If you haven't already seen the news, HarperCollins Publishers has recently become the first publisher to team up with Facebook to host live videos with authors and staff. New videos will be streamed five days a week and will be shared on the HarperCollins Facebook page and the Book Studio 16 page, where you can find all kinds of great videos.
This week is the program's launch week, and who else would be the first HarperCollins staff members participating other than Library Love Fest?!
Go to our Facebook page this Friday (6/10) at 10:30am to hear us chat about who we are, what we do, excellent books, and some of the great things we have coming up! And if you have any burning questions for us, you can also submit questions and comments during the live chat.
My book-buzzing hero, Kate McCune* has once again hit the nail on the head with her perfect summation of Michael Harvey's forthcoming book, Brighton. It's getting starred reviews all over the place, I'm thrilled to say. Check out Kate's write-up on her blog here—and ask us for a copy of Brighton by emailing librarylovefest@harpercollins.com. We'll be more than happy to send it your way.
Bestselling author Laura Lippman's latest standalone, Wilde Lake, went on sale at the beginning of May to instant critical acclaim. It was chosen as a LibraryReads pick, received starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and was called “A heady brew of twisting tale and accelerating introspection” by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Now, the New York Times will feature a full page review of Wilde Lake in their June 5 issue, saying, "Wilde Lake is engrossing, suspenseful and substantial, its wit easing a sober, somewhat elegiac air.” You can read the full review here.
This really is one of Lippman's most compelling novels yet, that challenges our notions of memory, loyalty, responsibility, and justice in an evocative and psychologically complex story about a long-ago death that still haunts a family. If you haven't already snapped it up, I definitely encourage you to check it out today.
Visit us at booth #1403 this June 24-27 at ALA Annual in Orlando, FL to catch a sneak peek at our Fall 2016/Winter 2017 titles and meet some literary stars! Check out our video below for more information about our adult title presentation, and make sure to take a look at our schedule of events so you don't miss an opportunity to meet some stellar authors.
HarperCollins Adult Book Buzz
Saturday, June 25, 2016 8:30-10:00 am OCCC Room W203
10:30-11:30am booth signing Nadia Hashimi / A House Without Windows
Sunday, June 26 8:00-10:00am RUSA's Literary Tastes Breakfast (refreshments/continental breakfast. First come, first served) Rosen Centre Hotel/Grand A Featuring Karin Slaughter /The Kept Woman
8:30-10:00am UFL's "Isn't It Romantic?" OCCC Room W101A Featuring Susan Wiggs / Family Tree and Shelley Shepard Gray /A Daughter's Dream
10:30-11:30am UFL's "Reads Like Fiction: Nonfiction You Can't Put Down" OCCC Room S330 A-B Featuring Elizabeth Lesser /Marrow
11:00am-12:00pm booth signing Karin Slaughter /The Kept Woman
12:00-1:00pm booth signing Elizabeth Lesser /Marrow
1:00-2:00pm booth signing Susan Wiggs /Family Tree
1:30-2:15pm Book Buzz Theater Mid 2200 aisle near booths #2251 and #2247 Featuring HarperCollins Publishers and Harlequin
3:00-4:00pm booth signing Nora McInerny Purmort /It's Okay to Laugh
4:00-5:00pm booth signing Lisa Turner /Devil Sent the Rain
5:30-7:30pm UFL's The Laugh's On Us* Rosen Plaza Hotel/Ballroom A Featuring Nora McInerny Purmort / It's Okay to Laugh
*HarperCollins is a proud sponsor of United for Libraries (UFL). Call 1-800-545-2433 ext 2161 for tickets
Monday, June 27 9:00-10:00am booth signing Lisa Fenn /Carry On
10:30-11:30am AAP's Mystery Authors Panel OCCC Room S329 Featuring Lisa Turner /Devil Sent the Rain
2:00-4:00pm United for Libraries Author Gala Tea* Rosen Plaza Hotel/Ballroom A Featuring Lisa Fenn /Carry On *HarperCollins is a proud sponsor of United for Libraries (UFL). Call 1-800-545-2433 ext 2161 for tickets
Perennial fan favorite and New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank's latest novel All Summer Long went on sale yesterday, and to commemorate the event, the Mayor of Charleston has officially proclaimed May 31st to be Dorothea Benton Frank Day.
