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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
April 16, 2010 |
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Mother's Day Month...and L.A. Bound |
I have long thought that Mother’s Day should be celebrated for more than a day. I think something like a month is in order. When you own a website, you can make that happen, even if your name is not Hallmark. Thus today we start our celebration of moms that will run through the week after Mother’s Day. Since the moms who are here are readers --- and those of you who celebrate them are readers as well --- we have a bookish celebration planned. We kick off with our Mother’s Day Basket of Books Contest. We will be giving away 15 baskets (up from our usual five), each filled with mom-pampering goodies and 12 books culled from the 36 featured mom-perfect titles. The way I see it, that is a book a month for mom! Read on for details, or click here. Check back Monday for a printable list of all our featured titles, which you can find on the contest pages.
But we are not stopping there. Over the next few weeks, the Bookreporter.com Blog is being turned over to authors and their mothers. We will post pieces from Mother/Daughter Collaborators, Author Mothers/Author Children, Authors Interviewing their Mothers, and Authors Writing Mother Tributes. We are kicking off today with our Mother/Daughter Collaborator Series with Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, both of whom have books just out this week. You can read a review of Mary’s book here and Carol’s book here. Tomorrow will be Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor, who together penned TRAVELING WITH POMEGRANATES: A Mother-Daughter Story; Sunday will be Francine Rivers and her daughter, Shannon Rivers Coibion, who wrote BIBLE STORIES FOR GROWING KIDS. And that is just the start of things to come as we have dozens of authors lined up. Be sure to bookmark the Bookreporter.com Blog page or sign up for an RSS feed of it or to receive it in email. I hope you enjoy this celebration as much as we did planning it. MANY thanks to Stephen, Vicky, Tom, Wiley and Alexandra for their hard work behind the scenes on this one! Their moms will be proud!
That’s not all the news this week, as we also are spotlighting two new authors. Ben Farmer’s debut novel, EVANGELINE, is the latest book to be spotlighted in our One to Watch feature and was inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem of the same name. Farmer spins Longfellow’s prose into a rich novel about two lovers in 18th-century Acadia (later renamed Nova Scotia) separated as British soldiers begin pushing French settlers from the region. The story unfolds during a 10-year span at the time of the French and Indian War as the two search for each other throughout the growing colonies. Although the book is out now, we have 20 advance copies available for readers who would like to read and comment on it. Enter here by Friday, April 23rd at noon ET to be eligible.
Our second spotlighted author is Kristen Heitzmann, whose book, INDIVISIBLE, is the latest addition to our Suspense/Thriller feature. Heitzmann follows an embattled police chief as he investigates an act of animal cruelty in a small Colorado town, which escalates into the discovery that could wreak havoc on the tranquil mountain town. INDIVISIBLE will be available in stores on May 4th, but we have 20 advance copies available for readers who would like to preview it and offer feedback. Enter here by Friday, April 23rd at noon ET to be eligible.
Also, this week we have our review of EVERY LAST ONE by Anna Quindlen that I was raving about a few weeks ago. Check it out.
My comments last week about the possible closing of my hometown library sparked outrage from so many of you. Thank you for all those notes, and if I failed to reply to you, please know how much your notes resonated with me. My mom, who I am very proud of, worked the phones, got petitions signed, and spoke at the town council meeting the other night. She’s a former teacher, and education and libraries are fundamentals for her, thus this sparked a real fight in her, which I love seeing. Usually I am the only rebel rouser in my family. Monday night’s meeting needed to be moved to a bigger space to allow for the overwhelming turnout.
The library is an “easy budget item” to kill. Shut it down and $900,000 is saved. It’s easier than renegotiating with unions or looking at a number of different way to reduce costs. Here you chop and it’s done. The battle is not over yet. There is another meeting on Monday night. What’s interesting is that there is NO ONE concurring that the library should be closed. Usually on any topic there is someone who you approach who disagrees with you. Not this time.
I am taking this topic very much to heart, and we will be actively supporting it. I spoke with the American Library Association’s Washington Advocacy Team this week, and here are some tips on things you can do now:
1) Immediately check your local library and discuss with them their needs for support on a local or state level.
2) Keep your messages personal. Yes, you can sign a petition, but also ask who on the local and state level you should address a personal letter to. Email is best for reaching your national representatives. Passion matters.
3) Take note of a national event. On Tuesday, June 29th, library advocates from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will meet at Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds. The event, which will begin at 11 a.m., will feature guest speakers, photo ops, and a chance to cheer on libraries! After the rally, participants will meet with their elected officials and their staffs. I plan to be there. You can read more about this rally here.
