November 2014

Yesterday, we posted about Hazel Gaynor, author of A Memory of Violets, and her love for her local library.  Hazel recently shared with us an article from U.K. news source The Guardian about how the library patrons of the United Kingdom have banded together in attempts to save their local libraries, attempts that already met with great success when the city of Liverpool cancelled the closure of 11 out of its 18 public libraries following protests.  Now that Book Week Scotland has started this week, The Guardian will be sharing some of their favorite love letters to libraries, starting with selections from some of the greatest literary minds:

"I ransack public libraries, and find them full of sunk treasure.” —Virginia Woolf

"The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.” —TS Eliot

"With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one – but no one at all – can tell you what to read and when and how.” —Doris Lessing

Even though we're way over here across the pond, anyone can still show your support for libraries and share your love and belief in their value as a cultural institution by writing to your local library or government about how much libraries mean to you.  Share the love, people!

-Amanda

Historical fiction fans, please take note: Hazel Gaynor has written another winner! Her first novel, The Girl Who Came Home was a New York Times bestseller and her latest book, A Memory of Violets is fantastic!

I am such a sucker for sister stories, and this one is touching. Tilly Harper, a young woman newly employed at Mr. Shaw's Home for Watercress and Flower Girls, finds the diary of an orphaned flower seller who was separated from her sister in Victorian England and begins a journey to learn the fate of the long lost sisters.

Hazel recently stopped by the office and was chatting about her local library in Ireland and how important it was to her, and we immediately asked her to write a bit about it, and send us pictures. So she did. Cause she's lovely!

***** 

I’m so excited to share with you my forthcoming novel A Memory of Violets, set around the lives of London’s flower sellers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The novel was inspired by my love of Pygmalion/My Fair Lady and from many years living in London and walking around the atmospheric cobbled streets of Covent Garden.

In my home town of Kilcullen, County Kildare, Ireland, we have a lovely little library that was built in 1925 as the local boy’s school. Julie O’Donoghue has been the librarian here for over thirty years, sharing her passion for books with the local community. My children, aged 7 and 9, love visiting the library and always come home with a huge pile of books. The house is wonderfully peaceful for the next hour! Julie does such a great job supporting local writers and helping me source research books for my novels. She also hosted a lovely launch party at the library for my debut novel The Girl Who Came Home.

I believe libraries are incredibly important and was so thrilled and excited to learn that Library Journal has selected me as one of their Ten Big Breakout Authors for 2015. What an honour! 

Finally, I thought you might enjoy this quote from English columnist and writer, Caitlin Moran:

‘A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination.’

Thank you for reading A Memory of Violets. I do hope you enjoy it.

*****

How sweet is that library?! And you can see Julie in the picture with Hazel, and of course I had to include Hazel's two boys (isn't that picture great?).

Please download an egalley now, or snag a copy when it goes on sale in February.

– Annie 

 Of Things Gone Astray, by debut author Janina Matthewson, tells a story of loss—but in a fantastical way you've never seen before.  It begins on a seemingly normal morning in London, when a group of people all lose something dear to them—something dear, but peculiar: the front of their house, their piano keys, their sense of direction, their place of work.  In the words of the author herself, "I was interested in how, in the short term we’re so easily upset, so easily knocked off course, and how quickly we can recalibrate afterwards. There’s a kind of dexterity to it, I think, how we step around things that fall in our path to simply carry on with our lives."  This novel has become a true in-house favorite, as well as garnering a lot of early praise from booksellers all across the country: 

"It was a great exploration of the process of dealing with loss, the different ways people take when change happens." —Colleen Schultz Joseph-Beth, Lexington KY

"This fantastical story will make you want to lose something  just to see what you might find." —Claire Roser, Maria’s Bookshop, Durango CO

"Sweet, melancholy, and a little bit magical…This book is full of wise moments, best to be savored, but scattered with a sharp sense of humor in the face of life's unexpected twists." —Sarah Berman, Concord Bookshop, Concord MA

Make sure you check out this magical fable by downloading an egalley from Edelweiss today.

-Amanda

Debut novel One Step Too Far tells the story of Emily Coleman, a young woman with a seemingly perfect life who one day just walks away from it all, leaving no trace and no explanation.  Throughout the novel, the reader gets tantalizing little hints as to what made Emily completely give up her old life, but let me tell you, you will not be able to guess her secret until the final reveal.  Originally published in the U.K., One Step Too Far's e-book edition hit #1 on Amazon.uk in April 2013, and all of us LibraryLoveFest gals have absolutely loved it.  And so, we are very excited to welcome to our humble site author Tina Seskis with a special message for librarians!

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When I was nine or ten a new library was built in our village.  I remember to this day the thrill of entering for the very first time this super-new, super-modern building that smelled of paint and new (bright blue) carpet, and best of all had lines and lines of Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew books, and, as I discovered as I got older, Agatha Christie books, which I would fight over with my mum!  We used to go as a family every Thursday evening, and every week it felt like such a treat to get these books stamped to take home, all for me.  At the time we didn't have many books in our house, and I am convinced that my love of reading was borne out of my love of that library.

When I had my own son I started taking him to our local library in North London pretty much as soon as he could walk.  It is a very different experience, in that it is far from brand new, and there are banks of computers,  and rows of DVD's, and the odd homeless person reading the papers to stay warm, and the children's section has play equipment and bright rugs and even a slide, but the principle has remained the same.  I would let my son pick a huge load of books each week and we would take them home and it would feel like we'd won a competition, and we'd work our way through them every night before bed.  And when we moved temporarily to Manly, in Sydney, Australia, the first thing we did was join the library, and it was where we spent many an hour when it was raining, which, surprisingly for Australia, was fairly often.

