March 2011

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Maya Rodale’s A Tale of Two Lovers

9780061922992_0_CoverA Tale of Two Lovers, the second book in Maya Rodale's exciting historical romance series, has all the makings of a steamy and enticing love story.  Check out the starred review from Publishers Weekly.

A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale

This sexy historical romp opens with a bang, as 19th-century gossip columnist Julianna, the prematurely widowed Lady Somerset, stumbles upon what she thinks is a taboo-breaking affair involving Lord Roxbury, an enigmatic rake who has bedded half of London (the female half). The scandalous report that Julianna pens in her London Weekly column quickly lands her in hot water with Roxbury. As the only son of a wealthy earl, he's just been given an ultimatum: marry in a month or lose the family fortune. Just when he needs his reputation the most, Julianna has crushed it to bits with tabloids accusations. With the clock ticking, Roxbury's roving, increasingly desperate eye turns in the lady of letter's direction, giving her–and society–quite a shock. "Nothing could impel me to marry him," Julianna protests. "I will not bind myself to another degenerate rake…" Rodale (A Groom of One's Own) has an intimate understanding of aristocratic England and a particular flair for rendering sumptuous period details, lingering sensually on hot-house gardens of imported blooming flowers, for instance. With one delicious plot twist upon another, Rodale's latest will keep readers guessing until the last bud is plucked. – Publishers Weekly  

Do you want to win Maya's first book in the series, A Groom of One's Own??  You know you do!  First 20 commenters will receive a copy, so click through and share your thoughts.

-Annie

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Elizabeth Taylor’s Legacy Remembered by Romance Writers

Following the loss of one of the most iconic women in Hollywood, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and other romance writers offer insight into what Elizabeth Taylor taught us about Love and Passion.  Read more at USA Today.

"Being the most beautiful woman in world doesn't guarantee a happy love life, but it surely did give her a passionate one." —Susan Elizabeth Phillips, author of Call Me Irresistible.

"Liz Taylor loved fiercely, blithely, and sometimes rashly — but we should all be lucky enough to come to the end of our lives knowing that when love was offered, we leapt at it. And in her advocacy for AIDS patients — at a time when America had its back turned to the problem — she taught us that love is not merely a matter of wedding vows; she showed a deep love of humanity even at its most fragile." —Eloisa James, author of When Beauty Tamed the Beast 

"Not only was Elizabeth Taylor a beautiful person inside and out, she taught us by example to love with an open and fearless heart. She played many wonderful heroines on screen, but she was a true, compassionate heroine in her own life."—Rachel Gibson, author of Any Man of Mine 

"She taught me that enduring love isn't easy, even for the most beautiful woman in the world." —Elizabeth Lowell, author of Death Echo

"Liz taught us that in matters of the heart, settling is unacceptable. Finding love isn't easy, and keeping it is even more difficult, but the journey is worth every minute, because ultimately, passion and romance are what life is all about. And she proved it again and again — in friendships, in relationships, and in her work. And we can all take a lesson from that." —Sarah Maclean, author of Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

-Annie

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The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

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The Dressmaker of Khair Khana
March 14th, 2011

 Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, a fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, has written an engaging nonfiction look at the lives of women living under the Taliban. 

You might have recently received the March 14 issue of Newsweek. The cover story on Hillary Clinton? Written by Lemmon. Both are changing the role of women around the world, as are all of the women featured in the “150 Women Who Shake the World” feature article. (Thanks to EarlyWord for bringing this to our attention!)

Teens will be amazed by the courage and determination of Kamela Sediqi, the subject of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana. There is an excerpt available on the Daily Beast website.

LEMMON, Gayle Tzemach. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe. 288p. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-06-173237-9. LC number unavailable.  

Adult/High School–Recognizing that stories about war most often center on men, Lemmon made her first of many trips to Afghanistan in 2005 to investigate what war was like for the women left behind. There the former journalist met the remarkable Kamela Sediqi. She received her teaching certificate at about the same time as the Taliban took control of the country and as a result of the Taliban’s beliefs that women stay at home, not work, and not be educated or educate, she was precluded from pursuing her dream of teaching. Knowing that she had to do something to support her large family after her parents and eldest brother fled the city, she turned to sewing. Her religion taught that she had a duty to support as many people as possible, and her business quickly grew. Lemmon chronicles the growth of the business, the many women involved, and the great risks Sediqi took to keep the business thriving. The stories of the women who came together to keep their families from starving are compelling. The final pages cover the fall of the Taliban after September 11 and the terrifying offensive the Afghanis then had to face. Lemmon does an outstanding job of conveying the powerful sisterhood of Sediqi’s team as well as the women’s incredible passion for work in the midst of unspeakable brutality and danger. Understanding that Sediqi has known nothing but war her entire life, this inspiring and powerful story of hope and resiliency will make a lasting impression on the reader. –Jane Ritter, Mill Valley School District, CA

-Annie 

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James Grippando’s Afraid of the Dark!

