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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
March 5, 2010 |
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Here Comes the Sun... |
I hear it’s going to be sunny this weekend. I am holding the weatherman/weatherperson to this. I think in my next life I am going to be the weatherman/weatherperson. You can say it’s going to rain and an entire city of people will carry umbrellas; you can be consistently wrong and not get fired.
Many of you may know that I spent 17 years at a fashion magazine before Bookreporter.com. Thus every day, even when I am just going out to do errands, I think --- no, overthink --- what I am wearing. Seriously. I have never “just run to the mailbox.”
That said, I would love to lose about 10 pounds, but unless reading, typing or knitting become cardio activities, that is not going to happen anytime soon. The pool, treadmill and elliptical machine have not seen me enough recently. So I was thrilled to see Charla Krupp’s new book, HOW TO NEVER LOOK FAT AGAIN: Over 1,000 Ways to Dress Thinner --- Without Dieting!, which will be in stores on March 10th. It’s full of dead-on easy-to-comprehend styling tips for every figure type and figure flaw. Her previous book, HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD, was a huge, rocking success, and I predict this one will be even bigger for her, while making you look smaller.
I have copies of both books in my office, and I love watching even the most un-fashion conscious women pick them up and get engrossed in them. I have known Charla for more than 30 years now, and she is really terrific. She’s touring extensively, and you can click here for her schedule in case you want to catch her on the road. Oh, and she has her own before and after photos, which you can see here.
Speaking of books by people from my past, Kate White, another pal from my magazine days, has a new book that is just out, HUSH, which our reviewer Amie Taylor enjoyed as much as I did. Kate has moved away from mysteries and her Bailey Weggins character with this thriller. Here’s the setup. Lake Warren has a nice home, two children she is crazy about, and a career she loves, and she’s even feeling pretty good about her ex-husband. She goes to a company dinner and afterwards has a very un-customary one-night stand. When she wakes up, she realizes her companion has been murdered in his own bed. The pages where she makes her way back to her apartment uptown that morning without trying to be traced will have you hooked. Kate was on the "Today Show" this week, and you can see that clip here.
And speaking of television appearances, Katie Couric has done a terrific hour-long interview with Kathryn Stockett, the author of THE HELP, which is online at @KatieCouric. Kathryn interacts with two book clubs and answers their questions. You can see it here. Also, according to an article in Entertainment Weekly, THE HELP has been acquired by DreamWorks Studios for a movie to be made as early as this summer. According to the piece, Kathryn's childhood friend, Tate Taylor, adapted the script with lots of consultation from her.
I have been getting notes from readers who have been seeing Lisa See as she travels around the country doing events for the paperback release of SHANGHAI GIRLS. It’s been such fun hearing your comments on her presentation. And the booksellers that I follow on Facebook have been telling me how LITTLE BEE has been selling like hotcakes. Love hearing news like this. If you're not on Facebook, but want to keep up with our posts throughout the week, click here.
This week we’re launching a new Suspense/Thriller promotion for YOU CAN’T STOP ME by Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens, which should appeal to all “CSI” and “America’s Most Wanted” fans. A small-town sheriff becomes a media sensation with a hit television show tracking down bad guys based on viewer tips until the reality show becomes a little too real. We have 20 copies to give away to readers who enter here by Friday, March 12th at noon ET.
Also, for those of you who are enjoying THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON, here is a link to a wonderful blog post from the author, Jerome Charyn. This book has been getting so much buzz and attention. I missed seeing him at an event last night at NYU where he appeared with his editor and literary agent. Growl. Hate missing things like that.
Monday night I will be at Sarah Blake’s event at B&N on the Upper East Side; she is the author of THE POSTMISTRESS, which is definitely THE buzz book of the last few weeks. Trivia Fact: both THE POSTMISTRESS and THE HELP share the same editor, Amy Einhorn. Tuesday night I will be at B&N on the Upper West Side to see the aforementioned Kate White and Linda Fairstein, whose latest, HELL GATE, is out Tuesday, March 9th.
More than 900 of you responded to our poll question about dust jackets on books, with 46 percent of you saying you never remove the cover and 29 percent responding that you always remove the cover. I first noticed this on a recent flight when a fellow passenger had a jacket-less book. I was curious if this was a trend as many of the books I read are in advance galley format, which are always paperback. If I am reading a hardcover, I leave the jacket on so I can use the flap as a bookmark unless I am reading near the pool where jackets have been known to have short lives.
New this week, we are spotlighting some Young Adult (YA) titles that we think you would want on your radar. I love YA writing as it’s often very tight and crisp. We plan to run this feature once a month. We also got some great reader feedback about ONE AMAZING THING by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, which was one of my February Bets On picks. You can read those comments here.
