Reason # 7,395 why we love librarians:
-Virginia
Libraries
Books, Collection Development, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Relationships, Wench
Meet Dolen Perkins-Valdez
If you are a follower of Library Love Fest, you know I am a fan of 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. If you missed my article, read it right here.
Check out this video where author Dolen Perkins-Valdez goes into her motivation for writing Wench and why it was such an important story to tell:
If you haven't read Wench yet, please add this to your reading list. You will NOT be disappointed!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
American Library Association, Book Buzz, Books, Collection Development, Early Word, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries
The “BUZZ” is LIVE!
For those of you that could not come to the American Library Association's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. this past June, you definitely missed a lively and energetic "Book Buzz" given by the Harper Library Marketing Team.
HOWEVER…you can listen to the highlights and obtain additional information on all the titles we presented just by clicking here! Our Seasonal "Book Buzz" is available for your listening pleasures on EarlyWord.com.
Listen and enjoy!
-Bobby
Abuse, Book Buzz, Books, Collection Development, Conor Grennan, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Little Princes, Nepal, Next Generation Nepal
Little Princes
We here at Harper Library are excited about all of our books. However, the house is buzzing about this forthcoming book by Conor Grennan entitled Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal. Little Princes (on sale in January 2011) will take you on an emotional roller-coaster from sadness and anger to love and optimism.
Conor Grennan decided to quit his day job and take a year off to explore the world. His first stop landed him as a volunteer at the Little Princes Orphanage in war-torn Nepal. What he thought would simply be a way to provide service to a needy community transformed into a mission to save the children of that orphanage. What he learned was that these “orphans” were actually taken from their families by human traffickers, and then dumped on the streets of Kathmandu. It became Conor's goal to bring these children back together with their families…a goal he soon realized would not be easy to accomplish.
Watch Conor in this amazing video as goes into detail about this labor of love for the children of Nepal.
Also, click here and check out the author's website which is devoted to rescuing these children and reuniting them with their families.
I am SO excited about this book and would love to hear your comments. I will send free advance reader copies of Little Princes to the 20 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 after you read it, I would greatly appreciate it!
I can wholeheartedly say that this will not be the last time you hear about Little Princes…and remember you read about it here first!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Libraries, Marilyn Johnson
This Ink is Overdue?
It seems like every day we get another email about library cuts or closings across the country. So when this landed in my inbox, it brought a welcome smile to my face. Marilyn Johnson's This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All has been one of our departmental favorites for quite some time now (our blog is called Library Love Fest). But Jenn O'Donnell, library worker and devotee of This Book is Overdue!, has trumped us all. Jenn writes:
"I completed my MLIS in 2007 and have finally obtained my first "professional" library position, after working at the circulation desk at a public library and in a support role at a law firm library. I could think of no better way to celebrate than having picture of the super librarian from the cover of This Book is Overdue!."
Jenn, you are truly a badass. Check it out!
Now, more than ever, America needs its libraries, and its librarians. For more information on the current library cuts, here's Marilyn's Op-Ed in the L.A. Times. And for more on This Book is Overdue!, check out the Facebook page, or browse inside the book.
-Kayleigh
32 Candles, Book Buzz, Books, Collection Development, Early Word, Ernessa Carter, Fierce and Nerdy, Happiness, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Molly Ringwald, Reinvention, Relationships, Sixteen Candles
32 Candles
I blogged about a book entitled, 32 Candles, by Ernessa T. Carter. Ernessa's book, 32 Candles is the story of a self-proclaimed ugly duckling who finds her voice and finds herself. Check out my article.
We received a great review from Lisa Steckhahn, Reference Librarian for the West Allis Public Library. Here is what Lisa thought of 32 Candles:
"32 Candles is a look at the life of a very unique girl who moves to Los Angeles after enduring abuse from her mom and high school classmates. Davie enjoys Molly Ringwald movies and wants her own “Molly Ringwald Ending”, a sentiment shared by many girls of her generation. When she arrives in LA she transforms herself into another person and becomes a nightclub singer. After establishing a life there, she encounters her high school crush who makes her relive all of the memories she ran away from. It was a very entertaining read and I couldn’t help but root for Davie even though she is flawed. The flaws are what makes her interesting and cause the reader to hope that she finally finds her “Molly Ringwald Ending”.
-Lisa Steckhahn, Reference Librarian
West Allis Public Library
West Allis Public Library
Many thanks to Lisa and everyone at the West Allis Public Library! I hope you add 32 Candles to your reading list.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Lady Gaga, Libraries
We’re Gaga for Librarians!
