July 2014

"The science…reads like the best of Michael Crichton. The machinations of government read like the best of David Baldacci. And the action and thrills read like the best of Clive Cussler. Rollins takes the best of all of these and creates an amazing thriller unlike any other." - Associated Press

James Rollins's Sigma Force series returns this August with The 6th Extinction, its tenth installment, in which the Sigma team faces its greatest challenge yet: stopping the imminent extinction of mankind.  James's marketing team put together a stellar packet full of behind-the-scenes info about the books and facts about the series.  Click here to check out!

The 6th Extinction is available now on Edelweiss, but wait, there's more!  Send us an email at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com telling us which Sigma Force novel is your favorite and why, and the first 5 people to respond will receive a free copy of this newest Sigma adventure when it goes on sale August 12!

 Don't miss out!  The fate of humanity could be at stake.

-Amanda

Lots of love surrounds Susan Elizabeth Phillips, whether it's librarians' love for her books (she is an August Library Reads pick), in-house love from the lovely Annie Mazes, or the sizzling romance within her books themselves.  The only thing missing is Susan's love for libraries!  But wait no longer: Susan dropped by to share a little bit about her new book Heroes Are My Weakness and what libraries mean to her.

***

HEROES (of past and future) ARE MY WEAKNESS

Many of you, like me, grew up with the great gothic novels of Mary Stewart, Anya Seton, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and other beloved authors. (Why do I think some of you might even have become librarians because you fell in love with these authors?) I know I devoured their books, giving up homework (Who needs it?) and dating (Okay, nobody asked me out.) to lose myself in the world of impoverished governesses and dark, brooding heroes.

As you may recall, the heroes were all wealthy, frequently titled, and almost always tortured. The heroines were impoverished but blessed with an inner reservoir of strength that eventually trumped the hero’s wealth and status.

I still regard these books as feminist fantasies. Think about it. Our heroes had everything, while our poor heroines had nothing except a shabby portmanteau and one decent dove gray dress. Yet what happens? She brings the poor guy to his immaculately clad knees. And she does it, not with sword or gun, but with strength of character and a courageous heart.

…

Guest Blogger: Susan Elizabeth PhillipsRead More »

In M.P. Cooley’s thrilling debut suspense novel Ice Shear, widowed FBI agent June Lyons returns to her hometown in the rust belt of upstate New York to take a job with the local police department.  When she discovers a body in the frozen river, the investigation unmasks a sordid maze of politics, drugs, and an outlaw motorcycle gang, and June finds that still waters run deep in this small town.  Ms. Cooley is a native of upstate New York, and she does an excellent job with the setting, making it almost its own character in the novel.  Not only is the novel a special favorite of Virginia’s, Ice Shear has also been included in the San Jose Mercury News’s Books by the Bay Roundup, the BBC’s “Crime Writers to Read Now,” and has gotten some great reviews:

“Cooley makes it a gripping ride all the way.” –San Jose Mercury News

“Cooley’s high-energy plot keeps the surprises coming.  She is an author to watch.” – BBC Books

“Excellent debut…a strong, fast-paced narrative and an intriguing heroine propel the believable twists in a plot involving politics, a burgeoning meth industry, and biker gangs.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Also, check out this Q&A with the author from The Hartford Examiner.  Ice Shear went on sale last week, so pick up a copy at your local library today!

-Amanda

Say it with me, y'all: Patricia Cornwell!  This November, Kay Scarpetta returns in Flesh and Blood, #1 New York Times bestselling author Cornwell's 22nd Scarpetta novel.  As London's Mirror says, “Forget the pretenders. Cornwell reigns.”

After battling designer drugs and organized crime in Dust and investigating a missing paleontologist in The Bone Bed, forensic sleuth Scarpetta's newest case finds her in the middle of a nightmarish pursuit of a serial sniper who seems to leave no evidence except fragments of copper.  The crimes seemingly have no connection, taking Scarpetta from New Jersey to Massachusetts to south Florida, where she confronts evidence that points to her own flesh and blood, her techno genius niece Lucy.

Can't wait to get your hands on the latest forensic adventure from Kay Scarpetta?  You're in luck!  Download the egalley on Edelweiss today.

