral. We talk with Emily Bazelon, author of Sticks and Stones, to learn more about the bullying phenomenon. Dr. William Copeland reveals how bullying’s long-term effects extend into adulthood and discusses an unprecedented study that followed… -
Rebels (FYE #5)
5 Mar 2013 | 10:38 amThe rebel. You’d think that a culture that gave us John Brown, Margaret Sanger, and Rosa Parks would be more encouraging of this proud American tradition. This week we examine why rebels get the short end of the stick. We talk with historian Jeanne Theoharis about how Rosa Parks’s rebellious life has been swept under the carpet of modern American history, examine Pussy Riot’s rebellious legacy with many of the band’s supporters, and chat with a rebel journalist about a mysterious shooting in Missouri and the pros and cons of assumption. Robbie the Rebel Have you heard… -
Aid (FYE #4)
14 Feb 2013 | 4:36 amGiving aid to nations and people who desperately need help has been an American staple for more than a century. Yet in 2013, aid has become more beholden to red tape and incompetence than ever before. This week, we go to Staten Island to talk with the organizers and volunteers of Occupy Sandy to find out how they helped people when others could not and get a sense of their philosophy. We talk with Jonathan Katz, the only full-time American journalist stationed in Hatii during the 2010 earthquake and reveal how billions of dollars given by Americans to help the impoverished and the homeless… -
Cycles (FYE #3)
6 Feb 2013 | 5:09 amThis week, we examine cycles. Are our lives and our culture locked within cycles? Are we aware of it? Should we be aware of it? Or is there a certain folly in paying too much attention? Our quest for answers has us talking with bike shop owners and a Finnegans Wake reading group. We reveal how Raiders of the Lost Ark caused two teenage boys to become consumed by a relentless cycle of remaking the movie they loved with limited cinematic resources. We also talk with Scottish novelist Ian Rankin about how he returned to Inspector Rebus and got caught up in cycles he couldn’t quite describe…
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Minnesota Reads
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Vacation: All I ever wanted
17 May 2013 | 8:00 amSarah Stonich got me good. I had no idea her book Vacationland was a collection of linked short stories rather than a conventional novel. So there I was, enjoying the plight of a visual artist living in an old cabin in Northern Minnesota. Her dog has just brought a severed human hand in from the cold. The usual suspense-y first chapter questions whirred in my noggin. But the story wasn’t about whose hand it was or how it fell off or whether it could be reattached through the magic of ice and modern medicine. At the end of the chapter it was over and onto the next thing, although set in the… -
The Cydonian Pyramid
16 May 2013 | 8:00 amWhen I met briefly met Pete Hautman last year, I enthusiastically gushed over how much I loved The Obsidian Blade. Looking back, it was one of those embarrassing moments where I talked too fast, too much, and probably came off stalkerish, but trust me, I don’t have the dedication needed to stalk someone. I just thought The Obsidian Blade was one of the most unique things I read last year with great characters, strong world building, and a completely wacky plot. Wacky in the best way possible. In The Obsidian Blade, we followed Tucker Feye as he jumped through diskos searching for his… -
Not really so unfamiliar
13 May 2013 | 8:00 amHere’s the thing with Sarah Vowell. While I’m in the midst of her books, I’m loving them. She’s wry and smart, and the topics she chooses to write about are interesting. They’re things I only had cursory knowledge about — presidential assassinations, Hawaii, and Puritans. In the thick of her books whether I’m listening or reading, I’m all in. I love listening to her read her books. She’s a great reader & she always gets a host of co-readers which is awesome. But the thing is the moment I’m done, I have forgotten most everything… -
Under the Dome
8 May 2013 | 8:00 amYou may have seen commercials for “Under the Dome,” a miniseries starting in June based upon Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The premise got my attention right away: a dome suddenly, and without warning, encompasses a small town and mass chaos ensues. This series is pretty much designed for me, so for the past two weeks I’ve been making my way through Stephen King’s 1072-page behemoth. You should be very impressed that I finished it in two weeks, not only because it’s 1072 pages, but because this isn’t a small book with large print. I feel like these 1072 pages… -
Relish
7 May 2013 | 8:00 amThis is huge: Lucy Knisley made me mushroom curious. Me. A lifelong hater of all things fungal. I always imagine them as something slick and slug-like, tasting of moldy earth. My mom would take a can, open the lid, pluck fingerfuls of mushrooms the way I do now with black olives. She would give me contradictory messages: So good, she would say. I’d grimace. You can’t even taste them, she would then say. She would dump them into the pasta sauce, ensuring that I would stick to plain noodles with butter and parmesan. Devotees of mushrooms are, I’m sure you’ve learned, assholes. They…
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Great Books that I liked
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Novel - The Caves of Steel - Isaav Asimov (published in 1954)
27 Apr 2013 | 1:54 pmIsaac Asimov is one of the most famous science fiction writers of all time. The number of fiction and non-fiction books that he has written number in the hundreds, more than 500 books of different genres. Asimov is mostly famous for his science fiction novels, but he has written a number of others books, almost all of them on science. Along with other authors such as Arthur C Clarke and others such as Robert Heinlein, he was one of the most famous science fiction writers of all time. His most famous legacies include the 3 laws of Robotics (meant to ensure that humans have control over robots)… -
Novel - The Naked Sun - Isaav Asimov (published in 1957)
21 Apr 2013 | 1:29 pmIsaac Asimov is one of the most famous science fiction writers of all time. The number of fiction and non-fiction books that he has written number in the hundreds, more like 500 books. Although Asimov is mostly famous for his science fiction novels, he has written a number of books on science. Along with Arthur C Clarke and others such as Robert Heinlein, he was one of the most famous science fiction writers of all time, most famous now for the 3 laws of Robotics and for the Foundation series of books. For many science fiction readers, Asimov would have been the first author whose books they… -
Never Leave Me (published in 1953) - A book by Harold Robbins, about a man on the make
10 Mar 2012 | 9:32 amHarold Robins is one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted a controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over… -
A Stone for Danny Fisher (published in 1952) - The story of a fighter during the Great Depression
8 Mar 2012 | 9:22 amHarold Robins is one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted a controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over… -
The Inheritors (published in 1969) - Written by Harold Robbins, about the entertainment industry
26 Feb 2012 | 11:29 amHarold Robbins was one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus out came “Never love a Stranger” which courted controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over…
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About.com Contemporary Literature
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Stephen King Flowchart
16 May 2013 | 9:59 amStephen King fans - you're going to love Tessiegirl's Stephen King Universe Flowchart, a comprehensive mapping of the intricately interwoven world of Stephen King characters! Kind of difficult to read online? No worries, there. The Stephen King flowchart is available in print, self-published by the artist....Read Full Post -
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
8 May 2013 | 11:12 pmRuth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being is a story about a Japanese-American novelist named Ruth who, while walking the beach of her small island, happens upon a diary that has washed ashore. The diary, belonging to a 16-year-old Japanese girl named Naoko, reveals a narrative so compelling that it draws Ruth into the world of the storyteller in a fantastic exploration of story, how we make it and how it makes us....Read Full Post -
The World Until Yesterday by Jared Diamond
5 May 2013 | 11:36 pmJared Diamond, the author of Collapse and Guns, Germs, and Steel, delivers a fascinating portrait of primitive societies in The World Until Yesterday based upon research and his own experience living among New Guinea Highlanders. Diamond is an astute thinker draws his readers into considering the modern world in light of the experience of our predecessors....Read Full Post -
Wise Men by Stuart Nadler
29 Apr 2013 | 11:09 pmStuart Nadler's novel Wise Men tells the story of Hilly Wise, the wealthy son of the infamous aviation attorney Arthur Wise. As Wise Men spans Hilly's life, the reader finds the protagonist torn between living in his father's shadow and forging his own path....Read Full Post -
The Strange Tale of Panorama Island by Edogawa Ranpo
28 Apr 2013 | 11:08 pmEdogawa Ranpo's The Strange Tale of Panorama Island follows Hirosuke Hitomi, a struggling writer who dreams of creating a natural utopia. When a wealthy acquaintance of Hirosuke's passes away, a plan is put into motion for Hirosuke to steal the identity of the deceased. With money from the dead man's estate, Hirosuke might now have the means to build the Arcadian world he's always imagined....Read Full Post
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Black Heart Magazine
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Three poems by Richard King Perkins II
15 May 2013 | 8:00 amBecoming Serpent Ex-marine seen too much killing wants to be a serpent has a plan and much money removes lips splits tongue head already shaved pulls teeth snips ears reticulates skin with tattoo cuts off fingers cuts off toes grinds down nose stitches snake-eyed lenses to his eyes fuses foot to foot hands to hips learns to wriggle and hiss and swallow things whole there is problem with sex organs and then there is not. Ex-marine transformed to serpent has a plan writes to tattoo mags and swinger rags asking to be less than a slave or man no one responds to the simple plea by the ex-sergeant… -
Dodging Bullet Points by Andy Millman
14 May 2013 | 7:00 amHe watches the cursor blink and feels his heart beat. They are in rhythm, which is fitting, because this should come from the heart. Even so, he can’t help but form a list of supporting points like they are evidence in a case he will argue. AP English has had some impact. He begins to type. We’ve known each other for ten years, since the third day of first grade. We eat well together. I eat your fries, you eat my dessert. We prefer the book to the movie, except for “Lord of the Rings.” We actually finish homework when we study together. You never laugh at me in gym class. I love your… -
The Easier Thing by Brianne M. Kohl
13 May 2013 | 7:00 amJonah lay dead on the black and white checkerboard tile of the bathroom. The wound in his stomach had only taken moments to bleed out, to stain through the blue towel tied around his waist. His blood began to pool and work its way through the grout lines between the porcelain tile. Margaret had laid the tile herself, a year earlier when she’d still been hopeful the apartment would sell for close to what they’d paid for it. How many times had Margaret heard the realtor say, “Relax. Be patient. It’s a buyer’s market.” Only just last week over breakfast,… -
Just Another Day by Juan Alvarado Valdivia
10 May 2013 | 5:00 amOn the train home from work, Miguel awoke to find a man sleeping beside him. The train car was packed with people while it was half empty when he boarded from the downtown station. Miguel squinted from the sunlight streaming through the windows. It was always jolting for him to awaken to altered surroundings, as if much had changed in the fifteen minutes he was napping. As he turned his attention to the other passengers on the train, Miguel saw that many others were asleep. Men, women, suits, yuppies, laborers, vagrants, and students. Most of the people who were not asleep stared out at the… -
Good Days by Jewd Quinn
7 May 2013 | 7:00 amThese are my friends, ones I see each day I got a prescription for our problems, keep the hounds at bay – David Lynch We were beaten, drugged, dateraped, grounded, imprisoned, slandered, censored, humiliated, blamed, impregnated, socially sterilized, and politically pawned. We were filmed and photographed and catalogued. We were engendered, lectured on the dangers of critical thinking, frightened in hallway corners. After we were diagnosed with makebelieve illnesses we were instructed on what to hate and what to love and what these words mean and sometimes forced to part ways with our most…
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Flavorwire » Books
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Incredible Reading Rooms Around the World
19 May 2013 | 9:00 amWe love libraries, have a soft spot for bookmobiles, can’t get enough of bookstores, and we really enjoy bars we can read in. We’re always in search of cozy, beautiful places to curl up with a good book, so when we saw that New York’s modern furniture company Vitsoe was opening a pop-up reading room in their downtown store, we went searching for other unique reading rooms around the world. Comfort, intimacy, atmosphere, and a great view play a big part in the design of these bookish rooms. See more in our gallery. Tell us about your favorites, below. For three days Vitsoe… -
Flavorwire Exclusive: Norman Lock on His Favorite Short Story
17 May 2013 | 11:15 amThe short story can be a magical thing. It’s a breath, a moment, a captured mood — or an entire teeming world packed into a few pages. Maybe, if it’s really great, it’s both. The only trouble with short stories is that not enough people read them. So, in a series to celebrate Short Story Month (and help you add to your reading list), Flavorwire is asking some contemporary masters of the form to talk about the short stories they love. In this installment, virtuosic fabulist Norman Lock, whose newest collection Love Among the Particles hit shelves this month, tells us about his… -
10 of the Greatest Cold War Spy Novels
17 May 2013 | 6:45 amBefore his death, legendary crime writer Mickey Spillane entrusted the completion of his unfinished work to his longtime friend, Max Allan Collins — a top-notch writer in his own right. This month, Collins has completed and released Complex 90, Spillane’s unfinished sequel to The Girl Hunters. To celebrate its publication, Flavorwire asked Collins to sound off on a few of his favorite Cold War thrillers. Bone up on your spy skills with his picks, and be sure to add any favorites that Collins missed to the list in the comments. From Russia With Love, Ian Fleming (1957)… -
Last Day to Enter Flavorwire’s First Short Fiction Contest
17 May 2013 | 5:30 amWriters, take note: today is the last day to enter Flavorwire’s first-ever short fiction contest. In honor of May’s National Short Story Month, we’re offering a prize of $500 for one outstanding short story. To enter, simply send a story of 5,000 words or less — in the body of a message, not as an attachment — along with a brief author bio and all relevant contact information to flavorwirefiction@gmail.com before midnight tonight. Flavorwire Literary Editor Emily Temple will judge all entries and announce the results on the 24th. We’ll publish the winning… -
Flavorwire Exclusive: Lindsay Hunter on Her Favorite Short Story
16 May 2013 | 11:00 amThe short story can be a magical thing. It’s a breath, a moment, a captured mood — or an entire teeming world packed into a few pages. Maybe, if it’s really great, it’s both. The only trouble with short stories is that not enough people read them. So, in a series to celebrate Short Story Month (and help you add to your reading list), Flavorwire is asking some contemporary masters of the form to talk about the short stories they love. In this installment, Lindsay Hunter, whose electrifying second collection Don’t Kiss Me is forthcoming in July, recommends one that she can’t…
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Pixel of Ink
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[Pixel Picks] Deals & Steals for May 19th: Part 2
