Is your Hump Day in need of a pick-me-up? Check out the new trailer for The Book of the Shepherd (9780061732300), on sale 10/27, and see why Paulo Coelho calls it “a timeless story about one man who is seeking ‘the new way’…an inspiring and moving fable.”
We all know that good books can make me cry as much as a sad movie. Well, add 'book trailer' to the list. I was definitely choking up watching the video below for Notes Left Behind, the true story of a six-year-old girl named Elena and her battle against brain cancer. Written through the eyes of her parents, Keith and Brooke Desserich, as a remembrance for her younger sister, her story is truly inspirational. Browse inside the book, check out the trailer, and share it with someone you care about.
-Kayleigh
It's official: The Pioneer Woman is a web sensation. Check out the e-card below for all the info you need on Ree Drummond and her beautiful new cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks.
Here on 53rd street we are all about showing love to Jess Walter's latest book, The Financial Lives of the Poets. And, it turns, out, we're not alone. Sara Nelson hailed it as the "ultimate something-for-everyone-don’t-skip-must-read," Time Magazine called it “the funniest way-we-live-now book of the year,” and the hilarious-in-his-own-right Nick Hornby said it “made me laugh more than any other book published this year. Walter is one of my favorite young American writers, and he deserves to be huge.” I have to add my voice to the chorus: Walter's writing is sharp, authentic, and very, very funny. Be sure to browse inside, watch the trailer, or head on over to The Olive Reader for your chance to win a free copy!
-Kayleigh
What reminds you of Autumn? Pumpkins, apple-picking, that first brisk chill in the air? How about Banned Books Week? BBW takes place every year during the last week of September and recognizes the efforts of booksellers, teachers, and librarians who ensure that we, as citizens, have open access to information. It's a time to reflect on the vital importance of our First Amendment rights. Take a peek at what Ken Davis has to say about BBW, get more info from the American Library Association, and check out this list of frequently challenged titles, including To Kill A Mockingbird, Native Son, Rebecca, and Brave New World. What's your favorite challenged book?
-Kayleigh
Yesterday we hosted a fantastic interview with Lizzie Skurnick and Nancy Pearl on our Blog Talk Radio show (you might have read about it here and here). Nancy and Lizzie dished on both popular and underrated YA classics, and there was certainly plenty to talk about. If you didn't get a chance to tune in, the show is now archived for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
I am so excited about this new book that I had to share it with everyone. Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage, by Christopher Andersen is a fascinating book into the lives of "America's First Couple".
Barack and Michelle, (on sale now) gives us an inside look into their marriage and how they are making it a successful one. Given everything they have to handle, whether it is trying to "save the country", raising a family or facing the reality of public scrutiny, they carry themselves with their heads held high, while never forgetting the love they have for one another. Barack and Michelle also takes us back to their respective lives before they met and how despite the odds, progressed into very successful individuals.
In today's society where couples are getting divorced faster than we can blink, it is so refreshing to see an example of a marriage that does work. Barack and Michelle gives those of us that are single hope that a marriage can survive the trials, tribulations and successes of life. It also serves as a benchmark for married couples to remind them of why they got married and hopefully how they can stay that way.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Bloggers are buzzing about our latest Blog Talk Radio interview! Tomorrow, on Wednesday September 23rd at 3 pm EST, librarian extraordinaire Nancy Pearl will be interviewing Lizzie Skurnick, Jezebel contributor and the author of Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading. A special thanks to the following bloggers who have helped spread the word: Pop Culture Junkie, Five Minutes for Books, Galleysmith, A Reader's Respite, Books, Movies and Chinese Food, Booking Mama, Bookfan, and Everyday I Write the Book.
If you'd like to write or call into the interview, we'll send you a complimentary copy of Shelf Discovery. Just be sure to register here before the show starts. Click here for info on the interview, check out Lizzie's love letter to librarians, and be sure to browse inside.
-Kayleigh
Sometimes funny people write books that are meant to be funny but aren’t. Elizabeth Beckwith is as funny on the page as she is on the stage. Check out this great review in Booklist. Then check out the book itself. Free copies to 25 lucky people who promise to send in a review – and tell all their friends about this funny writer. Just shoot us an email at librarylovefest at harpercollins.com.