Booklist has called All Summer Long “[A] glitzy exploration of the bonds of love, marriage, friendship, and loyalty,” so I hope you check out this latest novel of wit, charm, and rich characters, but before you race off to the shelves, we also have a great video from the author talking about her love for libraries:
Help celebrate Dorothea Benton Frank Day and don't miss All Summer Long, on sale now.
The latest issue of Booklist will be arriving soon, and with it, a flurry of starred reviews for some exciting upcoming titles! Catch a sneak peak of the praise below:
*The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter: "…This is prime Slaughter, must-read fare for thriller fans…Slaughter is a permanent fixture on thrillerdom’s A-list, and a new Will Trent novel after a three-year absence will only heighten the interest." Check out the egally on Edelweiss
*Melville in Love by Michael Shelden: "…Riveting in its incandescent sense of discovery, intimacy, and velocity…transforms our perception of Melville and introduces 'one of the great unsung figures in literary history.'"
*Night of the Animals by Bill Broun: "…vibrantly blends myth and satire to paint both a cautionary warning about present behavior and a futuristic vision of what the unbridled abuse of nature might unveil. For fans of Lydia Millet and Margaret Atwood." Check out the egally on Edelweiss
The day has finally come for Neil Gaiman's livestreamed discussion event with The Time Traveler's Wife author Audrey Niffenegger. Tune in to Neil's Facebook page today at 2:45pm Eastern/11:45am Pacific to see them discuss Neil's new collection of nonfiction essays and even answer questions from fans. Don't miss this chance to see what promises to be a great discussion, and definitely pick up a copy of The View from the Cheap Seats, on sale today.
Tune in to Neil Gaiman’s Facebook page on Tuesday, May 31 at 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT, as Neil streams live from his book launch event in London!
To celebrate the publication of Neil’s collection of non-fiction, The View from the Cheap Seats, the award-winning author will be joined by Audrey Niffenegger, bestselling author of The Time Traveler's Wife, at a rare public event in London. These two literary heavyweights will discuss Neil’s latest work, among myriad topics sure to delight fans.
The event will be live-streamed across the globe via Facebook, so anyone unable to attend can also enjoy this unique event. Added bonus: Neil will be answering questions from viewers at home. Submit your questions for Neil starting Friday, May 27, via Twitter using the hashtag #CheapSeats.
Be sure to secure your hardcover, ebook, or audio copy of The View from the Cheap Seats today. Purchase from your favorite bookstore, using the links below.
Every BEA, Library Journal and the AAP host their Shout ‘n Share event, where librarians gather to rave about the upcoming books they’re excited about. You can find the entire event recap written up on Library Journal's wesite, but I would like to extend a special congratulations to all the HarperCollins titles mentioned:
In our Under the Radar, Over the Moon monthly video series, we talk about debut and midlist titles that we've absolutely fallen in love with. But of course we're not the only ones raving about these amazing books. We've collected just a sampling of the love rolling in for just a few of the titles we've talked about, so I hope that if our crazy videos alone weren't enough to persuade you to check out these books, these great reviews will give you that final push!
Kirkus adores Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan: “Lu-Lien Tan offers a fascinating insight into Singapore's club scene and social castes, and she does so in an irreverent, likable voice made more notable for its patois, Singlish… After the turbulence of Jazzy's journey, the final message is a positive one. A rowdy tale, memorable language, and a very distinctive protagonist.”
Publishers WeeklyStarred Review for Night of the Animals by Bill Broun: "Through precise and eloquent prose and a hint of political satire, Broun creates a near future filled with bioelectric technology and characters with patois as diverse as their desires. Broun’s novel is strange, witty, and engrossing, skipping through madness and into the realm of myth.”
