October 1, 2010

You have heard of class trips. Well, this week we did a staff trip. We have a lot of new people in the office, and though our company is small, people do not get to interface with each other as much as you might think as we are all glued to our computer screens. So this week at the suggestion of Erin Quinn, our Project Director, we did a staff outing. There was something very, very strange about turning off our computers in the middle of the day and walking out of the office en masse.

We headed over to the Museum of Natural History, where we split into three teams and participated in a scavenger hunt that had been coordinated by the folks at Watson’s Adventures. We all had a blast, the clues were fun to try to solve --- and it was nice to get to play together instead of work for a while. We got back to the office and felt like we had been away for a lot longer than a few hours. Watson’s Adventures, which operates in many cities, organizes public scavenger hunts as well as private ones that can be booked by groups, which is what we did. They could work so many ways for a group outing, and we HIGHLY recommend them!

Also this week, we moved servers for our websites, which is always an experience that sounds easier than it is. It’s always a bit tougher than copy/move, files/paste. As a result, some things are not working quite right, and there were a few hours that you might not have been able to “find us” during the week. We hope to have all our contest entry forms (including Word of Mouth) and our poll and question pages fixed as quickly as possible. First, we are trying to figure out why they are not performing right! So in advance we thank you for your patience. In the meantime, we’ve set up a few workarounds for our Author Spotlight contests so you can still enter.

Today I am in Providence at the New England Independent Booksellers Association Fall Trade Conference. I have not been to this show before, and thus I am enjoying meeting this new group of booksellers. I stayed in New York last evening to meet Charles Cumming, whose book THE TRINITY SIX (coming in March 2011) I have been telling you about. In a twist of fate, Michael Cunningham could not make the Providence show, and Charles was a quick substitute for the breakfast, where he charmed the crowd with his fabulous British accent and the story of how he came to write THE TRINITY SIX. Of course, there was some irony that I stayed home last night to meet him and then found myself flying out of town to catch him as part of the event here.

You can see a picture of Charles above (he is on the left), where he is chatting with Simon Winchester, a fellow Brit, who spoke this morning about his new book, ATLANTIC, which will be in stores November 2nd. In this book, Simon looks at the amazing history of the Atlantic as the axis of Western civilizations. I found it interesting when he talked about how the Pacific does not have this same kind of appeal and how much the Atlantic has meant through the years.

As a true treat, I was seated at breakfast with Liz Murray, the author of BREAKING NIGHT, which we are currently featuring on Bookreporter.com in our One to Watch spotlight. She was a wonderfully dynamic and inspirational speaker sharing her story of growing up homeless with two drug-addicted/HIV-positive parents --- and how she ended up at Harvard. She shared that the title of the book came from the phrase that describes what happens when you stay up so late that you see day break --- breaking night. While she was homeless, to make herself feel better she instead tried to convince herself she was just “breaking night.”

She passionately is supporting a charity called Blessings in a Backpack, where weekend nourishment is provided to school children on the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program every Friday. Kids in schools who participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program get a backpack filled with easy-to-prepare and ready-to-eat food. On Monday, the kids return the backpacks ready to learn. Then the cycle begins the next Friday. It’s a wonderful concept that I encourage you to read more about. She also shared a line that I loved: “Nothing is a success unless it creates opportunities for other people.” Ponder that. You can see a picture of Liz with me above.

It was quite a morning and one that reminded me again why I love what I do. It’s really about the pleasure of the book and what it brings to you.

This week’s big release --- and one of the big releases of the season, for that matter --- is FALL OF GIANTS by Ken Follett, the first book in his new Century trilogy. I had a chance to hear Ken speak at ThrillerFest this summer about his writing and research process, and we’re so happy to have an interview with him to share with you this week. Reviewer Roz Shea says, “The page count may seem daunting, but he has chiseled his narrative to a fine point, and the pages fly.” Also, check out this wonderful book trailer here. We will also have the reading guide available on ReadingGroupGuides.com in just a few days, and if you need it sooner than that, you’re a true speed reader!

