October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

And Just Like That…Thinking 2023!

This is the time of year when publicists begin to earnestly deliver pitches to Tom Donadio and myself for 2023 books. By the end of September, the pitching for 2022 has come to an end as most big books come out by mid-October. This is when with gusto we start getting pitches --- and we are attending virtual preview events daily.

Books already are coming in for 2023 as I am thinking, But but but, I still have this and this and this to read. But that and that and that look sooooo good. Oh, and did you see what else is coming in April? Yes, April. Which is six months from now. I am trying to force myself to stay in the moment as there are so many great 2022 books that I still want to share with you. But we are living in times when “the major accounts,” aka Amazon and Barnes & Noble, want books listed for sale earlier and earlier.

Can you hear me humming, “Slow down, you move too fast”?

For my latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, I had the pleasure of chatting with Alli Frank and Asha Youmans about their first two novels, TINY IMPERFECTIONS and the newly released NEVER MEANT TO MEET YOU, both of which are Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. These books are sharply smart and full of comedic timing (I laughed out loud reading them) as readers see both dialogue and inner monologue from characters.

Alli and Asha once worked together in a tony private school; Alli was a kindergarten teacher, and Asha was an administrator. Each often said, “If I ever write a book.” And then one day they joined to do just that. They talk about their co-writing process and share how their different backgrounds --- Alli is white and Jewish, Asha is Black and Baptist --- inform their writing realistic characters. At a time when diversity is being touted in publishing, Alli and Asha are creating characters that talk the talk --- and make you laugh.

Be sure to watch the video or listen to the podcast. We will share our review with you over the next couple of weeks. If you missed my Bets On commentary from last week, you can check that out here.

This is your last Bookreporter newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event, which will take place next Thursday, October 27th at 8pm ET.

Our guest will be Joyce Maynard, and we will be talking about her most recent novel, COUNT THE WAYS, which released in paperback this summer. According to Ann Hood, “COUNT THE WAYS is the book you will want to curl up in a chair and read from beginning to end. It’s rich and complex, beautiful and heartbreaking, just like life. Reading about this flawed and lovely family will make you want to hug your own flawed and lovely family tight. Joyce Maynard celebrates the messy, wonderful thing that is love.” I am reading it now…and I am loving it!

You can register for the event by clicking here. If you would like to ask Joyce a question on camera during the event and chat with her in our “backstage green room” before the event, please email me with your question using the subject line “Joyce” by Thursday the 27th at noon ET. Those who are camera shy can send their questions via the Q&A feature on Zoom.

LIBERATION DAY is George Saunders’ first collection of short stories since the 2013 publication of TENTH OF DECEMBER. This time, Saunders explores ideas of power, ethics and justice and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans.

In her review, Eileen Zimmerman Nicol says, “Reading these tales is like unwrapping a package, removing one layer only to find another underneath, accumulating clues about the rules of the story’s twisted culture…. LIBERATION DAY is good news for fans of this quirky, wholly original author. These stories will make you laugh; they will challenge, disturb and stay with you. This book will go on my shelf alongside his others, to be experienced again.”

Other books we’re reviewing this week include:

• AND THERE WAS LIGHT: Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln, charting how --- and why --- he confronted secession, threats to democracy and the tragedy of slavery to expand the possibilities of America.
   
• THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN: Here is the raw, candid, unvarnished memoir of iconic actor Paul Newman, who covers his traumatic childhood; his career; his drinking; his greatest roles; acting; his intimate life with Joanne Woodward; and his innermost fears, passions and joys. This one arrived at the house the other day, and I thought, I have to show my mom this. Missing Mom moment #1003.
   
• SIGNAL FIRES: On a summer night in 1985, three teenagers have been drinking. One of them gets behind the wheel of a car --- and, in an instant, everything changes. In Dani Shapiro’s first work of fiction in 15 years, she has penned a novel that examines the ties that bind families together --- and the secrets that can break them apart.
   
• A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES: John Rebus stands accused --- on trial for a crime that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. It’s not the first time he has taken the law into his own hands, though it might be the last. But what drove a good man to cross the line? Find out in Ian Rankin’s 24th installment in his series starring the legendary detective.