We will continue to share more ideas on how you can work to save libraries as we gather them. I want to be sure readers have EVERY option for reading --- libraries, indy stores, chain stores, online stores, eBooks. I truly feel we need it all. There is no need for one winner. Each venue fills a need for growing lifelong readers. Also, thanks to all our readers who shared their library support and stories on our Facebook page. You can keep up with our posts here. To become a fan, join here.
This week I have been reading RICH BOY by Sharon Pomerantz, which will be in stores on August 2nd. As I am reading, I am remembering how I loved MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR, where I dropped into Marjorie’s world as created by Herman Wouk. The same thing is happening here with Robert Vishniak, who spends his life trying to escape a past that he is not proud of as he infiltrates the most elite social circles. It takes place over four decades, and the story is rich and full of detail. Pomerantz worked on it for 10 years, and her attention to the craft is evident. It’s been a very busy week, and I have enjoyed evenings and early mornings where I reach for this book. Next up will be BROKEN by Karin Slaughter, which will be in stores on June 22nd. I am seeing Karin next weekend at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books; I feel like this is “fun homework.”
Thursday I am L.A. bound for the book festival, which I look forward to each year. One author I am looking forward to seeing there is Dan Fost, who has written GIANTS PAST & PRESENT about the San Francisco Giants, which is now in stores. Now I am not a Giants fan, nor am I a huge baseball fan, but I babysat for Dan when I was in high school, so seeing that he has written a book and will be at the festival is pretty cool for me. By the way, at his book party last week, he told my mom I was his favorite babysitter. I am trying to remember if I read him any books!
Friday night I am going to be at The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood for their annual party where a terrific group of mystery and thriller writers will gather. If you are in the neighborhood, come on by. It’s always a fun evening! I confess that I barely have had time to look at the L.A. schedule yet, except for a quick glance as I have been consumed with all things mom, but their lineup in the past has made this one very busy weekend for me.
Here's to a great week...read something wonderful....
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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Now in Stores: THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE by Mary Higgins Clark |
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THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE by Mary Higgins Clark (Thriller)
In THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE, Mary Higgins Clark weaves a spellbinding thriller revolving around a long-held family secret that threatens to emerge and take the life of an unsuspecting heiress. The novel explores the juxtaposition of medical science and religious faith, and the search for identity by the daughter of a man adopted at birth. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE.
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Click here to read a review of THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE.
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Now in Stores: WRECKED by Carol Higgins Clark |
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WRECKED: A Regan Reilly Mystery by Carol Higgins Clark (Mystery)
Crime-solving couple Regan and Jack Reilly wants nothing more than to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary alone in romantic Cape Cod. But a missing woman with a mysterious past and a quirky bunch of townspeople make privacy and romance nigh on impossible --- until and unless they can get to the bottom of the malice that lurks nearby. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
-Click here to read an excerpt from WRECKED.
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Click here to read a review of WRECKED.
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Bookreporter.com's Fifth Annual Mother's Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
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Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured you. Why not brighten her special day with some great books? From April 16th through May 3rd, readers will have the chance to win one of our 15 Bookreporter.com Mother’s Day Gift Baskets. Each basket is filled with a selection of 12 books from our 36 featured titles, giving mom a book to read each month and making Mother’s Day truly a yearlong celebration. Also included are a variety of gifts to treat her: a plush blanket, a Crabtree & Evelyn Shower Flower, H2O+ Body Butter, a Jane Sun Tea soothing mask, Rose Garden Sachets, garden gloves, and, of course, some chocolates. (Please note: Colors may vary on items.)
Our featured Mother’s Day titles can be found here. With books that are moving, uplifting, humorous and informative, look no further than Bookreporter.com for the perfect gift for mom.
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Click here to read all the contest details.
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Mother's Day Author Blogs: Celebrating Authors and Their Mothers |
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Here at Bookreporter.com, Mother’s Day will be a month-long celebration with the help of some of our author friends and their mothers. During the next few weeks, we will be featuring daily blog posts from mother/daughter writing teams like Mary and Carol Higgins Clark; author moms and their author children like Sandra Brown and her son, Ryan; mothers sharing what it was like raising a future author; and authors paying tribute to their moms.
Reading these pieces will give you a new understanding and insight into the role mom played as authors got their start or followed into the literary world. Those scheduled to participate include Sue Monk Kidd, Lisa Gardner, Francine Rivers, Susan Wiggs, Cathleen Schine, Amanda Eyre Ward, Ad Hudler, Wade Rouse and many more!
We suggest you bookmark this page or set up an RSS feed so you can read these pieces every day!
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Click here to read our Mother's Day Author Blogs.
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New Featured One to Watch Author: Ben Farmer, Author of EVANGELINE
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Inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem of the same name, EVANGELINE is a brilliant debut novel by Ben Farmer. As the British drive the French out of mid-18th-century Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia), two lovers are separated on the eve of their wedding. They desperately search for each other during the course of 10 years across the landscape of pre-Revolutionary America.