Also up for review this week is THE FALL: Book Two of the Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. This is a vampire series, but in the more traditional Bram Stoker, Count Dracula sense and totally not the Twilight type of vampires. The first book in this duo’s series, THE STRAIN, was an instant hit last summer. The two also have plenty of Hollywood ties as Guillermo was the director of the Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth and was also tapped for the screenplay to THE HOBBIT, but has since left the project. Chuck Hogan has written several crime novels, including THE TOWN, which was adapted by Ben Affleck and was the No. 1 movie at the box office a couple weeks ago. Our reviewer, Joe Hartlaub, says, “THE FALL should come with a defibrillator, wrapped in crime scene tape, and bound in garlic.”

We also have a review of DARK ROAD TO DARJEELING: A Lady Julia Grey Novel by Deanna Raybourn. I am a huge fan of Deanna’s work. Her historical mysteries bring you right into the period you are reading about. Often I have looked up and been surprised to see my modern surroundings. She is that good, and her mysteries always are well-paced. Reviewer Amie Taylor agrees, saying, “These titles transport me to another time and place, a place I will visit time and time again.”

One more review we’re featuring this week is ADAM & EVE by Sena Jeter Naslund, who’s best known for AHAB’S WIFE. Sena puts an interesting twist on the Adam and Eve parable that includes a conspiracy, alien life and a modern-day Garden of Eden. Reviewer Eileen Zimmerman Nicol calls ADAM & EVE a "strangely compelling, well-crafted, truly original novel."

Also on the site this week, we’re launching a Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight for John Lutz’s MISTER X. John is no stranger to the site as we’ve featured many of his novels in the past, including last fall’s URGE TO KILL. He is always one who keeps you guessing literally to the last page, sometimes even the last paragraph. The book is in stores now, but we have 20 copies to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. As our usual contest forms are down at the moment, please enter by emailing [email protected] with your name, mailing address, and "MISTER X" in the subject line by Friday, October 8th at noon ET. Because of our server change, we're also extending our contest for BREAKING NIGHT, so please enter by emailing [email protected] with your name, mailing address, and "BREAKING NIGHT" in the subject line by Friday, October 8th at noon ET.

In my latest chapter of a book inspiring adventure, I took two rather off-beat swims this week. First, I swam in a downpour the other morning; second, I hit the pool at midnight the other night. My inspiration: reading THE WAVE by Susan Casey. I cannot stop talking about this book! I keep telling pieces of it to anyone who will listen. It’s about big waves, extreme surfing, the power of this water, and how it becomes what it is and the impact of waves around the world. And I am just not telling you still how great it is. So how did it inspire me? Well, after you have read about people surfing down 100-feet walls of water or submerged in tumbling whitewater, swimming laps in the backyard pool in the pouring rain seems tame. And when you have a stressful day like I did last Tuesday, there is NOTHING like realizing at midnight that what you really need to do is turn on the pool light, jump into your wetsuit and pound some water --- my own version of hitting the surf. Nice moments, both of them.

Last night, there was a bittersweet moment as I sat in the airport realizing that, as today the merger of Continental and United went through, I was on one of the last true Continental flights. In a true spirit of just how classy this airline is, it kept the President’s Club open for two extra hours for just three of us on that last delayed flight; the weather was a mess around the country leading to horrific delays. It gave me time to type a chunk of this newsletter and to get some quiet time. Nice thing.

Okay, I am heading out in a few to a cocktail party with more authors, which I will share with you next week. Here’s wishing you all a wonderful weekend…here’s to finding a great book that inspires YOU.

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

 

Bestselling author Ken Follett returns to the world of historical fiction with the first installment of his eagerly-awaited Century Trilogy, FALL OF GIANTS, an epic saga of five families whose lives become inexplicably intertwined as they try to navigate the earth-shattering dramas of World War I, the Russian Revolution and the struggle for women’s suffrage. In this interview, Follett reflects on his rules for reinterpreting the historical record, separating fact from fiction and elaborating on why the 20th century makes for such appealing subject matter. He also explains why the fight for women’s suffrage takes center stage in his latest novel --- and why he couldn’t have written it without his wife --- speculates on the similarities between the distant past and the present day, and shares his thoughts on the miniseries inspired by PILLARS OF THE EARTH, along with his plans for the rest of the trilogy.

