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Bookreporter.com Newsletter
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April 15, 2005
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We Have Arrived, But YOU Knew That!
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Happy Tax Day! I hope that news does not leave any of you smacking your heads and running to the post office. For those of you who wrote a check, you have our sympathy. For those of you who are getting a refund, start making a list of books to buy.
I have been reading ahead to summer this week. We are working on a VERY exciting summer promotion and we are in the midst of selecting titles for it. I read a lot more fiction than nonfiction, but THE DEVIL'S TEETH by Susan Casey came across my desk and it's got me hooked. Okay, hooked is a bad pun as it's about great white sharks. One of my favorite nonfiction books of last summer was SHADOW DIVERS, which was announced this week as Booksense's --- the association of independent booksellers --- pick for BEST nonfiction of 2004. I can see THE DEVIL'S TEETH drawing in the same kinds of readers. It's out in June.
Another title for summer is called THE STARTER WIFE by Gigi Levangie Grazer. It's about divorce Hollywood style. I am so humored reading it. Grazer is married to Hollywood producer Brian Grazer (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and the upcoming The Da Vinci Code), so her inside skinny on this world is dead dead on. It will be out the first week in June!
Which brings me to CHORE WHORE, a book about a Hollywood personal assistant that we have two reviews for this week. One is written by Sean Doorly, who was one of our founding Bookreporter.com employees and now lives in West Hollywood. We definitely wanted a California perspective on this one. The other review is by Amie Taylor, who does not live in L.A., but shares her own take on this subject.
Bookreporter.com was quoted last week in the New York Times Book Review. The "TBR Inside the List" column referenced Jesse Kornbluth's review of SATURDAY with a quote. The veritable Times quoted The Washington Post and NPR in the same column prompting an April 9th article on Media Curmudgeon about Bookreporter.com "arriving" with this moment. This was lovely to read, but hey I know we have arrived each week when I read your mail and you tell me how we have influenced your reading. So let's all clap about this moment. It belongs to all of us.
Last week we told you that we have begun a new partnership with Audible.com. To celebrate we are asking you to participate in our month long Audiobook Survey. Answer it and you can be eligible for a really terrific prize. Also, we are looking for some audio readers --- and audio reader wanna bes --- for a special project. Interested? See complete details below. There will be lots more audio news in the weeks to come so listen up. We got a terrific piece in this week from an author who shared her experience reading HER book on audio. We will share it with you soon.
Saturday about one hour after I sent the newsletter out, the mail started coming in chiding me that I do not use bookmarks. Clearly I need to reform. For all those who wrote, please take note. I used Post-its this week. I am sticking Post-its in pages. Whew. Okay?
Have a great week. I am going to think summer thoughts and read summer books. I look forward to sharing more about them this week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
PS. Remember that contest to win a $1,200 Steelcase chair in Joseph Finder's COMPANY MAN Conest? Well you have till Tuesday to enter. So click below and get in the running!
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Jess Walter, Author of CITIZEN VINCE
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Bookreporter.com's Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Team (Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek) interviewed Jess Walter, author of CITIZEN VINCE. Walter, who has written both fiction and nonfiction, explains why he chose to set his latest novel in the fall of 1980 and the significance of that year's presidential election. He also talks about the kind of research that was needed for this particular story, his flexible writing schedule, and the process of developing characters (Walter always remembers what Kurt Vonnegut once wrote about characterization).
CITIZEN VINCE by Jess Walter (Suspense)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
From the highly acclaimed author of OVER TUMBLED GRAVES and LAND OF THE BLIND comes a story of witness protection, petty thievery, local politics and murder set against the turbulent backdrop of the 1980 presidential election.
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Read our interview with Jess Walter and a review of CITIZEN VINCE here.
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Victor Gischler, Author of SUICIDE SQUEEZE
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Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek interviewed Victor Gischler, author of SUICIDE SQUEEZE. Gischler explains his decision to use a one-of-a-kind baseball card signed by Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder as a way of launching the book's plot. He also talks about his inspiration for the character of Conner Samson, names the one author who has most influenced his work, and gives readers a sneak preview of his next novel due out in February 2006.