-Virginia
Beckwith, Elizabeth. Raising the Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation. HarperCollins. Oct. 2009. 256p. ISBN 978-0-06-175957-4. pap. $14.99. HUMOR
Comedian and actress Beckwith here takes a saucy tongue-in-cheek approach to parenting advice, complete with laugh-out-loud funny chapter summaries, discussion questions, and pseudo letters from readers. Via chapters titled à la "How To Scare the Crap Out of Your Child (in a Positive Way)," readers relive much of Beckwith’s youth in her Italian Catholic family and will chortle at many of her experiences. Covering such topics as raising a nerd, Beckwith advises, "Instead of being cranky that your son didn’t make the football team, breathe a sigh of relief that he is now less likely to be involved in an ill-conceived gang-bang." Touché, Beckwith; well done!
Librarians, we want to hear from you! As you can see here, here, and here, we're wild about this book and we hope you will be, too. Send an email to librarylovefest at harpercollins.com. We'll send a copy of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind to you with our compliments. The only thing ask for in return is a review of the book which we would then post on our blog. We know how busy everyone is these days so don't get hung up on the length of the review. We just want to get the word out to readers about a book that has everyone buzzing in house. Now we want the buzz to be outside the house! Thanks so much.
Now send us an email! (Please note, this particular offer is for librarians only.) Thanks!
Virginia Stanley
Director
Library Marketing
HarperCollinsPublishers
(212) 207-7592
virginia.stanley at harpercollins.com
www.librarylovefest.com
We send you a book and you send us your review. Sometimes this offer will be open to the general readership and other times it will be open to librarians only. Either way, we’ll keep your name on our list for future reviews! We’d like to kick this off with a book we’re extremely excited about. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba is a terrific book about a young boy in South Africa who discovers a book in the library and learns how to build a windmill and generates electricity.
We hope you enjoy this book as much as we do. Check out Marketing Director Tavia Kowalchuk's guest blog on the book, as well as our original post. Let us know if you’d like to review it on our blog by emailing your name, mailing address and library affiliation to librarylovefest@harpercollins.com. Again, this one’s for librarians only. Thanks!
-Virginia
We wrote about this the other day. It bears repeating. Click here to read what author Ken Davis has to say about the closing of libraries, and check out our original post.
-Virginia
Everyone is buzzing about Long Past Stopping (9780061450754), Oran Canfield's hotly anticipated memoir, on sale everywhere! Oran is the son of Jack Canfield, creator of the phenomenal bestselling self-help series Chicken Soup for the Soul. His memoir is hilarious and wry, loaded with oddball characters and stories that have to be read to be believed. Check out the e-card, browse inside the book, or order a copy.
-Kayleigh
Earlier in the year, I blogged about a forthcoming book entitled, That Bird Has My Wings, by Jarvis Jay Masters. Check out my article:
That Bird Has My Wings, on sale September 22nd is the compelling memoir of Jarvis Jay Masters which chronicles his early life, growing up with his four siblings and being surrounded by drugs at the hands of his mother and stepfather. He also shares how he survived violence at the hands of his biological father. They were left home alone days and weeks at a time, with no food or even the proper basic care. After he and his siblings were taken out of the home by social services, they were put in the foster care system where his life became extremely unstable. He was sentenced to prison at 19 for armed robbery and was put on death row at age 23 for being named an accessory in the death of a prison guard. Since being in prison, he has written one book and several articles. He also won a PEN Award for one of his poems. What is even more amazing is that he does all of his writing with ball point pen filler, as that is the only writing instrument available to those in maximum security prison.
I hope you add That Bird Has My Wings to your reading list.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
The beloved author of Population: 485 and Truck: A Love Story moves to the country (with pigs, chickens, and a baby on the way). Read all about it in Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs and Parenting, a humorous, heartfelt memoir that revisits his offbeat childhood as a farm boy raised in an obscure religious sect. Check out the full interview and be sure to visit Nancy Pearl's new blog.
