Blog
Ironically, Camille DeAngelis decided to go vegan right before she started writing her latest novel, BONES & ALL, about a young woman who doesn’t just break hearts…she devours them. There are more parallels between Camille and her protagonist, Maron, than you might think: In her Holiday Author Blog, Camille thinks about how our choices --- what we eat and otherwise --- affect our identities. She also considers what it means to hunger for books and how a book can satisfy its reader in ways that food cannot. So no matter what you’re eating this holiday, remember that nothing fills you up quite like a good book.
Sarah Addison Allen is the New York Times bestselling author of GARDEN SPELLS, THE SUGAR QUEEN, THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON and THE PEACH KEEPER. Her latest book, FIRST FROST, is about a strange old man with a beat-up suitcase who arrives in Bascom, North Carolina, with stories to tell...stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever. Here, Sarah remembers the stories --- poems, more specifically --- that her father read to her and her sister at Christmas. Those poems, more than any gift or candy she might have received, are what have remained with her through all these years.
Bestselling author Hazel Gaynor’s latest book, A MEMORY OF VIOLETS: A Novel of London’s Flower Sellers, is the story of two long-lost sisters whose lives take different paths, and the young woman who will be transformed by their experiences. Hazel certainly values the bond of sisterhood; here, she talks about the wonderful gift her own sister, Auntie Helen, gave Hazel’s newborn son: Maurice Sendak’s classic, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. It took a few months (and a baby who could finally sleep through the night) for Hazel to appreciate it, but now the book is a household favorite --- made only more special by the loving dedication within.
Jamie Metzl is the author of GENESIS CODE, a “thriller of the near-future” dealing with issues of human genetic enhancement in the context of a future US-China rivalry. He also has an impressive list of accomplishments, including stints with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the U.S. State Department and the National Security Council. Here, Jamie ponders the significance of books as physical objects in this overwhelmingly digital age --- especially when it comes to traditionally hand-written religious texts. Just don’t send him another copy of the Torah; he already has plenty.
We’re excited to kick off our annual Holiday Author Blogs with Lacy Crawford, whose acclaimed debut, EARLY DECISION, follows five students over one autumn as Anne, “the application whisperer,” helps them navigate the madness of college admissions. After 15 years as a private college counselor, Lacy is certainly in a position to shed light on the grueling admissions process. She also, of course, knows how important the stories we tell are --- whether as part of our college applications or our holiday traditions. Here, she talks about a sad Christmas story she never liked as a child, and the hopeful story she likes to tell her own children.
The Miami Book Fair is now in its 31st year, and boasts more than 450 authors reading and discussing their work, including the Latin American and Spanish authors who participate in the IberoAmerican Authors Program. Unfortunately, Carol could not make it to Miami this year, but one of our readesr Cristina Vazquez (who Carol has been lucky to spend time with at the Fair in the past) was kind enough to share her commentary on the event. Here, she talks about some of the panels she attended (she learned some surprising information about one of her favorite authors) and the books she thinks will lend themselves to excellent book group discussion.
Last Friday, November 14th, readers and book lovers gathered at Random House for their Open House, a delightful program that has been held each spring and fall since 2012. The theme of the day was gift-giving --- perfect for an event held so close to the holidays. I attended Open House with Carol Fitzgerald (who runs The Book Report Network), 20SomethingReads.com’s Nicole Sherman, Bookreporter.com reviewer Vivian Payton, and my mother. Carol’s friend, Beverley Wilson, a reader and veteran of these book-related events, rounded out our group.
Bouchercon 2014, aptly called “Murder at the Beach,” took place in Long Beach, CA, last weekend (November 13-16). Bouchercon is an annual event held by the World Mystery Convention, which brings together all parts of the mystery and crime fiction community for a weekend of thrilling panels and awards. Unfortunately, none of our staff was able to attend --- our own Carol Fitzgerald has attended eight times in the past and was sorry to miss this year --- but we had a few amazing authors and friends who were kind enough to do some sleuthing for us. Here, seven mystery authors and lovers --- Dana Haynes, Ali Karim, William Kent Krueger, Clair Lamb, Keith Raffel, Wendy Corsi Staub and Wendy Webb --- share some highlights of Bouchercon 2014, including best books, best panels...and best drinks. See our Bouchercon Photo Gallery here.
Established in 1995 by Laura Bush, the Texas Book Festival is an annual event that celebrates authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas and imagination. Bookreporter.com reader and 20-time Festival attendee Anne Glasgow shares her experience at this year’s event, including a roundup of some of the panels she attended, highlights of the Festival, and how it has evolved over the years.