I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On pick is HONOR by Thrity Umrigar, which released in paperback this week. Click here for my commentary. I had a fabulous discussion with Thrity today, and we will bring you my interview with her next week.

Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, November 4th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win NO PLAN B, Lee Child and Andrew Child's new Jack Reacher thriller, and MY TRAVELS WITH MRS. KENNEDY, Clint Hill’s memoir that he wrote with his wife, Lisa McCubbin Hill.

During last week's “Bookaccino Live” event, I mentioned that a CBS crew had been at Andrew Child's home shooting video. The piece will air tomorrow on “CBS Saturday Morning”.

Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’re curious about what you typically do after reading the Bookreporter newsletter and our reviews. Click here to let us know!

Our previous poll asked if you read before you go to sleep at night. Here are the results: Every night (59%), Most nights (25%), Some nights (12%), Never (5%).

The 2022 Booker Prize has been awarded to Shehan Karunatilaka for his second novel, THE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA. The book tells the story of a war photographer who has woken up dead in what seems to be a celestial visa office. He has "seven moons" to try and solve the mystery of his death and to help unveil a cache of photos that will rock war-torn Sri Lanka. It is worth noting that Karunatilka is the second Sri Lankan author to win the Booker Prize, following Michael Ondaatje, who won in 1992 for THE ENGLISH PATIENT. Click here to read more about Karunatilaka and his searing satire.

Celeste Ng, whose latest novel is OUR MISSING HEARTS, has been named the 2022 official spokesperson for Indies First, a national campaign to encourage readers to “shop local.” In this video, she talks about her love of indie bookstores as they are centers of community where she can meet new people and encounter new ideas.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Betty wrote, “The question about nighttime reading made me chuckle. I started when I was about nine years old, reading Nancy Drew books by flashlight with the covers over my head so my mom wouldn’t know. I don’t know how many batteries I went through, but I often fell asleep before turning the light off. It’s now 65+ years later, and although I’m long past Nancy Drew, I still love to read every night.”

Kathy wrote, “My husband and I went to the Morristown festival for the first time. We had a great time. Although we didn’t get to meet you, it was like having a friend there as we watched you moderating the programs! We saw about six or seven authors and enjoyed every moment. We also saw James Patterson that night. There is a big difference between a new author’s debut book and a well-seasoned author. You did a great job interviewing everyone, and it was fun to actually see you in person.”

Gretchen wrote regarding my quandary about what to knit next, and she suggested socks. I responded, “I think my sons put you up to this! Great idea, but I confess socks are not my thing. I do not wear them, even in winter. But thanks for sharing your idea! They think I am a terrible mom knitter for not making them socks!” I bought more mohair yarn to make the Airplane Scarf that I started a few years ago but gave up on because I really needed metal needles. Onward!

“The Watcher” on Netflix: The house that this series is based on is located in a town near me. The traffic on that block and the blocks around it has been out of control!

“The Crown” on Netflix: Here’s the trailer for season five, which kicks off on Wednesday, November 9th.

Back when I worked at Conde Nast, I remembered a model named Paulina Porizkova. She was the cover girl on many a Mademoiselle magazine. She was stunning, originally from Czechoslovakia. In stores November 15th is her book, NO FILTER: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, a collection of essays about her life that is being published by Maria Shriver’s new imprint, The Open Field.

I knew of Paulina at a specific time in her life. I did not remember that she married Ric Ocasek from The Cars. I do recall hearing that she was widowed three years ago, but her husband had left her out of the will. These essays are like little vignettes. I forgot that often cover girls were paid just $100 for a shoot. The real money was in catalogs. She also details the conditions where models often hustled from one outfit to another on a shoot. In one story, she describes models getting changed in the back of a van and then racing out to take another shot before the light changed. And often they were wearing the opposite season’s clothes, such as winter clothing in summer, based on the timing of a shoot.

I feel like Paulina lays it all out --- the good and the bad...and yes, the beautiful. She notes she had a ghostwriter, but you can feel that the heart of the stories is all hers.

They called for frost this week. So I raced around picking flowers last week, then we raced around covering the flowers, and I am not sure the frost happened. Now it’s warming up over the weekend, so I have to race around and pull the coverings off. You can see the flowers above, including a gorgeous basket of them that was created by our friends Carolyn and Dennis.

