October 22, 2010

Every time I go to San Francisco, I remember how much I just love that city. From visit to visit, I also forget about the hills. When people were making appointments with me, they were asking where I was coming from and then me telling them that I could walk to see them since there were no hills. I was dismissing this 'til Sunday afternoon.

After a couple of meetings and a visit to City Lights Bookstore, which was just wonderful, I headed out to explore a couple of yarn shops. At Art Fibers, which I was able to walk to from my hotel, I absolutely melted over the incredible fibers and colors that they had there. They sell yarns by the lengths you need and wind them onto cones. I designed a sweater right there; talk about a real unique souvenir. And I ordered some more yarn since I could not decide between two fibers/colors. From there I headed to ImagiKnit and picked up some Pagewood Farms flower yarn (it has flowers in the yarn) that I am nuts about. As I was leaving this store on 18th Street, I mentioned I was walking over to 24th Street. Now in New York that would be six blocks or six minutes away. Well, I was quickly told, “You have to take the bus; it’s all uphill and then downhill.” I am in pretty good shape, so I walked outside thinking, “HOW bad can it be?”

Well, I quickly saw! That was not a hill; I have skied mountains like that. Plunk a few moguls on it, and it would be a “black diamond" slope. I dutifully went over to the bus stop, and when I got on, I sat in front since I was clueless about where I was going. BIG mistake. First the bus moved up the mountain, stopping at what seemed like every block. In between the numbers, there were “name” streets --- lots of them, thus it was a lot more than six blocks. We hovered on top of the “mountain” while I willed people to get on quickly and then…we went DOWN, which was more terrifying. And though I could see 24th Street, we stopped at every street in between with me cringing at each stop hearing the bus brakes grind. I got to my stop, fought an urge to kiss the ground and then headed to the San Francisco Mystery Bookstore, the oldest mystery bookstore in the U.S., which you can see pictured above. I picked up a Raymond Chandler book, since I had spent the entire time at Bouchercon realizing just how much I did not know about mystery classics like Ross Macdonald, John D. MacDonald and Chandler.

Back to reading in the present, or actually a bit into the future. On the flight to San Francisco, I read the manuscript of Joseph Finder’s upcoming book, BURIED SECRETS, the second in his Nick Heller series, which will be in stores in June. I finished it just before I saw him on Thursday afternoon, and it was great fun to share my impressions and talk to him about it in person. Nick Heller, the “private spy” introduced in 2009’s VANISHED, returns to help search for the kidnapped daughter of his friend, Marshall Marcus, a hedge fund manager who’s made his share of enemies. The plot has some great twists and turns, and the writing is sharp. I’ve read all of Joe’s books and can confidently say this is his best yet, but you can be the judge, too!

This week we’re launching our latest Bookreporter.com Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book with BURIED SECRETS. We have 50 specially formatted advance reader editions for readers who want to preview the book and answer some questions about it. Click here to fill out our entry form and answer some preliminary questions about your reading habits, familiarity with Joseph Finder and the genre. This contest ends Thursday, November 4th at noon ET. We want to have responses from all 50 of our readers, so please only enter if you’ll be able to read and answer some questions by Tuesday, November 23rd. These contests are a lot of fun for everyone involved, and if this sounds like your type of book, you’re in for a treat!

Bouchercon was the usual swirl of bookish conversations, seeing friends and attending parties…many parties. Lee Child, who was being honored as a Distinguished Contributor to the Genre, threw a Reacher Creature Party for all attendees on Friday night, which was an incredibly generous gesture. A CBS camera crew followed Lee all weekend filming footage for a "CBS Sunday Morning" segment to run soon. It's scheduled to air Sunday, and you can click here for more information. Joe Hartlaub reviews WORTH DYING FOR, the latest Jack Reacher novel out this week. Yes, it is the second Reacher title this year, as 61 HOURS was released in May and is now in paperback. This definitely confirms Lee as one of the most popular suspense/thriller authors writing today with one of the most compelling characters in Jack Reacher. In his review, Joe says, “The result may or may not be the best Reacher book to date, but it certainly is his most satisfying.” You can also watch a quick trailer for the book here to whet your appetite.