19 May 2013 | 9:36 amTake a peek at these Deals & Steals and snag your favorites while they last! For non-U.S. readers, Kindle content availability and pricing will vary. Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Urban Fantasy The Reverse Commute by Sheila Blanchette Still free? Click Here to find out! Sophie Ryan, a middle-aged woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is stuck in a dead-end job barely paying her bills. Adding to her problems, she and her husband, Ray, live in an old New Hampshire farmhouse with endless, humorous calamities. One night when Ray is out of town, Sophie… -
[Hot Deal] A Breath of Eyre – Save 80%
19 May 2013 | 6:36 amA Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont Genre: Historical Fiction In this stunning, imaginative novel, Eve Marie Mont transports her modern-day heroine into the life of Jane Eyre to create a mesmerizing story of love, longing, and finding your place in the world. Emma Townsend has always believed in stories – the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect –… -
[Pixel Picks] Deals & Steals for May 19th: Part 1
19 May 2013 | 6:12 amFor even more of the best eBook deals, be sure to check Pixel of Ink every day! For non-U.S. readers, Kindle content availability and pricing will vary. Genre: Children's Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Science Fiction The Outlaw Preacher by John Andrews Still free? Click Here to find out! Ride from darkness to light with the legendary “Nine Ball” and the notorious Doomsayers outlaw motorcycle club. High speed violence and evil relentlessly pursues his soul from the gates of Folsom prison to the wild streets of Southern California. Hang on tight as this outlaw… -
[Pixel Picks] Deals & Steals for May 18th: Part 2
18 May 2013 | 9:36 amKeep your Kindle full and happy with tonight’s Deals & Steals! For non-U.S. readers, Kindle content availability and pricing will vary. Genre: Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Suspense No Safe Place by Taylor Wilmering Still free? Click Here to find out! Shortly before September 11, 2001, Joe Biden warned, “The question is not if we will be attacked by terrorists, but rather when and where.” In the pages of No Safe Place, terrorism has come to America once again. Sleeper agents for a radical Islamic terrorist group that calls itself Ansar Inshallah… -
[Hot Deal] The Island – Save 63%
18 May 2013 | 6:31 amThe Island by Elin Hilderbrand Genre: Contemporary Fiction Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess’s lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she’s cancelled her engagement. It’s only the first hint of what…
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THE FIRE WIRE
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The New Teaser Trailer For Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
19 May 2013 | 7:27 pmParamount Pictures has debuted the new teaser trailer for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. The sequel, directed by Adam McKay, stars Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, Josh Lawson, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson and Nicole Kidman. The film will be released on December 20, 2013. -
Fred Armisen’s Punk Rock Goodbye To Saturday Night Live
19 May 2013 | 10:41 amLast night’s Saturday Night Live was the last to feature Fred Armisen, who’s been a member of the cast for 11 seasons. His final sketch was a performance as his British punk rock alter ego Ian Rubbish singing an original song, “Lovely Day”. Fred brought out a bunch of his coolest indie rock friends: Aimee Mann, Michael Penn, Steve Jones from The Sex Pistols, Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag (and Portlandia!), J. Mascis from Dinosaur Jr., and Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth. -
New Featurette For Man of Steel
19 May 2013 | 9:57 amWalmart has debuted a new featurette that shows off never before seen footage. Hitting 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters on June 14, the action adventure stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni, Russell Crowe, Michael Kelly, Harry Lennix and Richard Schiff. In Man of Steel, a young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world… -
Out of Print T-Shirts
19 May 2013 | 1:00 amBrooklyn based Out of Print celebrates the world’s great stories through fashion. Their t-shirts ($28) feature iconic and often out of print book covers. Some are classics, some are just curious enough to make great t-shirts, but all are striking works of art. (Thanks for the tip Joe Hill) -
Life Is Precious Survival Kit
18 May 2013 | 4:35 amWallpaper magazine asked the Contemporary Industrial Design Company Fort Standard to design a piece for their Handmade Exhibition in Milan during Salone Del Mobile, they set out to design a survival kit with the intention of creating something which looked and felt as precious as its contents. The design became largely about the packaging as it needed to be serious, yet beautiful; an object you could easily bring with you on a day hike or even keep in your car or boat but most importantly an object you would want to bring with you everywhere. The kit (which, unfortunately, is not available to…
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The Truth About Lies
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The Silence of Gethsemane
19 May 2013 | 4:00 am…ecce homo… – John 19:5 (Latin Vulgate) Basically there are three kinds of novels: novels where everything is made up (e.g. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), historical novels where the author aims to be as accurate as possible and often goes to great lengths to research the topic under discussion (e.g. Wolf Hall) and then there are the novels that are based on an historical event but play fast and loose with the facts (e.g. Stephen King’s 11/22/63). I mention this because on the cover of The Silence of Gethsemane is says, “A Novel” and I’m not sure what kind of novel it is. -
Niches
12 May 2013 | 4:00 amI think that there are empty ecological niches in the literary landscape crying to be filled and when a book more or less fills a niche it's seized on, even when it's a far from perfect fit – Edmund White When I think of niches I think of porn. As a kid growing up like most kids it was where I learned much about sex and the female anatomy along with words I couldn’t pronounce because I’d never heard them spoken aloud—honestly it was cun-i-ling-you-is for years. Not so much about males but we are talking Scotland in the sixties and seventies; I’d seen enough willies down the baths or… -
The Humans
5 May 2013 | 5:00 amMark Shermin: "Have people from your world been here before?" Starman: "Before. Yes, we are interested in your species." Mark Shermin: "You mean you're some kind of anthropologist? Is that what you're doing here? Just checking us out?" Starman: "You are a strange species, not like any other... and you'd be surprised how many there are. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you?" Starman There’s nothing new under the sun. If you’re a writer and you really want to depress yourself spend an hour or so (as I’ve just done) clicking through the links on TVtropes.org. There… -
A Tale for the Time Being
28 Apr 2013 | 3:30 amInspiration is a happy convergence of random factors, which if you are lucky, you notice and then can use. And it helps if you have a husband who sends you interesting links! – Ruth Ozeki This is a book about time and being, about cats—both real and figurative—and crows—both literal and mythological— about Japan and Canada and America too a little; it’s about life and death; about war and peace; about Buddhism, philosophy and quantum mechanics; about superheroes and living ghosts; about coming of age and dying with dignity; it’s about the interchangeable roles of readers… -
Me and You
21 Apr 2013 | 3:30 amA sibling may be the keeper of one's identity, the only person with the keys to one's unfettered, more fundamental self. - Marian Sandmaier I have mixed feelings about this book. When people say stuff like that I usually assume that what they mean is, “I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it as much as I might have.” That’s not really the case here. What I mean is that the book made me feel a lot of different things at the same time. It’s like one of those blended fruit drinks—5 Alive jumps to mind—that have too many flavours and confuse people like me with unrefined palettes…
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Silk Spun
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Find Your Spot
25 Apr 2013 | 10:01 pmFind Your Spot is a website that gives you twenty-four possible locations you might like to move to, based on a series of questions about your living preferences–the climate and geography you prefer, your feelings about taxes and politics and religion, what you like to do for fun, housing costs, et cetera. Each location has its own page, with more information about it than you probably really care to know. Unless you’re me, in which case you’ll waste hours reading through every one. It appears to be only geared toward the US, which is a shame, but it’s still… -
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
9 Apr 2013 | 1:00 pmThis is just a quick little post to say that in addition to National Poetry Month, April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, which is something that I am very passionate about, and if you are too, there are things you can do to help. RAINN has some suggestions, including that if you make a donation to them this month, it will be doubled by a group of donors, up to a maximum of $30,000. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has a campaign that focuses on healthy sexuality and its connection to child sexual abuse prevention, with lots of resources for community… -
A few good men
12 Feb 2013 | 6:51 pmMy god. How many ways are there to love men? It’s enough to break a heart open. The images in my head and heart. I know what they are. I do. They are a family album. It is possible to make family any way you like. It is possible to love men without rage. There are thousands of ways to love men. –Lidia Yuknavitch, “The Chronology of Water” This is a post dedicated to the warm fuzzy feelings I have about John Scalzi and Jim C. Hines, and the appreciation I feel for their presences on the Internet and all that they do. I have a very difficult time with men. Perhaps because I… -
All girls allowed
8 Jan 2013 | 6:20 pmI have been noticing a disconcerting trend more and more recently, not exclusive to the Internet but definitely helped along by it, to split girls into two neat categories: girlie girl and cool tomboy. Just one more way to find us wanting, one more set of impossible standards that not every girl can reach because, as amazing a concept as it seems to be, girls are not just one homogeneous group. The example I see most often based on my own interests is the ASOIAF/GoT fandom, where Sansa is insulted and ridiculed for being a young girl who is interested in boys and clothes and songs about… -
2012 in books
1 Jan 2013 | 12:12 pm2012 was a terrible year for reading. I don’t know why, but for months I just couldn’t make myself read anything, and then I started several books and neglected them all less than halfway through. My focus was not good. I have set a reading goal of thirty-six books for 2013, which works out to three books a month, so I am hopeful that this year will be better. I wanted to try for fifty, but that felt too ambitious. So here, as always, is my end-of-year booklist. My favorites (which means five-star books only) are bolded, and if you would like to read my reviews for any of them,…
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Free Book Reviews
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Honor All Mothers
12 May 2013 | 5:03 amToday is Mother’s Day. It is the one day each year that we men put aside to honor our mothers and the mothers of our children. And they happen to be the one person we will generally buy a gift for, and we will still anguish over what to buy. If you have not yet purchased a gift for your mother or your wife, let me give you a couple of quick hints on what not to buy. Do not buy her anything that plugs in. If something needs to be plugged in, she will only see it as a tool. Also, do not get her any exercise equipment or videos, as this will lead to six months of her asking you why you think… -
Jesus and Women
12 May 2013 | 5:00 am“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” I find it interesting and very revealing that of all the people to whom Jesus could have appeared first, He chose to reveal Himself to the women in His following. I am going to begin today a short series that will deal with women and what the Bible teaches about them in the church. It is my intent to demonstrate that Jesus placed a very high value on women through His life and teachings. The place of women in the first-century Roman world and in the Jewish… -
Author Interview: K. L. Dillon author of One Day in 2056 & Other Stories
18 Apr 2013 | 6:35 amAbout Your Book One Day in 2056 & Other Stories My book, which is a short story collection, is titled "One Day in 2056 & Other Stories." While the title story is, in fact, set in the future, this isn't strictly a science fiction collection of stories. It's a collection of stories about people thrown into impossible situations. The six stories compiled into this collection span the genres of science fiction, mystery, thriller, while tackling themes such as: fate, destiny, futurism, time travel, love, loss, and revenge. The Blurb for ONE DAY IN 2056 & OTHER STORIES: “People just can’t die. -
Book Review: Secrets by S.L. Pierce
17 Apr 2013 | 8:30 amDescription from Amazon Secrets...we all have them. Do you have a secret nobody knows? Not even your spouse? Gwen Michaels is a former assassin, emphasis on former. She walked away two years ago and had no plans to share her secret, least of all with her husband Jack. But when she is attacked in her own home by an unknown assailant, she is thrust back into her old element. More shocking to Gwen than the man hired to kill her, is that he knows nothing of her past. Now Gwen and Jack are on the run until Gwen can discover who wants her dead, and why! Secrets is a fun thriller delving into the… -
Book Review: From Destinations Set by Christopher Nosnibor
17 Apr 2013 | 8:12 amDescription from Amazon Tim and Anthony are very different people, leading very different lives, following different careers in different cities. Tim is a conformist: office job, moderately successful, and teetering on the brink of a premature midlife crisis. Anthony is a rebellious non-conformist: a writer who sneers at the humdrum and derides 'corporate sell-outs.' But are they really so very different? The two narratives of From Destinations Set trace these characters' activities as they occur in parallel - not only in terms of time, but also literally, with the page divided into two…
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Novelicious.com | The Women's Fiction Blog for Readers and Writers
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My Book Deal Moment by Donna Douglas
17 May 2013 | 6:30 amWe’re really pleased to have Donna Douglas here today sharing her experience of getting a book deal. ‘Have you ever thought about writing a historical novel?’ my agent asked me. Well, yes, I’d thought about it. I’d also thought about learning Mandarin and signing up to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity, but I’d dismissed all those ideas as Too Hard. Never mind that my bedside reading consisted entirely of history; as far as I was concerned, only grown-up authors wrote historical novels. They were too difficult, needed lots of research. I wouldn’t know where to start. I was far… -
Ask the Author with Pippa Wright – How do you come up with such unique ideas for your books?
17 May 2013 | 5:30 amWe’re super excited that for the month of May Pippa Wright is here at Novelicious as our author in residence. Each Friday she will be answering a question about her life as a writer. This week a Novelicious reader asks: You have such unique ideas for your books, how do you come up with them? Pippa says: Thanks, that’s a really nice thing to say. I think I waited a long time to try writing a book because I wasn’t sure I had a good enough idea. What I didn’t understand back then is that you get ideas for writing by writing. You start off with one thing, and it becomes something… -
The Great Gatsby: Book vs Film
17 May 2013 | 4:30 amAdapting a book like The Great Gatsby into a film is both an incredibly difficult challenge and ridiculously easy. On the one hand, the novel, written by F Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, is one of the most beloved and well-known novels of the 20th century. People across the world have an idea in their heads of what Jay Gatsby should look like, what his house should look like, what his parties were really like. If you get it wrong, people will notice and tear the film to shreds. That said, The Great Gatsby is one of the few novels which truly lends itself to being adapted. Firstly,… -
U.S. and Canada Giveaway – 2 copies of Wendy Wax’s ‘While We Were Watching Downton Abbey’ to give away!