My friend Annmarie is coming over on Saturday morning to watch the Hachette Book Club Brunch event online with me. She is bringing the bagels, and I will get us connected to the television to view the program on the “big screen.”

The rest of the weekend will be house cleanup inside and out. You can imagine the groans that I am getting about this around here. But in brighter news, we FINALLY settled on a hot tub, and it will be here before Thanksgiving. Yep, Tom and I can really overthink things. But he did bring up a great point that neither of us had thought about. How ARE they going to get this into the backyard? So, yes, this weekend we will be measuring! Years ago, when they put part of the fence in, they asked, “Will you ever need to get a truck into the back of the house?” to which we said, “No...” Well, we might not have thought THAT through!

Read on, and have a great week.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!

Featured Review:
THE BOYS FROM BILOXI by John Grisham

THE BOYS FROM BILOXI by John Grisham (Legal Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Michael Beck
For most of the last hundred years, Biloxi was known for its beaches, resorts and seafood industry. But it had a darker side. It was also notorious for corruption and vice, everything from gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor and drugs to contract killings. The vice was controlled by a small cabal of mobsters, many of them rumored to be members of the Dixie Mafia. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi in the ’60s and were childhood friends, as well as Little League all-stars. But as teenagers, their lives took them in different directions. Keith’s father became a legendary prosecutor, determined to “clean up the Coast.” Hugh’s father became the “Boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underground. The two families were headed for a showdown, one that would happen in a courtroom. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: THE LAST CHAIRLIFT by John Irving

Featured Review: LIBERATION DAY by George Saunders

LIBERATION DAY: Stories by George Saunders (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by George Saunders and a full cast
In his first collection of short stories since TENTH OF DECEMBER, George Saunders explores ideas of power, ethics and justice and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans. “Love Letter” is a tender missive from grandfather to grandson in the midst of a dystopian political situation in the (not-too-distant, all-too-believable) future. “Ghoul” is set in a Hell-themed section of an underground amusement park and follows the exploits of a lonely, morally complex character who comes to question everything he takes for granted about his reality. And “My House” --- in a mere seven pages --- comes to terms with the haunting nature of unfulfilled dreams and the inevitability of decay. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Bookreporter.com Bets On: HONOR by Thrity Umrigar
Now Available in Paperback

HONOR by Thrity Umrigar (Fiction)
I discovered Thrity Umrigar’s work back in 2006 when I read THE SPACE BETWEEN US. It’s a book from which I drew so much meaning; I still know exactly where it is on my bookshelf. Her latest novel, HONOR, once again brought me memorable characters and a lot to think about.

In it, Smita, an Indian American journalist, has been asked by her colleague, Shannon, to cover the verdict of a trial in a small Indian village for her. For years, Smita has traveled the world working on stories but with one proviso: she will not go to India. However, Shannon convinces her that this assignment is urgent. Meena, a young Hindu woman, married a Muslim man. Her family is so shamed by this union that a horrific act of violence was committed on the couple by her brothers. And they are on trial.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.

Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.

Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with
Thrity Umrigar in next week's newsletter.

Featured Review:
AND THERE WAS LIGHT by Jon Meacham

AND THERE WAS LIGHT: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Jon Meacham
Hated and hailed, excoriated and revered, Abraham Lincoln was at the pinnacle of American power when implacable secessionists gave no quarter in a clash of visions bound up with money, race, identity and faith. In him we can see the possibilities of the presidency as well as its limitations. At once familiar and elusive, Lincoln tends to be seen as the greatest of American presidents --- a remote icon --- or as a politician driven more by calculation than by conviction. This illuminating new portrait gives us a very human Lincoln --- an imperfect man whose moral antislavery commitment began as he grew up in an antislavery Baptist community; who insisted that slavery was a moral evil; and who sought, as he put it, to do right as God gave him to see the right. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN
by Paul Newman

