Congratulations to Elizabeth Boyle, Kathryn Smith, Lynsay Sands, Beverly Jenkins, Tom Franklin, Jeaniene Frost, and Melissa Marr! All seven authors have won Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards. Click through for more information, including a complete list of winners.
MorrowCooks Crunch Time, a culinary mystery by Diane Mott Davidson, is on sale! The publicist shares some behind the scenes info http://wp.me/p11pkk-vb
Heads up! Next week in celebration of National Library Week, we are having a daily giveaway, and who better to honor than one of the world's most prolific writers, Agatha Christie. Each afternoon we will post a new trivia question about her, and the first 5 people to answer correctly in the comments will win a bag of Agatha goodies! Want to make it interesting?? Try finding the answers without Google!
Melissa Marr, YA author extraordinaire, has her first adult novel coming out in May. Graveminder tells a captivating story about the living, the dead, and a curse that binds them. SugarScape got an exclusive interview with Melissa, so click through to read about her writing process, thoughts on social networking, and what she's most addicted to.
We at HarperLibrary can't wait to get to Austin next week! BBQ, books and librarians – how can you go wrong?? Please stop by our booth (# 1824), we'd love to talk with you. Check out some of the authors and events you will NOT want to miss:
Caterer and sleuth, Goldy Schulz, returns in Crunch Time, another tasty and suspenseful adventure from the ace of the culinary mystery, Diane Mott Davidson. Want to make your own delicious treat? Follow along with Diane's video as she makes the cookie recipe featured in her book… Let us know how they turn out!
YA bestseller Marr (Wicked Lovely), in her first novel for adult readers, serves up a quirky dark fantasy fashioned around the themes of fate, free will–and zombies. When Rebekkah Barrow is summoned home to Claysville for the funeral of her beloved grandmother Maylene, Rebekkah doesn't know that she's been designated Maylene's successor as the town Graveminder, whose job it is to give the recently deceased food to keep them in the Land of the Dead. Not coincidentally, her sometimes lover, Byron Montgomery, has just succeeded his dad as the Undertaker, who works intimately with the Graveminder. Even as the pair ponder the grave responsibilities that their weird destinies have thrust upon them, they doggedly pursue Daisha, an adolescent who died under suspicious circumstances and who, unburied and untended, is wreaking havoc around town as a rampaging member of the Hungry Dead. Not everything adds up in Marr's story, but the well-drawn characters and their dramatic interactions keep the tale loose and lively.
Afraid of the Dark hit stores on March 22, and within five days had found a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list!
See why critics are calling this one James Grippando at his pulse-pounding best:
"Compelling….Grippando has written a legal thriller with more twists and turns than a snowy mountain pass. 'Afraid of the Dark' will have readers embracing this darkness." – Associated Press
"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." – Miami Herald
"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)
Visit James Grippando's Facebook page to learn more about him and his books.
In honor of April Fools Day, we here in Library Marketing Land want to give you the opportunity to get a grab-bag full of new releases! Visit our Facebook page, and leave your ideas for best book-related April Fool's prank in the comments for your chance to win!
A 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.
Congratulations, Jacqueline! Jacqueline Winspear's latest novel, A Lesson in Secrets, debuted on the National Indie Best Seller list at #4. For anyone attending TLA, Jacqueline will be at the LIFTA luncheon on Wednesday, April 13 at noon.
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
Photo Source: National ArchivesIt's no secret how much we here in the Library Marketing department love Ken Davis. His blog, Don't Know Much About, educates readers about various events in United States history, some joyful, some sobering, all noteworthy. Did you know that on March 23, 1942 the American government began it's internment of Japanese Americans? Click through to Ken's blog to learn more. -Annie
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.
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
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!
"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)
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 Princesby 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 Darkby 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 Bondby 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.
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 Aliensis sure to make your afternoon.
Sometimes, all it takes to brighten up your day is a photo of some cuddly pets. Just ask Wayne Pacelle, author of The Bondand 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).
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 Daughteris 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
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.