-Virginia
In less than a month the Free Library of Philadelphia will be forced to close its neighborhood branch libraries, regional libraries and the Parkway Central Library. Click here for more information.
-Virginia
We are so thrilled to have Tavia Kowalchuk, Marketing Director for William Morrow, Eos and Cookbooks (imprints of HarperCollins Publishers) as a guest blogger today. Tavia is excited about the publication of the forthcoming title, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
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The buzz is building for the soon-to-be-released THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND –the inspirational true story about an enterprising teenager in Malawi who built a windmill from scraps found around his village and brought electricity—and a future—to himself and his family.
William Kamkwamba, grew up poor in Malawi, Africa, a country suffering from poverty, famine, AIDS and lack of basic services like plumbing and electricity. When William was 14 and unable to attend school because his family couldn’t afford the $80 tuition, he began thinking a lot about electricity. After being given a book about windmills by his local librarian, he decided to build his own using scrap metal, tractor parts, and blue-gum trees, which grew near his village. William’s home-made contraption succeeded in supplying electricity to his family’s compound. You can click here to read an excerpt from his memoir before the book is on sale (September 29th), but in the meantime, here is an exclusive interview with the librarian in Malawi who gave William the book that changed his life.
Meet librarian Edith Sikelo. Mrs. Sikelo was sitting behind her desk at the library when William first walked in. 
She quickly noticed his interest in science books and encouraged him to keep reading. His library card soon grew to several pages, which Sikelo now keeps to show visitors, and to brandish to younger students as an example of success.
Mrs. Sikelo was recently interviewed by Tom Rielly, Community Director of the TED Conference, a major party in promoting William’s story throughout the world.
…
Congratulations to HarperCollins author Gary Vaynerchuk! He is featured in an amazing article in today's New York Times. Check out this fabulous profile.
Gary Vaynerchuk's upcoming book entitled, Crush It!: Why NOW is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion (on sale in October 2009), tells how he grew his family's wine business from four million to sixty million in five years using the internet! Gary also shows readers how to discover their passion and turn it into a successful and profitable business.
The Crush It! Tour Contest – Win a Trip on the Crush It! Cruise
At every book signing location, turn in your receipt to be entered for a chance to win a cabin for two on the Crush It! Cruise. Sailing from Fort Lauderdale, FL throughout the Caribbean from March 20 – 27, 2010, the cruise will allow you to go "beyond the book" with a week's worth of interactive business seminars led by Gary, plus entertaining wine events and much, much more! Learn more at http://crushitcruise.com.
At the conclusion of the book tour, Gary will draw one receipt for the grand prize winner who will accompany Gary on the cruise. Drawing to be conducted live on ustream.tv on Thursday, November 19th!
*Please note, you must purchase a book at a book tour location and give your receipt to Gary during a book signing event to be entered in the contest. One entry per receipt. Prize winner receives a standard interior stateroom for 2 valued at $899 per person. Winner is responsible for travel to and from Fort Lauderdale and any and all taxes, fees, on-board expenses, and gratuity.
TOUR DATES (More to follow. Check you local bookstore)
Tuesday, October 13
BORDERS
7:00 PM
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
Friday, October 16
BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE
1:00 PM
660 Beacon Street
Boston, MA
Monday, October 19
POWELL’S BOOKS
7:30 PM
1005 W. Burnside
Portland, OR
…
HarperCollins Author Gary Vaynerchuk profiled in the New York Times!Read More »
These days everyone is buzzing about Sandman Slim, Richard Kadrey's raucous supernatural thriller. Here's an excerpt from io9's awesome review: "Sandman Slim follows the adventures of Jimmy, aka Stark, aka Sandman Slim, who was dragged down to Hell as a cocky teenager and somehow survived for eleven years, before busting out. The only person he cared about is dead, and he's out for revenge — and he doesn't really care what he has to break to get it. Along the way, he gets dragged deeper and deeper into the politics of the L.A. magic scene, the ongoing feud between Hell's generals, the schemes of angels, Homeland Security, and the decadent plans of L.A.'s filthy rich magic users.