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN: A Memoir written by Paul Newman, edited by David Rosenthal (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by various narrators
In 1986, Paul Newman and his closest friend, screenwriter Stewart Stern, began an extraordinary project. Stuart was to compile an oral history, to have Newman’s family and friends and those who worked closely with him, talk about the actor’s life. And then Newman would work with Stewart and give his side of the story. The only stipulation was that anyone who spoke on the record had to be completely honest. That same stipulation applied to Newman himself. The project lasted five years. The result is an extraordinary memoir, culled from thousands of pages of transcripts. Newman’s voice is powerful, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, always meeting that high standard of searing honesty. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review: SIGNAL FIRES by Dani Shapiro

SIGNAL FIRES by Dani Shapiro (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Dani Shapiro
On a summer night in 1985, three teenagers have been drinking. One of them gets behind the wheel of a car, and, in an instant, everything on Division Street changes. Each of their lives, and that of Ben Wilf, a young doctor who arrives on the scene, is shattered. For the Wilf family, the circumstances of that fatal accident will become the deepest kind of secret, one so dangerous it can never be spoken. On Division Street, time has moved on. When the Shenkmans arrive --- a young couple expecting a baby boy --- it is as if the accident never happened. But when Waldo, the Shenkmans’ brilliant, lonely son who marvels at the beauty of the world and has a native ability to find connections in everything, befriends Dr. Wilf, past events come hurtling back in ways no one ever could have foreseen. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.

Click here to read our review.

Featured Review:
A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES by Ian Rankin

More Reviews This Week

MAKING A SCENE by Constance Wu (Memoir/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Constance Wu
Growing up in the friendly suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu was often scolded for having big feelings or strong reactions. “Good girls don’t make scenes,” people warned her. And while she spent most of her childhood suppressing her bold, emotional nature, she found an early outlet in local community theater. At 18 she moved to New York, where she’d spend the next 10 years of her life auditioning, waiting tables and struggling to make rent before her two big breaks: the TV sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” and the hit film Crazy Rich Asians. Through raw and relatable essays, Constance shares private memories of childhood, young love and heartbreak, sexual assault and harassment, and how she “made it” in Hollywood. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

POSTER GIRL by Veronica Roth (Dystopian Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Anna Caputo
What’s right is right. Sonya Kantor knows this slogan --- she lived by it for most of her life. For decades, everyone in the Seattle-Portland megalopolis lived under it, as well as constant surveillance in the form of the Insight, an ocular implant that tracked every word and every action, rewarding or punishing by a rigid moral code set forth by the Delegation. Then there was a revolution. The Delegation fell. Its most valuable members were locked in the Aperture, a prison on the outskirts of the city. And everyone else went on with their lives. Sonya, former poster girl for the Delegation, has been imprisoned for 10 years when an old enemy comes to her with a deal: find a missing girl who was stolen from her parents by the old regime and earn her freedom. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

THE ORACLE OF MARACOOR by Gregory Maguire (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Debra Wise
THE ORACLE OF MARACOOR continues the story of Elphaba’s green-skinned granddaughter, Rain. That strange land, Maracoor --- across the ocean from Oz --- is beset by an invading army. In the mayhem, Rain and Cossy, a child felon, break out of prison. Helped by a few flying monkeys, they struggle to escape the city before it falls under siege. Their arresting officer, Lucikles, also retreats with his family to a highland redoubt. But safety eludes them all. Chaos thunders upon them in the form of warriors, refugees and brigands. The very fabric of reality loosens, liberating creatures of myth and legend. Cued in by secrets known only to the most highly placed members of the royal court, Rain and her companions hunt the fabled Oracle of Maracoor for guidance and soothsaying. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE GRANDEST STAGE: A History of the World Series by Tyler Kepner (Sports/History)
Audiobook available, read by Tyler Kepner
The World Series is the most enduring showcase in American team sports. It’s the place where legends are made, where celebration and devastation can hinge on a fly ball off a foul pole or a grounder beneath a first baseman’s glove. In THE GRANDEST STAGE, New York Times national baseball columnist Tyler Kepner delivers an indelible portrait of baseball’s signature event. He digs deep for essential tales dating back to the beginning in 1903, adding insights from Hall of Famers like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Jim Palmer, Dennis Eckersley and many others who have thrived --- and failed --- when it mattered most. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).