17 May 2013 | 3:30 amIn this week’s competition, we’ve got 2 copies of American author Wendy Wax's new novel up for grabs. When the concierge of the Alexander, a historic Atlanta apartment building, invites his fellow residents to join him for weekly screenings of Downton Abbey, four very different people find themselves connecting with the addictive drama, and—even more unexpectedly—with each other... Samantha Davis married young and for the wrong reason: the security of old Atlanta money for herself and her orphaned brother and sister. She never expected her marriage to be complicated by love and… -
Review – Down London Road by Samantha Young
17 May 2013 | 2:28 amReviewed by Kirsty Nicole Pole Smart, Sexy and Seductive are just three words that I would choose to describe Samantha Young’s follow up to On Dublin Street and here’s why… Johanna Walker is a strong, determined woman who is carrying a huge burden on her shoulders. She knows that the only way to support herself financially is by dating secure men, with plenty of money who will treat her well and look after her little brother, Cole – something her parents have never done. Then, gorgeous new bartender Cameron MacCabe arrives and Jo cannot ignore her instant attraction, the sexual energy…
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Reading With Tequila
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Ann Whitely-Gillen, Last Train To Omaha
6 May 2013 | 12:26 pmAnn Whitely-Gillen Ann Whitely-Gillen resides in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where she is a full time communications advisor and freelance writer. In the 1990s, Ann lived in British Columbia, Canada and Australia where she volunteered her writing and public relations expertise to organizations including Greenpeace. She is also an accomplished musician and vocalist. Ann has always wanted to write a screenplay and, in fact, Last Train to Omaha started out with that in mind. After forty pages of writing, Ann decided to turn the screenplay into her debut novel as she wanted to delve deeper into… -
Calling All Authors
6 May 2013 | 11:07 amBeth here again. So terribly sorry for being out of touch. I do intend to post more and do intend to eventually answer all of your lovely emails. I’ve had some personal trials and tribulations going on, but all that is resolved and I’m back and ready to talk books and booze. I wasn’t sure what to do with this site, but have had some time to think over this past month and decided I’d really like to make this a forum for authors to talk about their books. With that said, I’m putting out an open call for authors who want to talk about writing, life, their books, and tequila. I’m sort… -
Interview with Kelly Keaton
6 May 2013 | 10:26 amKelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to answer some questions. Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. She likes pre-Raphaelite art, moonlight on snow, and MMORPGs. She lives in North Carolina with her family, one Great Dane, and two incredibly hairy cats. Kelly’s alter ego, Kelly Gay, is a 2010 double RITA finalist and a recipient of North Carolina’s Art Council… -
Interview with Michelle Rowen
6 May 2013 | 10:21 amInterview with Michelle Rowen Michelle Rowen, author of Bloodlust, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to answer some questions. National bestselling author Michelle Rowen writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and young adult fantasy. She was the winner of the 2007 Holt Medallion for Best First Book and the 2009 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Vampire Romance. Michelle lives in Southern Ontario. Please feel free to contact her at michelle@michellerowen.com. She loves hearing from readers! Reading with Tequila: For an urban fantasy heroine, Jill is refreshingly… -
Guest Author: Heather Webber
6 May 2013 | 10:16 amHeather Webber, author of Truly, Madly, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to talk about Valentine’s Day. A Little Goes A Long Way… By Heather Webber Valentine’s Day has all the earmarks of what society expects women to love. Usually a man doting on us, confessing his undying love, showering us with jewelry (“He went to Jared!”) and cards so oooey and gooey they should embarrass us but don’t (the gooier the better, am I right?). It is THE day for guys to go all out, over the top. The day to show us how much he loves us. Personally, I think yes and no. Yes,…
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Blkosiner's YA and Teen Book Blog
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Bloglovin Hop and Giveaway and Interview: A Knight on Horseback by Ellen L. Ekstrom
19 May 2013 | 12:13 pmBloglovin Blog Hop: find new blogs and get new followers. Inspired by Parajunkee and Alison Can ReadRules:1. Make your own post, grab the icon if you want2. Link back to this post3. Hop around. Visit as many or as few blogs as you'd like, but make sure if someone leaves a comment saying they followed you, visit and follow them back. 4. This is a once a week event for now, on Sundays at 1pm I may make it once a month down the road. You are only making a commitment to participate for one week. I would love to see you back next week, but that is your choice. 5. Make sure to add the… -
Stacking the Shelves, IMMB, Showcase Sunday, The Sunday Post Mailbox Memes
18 May 2013 | 4:42 amStacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews, check it out and sign up hereIMMB was started by Kristi at The Story Siren. Check it out and sign up hereShowcase Sunday is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea, check it out and sign up hereThe Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.What I got:Asunder (Newsoul, #2)source:… -
Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
17 May 2013 | 5:00 amStorm (Elemental #1) by Brigid KemmererBecca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the… -
Review: Wait for You by J. Lynn
16 May 2013 | 9:32 amWait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. LynnSome things are worth waiting for…Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned… -
Waiting on Wednesday
15 May 2013 | 2:15 amWaiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. I also feature books that may have already released, but I am anxiously waiting to read. This week, I'm featuring:Vertigo (Farsighted, #4)Chand, EmlynAs captain of the varsity football team, Brady Evans basically owns Grandon High. His glory days are brought to an abrupt end, however, when a player from the opposing team steamrolls him right before he can score the winning touchdown at Homecoming. Crash, crunch, a horrible pain and... nothing.The…
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The Official BookBuzzr BlogThe Official BookBuzzr Blog
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Announcing a New Tool to Get More Book Reviews
10 May 2013 | 4:30 amHow BookBuzzr’s New, One-Click-Win Feature is Different from Amazon Free Day Promotions Reviews! You can love them or hate them. But you can’t ignore them. All your marketing efforts will come to naught if your readers land on an Amazon page with just 1 or 2 reviews which look like they’ve been written by your friends. One way to get reviews for your book is running an Amazon free day promotion. This works well for many authors although I’ve read on a few forums that the efficacy is going down over time. At BookBuzzr, we’ve been playing around with a number of solutions for… -
Find your horse to ride
2 May 2013 | 3:00 amIn life, we all need a horse to ride. Without the horse, we are a small fraction of what we could be. When I was 13, my parents took me to a motor museum at a grand country house. Big yawn. Happily, there was a donkey derby alongside it, and they agreed to let me ride a donkey. Being bigger and heavier than the other kids, nobody backed me and the bookmakers pushed my odds out to 66-1 against. Whereupon my dad surprised them by plonking down a fiver on me – after a moment’s hesitation, the bookie took the bet and rubbed out 66-1 and put 25-1 instead. When the race started, I was… -
Why do so many writers use words that might be difficult for some readers?
15 Apr 2013 | 2:36 amI’ve never understood this. The message becomes more difficult to decipher, and more than half the time I quit reading due to the complexity of the article/blog/novel. Why wouldn’t you want a more simple message, that could target a broader audience? Read Quote of Laura Copeland’s answer to Writing: Why do so many writers use words that might be difficult for some readers? on Quora ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vikram Narayan is the founder of BookBuzzr Book Marketing… -
BookBuzzr Interviews Best Selling Author Roberta Kagan
5 Apr 2013 | 11:50 pmBB: Hello Roberta. We recently saw that your book – ‘All My Love, Detrick’ broke into a top 10 list on Amazon. Congratulations! Thank you so much. I appreciate your taking the time to interview me. The screenshot below was taken on March 26th, 2013. BB: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Since I was a kid I loved to read. It was my escape whenever things got rough. I learned that books can take you anywhere, to another country, to another time period, or even to a fantasy world. When I began writing I wanted to give that same gift to others. I wanted my readers to… -
Easter Season is Here Again and So is the Easter Landing Page Widget from BookBuzzr
12 Mar 2013 | 5:27 amAah … Easter! The season conjures images of bunnies, chocolate eggs and candies. To celebrate the season, we’ve released the Easter egg widget which showcases your book with an ‘Easter spirit’. All landing page themes from BookBuzzr now come in three sizes. One size is a large, overlay screen (useful when you really want to get the attention of your visitors such as when you are doing a book launch), the second size is Enlargeable Mini (smaller in size so that it can be embedded in side bar of your website/blog; it has got a button that enables the visitor to enlarge…
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Reading With Tequila
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Ann Whitely-Gillen, Last Train To Omaha
6 May 2013 | 12:26 pmAnn Whitely-Gillen Ann Whitely-Gillen resides in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where she is a full time communications advisor and freelance writer. In the 1990s, Ann lived in British Columbia, Canada and Australia where she volunteered her writing and public relations expertise to organizations including Greenpeace. She is also an accomplished musician and vocalist. Ann has always wanted to write a screenplay and, in fact, Last Train to Omaha started out with that in mind. After forty pages of writing, Ann decided to turn the screenplay into her debut novel as she wanted to delve deeper into… -
Calling All Authors
6 May 2013 | 11:07 amBeth here again. So terribly sorry for being out of touch. I do intend to post more and do intend to eventually answer all of your lovely emails. I’ve had some personal trials and tribulations going on, but all that is resolved and I’m back and ready to talk books and booze. I wasn’t sure what to do with this site, but have had some time to think over this past month and decided I’d really like to make this a forum for authors to talk about their books. With that said, I’m putting out an open call for authors who want to talk about writing, life, their books, and tequila. I’m sort… -
Interview with Kelly Keaton
6 May 2013 | 10:26 amKelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to answer some questions. Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. She likes pre-Raphaelite art, moonlight on snow, and MMORPGs. She lives in North Carolina with her family, one Great Dane, and two incredibly hairy cats. Kelly’s alter ego, Kelly Gay, is a 2010 double RITA finalist and a recipient of North Carolina’s Art Council… -
Interview with Michelle Rowen
6 May 2013 | 10:21 amInterview with Michelle Rowen Michelle Rowen, author of Bloodlust, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to answer some questions. National bestselling author Michelle Rowen writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and young adult fantasy. She was the winner of the 2007 Holt Medallion for Best First Book and the 2009 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Vampire Romance. Michelle lives in Southern Ontario. Please feel free to contact her at michelle@michellerowen.com. She loves hearing from readers! Reading with Tequila: For an urban fantasy heroine, Jill is refreshingly… -
Guest Author: Heather Webber
6 May 2013 | 10:16 amHeather Webber, author of Truly, Madly, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to talk about Valentine’s Day. A Little Goes A Long Way… By Heather Webber Valentine’s Day has all the earmarks of what society expects women to love. Usually a man doting on us, confessing his undying love, showering us with jewelry (“He went to Jared!”) and cards so oooey and gooey they should embarrass us but don’t (the gooier the better, am I right?). It is THE day for guys to go all out, over the top. The day to show us how much he loves us. Personally, I think yes and no. Yes,…
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Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
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Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Who’s That Girl?
19 May 2013 | 6:24 amEurythmics – Who’s That Girl? (1983) The Eurythmics are one of the first acts that come to mind when I recall the music of the eighties. Sweet Dreams (are Made of This) was their breakout song and after that they enjoyed a string of popular hits. Among my favourites is this gem from 1983. Who’s That Girl? was a big hit, reaching #3 in the UK and having a music video that proved equally popular with singer, Annie Lennox, appearing as both a woman and a man. Who’s That Girl? is a simple song of one woman’s struggle with her boyfriend who she frequently sees… -
Film Review: Wasting Away
19 May 2013 | 4:51 amAbout Wasting Away (2007)When a military bio-weapons truck is involved in an accident, its top secret cargo of toxic green goo finds its way into the self-serve ice cream at a bowling alley. And when four friends enjoy luminous green sundaes, they are transformed into the Walking Dead with a craving for brains! The world looks very different through their eyes as zombies, and it seems like everyone else has gone mad. Confused, scared and convinced they’re the only sane ones in a sea of infected humans, the friends struggle to set things right. In their search for the truth , they may be… -
Book Excerpt: Fargoer – Petteri Hannila
18 May 2013 | 6:29 amToday Petteri Hannila stops by to share an excerpt from his book, Fargoer. Excerpt from Fargoer While listening to the rain coming down on her grim thoughts, Vierra heard a sound that broke her out of the gloomy prison of her mind. There was a racket coming from the woods, as if something big was moving through the forest. It could not be any of her tribe; even Rika, who was the worst hunter, did not move so clumsily. Vierra went through the options in her mind. Maybe a bear or a moose? An autumn-bear would have a lot of fat under its skin, but killing it all by herself would be another… -
Film Review: The Player
18 May 2013 | 6:25 amAbout The Player (1992)When a callous movie executive starts receiving anonymous death threats from a rejected screen writer his already shaky career begins to crumble. Finally his desperation drives him to kill but did he rub out the wrong writer? Starring: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher Directed by: Robert Altman Runtime: 124 minutes Studio: New Line Home Video Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: The Player Hollywood. It’s one of the first words that comes to mind when you think of the film industry but what happens in the run up to all these… -
Film Review: Intolerable Cruelty
16 May 2013 | 6:44 pmIntolerable Cruelty (2003)Another offering from the highly acclaimed Coen brothers sees George Clooney as Miles Massey, a divorce lawyer who always wins his case until he comes head to head with the scheming, money-grabbing, yet alluring, Mrs Marilyn Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Miles and Marilyn each embark on their own ruthless romantic missions to outdo one another and amass great wealth. Sparks fly in this battle-of-the-sexes comedy. Starring: George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Billy Bob Thornton, Geoffrey Rush, Cedric the Entertainer Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen…
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Vampire Book Club
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Round 6: Eric Northman vs. Qhuinn [Alpha Showdown 2013]
19 May 2013 | 10:01 pmIt’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout. Round six puts vampire against vampire. The Viking vampire from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series is known to be vicious when it comes to protecting what’s his, but Qhuinn from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood is a trained vampire warrior. Who will come out on top? You decide. -
Round 5: Adam Hauptman vs. Dragos Cuelebre [Alpha Showdown 2013]
18 May 2013 | 10:01 pmIt’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout. Round five is shifter time. Both Adam and Dragos know how to lead their people, but how will they fare in a fight? Who’s the most alpha of the alphas? Read the pitches, then make the call. Who should advance to the next round in the Alpha Showdown? The poll at the end of this post will be open for two… -
Round 4: Jane Yellowrock vs. Terrible [Alpha Showdown 2013]
17 May 2013 | 10:01 pmIt’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout. Round four is sure to be full of dirty fighting. How will enforcer Terrible take on Jane’s Beast? Who will come out alive? Your votes decide. Read the pitches, then make the call. Who should advance to the next round in the Alpha Showdown? The poll at the end of this post will be open for two days. -
Round 3: Vlad vs. Christian MacKeltar [Alpha Showdown 2013]
16 May 2013 | 10:01 pmIt’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout. Round three offers two very different princes. A vampire of legend with a penchant for fire finds a suitable opponent in the always-changing, wants-to-be-good and can’t-help-but-be-bad Christian MacKeltar. Will they use weapons of old? Will their icy stares work on one another? You decide. Read the… -
Review: Wicked Enchantment by Anya Bast (Dark Magick #1)
16 May 2013 | 11:01 amWicked Enchantment (Dark Magick #1) Anya Bast Published: Jan. 5,2010 (Berkley) Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon Reviewed by: Amber Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars Incubi are known for their sexual prowess, and being only half incubus hasn’t hindered Gabriel one bit. Any woman in the Seelie court would jump at the chance to spend time with him. Any woman except Aislinn, who is still dealing with her last break up. Unfortunately, the Summer Queen has decided that it’s time Aislinn move on and has assigned her to be Gabriel’s guide while he remains in the Rose Tower, awaiting the…
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LATINA BOOK CLUB
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REVIEW: FROM MACHETE FIGHTS TO PARADISE by Daniel DiMarzio
19 May 2013 | 9:00 pmThe air was charged with electricity as the crowd held their breath in suspense. Both men took their left hands, which were wrapped in their shirts, and put them behind their backs. They then held their machetes out in their right hands and approached one another. It looked like an ancient duel...and it was. It was a real life duel with swords. No rules. Real swords. May the best man win.--FROM MACHETE FIGHTS TO PARADISEDaniel DiMarzio's book about the machete fighters in the Dominican Republic intrigued me from the first, because it was ...real. … -
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! // FELIZ DIA DE MADRES!