As someone who's read every novel by Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler, Richard Stark/Donald Westlake and Ross McDonald at least once, I found the frothiness and nihilism of the novel instantly appealing."
Still not sold? You might want to read the following quote from Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series: “If Simon R. Green wrote an episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter, it would read much like Sandman Slim– violent, vivid, non-stop action of the supernatural kind. I couldn’t put it down.”
If your interest is piqued, leave us a comment: we're giving away books to the first 25! And for more on the book, browse inside and click here for a great post on Out of this Eos by editor extraordinaire, Diana Gill.
-Kayleigh
If you were unable to attend our title presentation at ALA in Chicago this past July, fear not! We’re bringing our book buzz to you! Click on the links below to watch us talk about the hot books coming out in Fall 2009. Each link is about 10 minutes long and we’ve listed the titles being discussed in each video. Also attached is the handout that we made available to all attendees of the presentation.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, Academy Award nominations, etc.
Thanks!
-Virginia, Bobby and Kayleigh
Video 1A
Included in this video: Introduction, information on HarperCollins Catalogs, eGalleys, Book Club Girl, Library Love Fest (radio show), twitter (HarperLibrary), HarperLibrary's blog (Library Love Fest), Shelf Help, Kayleigh’s blog (The Roaring 20s), Earlyword.com and Harper Perennial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2vF140GVoQ
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1A)
Video 1B
Included in this video: Information on Harper Perennial, and the following titles, Shelf Discovery, by Lizzie Skurnick, By The Time You Read This, by Lola Jaye, and Lies My Mother Never Told Me, by Kaylie Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUe2jl8-sxE
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1B)
Video 1C
Titles included in this video: Bending Towards the Sun, by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, Under This Unbroken Sky, by Shandi Mitchell, Evidence of Murder, by Lisa Black, How to Paint a Dead Man, by Sarah Hall and I Shudder, by Paul Rudnick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZIX7h_a8WI
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1C)
Video 1D
Titles included in this video: Beneath the Bleeding, by Val McDermid, The Financial Lives of Poets, by Jess Walter, Anne Frank, by Francine Prose and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX-b-Eh06c0
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1D)
Video 1E
Titles included in this video: Not Lost Forever, by Carmina Salcido, Manhood for Amateurs, by Michael Chabon and Hummingbirds, by Joshua Gaylord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjbIu4n5k3Y
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1E)
Video 1F
Titles included in this video: Far from Zion, by Charles London, I am neurotic (and so are you), by Lianna Kong, The Hidden, by Tobias Hill, The Sand Fish, by Maha Gargash, Ten Storey Love Song,by Richard Milward and The Body in the Sleigh, by Katherine Hall Page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQgzm6b72TE
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1F)
Video 1G
Titles included in this video: Notes Left Behind, by Brooke and Keith Desserich, The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver, Lit, by Mary Karr, Wishin’ and Hopin’, by Wally Lamb and This Book is Overdue!, by Marilyn Johnson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBOV0CKk68A
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1G)
Video 1H
Titles included in this video: Be Careful What You Pray For, by Kimberla Lawson Roby, Gator A-Go-Go, by Tim Dorsey, Shadow Tag, by Louise Erdrich, and Horns, by Joe Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmUlveJzyU
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1H)
Video 1I
Titles included in this video: Encore, Valentine, by Adriana Trigiani, Making Toast, by Roger Rosenblatt, The Lovers, by Vendela Vida and A Pearl in the Storm, by Tori Murden McClure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb6Sp0HEWk0
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1I)
The buzz is building for the soon-to-be-released THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND – the inspirational true story about an enterprising teenager in Malawi who built a windmill from scraps found around his village and brought electricity–and a future—to himself and his family.
William Kamkwamba grew up poor in Malawi, Africa, a country suffering from AIDS and poverty. Like most in his village, his family struggled to survive as farmers and did not have access to electricity. The situation became all the more desperate in 2002, as Malawi experienced the worst famine in fifty years. William was 14 and his family could no longer afford his school’s $80-a-year tuition.
