Author: Emily Martin

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Holly Black Announces First Adult Novel: Today in Books

Kim Johnson’s This is My America to be Adapted on HBO Max

Erik Feig’s Picturestart has aquired the rights to develop and produce a television adaptation of Kim Johnson’s This Is My America for HBO Max. Jessica Freeman (Single Drunk Female) will write the script and executive produce. Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, and Lis Rowinski will also executive produce alongside author Kim Johnson.This is My America is the story of 17-year-old Tracy Beaumont who is fighting for her father, an innocent Black man on death row. She only has 267 days left to save her father’s life, but her life gets even more complicated when her brother is accused of murdering a white girl. The story explores social justice and racism in America from the viewpoint of a Black Gen-Z protagonist.

Holly Black Announces First Adult Novel

Last weekend at TorCon 2021, children’s and YA book author Holly Black announced her first adult novel. The new book is a dark fantasy novel entitled Book of Night, and it’s set in a world of shadow magic where con artist Charlie finds herself pulled into the underground world of shadow trading. Holly Black said, “The book introduces us to a thief and con artist with a messy personal life and a compulsion for disaster, Charlie Hall. Her world seems familiar—but beware the shadows, where magic can be used… or used against you.” Book of Night is hitting shelves May 3, 2022.

Social Justice Children’s Bookstore Opening in West Palm Beach

A new social justice-driven children’s bookstore is opening at Rosemary Square in West Palm Beach. It’s called Rohi’s Readery, and the bookstore will focus on stories featuring children and families from diverse backgrounds. Pranoo Kumar, the founder of the store, explained that the bookstore is actually named in honor of her grandmother: “Rohi is actually short for Rohini. Rohini in India, my grandmother, was a steadfast advocate for educational rights for children especially during the caste system and colonized India.” The grand opening of the store is today, Friday, June 18th. Events are scheduled for Juneteenth and Father’s Day.

50+ Years of Pride: The Best Queer Books from Every Decade

2021 marks the 51st official Pride celebration. Celebrate the history of LGBTQ+ publishing by reading these notable queer books from each decade of Pride, 1970 to 2020.

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Michael Wolff Publishing Third Exposé of Donald Trump: Today in Books

Kunal Nayyar, Christina Hendricks, and Lucy Hale Starring in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Kunal Nayyar, Christina Hendricks, and Lucy Hale have signed on to star in the film adaptation of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. The novel follows the story of a bookseller (Nayyar) whose life is falling apart after the death of his wife. But when someone leaves a baby at his bookstore, everything changes. Author Gabrielle Zevin is adapting her story for film, and Hans Canosa (Conversations with Other Women) will direct.

Harvey Fierstein Donates $2.5 Million to New York Public Library for Performing Arts

Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein has donated $2.5 million to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ Billy Rose Theatre Division. The donation will establish the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab, a space that will allow students and teachers a space to engage with the library’s archives. Fierstein says, “The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ collections of photos, recordings, scripts, and live video capture offers a unique way to preserve a glimmer of theatre’s magic. My hope is that this new Theatre Lab will provide a space to not only revel in the past but inspire artists to create the theatre of tomorrow.”

Michael Wolf Publishing Third Exposé of Donald Trump, Covering His Final Months in Office

Michael Wolff, author of Fire and Fury, will be publishing a third book about Donald Trump’s time in office, focusing on the final days of his presidency. While Wolff no longer has the same West Wing access he had when writing his first book, publishers say this latest book, entitled Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, is based on “extraordinary access to White House aides and to the former president himself, yielding a wealth of new information and insights about what really happened inside the highest office in the land, and the world.” Landslide will be out on July 27th from Little, Brown in the UK and Macmillan in the US.

Goodreads Announces Top 48 Hit Books of the Year So Far

Goodreads has looked at the books released in the first half of 2021 with the highest ratings that have been added to the most Want to Read shelves. From that information, the popular social media/reading platform has put together a list of the top 48 hit books of the year so far. Check out the list, and see if some of your favorites made it!