FALL OF GIANTS: Book One of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (Historical Fiction)
Thirteen-year-old Billy Williams enters a man's world in the Welsh mining pits. Gus Dewar finds a career in Wilson's White House. Two orphaned brothers, Grigori and Lev Peshkov, embark on different paths half a world apart. Billy's sister Ethel, a housekeeper, takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with a spy at the German embassy in London. In an unfolding drama of the early 20th century, these five lives become inextricably entangled. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read a review of FALL OF GIANTS.
-Click here to read an excerpt from FALL OF GIANTS.
 

New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: John Lutz, Author of MISTER X

Suspense/thriller veteran John Lutz returns with MISTER X, his latest page-turning, spine-tingling novel that will keep you guessing until the final paragraphs. A detective reopens a cold case, and with it, the idle serial killer.

We have 20 copies of MISTER X, which is in stores now, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to [email protected] with "MISTER X" in the subject line by Friday, October 8th at noon ET.

-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.

More about MISTER X:
He mutilates his victims. Slices their throats. And carves an X into their flesh. Five years ago, he claimed the lives of six women. Then the killings abruptly stopped --- no one knows why. Ex-homicide detective Frank Quinn remembers. Which is why he’s shocked to see one of the dead women in his office. Actually, she’s the identical twin of the last victim, and she wants Quinn to find her sister’s murderer. But when the cold case heats up, it attracts the media spotlight --- and suddenly the killings start again…
 

Featured One to Watch Author: Liz Murray, Author of BREAKING NIGHT

Liz Murray's harrowing personal story, BREAKING NIGHT: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard, recounts her troubled childhood as her parents fought substance abuse problems that left Liz homeless for much of her teen years. Despite those odds, she still managed to graduate from Harvard and launch a successful career.

Because of a server issue in our office during the week, our contest for BREAKING NIGHT will remain open. We have 20 copies to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to [email protected] with "BREAKING NIGHT" in the subject line by Friday, October 8th at noon ET.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from BREAKING NIGHT.
-Click here to read Liz Murray’s bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for BREAKING NIGHT.
-Click here to watch Liz Murray discuss BREAKING NIGHT.

More about BREAKING NIGHT:
In the vein of THE GLASS CASTLE, BREAKING NIGHT is the stunning memoir of a young woman who at age 15 was living on the streets, and who eventually made it into Harvard.

Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age 15, Liz found herself on the streets when her family finally unraveled. When Liz's mother died of AIDS, she decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. Liz squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won a New York Times scholarship; and made it into the Ivy League.

BREAKING NIGHT is an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one young woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds.
 

THE FALL: Book Two of the Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan (Horror)
A vampiric virus has taken over New York City, and no one can stop it from spreading --- except Center for Disease Control specialist Eph Goodweather. But it may be too late. A war is erupting among Old and New World vampires, and Eph’s ex-wife is stalking the city. Now it’s up to Eph to save his son and stop a terror whose aim is a fate worse than annihilation. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
 

Now in Stores: DARK ROAD TO DARJEELING by Deanna Raybourn

DARK ROAD TO DARJEELING: A Lady Julia Grey Novel by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Mystery)
After eight months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her husband must put their investigative talents to work once more. They rush off to India to aid Jane Cavendish, an old and a newly widowed friend who’s about to give birth to a baby --- and discover the truth about her husband’s death. But Jane might be next, and there’s a chance that Julia and Nicholas won’t live to celebrate their anniversary. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
 

Now in Stores: ADAM & EVE by Sena Jeter Naslund

ADAM & EVE by Sena Jeter Naslund (Fiction)
Hours before his highly suspicious death, Lucy’s husband entrusted her with an enormous secret: a flash drive containing evidence of extraterrestrial life. Devastated by his death, she contacted her husband’s friend --- who wants her to unravel a codex offering a reinterpretation of the Book of Genesis. Entrusted with her husband’s secret and a document that will shatter several world religions, Lucy embarks on a dangerous journey to protect the knowledge she possesses. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
 

Halloween will be here before you know it, so why not put down your rake and satisfy your sweet tooth at your local cinema? Film fanatics are in for a real treat this October, and Bookreporter.com is featuring seven soon-to-be blockbusters that will have you ditching your yard work for a day at the movies.