This is reason #4,973 why we love librarians…
-Virginia
BEA, Books, Collection Development, Family, Family Lineage, Grandparents, HarperCollins Publishers, Inspiration, Libraries, Library of Congress, Memoir, The House at the End of the Road
BEA Fun!
If you attended Book Expo America last week, I'm sure your schedule was just like ours…jam-packed! While we were extremely busy and productive, we did manage to have some fun along the way. One of my biggest challenges to date has been mastering the art of tying a bow-tie. I love them, however tying one can be a bit of a problem.
One of our authors, W. Ralph Eubanks (The House at the End of the Road) took time out of his day to show me the fine art of tying a bow-tie. Ralph makes it look SO easy. In fact, he can accomplish this WITHOUT looking in a mirror. Check out both videos…one where he ties the bow-tie on me and the other where he demonstrates on himself.
In between mastering this fine art if you haven't picked up his book, The House at the End of the Road, PLEASE do yourself a favor and check it out. You will not be disappointed. I have to give a special thank you to W. Ralph Eubanks…a true inspiration and a great person! If I had a Brother, it would be him!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
American Library Association, Book Buzz, Books, Collection Development, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries
What’s HarperCollins Buzzing About?
The HarperCollins Library Marketing Team
Cordially invites you to attend our
Fall 2010 "Book Buzz"
Saturday, June 26, 2010
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Room 147A
Washington, DC
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 DC!
32 Candles, Book Buzz, Books, Collection Development, Early Word, Ernessa Carter, Fierce and Nerdy, Happiness, Libraries, Molly Ringwald, Reinvention, Relationships, Sixteen Candles
Monday Madness…32 Candles
So if you are anything like me, you are probably sitting in front of your computer reading this and wondering to yourself "where on EARTH did the weekend go?"
I know one great way to get over the "Monday Blues"…talk about and give away good books!
I am very excited about an upcoming book entitled, 32 Candles, by Ernessa T. Carter. 32 Candles, on sale in June tells the story of Davie Jones, a self-proclaimed ugly duckling from Mississippi, who feels her life couldn't be any worse than it already is. She's teased at school, and doesn't have the greatest relationship with her mother. On top of all this, she's in love with a handsome football player, who doesn't know she's alive. After watching the movie Sixteen Candles,she believes that in spite of it all, if Molly Ringwald can have a happy ending, so can she!
After she realizes she can't take the drama anymore, Davie decides to try her luck at fame and fortune in the big city of Los Angeles, where she reinvents herself and becomes a successful nightclub singer. As if life couldn't get any better, the handsome football player walks into the club one night. He doesn't recognize her and her dreams of love become reality. By all accounts, everything is just perfect, until something from Davie's past threatens to haunt her and tarnish her bright future.
I presented 32 Candles at the ALA Midwinter Conference during our Title Presentation. To hear my "buzz" on the book, click here!
I am SO excited about this book and would love to hear your comments. I will send free copies of 32 Candles to the 11 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!
Please be sure to check out Ernessa's blogs (32candles.com and fierceandnerdy.com) I hope you find 32 Candles fun and heart-warming as I have.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
American Library Association, Books, Brunonia Barry, Collection Development, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, The Map of True Places
The Map of True Places…ON SALE NOW!
Last month, I wrote about New York Times bestselling author Brunonia Barry's upcoming book, The Map of True Places. Here is my original post. I am so excited to let you know that it is FINALLY on sale!
The reviews for The Map of True Places are outstanding. Check out this one from Publishers Weekly:
“This is a lovingly told story with many well-drawn characters, who sooner or later consider the courses charted by personal decisions and circumstances.”
— Publishers Weekly
You will not be disappointed with The Map of True Places. You can also check out Brunonia's website, watch her video, join her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
Please join me in celebrating what promises to be another winner for Brunonia Barry!
Books, Collection Development, Family, HarperCollins Publishers, India, Libraries, Relationships, Texas Library Association, Women
Secret Daughter
We are so excited about this amazing new book. First time novelist Shilpi Somaya Gowda has a true hit on her hands with Secret Daughter, an emotional story that explores motherhood, loss, acceptance and belonging. The reviews are outstanding! Here are just a few of them:
"Secret Daughter is an engaging read, with its quick shifts between characters and rapid movement through 20 years of familial narrative…Gowda resolutely refuses to tie up all her loose ends, keeping the novel from settling into banality."
–Boston Globe
"Some of the best contemporary novels about families and what it means to be American are bring written by Indian – or Pakistani-Americans, many of them women. I've read and admired a lot of them lately, and Secret Daughter, Californian Shilpi Somaya Gowda's debut, is my favorite…her novel is captivating and ultimately very wise…This novel travels far in the world, and deep into the human heart."