-Amanda

Vixen in Velvet, the third and final book in a sexy series from New York Times bestselling author, Loretta Chase, just went on sale yesterday and YOU SHOULD GET IT!

Lethally charming Simon Blair, Marquess of Lisburne, has reluctantly returned to London for one reason only: a family obligation. Still, he might make time for the seduction of a certain redheaded dressmaker-but Leonie Noirot hasn’t time for him. She’s obsessed with transforming his cousin, the dowdy Lady Gladys, into a swan.

Leonie’s skills can coax curves –and profits– from thin air, but his criminally handsome lordship is too busy trying to seduce her to appreciate her genius. He badly needs to learn a lesson, and the wager she provokes ought to teach him, once and for all.

A great plan, in theory-but Lisburne’s become a serious distraction and Leonie’s usual logic is in danger of slipping away as easily as a silk chemise. Could the Season’s’ greatest transformation be her own?

Hot Hot Hot!

– Annie

BOOKS!

Ok, so that's not how the song goes, but it doesn't make it less true. There are several really interesting Nonfiction books coming out in the Fall focusing on the Civil War and WW II.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott: The never-before-told story of four real-life women who risked everything to take on a life of espionage during the Civil War. 

Such Good Girls by R.D. Rosen: The Edgar Award-winning mystery novelist delves into the real-life puzzle of what happened to the generation of Jewish children who survived the Holocaust in hiding. A silent, forgotten generation’s story told through the lives of three girls hidden in three different countries who went on to lead remarkable lives in New York City.

Village of Secrets by Caroline Moorehead: From the author of the New York Times bestseller A Train in Winter comes the extraordinary story of a French village that helped save thousands who were pursued by the Gestapo during World War II.

George Marshall by Irwin and Debi Unger: A major historical biography about the man who ran the U.S. campaign during the second World War.

There was a heap of interest in this book at ALA, so jump on it! 

A Devil in the White City for early Hollywood: a true story of drugs, prostitution, intrigue, and murder at the dawn of the film industry. In the seminal year of 1920, movies were making a huge amount of money and never before had such a popular art so captured the public’s imagination, nor had a medium ever possessed such power to influence. 

Unfortunately, when things seem too good to be true, they usually are. William Mann follows the labors of those building the studio system, their struggles and rivalries, as well as the many scandals and mysteries that defined these early days of the film industry.

He tells the true story behind the deaths that shaped Hollywood, as well as a portrait of an eccentric, lawless town by providing insights into the lives of people like Louis B. Mayer, Mary Pickford, Fatty Arbuckle, and Asa Keyes. He also delves into the death of William Desmond Taylor—a murder Gore Vidal called “Hollywood’s greatest and most notorious unsolved mystery.” Reading this, it will be apparent that Tinseltown is as dark, fascinating and intriguing as any silver screen noir.

Get it on Edelweiss now!

– Annie

In honor of her book's two-week on-sale anniversary, author Holly Brown stopped by to share her love of libraries.

***

In my novel Don’t Try to Find Me, a pretty pivotal scene occurs in a library.  That’s no accident.  Libraries are amazing places, aren’t they?  You can lose yourself in the stacks, for hours on end, for free.  I’ll say it again, in capitals this time: FOR FREE!  Libraries act as safe havens, homes for information, incubators of creativity. When everyone has access to a library, art is democratized.  That’s a beautiful thing.

I was a library devotee from very early on.  My mother used to take me at least once a week to the Welsh Road branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Not the biggest branch in the tree, but to me, it seemed infinite.  I was a quick reader then, and I’m a quick writer now, and the two are probably related. 

What I know for sure is that reading taught me to write.  I’ve never been strong on remembering the rules of grammar.  I still couldn’t tell you what a dangling participle is, and I don’t always heed the one about not ending a sentence on a preposition. My sense of grammar came through osmosis, absorbed book by book.  It was way more fun that way.

Every book you read is a lesson in what a book can do, how it can impact people. How you can someday impact people, if you’re fortunate. The library helped me hone my craft before I ever picked up a pen, or touched a keyboard.  It gave me rows upon rows of inspiration. 

How invaluable is that?  