SUICIDE SQUEEZE by Victor Gischler (Suspense)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
The high point in Teddy Folger's life was the day in 1954 when he was given a one-of-a-kind baseball card signed by Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe, and movie director Billy Wilder. It's been downhill for Teddy ever since --- the card soon attracts the attention of an unscrupulous and extremely wealthy businessman who wants the prized possession and is willing to pay any price, and do anything, to get it.
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Read our interview with Victor Gischler and a review of SUICIDE SQUEEZE here.
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: Announcing Steve Berry, Author of THE THIRD SECRET
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Steve Berry has been a favorite with our readers since his first book, THE AMBER ROOM. Many of you may remember THE ROMANOV PROPHECY, which is now out in paperback. His new book, THE THIRD SECRET, which will be in stores on May 17th, talks about the third secret of Fatima and also shares a riveting story about the events during a Papal conclave.
We have 20 advanced reading copies of THE THIRD SECRET to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to SuspenseThriller@bookreporter.com by Friday, April 22, 2005. ONE NOTE: Please put Steve Berry in the subject line.
Read more about THE THIRD SECRET here:
Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, THE THIRD SECRET is a remarkable international thriller. Bestselling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion.
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Click here to read more about Steve Berry and THE THIRD SECRET.
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: Francine Mathews, Author of BLOWN
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Our latest Suspense/Thriller Author is Francine Mathews whose new book, BLOWN, will be in stores on April 26, 2005. In the opening chapters a crazed killer hands cups of tainted water to runners participating in a Marine-sponsored marathon. From there Mathews' character Caroline Carmichael is called in --- and from there the action is non-stop.
See our Advance Readers here.
Read an excerpt of BLOWN here.
BLOWN by Francine Mathews (Suspense)
On Sale: April 26, 2005
Former CIA analyst Francine Mathews has created "one of the toughest female secret agents we've seen in a long time." (USA Today) Using her firsthand expertise of international espionage, Mathews offers another brilliantly realized suspense novel so intense, so authentic, it lethally blurs the line between fact and fiction. In BLOWN, Caroline Carmichael returns in a white-hot tale of terror on the streets of Washington, where one woman must gamble her life to save her country.
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Read more about Francine Mathews and BLOWN here.
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: Iris Johansen, Author of COUNTDOWN
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Fiction meets fact as bestselling author Iris Johansen and real-life forensic artist and veteran northern New Jersey police sergeant Daniel Sollitti get together to discuss their work. Mr. Sollitti completed his formal forensic art training at the United States Secret Service Training Facility in Maryland and studied 3-Dimensional clay reconstruction of a skull under forensic sculptor Seth Wolfson. Ms. Johansen's newest hardcover, COUNTDOWN --- her sixth thriller featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan --- will be released on May 10th, while last year's bestseller, BLIND ALLEY, is now available in paperback.
See our advance readers here.
More about COUNTDOWN:
In this relentless psychological thriller a young woman is caught in a maze of secrets and stalked by a merciless killer. The countdown begins the moment you open this riveting novel that only grows more electrifying as the pages turn, more exciting as time runs out. . .
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Read more about Iris Johansen and COUNTDOWN here.
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ReadingGroupGuides.com: New Guides Available
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Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile
The Dead Don't Dance by Charles Martin
Dear Zoe by Philip Beard
Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
Going to Bend by Diane Hammond
The Hamilton Case by Michelle de Kretser
Katharine of Aragon by Jean Plaidy
The Lost Mother by Mary McGarry Morris
March by Geraldine Brooks
The Other Woman by Eric Jerome Dickey
Our Kind: A Novel in Stories by Kate Walbert
The Rose Without a Thorn by Jean Plaidy
Saturday by Ian McEwan
The Sixth Wife by Jean Plaidy
Skeletons on the Zahara by Dean King
Stone Heart by Luanne Rice
Sweetwater by Roxana Robinson
This is My Daughter by Roxana Robinson
The Untelling by Tayari Jones
Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin
Why She Went Home by Lucinda Rosenfeld
The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
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See the new guides for ReadingGroupGuides.com here.
