June 8, 2012

I wish that I had worn a pedometer this week when I walked around BookExpo America (BEA)! It literally was miles of aisles of walking to see books --- and authors. Yesterday was the only time I had to stroll the floor to see “everything.” In summing up what happens at BEA, three times Greg and I headed towards one booth that we wanted to visit and got sidetracked, and only today did I realize that I never made it there. This week has been all about discovering gems you can't wait to read and talking about old favorites. You start out with one plan and then something else catches your eye. It was a really informative and eventful few days, and I have stacks of notes to review to line up what's going to be a stellar fall/winter of reading. Not to mention summer!

There were some kismet reader moments too, running into our newsletter subscribers on the floor and in various meeting rooms. Most often, I was recognized by what I was wearing; yes, it was turquoise. A few times, Greg was with me as well, and it was fun introducing him to readers, who in his words “remembered far more about him than he would have expected.” There were many, many highlights these past few days, and the entire staff took reams of notes on books we will be featuring and anecdotes to share in the weeks and months to come. Many of the big author presentations will be available via streaming from the BEA website, which you can access here.

Also, we have something else special to share. This year, a special eBook called Buzz Books 2012 was created with exclusive excerpts from over 30 highly-anticipated books from the fall/winter 2012 publishing season that you can download and read for free right now. Consider this a great way to get a taste of what’s to come in the months ahead. Click here for details on how you can download new work from Junot Díaz, Mark Helprin, Rhoda Janzen, Barbara Kingsolver, Dennis Lehane, J.R. Moehringer, Neil Young, and other well-known authors.

BEA also means there is a week-long stretch of really fabulous and fun parties, which bring even more opportunity for book-themed conversation. Often these events are a string of hi, hi, hi's and lots of laughs and smiles. Caught doing that with me above is Dorothea Benton Frank, whose book PORCH LIGHTS will be out on Tuesday, June 12th.

In the midst of the BEA book lovefest came word that Ray Bradbury had died. I had the pleasure of seeing Bradbury speak twice: the first time in Spring 2007 at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, which you can read more about here, and the second time at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2009, which I wrote about here. We immediately reached out to our brilliant science fiction/fantasy reviewer, Steve Hubbard, who wrote a poignant and beautful tribute to Bradbury where he noted a coincidence that happened this week that many may have missed. I remember that Bradbury wanted to be buried on Mars and so hoped that space travel would be available for him to make that happen. We lost one talented and charismatic author this week; I treasure that I got to meet him.

Also, more than a decade ago, when another division of our company built his website, there was a video shoot at his home. Look at this page to enjoy those. Note you will need to have Quicktime downloaded to view them.

Back on earth, it's time to bring out the Cheerwine to toast Mary Kay Andrews on the publication of SPRING FEVER, which is a completely delightful summer read and a Women's Fiction Author Spotlight title here at Bookreporter.com. In it, Annajane thinks she's over her ex-husband, Mason. But when she attends his wedding, everything changes, and she realizes she might want him back. Reviewer Jamie Layton says, "Suffice it to say that with the first day of summer looming, and a beach chair or hammock beckoning, there’s no better way to get your summer reading started than by catching a little Spring Fever. You’ll be lost at the first chapter and probably won’t look up again until you finish, having thoroughly enjoyed the escape provided by this excellent summer read..."We also have an interview with Mary Kay, where she shares her thoughts on marriage, friendship and commitment, and reveals one of her favorite Southern treats.

I have TWO Bookreporter.com Bets On selections to share this week, and I am wild about BOTH!

First we have THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty. Only a few years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a 15-year-old Louise Brooks left Wichita to make it big in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a 36-year-old chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. But ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever. You can see why I loved THE CHAPERONE here, and reviewer Norah Piehl has this to say: "THE CHAPERONE is a fascinating portrait not only of a famous historical figure too little known these days, but also of the equally compelling 'ordinary' woman who Moriarty imagines at her side."

My other Bets On selection is THE INNOCENTS by Francesca Segal. In it, Adam Newman has been dating Rachel Gilbert since they were both 16, and now they are finally planning to marry. But as the vast machinery of the wedding gathers momentum, Adam feels the first faint touches of claustrophobia. And when Rachel’s younger cousin moves home, Adam starts questioning everything. You can read why I am betting you will love it here. Norah also reviews this book, saying, "[THE INNOCENTS] offers genuine insights into the present-day Jewish community's ongoing evolution and current challenges, as well as the fears of commitment that haunt every relationship at one time or another. Stylish, sexy and smart, THE INNOCENTS does nothing less than transform Wharton's beloved novel into a new drama for current times."

We have a very special contest for those of you in book groups that we have just announced on ReadingGroupGuides.com. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Edith Wharton's birth, as well as the release of THE INNOCENTS and another Wharton-inspired novel that we will be sharing with you as a Bets On selection next week, GILDED AGE by Claire McMillan, we are doing a special summer-long feature and contest. Click here to read more about this opportunity that I am really excited to be sharing with you.

Moving onward to thrillers, we also have a review of ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE IMPERATIVE by Eric Van Lustbader. When Bourne finds a body in the freezing sea, he is led into a complex mission to save his agent friend, Rebeka, and hunt down a killer that may not even exist. Reviewer Ray Palen says, "Lustbader keeps the action and plot moving forward, and the tension never lets up.... [The author] has more than done his part in paying it forward to fans of the Bourne series, and we surely have not heard the last of Jason Bourne."