NPR.org Rave Review for Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman: “…it's a perfectly constructed literary novel…nearly impossible to put down…Wasserman's characters are so flawlessly realized…beautifully done—poetic and beautiful…masterful…. Wasserman does so many things right in Girls on Fire, it's hard to count them all…hypnotically beautiful. There's not a false step in it, and you never want it to end…Girls on Fire is an inferno—it's brutally gorgeous, and you know it could explode anytime, but you can't turn away, even for a second.”
Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street, on The Lost Girlsby Heather Young: “Heather Young is a master weaver of plot, time, and character. Her prose is confident, her story ambitious. The result—The Lost Girls—is a haunting and dynamic debut that never falters.”
There's still time to download egalleys for many of these from Edelweiss, so I hope you'll dip in! If you haven't already discovered the magic that is Under the Radar, Over the Moon, definitely check out our archived videos for some good laughs and great books.
We're excited to announce that two of HarperCollins's books are in the running for the Library of Virginia's Annual People's Choice Awards in the fiction and nonfiction categories. Adriana Trigiani, the New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars in the Heavens, originally hails from Virginia, and Kristen Green's Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward Countyreveals the provocative true story of the period after the Brown v. Board of Education decision when one Virginia school system refused to integrate.
Voting is not restricted to Virginia residents, so feel free to visit the Library of Virginia's website to read official rules and share your love for these two books by voting!
Gender and identity politics have never been more visible. From income equality to bathroom rights, issues abound for the modern person. Intimidated? Overwhelmed? Read up on these vital issues with the help of some of the brightest and most observant voices working today. Without further ado…
Sex Objectby Jessica Valenti: Called “one of the most visible and successful feminists of her generation” (Washington Post), Jessica Valenti shines a vibrant, searingly honest light on the contemporary female experience. Drugs, sex, class anxiety, and so much more—Valenti won't just open your eyes, she'll guide them towards the deeply ingrained social realties women face, pulling from her own fascinating life. The book goes on sale June 7th, but you can still download the egalley on Edelweiss.
Darling Days by iO Tillett Wright: A leading activist, artist, and thinker in identity politics, iO Tillett grew up in the fascinating bedlam of 80s New York. A fiery kid raised by an equally fiery and free-spirited mother, “iO Tillett Wright is nothing short of a force of nature…She has packed a lot in her young years and in her extraordinary memoir she has created something brave and true, as devastating as it is inspiring.” —Jill Soloway, Emmy-award winning creator of Transparent. The egalley is available on Edelweiss.
How to Win at Feminism by Reductress, Beth Newell, Sarah Pappalardo, and Anna Drezen: The issues facing women today are no laughing matter…unless the ones telling the jokes are the brilliant, satirical creators of the wildly popular “feminist Onion” humor website, Reductress. Subversive and illuminating, How to Win at Feminism will leave you in stitches…and more prepared for such challenges as "How to Love Your Body Even Though Hers is Better." Check it out on Edelweiss!
There's plenty to ponder here and, as always, we'd love to hear your thoughts. What are some of your recent favorite gender-centric reads? Drop us a line at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com. There might be some free-book-goodness in return!
Like your mysteries well-written, not-too-cozy, but also not-too-gruesome? LLF is looking out for you, discerning mystery readers, and Beth Gutcheon's Death at Breakfast, on sale now, is a treat we don't think you should miss. Set in a remote Maine resort town, with a pair of unlikely investigators, some foodie-goodness, and a suspicious high-profile death, Death at Breakfast is the perfect companion for your impromptu beach trip or your rainy evening hiding beneath the covers.
Oh, and Booklist loves it too! They just shared their starred review as the Booklist Online Review of the Day. See below for a sampling of their praise and head over to Booklist Online read the full starred review.
"The dialogue is witty and crisp, and the story moves at a good clip, punctuated with mouth-watering dining intervals. A sequel is set up nicely at the end. The delicious prose and exploration of the intricacies of human nature recommend this series to fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Louise Penny, and the late master of the form, Ruth Rendell." —Booklist starred review
Beth is no stranger to writing great stories, from heartrending suspense with Still Missing to masterful character-driven women's fiction with Gossip, so don't miss out! Get yourself a copy of Death at Breakfast, on sale now!
