Work and play go hand in hand here in LLF Land as demonstrated by this video which the three of us slaved away on to bring to you lovelies. This is just a taste of the fun to be had at our ALA Book Buzz, so RSVP and don’t miss out!
Congratulations to Madeline Miller! You know we are all super huge fans of this book, so we are beyond happy to tell you that The Song of Achilles has won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction! The Orange Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing from throughout the world. At an awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London, the judges presented Madeline with the Bessie, a limited edition bronze figurine.
Joanna Trollope, Chair of Judges, said: “This is a more than worthy winner – original, passionate, inventive and uplifting. Homer would be proud of her.”
Click through for more information on the Orange Prize.
– Annie
It may be a small world, but these are some big titles!
Be our guest and let us show you a whole new world of pre-pub books at the
HarperCollins Fall Book Buzz
Saturday, June 23, 2012
8:45am – 10am (NEW TIME)
Anaheim Convention Center
Room 204-A
Refreshments will be served and, since everyone deserves a night at the ball, we’re raffling off 2 tickets to the ALA ProQuest Scholarship Bash (must be present at Book Buzz to win).
Seating is limited, so RSVP to librarylovefest@harpercollins.com today!
These are a few of my favorite things….
Matt Ruff is the cult author of hits such as Bad Monkeys and Set This House in Order. His latest novel, The Mirage, came out in February and is an unprecedented, mind-bending psychological thriller in which an alternate history of 9/11 uncovers startling and harrowing truths about America and the Middle East. Intrigued?
Nancy Pearl, who needs no introduction, is a fan of Matt's and invited him to visit her cable show, Book Lust, to discuss. This is what went down….
Any one interested in a copy? First 5 people to leave their comments get one!
– Annie
Very exciting news, friends! The nominees for the first annual Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction have been announced, and Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks is among the amazing works selected! The shortlist was chosen by a seven-member selection committee of library professionals from across the country chaired by Nancy Pearl.
As I'm sure you all know, this is the first time ALA has offered single-book awards for adult trade fiction and nonfiction. The winning titles will be announced at a special event at the ALA Annual Conference on Sunday, June 24, in Anaheim, CA, so be sure to get your ticket now!
Also, I recommend checking out the video of Nancy Pearl announcing the winners…
Congratulations to all the nominees!
– Annie
Fans of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game, rejoice! His long awaited follow-up, The Prisoner of Heaven, hits libraries near you this summer.
Full of intrigue and emotion, The Prisoner of Heaven is a majestic novel in which the threads of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game converge and bring us face to face with the mystery hidden at the heart of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a collection of lost treasures known only to a select few and the very core of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s enchanting fictional world.
Too impatient to wait till summer? Luckily, I have some connections, and can arrange for some LLF lovelies to get copies. The first five people to comment and tell us what you like best about Zafon's prior novels, get a copy!
– Annie
Kayleigh and I were lucky enough to go to a taping of The Chew yesterday morning (brief pause while I consider how awesome my job is). their book comes out in September, and I highly recommend snagging a copy. The recipes are all affordable and tasty, and the projects will make for excellent gifts.
It was a really fun and interesting experience…there were a million people, each with their own very well orchestrated role, milling about the set. R.C. Smith warmed up the crowd, and kept us laughing through the breaks, instructing us when to clap, laugh, awwww, do jazz hands….I may or may not have felt a bit like a monkey at times, but it did add to the allure of the moment.
I was a huge fan of the sound/d.j. engineer who had exceptional taste in music and got everyone clapping and dancing. Journey o'clock happened much earlier than usual.
Carla and Clinton had an impromptu dance party prior to the start, and can I just say, they are super cutesy. So genuine and friendly. In honor of Mother's Day, Carla's mom was a guest, and she was lovely – very no-nonsense and down to earth – my kind of mom. Daphne Oz is just as gorgeous as everyone says, but also very smart and charming. Mario Batali is… well, he's Mario Batali – orange crocs, pony tail, vest, talent. And last but not least, the oh so entertaining Michael Symon!
Of course this group of very skilled chefs made the meal preparation look easy, but I think they are actually doable – even to someone with less than stellar kitchen abilities. The smells made my stomach growl, and I came very close to jumping over the row in front of me to get to the table where audience members were partaking in the delicious meals. Make sure you check out the recipes for some brunch ideas.
And if you want to see my and Kayleigh's TV debut, you can watch our episode.
Happy Friday!
– Annie
I found a plastic knife in Virginia's office, the kind that retreats into the handle when you stab yourself, making it seem so realistic that you freak out your friends. Anywho…Kayleigh was reminded of her youth when she used a similar knife to portray the grieving Juliet in what I can only assume was the best high school production of Romeo and Juliet this side of the Hudson. Hence…this video.
Enjoy your weekends!
– Annie
Author Jamie Saul is back with another sure-fire winner with his new novel, The First Warm Evening of the Year, which explores the complex, intricate relationships between friends and siblings, husbands and wives, and shows that true love can be discovered in the most unexpected places.
June O, The Oprah Magazine/“10 Titles to Pick Up Now
“In this engaging novel, a Manhattan man finds romance––and a few other surprises––when he goes to settle the estate of an old friend.” (#1 Pick)
“The First Warm Evening of the Year is a gripping and evocative novel that resonates on every page with the joys and pains of being alive. It is a novel that more than satisfies the promise of the author’s debut, Light of Day.”
3/27 Romance Reviews Go Round Review
“This is a warm character driven romance starring two protagonists struggling with their shocking instant attraction to one another . . . Fans who relish a profound insightful psychological relationship drama will want to read The First Warm Evening of the Year.”
Saul’s first book, Light of Day, about a father grappling with his son’s apparent suicide, received a starred review from Booklist and rave reviews too many to list. It was hailed as “an exhilarating emotional roller-coaster ride” by The Washington Post Bookworld. Sena Jeter Naslund, author of Ahab’s Wife and Four Spirits wrote: “Like an arrow to the heart, Jamie Saul’s page-turner novel sears through the psyche to hit bedrock.”
Dip into The First Warm Evening of the Year. Let us help you! The first 15 people who write to librarylovefest@harpercollins.com get a free copy.
– Virginia
Today we have a special treat for you, beloved LLF Readers. Instead of my ramblings, we have the eloquent stylings of Katherine Hall Page, prolific author of the Faith Fairchild series. Her latest book, The Body in the Boudoir, celebrates it's Book Birthday today, so please click through, and join me in welcoming her to our library land!
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