Our Summer Reading Contest and Feature continues featuring the kinds of books you cannot wait to tuck into your vacation bag. For those of you who do not know the drill, we will be spotlighting a different Summer Reading title each day from Monday through Thursday, offering a daily contest that starts at noon ET where you can win one of five copies of the book! Check the site now to see if you were a winner in this week's contests, which included the aforementioned THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty; TO BE SUNG UNDERWATER by Tom McNeal, our current Paperback Spotlight title; and FATHER'S DAY: A Journey into the Mind and Heart of My Extraordinary Son by Buzz Bissinger in audiobook format.

Next week’s Summer Reading contest titles are BEACH SEASON by Lisa Jackson, Cathy Lamb, Holly Chamberlin and Rosalind Noonan; PARK LANE by Frances Osborne; and THE QUEEN’S VOW: A Novel of Isabella of Castile by C.W. Gortner. Click here for details on these books and how to enter.

Race on over to enter our Seventh Annual Father's Day Contest, which is only open until Tuesday, June 12th at noon ET. The prize is a great collection of TEN "Dad-worthy" books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions: THE COLDEST NIGHT by Robert Olmstead, DAMAGE CONTROL by John Gilstrap, THE FAMILY CORLEONE by Ed Falco, IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS by Erik Larson, LEHRTER STATION by David Downing, MAN MADE by Joel Stein, ON PAR: The Everyday Golfer's Survival Guide by Bill Pennington, ONE SHOT AT FOREVER by Chris Ballard, OPERATION NAPOLEON by Arnaldur Indridason, and TO THE LAST BREATH by Francis Slakey. Five winners will receive all the books we’re featuring, along with a cooler that is touted to keep contents cold for two days, a striped beach towel, sunblock and Dunkin' Donuts coffee. There is a theme going here of items that can keep dads reading poolside and wide awake to read at night.

And speaking of Father’s Day, we’ll be celebrating for the next two weeks with some of our author friends in our Father's Day blog series. We’re sharing a variety of pieces --- both entertaining and emotional ---- from a diverse list of authors through Father’s Day. So far, we’ve featured Dan Zevin on making his kids proud; Francis Slakey on sharing stories with his dad; Lisa Brackmann on the inspiration her father gave her; Anthony Swofford on how to "make a short story long" with his dad; and Chris Cleave on the "perks of fatherhood" (you MUST see the drawing that accompanies this piece). This weekend, we’ll be hearing from Anita Amirrezvani and C.W. Gortner.

Our month-long Audiobook blog series continues with pieces from authors who recorded their own audiobooks in celebration of Audiobook Month. So far, we have featured Richard Miniter, Anna Quindlen, Jack Gantos, Janis Ian, David Maraniss, Jim Bouton, Jenny Lawson and Meg Jay. This weekend, we will “hear” from A.J. Jacobs and Rachel Simon.

Continuing with our theme of celebrating Audiobook Month, our poll this week is about audiobooks. Do you listen to books? If so, when or where? Weigh in and let us know. On our last poll, 77% of you have more than 10 shelves of books; we clearly should have set the qualifiers higher. I counted my shelves today…101! My husband would love me to pare them down, but it’s not happening. Hey, he married a woman who has 17 years of Mademoiselle magazines in the attic as well as 20 years of Rolling Stone magazines.

Our Word of Mouth contest continues! Let us know what you’re reading for a chance to win THE CONVICTION by Robert Dugoni, HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL by Robert Goolrick, and THE RED HOUSE by Mark Haddon. I have read all three, and they will be nice prizes for five winners.

A new month means a new New in Paperback roundup! This month, we are featuring such titles as THE LITIGATORS by John Grisham, DOUBLE DEXTER by Jeff Lindsay, THE SILENT GIRL: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen and THE SIXES by Kate White.

We also have June's Books on Screen feature for you this week! There are some great summer blockbusters to look forward to this month, including Snow White and the Huntsman, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Bel Ami. Meanwhile, the small screen features the new A&E show "Longmire" and Season 3 of "Rizzoli and Isles," which premiered on Tuesday.

Sad to read that I’ll Have Another will not be getting a chance to do just that in the Belmont Stakes tomorrow; it would have been fun to watch! The weekend is all about reading and relaxing. It’s a case of “What do I read first?” Then it’s the season finale of "Mad Men" (a season that to me is ending much better than it started), as well as the start of the finale of “The Killing.” For the record, I feel like “The Killing” has had 16 endings!

Here’s to a great week of reading. Hope you find something here that you love!

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

Summer is just around the corner! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contest and Feature. We will be spotlighting a different title on select days through July 31st, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter. We also will be sending a special daily newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, June 11th at noon ET.

This year’s featured titles include:

• Beach Season by Lisa Jackson, Cathy Lamb, Holly Chamberlin and Rosalind Noonan
• The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
• The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
• The Color of Tea by Hannah Tunnicliffe
• The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey
• Father's Day: A Journey into the Mind and Heart of My Extraordinary Son by Buzz Bissinger
• The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair
• Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close
• MACBETH written by William Shakespeare, performed by Alan Cumming
• Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
• Night Watch by Linda Fairstein
• Park Lane by Frances Osborne
• The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile by C. W. Gortner
• To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal
• Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? From now through June 12th, readers will have the chance to win a collection of 10 books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five winners will receive all the books we’re featuring, along with a cooler that is touted to keep contents cold for two days, a striped beach towel, sunblock and Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

This year's featured titles are:

• THE COLDEST NIGHT by Robert Olmstead
• DAMAGE CONTROL by John Gilstrap
• THE FAMILY CORLEONE by Ed Falco
• IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson
• LEHRTER STATION by David Downing
• MAN MADE: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity by Joel Stein
• ON PAR: The Everyday Golfer's Survival Guide by Bill Pennington
• ONE SHOT AT FOREVER: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season by Chris Ballard
• OPERATION NAPOLEON by Arnaldur Indridason
• TO THE LAST BREATH: A Memoir of Going to Extremes by Francis Slakey