This week I read Emily Giffin’s upcoming book, HEART OF THE MATTER, which will be in stores on May 11th. This is a moment where the flap copy is dead-on. It’s the story of “three good people caught in an untenable triangle, each questioning everything they believe about love and loyalty.” I loved it.
Looking forward to the Oscars Sunday night, though I wish they were on Saturday night so I could throw a fancy party to celebrate them! I still need to see Crazy Heart and then my Oscar viewing is complete!
I have a wickedly tall stack of books, but after watching this video with Kelly Corrigan (you remember her as the author of THE MIDDLE PLACE), the first one I am going to plunk down and read is LIFT.
Have a great week….
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Susan Wilson, Author of ONE GOOD DOG
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Susan Wilson is the author of six works of fiction, including SUMMER HARBOR, THE FORTUNE TELLER'S DAUGHTER, BEAUTY and the newly released ONE GOOD DOG. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Alexis Burling, Wilson discusses how the plot of her latest novel evolved from its earliest inception as a tale of redemption to its finished product as a "story about a dog" and elaborates on how her main character, Adam, grew over the course of the book. She also describes her family's real-life canine companions who helped shape her writing and reflects on how the novel's theme of second chances applied to her own life and career.
ONE GOOD DOG by Susan Wilson (Fiction)
Adam is a ruthless self-made millionaire married to an icy socialite living a picture-perfect existence that includes a teen princess daughter. He is sentenced to community service following an outburst at the office and meets the adorable Chance, who teaches him about survival and what matters. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.
-Click here to read a review of ONE GOOD DOG.
-Click here to read an excerpt from ONE GOOD DOG.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for ONE GOOD DOG.
-Click here to read Susan Wilson's bio.
-Click here to see Susan Wilson's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for ONE GOOD DOG.
-Visit Susan Wilson's official website, susanwilsonwrites.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
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Click here to read our interview with Susan Wilson.
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Author Talk: Jodi Picoult, Author of HOUSE RULES |
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In her latest novel, HOUSE RULES, Jodi Picoult examines the faults of the justice system regarding its treatment of the mentally and socially handicapped through the plight of a single mother whose son --- a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome --- is accused of murder. In this interview, Picoult discusses her personal inspiration behind this captivating storyline and explains why she always has been drawn to themes of ethics and morality in her work. She also reflects on how her writing style has grown over the course of her career and describes the premise of her next book, SING YOU HOME, which explores the clash between religion and one’s sexual orientation.
HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult (Fiction)
In HOUSE RULES, Jodi Picoult creates her most interesting character to date: Jacob Hunt, a highly-functioning 18-year-old afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Jacob and his family are pushed to the limit when he is accused of murdering his social skills tutor. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
-Click here to read a review of HOUSE RULES.
-Click here to read an excerpt from HOUSE RULES.
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Click here to read an interview with Jodi Picoult.
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New Featured Suspense/Thriller Authors: Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens, Authors of YOU CAN'T STOP ME
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Author Max Allan Collins and writing partner Matthew Clemens turn up the suspense in their latest collaboration, YOU CAN'T STOP ME. A small-town sheriff becomes the star of a reality television series tracking criminals with viewers' help --- until the reality becomes a little too real. YOU CAN'T STOP ME is in stores now.
We have 20 copies of YOU CAN'T STOP ME to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, March 12th at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from YOU CAN'T STOP ME.
-Click here to read Max Allan Collins's bio.
-Click here to read Matthew Clemens's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for YOU CAN'T STOP ME.
-Visit Max Allan Collins's official website, www.MaxAllanCollins.com.
More about YOU CAN'T STOP ME:
Small-town sheriff J.C. Harrow made headlines when he apprehended a would-be presidential assassin --- only to come home that night and find his wife and son brutally murdered. This tragic twist of fate launched his career as the host of reality TV’s smash-hit, "Crime Seen!" But while media star Harrow tracks down dangerous criminals coast to coast --- with the help of viewers’ tips --- a killer with a twisted agenda is making his own bloody path to fame.
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Click here to read more about Max Allan Collins, Matthew Clemens and YOU CAN'T STOP ME.
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Featured Historical Fiction Author: Francine Rivers, Author of HER MOTHER'S HOPE |
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From bestselling author Francine Rivers comes HER MOTHER'S HOPE, the first novel in a powerful two-book saga. This sweeping story, which spans continents and generations while exploring the bond between mothers and daughters, will be available in stores on March 16th.
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-Click here to read an excerpt from HER MOTHER'S HOPE.
-Click here to read Francine Rivers's bio.
-Click here to see Francine Rivers's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for HER MOTHER'S HOPE.