–Minneapolis Star Tribune
I had the pleasure of meeting Shilpi Somaya Gowda as she signed copies of Secret Daughter at the Texas Library Association Conference held in San Antonio earlier this month. She was warm, engaging, and a true hit among the librarians there!
Secret Daughter should be a part of your reading list. You WILL NOT regret it!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Books, Brunonia Barry, Collection Development, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Life Lessons, Relationships, The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places
The Map of True Places
I am always amazed at how an author can keep presenting one hit title after another. Brunonia Barry is no exception. She wowed us with her New York Times bestseller, The Lace Reader and now she's back again! I am so excited about her newest title The Map of True Places, on sale in May. I presented this title at our Seasonal Book Buzz at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference this past January. To hear my "buzz", click here!
I know once you start reading The Map of True Places, you will not want to stop!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
A Pearl in the Storm, Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Inspiration, Libraries, Memoir, Tori Murden McClure
A Pearl in the Storm
We are still very excited about A Pearl in Storm by Tori Murden McClure. A Pearl in the Storm, new in paperback this month, is the fascinating memoir of the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. This story will leave you mesmerized and it will stay on your mind and in your heart. It is truly a story of survival, adventure and having the guts to accomplish any goal, big or small. If you haven't read this book, I urge you to do so!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Alison Arngrim, Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Little House on the Prairie, Memoir, Nellie Oleson
Nellie Oleson
Who didn't love to hate that kid? For everyone who has ever watched an episode of Little House on the Prairie, this book, CONFESSIONS OF A PRAIRIE BITCH is for you. Alison Arngrim, the actress who played the pouty spoiled Nellie Oleson on the hit TV show has written a dishy fun book about her years on – and off – the set.
It's funny, insightful and moving.
– Virginia
Adriana Trigiani, ALTAFF, American Library Association, Book Buzz, Books, Brava, Valentine, Daphne Kalotay, Dennis Lehane, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Government Girl, Hail, Hail Euphoria, HarperCollins Publishers, I'd Know You Anywhere, Laura Lippman, Libraries, Marilyn Johnson, Mary McDonagh Murphy, Russian Winter, Scout, Atticus and Boo, Secrets of a Scandalous Bride, Sophia Nash, Stacy Parker Aab, This Book is Overdue!, Very Valentine, Wench
Sneak Peek: ALA Annual 2010!
We at HarperLibrary are so excited about attending the American Library Association's Annual Conference in June. It gives us the opportunity to spend time with the people we love the most…LIBRARIANS! Although it is a month and a half away, our author lineup and conference events are in full swing. Please stop by our booth (# 2513) for all the action and some great giveaways! Check out some of the authors and events you will NOT want to miss:
Saturday, June 26, 2010
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Auditorium Speakers Series
Nancy Pearl with Mary McDonagh Murphy, author of Scout Atticus and Boo
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
HarperCollins Seasonal Title Presentation
To RSVP, send an email to: bobby dot brinson at harpercollins dot com
(Note: The HarperChildren's Books Seasonal Title Presentation will immediately follow starting at 11:30 AM)
10:30 AM – Noon
ALTAFF Program: Isn't It Romantic?
Featuring Sophia Nash, author of Secrets of a Scandalous Bride
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Mary McDonagh Murphy, booth signing
Scout, Atticus and Boo
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Sophia Nash, booth signing
Secrets of a Scandalous Bride
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Stacy Parker Aab, booth signing
Government Girl
Sunday, June 27, 2010
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Literary Tastes Breakfast
Featuring Adriana Trigiani, author of Very Valentine
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Adriana Trigiani, booth signing
Brava, Valentine
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
ALTAFF Program: Authors Come in All Colors
Featuring Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Wench
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Dolen Perkins-Valdez, booth signing
Wench
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
ALTAFF Program: The Laugh's on Us
Featuring Roy Blount, Jr., author of Hail, Hail, Euphoria!
Monday, June 28, 2010
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Auditorium Speakers Series
Dennis Lehane, author of Moonlight Mile
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Dennis Lehane, booth signing
Moonlight Mile
10:30 AM – Noon
ALTAFF Program: First Author, First Book
Featuring Daphne Kalotay, author of Russian Winter
11:00 AM – Noon
Marilyn Johnson, booth signing
This Book is Overdue!
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Daphne Kalotay, booth signing
Russian Winter
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
ALTAFF Gala Author Tea
Featuring Laura Lippman, author of I'd Know You Anywhere
HarperCollins is a proud sponsor of ALTAFF (www.ala.org/atlaff). For tickets, please call 1-800-545-2433 ext 2161.
