Author name: Library Love Fest

Adriana Trigiani, Agincourt, American Library Association, Awards, Bernard Cornwell, Books, Boston, Clara Kramer, Clara's War, High Voltage Tattoo, Julia Quinn, Juliette Fay, Kat Von D, Libraries, Library Journal, Marvelyn Brown, Shelter Me, Show Me How, Street Art Book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, The Naked Truth, Very Valentine, What Happens in London, William Kamkwamba

Awards Recap: ALA Midwinter 2010

Roughly 8,000 librarians attended the American Library Association’s Midwinter conference in Boston.

HarperCollins had a great show:   11 authors including one unforgettable performance by Adriana Trigiani who won the ALA’s Reading List Awards in the Women’s Fiction category for Very Valentine (now out in paperback!).  Watch this:

This video went out everywhere.  By the next day it was on every major library site including Library Journal’s and the American Library Association’s.

For you non-librarians, the Midwinter conference is where committees meet to determine winners of various book awards.  Harper snagged quite a few this time around.

The Reading List awards outstanding genre fiction in 8 categories. We had winners in 3 of those categories as well as a few runner ups:

Historical Fiction  – Winner
Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell

Romance – Winner
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Women’s Fiction – Winner
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (see crazy video above)

Women’s Fiction Short List
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil
Shelter Me by Juliette Fay

The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list suggests books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure; it is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read.  We picked up four of these:

Street Art Book: 60 Artists in Their Own Words by Ric Blackshaw and Liz Farrelly
The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive by Marvelyn Brown
Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know Instructions for Life from the Everyday to the Exotic by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith
High Voltage Tattoo by Kat Von D.

The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.  Two of the ten winning books are ours:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson

2010 Sophie Brody Award recognizes outstanding Jewish literature
Clara’s War by Clara Kramer received an Honor Award

All winners are listed on ALA’s site: www.ala.org
Congrats to all!

-Virginia

American Library Association, Book Buzz, Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries

BOOK BUZZ!

The American Library Association’s Midwinter conference was held last weekend in Boston. The HarperCollins Library Marketing Department gave a presentation of select titles that are coming out in the Spring/Summer seasons.

We joined forces with the fabulous team at Earlyword.com who is hosting our presentation on their site.

Check it out!


Clip_image001

– Virginia

Inspiration, Making Toast, Memoir, Roger Rosenblatt, Shelf Awareness

Making Toast

9780061825934 I have been talking about this book since I read it in manuscript form last year. It has never left me.  This is the true story – told through the eyes of a father – about the sudden loss of his 38 year old daughter and how he and his wife step in to help their son-in-law care for their 3 young grandchildren.

This is not a maudlin tale. Yes, it’s sad.  But it’s also inspiring, hopeful and even humorous at times.  If you want to meet a family who will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page of their story, read Making Toast.  For more coverage on the book, including a fantastic interview with Roger Rosenblatt, check out yesterday's dedicated issue of Shelf Awareness. 

I’ll send a copy to you if you send a review to me at librarylovefest atharpercollins dot com.  Really, I’d love to hear what you think.

Many thanks.

-Virginia

Books, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Libraries, Race, Relationships, Slavery, Wench, Women

Wench

Wench hc c Last month, I blogged about a book entitled, Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.  Wench is the story of three female slave mistresses and the friendship they built despite living in a period of oppression.   Check out my article.

We received a great review from Jennifer M. Winberry, Principal Librarian, Extension Services, Acquisitions and Programming for the Hunterdon County Library.  Here it is:

Set in the decade prior to the American Civil War, Wench tells the story of Lizzie and three other slave women who are brought to Tawawa Resort in Ohio each summer by their masters who have taken these women as their mistresses.  Lizzie, from all appearances, and in her own mind, is treated very well, is considered a favored slave on her plantation, and Drayle shows a considerable amount of affection toward her and toward the two children she bore for him.  Over the years, Lizzie, Reenie and Sweet have formed a strong summer friendship and are mostly accepting of their roles in life until the summer a fourth woman, Mawu comes into their midst and says the word aloud that until now the others only dared say to themselves:  freedom. Dangerous and determined to escape, Mawu sets off a chain of events that brings tragedy to each woman, but that also offers a chance for each woman to change the course of her own destiny, whatever may come. The women will slowly work their way into your mind and heart, especially Lizzie who grows so much over the course of the book, as each searches for her own freedom and the strength to live with her decisions.