During this time William began thinking a lot about electricity, which only two percent of Malawians can afford. After discovering a book in a nearby library about windmills, he decided to build his own using scrap metal, tractor parts, and blue-gum trees, which grew near his village. William’s home-made contraption succeeded in supplying electricity to his family’s compound–enough for four lightbulbs and two radios! News of his invention spread, attracting many people across the world who offered to help him. Soon he was re-enrolled in school and traveling to the United States to visit wind farms, much like the ones he hopes to build across Africa. THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND tells the story of one boy’s struggle to advance himself from nothing, and his journey to inspire other Africans–and the whole world.
The following links are also helpful in learning more about William Kamkwamba and his forthcoming book, THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND.
WILLIAM'S BLOG: http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/
WILLIAM'S AUTHOR ASSISTANT PAGE: http://harpercollins.com/authors/35128/William_Kamkwamba/index.aspx
BRYAN MEALER'S AUTHOR ASSISTANT PAGE: http://www.harpercollins.com/author/index.aspx?authorID=35129
BROWSE INSIDE: http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061730320
MOVING WINDMILLS, William's Foundation: http://movingwindmills.org/
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD374MFk4w
-Virginia
Previously, I posted about author Claire Cook and her new book, The Wildwater Walking Club. For those who may have missed it, here’s the link to the article:
Claire Cook's segment on NBC-TV's "Today" Show, has been re-scheduled for Monday, September 7th in the 8 o'clock hour. This is definitely something you wont want to miss!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
As you all know by now, we (Virginia, Kayleigh and I) are ALWAYS up for a good laugh. So to keep that tradition going, below please find some random things about me that you may find, funny, interesting and possibly intriguing. You may even be able to relate to some portion of my life!
1. As a child, I HATED wearing any type of shoe…and if you know me, you understand why that’s funny today
2. I can play the clarinet, bass clarinet and alto saxophone. I was forced to play the bass clarinet because I was the only one in the band big enough to carry it
3. I go to the gym, but I hate every minute of it
4. I always wished I had the ability to sing and dance so I could perform on Broadway
5. I am a firm believer that watching a Tyler Perry movie (preferably the ones with Madea) will take you out of any bad or sad mood you are in
6. I have been an active Prince Hall Mason for the last eight years…and no, we do not worship the devil or dance around fire
7. In college, I was the afternoon newscaster on our campus radio station
8. I could eat turkey every day…it makes me happy and it’s good for you too!
9. I do have an alter ego…his name is Bob. He only comes out when necessary and he takes no crap
10. I religiously watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Dancing with the Stars and Bridezillas
I hope you find my life half as funny as I do! If you can relate to any of these, I would love to hear about it…so we can laugh at each other!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
I’ll take a large fiction, and diet non-fiction and a side of poetry to go, please! Check out what Houston Public Library is up to…
-Virginia
Yesterday I was reading Avon's blog, avonromanceblog.blogspot.com, and saw editor extraordinaire Lucia Macro's post on random things about herself. Our department was inspired, so this week we'll be posting lists of 10 random things you might not know about us. I'm up first, so here goes!
1) I am a music snob, but I have been known to loop Lady Gaga during big projects throughout the day. Pa-pa-pa-poker face.
2) I was a library page in high school and had nicknames for our craziest patrons.
3) I lived in Spain for 5 months, but didn’t really like Spanish food until I left.
4) I watched too much Masterpiece Theater as a teen, and had a fake English accent through most of high school.
5) I won’t read chick lit, but I will watch any chick flick that’s ever been made. Even 27 Dresses.
6) In college, my honors thesis was a collection of poetry.
7) Bourbon is my favorite drink, with whiskey a close second.
8) I have a cut-out of True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård pasted to the wall of my cubicle.
9) I worked at a hedge fund for 6 weeks. One of my duties consisted of buying my boss marzipan and jelly beans.
10) I love doing obscure impersonations. My best might be Gloria Swanson from Sunset Boulevard. “No one leaves a staaaar! That’s what makes them a staaaar!”
For more random things about me, including some tragic photo-shopping accidents, check out The Roaring 20s.
-Kayleigh