I am sure we will be adding to this already dymanic schedule, so please visit us for further updates. We look forward to seeing you in DC!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Bucolic Plague, Earth Day, Farm to Fork, Libraries, The Tree, The Weather of the Future
Earth Day
Earth Day is fast approaching and—now more than ever—green living is on all of our minds. This Earth Day, stock your shelves with these eco-friendly titles from our digital (and entirely paperless) Summer and Fall catalogs. From farming to cooking to climate change, we’ve got something green for every palate.
The Tree: A moving meditation on the intersection of nature and art from late English author John Fowles.
Bucolic Plague: Green Acres meets Dave Sedaris in this hilarious memoir from Josh Kilmer Purcell.
The Weather of the Future: An incredible new perspective on climate change, from one of America’s foremost experts on the subject.
Farm to Fork: Emeril shows us how to take locally-grown ingredients and turn them into nourishing meals we can be proud of.
And for a complete listing of our best environmental books, check out our environmental studies online catalog.
-Kayleigh
Book Buzz, Libraries, Nancy Pearl, PLA 2010
Public Library Association 2010
On Wednesday, March 24th, Nancy Pearl will be hosting a Book Buzz panel at the Public Library Association conference in Portland, OR. (Here's a link to our PLA schedule.)
If you can make it, great! If you can’t attend, here are the books I will be talking about at the presentation. Download PLA Book Buzz 2010
On Thursday March 25th, I'll be doing a presentation on Author Events Made Easy. If you'd like the packet for that, download it here! Download HC Author Events Made Easy
Hope you find this helpful.
-Virginia
Blog Talk Radio, Early Word, Libraries, Marilyn Johnson, This Book is Overdue!
Listen now: Marilyn Johnson on Blogtalk Radio!
Today's the big day! Marilyn Johnson, author of This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All, is on Blogtalk radio (2 pm EST) with Virginia Stanley and Earlyword's Nora Rawlinson. If you need an incentive to listen, here's a quick review of This Book is Overdue! from reference librarian Lisa Steckhahn (West Allis Public Library):
I was very excited to read this book and hear an outside perspective on libraries and librarians. Marilyn Johnson shows that librarians vary but they all have a common goal: help people find information. As the amount of information increases in our daily lives it becomes more evident someone is needed to organize and document it. Johnson also challenges the image of a librarian behind a desk. Radical reference and Second Life demonstrate what can happen when librarians take to the streets and cyberspace. Reading about the various ways libraries and librarians are changing the world is very inspiring and has made me think of my job in a new and different way. I think the general public has many misconceptions about librarians and hopefully after reading this book they will see that librarians are not set in their ways. Libraries can change as society changes and in many cases lead the way to a better future.
Curious? Call or write in with a question for Marilyn, and we'll send you a copy of the book. Just remember to register here.
Blog Talk Radio, Books, Early Word, Libraries, Marilyn Johnson, This Book is Overdue!
This Interview is Overdue!
On Friday we told you about Virginia's Blogtalk Radio interview with James Grippando, slated for tomorrow, Tuesday March 16th at 3 pm EST. Don't put your planners and calendars away just yet, though–this Thursday, March 18th (2 pm EST), Virginia will also be interviewing librarian-favorite, Marilyn Johnson, author of This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. Joining them will be Nora Rawlinson, founder of Earlyword. Remember, if you call or write in with a question, we'll send you a free book. Just be sure to register here beforehand.
Happy listening!
-Kayleigh
American Library Association, Books, Collection Development, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Marilyn Johnson, This Book is Overdue!
This Book is Overdue Continues to Soar!
We at Harper Library are so excited about the buzz continuing to surround This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson. Check out this wonderful article featured on Salon.com that gives a great “shout-out” to the book. The article also features an interview with Marilyn Johnson, where she talks about her motivation to write This Book is Overdue!
I will send free copies of This Book is Overdue to the 10 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!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
Book Buzz, Books, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, HarperCollins Publishers, Libraries, Race, Relationships, Slavery, USA Today, Wench, Women
More Praise for Wench!
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 have gotten such a great response for this book…and the praise keeps coming! USA Today just gave Wench an awesome review. Read it right here!
If you haven't read Wench yet, please add this to your reading list. You will NOT be disappointed!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
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!
– Virginia
Books, Libraries
The 10 Best Songs About Librarians
Our pals over at Penguin Books sent this to us:
http://flavorwire.com/64968/mixtape-10-best-songs-about-libraries-and-librarians
So smart.
Enjoy!
- Virginia