-Jennifer M. Winberry
Hunterdon County Library

Many thanks to Jennifer and everyone at the Hunterdon County Library! I hope you add Wench to your reading list.

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Attica Locke, Books, Chris Gardner, Current Affairs, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Michelle Obama, Nikki Giovanni, Steve Harvey

Five HarperCollins Authors Nominated for NAACP Image Awards!

Congratulations are in order for five outstanding authors!  Attica Locke, Steve Harvey, Chris Gardner, Nikki Giovanni and David Bergen Brophy have been nominated for NAACP Image Awards.  For more information, including a complete list of the nominees, please visit: http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2010-01-06/lit/index.htm

NAACP Image Awards – Nominees

Literary Work – Debut Author

BlackWater hc c Black Water Rising
by Attica Locke
9780061735868

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

ActLikeALady hc c
 Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man
by Steve Harvey
9780061728976

StartWhereYouAre hc c Start Where You Are
by Chris Gardner
9780061537110

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

BicyclesHC c. Bicycles
by Nikki Giovanni
9780061726453

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

Michelle Obama Michelle Obama: Meet the First Lady
by David Bergen Brophy
9780061779916

We wish them all the BEST of luck!  If you have not read their books, please check them out!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Books, Libraries, The Lace Reader

Brunonia Barry is a WINNER!

Congratulations to Brunonia Barry! Barry’s novel, The Lace Reader, has won the New England Book Festival’s Award in the fiction category. For more information, including a complete list of Winners, please visit: http://newenglandbookfestival.com/winners2009.html

New England Book Festival – Winner

LaceReaderHC c The Lace Reader
by Brunonia Barry
9780061624766

If you will be attending ALA Midwinter this weekend, please stop by our booth (# 1403) and congratulate her in person!  Brunonia will be signing at our booth on Sunday, January 17th from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM in the exhibit hall of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Hope to see you there!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Airplane, Airport, Books, Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger, Current Affairs, Highest Duty, Inspiration, Memoir, Television, TLC

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger

9780061924682 The Learning Channel has produced a documentary, Brace for Impact, in which Captain “Sully” Sullenberger retraces how he skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the surface of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard.  The documentary airs this Sunday, January 10th at 9pm.  Brace for Impact also follows Sully's personal story leading up to that fateful moment.  Captain Sullenberger is the author of Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters.

-Virginia

Beverly Jenkins, Books, Family, Happiness, Libraries, Relationships

A Second Helping – A “New Year’s Giveaway”

SecondHelping pb c Author Beverly Jenkins does it again with her new novel, A Second Helping.  A Second Helping, on sale today follows Bernadine Brown and her mission to save a small town in Kansas called “Henry Adams” from financial ruin.  While she’s attending to the task at hand, she discovers additional “projects” that need her help as well…and when her ex-husband comes into town hoping for a second chance, life in Henry Adams is never the same for Bernadine.

A Second Helping has gotten great reviews!  Check them out:

Booklist
Black History Preview (Fiction)
December 15, 2009
http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=3825110
 
Romantic Times Book Reviews
Mainstream Fiction Review
January 2010
"It's great to know that this is destined to be a continuing series … The characters are rich, and the kids all have a story to be told … In this gentle and fulfilling novel of second chances."
http://www.rtbookreviews.com/books_review.php?book=40421&sid=f4622c1eb87e86d524f9aa32ff658bf2

Romance Reviews Online
Fiction Review
January 2010
"Wonderful, marvelous story … This is so special I urge all to read it and experience a lovely experience that's guaranteed to give you with a smile on your face, over and over again."
http://hcussc105/TitleNet/Reportnet/Files//trade%20publicity/a/a%20second%20helping/romance%20reviews%201.1.10%20jenkins.doc

I would love to hear what YOU think about A Second Helping.  I will send free copies of A Second Helping to the first 25 lucky people who send us a comment or an email at librarylovefest at harpercollins dot com.  If you would be so kind as to send a brief review of the book, I would greatly appreciate it!

Happy New Year and Enjoy!

