Library Love Fest

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

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

Many thanks to Lisa and everyone at the West Allis Public Library!  I hope you add 32 Candles to your reading list.

Enjoy!

-Bobby

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

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:
[email protected]

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

 

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

 

Here is another review from BookPage.

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!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

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 

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

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

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

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