WAGING A GOOD WAR: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968 by Thomas E. Ricks (History)
Audiobook available, read by JD Jackson
In WAGING A GOOD WAR, Thomas E. Ricks offers a fresh perspective on America’s greatest moral revolution --- the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s --- and its legacy today. While the Movement has become synonymous with Martin Luther King Jr.’s ethos of nonviolence, Ricks, a Pulitzer Prize–winning war reporter, draws on his deep knowledge of tactics and strategy to note the surprising affinities between that ethos and the organized pursuit of success at war. The greatest victories for Black Americans of the past century, he stresses, were won not by idealism alone, but by paying attention to recruiting, training, discipline and organization --- the hallmarks of any successful military campaign. Reviewed by Sam Johnson.

EYES TURNED SKYWARD by Alena Dillon (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nancy Peterson
Kathy Begley is an empty nester, the primary caretaker of her ailing mother, and the emotional support for her laid-off husband. She’s also returning to the office after two decades to work under a borderline inappropriate boss. Then a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony invitation arrives, and she uncovers an unfathomable family secret: her mother, Peggy Mayfield, was a Women Airforce Service Pilot. Peggy jumped at the opportunity to become a WASP, the first American female to fly military aircraft. Once a spunky flyer, Peggy is now filled with regret as she confronts the end of her life, but Kathy is determined to make her last months count by securing Peggy long-overdue recognition and forgiving her before it’s too late. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

IN PLAIN VIEW: The Daily Lives of Amish Women by Judy Stavisky (Memoir)
What does the life of an Amish woman really look like? Over the course of a decade, author Judy Stavisky, a curious outsider, spent hundreds of hours getting to know the women of Pennsylvania's Lancaster County Amish community to find out the answer to this question. She joined mothers and grandmothers, unmarried women and teens, on their shopping excursions for household items, fabric and groceries. They drove miles between undulating fields and shared hundreds of hours of conversation on everyday topics. As relationships evolved into enduring friendships, she grew to understand firsthand how Amish women bind their families and communities together. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 25th

Below are some notable titles releasing on October 25th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of October 24th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.

ANYWHERE YOU RUN by Wanda M. Morris (Historical Thriller)
From the award-winning author of ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS comes yet another gripping, suspenseful novel where, after the murder of a white man in Jim Crow Mississippi, two Black sisters run away to different parts of the country. But can they escape the secrets they left behind?

THE LAST FOLK HERO: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson by Jeff Pearlman (Sports/Biography)
From the New York Times bestselling author of SHOWTIME --- the source for HBO’s "Winning Time" --- comes the definitive biography of mythic multi-sport star Bo Jackson.

LIVID: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Mystery/Thriller)
Chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself a reluctant star witness in a sensational televised murder trial causing chaos in Old Town Alexandria with the threat of violent protests.

LOOK BOTH WAYS by Linwood Barclay (Thriller)
Inspired by his decades-long love of cars, internationally bestselling author Linwood Barclay envisions a world in which automotive technology outpaces our wildest dreams --- and our darkest nightmares --- in a gripping new novel of action and suspense.

MY TRAVELS WITH MRS. KENNEDY by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin Hill (Memoir)
The #1 New York Times bestselling authors of MRS. KENNEDY AND ME reveal never-before-told stories of Secret Service Agent Clint Hill’s travels with Jacqueline Kennedy through Europe, Asia and South America.

NO PLAN B: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Thriller)
In Gerrardsville, Colorado, a woman dies under the wheels of a moving bus. The death is ruled a suicide. But Jack Reacher saw what really happened. When another homicide is ruled an accident, he knows this is no coincidence. With a killer on the loose, Reacher has no time to waste to track down those responsible.

THE PASSENGER by Cormac McCarthy (Fiction)
The bestselling, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE ROAD returns with the first of a two-volume masterpiece. THE PASSENGER is the story of a salvage diver, haunted by loss, afraid of the watery deep, pursued for a conspiracy beyond his understanding, and longing for a death he cannot reconcile with God.

THE REVOLUTIONARY: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff (Biography)
THE REVOLUTIONARY is a revelatory biography of arguably the most essential Founding Father --- the one who stood behind the change in thinking that produced the American Revolution.

THE RISE OF THE DRAGON: An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One by George R. R. Martin, Elio M. Garcia, Jr. and Linda Antonsson (Fantasy)
This lavish visual history --- featuring over 180 all-new illustrations --- is a stunning introduction to House Targaryen, the iconic family at the heart of HBO’s "Game of Thrones" prequel series, "House of the Dragon."