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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Prequel Series Coming to Disney Plus: Today in Books

Jason Reynolds Wins Carnegie Medal for Story Collection Look Both Ways

Poet and author Jason Reynolds has won the Carnegie medal, the UK’s most prestigious prize for children’s books, for his short story collection Look Both Ways. The book is a collection of 10 interlinked stories about children walking home from school. The stories cover topics relatable to children from all walks of life, including bullying, homophobia, and bereavement. Judges said the stories “brim with humour, empathy and humanity,” and “challenge the reader to see differently in an engaging and fresh way.” When asked how it felt to win, Reynolds said it was “amazing.” He explained, “For me, the Carnegie is super special. I was shortlisted before, which was good enough for me. But this time around it has been really incredible to know that that book has resonated in the UK, mainly because I think it validates the idea that it’s just a human story.”

Beauty and the Beast Prequel Series Coming to Disney Plus

The Disney Plus Beauty and the Beast prequel has officially been ordered to series. The prequel is a live-action musical series that features 2017’s Beauty and the Beast stars Luke Evans and Josh Gad reprising the roles of Gaston and LeFou. Additionally, it has been announced that newcomer Briana Middleton is joining the show as Tilly, LeFou’s stepsister. The series has been given an eight-episode order. Production will begin in spring 2022.

Leicester-Based Books2Door Donates to Book Shop Destroy in Gaza

Books2Door, a Leicester-based book firm in England is donating 1,000 books to a book shop in the Gaza Strip, which was completely destroyed in the recent Hamas/Israeli conflict. Books2Door owner Abdul Thadha says that he saw an online campaign to help rebuild the two-storey Samir Mansour shop, and he offered his help. Thadha said, “When I saw what had happened to the Mansour shop, my heart sank. This business is 21 years old, it is a community, it is a library it is where children in Gaza were getting their English literature books from. I thought ‘I have a business, I have children’s book, this is something we can help with.'” The online campaign has raised more than $200,000 and received thousands of books nationwide.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Florida’s Critical Race Theory Ban

Last Thursday, Florida passed a law forbidding the teaching of critical race theory in schools. Here’s everything you need to know about the ban.

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Watch Never-Aired TV Profile of Author James Baldwin: Today in Books

Watch A Never-Aired TV Profile of Author James Baldwin

In 1979, 20/20 director/producer Joseph Lovett was assigned an interview with author James Baldwin. The interview was conducted by journalist Sylvia Chase and included stops at Lincoln Center to watch a rehearsal of Baldwin’s play, The Amen Corner, and at the Police Athletic League’s Harlem Center. In the interview, Baldwin spoke frankly about what it means to be a Black man and a Black author in America and how he outed himself to the general public with his 1956 novel Giovanni’s Room. But the interview never aired. Evidently, at the time 20/20 thought viewers wouldn’t be interested in a “queer, Black has-been.” Upon discovering the interview would not air, Lovett said he was “stunned… because in my mind James Baldwin was no has-been. He was a classic American writer, translated into every language in the world, and would live on forever, and indeed he has. His courage and his eloquence continue to inspire us today.” On June 24, Joseph Lovett is moderating a free virtual panel called James Baldwin: Race, Media, and Psychoanalysis. The panel will discuss his 20/20 profile of James Baldwin, with psychoanalysts Victor P. Bonfilio and Annie Lee Jones, and Baldwin’s niece, author Aisha Karefa-Smart. You can register here.

HBO Series to Expand on Ronan Farrow’s Bestselling Book Catch and Kill

HBO has announced a docuseries expansion of Ronan Farrow’s bestselling 2019 book Catch and Kill. Farrow’s book uncovered information about the alleged sexual misconduct by Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and other major media industry figures. The HBO series Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes will feature six half-hour episodes that will recreate the author’s interviews with whistleblowers, journalists, private investigators, and other sources. But although the series is based on the book, HBO promises never-before-seen footage and new details about Farrow’s investigations. The series will be directed by Emmy winners Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (HBO’s Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking). World of Wonder is producing.