So for me now knowing that my own books are available for loan in libraries throughout the world makes me very proud, and incredibly grateful for the principle of libraries—and I hope that they will continue to be funded and supported, so that children can continue to find life-long inspiration and a love of reading, entirely for free.  —Tina

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Thank you for stopping by, Tina!  Make sure you grab an egalley today and check out One Step Too Far for yourself.

-Amanda

Exciting News!! We have just sent the fourth CD in our Beyond the Book series to print!

Michael Perry, New York Times bestselling author of Population: 485 and Visiting Tom, has written his first adult novel and it is great! It's the story of low-key Harley Jackson who discovers that one of his cows bears the image of Jesus Christ. When this "miracle" is revealed pilgrims, grifters, and the media descend upon his little Wisconsin town and disrupt life completely. The Jesus Cow is a comic yet sincere exploration of faith, a hilarious and improbable tale with a big heart and an explosive climax.

We will have CDs for distribution at Midwinter, but if you won't be there, don't worry! You can listen to Mike read, discuss and play his original music by visiting Soundcloud. He is so engaging and his songs are beautiful. Please go listen and let us know what you think.

– Annie

How is it holiday time again???? I don't even know, but we can't ignore them, so I'm here to provide you with a few suggestions for the Celebrity-lovers in your life! 

Lady Parts by Andrea Martin: Tony and Emmy award winning, library loving, delightful human, Andrea Martin has written a very funny, entertaining and moving memoir about motherhood, relationships and her very varied and full life in show business.

Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming: Alan Cumming, of The Good Wife and Cabaret fame, hasn’t written a typical rise to fame story. Instead this book is about how the complicated relationship with his father, as well as deeply hidden family secrets, made him who he is today. 

Yes Please by Amy Poehler: What is there to say? Amy Poehler, America’s sweetheart, comic genius, Leslie Knope, Weekend Update mastermind, has written a book. It’s funny and perfectly her voice and intelligent and a must read. Fun fact: the audio book version of this is particularly special!

I Must Say by Martin Short: Rounding out the heavy hitter list is Martin Short, Andrea Martin's BFFL and long time respected comedian who shares stories of his life and career. From his start in Canada’s Second City Comedy Troupe to hit movie and TV, Short is very candid and charming and includes stories with all of his famous friends. 

“An engrossing examination of how archaeologists re-create much of human history, piece by painstaking piece.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A lively love letter to archaeologists…Many archaeologists credit Indiana Jones with sparking their passion, and Johnson may well inspire a new generation to take up this calling.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Johnson’s…wonderful and engaging work peels back the superficial glamour surrounding archaeology and archaeologists.” — Library Journal (starred review)

Marilyn Johnson's Lives in Ruins recounts the brobdignagian efforts of archaeologists to reclaim history from the muck and mire of everywhere from empty lots and swamps to volcanic islands and jungles, and is the ultimate celebration of archaeological geekery.  Marilyn did extensive research for this book, tracking down archaeologists in their natural environment and experiencing some of what they do all year round.  And luckily for us, we can go along for the ride—from the comforting safety of our computers—by watching the video below.

So now let's test your own archaeological knowledge!  Do you know which English king's bones were found last year under a parking lot (not a horse stable, though he probably wished so) in central England?  Send us an email at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com with your answer, and the first 10 correct responses will receive a free copy of Lives in Ruins!

Lives in Ruins goes on sale today, so please join me in wishing it and Marilyn Johnson a very happy book birthday!

-Amanda

Meet Patricia Cornwell!

"With Flesh and Blood, Cornwell is at the top of her game.” —RT Book Reviews

"The ending is unseen and unexpected—and terrifying…. Scarpetta fans will relish this nail-biting novel." —Library Journal starred review

“When it comes to the forensic sciences, nobody can touch Cornwell.” —New York Times Book Review

Now, drum roll, please… Patricia Cornwell will be appearing at Wilton Library in Wilton, CT at 7pm on Wednesday, November 12th for a book talk and signing, her first and only stop in the Northeast and one of only four appearances in the US for the launch of her newest novel, Flesh and Blood.  Are you a Scarpetta fan in the Tri-State area?  Be there.  Are you a Scarpetta fan not in the Tri-State area?  Vacation time!  

The ticket price for the event is $30 (cost of book $28.99 + tax) and includes TWO SEATS at the event and ONE hardcover copy of the book.  The first 150 people to arrive will also receive a Kay Scarpetta logo t-shirt!  So, click here to purchase your ticket to what promises to be a stellar event with one of the world’s top best-selling and award-winning crime authors.

-Amanda

The Library Journal stars have come out for November, and they've risen over Patricia Cornwell's 22nd Kay Scarpetta novel Flesh and Blood and Thomas Asbridge's The Greatest Knight, a biography of historical knight extraordinaire William Marshall—servant to Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, and King John. 

Praise for Flesh and Blood (starred review): "The ending is unseen and unexpected—and terrifying….Scarpetta fans will relish this nail-biting novel."

Praise for The Greatest Knight (starred review): "On one level, this is the story of how a second son with few prospects rose to the pinnacle of chivalry, later becoming the most powerful man in England. It is also a story about how medieval knighthood worked; the interlocking web of obligation and fealty, friendship and loyalty that created the fairy-tale world of Arthur and Lancelot."

Make sure you grab the November 15th issue of Library Journal to read the full reviews for these and tons of other great upcoming titles.  And definitely don't miss when Flesh and Blood and The Greatest Knight go on sale on November 11 and December 2, respectively.

-Amanda

Guess what?? Publishers Weekly has selected the following HarperCollins titles for its Best Books of 2014!