-Bobby

AAP, American Library Association, Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries

ALA Midwinter Author Breakfast

Join Our Authors for Complimentary Breakfast and BookTalk!
The Association of American Publishers Trade Libraries Committee
Cordially Invites You to Breakfast On
Sunday, January 17, 2010, 8 am – 9:30 am.
Boston Convention Center, Room 151 A/B.
American Library Association Midwinter Conference, Boston, MA

"Keeping It Short
The Best In Short Story Fiction"

Featuring:
George Saunders, author of In Persuasion Nation (Riverhead)
David Updike, author of Old Girlfriends (Macmillan)
Shannan Rouss, author of Easy For You (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Simon Van Booy, author of The Secret Lives of People In Love(HarperCollins)
Lee Smith, author of Mrs. Darcy And the Blue Eyed Stranger (Algonquin)
Ha Jin, author of A Good Fall: Stories (Random House)

Book Signing to Follow Program. Seating is Limited.
Please RSVP To Marlene Scheuermann at

mscheurmann@publishers.org
by January 10, 2010

Books, Katherine Hall Page, The Body in the Sleigh

The Body in the Sleigh – A blogger’s STELLAR review!

9780061474255 Happy New Year! We may not be doing too much dancing today, but we are pretty excited about this blogger's review of Katherine Hall Page's The Body in the Sleigh.  Check out the review below, as well as the book blog, Pudgy Penguin Perusals!

When the Reverend Thomas Fairchild needed a quiet place to recover from surgery, he and his wife Faith and their two children left their home north of Boston and went to their seasonal home in Sanpere Island off the coast of Maine. Normally a laid back, quiet kind of place even in the tourist season, Sanpere has a few surprises in store for the Fairchild family, especially Faith.
 
Although Faith is the owner of her own catering business, she has gotten the reputation of being an amateur sleuth. So when she took her children to see the Christmas display at the Historical Society, she found a body in a sleigh; a very troubled young woman by the name of Norah whose drug addictions were well known. At first, it appears to have been a routine overdose but Faith is not too sure about that assumption. She takes it on herself to do a little prying into the tragic death.
 
Meanwhile on another part of the Island, on Christmas eve, Mary Bethany finds a new born baby boy in her goat shed. He appears to be well cared for and tucked in a basket with him is a large bag of cash and a note to take good care of him. Mary, local spinster who raises goats and runs a B&B in the tourist season, is stumped as to who would abandon such a beautiful baby and why. Naturally, she turns to Faith to help her solve the puzzle. Now Faith is faced with two mysteries: one of birth and one of death. As in any good cozy, justice will prevail. The enjoyment of the story is the journey to the end.

…

The Body in the Sleigh – A blogger’s STELLAR review!Read More »

American Library Association, Barbara Genco, Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Marilyn Johnson, This Book is Overdue!

This Book is Overdue Receives Even More Praise!

ThisBookIsOverdue hc c The reviews are continuing to come in about Marilyn Johnson’s forthcoming book, This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All (on sale February 2010).  In addition to the amazing review we received from Booklist, check out these wonderful quotes:

“Johnson does for the library profession what Malcolm Gladwell did for the theory of memetics in The Tipping Point.”
-Nora Rawlinson, Co-Founder and Editor, EarlyWord.com

“I have worked as a librarian for 35 years.  In these pages I met the past, present and future of my profession.  Johnson knows what we know.  It is great to be a librarian!”
-Barbara Genco, Librarian and Collection Development Consultant

For those of you attending ALA-Midwinter in Boston next month, please do not miss your opportunity to meet Marilyn where she will be signing complimentary copies of her book, This Book is Overdue during the conference:

Monday, January 18, 2010 
HarperCollins booth (#1403)
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Boston Convention Center
415 Summer Street
Boston, Massachusetts

ALTAFF Author Tea
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hyatt Regency Boston
Grand Ballroom
1 Avenue de Lafayette
Boston, Massachusetts

For tickets or additional information about the ALTAFF Author Tea, visit: www.ala.org/altaff
or call 1-800-545-2433 x2161

In addition to hearing Marilyn speak about This Book is Overdue, check out the other authors that will be featured at the ALTAFF Tea:

  • Holly LeCraw, The Swimming Pool (Doubleday)
  • Janice Y.K. Lee, The Piano Teacher (Viking)
  • Karl Marlantes, Matterhorn (Atlantic Monthly Press)
  • Teri Woods, Dutch II: Angel’s Revenge (Grand Central Publishing)

We are very excited about This Book is Overdue and we hope you are as well.  Also, as Kayleigh mentioned earlier, if you haven’t read the first chapter, check it out here!