Tails and Tales Program Aims to Bring Pet Lovers Together with Book Lovers

In Florida, the Lake County Animal Shelter is teaming up with the Lake County Library System to bring the Tails and Tales Summer Adoption Program to 16 public libraries. The mobile adoption truck with stop by all 16 libraries in Lake Country to help book worms adopt pets and “gain a FURever reading buddy.” The program hopes to reach pet lovers and readers who might not be able to make it out to the shelter because they live too far away. Library assistant Sarah Clements said, “It’s important to the library because we are partnering with the county to help get those animals adopted and it gets the kids out and to the library to read.” All adoption fees will be waived during the program.

10 Part-Asian Characters in YA Novels Written By Part-Asian Authors

For many part-asian people, the feeling of being trapped between cultures is all too familiar. To learn more about these stories, pick up some excellent YA books featuring part-Asian characters, by part-Asian writers.

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3 Books Barack Obama Thinks Everyone Should Read This Summer: Today in Books

Former President Barack Obama Recommends Books to Read This Summer

In a recent interview with the New York Times, journalist Ezra Klein asked avid reader and former president Barack Obama what books he would recommend for the summer. Obama had three recommendations to help fill up your summer reading queue: The Overstory by Richard Powers, Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey, and the works of Mark Twain, whom Obama described as the “most essential of American writers.”

Nikesh Shukla Explains Why He Turned Down an MBE

Last month, Nikesh Shukla—British screenwriter, podcaster, and author of nonfiction, adult fiction, and YA fiction including Run, Riot and Brown Baby—was offered a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to literature as part of the Queen’s birthday honors list. He turned it down. Today in an article written for The Guardian, Shukla explains why he turned down this title, explaining, “I cannot think of anything I want less than to be a member of that empire.”

Book n’ Cook Classes Will Educate Kids About Juneteenth

The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library has partnered with Legacy Taste of the Garden and Urban Seeds to offer a summer Book n’ Cook series for the children of Evansville, Indiana. Book n’ Cook will be a series of five free classes on how to cook with local produce, where food comes from, and what people from different backgrounds like to eat. Each class will have an accompanying book. The program, open to third through fifth graders, will give out free books and all the ingredients kids will need to cook and take the class virtually from their homes. Because the first class is on Juneteenth, the class will concentrate on African American farming roots and food culture. The kids will prepare a strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Families are encouraged to sign up for all five classes, and you can register here.

What Rioters Like to Do While Listening to Audiobooks

From completing puzzles to taking long walks, Book Riot contributors share some of their favorite audiobook activities and multitasking methods.

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Jameela Jamil Cast as Supervillain in Upcoming Disney+ SHE-HULK Series: Today in Books

Jameela Jamil Cast as Supervillain in Upcoming Disney+ She-Hulk Series

Jameela Jamil has joined the cast of the upcoming Disney+ She-Hulk series as Titania, a Marvel supervillain with limitless strength. The series will star Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, a young lawyer who becomes She-Hulk after receiving a blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner, a man with gamma-radiation-infected blood. The series will also star Renée Elise Goldsberry, Ginger Gonzaga, and Tim Roth. Mark Ruffalo will be reprising his role as Bruce Banner/Hulk. 

Eisner Award Nominees Announced

San Diego Comic Con has announced its nominees for the annual Eisner Awards. Leading with five nominations is Gene Luen Yang for his graphic novel Superman Smashes the Klan, which was nominated in the best publication for kids and the best adaptation from another medium categories, and his graphic nonfiction book Dragon Hoops, which was nominated for best writer/artist, best publication for teens, and best reality-based work. Other nominees include Adrian Tomine, who was nominated in three categories for The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist and Craig Thompson, who was nominated in two categories for Ginseng Roots. You can see the full list of finalists here. Established in 1988, the Eisner Awards are given each year to honor outstanding achievements in comic books. This year’s winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony in July.

Mystery Writers of America Presents Queer Mystery Writers Panel

The NorCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America is hosting a panel of queer mystery writers who will discuss the genre and its special attraction to queer authors. The virtual panel will take place on Tuesday, June 15th at 7:00pm pacific time and will feature five acclaimed queer mystery writers. Michael Nava (Carved in Bone) will moderate authors Cheryl A. Head (Bury Me When I’m Dead), Greg Herren (Bourbon Street Blues), Dharma Kelleher (Iron Goddess) and P.J. Vernon (When You Find Me).