There were so many wonderful panels and interviews: Jacqueline Winspear and Lee Child; Gregg Hurwitz and Michael Connelly; Denise Mina and Val McDermid; Kate Atkinson and Sarah Weinman. I drifted from room to room hearing bookish conversation about writing characters, plotting and developing storylines. And then in the hallways, there were updates on who is doing what --- and catch-ups with people like Gregg (who is writing a book, a screenplay, a comic series and writing/producing the television show "V"), R.J. Ellory, Paul Levine, Wendy Corsi Staub, Keith Raffel (who texted me at one point asking where I was, and we were in the same room!) and my favorite Brit mystery journalist/reviewer/fan, Ali Karim. A host of mystery awards were announced at Bouchercon, including the Anthony, Macavity, Barry, Shamus and Derringer awards. The announcements and ceremonies that accompany these awards are always a highlight of the weekend. John Hart’s THE LAST CHILD won the Barry Award’s Best Novel, which will go nicely with his win in the same category at April’s Edgar Awards. Click here to see our awards page. I will share more Bouchercon memories in the weeks ahead. You can also keep up with awards and such on our Facebook page and blog.

This week we’re also launching a Debut Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight for THE CRUELEST CUT by Rick Reed, about a detective who is chasing a serial killer with the crime scenes getting increasingly more personal between the two. This is Rick’s first novel, though he chronicled his own serial killer chase while serving as detective in his memoir, BLOOD TRAIL. Rick spent more than 20 years as a detective in the Midwest before retiring to focus on writing, so he’s definitely an expert in this grisly field. We have 20 copies of THE CRUELEST CUT to give away to readers who would like to comment on it. Enter here by Friday, October 29th at noon ET. THE CRUELEST CUT will be in stores on November 2nd.

In our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight, we have an interview with John Lutz as well as a review of his latest, MISTER X. Joe Hartlaub says, “Lutz, as he has demonstrated time and again not only with this series but also with his stand-alone works, is capable of scaring the pants off his readers and making them like it. MISTER X is no exception.” We also have Joe's interview with John here. John's signing line at Bouchercon was so long that I did not get to say hi to him.

Iris Johansen is also back this week with CHASING THE NIGHT, her latest featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan. Iris has one of the most loyal fan bases of any author, and CHASING THE NIGHT features a very personal, emotional plot between Eve and CIA agent Catherine Ling. Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski says, “Fans will be left with eager anticipation for the next installment as this one leaves off with a bit of a cliffhanger.” When I read this book, I marveled at how intense this work must be.

One more notable thriller out this week is Raymond Khoury’s THE TEMPLAR SALVATION. THE LAST TEMPLAR was an instant New York Times bestseller in 2006, and his sequel picks up the pace as a terrorist seeks to avenge the CIA killing of his family by unleashing a series of documents that could ignite a holy war. I read this one and enjoyed it, and there is a scene outside the Vatican that is just brilliantly vivid. Reviewer Ray Palen says, “THE TEMPLAR SALVATION is filled with action, chases and mind-blowing historical perspective that will engage fans of this genre and once again place Raymond Khoury back at the forefront of modern historical fiction adventures.”

A final review I want to highlight this week is Nancy Pearl’s BOOK LUST TO GO: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers. Nancy may be familiar to you as she’s a librarian who’s written three other "lust" books you can fall in love with. In BOOK LUST TO GO, she offers 120 suggestions for books to read before you visit the actual setting. It’s literary globetrotting! Reviewer Barbara Bamberger Scott says, “BOOK LUST TO GO is a fun read, an erudite view and a helpful guide.” I cannot wait to delve into this one; Nancy never fails to surprise and delight me when I spend time with her.