11 May 2013 | 9:00 pmBest wishes for a beautiful day to Mother's everywhere. -
REVIEW: GOD, PLEASE SEND ME ANGELS by Tomie Gomez
5 May 2013 | 9:00 pmDo you believe in Angels? For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your… -
PICTURE FRIDAY: LITERARY WAY #2
2 May 2013 | 9:00 pmHere's another picture from one of the bronze plaques on New York's Literary Way, which is on 41st Street between Fifth and Park. Happy Friday!by Emily Dickinson from 1212 -
WRITERS WEDNESDAY: BEATRIZ F. FERNANDEZ
30 Apr 2013 | 9:00 pmThe Latina Book Club's mission is to promote Latina / Latino authors, which we do through book reviews, author interviews, publicity announcements, book of the month selections, etc. A new feature we are adding is "Writers Wednesdays." The first Wednesday of each month we will feature a writer talking about .....writing. Enjoy!ENRICHING THE JOURNEY: DISCOVERING MY MUSE IN LATER LIFEby Beatriz F. FernandezMy writing journey began with a column cut out from a local paper: “The Poet’s Corner” by Rita Dove in which she showcased a poet, Andrea Hollander Budy, (now Andrea Hollander)…
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21tiger
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The Authentic Career
30 Apr 2013 | 10:29 pmRecently, I’ve been writing about how all of us can create “works of art” which are authentic, and why it’s so much more productive and interesting to create work of your own surroundings and your own life. So in this post I want to highlight someone who has created everything from his surroundings, and managed to make millions off it, and become incredibly famous. As it turns out, some of the most successful celebrities are ‘creative’ in the ways they’ve been able to monetize (or productize) various aspects of their lives. This is taking the… -
Art as a Reflection of the Life you Lead
26 Apr 2013 | 5:09 pmIn Conversations with Students, legendary Graphic Designer Paul Rand put forth a challenge to all young design students to read through John Dewey’s “Art as Experience”. Rand contended that most students would not have the gumption to read the lengthy tome on Art Theory, and that its considerations went so far beyond ‘make it look pretty’ that most young students would get bored five minutes in and give up. It reminded me of a similar hammer being thrown down to young students by one Bill Gates years ago, who contended that he would hire anyone who could read… -
On Moralism: The Truth shall set you Free
12 Apr 2013 | 6:43 pmLately I’ve been re-reading an amazing book called ‘Radical Honesty‘ which espouses a lifestyle of 100% complete honesty. This can obviously lead to some awkward “Yes, in fact that dress does make you look fat honey” moments, but there is a bright side: complete and total clarity. Also know as, getting your sanity back. The author, a Phd and eccentric Therapist named Brad Blanton, points to Moralism as the source of all our anxiety and stress. Moralism Definition: The practice of moralizing, esp. showing a tendency to make judgments about others’ morality. -
Wild Horses: Renaissance 2.0 in the Technology Industry
4 Apr 2013 | 10:38 pm“People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.” – Alan Kay, 1982 Back in 2011, then-CEO of Google Eric Schmidt was asked which are the most important companies in the Technology business: he named Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook. What do these companies have in common? Each of them dominates their respective corner of the Tech industry: Google clearly dominates Online Advertising and Services, Apple dominates Mobile Devices, Amazon dominates eCommerce and Facebook dominates Social networking. a) You may have noticed that since those words… -
On Focus
31 Mar 2013 | 12:43 pmI noticed recently that I’m addicted to starting new things–addicted to beginnings. When I got bored of Chinese, I studied Korean, and then Japanese.When I got bored of reading Dewey’s Art as Experience, I drop it and started reading Goethe.When I get bored of a particular career, I jump. When I get bored of a particular girl, I wander. I like the beginnings of movies, when we meet the characters the first time, and set up the conflict, but by the end of it, the 20 minutes of non-stop explosions bore me to tears. I like the beginning of books, whether I’m writing them…
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Better World Books Blog - Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Community Outreach & more
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BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (3 of 3)
17 May 2013 | 1:45 pmThe third and final part in our Children’s Book Week series on the books that BWB employees remember from their childhood. Don’t forget to stop by our children’s book sale, too! To chose just one favorite would be impossible but here is one that I was JUST telling my daughters about (and am about to buy at BetterWorldBooks.com). The Borrowers by Mary Norton was among my most favorite books. The story of the Clock Family and their adventures living under the floorboards of a home in England fostered my imagination and entertained me for hours…and weeks! After I read… -
BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (2 of 3)
15 May 2013 | 11:26 amChildren’s Book Week continues, and here’s part 2 of our the books we remember loving in our own younger years. What were yours? Let us know in the comments. (image courtesy of Goodreads) Nuttybub & Nittersing by May Gibbs, published in 1923. I loved reading and being read to. Pretty much any book my dad read to me became a favorite. However, this one stood out in my mind and when I asked him what my favorite book was, this is the one he said without a prompt. “It’s the one you made me read over and over again with all the voices. These two little guys go… -
Encouraging Summer Reading: Book reviews by kids, for kids
14 May 2013 | 6:20 amLooking for a way to encourage your young library visitors to read this summer? Then look no further than the DOGObooks Summer Reading Program sponsored by Better World Books. DOGObooks.com, the largest website dedicated to kids’ reading and book reviews-by-and-for children, has built an online program that rewards both kids and schools for reading and reviewing books. The four month online program will launch at the start of Children’s Book Week on May 13th and run through mid-September. With the help of its children’s book publisher partners, DOGObooks has assembled a… -
BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (1 of 3)
13 May 2013 | 8:05 amChildren’s Book Week (May 13-19) is all about igniting a love of reading for young people, one that will stick with them and positively shape the person they one day become. What books stuck with you when you were growing up? We asked Better World Books employees just that question. Throughout this week, we’ll be posting the books that we can never forget, the books that had a lifelong impact on our young minds. We also have a whole lot of children’s books on sale as part of the celebration. The Little Prince This book, The Little Prince, was presented to me when I was 12 years old by… -
Your mama’s so smart, she probably reads lots of books!
11 May 2013 | 8:00 amCan we talk about your mom for a minute? She’s a classy lady. She raised you right. And (Note: moderate guilt trip beyond this point) you haven’t gotten her anything for Mother’s Day yet! Now, don’t panic. Fortunately for you, we planned for this. Mother’s Day is tomorrow, May 12. No matter where you’re shopping, the shipping is going to cost a very figurative arm-and-leg combo in order to ship something to you on time. Unless you read on, reader! Using the magic of Internet, we have devised a way to equip you with (a) the perfect present, which will (b) be ready for you to give…
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KID BOOK RATINGS
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Work Gets In The Way
6 May 2013 | 6:57 pmHey gang, sorry for the delay in reviewing. Things have been crazy in non-family life. Not bad crazy, just crazy.I'll be back later this week. Thanks for your continued readership!!! -
Amazing ABC
26 Apr 2013 | 8:21 pmDid you know that Lego is based in Billund, Denmark? Ironic, since you can't spell Billund without build... THREE PROSThere's a reason Lego has been so successful for so long with this age group... so why not extend its magic to another educational sector The images of Sean Kenney's creations are a million times more fun to marvel at than your typical ABC bookThe cake and the piano are just awesomeTHREE CONS It might be a little unfair, but I have a problem with author/builder re-using his models across the Lego board book line (as evidenced by the back… -
The Loopy Coop Hens
24 Apr 2013 | 8:56 pmThese birds are makin' me angry! THREE PROSIf you go to Janet Morgan Stoeke's website, you'll see it has a whole page dedicated to her illustration -- makes sense since this is her strong suit On those days where you just want to hand a book to your kid instead of reading, this one wouldn't be a bad choiceStoeke is from the DC area, so she obviously has made some good choices in her lifeTHREE CONS Wait, let me get this straight: the hens catch the rooster in a lie and, instead of him getting his comeuppance (or at the very least learning something), the ladies fawn… -
Hot, Hot Roti For Dada-ji
23 Apr 2013 | 8:46 pmC'mon now, give it a chance... THREE PROSSurprisingly few children's books come off the way you would recount a fascinating personal tale to your child, but this one nails it A perfect recipe composed of the following ingredients: culture, characters, mysticism, rarely seen topics, cool illustrations (by first-timer Ken Min), and pro #1If eating good roti can give me tiger powers, I've been doing it all wrong for the last three to four decadesTHREE CONS I'm afraid that title will scare a large percentage of American parents away from what is an amazing work Author F. -
Dancing Fruit Put On A Show!
22 Apr 2013 | 8:44 pmAfter reading this, you won't need another serving from one particular food group for at least a week. THREE PROSAuthor Ruth Wilkes (with an assist from illustrator James Cross) jams an orchard full of info in here: from gardening facts, to jokes, to recipes, and more I almost always enjoy a book with a positive message related to kids trying something they're feeling timid aboutA banana splitting his pants - never not funnyTHREE CONS Pro #1 is also con #1 - the whole effort can be a tad overwhelming if you're dealing with a child who expects you to read cover to…
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Publishing Perspectives
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Join PP’s Book Marketing Twitter Chats this Week
19 May 2013 | 5:16 pmJoin us under #reachingreaders to discuss book marketing with our expert speakers, who will speak on May 28 at our Reaching Readers conference. -
Cool Idea: Quantas Airline Publishes Short Books Tailored for a Flight
17 May 2013 | 2:35 pmAustralian airline Quantas has custom published a series of books by bestselling authors to give to their elite milage passengers and that can be read in a single flight. -
So Long City, Books are Going Country as “Farm Lit” Hits Big
17 May 2013 | 2:03 pmAccording to author Emily Matchar, the declining popularity of chick lit has given rise to fresh genres for women, such as farm lit and Amish romance. -
Is Interactive Fiction Finally Reaching Critical Mass?
17 May 2013 | 12:00 amSeveral new high profile interactive fiction titles have been released so far this year, suggesting that publishers and readers may finally be ready for the medium. -
Why Interactive Fiction is “Just Really Hard to Do”
17 May 2013 | 12:00 amDespite celebrity backing, transmedia platform The Numinous Place has struggled to launch. Its story offers a case study in the challenges of developing interactive fiction.
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Quill & Quire
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Photos: Kids Can Press’s 40th anniversary at Forest of Trees
17 May 2013 | 12:29 pmFranklin the Turtle and Scaredy Squirrel made appearances at Kids Can Press’s 40th anniversary party on May 16, joining thousands of children at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre as part of the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading Festival of Trees. Click on the thumbnails to see photos from the day. -
Atlantic Book Award winners announced
17 May 2013 | 9:15 amThe winners of the Atlantic Book Awards were announced last night at a celebration hosted by CBC Radio’s Louise Renault. The winners are: Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature Live to Tell, Lisa Harrington (Dancing Cat Books) Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association’s Best Atlantic-Published Book Award The Metamorphosis: The Apprenticeship of Harry Houdini, Bruce McNab (Goose Lane Editions) Atlantic Book Award for Scholarly Writing The Ocean Ranger: Remaking the Promise of Oil, Susan Dodd (Fernwood Publishing) Dartmouth Book Award for Non-fiction in Memory of Robbie… -
Canadian Eliza Robertson wins regional Commonwealth prize, Nobel Prize speculation, and more
17 May 2013 | 8:40 amCanadian writer Eliza Robertson named regional Commonwealth short-story prize winner Tweet reveals five Nobel Prize in Literature candidates Amazon U.K. receives more grant money than it pays in taxes Hilary Mantel prefers books with action, gets impatient with romance Publishers experiment with digital-only titles -
Forest of Reading winners announced
16 May 2013 | 1:10 pmA monster crowd was on hand for the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading festival at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. The two-day kidlit event featuring signings, readings, and workshops also included ceremonies for its signature prizes. The winners are: Blue Spruce Award Kate & Pippin, Martin Springett; Isobel Springett, photog. (Puffin Canada) Silver Birch Express Award Margaret and the Moth Tree, Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen (Kids Can Press) Silver Birch Fiction Award Making Bombs for Hitler, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (Scholastic Canada) Silver Birch Non-fiction Award… -
DoJ claims “straightforward” case against Penguin, Poetry in Voice finals, and more
16 May 2013 | 9:18 amState attorney’s “straightforward case” against Penguin in ebook price-fixing case High-school students compete in national poetry contest Qantas releases books for airline travel Digital book signings help authors’ careers Obama’s memoirs earn big money
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The Goddess Blogs
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Good News/Bad News
19 May 2013 | 1:35 amGOOD NEWS: I went to NYC for a quickie visit with some friends and got to see my daughter. YAY! BAD NEWS: I didn’t see Hugh Jackman once, BUT WHEN I WENT SHOE SHOPPING, SOMEONE IN MY GROUP SAW HIM IN A COFFEE SHOP . *sob* I need a pick me up. Hang on …. [...] -
“The Pile”
18 May 2013 | 12:35 amIt’s time to fess up – how big is your pile? You know the one: a stack of books you couldn’t resist picking up but have yet to get read. Do you set rules when your TBR stack gets a little too big or the queue on your e-reader gets too long to even figure [...] -
Will and Jane and the Street Team
16 May 2013 | 11:54 pmYes, I know I’m behind the curve on this. Yes, I know every author and their mother (maybe even their father) has a street team. But I thought it would be fun, so I’m doing it, too. For those of you who are even more behind than I am, a street team, according to Karin [...] -
Spring is in the air!
16 May 2013 | 1:34 amAHHHH! Spring has sprung and the goddesses are in the mood to scrub Mt. Oly from tip to toe! I know, I know. If we’d just lie down an hour or two, the feeling would go away, but you can’t get a decent nap with Suzie playing with those light sabers while Rachel runs the [...] -
Hot Words, 2013 Edition
15 May 2013 | 12:42 amEvery now and then I do a blog on words that have suddenly become popular, but that I had rarely seen in print before. They are all good words, mind you. However, after decades, even centuries, of rarely being used in everyday speech or writing, they turn into “hot words” and seem to be everywhere. [...]
