Library Love Fest

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

We are so thrilled to have Tavia Kowalchuk, Marketing Director for William Morrow, Eos and Cookbooks (imprints of HarperCollins Publishers) as a guest blogger today.  Tavia is excited about the publication of the forthcoming title, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

Enjoy!

-Bobby 
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The buzz is building for the soon-to-be-released THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND –the inspirational true story about an enterprising teenager in Malawi who built a windmill from scraps found around his village and brought electricity—and a future—to himself and his family.

William Kamkwamba, grew up poor in Malawi, Africa, a country suffering from poverty, famine, AIDS and lack of basic services like plumbing and electricity. When William was 14 and unable to attend school because his family couldn’t afford the $80 tuition, he began thinking a lot about electricity. After being given a book about windmills by his local librarian, he decided to build his own using scrap metal, tractor parts, and blue-gum trees, which grew near his village. William’s home-made contraption succeeded in supplying electricity to his family’s compound. You can click here to read an excerpt from his memoir before the book is on sale (September 29th), but in the meantime, here is an exclusive interview with the librarian in Malawi who gave William the book that changed his life.

Meet librarian Edith Sikelo.  Mrs. Sikelo was sitting behind her desk at the library when William first walked in.



























She quickly noticed his interest in science books and encouraged him to keep reading. His library card soon grew to several pages, which Sikelo now keeps to show visitors, and to brandish to younger students as an example of success.
 
Mrs. Sikelo was recently interviewed by Tom Rielly, Community Director of the TED Conference, a major party in promoting William’s story throughout the world.

HarperCollins Author Gary Vaynerchuk profiled in the New York Times!

Congratulations to HarperCollins author Gary Vaynerchuk!  He is featured in an amazing article in today's New York Times.  Check out this fabulous profile.

Gary Vaynerchuk's upcoming book entitled, Crush It!:  Why NOW is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion (on sale in October 2009), tells how he grew his family's wine business from four million to sixty million in five years using the internet!  Gary also shows readers how to discover their passion and turn it into a successful and profitable business. 

The Crush It! Tour Contest - Win a Trip on the Crush It! Cruise
At every book signing location, turn in your receipt to be entered for a chance to win a cabin for two on the Crush It! Cruise.  Sailing from Fort Lauderdale, FL throughout the Caribbean from March 20 - 27, 2010, the cruise will allow you to go "beyond the book" with a week's worth of interactive business seminars led by Gary, plus entertaining wine events and much, much more!  Learn more at http://crushitcruise.com.

At the conclusion of the book tour, Gary will draw one receipt for the grand prize winner who will accompany Gary on the cruise.  Drawing to be conducted live on ustream.tv on Thursday, November 19th!

*Please note, you must purchase a book at a book tour location and give your receipt to Gary during a book signing event to be entered in the contest.  One entry per receipt.  Prize winner receives a standard interior stateroom for 2 valued at $899 per person.  Winner is responsible for travel to and from Fort Lauderdale and any and all taxes, fees, on-board expenses, and gratuity.
 
TOUR DATES (More to follow. Check you local bookstore)

Tuesday, October 13       
BORDERS
7:00 PM       
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
         
Friday, October 16       
BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE
1:00 PM       
660 Beacon Street
Boston, MA       
        
Monday, October 19       
POWELL’S BOOKS
7:30 PM       
1005 W. Burnside
Portland, OR 
                

Tune-in to Author Claire Cook on the Today Show! (New date and time)

Previously, I posted about author Claire Cook and her new book, The Wildwater Walking Club.  For those who may have missed it, here’s the link to the article:

http://tinyurl.com/qnsuea

Claire Cook's segment on NBC-TV's "Today" Show, has been re-scheduled for Monday, September 7th in the 8 o'clock hour. This is definitely something you wont want to miss!

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Captain Sullenberger gets a Starred Review!

Congratulations to HarperCollins author Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.  His forthcoming book, Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters just received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.  Check out this wonderful review:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6678556.html

We all know Captain Sullenberger for his heroism in skillfully gliding US Airways Flight 1549 onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all the passengers aboard.  Highest Duty, on sale in October of 2009 is his inspirational autobiography, with his thoughts on family, leadership, responsibility and service. 

Also, here is Kayleigh’s earlier post which includes a video of Captain Sullenberger talking about book amnesty at the San Francisco Public Library:

http://harperlibrary.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/sully-talks-about-book-amnesty-at-library.html

Please make sure you remember Highest Duty in October.  I’m sure you will agree that he is truly a hero and an inspiration to us all.

Enjoy!

-Bobby

Tune-in to Author Claire Cook on the Today Show!