Comedy fans will be lining up for Tamara Drewe and It’s Kind of a Funny Story, a quirky film about a stressed-out teen starring Zach Galifianakis, while vampire lovers everywhere will be flocking to the theaters for Let Me In, the spooky thriller based on Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel of the same name. The Social Network and Secretariat are must-sees for anyone looking for a stimulating drama, while Red, a CIA flick featuring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich, will have bookworms and action enthusiasts alike gunning for the big screen. Or, if you’re into documentaries, then Freakonomics is sure to satisfy your thirst for facts. Based on the bestseller by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, this movie will tell you all you need to know about human behavior --- and highlight some seriously funny case studies along the way.

But if you’d rather have your Halloween candy at home, then you can always check out our Books into Movies on DVD feature, which is currently spotlighting How to Train Your Dragon, available on Blu-ray and DVD October 15th.
 

Teenreads.com is celebrating the season of ghouls and ghosts with our very first Book O'Lantern Contest! Between now and Friday, October 22nd, teens can enter to win a bag perfect for trick-or-treating filled with a few special treats, plus 14 spooky reads that will help make the scariest season of them all last well beyond Halloween.

Here are the books we're giving away:

-ANOTHER FAUST by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
-THE COUNSELING: Ghost Huntress, Book 4 by Marley Gibson
-DEAD IS JUST A RUMOR by Marlene Perez
-EVERLASTING DESIRE by Amanda Ashley
-FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan
-HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride
-THE HOUSE OF DEAD MAIDS by Clare B. Dunkle
-PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White
-THE REFORMED VAMPIRE SUPPORT GROUP by Catherine Jinks
-SUPERNATURAL by DK Publishing
-THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER: The Homelanders, Book Three by Andrew Klavan
-THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: STEFAN'S DIARIES #1: ORIGINS by L. J. Smith
-THE WITCHES' KITCHEN by Allen Williams
-Z by Michael Thomas Ford
 

Kidsreads.com is getting a new look this fall! We are conducting a survey of our readers to find out what changes and updates you would like to see as we redesign the site. After reading your answers to our 2009 Reader Survey about what you like on Kidsreads.com, we are coming back to you with more in-depth questions that will help us give you, the readers, what you are looking for.

We estimate that it will take about 10 minutes to complete the survey.

Both kids and adults are invited to weigh in and tell us what they think will make Kidsreads.com even better. If you know of other readers who may be interested in responding to this survey, we ask that you forward this link to them. The more input we get, the better Kidsreads.com will be. Anyone who completes the survey will be eligible to enter a drawing to win a $25 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice. Five gift cards will be awarded at random.

The survey will close on Friday, October 15th at 11:59PM ET.

-Click here for more information about the survey.
 

DON'T BLINK by James Patterson and Howard Roughan (Thriller)
Reporter Nick Daniels went to Lombardo’s Steak House to interview a baseball legend, but walked out an accidental witness to the murder of an infamous mob lawyer. Now he’s caught in a war between Italian and Russian mob forces, and when he starts investigating the slaying on his own, only one thing is clear: the price of this story might be his life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from DON’T BLINK.

AND THEREBY HANGS A TALE: Short Stories by Jeffrey Archer (Fiction/Short Stories)
A couple in love, a priceless oil painting, a charmed Christmas cracker, an unsuspecting traveler, a shoeless wife --- regardless of whether Jeffrey Archer’s tales make you laugh or bring you to tears, they will keep you turning the page until you find out what happens to his remarkable cast of characters. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

THE WIDOWER’S TALE by Julia Glass (Fiction)
Seventy-year-old Percy Darling thought he was happily settling into retirement…until a local preschool takes over his barn. Now he must reexamine the solitary life he has made in the decades since his wife’s sudden death. But when his effort to rebuild his bond with his oldest grandchild causes him to collide with two other equally estranged men, the lives of everyone in his community are upended…and none more so than his own. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE WAY OF KINGS: Book One of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)
The Knights Radiant fell centuries ago, but their Shardblades and Shardplates remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that make men into invincible warriors. Wars were fought for them, and one rages in Roshar now. While one commander tries to save his men and another struggles to save his sanity, a woman named Shallan plans a theft that will uncover lost secrets and reveal the reason behind this senseless fighting. Reviewed by Steve Hubbard.