-Visit Francine Rivers's official website, www.FrancineRivers.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.
More about HER MOTHER'S HOPE:
Near the turn of the 20th century, fiery Marta leaves Switzerland determined to find life on her own terms. Her journey takes her through Europe and finally lands her with children and husband in tow in the central valley of California. Marta’s experiences convince her that only the strong survive. Hildie, Marta’s oldest daughter, has a heart to serve others, and her calling as a nurse during World War II gives her independence, if not the respect of her mother.
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Click here to read more about Francine Rivers and HER MOTHER'S HOPE.
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Featured One to Watch Author: Jerome Charyn, Author of THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON
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Jerome Charyn blends fact with fiction to bring readers THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON, an inventive novel that removes Emily Dickinson’s own mysterious mask and reveals the passions and heartbreak of America’s greatest poet. THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON is now available in stores.
-Click here to read a review of THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON.
-Click here to read our interview with Jerome Charyn.
-Click here to read Jerome Charyn's bio.
-Click here to see Jerome Charyn's backlist.
-Click here to read Jerome Charyn's ReadingGroupGuides.com blog post.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON.
-Visit Jerome Charyn's official website, www.jeromecharyn.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.
More about THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON:
What if the old maid of Amherst wasn't an old maid after all? Her older brother, Austin, spoke of Emily as his "wild sister." Jerome Charyn, continuing his exploration of American history through fiction, has written a startling novel about Emily Dickinson in her own voice, with all its characteristic modulations that he learned from her letters and poems. Along the way, Charyn introduces us to members of Emily's inner circle, both real and imagined, who helped shape the legendary poet.
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Click here to read more about Jerome Charyn and THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON.
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Now in Stores: SPLIT IMAGE by Robert B. Parker
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SPLIT IMAGE: A Jesse Stone Novel by Robert B. Parker (Mystery)
When a mob soldier is found murdered in the trunk of a car, Jesse Stone confronts both a potential mob war and his own personal demons in this ninth novel featuring the Paradise, Massachusetts police chief, courtesy of the late, great Robert B. Parker. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.
-Click here to read an excerpt from SPLIT IMAGE.
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Click here to read a review of SPLIT IMAGE.
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Now in Stores: HUSH by Kate White |
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HUSH by Kate White (Thriller)
In Kate White’s first stand-alone thriller, newly single Lake Warren has a night of wild and wanton sex with a hot doctor. But what should have been a good time turns deadly when Lake awakens to find the good doctor dead in his bed and the murderer hot on her heels. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
-Click here to read an excerpt from HUSH.
-Click here to see Kate White talk about HUSH.
-Visit Kate White’s official website, www.KateWhite.com.
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Click here to read a review of HUSH.
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Now in Stores: LIFT by Kelly Corrigan
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LIFT by Kelly Corrigan (Self-Help/Inspiration)
Written as a letter to her children, Kelly Corrigan's LIFT is a tender, intimate and robust portrait of risk and love. Here, Corrigan weaves together three true and unforgettable stories of adults willing to experience emotional hazards in exchange for the gratifications of raising children. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
-Click here to read an excerpt from LIFT.
-Click here to see Kelly Corrigan talk about LIFT.
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Click here to read a review of LIFT.
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New in Paperback for March
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March’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, the sequel to the international publishing sensation THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by the late Stieg Larsson; JUST TAKE MY HEART, a stand-alone thriller from Mary Higgins Clark, and CURSED, daughter Carol Higgins Clark’s 12th Regan Reilly mystery; GONE TOMORROW, the 13th installment in the Jack Reacher series that finds Lee Child’s protagonist making a choice that triggers an electrifying chain of events; LIFE SENTENCES, Laura Lippman’s novel that centers on a successful memoirist who uncovers dark secrets about a childhood she thought she knew; THE SIGN by Raymond Khoury, a provocative thriller set at the intersection of science, religion and history in which a sign in the heavens may unleash hell on earth; TWENTIES GIRL, a laugh-out-loud novel from Sophie Kinsella that is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family; and a number of baseball-themed books --- most notably THE YANKEE YEARS by Joe Torre --- that are re-releasing just in time for the start of the Major League season.
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Click here to see our New in Paperback feature for March.
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Books into Movies/Books into Movies on DVD for March
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March’s Books into Movies lineup proves yet again that 2010 will be a stellar year for literary-based adaptations, as eight highly-anticipated, star-studded films and miniseries will be hitting the big and small screens this month. A trip to your local theater (as well as to your favorite spot in front of the TV) certainly will not disappoint, as any moviegoer or channel surfer will have his or her pick among war dramas like Green Zone and the HBO miniseries “The Pacific”; tearjerkers like the Nicholas Sparks-inspired The Last Song; offbeat fantasies like Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland; heart-racing thrillers like the Swedish mystery The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Repo Men; and kid-friendly alternatives like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and How to Train Your Dragon.