Beyond Bridgerton: Which Non-Regency Historical Romance Should You Read?

Ready to read some historical romantic fiction outside of the Regency era? If you answered yes, then this historical romance quiz is for you.

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Issa Rae and Jaboukie Young-White Team Up to Adapt GANG’S ALL QUEER for HBO: Today in Books

Dave Eggers’ New Novel The Every Exclusive to Independent Bookstores

Dave Eggers’ new novel The Every will publish on October 5th, but it will only be available in independent bookstores. The hardcover novel, published by McSweeney’s, will have at least 32 different covers, which will all be randomly distributed to stores. Six weeks after the book’s initial release, Vantage will publish an e-book, audiobook, and paperback version that will be available everywhere, but will only have one cover. The hardcover edition will remain exclusive to independent bookstores and the McSweeney’s website.

Issa Rae and Jaboukie Young-White Team Up to Adapt Gang’s All Queer for HBO

HBO is creating a half-hour series adaptation of the book The Gang’s All Queer: The Lives of Gay Gang Members by Vanessa R. Panfil. And Jaboukie Young-White and Issa Rae are attached to adapt the project. Young-White will write and executive produce, and Rae will executive produce under her Hoorae banner along with Montrel McKay. The series will follow the story of a closeted 20-something living in Chicago who, grieving a gang-related death, drops out of college to find closure.

Harry Melling Stars Opposite Christian Bale in Netflix Film About Young Edgar Allan Poe

Harry Melling (The Queen’s Gambit) will star in a new Netflix film about a young Edgar Allan Poe. The film is based on Louis Bayard’s novel The Pale Blue Eyes, which imagines a young Poe who solves crimes. Melling will play the young Edgar Allan Poe alongside Christian Bale, who plays a detective tasked with solving a murder at West Point. The film will be written and directed by Scott Cooper (Hostiles).

A Guide to Discovering New Authors

Taking a chance on an author that’s new to you can be intimidating. Use this guide to make the discovery process fun and productive.

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Netflix Reveals Trailer for New FEAR STREET Trilogy: Today in Books

Robin From Stranger Things is Getting Her Own Prequel Podcast and Novel

Robin Buckley, played by Maya Hawke in the third season of the Netflix series Stranger Things, will be getting her own prequel podcast and novel. Netflix announced the news at their Geeknd Weekend: “Surviving Hawkins, a six-part companion podcast to the Robin prequel novel Rebel Robin starring Maya Hawke and Sean Maher premieres June 29th. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.”

Netflix Reveals Trailer for New Fear Street Trilogy

Netflix has released a trailer for their upcoming trilogy based on R.L. Stine’s dark, creepy YA series Fear Street. All three movies are coming out this July. Fear Street Part One: 1994 is out on July 2, followed by Fear Street Part Two: 1978 on July 9, and finally Fear Street Part Three: 1666 is out on July 16. All three movies take place in the cursed town of Shadyside. Some familiar faces you might recognize from other Netflix productions: Gillian Jacobs (Love), Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), and Kiana Madeira (Trinkets).

Tiffany Haddish Offered Up to $3M for Her Next Book

Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish is shopping the follow-up book to her 2017 best-seller memoir The Last Black Unicorn, and she’s already getting offers for up to $3 million. While her first book covered her childhood in foster care in South Caroline, this second book will reveal some hilarious stories from Haddish’s time in Hollywood, including a time when she allegedly “drank marijuana tea with Sharon Stone.” Sources report that Haddish has written about 80 pages of the book already.

Get Ready for Queer Blackathon

This Juneteenth, join Jesse at Bowties & Books and their buddy Starlah of StarlahReads in the second annual Queer Blackathon: a 48-hour readathon focused on celebrating queer Black literature. 