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Author Newsletter Contests
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Nelson DeMille - Win one of five personally inscribed copies of Night Fall. Click here to sign up.
Kate White - Win a basket filled with beauty spa products. Click here to sign up.
Daniel Silva - Win one of five signed copies of Prince of Fire. Click here to sign up.
Joseph Finder - Win one of five signed copies of Company Man. Click here to sign up.
Marcia Muller - Win one of 5 signed copies of The Dangerous Hour. Click here to sign up.
Linda Lael Miller - Win a lovely fringed throw from the North Style catalog and an advance reading copy of Linda's June hardcover, McKettrick's Choice. Click here to sign up.
Kristin Hannah - Win a copy of The Things We Do For Love. Click here to sign up.
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Sign up for Author Newsletters here.
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Books Into Movies
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Here's news about some of the latest movies that are based on books. These films include Sin City, adapted from a series of graphic novels by Frank Miller; Sahara, which brings to life one of Clive Cussler's action-packed Dirk Pitt adventures; and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a don't-miss for teenagers (and adults) who have read and enjoyed Ann Brashares's bestselling novel of the same name.
Revenge of the Sith, the third and final installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, will be in theaters on May 19th. Fans who are eagerly anticipating the film's release can now buy the novelization of the movie, written by New York Times bestselling author Matthew Stover.
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Read our Books Into Movies feature here.
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Listen Up with Audiobooks
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This week we are kicking off our new partnership with Audible.com with two exciting features. The first is our Audiobook Survey. Weigh in on how you listen --- or not. For answering, you can enter to win a Creative Labs Muvo MP3 player and a year of Audible's Premium Listener service that allows you to download two audiobooks each month. We'll be selecting one winner. The survey will be open through Friday, May 13th.
Audio Feedback Needed:
We are looking for some audiobook listeners to try out some audio titles and give us feedback about them and the technology. We are looking for two categories of listeners:
1) Listeners who already love audiobooks, but have never downloaded them.
2) Readers who would love to try audiobooks and are not current listeners.
Click for more details.
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Read more about audiobooks here.
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This Week's Reviews and Features
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TRUE BELIEVER by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction)
Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
A journalist travels to North Carolina to investigate reports of ghosts haunting a cemetery. Coincidentally he meets the granddaughter of the local psychic and falls in love for the first time. This is his story and how love can change a person's life.
CHORE WHORE: Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant by Heather H. Howard (Fiction)
Reviewed by Sean Doorly and Amie Taylor
Heather H. Howard, personal assistant to the stars, draws on more than twenty years of experience to bring readers an outrageous and amusing fictional foray into how spoiled and pampered celebrities live.
EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE by Jonathan Safran Foer (Fiction)
Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller
In this follow-up to his bestselling debut novel, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, Jonathan Safran Foer introduces readers to ten-year-old Oskar Schell, who is on a top-secret mission: to find the lock that fits a mysterious key belonging to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
CONSPIRACY OF FOOLS by Kurt Eichenwald (True Crime)
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
In late 2001, the Enron Corporation imploded virtually overnight, leaving vast wreckage in its wake and sparking a criminal investigation that would last for years. Kurt Eichenwald's compelling narrative takes readers behind every closed door --- from the Oval Office to the executive suites, from the highest reaches of the Justice Department to the homes and bedrooms of the top officers.
IN THE COMPANY OF LIARS by David Ellis (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Told in chronological reverse, this suspenseful and unpredictable novel centers on Allison Pagone, who is on trial for the murder of her former lover, Sam Dillon. When she is found to have committed suicide with the weapon that was used on Dillon, it appears that the case has been solved. But this is just the beginning, and a number of intriguing questions are raised.