Enjoy,

-Bobby

Booklist, Libraries, Marilyn Johnson, This Book is Overdue!

Booklist reviews…This Book is Overdue!

9780061431609_0_Cover Librarians have been raving about Marilyn Johnson's forthcoming This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All.  Now Booklist is joining in–here's their full review. 

This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All.
Johnson, Marilyn (Author)
Feb 2010. 288 p. Harper, hardcover, $24.99. (9780061431609). 020.92.

Contemporary librarians are morphing into undisputed masters of the information cosmos. An Internetsavvy, database-crunching cohort of multimedia manipulators passionately dedicated to empowering the data-deprived, they democratically distribute all the fruits of the emerging hypertext universe. Johnson’s paean to this new generation of librarians demolishes superannuated myths and stereotypes of fusty librarians filing catalog cards and collecting fines for overdue books, and replaces that with a vision of the profession’s future where librarians serve as guardians and guides to information in cyberspace. These rock-star librarians maneuver their way through a labyrinthine network of glowing computer-terminal screens to retrieve whatever answers patrons may seek. If that’s not high calling enough, librarians stand tall as superhero sentinels bravely beating back every assault on civil liberties and Constitutional government. Johnson offers portraits of American librarians, both institutional and freelance, already achieving fame as cybrarians and informationists, and she affirms and celebrates their conquests. Take that, Nicholson Baker!— Mark Knoblauch

Don't forget, you can read the first chapter here! 

-Kayleigh

Abuse, Books, Current Affairs, Family, Libraries, Life Lessons, Push, Relationships, Sapphire

Push, by Sapphire

Push Here at HarperLibrary we love our books…I mean we REALLY LOVE OUR BOOKS.  Every now and then, you do have to give credit where credit is due.  I’m sure by now everyone has heard the major buzz about the movie “Precious,” which is based on the book Push by Sapphire.  I just had the opportunity to read Push and was BLOWN AWAY!

While reading Push, a multitude of emotions overcame me…anger, sadness, hurt, and hope.  I was angry and sad because of the realization of what this young woman truly had to endure.  Feelings of hurt came because in some way, I wish there was something that could have done to help prevent such a thing from happening in the first place.  Finally, I was hopeful because I realized that by telling Precious’ story, she is helping so many others overcome (and hopefully prevent) similar situations.  Push will help someone make a total turnaround, by turning tragedy into triumph. 

If you haven’t read Push, please make it part of your reading list…and go see "Precious"!

Enjoy,

-Bobby

Books, Katherine Hall Page, The Body in the Sleigh

Raves for The Body in the Sleigh

9780061474255 The reviews keep coming in for Katherine Hall Page's heartwarming The Body in the Sleigh, which is sure to take the chill off! Friend of the blog, Bermuda Onion, wrote us a great review.  And Patti Blount, director of the Durand Public Library, writes:

"A very delightful holiday mystery to read.  Body In The Sleigh was the first book that I read from this author.  Although I recent have seen her books when I was traveling through Vermont.  The mystery was very suspenseful and kept me guessing until the end.  After reading this book, I am thinking of purchasing some more books from the series for my library."

For more reader reviews of The Body in the Sleigh, click here.  Stay warm!

Aprilynne Pike, Book Buzz, Books, Brom, Charlaine Harris, Collection Development, Dead Witch Walking, Eos, Fantasy, Jeaniene Frost, Kelley Armstrong, Kim Harrison, Libraries, Margaret Ronald, Melissa Marr, New York, New York Public Library, Out of this Eos, Paranormal Romance, Richard Kadrey, Sandman Slim, Science Fiction, Spiral Hunt, Stephanie Meyers, The Child Thief, True Blood, Twilight, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, YA

Sci-fi Book Buzz at the NYPL

Eos logo Today we've got a special guest blog from editrix extraordinaire, Diana Gill, of Out of this Eos.  Many of us are overwhelmed by the amount of offerings in sci-fi/fantasy, but Diana is here to give us a great introductory course in the genre.  Sherecently presented upcoming Eos titles at the New York Public Library–her full presentation can be found here: Download Book Buzz Eos. 