Today's post comes from our colleague, Kim, who works downstairs at William Morrow. Kim will be talking about Robert Barclay's new book, If Wishes Were Horses, which we've been recommending for fans of Nicholas Sparks. She is also giving away 15 keychains to the first 15 commenters, so click on through to win. Take it away, Kim!
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From the moment I heard about If Wishes Were Horses two things stuck out in my mind, first was the title—what woman doesn’t love horses or at least the idea of one—and second was the editor’s belief that this story was something special. After reading the first few pages I was hooked! I found myself transported to the ranch and completely absorbed in the lives of these characters. I wanted to know more about the equine therapy program and also how three scarred individuals could possibly find a way to move past all of their pain and learn to forgive not only themselves but each other. Many of the key elements that helped to make Nick Sparks a book club favorite can be found in Robert Barclay’s If Wishes Were Horses… This book is the perfect antidote to the winter blues—so grab your hot cocoa, a box of tissues, and start reading!
Robert Barclay, was kind enough to sit down with us for a few minutes to discuss how his own life experiences and those closest to him, helped to shape this story. Here’s an excerpt of the interview.
Q: Where did you get the title of the novel? How does the old saying relate to the story and the message you are conveying?
RB: It’s actually an old proverb that dates back to an English book that was published in 1628. It is often interpreted to mean that it is useless to wish, and that better results can be achieved through action—such as when Gabby stops wishing that Trevor’s attitude would change, and she finally takes action and enrolls him in Wyatt’s equine therapy program. Not only was I drawn to the proverb’s meaning, the references to horses also seemed a perfect fit.
Q: Your wife, Joyce, is a practicing psychologist, and she too suffered a tragedy similar to the plot of your novel. Did that make it easier to write—or more difficult?
RB: Both, I would say. Joyce lost her younger son to a drunk driver. Sadly, I witnessed the true pain and sorrow of someone who was actually going through it. That meant I could both write about it with a greater sense of reality, but it also forced me to watch Joyce endure the most difficult period of her life. From that terrible reality came the idea of Wyatt losing his family. I only hope that I conveyed it well.
Q: You revealed that much of the novel is drawn from your own past. Can you share with us one or two examples from the book in which a situation in your own life inspired a part of the story? How do you as an author balance your own experiences with your fictional narrative? Were there ever times that you thought you had to change something because it was too close?
RB: Because Wyatt lost his wife and son on his birthday, he finds it impossible to take the blessings during his weekly church service, which is a celebration of blessings, anniversaries, etc. Instead of participating, he always leaves the church just as the priest commences it. The inspiration for this came about while I was in church one Sunday. As the priest called for people to come and take the blessings, I saw a man of about my age rise from his pew and head for the aisle. Rather than heading for the sanctuary, however, with his head hung low he gave some cash to one of the ushers, and he quietly departed the church. Although I never saw him again, I knew that his tale had to be an interesting one. That became the inspiration for Wyatt’s inability to remain in church during the blessings. Seeing that unknown man leave the church seemed so poignant, and it rang so true, that I knew I wanted to use the occasion in my book.
And yes—novelists must do their best to balance their fictions with their own, true-life experiences. The secret, I think, is letting your life experiences get close to the storyline—but not so close that you are actually recreating them onto the written page. If the writer falls into that trap, he or she will begin telling the story of their lives, rather than those of the characters. Plus, every new tale will smack too loudly of the preceding one. Personal experiences are highly useful. But no matter how enticing they might be, they should be used only as a guideline, and nothing more.
Oh, I know, we keep talking about Little Princes. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I neglected to tell you about the Little Princes giveaway we're doing on Facebook, through tomorrow. "Like" us, and post on our wall about someone who has inspired you, and we'll send you your very own copy of Conor's book. It's that simple, and in this cold weather, everyone could use some warm fuzzies.
You know we're jazzed about Conor Grennan's smash memoir Little Princes, andI am happy to report you can now read an excerpt online. From there, if you want to learn more about Conor and Next Generation Nepal, here's a round-up of Little Princes coverage (don't miss the feature on Conor in The Christian Science Monitor). Lastly, LibraryLoveFest will be giving away copies of Little Princes on Facebook every day this week, so be sure to like us and get your very own copy!
A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale