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BOOKVISIONS
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When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason
6 May 2013 | 5:02 pmI didn't realize while reading When a Secret Kills that it is the third of a series. To me, that means it is a great stand-alone book. I never felt I was “missing something,” and I never thought that there were back-stories that needed to be explained. We do know at the beginning that the two main characters, Colton & Jillian, had a previous relationship, and that trouble follows Jillian everywhere. This is a good mystery with a light romance. The main characters are believable and likable even when the story is not quite as believable. Even… -
If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico... by Carole P. Roman
3 May 2013 | 3:17 pmIf You Were Me and Lived in Mexicoby Carole P. Roman is part of a series of books to introduce children to different cultures around the world. It is a nice way to establish an understanding of children who may look different but are the same in many ways. The book explains common names, terms for parents, coins, and a variety of other daily activities in which children are interested. The book has brightly colored full-page illustrations that bring the book to life. A few simple Spanish names and words are introduced, and included is a pronunciation guide at the back of the… -
There Was an Old Woman by Hallie Ephron
21 Apr 2013 | 10:33 amAlthough There was an Old Woman was not at all what I expected, I was pleasantly surprised. I also think that this is one of the better books I’ve read so far this year. While it doesn't have the intensity that is usually consistent with a psychological thriller, I still think it belongs in that category. If you are waiting for a slasher to jump out and cut someone’s throat, this isn’t the book for you, but if you like a slower steady story that reaches a climax and has well-developed characters, you will like There was an Old Woman.It was a good story that held my… -
Frozen Solid by James M. Tabor
4 Apr 2013 | 4:42 pmA unique location and unique characters, Frozen Solid is set at the remote ASRS, Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole. The settings and are described very well, as is the deadly cold temperatures and their impact on the human body. The main character Hallie takes at short-term job at the Station. She is replacing a friend that died suddenly while working there. She has a complicated relationship with Wil Bowman and complicated problems that will have to wait. The book is interesting and starts off at a fast pace. I had a difficult time relating to the main character and her… -
The Amish Canning Cookbook by Georgia Varozza
25 Mar 2013 | 5:26 pmThe Amish Canning Cookbook by Georgia Varozza is a very detailed look at canning. It begins with a short a bullet point intro How to Fit Canning into Your Busy Life and then a short history of canning. There is detailed information on the types of canners, jars, and assorted equipment that makes canning easier. It also has techniques and recipes for canning butters, jams and jellies, vegetables, meats, soups and stews, and various other canning projects.If you are a complete beginner, this book will explain everything you need from preparation through the canning process. If…
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Assisting Authors
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Spotlight on “Eye of the Sage by Peter J. Ochs II
13 May 2013 | 8:31 pmI would like to welcome Peter OchsII to our blog as a stop on his virtual book tour. I invited him to write a guest blog. I am sure you will find it interesting. I have also included an excerpt from his book, For a complete description of the book, Eye of the Sagc; click on the Amazon link below. Please give a generous response by commenting or asking questions below. Guest Post I wrote this shortly after the events of 9/11. I include it here as a blog-post because it is a story about Oman, and it is just as relevant today as it was twelve years ago. A Voice from the Sands A… -
6 Free Book Promotion Opportunities
27 Apr 2013 | 12:55 pmNow that you have decided to do a book give-away, it is time to get the word out. Thanks to Kindle Boards, I have found and tested sites where you can get free book promotions and/or reviews. So here are the links I have tested and find to be worthwhile:: Addicted to Books (http://addictedtoebooks.com/submission) : This site is great because you can rate your book’s content for the reader so they know what they are getting. Also you will have your book on the front page of the site for one day and on subsequent pages after. The requirements: You must register an account… -
More Preparation for KDP Book Give-Away
5 Mar 2013 | 3:36 pmI mentioned the last post that it is important to have from 5-10 or more book reviews on Amazon before you launch your book give-away. I suggested that one way to get reviews is to go on a Virtual Book Tour that promises some reviews. I also suggested that you have a contest and give-away an Amazon Gift Certificate for a Kindle Fire . In the Rafflecopter form (see the previous post), I give away 10 entries for a book review (honest review) that is put on Amazon. In order to review the book they have to purchase it and I give away 25 entries for a purchase. That is a good way to… -
Prepare and Manage a Virtual Book Tour
27 Feb 2013 | 9:09 amPlease read my previous two posts in this series to make sense of this one. Kindle Publishing Direct Select or KDP will allow you 5 days during the 90 day period to give away your book. I suggest that you use one or two of the days for a Book Launch. Your book does not have to be new to launch. A launch is a good way to draw attention to your book, Over the next couple of posts , I will suggest a blue print to follow to prepare for the launch and the Book Give-Away. Let’s start with a Virtual Book Tour. The Virtual Book Tour should drive your launch. I select the… -
Why Book Give-Aways: KDP Select
17 Feb 2013 | 11:43 amThis is t he second post of the blog series Why Give Away Your Books for Free. This post will explain why Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Select program (KDP) is a fantastic tool to use to promote your book. I will explain what the program is, why you should take advantage of it, and how to use it. Let’s get started. This is a program Amazon offers where you as an author can: Earn higher royalties Earn your share of the KDP Select Global Fund amount when readers borrow your books from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. Plus, earn 70% royalty for sales…
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Market Your Book
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Author Beware: Self-Publishing Book Scams Abound
7 May 2013 | 6:23 amSome aspiring authors still have the idea that once they’re published, everything will be sunshine and roses. People will buy their books, the thank-you emails will come rolling in, not to mention the royalty checks, and they can happily work on the next book in peace. Once the rejections start rolling in, reality — and [...]The post Author Beware: Self-Publishing Book Scams Abound appeared first on Market Your Book. -
Book Review: Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins
2 May 2013 | 11:31 amNovelists and screenwriters, of course, study story structure because it’s what they do. But story has become more and more prominent in nonfiction uses, too — persuasion and negotiation. Working as a management consultant and presenter, in her book Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins (affiliate link) Annette Simmons brings story into the boardroom, the [...]The post Book Review: Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins appeared first on Market Your Book. -
I Want to Talk to a Memoirist
1 May 2013 | 9:00 amMy inaugural issue of Author Marketing Ideas will be released on May 9. The focus of the issue is how to market your memoir. I have some good content lined up, but what would make it really stand out would be a conversation with a memoir author. I’m looking for someone who was published in [...]The post I Want to Talk to a Memoirist appeared first on Market Your Book. -
Use an Author Ezine to Connect with Your Audience
30 Apr 2013 | 1:11 pmI often tell authors that they need an e-newsletter, often called an ezine. I subscribe to newsletters from different people and find them to be valuable sources of valuable information (if they’re not, it’s easy to unsubscribe). Expert marketers I trust add that a newsletter can introduce you, along with your knowledge and skills, to [...]The post Use an Author Ezine to Connect with Your Audience appeared first on Market Your Book. -
Increase Your Video’s Value with YouTube Video Transcript
15 Apr 2013 | 8:43 pmYou probably know the value of YouTube for your book marketing, but did you know that you can increase its value to both your readers and you? It’s an ingenious feature of the YouTube site that starts as a service to folks who have hearing problems. But the benefits spread out to folks who for [...]The post Increase Your Video’s Value with YouTube Video Transcript appeared first on Market Your Book.
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Book Dirt
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In Which I Go to Ireland for Other Reasons and Accidentally Find Bookish Things
19 May 2013 | 3:08 pmA few weeks ago, I was sent to Ireland in my capacity as a food writer. It’s too bad the focus of Book Dirt prevents me from giving you much detail about how well I was wined and dined by the folks at Good Food Ireland, so I will simply state that Ireland’s poor food reputation is vastly undeserved (The seafood! The cheese!) and leave it at that. I took so many notes, it's a wonder I didn't get a hand cramp. (Photo by fellow foodie Eric Cathcart.)I didn’t expect the trip to have much to do with books other than what I read on the plane (J. S. Le Fanu’s Carmilla, a short by noir… -
Bill Gates Has a Book Blog (Just Like Everyone Else)
8 Apr 2013 | 7:26 amI don’t have a lot in common with Bill Gates. I’m not the second-wealthiest person in the world. (I’m barely the second-wealthiest person in my house.) I didn’t found Microsoft, and I don’t have an underwater music system. While I do have a large-ish personal library, it is not housed under an oculus, it doesn’t change temperature based on the personal preferences of whoever enters the room, and I don’t have an original Da Vinci codex for my cats to nap on.Screenshot of Bill Gates' book blog at Gatesnotes.com.But, if I ever happen to meet Bill Gates at a cocktail party, I’ve… -
Book Review: Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason
11 Mar 2013 | 8:03 amThree Graves Full/Gallery Books/February 2013A purported dark comedy proves that marketing is a very powerful thing.Three Graves Full, the debut mystery novel by Jamie Mason, has some darned compelling jacket copy. Dig this:For fans of the Coen brothers’ films or for those who just love their thrillers with a dash of sharp humor—an engaging and offbeat story about a man driven to murder, who then buries the body in his backyard only to discover that there are two other shallow graves on his property.The Coen brothers? Sharp comedy and multiple graves? Add in some fawning praise from… -
Quotable: Poetic Subjects, Dirty Children’s Books, and Other Reader/Writerly Things
20 Feb 2013 | 2:18 pmWell-loved books. Better? (Andrea_R/Creative Commons license)Another roundup of nifty things I’ve encountered around the web in my never-ending attempt to procrastinate as much as possible. Take some time to read the articles from whence these came, then get back to writing, for the love of Pete!Poet Christian Bok believes in taking poetry to new frontiers, which is why he injected poetry-encoded DNA into bacterium, essentially making the microorganisms create their own poetry. He wonders about the limited subject matter of other poets:“I am amazed that poets will continue to write about… -
People Are Freaking Out About the New Cover of The Bell Jar
4 Feb 2013 | 1:06 pmHere’s why they should calm down. Faber's new cover for The Bell Jar.Faber has published a new edition of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar for the book’s 50th anniversary, and the internet is totally losing its shit. If that sounds like an exaggeration, consider some of these diatribes:“If Sylvia Plath hadn't already killed herself, she probably would've if she saw the new cover of her only novel The Bell JarJezebel “What is this monstrosity?” -The Jane Dough“I think, after that Bell Jar cover, my next pitch for a kids book will be The Big Pink Book of Low…
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But What Are They Eating?
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FOODFIC: Please Welcome Cindy Bennett, Author of Rapunzel Untangled
9 May 2013 | 6:08 amImagine living your life only exposed to foods that someone else has decided you can have. Close your eyes and think of your top five favorite things to eat, the things that bring you the most pleasure. Now imagine being locked in a tower where not only can you not have those foods, you haven’t even heard of many of them.In Rapunzel Untangled, a modern-day retelling of the classic fairytale, Rapunzel is kidnapped as a baby and locked in a tower by the crazy witch Gothel. That means that she doesn’t get to experience teen life as most American’s do—or teens from anywhere, for that… -
FOODFIC: The Space Between - Brenna Yovanoff
3 May 2013 | 7:45 amI once saw a comedian do a bit about cave people, noting that the first man to eat a raw egg had to be the bravest person in history. My husband finds pretty much no humor and all horror at the consumption of un- and under-cooked eggs, going so far as to knock the spoon out of my hand when I’m shoveling cookie dough into my mouth and cringing almost cartoonishly when I use runny egg yolk as dip for my homefries.Whether you view it as brave, stupid, or simply a matter of (good ;) taste, Between’s heroine Daphne dives right into her first diner experience by devouring bacon swirled… -
FOODFIC: Please Welcome Michael Gallagher, Author of Tsunami Connection
25 Apr 2013 | 10:42 amMonths spent taking tango courses in Buenos Aires provided most of the scenes relating to tango in the story. Passion for tango spills uncontrollably into life. From gun-metal colored mussel shells to raw beef turning on a spit, Argentinean cuisine reflects a diverse culture. The meal lays bare hopes and then a denouement lends a human aspect to the nature of lust and love.In this scene I used the meal to set up a fall, to be a little unpredictable.Tsunami Connection tells the story of a ballsy woman spy, Kefira. Guided by her eclectic intuitions, she builds on a chance meeting. The allure of… -
Authors in Bloom Giveaway Hop!
9 Apr 2013 | 8:15 amWelcome, hoppers!Now just because I only planted my first garden last summer, don’t think my post stop isn’t clearly the one you should read the most thoroughly and take to heart!I have one stellar piece of gardening advice and here it is:Leave. It. Alone.Brilliant, right? Okay, maybe I should give a little background so you can appreciate the wisdom of those words.I’ve had plants in my life. Lots, actually. And I’ve killed them all. Even my “indestructible” brain cactus grew some sort of fungus and died. (It may or may not be relevant that the rotting began after my cat ate a… -
FOODFIC: Please Welcome Grant Overstake, Author of Maggie Vaults Over the Moon
28 Mar 2013 | 7:36 amMaggie Vaults Over the Moon retells the story of Maggie Steele, a gritty farm girl from tiny Grain Valley, Kansas, who pours her broken heart into the daring and dangerous sport of pole-vaulting. Kirkus Reviews says the novel “…exudes sweetness; in some ways, it feels as if it takes place in another era, as it lacks the dark edge seen in other popular YA stories…”A morsel of this story’s other-era sweetness can be tasted in a nostalgic food scene in which the stressed and grieving Steele family takes a break from a long day’s harvesting to savor a fresh, home-cooked dinner –…
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Andy Straka
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Drone Home
19 May 2013 | 7:46 pmThe Dragonflies series is of course fiction. But how drones are used in law enforcement and investigation is a topic that should be of concern to all. Lawmakers eye regulating domestic surveillance drones Published May 19, 2013 FoxNews.com April 27, 2012: Seattle Police officer Reuben Omelanchuk is at the controls of the department’s new, small radio-controlled Draganflyer X6 drone with a camera attached, in Seattle. (AP) Amid growing concern over the use of drones by police and government officials for surveillance, a bipartisan group of… -
Drones: “It’s like the Internet all over again.”