Without further ado, here she is!

"A couple of weeks ago I presented current and upcoming Eos titles (science fiction, fantasy, urban and supernatural fantasy) to a group of approximately 40 NYC librarians in an SF Book Buzz panel, along with editors and marketing people from Del Rey and Macmillan.  It was my first time presenting to librarians (versus, say, fans at conventions), and I had a blast.

I talked about both some recent Eos titles and about our upcoming Winter ’10 list, which includes titles from Robin Hobb, Kim Harrison, and Raymond E. Feist, among others.  Afterwards, we offered each librarian a choice of one of several Eos titles, from science fiction to epic fantasy to urban/supernatural fantasy.  The most titles most requested were SANDMAN SLIMby Richard Kadrey, Brom’s dark retelling of Peter Pan, THE CHILD THIEF, and Margaret Ronald’s urban fantasy SPIRAL HUNT. Several people were interested trying sf/f, and not sure where to start.

Urban fantasy (and its cousin paranormal romance) is the easiest gateway to the genre—since it takes place in a world that is very much our own, only with magic.  Not coincidentally, it’s also the hottest thing going, between the phenomenon that is Stephenie Meyers' Twilight saga to the incredibly popular True Blood tv series.  Urban fantasies are an easy way for readers to try the genre, and there are a lot of great ones out there.

…

Sci-fi Book Buzz at the NYPLRead More »

Books, Ian Sansom, Libraries, Mobile Library Series, Mystery/Suspense

The Bad Book Affair

9780061452017 Attention all you Ian Sansom fans!  He is back with another book in the Mobile Library Mystery Series.  The Bad Book Affair, on sale January 19th is his fourth novel in the series and stars Israel Armstrong, the classically funny librarian who solves crimes while driving the mobile library around the north coast of Ireland.  Israel finds himself trying to solve the mystery of a missing teenage girl…one who’s a bit troubled and also happens to be the daughter of a local politician.  Don’t miss this exciting mystery as Israel tries to find the missing teen, while trying to solve a few problems of his own.  The Bad Book Affair is the perfect book to read while sitting in a cozy chair with your favorite warm beverage!

Enjoy,

-Bobby

Books, Libraries, Publishers Weekly

The Breach

Breach mm c Check out this rave STARRED review of Patrick Lee’s THE BREACH and their PICK OF THE WEEK.

If you’re looking for a great ‘guy’ book, this is it. This is a white-knuckle debut thriller starring an ex-convict who combines the government conspiracy angle of “24’s” Jack Bauer with the action of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, with a dash of supernatural suspense

There’s also a strong female character at the center of the book, with a bit of a budding romance, so this should appeal to female readers as well.

-Virginia

Charles Todd, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Publishers Weekly, Readers Advisory Book/Review Swap, The Red Door

Charles Todd

9780061726163 The amazing mother-son writing team known to readers as Charles Todd has another winner on their hands. Check out the GREAT starred review of The Red Door from PW.  I’d love to hear what  you think about this book.  Download Publishers Weekly Monday, December 7, 2009

If you send me an email with your address – and a promise to review the book – I’ll happily send you a free copy. Your review will appear here on Library Love Fest.  Just send your complete mailing address to librarylovefest at harpercollins dot com. 

Mystery lovers, UNITE!
-Virginia

American Library Association, Book Buzz, Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries

What’s New for Summer 2010? Find Out Today!

KVB

The HarperCollins Library Marketing Team
cordially invites you to attend our

Summer 2010 Title Presentation
at
The American Library Association's Midwinter Conference

Saturday, January 16, 2010
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
(Connected to the Boston Convention Center)
425 Summer Street
Burroughs Room
Boston, Massachusetts

The HarperCollins Children’s Books Library Marketing Team will present their titles from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Get the inside track on your favorite authors and discover a few new ones along the way!

Seating is limited, so RSVP your attendance to:
Bobby.Brinson@harpercollins.com

Light refreshments will be served.  We hope to see you in Boston!

-Bobby

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