Claire Cook, author of The Wildwater Walking Club, (on sale now) will be featured on NBC-TV's "Today" Show.  Claire Cook's segment is scheduled for Monday, August 17th in the 8 o'clock hour. 

The Wildwater Walking Club is a hilarious and heartwarming story of three very different women, all living in the same beach suburban town, whose walks take them in new and surprising directions.

On Monday, June 29, NBC-TV’s “Today” show taped a home visit with Claire Cook, while she and correspondent Amy Robach went for a walk on the beach.  “Today” also filmed Claire giving a talk and doing a signing at her local store, Front Street Bookstore in Scituate, MA. 

The “Today” Show is filming Claire as part of a story on reinvention – and who is more perfect to discuss this than Claire? – who wrote her first book (at age 45) while sitting in her minivan outside her daughter’s swim practices.  Claire literally reinvented herself as a novelist in mid-life and this theme factors in all of Claire’s novels, which will be mentioned on air. Claire gave her workshop on reinvention at the bookstore that evening, so this segment should fit nicely into their story about how to tap into your creativity if you are out of work in this terrible economy.

Perfection

We've just recently blogged about the memoir, Perfection, by Julie Metz.  For a better look at Julie's new life, as well as the events she discusses in her memoir, don't miss this incredible profile from Wednesday's New York Times.  Happy Friday!

-Kayleigh

Oprah's Summer Reading List

We’re thrilled to have two of our titles on Oprah’s summer reading list of ‘The 25 Books You Can’t Put Down’
http://www.oprah.com/slidepopup/omagazine/200907-omag-summer-reading-list/1

They are:

EYE OF MY HEART by Barbara Graham – a compilation of 28 original essays by noted journalists, novelists, and essayists, each one a grandmother, that delves into the cracks as well as the wonder of grandmotherhood today. The contributors are a stellar group of gifted and well known writers representing a wide range of voices and experiences. The list of luminaries includes: Elizabeth Berg, Judith Viorst, Jill Nelson, Anne Roiphe, Judith Guest, Beverly Lowry, Carolyn See and Ellen Gilchrist.

A PEARL IN THE STORM by Tori Murden McClure is a riveting memoir by the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.  This is an unforgettable story of an explorer who maps her own world with rare emotional honesty. A story of high adventure, hurricanes, and finding love.

Happy Reading!

- Virginia

A Book Club...for Men Only

This morning I saw this article on male-only book clubs that have been springing up around the country.  Here's a fantastic quote from the piece:

"'We used to just sit around and drink beer and read Charles Bukowski, nothing great," says Pride, 51, of Quincy. 'But the other night we were talking about evil. Drinking our red wine and talking about evil. We're moving into a deeper dimension. We don't want to read junk.'"

Groups may focus instead on a shared topic of interest, like history, sports, or even poetry.  Other book groups don't read the assigned book at all, but use the time as a chance to catch up with old friends.  Whatever the reason, book clubs are a great way for men to build a sense of community and fellowship.  Here's a quick little list of titles that might work, depending on the book club.

For new dads, or the agriculturally-inclined:
Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting by Mike Perry

For thriller-lovers:
Shadows Still Remain by Peter de Jonge

For memoir-addicts:
In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

For vampire fans:
The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

For outdoorsmen:
The Last of His Kind by David Roberts

For ultimate fighters:
Got Fight? by Forrest Griffin with Erich Krauss

For history buffs:
Masters and Commanders: How Four Titans Won the War in the West, 1941-1945 by Andrew Roberts

-Kayleigh

W. Ralph Eubanks Speaks...

In March, I wrote about the House at the End of the Road, written by W. Ralph Eubanks, Director of Publishing at the Library of Congress and his search to find the truth about his maternal grandparents; Jim Richardson, a white man and Edna Richardson, a light-skinned black woman.  W. Ralph Eubanks will be interviewed by NPR’s Talk of the Nation scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th.  Listen in as he discusses the House at the End of the Road and the fascinating journey of discovering his unique racial and cultural identity.  For more information, visit:
 
http://www.npr.org/

-Bobby

Michael J. Fox...a True Champion

In March, Virginia gave us a preview of Michael J. Fox’s new book, Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.  If you want to see just how he remains optimistic in the face of adversity, check out this clip of Michael on Good Morning America, where he discusses his upcoming ABC-TV special with Diane Sawyer.  He also mentions his new book, Always Looking Up, on sale now.

On Thursday, May 7th, watch ABC-TV’s The View (check your local listings for times) where Michael will be interviewed about the special and his book, Always Looking Up.  Finally, later that evening keep your television on ABC-TV to watch his special, Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.  Michael J. Fox hosted and produced the piece.

Watching Michael J. Fox in action gives me motivation and inspiration.  If he can stay optimistic no matter the circumstances, so can I…and so can you!  Enjoy!

-Bobby