And let’s not forget this month’s mixed bag of new DVD releases, which includes The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Where the Wild Things Are, The Stoning of Soraya M., The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Fantastic Mr. Fox, as well as Oscar faves Precious and Up in the Air.
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Click here for more details about March’s films.
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This Week's Reviews
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SECRETS OF EDEN by Chris Bohjalian (Fiction)
After the apparent murder-suicide of a local couple, four inhabitants of a small Vermont town struggle to make sense of the senseless tragedy, especially when it becomes clear that there’s more to the story than originally thought. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
THE WILD ZONE by Joy Fielding (Thriller)
Two brothers and their friend are out one night at their favorite South Beach bar and decide to make a bet on who can be the first to seduce a mysterious-looking young woman drinking by herself. Little do they know that their harmless bet is about to take on a life of its own, a life full of deadly consequences for all concerned. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
VENETIA KELLY’S TRAVELING SHOW by Frank Delaney (Fiction)
Epic storyteller Frank Delaney’s latest novel is a heartbreaking tale involving two Irish families: the MacCarthys (hardworking farmers) and the Kellys (a ruthless politician and his kin). They clash and they mesh during the upheaval of Ireland’s tough 1932 election with tragic results. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE LAST SURGEON by Michael Palmer (Medical Thriller)
Both Dr. Nick Garrity and psych nurse Jillian Coates have reason to believe that there is more to the losses each has suffered than the authorities are willing to investigate. The mysterious disappearance of a Marine sergeant who saved Nick’s life and the apparent suicide of Jillian’s sister, Belle, bring them together and set them on a thrill ride that doesn’t stop until the mystery is solved. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
THE INFINITIES by John Banville (Psychological Thriller)
Adam Godley, a renowned theoretical mathematician, is dying. His family gathers at his bedside, but they are not alone in their vigil. Around them hovers a family of mischievous immortals. As old Adam’s days on earth run down, these unearthly beings start to stir up trouble, to sometimes wildly unintended effect. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
THE FOURTH ASSASSIN: An Omar Yussef Mystery by Matt Beynon Rees (Mystery)
Arriving to visit his son in a heavily Palestinian area of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Omar Yussef discovers the beheaded body of one of the boy’s roommates. When his son is arrested as a suspect, Yussef must prove the boy’s innocence. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
A STAIN ON THE SILENCE by Andrew Taylor (Psychological Thriller)
What if a childless man in his 40s discovers that he has a daughter, the result of an affair 25 years earlier? What if the daughter is pregnant? And what if she’s on the run for murder? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
GHOSTS & LIGHTNING by Trevor Byrne (Fiction)
Set in contemporary Dublin and the surrounding countryside, GHOSTS & LIGHTNING is a picaresque account of Denny Cullen's life after he is called back home to attend his mother's funeral. Denny --- a sweet-natured but disillusioned young man who feels powerless in the face of death, dope and the dole queue --- is the steadiest in a cast of unstable characters. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
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Click here to read this week's reviews.
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Poll and Question of the Week: Lengthy Books and Books to Anticipate |
Poll:
Would a book of 500 or more pages be a turn-on or turn-off for you? Please check as many as apply.
A turn-on because I feel I would be getting great value for my money
A turn-on because the book would last longer
A turn-on because it would allow me to fully engage in the story
A turn-off because it would take too much time to read
A turn-off because I feel I would lose track of what's going on
A turn-off because it would be too cumbersome to carry around
It would depend on the book.
Not sure
-Click here to answer our poll.
Question:
Which books that appear in our recently expanded Coming Soon feature are you most looking forward to reading? Name up to five.
-Click here to answer our question.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
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Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have three great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of HELL GATE by Linda Fairstein, NEVER LOOK AWAY by Linwood Barclay and THINK TWICE by Lisa Scottoline. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon ET on Friday, March 19th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books. |
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 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. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.
Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by March 31, 2010 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: CAUGHT by Harlan Coben, HELL GATE by Linda Fairstein, HUSH by Kate White, SHATTERED by Karen Robards and THINK TWICE by Lisa Scottoline. Susan from Westmont, IL was last month's winner. She won BRAVA, VALENTINE by Adriana Trigiani, FANTASY IN DEATH by J.D. Robb, LAST SNOW by Eric Van Lustbader, SPLIT IMAGE: A Jesse Stone Novel by Robert B. Parker and WINTER GARDEN by Kristin Hannah.
Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, GraphicNovelReporter.com, FaithfulReader.com, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com and AuthorYellowPages.com.
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