Many of you may remember Gilly Macmillan's debut psychological thriller What She Knew, which was nominated for an Edgar, became a New York Times bestseller, and was a LibraryReads pick! Now she's returned with The Perfect Girl, and let me tell you, this book really delivers the gripping tension, startling twists, and compelling characters you've come to expect.
The Perfect Girl takes place in the 24 hours after 17-year-old Zoe's first piano recital in three years. Years before, Zoe was involved in an accident that left 3 of her classmates dead, and she and her mother Maria created new lives in another town to escape that infamous past. And in those three years, their new lives have seemed pretty good, until the dust clears on the night of Zoe's recital, and Maria is found dead. What happened that night, and what happened during the accident three years prior? Gilly Macmillan reveals the tantalizing clues one by one through three characters' points of view as everyone struggles to come to terms with the aftermath.
I was absolutely captivated by Zoe, with her genius IQ and the unique way she subsequently interacted with the world. Your heart-strings will be pulled in many different directions at the same time you're tearing through the pages to reach the final mind-blowing reveal. I couldn't put it down, and I know you won't be able to either, but what are weekends for if not reading binges? Download the egalley here and start tonight!
The folks running the HarperCollins video studio want to see your finest shelfies. What's a shelfie? Click here to check out an example. Consider it a short video celebration of every bibliophile's favorite piece of furniture. Show off your bookshelf and enter for a chance to win $500 worth of HarperCollins print books of your choosing! Five runners up will each receive $300 worth of print books. Click below for more details on how to win a boatload of books. Your bookshelf deserves it! And don't forget to follow Book Studio 16 on YouTube and Facebook.
The videos will be judged on the following criteria: 40% creativity, 30% book knowledge, 30% on-screen presence. So have fun, be creative, and show us your true shelf! The submission deadline is May 31st.
I hope you all have been steadily reading away this month and nominating all your favorite books for LibraryReads's top ten books published that month. The deadline for the July 2016 list is speedily approaching (May 20), so make sure you've submitted any nomination for books you've already read, and if you're looking for one more book to squeeze in before the deadline, we've pulled together a few excellent suggestions:
The Muse by Jessie Burton: From the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist comes a captivating and brilliantly realized story of two young women—a Caribbean immigrant in 1960s London and a bohemian woman in 1930s Spain—and the powerful mystery that ties them together. Download the egalley here.
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets The Italian Job in internationally-bestselling author Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg’s witty and insightful comedy of errors about a group of delinquent seniors whose desire for a better quality of life leads them to rob and ransom priceless artwork. Download the egalley here.
Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan: A brilliant and utterly engaging novel—Emma set in modern Asia—about a young woman’s rise in the glitzy, moneyed city of Singapore, where old traditions clash with heady modern materialism. Download the egalley here.
We hope you enjoy! If you're not yet participating in LibraryReads, visit their website to find out how you can join in the fun.
Here at LLF, we love ALL libraries, big and small, old and new. And while we've been lucky enough to visit some of the best, the world is a big place with many shelves left to explore. Travel and Leisure has compiled a fantastic list of 20 libraries from around the world so beautiful "they'll bring out the bookworm in everyone." Click the link below to check out the full list!
The winners of the 2015 Bram Stoker Awards were announced this weekend, and LLF would like to wish a hearty congratulations to Paul Tremblay and A Head Full of Ghosts for winning the Superior Achievement in a Novel category!
The Bram Stoker Awards are announced every year by the Horror Writers Association (HWA), the premier organization of writers and publishers of horror and dark fantasy. Other categories include Superior Achievement in a First Novel, in a Graphic Novel, in a Screenplay, and many others. You can see the full list of 2015's winners on the HWA's website here.
A Head Full of Ghosts was one of my favorite books we published last summer, and I still get shivers thinking about the creepy and smart twists and turns. If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I hope all you horror fans out there will now put this chilling novel at the top of your TBR lists!
Once again, a round of applause for Paul Tremblay and A Head Full of Ghosts! And don't miss Paul's next novel, Disappearance at Devil's Rock, on sale June 21.