THE SINGULARITIES by John Banville (Fiction)
From revered Booker Prize-winning author John Banville comes a playful, multilayered novel of nostalgia, life and death, and quantum theory, which opens with the return of one of his most celebrated characters as he is released from prison.

THE SONG OF THE CELL: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Medicine/History)
From the author of THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and THE GENE, a #1 New York Times bestseller, comes his most spectacular book yet --- an exploration of medicine and our radical new ability to manipulate cells.

THIEF OF FATE: A Providence Falls Novel by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets (Romance/Magical Realism)
If he truly loves her, he’ll break her heart. THIEF OF FATE is the powerful conclusion to Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets’ Providence Falls series.

Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.

From left to right: Andrew Child & Lee Child, George R. R. Martin

Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events

As many book and author events are still happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.

Monday, October 24th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Wanda M. Morris will talk about her new novel, ANYWHERE YOU RUN, with Mystery & Thriller Maven’s Sara DiVello. After the murder of a white man in Jim Crow Mississippi, two Black sisters run away to different parts of the country. But can they escape the secrets they left behind?

Monday, October 24th at 7pm ET: Random House: Join Random House for a conversation with George R. R. Martin as he discusses all things Targaryen. The program will feature a moderated discussion with George; a special video about the illustrations featured in THE RISE OF THE DRAGON; an audience Q&A; and videos from HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”

Tuesday, October 25th at 1pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Jess Kidd will join members of the Simon & Schuster team to discuss her new novel, THE NIGHT SHIP, which is October's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites and this month's Barnes & Noble Book Club selection.

Wednesday, October 26th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome the #1 New York Times bestselling authors of the Jack Reacher series, Lee Child and Andrew Child, for a live virtual event to celebrate the release of NO PLAN B as part of the B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Lee and Andrew will be in conversation with Ruth Ware.

Wednesday, October 26th at 5pm ET: Books & Books: Books & Books is excited to partner with McNally Jackson and other independent bookstores around the U.S. to present an evening with John Banville in conversation with Alexandra Kleeman about his new novel, THE SINGULARITIES.

Wednesday, October 26th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner about their new novel, WHEN WE HAD WINGS, along with Sunday Times bestselling author Santa Montefiore.

Thursday, October 27th at 8pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Joyce Maynard about her novel, COUNT THE WAYS, which is now in paperback. Joyce also will answer questions from guests who will be "on stage," as well as from other members of the audience. If you would like to be one of our featured audience guests and ask Joyce a question on camera, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Joyce” by Thursday the 27th at noon ET.

 "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts

“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)

Here is our latest interview:

• Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (NEVER MEANT TO MEET YOU) Video | Podcast

Other authors we've interviewed include:

• Julie Clark (THE LIES I TELL) Video | Podcast
• Bonnie Garmus (LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY) Video | Podcast
• Jane Green (SISTER STARDUST) Video | Podcast
• Jennifer Hillier (THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK) Video | Podcast
• Sally Koslow (THE REAL MRS. TOBIAS) Video | Podcast
• Lynda Cohen Loigman (THE MATCHMAKER'S GIFT) Video | Podcast
• Gilly Macmillan (THE LONG WEEKEND) Video | Podcast
• Sarah McCoy (MUSTIQUE ISLAND) Video | Podcast
• Meg Mitchell Moore (VACATIONLAND) Video | Podcast
• Chris Pavone (TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON) Video | Podcast
• Tom Perrotta (TRACY FLICK CAN'T WIN) Video | Podcast
• Kim Michele Richardson (THE BOOK WOMAN'S DAUGHTER) Podcast
• Katie Runde (THE SHORE) Video | Podcast
• Casey Sherman (HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod)
  Video | Podcast
• Amanda Eyre Ward (THE LIFEGUARDS) Video | Podcast

Upcoming interviews include:

• Jamie Fiore Higgins (BULLY MARKET: My Story of Money and Misogyny at Goldman Sachs)
• Scott Shepherd (SHOULD I FALL)
• Thrity Umrigar (HONOR)

Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.

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