2 May 2013 | 11:11 amWhen I first started writing Dragonflies: Shadow of Drones, the technology used in the book seemed almost far-fetched. I was soon to learn otherwise. Check out this article by Chris Anderson from sUASNews: WHEN THE FUTURE SNEAKS UP ON YOU Last month, at a Congressional hearing, Sentator Patrick Leahy quoted an FAA prediction that there would be “as many as 30,000 small, lightweight unmanned vehicles [drones] operating in the national airspace by the end of this decade”. That was considered a lot. And he was talking about seven years from now. Guess what. There are more than 30,000… -
Top ten, #1 Bestseller COLD QUARRY Temporary Price Drop $0.99
30 Apr 2013 | 6:16 pmIn the run-up to next month’s publication of Dragonflies: Shadow of Drones we’re running a sale on the third Frank Pavlicek novel, the Shamus Award-winning Cold Quarry, temporarily lowering the e-book price to $0.99. The book has spent some time in the top ten on the Barnes & Noble NOOK Bestsellers list yesterday and today, peaking at #8. Cold Quarry also flirted with the top 100 in Amazon’s Kindle store this morning, moving to #1 in “hardboiled mysteries”, #1 in “men’s adventure fiction”, #3 on Amazon’s “Kindle Movers and… -
Dragonflies: Shadow of Drones
16 Apr 2013 | 8:26 amI’m excited to announce the publication of a new book, the first in a new series, Dragonflies: Shadow Of Drones. Title: Dragonflies “Shadow of Drones” by Andy Straka Genre: Science Fiction, Crime, Military, Thriller Published by: LLW Media–representation and distribution by Trident Media Group, New York ISBNs: 978-1-4756-0203-6 Mobi 978-1-4756-0204 ePub Price: $2.99 Print length: 200-240 pages Synopsis: Former Army helicopter pilot Raina Sanchez is plagued by nightmares. She can’t erase the memories of being shot down in Afghanistan, of losing her foot in the… -
Unbindable: Ebooks Strengthen The Independence Of Authors
19 Mar 2013 | 3:36 pmIn case you missed it in the run-up to this week’s Virginia Festival Of The Book, here’s a link to my guest column “Unbindable: Ebooks Strengthen The Independence Of Authors” from the Sunday, March 17 print edition of the Charlottesville Daily Progress newspaper. http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/guest_columnists/unbindable-e-books-strengthen-the-independence-of-authors/article_04893900-8fde-11e2-ac27-001a4bcf6878.html
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The New Podler Review of Books
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Embustero by Scott Cleveland
8 May 2013 | 10:37 amEmbustero is the follow up to Cleveland's Pale Boundaries, which I reviewed here. As there may be people who haven't read the first book, I'll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum in this review. Terson Reilly leaves Nivia via his reluctant rescuers. As he's a potential witness to their illicit activities, he's given a choice to join the crew or spend his time in the brig until they can drop him off some place safe. He ultimately decides that a working passage is better than going stir crazy in the brig, but he soon finds that fitting in on the ship, the Embustero, isn't much better than… -
The Participants by Brian Blose
18 Apr 2013 | 4:07 pmAmazon linkMeet Hess and Elza. Like Nick and Nora, Harry and Sally, Pat and Tiffany, they're a memorable couple, trading wisecracks and getting out of difficult situations. The difference with Hess and Elza is that they're linked eternally, through countless Iterations of worlds. They are Observers, a handful of humanoids sent by a Creator to observe His/Her/Its world (though, if this Creator is so omnipotent, why does “He/She/It” need anybody to do the observing for “Him/Her/It”?). Other Observers go through their Iterations as different genders, but Hess and Elza are always a man… -
Forward Unto Social Media
4 Apr 2013 | 7:49 amWe've finally done it. The New Podler Review of Books has taken its first step into social media. You can now find us on GooglePlus. So why did it take us so long? Because no one wanted to do it. Back when the blog's namesake founder was here, site promotion was his responsibility. There was a MySpace page, but when he went AWOL that page stagnated and died. And then MySpace died too when everyone abandoned it for Facebook. While MySpace has come back from the dead as some music and movie industries promo monster, its new form is alien to us. So that left the members of the Podler Staff to… -
In a Season of Dead Weather by Mark Fuller Dillon
13 Mar 2013 | 6:19 amGrab a comfy chair by the fire, a hot drink, and a book of good horror stories. Those rattling shutters outside? Just the blowing snow. Those shadows dancing in the corner? Fire light, nothing more. And the whispers behind your chair are your imagination.Maybe.That’s the feeling Mark Fuller Dillon conveys throughout his short story collection In a Season of Dead Weather. In most of the stories, it was never quite clear whether the “horror” was in the narrator’s mind or if it was real. The reader was left to interpret at the end.And that worked for me. -
The Scottish Movie by Paul Collis
6 Mar 2013 | 5:00 amLegend has it that Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, is cursed. As such, the superstitious who work on the play will refer (and insist others do the same) to it as "The Scottish Play". Many have speculated as to the reason, but Harry Greenville writes a novel with his own explanation: the Bard stole the idea from someone else. Shakespeare's victim then sets out to exact revenge through sabotage. Greenville, an aspiring actor living in L.A., makes the mistake of uploading it to a website where it is pilfered. When Greenville learns that his story is being made into a movie, he sets out to exact…
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Any New Books?
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This week’s new Kindle ebooks
15 May 2013 | 8:47 pmHere are this week’s new releases for the category ‘Kindle’. ★ Our Staff Pick ★ Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six Stores: USA | UK By Jessica Buchanan, Erik Landemalm, Anthony Flacco Publisher: Atria Books Publication date: May 14, 2013 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ Inferno Stores: USA | UK By Dan Brown Publisher: Doubleday Publication date: May 14, 2013 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 Stores: USA By Rick… -
This week’s new books in Literature and Fiction
15 May 2013 | 8:37 pmHere are this week’s new releases for the category ‘Literature and Fiction’. ★ Our Staff Pick ★ Inferno Stores: USA | Canada | Italy | Kindle | UK Kindle By Dan Brown ISBN: 0385537859 Publisher: Doubleday Publication date: May 14, 2013 Binding: Hardcover Estimated price: $16.12 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ The Rithmatist Stores: USA | Canada | Italy | Kindle By Brandon Sanderson ISBN: 0765320320 Publisher: Tor Teen Publication date: May 14, 2013 Binding: Hardcover Estimated price: $8.47 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+… -
This week’s new books in Medicine
15 May 2013 | 8:32 pmHere are this week’s new releases for the category ‘Medicine’. ★ Our Staff Pick ★ Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat Stores: USA | UK | Canada | Kindle | UK Kindle By Jeff Benedict ISBN: 098495435X Publisher: February Books Publication date: May 14, 2013 Binding: Paperback Estimated price: $8.21 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet–Plus 140 New Engine 2 Recipes Stores: USA | UK | Canada | Kindle By Rip Esselstyn ISBN:… -
This week’s new books in Professional and Technical
15 May 2013 | 8:29 pmHere are this week’s new releases for the category ‘Professional and Technical’. ★ Our Staff Pick ★ The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter Stores: USA | UK | Canada | Italy | Kindle | UK Kindle By Michael Watkins ISBN: 1422188612 Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press Publication date: May 14, 2013 Binding: Hardcover Estimated price: $16.37 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ Rumsfeld’s Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life Stores: USA | UK | Canada |… -
This week’s new books in Politics
15 May 2013 | 8:29 pmHere are this week’s new releases for the category ‘Politics’. ★ Our Staff Pick ★ We Are Anonymous: Inside the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency Stores: USA | Canada | Kindle By Parmy Olson ISBN: 0316213527 Publisher: Back Bay Books Publication date: May 14, 2013 Binding: Paperback Estimated price: $9.58 Share this book on Twitter | Facebook | Google+ Rumsfeld’s Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life Stores: USA | UK | Canada | Kindle | UK Kindle By Donald Rumsfeld ISBN: 0062272853 Publisher:…
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The Virginia Woolf Blog
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Julian Bell & the Bloomsbury Group
15 May 2013 | 8:33 amThe Bloomsbury group was a close-knit group of friends who met during their college years at Cambridge. Yet after Julian Bell, the son of founding members Vanessa Stephen and Clive Bell, died in the Spanish Civil War in July of … Continue reading → -
Virginia Woolf’s Best-Selling Books
1 Apr 2013 | 1:08 pmDuring her lifetime, Virginia Woolf wrote over 10 novels and numerous non-fiction books that forever changed the landscape of modern literature. Although Virginia’s earlier books were often met with sharp criticism and poor sales, many of her later books were … Continue reading → -
To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
7 Mar 2013 | 8:35 am“To The Lighthouse“, published in 1927, is one of Virginia Woolf’s best known novels and is considered by many critics to be one of the most influential English-language novels of the 20th century. The novel is a semi-autobiographical work that … Continue reading → -
Virginia Woolf on the Abdication of King Edward VIII
20 Feb 2013 | 12:47 pmIn December of 1936, King Edward VIII’s marriage proposal to Wallis Simpson, an American who was in the midst of her second divorce, sparked a constitutional crisis in the British Royal Family over whether Edward should be allowed to remain … Continue reading → -
When Sir Leslie Stephen Met Abraham Lincoln
6 Feb 2013 | 12:22 pmIn 1863, Virginia Woolf’s father, Sir Leslie Stephen, embarked on his first trip to America hoping to learn more about the ongoing Civil War. It was on this trip, during a stay at Washington D.C., that Stephen met President Abraham … Continue reading →
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Armida Books
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Author Jenny Benjamin about her debut novel “This Most Amazing”
16 May 2013 | 5:20 amThis interview was published today on OnMilwaukee.com: Milwaukee author Jenny Benjamin talks debut novel Published May 16, 2013 at 5:31 a.m. By Colleen Jurkiewicz A lot of people who read Jenny Benjamin’s new book, “This Most Amazing,” ask her if she modeled her protagonist Dahlia Conti on herself. A Milwaukee-based poet originally from Illinois (like Benjamin), Dahlia is of Italian heritage (like Benjamin). “And it’s written in the first person,” says Benjamin. But no, Dahlia is not her literary doppelganger. “Not more than all the other characters… -
A brand-new branded book
22 Apr 2013 | 2:39 amAs one of our readers states it, This challenging but absolutely rewarding manifesto offers the reader a deep insight into the shocking reality of our oncology centers. Definitely not an easy read and not for the fainthearted, this black-humorous book will stay in the readers’ memory because of Draenne’s mastery buy levitra in writing about cancer in such an honest way [...] Ignorance is not always bliss… Draenne, the author of this book, is a mental health professional who is trying not to go mental. If you dare to challenge your (in)sanity, dive into the first pages of… -
Στέφανος Εὐαγγελίδης, Στυλιανή Χ., Ἐγκλήματα καί τιμωρία.
18 Apr 2013 | 3:23 amΑναδημοσίευση από e-skepsis.blogspot.gr Στέφανος Εὐαγγελίδης, Στυλιανή Χ., Ἐγκλήματα καί τιμωρία, Ἐκδόσεις Ἀρμίδα, Λευκωσία 2012, σελ. 135. Στό βιβλίο αὐτό ὁ συγγραφέας Στ. Εὐαγγελίδης ἀναδεικνύει τίς παραμέτρους ἑνός στυγεροῦ ἐγκλήματος πού διαπράχθηκε στήν Ἀγγλία κατά τό 1954. Διότι, ὅπως φαίνεται, δέν πρόκειται γιά ἕνα ἔγκλημα πού… -
Cyprus in need of foreign currency – NEW services offered by Armida
4 Apr 2013 | 6:57 amDue to the economic crisis, we have decided to make our expertise available to all. All prices are in Euros but we even take North Korean Won… Gratuity not included : ) EDITING Basic copyediting – 5–10 ms pgs/hr – 13–15 Euro /hr Heavy copyediting – 2–5 ms pgs/hr – 15–17 Euro /hr PROOFREADING - 10–15 ms pgs/hr – 13–15 Euro /hr LAYOUT Simple books – no photos - 8–10 pgs/hr – 13–15 Euro /hr Complex books – heavy use of photos – Photoshop not included - 5–8 pgs/hr – 15–17 Euro /hr … -
In this miserable land of fools, I too exist
3 Apr 2013 | 5:43 amThis book you’ll either love or hate <3 Wisdom by a neurotic online viagra without prescription clinical psychologist ………………………….COMING OUT IN APRIL…………………………. Black humor at its finest, the manifesto MASTER & CANCER is about a man who hates you without bias. To quench his hatred, he became a clinical psychologist tending to those dying of cancer. His ways are the offspring of political incorrectness. As for you, dear reader, this despicable…
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Country Book Bumpkin
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We've Moved!
5 May 2013 | 2:18 pmCome visit me at Totally Tarah! I has the book reviews you love and so much more! -
REVIEW: Commencement
3 Nov 2012 | 8:16 pmBy Paige CuccaroSeptember 2012 Entangled Publishing In this novella Emma Hellsbane our resident Empath and girl genius is having issues. School has been going well and keeping her best friend Mijir and fellow genius’s lusty emotions out of her system is always a challenge, but predictable. Things though have started to get complicated, however with her boyfriend of six months and school soccer star Jason. All of the sudden he gets these waves of complete hatred that Emma senses that are completely out of character for him. Mijir suggests that he may be… -
REVIEW: Duck Boy
30 Oct 2012 | 10:19 pmBy Bill Bunn BitingDuck PressOctober 2012ISBN-10: 1938463609 ISBN-13: 978-1938463600For the past 2 years Steve Best’s life has been nothing like it used to be, not since his mom disappeared . These days his dad barely get by; emotionally or physically. School is a veritable hell, where he has been nicknamed “Duck Boy” for being a nice guy and trying to save a duck stuck in frozen pond near his school. Christmas is coming and it looks like it’s going to be another crappy year. Steve’s dad has to go on a business trip for work OVER the holiday. … -
Books To Be Reviewed!
6 Oct 2012 | 1:57 pmHello everyone!I hope you are all well and gearing up for Halloween! I haven't decided myself if I am going to dress up or anything, but my bosses at the bookstore have been bouncing around the idea of dressing me up like Dalek from Dr. Who. We have been real busy at the store though so finding the time to make it could be a bit of a challenge.I have managed to fit in some reading however and here is my list of books I will be posting reviews for in the coming days!Abandon Book 2: Underworld By Meg Cabot Blue Bloods Book 1By Melissa De La Cruz Thumped (sequel to Bumped)By Megan… -
What I've Been Up To
26 Aug 2012 | 5:00 pmYou guys remember that bookstore I profiled that is new in town? Well, as it happens I work there now! They just thought I was so cute and pathetic when I said hey you guys need anything? I need something to do! I work there Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for a few hours each and my job for lack of a Websters word is de-stickerator. They have worked in some and owned a bookstore before so when they moved to their newest location they packed up a ton of inventory which for the most part resides in a storage unit. It is my job as they bring a few boxes in at a time to…
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A Travelers' Library
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Take a Lake Vacation in Minnesota
17 May 2013 | 6:00 amWe've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/feedburner/atravelerslibrary Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. -
Vintage Photos Make for Time Travel
15 May 2013 | 9:00 pmWe've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/feedburner/atravelerslibrary Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. -
The Great Gatsby Location Moves Long Island to Australia
15 May 2013 | 7:30 amWe've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/feedburner/atravelerslibrary Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.