Last week I named Jennifer Donnelly’s REVOLUTION one of my Bets On picks, the first time I’ve ever chosen a Young Adult book. I’m so excited to share this special interview with Jennifer that really sheds some light on her brilliant book, the plotting and its development. The novel creatively pairs a modern-day teenager with a teen growing up during the French Revolution and how they relate. I just can’t say enough about REVOLUTION.

In some exciting book news, I learned earlier this week that Jean M. Auel’s long-awaited next entry in the Earth’s Children saga, THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES, is due March 29th. Fans of the series will definitely be circling that date as it’s been almost nine years since THE SHELTERS OF STONE, the fifth book in the series, was released.

What am I reading right now? Well, Marc Eliot’s biography of Paul Simon called PAUL SIMON: A Life. I am a long-time Paul Simon fan, and somewhere in the attic here I have thousands of pages of research on him. Needless to say, I wondered if I would learn anything new from this book, and I am happy to share that there is a lot in there that I did not know. Marc chronicles Paul’s early work in great detail, much of which I did not know. I also did not know that he has not sung “The Late Great Johnny Ace” live since the night at Central Park when someone stormed the stage as he was singing. He did not want people to feel he is trading on John Lennon’s tragic death when he sings this. Lots of gems like that are packed in between the stories that I know. If you are a fan, or know one, it’s fun reading.

I have this routine that I do writing the newsletter opener. I sequester myself in my office, close the door and throw everything on my desk onto the floor so there are no distractions in front of me. Usually I need dead quiet, or I play the same playlist of songs I know that fade into the background even when I have them cranked. Sometimes when I am rushed, they keep me typing faster. Once I am done, when I hit send and am waiting for staff feedback --- and the rest of the newsletter --- I usually end up trolling YouTube for videos. I may look for one of a song I like, or an author who we are writing about. I just click from one to the other always amused at how something related seems to pop up. Confession: I can play a mean air guitar and do some pretty crazy seat dancing on a Friday afternoon once this all is done and I can take my hands from the keyboard. There will be no video of this on YouTube.

Have a great week…find something wonderful to read and enjoy this fall weekend.

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

 

WORTH DYING FOR: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child (Thriller)
There’s deadly trouble in Nebraska corn country…and Jack Reacher walks right into it. After falling afoul of a local clan that has terrorized an entire county into submission, he stumbles upon the unsolved case of a missing child. The Duncans are clearly hiding something, and as it turns out, they’re at the bottom of an international crime ring. Most people would try to outrun that kind of trouble, but for Reacher, running is impossible. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from WORTH DYING FOR.
 

Suspense/thriller author extraordinaire John Lutz is back with yet another spine-tingling installment to his Frank Quinn series, MISTER X, which follows the eminent ex-homicide detective as he tries to stop a cold-blooded serial killer once and for all. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Joe Hartlaub, Lutz reveals his strategies for coming up with unforeseen tipping points and attention-grabbing opening paragraphs, giving the scoop on how he managed to create Nift, the disturbing and creepily compelling coroner. He also speculates on the motives behind a serial killer’s bloodlust, shares a few of his favorite authors, and unveils his plans for the rest of the series.

MISTER X by John Lutz (Thriller)
He mutilates his victims. Slices their throats. And carves an X into their flesh. Five years ago, he claimed the lives of six women, but one day the slayings stopped. Ex-homicide detective Frank Quinn remembers, so when he finds the body of the final victim’s twin sister in his office, he decides to open up the cold case --- and suddenly the killings start again. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read a review of MISTER X.
-Click here to read an excerpt from MISTER X.
-Click here to read John Lutz’s bio.
-Click here to see John Lutz’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for MISTER X.
-Visit John Lutz's official website, www.JohnLutzOnline.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.
 

At Bookreporter.com, we have the opportunity to read many great books well in advance of their release dates. Now, with our Sneak Peek Feature/Contest, we are offering our readers the chance to preview select early picks --- and share feedback on them. We know that readers champion books that they love, and we want you to be part of the excitement of upcoming releases as early as possible.

Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights BURIED SECRETS, New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder’s second thriller featuring “private spy” Nick Heller, which releases in June 2011. We have 50 specially formatted early reader editions to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and share their comments about it. We really want to hear what you have to say about BURIED SECRETS, so if you will have time to read it and answer some questions by November 23rd, please enter this contest. If not, we plan to have more opportunities like this in the future.

More about BURIED SECRETS:
Joseph Finder introduced Nick Heller, a "private spy" who finds out things powerful people want to keep hidden, to widespread acclaim from the critics and wild enthusiasm from the readers, in the New York Times bestselling novel VANISHED. Now, in BURIED SECRETS, Nick Heller returns, finding himself in the middle of a life-or-death situation that’s both high-profile and intensely personal. Heller races the clock to save the teenage daughter of a longtime friend, while uncovering the deep, dark conspiracy behind the abduction.

CHASING THE NIGHT by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
Eight years ago, CIA Agent Catherine Ling’s two-year-old child was stolen in a brutal act of vengeance --- a tragedy that haunts her every day. But everything changes when she meets Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor who shares her nightmare --- and agrees to help her find her son. But Eve also must face demons of her own. Her daughter’s killer is still out there…and a new murderer is taunting them at every turn. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

-Click here to read an excerpt from CHASING THE NIGHT.
 

THE TEMPLAR SALVATION by Raymond Khoury (Thriller)
Constantinople, 1203: As the armies of the Fourth Crusade lay siege to the city, a band of Templars infiltrates the imperial library. Their target: a cache of documents that must be saved from the Doge of Venice. Vatican City, present day: FBI agent Sean Reilly infiltrates the Pope’s Secret Archives of the Inquisition. His love has been kidnapped, and the key to her freedom lies in the Fondo Templari --- the infamous Templars’ secret history. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Visit Raymond Khoury’s official website, www.RaymondKhoury.com.
 

THE TWELFTH IMAM by Joel C. Rosenberg (Thriller)
The leaders of Iran are calling for the annihilation of Israel and the U.S., so CIA operative David Shirazi is sent to Tehran with one objective: disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program by any means necessary. But when people start proclaiming a religious cleric the next Islamic messiah, war seems imminent --- and so does the End of Days. With the prophecy of the Twelfth Imam seemingly fulfilled, can Shirazi save his country and the world? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
 

DJIBOUTI by Elmore Leonard (Thriller)
Dara Barr is a documentary filmmaker at the top of her game. In search of a challenge, she heads to Djibouti to film a piece on modern-day pirates. But almost no one is who he seems to be. Apparently piracy appeals to A-listers, and now Dara and her partner are faced with a critical decision: Should they shoot the action as a documentary, or turn it into a Hollywood feature film? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
 

BOOK LUST TO GO: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds and Dreamers by Nancy Pearl (Reference)
Nancy Pearl sells books: hers and those of the authors she recommends. So she wrote a travel manual detailing 120 places to read about before you go. This guide to literary globetrotting includes Korea, Sweden, Afghanistan, Albania, Parma, Patagonia, Texas and Timbuktu, as well as recommended reading for “Travel to Imaginary Places.” Whether you need a passport or an armchair, BOOK LUST TO GO is perfect for every bookworm with an itch for wanderlust. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
 

Jennifer Donnelly, author of THE TEA ROSE and THE WINTER ROSE, is wowing critics once again with REVOLUTION, a young adult novel that is sure to appeal to a wide audience. The book follows the stories of two teens who were born in two separate countries nearly two centuries apart, and weaves them into one unforgettable account of life, loss and enduring love. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Sarah Rachel Egelman, Donnelly dishes on the questions that inspired her to write REVOLUTION, elaborating on the issues that were raised by the discovery of Louis XVII’s heart and how having her own daughter has changed the way she sees the world. She also talks about the difficulty of balancing an 18th-century Parisian with a present-day teenager from Brooklyn Heights, and explains why she framed her novel with quotes from THE DIVINE COMEDY, speculating on why Andi Alpers is --- in a way --- comparable to a modern-day Dante.

REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly (Fiction)
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi Alpers finds Alexandrine Paradis’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

-Click here to read a review of REVOLUTION.
-Click here to read an excerpt from REVOLUTION.
-Click here to watch Jennifer Donnelly talk about REVOLUTION.
-Click here to read Jennifer Donnelly's bio.
 

Tatiana de Rosnay's U.S. debut, SARAH'S KEY, has been a bestseller since its 2007 release and a popular book club selection. The story of a journalist researching the events that unfolded in Paris 60 years previously --- during the Nazi occupation of a French town --- has become a worldwide favorite.

-Click here to read a third excerpt from SARAH’S KEY.
-Click here to read Tatiana de Rosnay’s bio.
-Click here to see Tatiana de Rosnay’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for SARAH’S KEY.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.

More about SARAH'S KEY:
Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a 10-year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.
 

THE VALCOURT HEIRESS by Catherine Coulter (Historical Romance)
When Garron of Kersey returns home from the king's service to claim his title, he's shocked to find Wareham Castle all but destroyed. According to the last remaining servants, a man called the Black Demon has been looking for his brother’s gold. Now he and his enigmatic maid Merry must bring Wareham back to its former splendor. But this is only the beginning… Reviewed by Hillary Wagy.

GHOST IN TROUBLE by Carolyn Hart (Mystery)
In yet another absolutely delightful mystery caper, Bailey Ruth Raeburn accepts a mission in her beloved Oklahoma hometown. As emissary of the Department of Good Intentions, she leaves Heaven, duty-bound to protect someone she detested while she was alive. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and wardrobe changes, our favorite ghost detective is on the job. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

TRESPASS by Rose Tremain (Psychological Thriller)
In a wild and beautiful part of France stands a house that becomes an obsession for London antiques dealer Anthony Verey. He simply must have it. But the owner’s sister has other ideas, and her method of dealing with outsiders has everything to do with her secretive past and little to do with a spirit of warmth. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF ZEUS: The Rise and Ruin of America's Most Powerful Trial Lawyer by Curtis Wilkie (Biography)
After successful lawsuits against the shipping, tobacco and drug industries, Dickie Scruggs became one of America’s wealthiest and most powerful trial attorneys. Perhaps more important, he was not reluctant to wield that power. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF ZEUS is the riveting story of Scruggs’s rise to power and the forces that destroyed his legal career. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

CITY OF VEILS by Zoë Ferraris (Mystery)
Women in Saudi Arabia are expected to lead quiet lives, but Katya is determined to make hers mean something. When the body of a woman is found on the beach in Jeddah, Katya is convinced she can solve the crime. As it turns out, the deceased was a controversial filmmaker. Using her clandestine footage as a guide, Katya and her friend must now confront the world she threatened to expose. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

SALVATION CITY by Sigrid Nunez (Fiction)
In a world devastated by a brutal pandemic, orphaned 13-year-old Cole Vining has landed in a Christian evangelical enclave where he lives with Pastor Wyatt and the pastor's young wife, Tracy. Here, Cole struggles to find his place and resume an interrupted life. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

THE REPORT by Jessica Francis Kane (Fiction)
Whether it’s a terrorist attack or a massive oil spill, the ritual that follows a catastrophe has become painfully familiar. It was not always thus, as Jessica Francis Kane makes clear in a novel that is a thoughtful exploration of the aftermath of a real-life tragedy in World War II London. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
 

Poll:

Of all the books you read, approximately what percentage are written for a young adult audience?

Less than 25%
25%
50%
75%
More than 75%
I'm not sure.

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Question:

What are some of the best young adult books you've ever read? Name up to three.

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