***

Thanks Holly!  Make sure you check out Holly's debut novel Don't Try to Find Me at your local library!

-Amanda

If you were able to come to our Book Buzz during ALA a few weeks ago, you heard Annie talk about The Story of Land and Sea by Katy Simpson Smith (if not, click here to listen to that portion of the presentation.  Oh, the wonders of technology).  Katy herself recently stopped by the offices to talk about her debut novel.

The Story of Land and Sea is available now on Edelweiss, so make sure you check it out!

-Amanda

Your resident SF/Fantasy lover here! For anyone out there similarly inclined, here are some upcoming books to check out for a fun, fantastical weekend full of magic and demons.

 Black Dog by Caitlin Kittredge: the first in a fabulous new dark fantasy series about a hellhound on the warpath after finding out the soul she's been ordered to collect belongs to a fallen angel.  Think kick-butt female protagonist meets gritty action and demons.

The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato: an enchanting fantasy debut about a young healer with incredible powers setting off on her first mission, when a series of strange occurrences rock the airship she is traveling on.  Steampunk meets magic.

Both novels are currently available on Edelweiss, so kick off your SF/Fantasy weekend by grabbing Black Dog and The Clockwork Dagger now.

-Amanda

We all lead relatively hectic lives, and sometimes those lives get in the way of enjoying a 400 page epic adventure or literary masterpiece.  For when you've caught the reading crave but only have a small amount of time, check out this handy list of short things to bite into.

 Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford: In four richly luminous narratives, Ford reinvents beloved character Frank Bascombe in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and attempts to reconcile, interpret, and console a world undone by calamity

Twelve Recipes by Cal Peternell: In this dazzling, full color cookbook and kitchen manual filled with lush photographs and beautiful drawings, the chef of Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse offers basic techniques and essential recipes that will transform anyone into a confident home cook.

Something Rich and Strange by Ron Rash: From the acclaimed, award-winning author of Serena and The Cove, thirty of his finest short stories, collected in one volume.

Go ahead and take a mini-break by downloading Twelve Recipes from Edelweiss today.

-Amanda

Gutenberg’s Apprentice by Alix Christie doesn’t go on sale until the end of September, but lots of love for the debut novel as already been pouring in.  Check out these stellar starred reviews!

 “Enthralling…Christie demonstrates a printer’s precision in her painstakingly meticulous account of quattrocento innovation, technology, politics, art, and commerce.” — Publishers Weekly

“An inspiring tale of ambition, camaraderie, betrayal, and cultural transformation based on actual events and people, this wonderful novel fully inhabits its age.” — Booklist

“Christie masterfully depicts the time and energy required to print the first Bibles…all against a catastrophic backdrop of plague, the fall of Constantinople, the violent superstitions of the peasantry, and a vested intelligentsia fearing the press would generate ‘crude words crudely wrought…smut and prophecy, the ranting of anarchists and antichrists’…A bravura debut.” —Kirkus Reviews

Don’t miss out!  You still have plenty of time to grab Gutenberg’s Apprentice from Edelweiss.

-Amanda

I'm not sure how this escaped my notice, but until I met Diane Cook at ALA, I hadn't really paid attention to her debut collection of short stories, Man V. Nature.  Wow, was that silly.

Diane is cool and very smart and her writing is fantastic. I immediately started reading it in Vegas, and each story was better than the last. Her stories expose unsuspecting men and women to the realities of nature, the primal instincts of man, and the dark humor and heartbreak of our struggle to not only thrive, but survive. 

During Earlyword's Galley Chat this week, a librarian stated that Man V. Nature was "just right for small doses."  Pick it up, read a story, question everything, put it down, go back 5 minutes later because you are so intrigued to see what the next set of characters are faced with.

It's available on Edelweiss now!

– Annie

August is the best month (mostly because I celebrate my day o' being born - go Leos!) but this year it is also because HarperCollins REPRESENTS on the LibraryReads list! We were fortunate enough to have 4 (!!) titles amongst the fabulous mix.

#3 – Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Obvi excited about this one.