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Johann Thorsson
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Prompted Writing | The Night That Stayed
16 May 2013 | 6:09 pmTwitter is a place of miracles, wonder and, let’s be honest, a lot of shameless self-promotion (you know who you are). However, I somehow managed to get myself followed by a whole bunch of really interesting people who I am able to communicate with about all sorts of stuff (ok, mostly writing and books) without anyone trying to sell the other person anything. This evening, for example, I asked to be prompted for a story to write. Two very nice people responded. Beth Wodzinski with a simple image: And Josh Hanagarne with the following: @johannthors What if when the sun went down… -
I Want To Live Here | Best Writing of the Week
14 May 2013 | 2:01 pmI’m about to finish Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus. It is a fantastic book that I put off reading for far too long. While reading it on the bus this afternoon I came across a passage that described the room I want to spend all my days in. Fix yourself a cup of tea, or get a glass of red wine and put a stack of books on the table next to you, just to get in the right mood. I’ll wait. Celia Bowen sits at a desk surrounded by piles of books. She ran out of space for her library some time ago, but instead of making the room larger she has opted to let the books become the… -
The Filthy Pro
12 May 2013 | 4:45 pmSo… I made the first professional short story sale of my career last month, to Fireside Magazine. This is the contract, all Instagrammed to bits so you can’t really see all the words. It’s the first time I’ve had to sign a contract for anything I’ve written, and it made me feel… official. For all other sales it’s just been a trust thing, no contracts or anything, even when I’ve been paid well (you can still make a little cash selling stories to magazines here in Iceland). Fireside put out three issues last year, each funded with it’s own… -
Book Review | The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
1 May 2013 | 4:55 pmHow do we come to read the books we do? I mean what is it that makes us pick that book over all the rest? In the case of the book I just finished, South-African writer Lauren Beukes’ The Shining Girls, it was a few things. First off, I knew her from her much lauded Zoo-City, though I have not read it. I then heard early reviewers speak well of The Shining Girls, and I “know” Lauren from Twitter. But it was the premise of the book that made me curious enough to buy it. (So perhaps there is our formula: previous well-reviewed book, positive early reviews, personable writer… -
Suddenly: Goosebumps. A Tribute to Chi Cheng
14 Apr 2013 | 12:39 pmMy day started with the sad news the Chi Cheng, Deftone’s bassist, died. He was in a car accident in 2008 and had been in a coma since then but his heart gave out unexpectedly last night. The Deftones’ White Pony is one of my all time favorite records, an almost perfect rock album, atmospheric, dark an beautiful. I am spending these days writing my first novel (as readers of this blog certainly know by now), which is about children who gain access to the dream world. And then, the goosebumps. Just now I was driving to the store, and put in the only Deftones CD I have in the car;…
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My Book and My Coffee
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Cover Reveal ~ After the Kiss: The Stiletto Series
17 May 2013 | 4:00 amHappy Awesome Friday! :) Why awesome? Well, why not? :D Plus, it's cover reveal time for Lauren Layne's new book, After the Kiss: The Stiletto Series. Here it is:Pre-order here: After the Kiss: The Stiletto Series on AmazonRandom House and other retailers Totally FAB, right? Wait, here's the book description.In the first book of a delightful new series from Lauren Layne, the star columnist of Stiletto magazine will do anything for a story. Anything . . . except fall in love.Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that… -
Free eBook Feature: Lilith
16 May 2013 | 7:24 amFree Kindle eBook: LilithAuthor: N.LalitGenre: Romance (Contemporary)Price: $0.00 (May 16 and 17)Download the free eBook here:LilithBook Description ~ Lilith... while he is a painter par excellence she is a ruthless art dealer and a Lilith. The story is set up in Mumbai, India, known for its extreme lifestyles and beliefs. These elements add a conflicting glamour to the book. Lilith portrays soul stirring city pathos, human disparities, forgotten art form, love, lust and redemption. Free and Bargain eBook Feature segments will be on hiatus starting June 2013. -
Free eBook Feature: Promise Cove
16 May 2013 | 7:08 amFree Kindle eBook:Promise CoveAuthor: Vickie McKeehanGenre: Romance (Contemporary)Price: $0.00 (May 16 and 17 only)Book Description: Promise CoveStuck in backwater Pelican Pointe, California, Jordan Phillips is still trying to recover from the loss of her husband, Scott, who died in Iraq. She's left with a baby daughter to support and Scott's dream of turning the old Victorian family home into The Cove Bed and Breakfast, something he'd wanted to do before leaving for Iraq. But Jordan faces formidable odds at every turn. Facing foreclosure is the least of her problems. Pelican… -
Free eBook Feature: The Last Stoic
16 May 2013 | 7:00 amFree Kindle eBook: The Last StoicAuthor: Morgan WadeHistorical FictionPrice: $0.00 (May 16 and 17 only)Download the free eBook here:The Last StoicBook Description ~ The Last StoicThe Last Stoic is a story of appetite and fear, both modern and ancient. Half of the story's narrative occurs in the time and place of the ancient Roman Empire; the other half occurs in the present-day United States. The parallels between the two eras are so strong that the narrative continues uninterrupted as the setting shifts from historic Rome to modern America, alternating from chapter to… -
Free eBook Feature: 30 Great Kabob Recipes
16 May 2013 | 6:48 amMy Book and My Coffee's Free eBook Feature presents...30 Great Kabob RecipesAuthor: Bonnie ScottCookingKindle Price: $0.00 (May 16, 17 & 18 only) Book Description: 30 Great Kabob Recipes30 Kabob recipes for chicken, beef, pork and vegetables.One of the most popular grilled dishes is the kabob. The kabob is a complete meal where food is cooked side by side on a skewer. Not only is the kabob an easy and convenient way to grill a great meal, the different foods placed on a skewer will compliment each other by absorbing the other's flavors.From chicken, beef and pork kabobs to…
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Where Writers Win
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Google+ Redesign: What it Means for Authors
19 May 2013 | 6:00 amSend to KindleThere’s been plenty of buzz in the past few days over the Google+ redesign options. According the Google+ release issued May 15, “190 million people are now active in the Google+ stream, and 390 million are active across Google (+1’ing apps in Google Play, making video calls in Gmail, sharing videos from YouTube…).” Their new redesign includes added features such as: A multi-column layout. You’ll see one, two, or three columns of content depending on your screen size and orientation. Awesome-sized media. Photos and videos can fill the entire width of… -
7 Ways to Build Your Platform Before You Publish
17 May 2013 | 6:00 amSend to KindleThanks to author Roger Harris for this guest post! Great, you’re working on a manuscript… While you’re polishing up your prose with the help of an editor (highly recommended), don’t forget to start on marketing activities that will pave the way to successfully launching your book. Building your author platform is the first step to find your readers. The goal is to create and launch a platform that quickly communicates your genre and entertainment value if you’re writing fiction, and your expertise and credibility if you’re writing non-fiction, such as a self-help… -
How To Get Your Novel Started
15 May 2013 | 6:00 amSend to KindleThanks to Winner Circle author Jeannette de Beauvoir for this guest post! (Graphic courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos.net) The famous terror of the blank page (or computer screen!) doesn’t need to overcome your creativity. Here are some tips for getting started that will awaken your muse… and put the pen in her hand! Your first mistake is starting with the blank page/screen. Any project takes planning, and writing a novel is no exception. So accept that you have to do some reasonably heavy lifting before you even get to the pivotal scene that’s been playing in your head. That… -
Indie Author Marketing: Even Independence Needs Direction
13 May 2013 | 6:00 amSend to KindleThanks to author (and WWW team member) Jacqueline Gum for this guest post, timely on the heels of our look at author scams and scoundrels… Somebody has to show you how to walk before you do, but eventually you walk and then run. Independence needs direction. Never was this truer than today, particularly when it comes to marketing a book of any kind. When I published my first book I was convinced that I’d done my due diligence… hell I even drove to Bloomington, Indiana to visit the publisher’s facility and meet my author rep face to face. Then I signed the check. It… -
Author Scams Part 2: Six Ways to Save Yourself from Scoundrels
11 May 2013 | 6:00 amSend to KindleOn the heels of our May 7th post on Scams and Scoundrels, we thought it would be useful to provide some tips to avoid some of the common traps we see new and aspiring authors fall into when seeking to publish and promote their work. 1. Search for what other authors and author advocacy groups have to say online. Chances are, if a company has dealt unfairly with authors, they’ve shared their experience to warn off others. Popular sites to look include: AbsoluteWrite.com: They have a Bewares and Recommendations Forum Board. If you don’t see what you’re looking…
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Bizzybiz Blog
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Here We Go
9 May 2013 | 10:18 amRight. It's May now, and I don't have a job anymore, and I promised you that I would start posting again when that happened, so I'm going to start doing that right now. I need to post about France, I need to post about the meet-up, and I need to finish reading that damn book so I can light it on fire. But as I'm just getting back into the swing of this, the first post you are going to get is one about a spider. Honestly, if you've been reading me for more than five minutes, you should have seen that one coming.So yesterday, while I was waiting for StereoNinja to finish watching Doctor Who so… -
Unintentional Hiatus FAQ
11 Apr 2013 | 9:21 pmWere you kidnapped and killed at the 50 Shades meet up?No, no one has been kidnapped and nobody died. Unless you mean OF LAUGHTER. We had an absolutely awesome time, once we completely abandoned the 50 Shades party game, which sucked horse cadaver balls, and switched to Cards Against Humanity (which is also when we found out that we are all terrible people). I am excited about the real post when I will actually tell you about it.In that case, where the hell have you been?All over the place, both mentally and figuratively. I was in England and in France for a good while, during which I was… -
50 Shades Meet Up And Why This Post Is Not About France
8 Mar 2013 | 3:38 pmHello everyone! I'm just back from France today, and I absolutely owe you a post about snails, art museum shenanigans, and a mariachi band. However this post is just a short one in order to update everyone who is not on the email list about the 50 Shades party game meet up happening this Sunday evening. I was absolutely planning to post my France recap (entitled "Is This Snails?" because I had decided that probably everything was made out of snails, including cups of tea, which I needn't have worried about because there IS NO FUCKING TEA ANYWHERE IN FRANCE) tonight, as I am currently sat in a… -
50 Shades Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
17 Feb 2013 | 10:19 pmAll right, all right, you guys. I'll get back to the reviews now. It had actually been so long since I read the three chapters I'm about to do that I had to go back and skim them all again to remember what my notes were about. I realized in doing so that just being extremely busy working on grad school applications and related moving issues wasn't the only problem I was having in sitting down to write this. I also just really don't even care. I don't think anything I write today is going to be funny because I don't care about the characters in the book. There's so much unending drama that… -
How I Celebrated Valentine's Day
17 Feb 2013 | 12:56 pmRight, so I hope everyone had a happy Valentine's Day or whatever, love, roses, blah blah blah. The bartender seemed to think it was also "sabotage your roommate who has to be naked on stage in four months day" and the house is now fucking full of candy.As some of you already know, I hate Valentine's Day with only slightly less passion than I love Christmas. It's almost like it was specifically set up to be a no win situation. If you're single and sad about it, the entire day is like getting stabbed repeatedly with a magical dull knife called the Knife of Loneliness that turns your…
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Country Book Bumpkin
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We've Moved!
5 May 2013 | 2:18 pmCome visit me at Totally Tarah! I has the book reviews you love and so much more! -
REVIEW: Commencement
3 Nov 2012 | 8:16 pmBy Paige CuccaroSeptember 2012 Entangled Publishing In this novella Emma Hellsbane our resident Empath and girl genius is having issues. School has been going well and keeping her best friend Mijir and fellow genius’s lusty emotions out of her system is always a challenge, but predictable. Things though have started to get complicated, however with her boyfriend of six months and school soccer star Jason. All of the sudden he gets these waves of complete hatred that Emma senses that are completely out of character for him. Mijir suggests that he may be… -
REVIEW: Duck Boy
30 Oct 2012 | 10:19 pmBy Bill Bunn BitingDuck PressOctober 2012ISBN-10: 1938463609 ISBN-13: 978-1938463600For the past 2 years Steve Best’s life has been nothing like it used to be, not since his mom disappeared . These days his dad barely get by; emotionally or physically. School is a veritable hell, where he has been nicknamed “Duck Boy” for being a nice guy and trying to save a duck stuck in frozen pond near his school. Christmas is coming and it looks like it’s going to be another crappy year. Steve’s dad has to go on a business trip for work OVER the holiday. … -
Books To Be Reviewed!
6 Oct 2012 | 1:57 pmHello everyone!I hope you are all well and gearing up for Halloween! I haven't decided myself if I am going to dress up or anything, but my bosses at the bookstore have been bouncing around the idea of dressing me up like Dalek from Dr. Who. We have been real busy at the store though so finding the time to make it could be a bit of a challenge.I have managed to fit in some reading however and here is my list of books I will be posting reviews for in the coming days!Abandon Book 2: Underworld By Meg Cabot Blue Bloods Book 1By Melissa De La Cruz Thumped (sequel to Bumped)By Megan… -
What I've Been Up To
26 Aug 2012 | 5:00 pmYou guys remember that bookstore I profiled that is new in town? Well, as it happens I work there now! They just thought I was so cute and pathetic when I said hey you guys need anything? I need something to do! I work there Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for a few hours each and my job for lack of a Websters word is de-stickerator. They have worked in some and owned a bookstore before so when they moved to their newest location they packed up a ton of inventory which for the most part resides in a storage unit. It is my job as they bring a few boxes in at a time to…
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Soul Destruction
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In the Booth with Ruth - Shelly Stoops, Interim Manager, SAFE Place Merseyside (Adult sexual assault referral centre-SARC), Liverpool Community Health, and Former Specialist ISVA for Sex Workers, Armistead Street Project, Liverpool Community Health
16 May 2013 | 6:15 amReblogged from Ruth Jacobs: How do you feel about the police? I greatly respect Merseyside Police for the way they have taken a pragmatic, human rights approach to sex workers and prioritise their safety. How do you think people in … Continue reading → -
For a Limited Time ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’ is 77p / 99c on Kindle
14 May 2013 | 6:04 amFor a limited time only: Click here to download from Amazon UK for 77p. Click here to download from Amazon US for 99c. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download free Kindle apps for PCs, tablets and smartphones from Amazon UK here and from Amazon … Continue reading → -
Soul Destruction: Unforgivable – Trailer
11 May 2013 | 2:31 pmFiled under: Soul Destruction: Unforgivable, Updates Tagged: addict, addiction, book, call girl, crack, crime, dissociation, drugs, escort, heroin, London, posttraumatic stress, prostitute, prostitution, PTSD, rape, revenge, soul destruction: unforgivable, suicidal, trailer -
On The Dock: Extract from Soul Destruction: Unforgivable – Chapter 1 ‘The Dead John’
10 May 2013 | 2:30 pmFeatured writer for May 2013 on The Dock: Chapter 1 – The Dead John “There’s only one kind of dead, the not moving and the not breathing kind, and that’s the kind of dead he is.” Despite her hysteria, Shelley … Continue reading → -
From the Madness and Hell of Life as a Heroin and Crack Addict with Countless Failed Overdoses, This is My Story on Getting My Life Back on Track
8 May 2013 | 7:52 amMy interview in the second edition of Robin Barratt’s Tough Talk Magazine is the most personal interview I have ever given. My interview can be read and downloaded here: From the Madness and Hell of Life as a Heroin and … Continue reading →
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Printsasia
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Groundbreaking Books Written By Popular Celebrities
17 May 2013 | 4:43 amAuthor : Sherry Helms It’s human nature to be curious about something which is unrevealed, concealed or not so known. And when it comes to the lifestyle, behind the scene stories and incidents involving a celebrity, it definitely sparks curiosity in most of us. In the dusk of their career, many celebrities resort to penning [...] -
Historical Fictions Recommended By Bibliophiles
14 May 2013 | 5:15 amAuthor : Sherry Helms If anyone is interested to learn about history in an enjoyable way, historical fiction novel may be just a right choice. It is true that a deftly written historical novel along with humor herein is sure to be a big hit with historical fiction fans. Yesterday, we asked our readers to [...] -
Mother’s Day Special: Best Books for Different Types of Mothers
11 May 2013 | 4:44 amAuthor : Sherry Helms Mother’s Day is here again- a very special day to honor mothers, maternal bonds and contribution of mothers in society. It is the time to show our due love, sincere concern and deep respect to someone who has been there always throughout our life. One of the best ways to express [...] -
Top Five Literary Crime Novels of All Time
9 May 2013 | 4:02 amAuthor : Sharry Helms Crime and suspense thrillers have always been in high demand amongst fiction aficionados. These books, if well written, completely hook up the reader and prove to be a compulsive page-turner. Lately, the popularity of this genre has seen tremendous boost because of publishing of some really great write-ups. Today, we [...] -
The Best Books to Nurture Creativity in Children
6 May 2013 | 4:15 amAuthor : Sherry Helms “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ― Pablo Picasso Creativity is a power to express yourself in your own way of creating something new and unique. It is said that kids are born with creativity. That may be true but [...]