We have 20 copies of EVANGELINE 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, April 23rd at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from EVANGELINE.
-Click here to read Ben Farmer's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for EVANGELINE.
More about EVANGELINE:
EVANGELINE is both a sweeping love story and a harrowing journey from Nova Scotia to New Orleans in pre-Revolutionary America. As the British drive the French out of mid-18th-century Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia), the beautiful 17-year-old Evangeline Bellefontaine is torn by British soldiers from her fiancé, Gabriel Lajeunesse, on the eve of their wedding. Heartbroken but determined, Evangeline --- along with illegal trapper Bernard Arseneau and priest Felician Abadie --- sets out on an extraordinary 10-year journey to the French-Spanish colony of Louisiana to seek her long-lost love.
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Click here to read more about Ben Farmer and EVANGELINE.
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New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Kristen Heitzmann, Author of INDIVISIBLE
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A down-on-his luck police chief makes a startling discovery in the serene Colorado mountain town of Redford in INDIVISIBLE, a psychological thriller from Kristen Heitzmann that releases on May 4th. What Jonah Westfall uncovers could threaten the civilians of this small town with catastrophic events.
We have 20 copies of INDIVISIBLE to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, April 23rd at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from INDIVISIBLE.
-Click here to read Kristen Heitzmann's bio.
-Visit Kristen Heitzmann's official website, www.KristenHeitzmann.com.
-Click here for more information about INDIVISIBLE.
More about INDIVISIBLE:
Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers --- and his fragile sobriety.
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Click here to read more about Kristen Heitzmann and INDIVISIBLE.
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Featured Fantasy Author: Richelle Mead, Author of SUCCUBUS SHADOWS |
Richelle Mead, the bestselling author of urban fantasy novels for both adults and teens, returns with SUCCUBUS SHADOWS, the fifth installment in her Georgina Kincaid series. These books tell the story of a reluctant succubus who can't touch the man she loves without dire side effects. She also must deal with Hell's middle management team and the many supernatural threats that come her way.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from SUCCUBUS SHADOWS.
-Click here to read Richelle Mead's bio.
-Click here to see Richelle Mead's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for Richelle Mead's books.
-Visit Richelle Mead's official website, www.RichelleMead.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.
More about SUCCUBUS SHADOWS:
Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals --- all child’s play to a succubus like her. Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend’s wedding is a different story. Georgina isn’t sure which is worse --- that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina’s roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there’s Simone, the new succubus in town, who’s intent on corrupting Seth.
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Click here to read more about Richelle Mead and SUCCUBUS SHADOWS.
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Now in Stores: EVERY LAST ONE by Anna Quindlen
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EVERY LAST ONE by Anna Quindlen (Fiction)
Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mother. Caring for her family and preserving their everyday life is paramount. So when one of her sons becomes depressed, Mary Beth turns her focus to him and is blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterwards is a testament to the power of a woman’s love and determination, and to the invisible line of hope and healing that connects one human being with another. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
-Click here to read an excerpt from EVERY LAST ONE.
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Click here to read a review of EVERY LAST ONE.
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Author Talk: Yann Martel, Author of BEATRICE AND VIRGIL |
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Amidst themes of truth, deception, life and art, the Holocaust takes center stage in Yann Martel’s latest novel, BEATRICE AND VIRGIL. In this interview, Martel traces his fascination with this tragic historical event back to his childhood in France, and describes how he was able to artistically approach such challenging subject matter. He also discusses the allegorical use of animals in his novels, reflects on the freedoms of utilizing fiction to portray emotional and psychological truth, and shares what he hopes his audience will gain from reading this book.
BEATRICE AND VIRGIL by Yann Martel (Fiction)
When Henry receives a letter from an elderly taxidermist, it poses a puzzle that he cannot resist. As he is pulled further into the world of this strange and calculating man, Henry becomes increasingly involved with the lives of a donkey and a howler monkey --- named Beatrice and Virgil --- and the epic journey they undertake together. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
-Click here to read a review of BEATRICE AND VIRGIL.
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Click here to read an interview with Yann Martel.
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Author Talk: Ted Dekker, Author of THE BRIDE COLLECTOR |
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In this interview, bestselling author Ted Dekker discusses what went into creating the antagonist of his latest thriller, THE BRIDE COLLECTOR, and contrasts the amount of effort it takes to write about evil characters with that of good ones. He also explains how his upbringing in Indonesia has influenced his views of societal behavior --- as well as his approach to writing in general --- reflects on the need to place labels on authors, and shares details about his next book, THE PRIEST’S GRAVEYARD, due out in April 2011.