9780061840289 Check out the great reviews-–including starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist–for James Grippando’s latest thriller.  Want a copy?  The first 20 people to respond will receive a copy of AFRAID OF THE DARK.  Write back now!

-Virginia

Early praise for Afraid of the Dark:

"Match[es] the power and drama of Grippando’s best stand-alone novels. Fans of the Swyteck series will definitely want to check this one out, and readers … may be surprised at this novel’s ability to tap into their deepest fears.  Grippando has definitely reached a new level with this series entry.”-Booklist, *Starred Review*

“Superb plotting, high suspense, compelling timely issues, and finely honed characters make this crime novel/international thriller a great read.”  - Library Journal, *Starred Review*
                                                                        
"A heady brew of plot points [that] touches on terrorists, the treatment of political prisoners, cyber security, the war in Iraq and even teenage sexting.  Grippando powerfully weaves "Afraid of the Dark" into a noir look at the fears that seep into each corner of society.  Grippando has proven his skills with edge-of-your-seat thrillers. "Afraid of the Dark" may be his most gripping yet." – South Florida Sun Sentinel

"Grippando's rousing ninth Jack Swyteck legal thriller [is] an exciting tale of revenge." - Publishers Weekly

 "Filled with twists and turns and edge-of-the-seat tension." -Romantic Times  (4 stars)

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Calling all BookPage Readers!

LittlePrinces Enter to win one book for your personal library—and five books for your local library! Be one of ten winners to choose from this selection of new books.  For complete details and to enter for a chance to win, click here.

Little Princes by Conor Grennan: “A remarkable tale of corruption, child trafficking and civil war…and one man’s extraordinary quest to reunite lost Nepalese children with their parents.”—Neil White, author of In the Sanctuary of Outcasts 

Fire Season by Philip Connors: “[Fire Season is] Philip Connors’s remarkable account of his seasons as a lookout on the Gila National Forest in New Mexico…. His is a most welcome new voice.”—Barry Lopez, winner of the National Book Award 

Afraid of the Dark by James Grippando: “Grippando has definitely reached a new level with this series entry…One of his best.”—Booklist*

Bottom of the 33rd by Dan Barry: “Dan Barry’s meticulous reporting and literary talent are both evident in Bottom of the 33rd, a pitch-perfect and seamless meditation on baseball and the human condition.”—Gay Talese, author of The Silent Season of a Hero

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: “Unforgettable…shows just how far we are willing to go for those we love, and proves once again the power of girls to remake our world. This is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read.”—Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea

The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas: “The exotic sights and sounds of nineteenth century Turkey spring vividly to life…a delightfully quirky magical mystery tour [with] an appealingly quirky heroine.” —Booklist*

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear: “Winspear strikes the right balance between cozy mystery setting and her intelligent, street-savvy PI. The story adroitly presents a post-World War I world while foreshadowing the next global conflict.”—Library Journal

Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson: "“Bestseller Davidson is at the top of her form in her 14th culinary suspense novel to feature Colorado crime-solving caterer Goldy Schulz…Readers will happily sink their teeth into Goldy’s latest case and come away hungry for more.”—Publishers Weekly*

The Bond by Wayne Pacelle:  A popular exploration of the special bond between animals and humans, by the charismatic president/CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, the world’s largest animal
protection organization.

If Wishes Were Horses by Robert Barclay: In the spirit of Nicholas Sparks, Robert Barclay has crafted a deeply moving story of love, hope, and forgiveness. As lives torn apart by a common tragedy slowly find a way to heal, two damaged souls get a second chance at love.

Click here for all the contest details!

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Graphic Novel Alert!

There are two graphic novels we'd love to put on your radar this Spring/Summer.  Ready?

First up is The Griff, the latest from librarian-favorite Christopher Moore, about a motley crew of humans who try to save the world from an alien invasion.  Er, sort of.  Clever, outrageous, and hilarious, The Griff is Moore at his best.  As a bonus, he is joined by award-winning director and screenwriter Ian Corson.  Don't miss it!