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Books Without Any Pictures
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General Update on Life, the Universe, and Everything
8 May 2013 | 5:17 pmOne of several bookshelves, arranged in the style of Tetris, or perhaps Jenga. I’ve been very quiet lately. That’s because there’s been a lot going on, between work, school, and …moving! My new apartment is close enough to where I work that I can walk there, instead of spending almost an hour on public transit each way. Even better, I live directly across the street from a public library. It is glorious. Between Mike and I, we’ve managed to completely fill three bookshelves, and there are still two more boxes of books left to unpack. My living room is… -
“The Forever Knight” by John Marco
16 Apr 2013 | 7:10 pmI received a copy of John Marco’s “The Forever Knight” from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. When “The Forever Knight” begins, the revered knight Lukien is an old man. He’s got his share of battle scars, and only has one eye. However, he’s kept alive by a spirit that dwells within his magical sword. Lukien has lost the love of his life, and he’s bored with his immortality. He feels as if his life no longer has a purpose. In an attempt to find new meaning, Lukien sets out with a young girl named Cricket to find out the… -
“A Conspiracy of Alchemists” by Liesel Schwarz
25 Mar 2013 | 8:27 pmGood evening everyone! Today is my stop on the TLC Book Tour of Liesel Schwarz’s debut novel, “A Conspiracy of Alchemists,” which is the first book in the Chronicles of Light and Shadow series. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. “A Conspiracy of Alchemists” is a steampunk paranormal adventure. Our protagonist, a young pilot named Elle, agrees to deliver a rather unusual cargo, only to find herself caught up in a plot between the various supernatural forces that share the world. After her father is kidnapped by Alchemists,… -
“Six Moon Dance” by Sherri S. Tepper
18 Feb 2013 | 9:01 amLast year, I discovered Sherri S. Tepper’s novel “Singer From the Sea.” It was one of the most bizarre books that I’ve ever read, and I described it in my review as a amalgamation of Dune, Fern Gully, and A Handmaid’s Tale. When I saw more Sherri Tepper books at the used book store, I couldn’t help myself. I knew that at the very least, I’d be in for something different. ”Six Moon Dance” is exactly what I expected–strange, beautifully written, imaginative, and yet vaguely disappointing. The basic setup of the universe of… -
“Katya’s World” by Jonathan L. Howard
6 Jan 2013 | 9:00 pmI received a copy of Jonathan Howard’s novel “Katya’s World” from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It is one of the first books books released through Strange Chemistry, Angry Robot’s new YA imprint. Based on this book, I can’t wait to see more! “Katya’s World” is science fiction set on the planet Russalka, a colony world founded by Russian immigrants from Earth. Russalka is an aquatic world with abundant natural resources, which made colonization a viable economic decision at the time. However, political problems on…
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Susan Roebuck
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Urban Legends - True Spook Stories and Elin Gregory
25 Apr 2013 | 3:12 amElin Gregory doesn't usually wander into the realms of horror and fantasy, but since she's a brilliant all-round writer (preferring to concentrate on historical m/m literature) she's made an exception for me today. Here's Elin (and thank you!):We've all heard these. They are often told in pubs by men who will swear blind that they are true, having had the original story from someone 'who was actually there and saw it with their own eyes'.Such as the story of the couple who came home from a night out to find their german shepherd dog choking on the landing. An emergency dash to the vet ensues… -
A-Z = S for (True) Spook Tale and Steve Emmett
22 Apr 2013 | 2:17 amFirst of all, sorry, sorry I disappeared from view. A family member had to go into hospital and last week was fraught. So, I know, I've failed this year's A-Z challenge :-( Never mind I have a True Spook Tale for you today!Steve Emmett is a British author, occasional book reviewer and a member of the Society of Authors. Born in Harrogate, the genteel Yorkshire spa town where Agatha Christie hid away from the world thirty-two years earlier. He's also the acclaimed author of the wonderful horror novel: DiavolinoRead on for the spooky tale:Steve EmmetEyes Wide OpenYorkshire village Do… -
A-Z Blog Challenge - M = Marmalade - be careful, very careful
15 Apr 2013 | 6:18 amThey say that if you don't learn a language before you're 25 you'll never be bilingual, no matter how much you speak the second language.How true. Speaking another language can be a minefield of different meanings (or false friends) that can lead, in most cases, to hilarity (at your expense).Examples:Vou fazer marmelada. Nope, that's not 'I'm going to make marmalade'. That's 'I'm going to do some heavy-petting' (foreplay);Do not ask the grocery store man if he tem tomates? Because you're asking him if he has b**ls. Tem tomate? (singular) is much better if you're really want to know if he… -
A-Z Blog Challenge. L = Lisboa Linda
14 Apr 2013 | 4:38 amIt's Sunday (I know, I'm a day late), so let's take a day off and take a walking trip around Lisbon. The title of this post is Beautiful Lisbon, which I think you'll agree that it is. It's a gloriously sunny, warm day - so enjoy it.All photos were taken by my niece Ana Rita Pinto who has just graduated from university as a fully-qualified nurse - she's a talented photographer too.Thank you Rita! -
A-Z Challenge K = Kisses and Kink - Not Necessarily
12 Apr 2013 | 5:44 amWhy oh why do reviewers, publishers, readers assume that if a book is gay literature then it must be classified under erotica? If a book is about two men, or women, it doesn't necessarily mean that kink or steamy sex (which, let's face it, is mostly just wet and sticky) is going to be included in the novel.Here's an excellent post on the mismarketing of this genre with a discussion led by two talented writers of gay fiction: Elin Gregory and Alex Beecroft. Both authors concentrate on a cracking plot rather than explicit sex scenes in their own work which is what I tried to achieve with…
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Reading Diva
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Crazy Little Thing
27 Apr 2013 | 3:51 pmI recently read Crazy Little Thing by Tracy Brogan. This is a MUST for a beach read. I found myself laughing out loud many times during the book. It's a simple plot that has been written about endlessly, but Brogan added such spice to her characters that I didn't mind.Sadie, the main character, spends the summer with her kooky aunt and colorful cousins. While her children enjoy the circus like atmosphere, Sadie finds herself in a hot romance with a doctor. Enter the ex-husband, who adds drama to the story and Sadie herself causes quite a bit of the drama as well. -
The Scottish Prisoner
2 Mar 2013 | 2:41 pmIm a terrible blogger, almost two months since I have made a post!!!!I recently read The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon. It is one of her spin-off books from Outlander, and part of the Lord John Grey series.This book is incredibly bleak and sad. Although Lord John is it's main character, Jamie Fraser is the second main. It follows him through those "lost" years when Claire went back to her time. After Culloden, Jamie was captured and imprisoned on a farm where he worked with the horses. Ever the stoic, Jamie does his work, does it well and happens to father… -
The Round House
7 Jan 2013 | 3:49 pmMy sincere apologies for being so lax in my blog posts! The holidays were very busy and I hardly had a spare minute to read, much less write! Hopefully my crazy days are behind me and I am back to being able to post with more regularity!I recently read The Round House by by Louise Erdrich. This book follows the son of a North Dakota Native American who has been viciously attacked. The details of the crime are slow to come forth as Joe tries to unravel the mystery of his mom's attacker. Joe's father, a tribal judge, also tries to come to terms with the attack… -
A Brief Reading Hiatus
22 Dec 2012 | 6:09 amLife has gotten in the way of my reading habit! I had started reading the Angry Women Suite and halfway through I had to stop reading. I don't understand why reviews were praising this book. It was very hard to follow and really the plot was hard to decipher.From there I started reading The Neighbors by Ania Ahlborn. The book was interesting and a little different than books I've been reading. Andrew Morrison moves away from his alcoholic mother only to find himself in the midst of an odd relationship with his neighbor Harlow. Harlow deceives Andrew and he… -
The Angry Women Suite
7 Dec 2012 | 8:23 amI've been busy and apologize for not posting sooner. I am still reading The Angry Women Suite. I am halfway through and really do not like this book much. The writing is fabulous and the characters are deep, however, the constant jumping between present and past has made it very difficult to stay up with the plot line. I also don't find it very interesting. There have been several mentions of murder, but nothing has even gotten close to explaining what that is about. I am almost ready to call it quits and put the book down and move on. I RARELY stop…
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In Bed With A Writer
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Judith Hermann
8 May 2013 | 7:48 amIn the distance, the Fernsehturm near Alexanderplatz faintly glistens in the first rays of a bland sun. Outside the bedroom door, soft music, tired voices and the lazy clinking of bottles form the soundtrack to the remnants of yet another night that came up short of the irreversible loss of all participating selves in a [...]The post Judith Hermann appeared first on In Bed With A Writer. -
H. P. Lovecraft
20 Mar 2013 | 1:51 amA promising name indeed – and a rightfully famous one, as its bearer has long been a splendid source of pleasure for people with somewhat darker desires. True, he’s neither elegant nor agile, neither wild and passionate nor tender and suave: usually, his moves are rather rigid, and he seeks to produce whatever effect he [...]The post H. P. Lovecraft appeared first on In Bed With A Writer. -
Michael Chabon
6 Mar 2013 | 2:56 amThis wonder boy has clearly done his homework, too. Unlike many of his nerd brethren, however, he doesn’t shy away from using his talent and expertise to tease and excite. So, instead of studying computer sciences and spending all of his free time documenting continuity errors in episodes of Star Trek, he opened up his [...]The post Michael Chabon appeared first on In Bed With A Writer. -
Karen Russell
27 Feb 2013 | 5:11 amIntriguing, you thought, when you first met her at the bar in that seedy Indian casino by the Everglades Parkway (known to the locals as Alligator Alley), and she told you about all the strange people she knows: weird people who are down on their luck, people who will always be misfits, no matter how [...]The post Karen Russell appeared first on In Bed With A Writer. -
James Fenimore Cooper
20 Feb 2013 | 3:51 amDon’t let the slutty leather stockings fool you: James is a bumpy ride, and not in a good way. In fact, after patiently enduring this eternal greenhorn’s awkward efforts at getting me excited and his ceaseless, heavy-handed groping of all the wrong spots a little while, I just rolled over and sent him back to [...]The post James Fenimore Cooper appeared first on In Bed With A Writer.
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Best Murder Books
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J.D. Robb’s “Delusion in Death”
6 May 2013 | 1:23 pmJ.D. Robb’s Delusion In Death Publisher:The Penguin Group Copyright:2012 ISBN:978-1-62090-319-3 22 Chapters: 624 Pages I.Murder Book Summary NYPSD’s lead homicide detective, Eve Dallas has encountered every kind murder imaginable.She’s seen a limo driver shot through the neck with a crossbow, and a prostitute slashed and mutilated “Jack the Ripper” style. It takes a lot to get past her stoic demeanor.And yet, standing in the middle of the slaughterhouse that used to be the “On the Rocks” club, even Dallas is dismayed. These victims are not just murdered.They are… -
Gus Pelagatti’s “The Wicked Wives”
7 Apr 2013 | 3:00 pmGus Pelagatti’s The Wicked Wives Publisher: MillCity Press Copyright: 2008, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-936780-63-1 46 Chapters; 292 pages I. Murder Book Summary It’s 1937 and Giorgio DiSipio is having the time of his life. He’s married to a disabled woman but that isn’t stopping him from having all the wild, crazy sex he could ever hope for. He’s the owner of a tailor shop in South Philadelphia, but that’s not the source of his considerable wealth. He’s a small-time gangster, but he doesn’t need the local “rackets” to pad his growing bank account. You see, Mr. -
Kathy Reichs “Bones Are Forever”
21 Mar 2013 | 1:25 pmKathy Reichs Bones Are Forever Publisher: Scribner; a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4391-0243-5 40 Chapters; 283 pages I. Murder Book Summary 27 year old Amy Roberts is a young woman with many names and many problems. She has been known at various times as Alma Rogers, Alva Rodriguez, and Annaliese Ruben. She seems to have a passion for romantic types of names and changes them often. Recently Amy mysteriously showed up at The Hospital Honore’-Mercier, in Montreal, complaining of vaginal bleeding. She appeared to be very… -
Kathy Reichs and Guatine (Gus) Pelagatti
12 Mar 2013 | 12:30 pmMy problem as a book reviewer has always been that I’m so darn slow as a reader. That has become an especially difficult problem to deal with this past holiday season coupled with a huge computer failure and a sudden and inconvenient change of address. So, how have I decided to handle the current difficulties? By taking massive action (for me) and reading and reviewing 2 books at the same time! My first project for the New Year is Kathy Reichs “Bones Are Forever”. The Lady whose work has inspired the FOX TV series “Bones” closed 2012 with this tale of infanticide on steroids. But… -
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross By James Patterson
28 Jan 2013 | 1:09 pmMerry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-0-316-21068-3 Hard cover edition, 109 chapters; 323 pages There is an old-school movie that some of you may remember entitled “Death Takes A Holiday, starring Fredric March. Released in 1934, it is about “Death” who decides to assume human form, take a 3 day break and mingle with us poor, frightened mortals. In Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, ace detective Alex wishes that crime would take a holiday, so that he (Alex) can “mingle” with his family. But then, crime is no…