THE BRIDE COLLECTOR by Ted Dekker (Thriller)
FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he's picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: residents of the Center for Wellness and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals who are extraordinarily gifted. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of THE BRIDE COLLECTOR.
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Click here to read an interview with Ted Dekker.
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Now in Stores: MATTERHORN by Karl Marlantes
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MATTERHORN: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes (Historical Fiction)
As ancient as THE ILIAD and as contemporary as the latest dispatch from Afghanistan, stories of war will continue to absorb and repel us. Karl Marlantes’s novel is a worthy addition to that body of literature, rising above the particularities of the conflict it describes to achieve a firm handhold on universal truth. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
-Click here to read an excerpt from MATTERHORN.
-Click here to watch an interview with Karl Marlantes.
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Click here to read a review of MATTERHORN.
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This Week's Reviews |
THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE by Maggie O’Farrell (Fiction)
Two women --- a fresh-from-the-country girl who becomes a London journalist during the 1950s and ’60s, and a Finnish émigré living in the same city today --- find their histories linked. From the author of THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX, here is a thrillingly vivid novel that evokes the most intimate textures of motherhood and the perils of family secrets. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE.
CAPITOL BETRAYAL by William Bernhardt (Legal Thriller)
William Bernhardt’s bestselling novels explore politics, power, ambition, crime and the law. Now he scales new heights of suspense as, in one harrowing day, lawyer and former senator Ben Kincaid enters the eye of an international storm, a crisis with consequences beyond calculation. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
DEEP SHADOW by Randy Wayne White (Thriller)
Thirty minutes into what should have been an easy, beginner-level dive in a remote Florida lake, the rim of a cave collapses, trapping two of Doc Ford's friends. Ford himself manages to escape and quickly surfaces to find help --- but that's when his troubles only begin. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE INHERITANCE by Simon Tolkien (Historical Thriller)
Simon Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien’s grandson, turns out his second legal thriller with THE INHERITANCE --- a tale that involves a tragic event from World War II, a falsely accused man fighting for his life in the British courts, and the deadly hunt for a priceless relic. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
OUR LADY OF IMMACULATE DECEPTION by Nancy Martin (Mystery)
Roxy Abruzzo gets more than she bargains for after “rescuing” an ancient Greek statue from the grounds of a burnt-out mansion that is about to be demolished. Roxy is one of the last people seen talking to the multi-millionaire owner before his murder, and the police --- and others --- have her in their crosshairs. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.
I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler (Biography)
In this new biography of the legendary Katharine Hepburn, esteemed biographer Charlotte Chandler draws on a series of recordings made over many years, beginning in the mid-1970s, and paints a candid portrait of the actress and the amazing life she led --- always on her own terms. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
DEAD HEAD: A Dirty Business Mystery by Rosemary Harris (Mystery)
Fugitive Mom. That’s the tabloid headline that rocks Springfield, Connecticut, when one of the town’s favorite ladies is discovered to be an escaped convict. With a little help from Lucy Cavanaugh, Paula is hired to find out which of her neighbors is a fugitive from the law and why the long-kept secret has finally come out. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.
HUNT BEYOND THE FROZEN FIRE by Gabriel Hunt as told to Christa Faust (Fiction/Action & Adventure)
Edgar Award-nominated author Christa Faust pens the fourth Gabriel Hunt adventure story and records his incredible journey beneath the frozen world of Antarctica. Hunt sets off to locate a missing research scientist and finds much more than he bargained for. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.
TO HELL ON A FAST HORSE: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West by Mark Lee Gardener (Biography)
TO HELL ON A FAST HORSE recreates the thrilling manhunt for the Wild West's most iconic outlaw. It is also the first dual biography of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, each a larger-than-life figure who would not have become legendary without the other. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
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Click here to read this week's reviews.
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Poll and Question of the Week: Library Visits |
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Poll:
What do you do at the library? Please check as many as apply.
Borrow books
Borrow audiobooks
Borrow DVDs
Borrow CDs
Read books
Read newspapers
Read magazines
Study
Use the Internet
Conduct research
Attend programs and/or workshops
Attend book club meetings
None of the above.
I do not go to the library.
-Click here to answer our poll.
Question:
What are some of the best books that your librarians have suggested to you? Name up to five.
-Click here to answer our question.
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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 April 30, 2010 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: THE BLACK CAT: A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes, DELIVER US FROM EVIL by David Baldacci, THE DOUBLE COMFORT SAFARI CLUB: The New No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel by Alexander McCall Smith, EVERY LAST ONE by Anna Quindlen and THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE by Mary Higgins Clark. Audri from Westmont, IL was last month's winner. She won CAUGHT by Harlan Coben, HELL GATE by Linda Fairstein, HUSH by Kate White, SHATTERED by Karen Robards and THINK TWICE by Lisa Scottoline.
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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