Some of you may have had the pleasure of meeting Mark Lee Gardner, author of To Hell on a Fast Horse, Shot All to Hell, andRough Riders, at this year's PLA in Denver. Mark is one of the world's leading experts on all things Teddy Roosevelt, and his latest, Rough Riders, is the definitive account of the legendary fighting force led by Teddy during the Spanish-American War. Sparkling reviews are pouring in, so check out the love and pick up a copy here.
“Gardner’s work benefits from his careful examination of private diaries, newspaper reports, and other records of the volunteer force. Those stories, many overlooked until now, provide rich detail and let common soldiers share the historical spotlight with Roosevelt. Rough Riders is a must-read for Roosevelt aficionados and those who appreciate compelling stories of military history.” — USA Today (3 1/2 out of four stars)
"One of the 'iconic moments in American history' is scrutinized in heroic detail. Numerous quotes from letters, journals, and memoirs bring this adventurous story to life. Gardner's short-paragraphed, fast-paced, and thoroughly researched addition will appeal to teens as well. A rousing and robust story about the immortal charge and the significant role played in the war by Theodore Roosevelt, the only American president to be awarded the Medal of Honor." — Kirkus Reviews
"Gardner delivers rousing blow-by-blow accounts of the various battles and showcases Roosevelt’s hypermasculine panache, along with his scrappy troopers’ eagerness for a “bully fight” in what Roosevelt’s friend John Hay called a 'splendid little war.'" — Library Journal
“Rough Riders is a finely-honed and fresh look at this country’s only ‘cowboy’ regiment to ever see combat.” — John Milius, co-screenwriter of Apocalypse Now and director of The Wind and the Lion and Rough Riders (1997 TV film), both about Roosevelt
“Rough Riders is excellent! It is first-rate history and a ripping yarn that shines new light on Theodore Roosevelt’s extraordinary life.” — Ron Hansen, author of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
On sale this week, Stephen Graham Jones' Mongrels, a darkly humorous yet heartfelt story of a boy growing up on the fringes of society whose family happens to be a bunch of werewolf-esque drifters, pulls off a wonderful blend of horror, fantasy, and literary intrigue—the result is a powerful, wholly unique coming-of-age story. Stephen, who spent a few years working in a library, was kind enough to stop by LLF to share his own experiences. Enjoy!
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At twenty-seven, freshly PhD’d in Florida, I came back to West Texas to do what I’d always done, what I’d always figured I’d do: manual labor. School had just been a detour, just been a way I could read and talk about books. But I’d been chopping cotton and working on fences since before I was out of elementary. So throwing dishwashers and refrigerators in the warehouse at Sear’s, man, that was the dream, pretty much. We had scheduled breaks. There was air-conditioning. No snakes were going to bite me in the face. But I got bit all the same, I guess. By an air-conditioner, of all things: it wrenched my back in a permanent way, a way the doctors all said I was way too young for. So, after being laid up a couple weeks, I finally got to where I could read the newspaper, mine the classifieds for what I figured I had to do now: desk work.
There was one job that seemed to be plentiful—evidently there was a great need for this. I’d never known. Had everyone been keeping it secret from me? ’Bookkeeper.’ There were columns and columns of postings for bookkeepers. I’d only thought the warehouse at Sears was the dream. This, though? This was the dream I’d never dared dream: going to someone’s house, organizing their books on the shelves in whatever way they wanted. Getting to handle books all day. And get paid for it.
My first callback learned me a thing or two about dreams, I suppose. Evidently this ‘bookkeeping,’ it wasn’t what I’d imagined. So I went back to the classifieds. There was only one job I thought I had a chance at. It was at the local university library. By then I’d spent a good chunk of my hours in libraries, but I’d never considered working in one. It wasn’t a cottonfield, it wasn’t a transmission shop. But, for qualifications—it was like they’d written this specifically for me. “There will be a spelling test.” I remember that so, so clearly. Coming up through elementary, spelling had always been my one dependable trick. Why spell a word wrong, when you can hear the right way to spell it, right there in how it’s said?