HEAVEN'S FURY by Stephen Frey (Thriller)
Bruner, Wisconsin is really two different towns --- where the world is divided between the very wealthy and the working class. And it’s where Sheriff Paul Summers finds himself grasping for answers when a former flame is found spectacularly murdered in a snowbound estate. The last person to see her alive, Paul is the lead investigator and the leading suspect. Can he clear his name before a massive storm leaves everyone at the mercy of a remorseless killer? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

VOYEUR by Daniel Judson (Thriller)
Remer was an effective Manhattan P.I. --- until one of his targets forced him into an early retirement. Now he’s living an anonymous life, running a liquor store in Southampton and trying to stay in the shadows. But when a voice from his past asks for help, he’s offered the chance to escape the threat that’s been haunting him for the last six years. The only problem is, it might not be enough. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

The Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch (Thriller)
Ex-thief Michael St. Pierre thinks he’s left his criminal days behind…until he has to rescue his friend Simon from death in a desert prison. But his latest bout of law-breaking isn’t over. His girlfriend is connected to Simon’s case, and there’s someone following them to Istanbul. If they fail to execute some daring thefts and find the artifact that landed him there, then their families’ lives will be at stake --- and perhaps the fate of humanity itself. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
 

As you may or may not know, our company, The Book Report Network, has a number of websites about books and authors in addition to Bookreporter.com. Throughout the year, Bookreporter.com features adult books on Teenreads.com, our site for young adult readers, that we think will have definite appeal to a teen audience. In the spirit of sharing, we are now spotlighting a selection of titles each month from Teenreads.com that we believe are great reads that you might enjoy.

Here are our latest featured titles:

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins (Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry and wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

I SHALL WEAR MIDNIGHT: A Tiffany Aching Adventure by Terry Pratchett (Fantasy/Action & Adventure)
After studying senior witches for years, Tiffany Aching is on her own. As the witch of Chalk, she performs the unglamorous task of caring for the needy. But when someone starts igniting fear against the witches, she discovers that “real” witchcraft isn’t always fun. Now Tiffany must find the source of evil and defeat it at its root. Because this time, the price of failure is her life, and if she falls, then so will Chalk.

FEAR: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror edited by R.L. Stine (Suspense/Horror/Short Stories)
R.L. Stine has put together a collection of short stories by some of the most celebrated authors in the business that are sure to frighten, thrill and horrify readers of all ages. The last thing you want to do is stay up late at night, in the dark, all alone, and read this book.

THE THINGS A BROTHER KNOWS by Dana Reinhardt (Fiction)
Finally, Levi Katznelson’s older brother, Boaz, has returned. Boaz was a high school star who had it all and gave it up to serve in a war Levi can’t understand. Things have been on hold since Boaz left. With the help of his two best friends, Levi has fumbled his way through high school, weary of his role as little brother to the hero. But when Boaz walks through the front door after his tour of duty is over, Levi knows there’s something wrong. Boaz is home, safe. But Levi knows that his brother is not the same.

THREE BLACK SWANS by Caroline B. Cooney (Fiction)
Missy and her cousin Claire can finish each other’s sentences and practically read each other’s minds. In fact, it’s kind of creepy. So when Missy can’t find the courage to question her parents, she uses a school project to uncover an explanation. But when their video gets posted on YouTube, the cousins realize they’ve opened Pandora’s Box. Not only are their identities called into question, so is the future of everyone involved.
 

Poll:

Approximately what percentage of the books you read appear --- or have appeared --- on bestseller lists?

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

-Click here to answer our poll.


Question:

What is the last book you read purely because you saw it on a bestseller list?

-Click here to answer our question.


*** Due to server issues, the poll and question pages are temporarily down. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have these pages fixed as quickly as possible.