BUBBLES BETROTHED by Sarah Strohmeyer (Mystery)
Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
Wisecracking, lovable Bubbles Yablonsky, beautician turned journalist/sleuth, is back in her fifth hilarious, fast-paced mystery caper in which she unravels clues surrounding two murders and a disappearance (not to mention her own love life).
DEATH OF THE PARTY: A Death on Demand Mystery by Carolyn Hart (Mystery)
Reviewed by Judy Gigstad
Carolyn Hart's sixteenth Death on Demand mystery is set on the remote island of Golden Silk, where Britt Barlow has invited back all the people who were present the weekend that her brother-in-law, Jeremiah Addison, fell down the staircase inside his mansion and died. Convinced that this was no accident, she hires private investigator Max Darling to determine who the killer is.
WOLVES IN CHIC CLOTHING by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman (Fiction)
Reviewed by Jamie Layton
Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman's new novel is a delightful entry in the Gossip Lit market. Set against a dazzling backdrop of New York City High Society, it brings the fashion pages of your favorite magazines alive!
THE BAKER'S APPRENTICE by Judith Ryan Hendricks (Fiction)
Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
Bread baker Wynter Morrison's life is complicated, but friendships, food, and love compensate in this truly delicious sequel to BREAD ALONE, Judith Ryan Hendricks's continuation of the saga of the Queen Street Bakery.
FLESH WOUNDS by John Lawton (Mystery/Suspense)
Reviewed by Maggie Harding
John Lawton's latest installment in his Inspector Troy series is an ambitious book that encompasses postwar politics, ruthless gang activities, old-fashioned police work, and relationships complicated enough to make Danielle Steel smile.
PRETTY WOMAN by Fern Michaels (Romance)
Reviewed by Hillary Wagy
Nothing makes a female feel like a "Pretty Woman" more than the undivided attention of a sexy man. Rosie Gardner Bliss embarks on a lifestyle change that enables her to lose fifty-five pounds, dump her philandering husband, conquer her inhibitions, and realize that she doesn't have to buy the love of a man.
THE PLEASURE WAS MINE by Tommy Hays (Fiction)
Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
When Prate Marshbanks retires to care for his wife, who is gradually slipping away, and spends more time with his moody grandson, this hardworking man --- who has kept to himself most of his life --- has little choice but to get to know his family.
ROBBING THE BEES: A Biography of Honey - The Sweet Liquid Gold that Seduced the World by Holley Bishop (Nature/Cooking)
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
Combining passionate research, rich detail and interesting anecdotes, Holley Bishop's fascinating collection of bee lore is an in-depth, sumptuous look at the oldest, most delectable food in the world.
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Click here to read this week's reviews and features.
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Poll: Dan Brown Books
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You may be wondering why we are asking these poll questions this week. I just read that THE DA VINCI CODE again will top the New York Times bestseller list on Sunday, April 10th. Also, ANGELS AND DEMONS has in-depth information about the papal conclave. So, let us know:
Have you read THE DA VINCI CODE?
Yes
No, but I intend to.
No, I am not interested.
Have you read ANGELS AND DEMONS?
Yes
No, but I intend to
No, I am not interested.
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Answer the Poll here.
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Question of the Week: Fact from Fiction
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Question: Name a fiction book that taught you something factual that you did not know about.
Please note: Our next question update will be on April 22nd.
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Answer the Question of the Week here.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- TWO Prizes!
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Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have some great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of THE MERMAID CHAIR by Sue Monk Kidd and COMPANY MAN by Joseph Finder. Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on April 22nd.
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Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.
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As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online (see the link on the upper right) or change your preferences below.
Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page. We were forced to move to this format after we were inundated with SPAM at the other address. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.
Quick observation --- we have noticed that many of you have been changing your Internet providers in the past month. If you do, please be sure to "take us along" by signing up for the newsletter in your new name!
Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, FaithfulReader.com, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.
--- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107
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