#5 – The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton 

#8 – An Unwilling Accomplice by Charles Todd 

#10 – The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar

I’m sure there are a lot of people out there like me who just do not enjoy cooking.  It’s hot over the stove, you have to stand the entire time, and my own efforts usually only result in time wasted when the food turns out inedible.  So what would make this all better?  YouTube sensation Hannah Hart has the answer: drinking while you cook!  If you haven’t seen any of her hilarious videos, pause here and experience the awesomeness. 

Hannah’s debut book My Drunk Kitchen: A Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Going with Your Gut—part cookbook, part meditation on life, mixed together with her trademark humor—is perfect for the casual cook, the fun lover, the I-have-no-idea-what-I’m-doing-but-will-enjoy-it-anyway party planner.  The book includes photos, drawings, and recipes (with the perfect drink recommendations, of course) to inspire you in your tipsy cooking adventures.  Here is just a selection of the recipes she provides:

• The Hartwich (Knowledge is ingenuity! Learn from the past!)
• Can Bake (Inventing things is hard! You don't have to start from scratch!)
• Latke Shotkas (Plan ahead to avoid a night of dread!)
• Tiny Sandwiches (Size doesn't matter! Aim to satisfy.)
• Saltine Nachos (It's not about resources! It's about being resourceful.)

Seriously, you guys, she’s hilarious.  Watch the videos, and then go grab the book from Edelweiss to start your own drunk kitchen escapades to start off the weekend.

-Amanda

All I Love and Know by Judith Frank is the story of a gay couple and the events that throw their life together completely off course. With the storytelling power and sensitivity of Wally Lamb, it explores adoption, gay marriage, and love lost and found. In this video, Judith discusses her heartbreaking and heart-felt novel. 

Booklist gave All I Love and Know a starred review and said, "[This is] strong storytelling driven by emotionally complex characters: first-rate commercial fiction."

HarperCollins sales rep, Kate McCune, writes a great blog with reviews for all types of book lovers – it's an excellent resource if you are looking for reading suggestions. Read her review of All I Love and Know, then be sure to snag a copy when it goes on sale next week!

– Annie

Hey there Party People, guess what?? Obvi, the title gave it away, but we have a new, redesigned version of our company website, www.hc.com. Key features of the site include a cleaner and more attractive design (it's purty), a more engaging user experience with enhanced search and navigation (it's easier), and it allows for more consumer offers, such as previews of upcoming books, signed books, author tour and appearance information, sweepstakes featuring exciting partner prizes, and more (you get cool stuff). 

So check it out, play around, get discounts on books like The Queen of the Tearling (universally beloved by everyone who has read it). Win, win, win.

– Annie

So by now you may have heard us mention a book called The Queen of the Tearling.  It was a July LibraryReads Top 10 Pick.  It was a #1 Indie Next Pick for July.  It received a starred review from Booklist.  And today it finally goes on sale!

The Queen of the Tearling follows nineteen-year-old Kelsea Glynn as she leaves the secluded home where she was raised to take up her rightful place on the throne of the Tearling kingdom.  But even after she and the Queen’s Guard fight through assassins and thieves to reach the capitol, she discovers that her mother, the former queen, and the Regent, her uncle, have driven the kingdom into a very dark era indeed.  This book has something for pretty much anyone: strong female heroine, mysterious magic system, sly political maneuverings, coming-of-age elements, a society with dystopian origins, and just the barest hint of romance that, all combined, will leave you salivating for the second book in the series (I know both Annie and I are definitely going to snatch up #2 as soon as we can).

Join me in wishing author Erika Johansen and The Queen of the Tearling a very happy book birthday today, and now go out and experience the beginning of a great adventure (with the promise of a movie adaptation to follow).

-Amanda

We are back from ALA with a bang! Or a boat. Either way, it is a great opportunity for you!  

Enter the Susan Elizabeth Phillips 'Heroes Are My Weakness' Sweepstakes for a Chance to Win a Princess® West Coast Getaway Cruise! 

In celebration of her new book, Heroes Are My Weakness (a personal fave of mine), Susan Elizabeth Phillips invites you to join her on a Princess® Cruise Fanfest and wine tasting excursion! WHA?!?!? Yes, please!

This three-day West Coast Getaway will be jam-packed with events during which you can spend time with the fun, fabulous New York Times bestselling author. Enter today for a chance to win!

– Annie