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TriStar Pictures Adapting N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy for Film: Today in Books

TriStar Pictures is Adapting N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy for Film

TriStar Pictures has won the rights to N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Triology in a seven-figure deal, and Jemisin will write the film adaptations herself. The first novel in the trilogy, The Fifth Season, introduced readers to a world where periodic climate catastrophes (called “fifth seasons”) threaten the planet. Many details of the upcoming adaptation are still unknown. For instance, we don’t know if the series will be adapted into a full trilogy of films or more (or less). Details on casting and producing are also yet to be announced.

Emma van Straaten Wins the Inaugural Women’s Prize Trust Discoveries Writing Prize

Author Emma van Straaten has won the inaugural Women’s Prize Trust Discoveries writing prize for her written submission Heartstring. Judging panel chair Kate Mosse praised Straaten’s submission, calling it “suspenseful, disquieting, brave, and eloquent.” The new prize initiative launched this year in collaboration with NatWest and Curtis Brown, and its goal is to identify untapped female writing talent from across the UK and Ireland. Van Straaten said, “I am absolutely delighted and overwhelmed to have been awarded the first prize for Discoveries 2021… As a writer, I’m keen to explore the road ahead as I return to my manuscript under the expert guidance of Curtis Brown – I am thrilled to have accepted Lucy Morris’ offer of representation. As a reader, I’m excited by all the new female talent longlisted and shortlisted for this prize, and look forward to seeing where Discoveries takes them.” All 16 authors who were longlisted for the Discoveries prize will be offered mentorship packages from a Curtis Brown agent or industry expert.

Child-Friendly “Drag Story Time” Moved from Public Library to Private Venue

The children’s “Drag Story Time,” which was originally planned to take place at the Taylor Library in Derry, has been moved to a private venue after some backlash from the community. Dozens of children had already registered to attend the event, which will be hosted by drag performer Clara Divine. For “Drag Story Time” Divine will draw from their musical theater experience to read children’s stories and teach dances.

Amazon Announces Their Picks for the Best Books of 2021 So Far

Amazon has released their top 20 best books of the year so far. This Top 20 list includes some bestsellers and some books that might be flying under the radar.

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SHADOW AND BONE Has Been Renewed for Season 2: Today in Books

Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart Gets a Feature Film Adaptation

Michelle Zauner’s memoir Crying in H Mart is set to get a feature film adaptation from MGM’s Orion pictures. And Zauner, who also heads the indie rock group Japanese Breakfast, will adapt her book and provide the soundtrack. Zauner said, “It is a surreal thrill to have the opportunity to memorialize my mother in film, and I consider it of the highest honor to pursue that task alongside creative luminaries such as Stacey Sher, Jason Kim and Orion Pictures.”

Shadow and Bone Has Been Renewed for a Second Season

Netflix has picked up a second season of Shadow and Bone, which means you can expect to see more of all your favorites from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels very, very soon. The second season will be eight one-hour episodes. Shadow and Bone‘s first season performed very well for the streaming platform. According to Netflix, the series was watched by 55 million member households in its first 28 days. Furthermore, Shadow and Bone made it to the top 10 list in 93 countries around the world, and it got to number 1 in 79 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Spain, South Africa, and the U.S. Members of the cast—including Jessie Mei Li, Amita Suman, Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, and Danielle Galligan—announced the renewal in a video yesterday. Addressing the fans of the show directly, the cast thanked everyone for watching, saying, “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Power Couple Nicola & David Yoon Sign Deal With Anonymous Content

New York Times best-selling authors and husband-and-wife duo Nicola and David Yoon have signed a deal with production company Anonymous Content. Under this contract, Anonymous content will get exclusive first-look rights to original film and TV ideas both created and curated by the Yoons under their newly launched production banner Yooniverse Media. Nicola Yoon’s novels Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star have already been adapted as feature films, and this year she published her third novel Instructions for Dancing. David Yoon is the author of Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, and for adult readers, Version Zero and City of Orange. About their new deal with Anonymous Content, David Yoon said, “We couldn’t have picked a better partner to present voices that traditionally haven’t gotten time in the spotlight. Combined with our book imprint at Random House Children’s Books we hope to make a substantial impact at increasing representation across all forms of media.”

6 More of the Best Audiobooks by Women for Caribbean Heritage Month

June is Caribbean Heritage month! Here are 6 must-read audiobooks written by Caribbean women.