Bookreporter.com Newsletter

I am writing this newsletter before I fly to Dallas for a very quick trip to give a speech at a Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter event. I am looking forward to the flight as I have a few books and manuscripts that I am anxious to read, as well as a lineup queued on my iPod and this deep purple wrap I want to get some knitting done on. I have been running so much recently that I am looking forward to a few hours of uninterrupted time on the plane. When I get really busy I fantasize about flying to Australia and back, just for a chunk of time to call my own with no emails that I feel an urgent need to respond to, ringing phones, meetings or questions. Never mind the frequent flyer miles...I would treasure the time alone!

People who know me know how much I love to laugh and how I love clever people with great wit. Years ago when I was at Mademoiselle we had a summer intern whose name was Mindy Schneider, who always made me laugh. She had self-deprecating humor and a way of looking at life that would make us all take pause and smile. (We truly wonder why Mindy never wrote her own version of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.) The magazine had endless moments ripe for humor, and Mindy seized every one and played it to us with great timing. She went on to L.A. where she found her dream job of writing for sitcoms, though she never did get to write for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," which is what she always fantasized about. We've kept in touch over the years via email (hers always gets me smiling), and we get together whenever I find myself on the Left Coast.

Well, now you all can see why I love Mindy's writing as her book, NOT A HAPPY CAMPER, was published this week. We have an interview with her and a review of this book where Mindy looks back at her years as a 13-year-old camper at Camp Kin-A-Hurra in Maine. If you went to camp, thought about going to camp, ever were 13 or just love witty writing, this is a book to read --- and give. For the record, I never went to camp and my sons never went to camp, but we all love, love, loved this book. I think you will too. Oh, to see Mindy and some of the amazing camp paraphernalia she has managed to hold on to (her home is a homage to brilliantly collected kitsch), go to her website: Not-A-Happy-Camper.com.

And speaking of L.A. writers, we also have an interview with Nick Santora, the author of SLIP & FALL, which was published this week. Joe Hartlaub gives it a rave. Reminder that Nick's book is on-sale exclusively at Borders and Waldenbooks and online here at Borders.com.

This week we bring you two new One to Watch authors. The first is Anita Amirrezvani, the author of THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS. As you may recall I really love this book, which is the story of a young Iranian rug weaver in the 17th century. It's a number one Booksense pick, which are the choices of independent booksellers across the country. We have 10 copies to share with readers who would like to read and comment. Write us at OnetoWatch@bookreporter.com (note the address) with your name and mailing address by Friday, June 22nd to enter.

Our second One to Watch selection is WOMAN IN RED by Eileen Goudge. This is one of the books I am looking forward to finishing on the plane as I have been enjoying it these past few days. The protagonist, Alice, spent nine years in jail for the attempted murder of the drunk driver who killed her younger son. Now she is out, rebuilding her life as she uncovers the secrets of her past, which includes a painting of her grandmother called Woman in Red. As she reconnects with her older son, who now is a sullen teenager, he is charged with a crime, and they come together as she stands by him. We have 10 copies to share with readers who would like to read and comment. Write us at OnetoWatch2@bookreporter.com (note the address) with your name and mailing address by Friday, June 22nd to enter.

Also on this week's lineup --- Our Summer Beach Bag of Books title is ONCE UPON A DAY by Lisa Tucker. I have been a fan of Lisa's writing since her debut, THE SONG READER, a few years ago. Here she writes a tale of two lost souls who come together on a day in St. Louis. Contest details are here, and you have until Thursday, June 21st to enter.

We have updated ReadingGroupGuides.com with a number of new guides this month, as well as a complete redesign of the site that has been two years in the making. Huge thanks to Sunil Kumar, Vicky Kariolic and Eric Rhodes on our production team, and our Design Director, Joe Rivera, for making this happen. Be sure to check it out!

As a tribute to David Chase and what I am seeing as a brilliant end to "The Sopranos" (though that was NOT my first reaction), I was tempted to end the opener of this newsletter in mid-sentence. But as I feared the onslaught of reader mail and since, unlike Chase, I do not have a chateau in France to retreat to and let you talk amongst yourselves, I figure I better write an ending. (Have you ever seen a final episode generate that much chatter?)

So....Happy Father's Day to all the dads and grandads out there. For those of you with last-minute shopping habits, you have suggestions from us here. Dads, grab hammock time for reading if you are not hitting the links, the fishing hole or other manly pursuits.

We're also announcing our Father's Day Duffel Bag of Books Contest winners this week. Thanks to all of you who took the time to enter. We are sharing some of your entries along with the winners, so be sure to take a look at this feature. It's been fun seeing what books your dads read to you when you were a child.

Have a great week. For us school ends Tuesday, and I cannot wait! I think I am more excited than the boys about this.

May I resist the urge to buy a cowboy hat in Texas. I do remember bringing home cattle horns from a trip to Houston years ago. I think today I would be stopped at the airport and they would be classified as a lethal weapon, or at least a weapon of potential in-flight destruction.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

PS: While it's just an overnight trip, readers may want to note that I managed to pack ONE carry-on bag, in turquoise of course. A milestone.