Beth Gutcheon is the acclaimed author of Still Missing, More Than You Know, and Gossip. Her latest work,Death at Breakfast, celebrates its book birthday today. The first entry in a smart and stylish new mystery series,Death at Breakfast features a pair of unlikely investigators in a retired private school head and her high society friend whose trip to a scenic Maine resort takes a quick turn when another guest, the father of the latest teen pop icon, turns up dead. Be sure to pick up a copy here or request one from your local library. In the meantime, Beth has joined us today to share some library love.
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Libraries have always been a haven and a joy to me. When I was a child, the library in the village in Maine where I’ve lived off and on had the best collection of Oz books ever seen. Having already read (I thought) everything Frank Baum had ever written for children, when I found The Magical Monarch of Mo there it was like turning a corner into what you know to be a cul-de-sac and suddenly finding the road open and winding off across sunlit fields. The library had a fire going on crisp summer mornings or wet afternoons, and reading there, semi-hidden for hours, was a deep pleasure that still comes back to me with the scent of balsam or of woodsmoke.
That same library, enlarged and updated but somehow retaining its original flavor, is now often described as the living room of the town. I had my first summer job there, mending hurt books and womaning the circulation desk during Mrs. Parker’s lunch hour when I was sixteen. In the late 90’s, when I was living year round in the next village over, before the internet had become the research engine it is now, Fern McTighe, the librarian on the reference desk, was my everything. When I needed to know whether, for instance, a teenager would have been described as “grounded” in that village in the thirties, I went straight to her. Since Fern had been a teenager there in the thirties she knew the answer, plus found the citation in about two seconds flat: “grounded” was aeronautical, and wasn’t in common use until WWII. She also produced a class B miracle when I needed to know if such and such a word meant what I thought it did in colloquial Swedish. Fern disappeared and came back with a volunteer from the circulation desk who asked me, in Swedish, if she could help me. (She could. The word that seemed from the dictionary like a good Scandinavian name for a summer house actually meant “youth hostel.”)
New York Times-bestselling and LibraryReads-winning author Dorothea Benton Frank's novels are known for their trademark wit, charm, and rich characters, as well as the beautiful Carolina Lowcountry setting. In her latest novel, All Summer Long, she tells the story of a New York couple, deeply in love for more than 14 years, who decide to move down South and the tumultuous, hot summer that follows. There's still time to download the egalley before the novel goes on sale May 31, but today we have a special treat! Dottie Frank stopped by our video studio to leave a message for all the wonderful librarians out there.
An all-star trio of books has officially hit store shelves – Wilde Lakeby Laura Lippman, The Bridge Ladiesby Betsy Lerner, and Heat and Lightby Jennifer Haigh go on sale today!
Wilde Lakeis an emotionally gripping standalone that explores an ambitious state's attorney's first major case which has mysterious ties to the case that thrust her lawyer father into the spotlight 30 years prior. A LibraryReads pick for May, Wilde Lake also received a starred review from Booklist, calling it a "brainy, witty, socially conscious, and all-consuming inquiry into human nature and our slowly evolving sense of justice and equality…Lippman is an A-list crime writer.”
The Bridge Ladiesis a memoir unlike any other, as a trip home to care for her ailing mother turns into an unexpected journey of discovery when Betsy joins her mother's long-running bridge club. In a starred review, Booklist deems it a "touching tribute to a generation of women who seemingly had their priorities straight and their lives in control, at a price. Lerner’s portraits may well help grown daughters facing similar struggles gain some perspective." ***BONUS*** Check out the video below to meet the colorful cast of ladies who make up the bridge club.
Heat and Lightis a thrilling literary inspection of small towns, big energy, and the individuals caught in between. Richard Ford states, “Heat and Light achieves pure novelistic virtuosity. It’s brilliant beginning to end.” Another deserving recipient of a starred Booklist review, Heat and Light "is not an environmental treatise masked as fiction; rather, it’s a perfectly paced rendering of the intertwined characters’ personal stories. Haigh smoothly switches between past and present, fully exposing that, indeed, the past is not even past."