Then there's the film tie-in to Cowboys and Aliens, which is sure to garner plenty of attention.  If you haven't seen the trailer to the film, please, do yourself a favor and watch this.  Between Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and the concept itself, Cowboys and Aliens is sure to make your afternoon. 

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The Bond

9780061969782_0_Cover Sometimes, all it takes to brighten up your day is a photo of some cuddly pets. Just ask Wayne Pacelle, author of The Bond and president of the Humane Society of the United States.  Now we've got your chance to get your pet–and photo–featured on the HSUS website and have a donation of $1,000 made in your name, to the HSUS partner of your choice.  All you have to do is send along a photo of yourself and your pet (full details here).  The contest is live until April 5th, so get your entries in! At the very least, we can promise you'll love the gallery of photos (aww).           

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Secret Daughter, out in paperback!

At ALA Midwinter this past January, Shipli Somaya Gowda wowed librarians with her poignant, stunning debut novel Secret Daughter.  We're happy to report that Secret Daughter is making its debut in trade paperback–perfect for book clubs and discussion groups.  Check out this video of Shilpi and you'll see why!

Praise for Secret Daughter:

“Secret Daughter is an unflinching yet compassionate story of mothers and daughters. In a tale that moves between Mumbai, India and Northern California, Shilpi Somaya Gowda sensitively explores the balancing acts of of international adoption and bi-cultural families. This book is a must for anyone touched by adoption, or India, or the delicate dynamic between adolescent girls and their mothers." —Sujata Massey, author of Shimura Trouble

"Gowda writes with compassion and uncanny perception from the points of view of Kavita, Somer, and Asha, while portraying the vibrant traditions, sights, and sounds of modern India.— Booklist

"Gowda has masterfully portrayed two families… linked by a powerful, painful tie that complicates their lives… A thought-provoking examination of the challenges of being a woman in America and in India — and in the psychological spaces in between."—Chitra Divakaruni, author of The Palace of Illusions

"First novelist Gowda offers especially vivid descriptions of the contrasts and contradictions of modern India… Rife with themes that lend themselves to discussion, such as cultural identity, adoption, and women’s roles, this will appeal to the book club crowd."—Library Journal

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Open Letter to Librarians

Over the last few days we at HarperCollins have been listening to the discussion about changes to our e-book policy. HarperCollins is committed to libraries and recognizes that they are a crucial part of our local communities. We count on librarians reading our books and spreading the word about our authors' good works. Our goal is to continue to sell e-books to libraries, while balancing the challenges and opportunities that the growth of e-books presents to all who are actively engaged in buying, selling, lending, promoting, writing and publishing books.
 
We are striving to find the best model for all parties. Guiding our decisions is our goal to make sure that all of our sales channels, in both print and digital formats, remain viable, not just today but in the future. Ensuring broad distribution through booksellers and libraries provides the greatest choice for readers and the greatest opportunity for authors’ books to be discovered.

Our prior e-book policy for libraries dates back almost 10 years to a time when the number of e-readers was too small to measure. It is projected that the installed base of e-reading devices domestically will reach nearly 40 million this year. We have serious concerns that our previous e-book policy, selling e-books to libraries in perpetuity, if left unchanged, would undermine the emerging e-book eco-system, hurt the growing e-book channel, place additional pressure on physical bookstores, and in the end lead to a decrease in book sales and royalties paid to authors. We are looking to balance the mission and needs of libraries and their patrons with those of authors and booksellers, so that the library channel can thrive alongside the growing e-book retail channel. 

We spent many months examining the issues before making this change. We talked to agents and distributors, had discussions with librarians, and participated in the Library Journal e-book Summit and other conferences. Twenty-six circulations can provide a year of availability for titles with the highest demand, and much longer for other titles and core backlist. If a library decides to repurchase an e-book later in the book’s life, the price will be significantly lower as it will be pegged to a paperback price point. Our hope is to make the cost per circulation for e-books less than that of the corresponding physical book. In fact, the digital list price is generally 20% lower than the print version, and sold to distributors at a discount. 

We invite libraries and library distributors to partner with us as we move forward with these new policies. We look forward to ongoing discussions about changes in this space and will continue to look to collaborate on mutually beneficial opportunities.

To continue the discussion please email library.ebook@HarperCollins.com

Sincerely,

Josh Marwell
President of Sales
HarperCollinsPublishers

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