Author: Emily Martin

The 2nd Annual National Antiracist Book Festival will be Held Saturday, April 24

Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research will be holding its 2nd Annual National Antiracist Book Festival on Saturday, April 24. This virtual book festival “is the first and only book festival that brings together, showcases, and celebrates the nation’s leading antiracist writers and helps to prepare the writers of tomorrow.” Events will take place all day, including topically-organized panels featuring writers such as Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Orange (There There), New York Times bestselling author Kiley Reid (Such a Fun Age), co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter Alicia Garza (The Purpose of Power), and many more. There will also be writers workshops facilitated by leading book editors and literary agents. For a full list of events and registration details, check out the event page.

25 Stephen King Short Films to be Shown at Virtual Festival

The Stephen King Rules Dollar Baby Film Festival will be streaming 25 short films adapted from the works of prolific author Stephen King. The virtual event is entirely free and will run from April 23rd to the 25th. The films include adaptations of King’s short stories, such as “Popsy,” “The Woman in the Room,” and “The Last Rung on the Ladder.” Additionally, the festival will include exclusive interviews and discussions with the filmmakers. You can find the full schedule on the Barker Street Cinema website.

Dear Netflix: Adapt These Queer Black Multicultural Romances

Dear Netflix: Please adapt these romance novels by and about queer Black people. We need them right now. Please and thank you.

Deesha Philyaw Wins 2021 Pen/Faulkner Award

Deesha Philyaw’s debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, has won the 2021 Pen/Faulkner Award. Philyaw’s book selected from among 419 eligible novels and story collections written by American authors in 2020 and submitted by 170 publishing houses. Pen/Faulkner Award judge and author Alexi Zentner said in a prepared statement that The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is “a book that combines the curious agility of the best short fiction with the deep emotional coherence of a great novel.”

Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer is Being Adapted into a TV Series Directed by Park Chan-wook

Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, director of Oldboy and The Handmaiden, will now be offering up his talents to adapt Viet Thanh Nguyen’s debut novel The Sympathizer into a television series. The author announced on Twitter Tuesday that A24 has optioned his novel for television, and that he was delighted by the choice of director: “His Oldboy was a big influence on The Sympathizer, and I can’t imagine a better person to direct this TV adaptation with @rhombusmedia!”

Decatur Book Festival Announces Return of Popular Virtual Author Series

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented By Emory University and Georgia Center for the Book has announced that this year the festival will see the return of the popular virtual author series Joshilyn Jackson Reads. The virtual series of nine panel discussions will kick off on May 4 with Birmingham-based author Gin Phillips, who will be joining Jackson to discuss Phillips’ novel, Family Law. For a full list of events and to register for the virtual author series, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com.

Lil Nas X, Unapologetic Queerness, and the Books I Wish Upon My Past Self

The outcry against Lil Nas X’s unapologetic queerness prompts Book Riot contributor Mikkaka Overstreet to write to her teen self about the books that might have helped.

Tessa Thompson to Produce Adaptations of Who Fears Death and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies with New Production Company

Tessa Thompson has launched her new production company Viva Maude. Now she’s moving into production with a first-look deal with HBO and HBO Max for adaptations of Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw. Thompson said, “I’m beyond thrilled to officially launch my production company, Viva Maude, which has been a real passion project and labour of love over the last few years. I’m elated to begin this partnership and to bring entertaining and impactful television projects to my friends and collaborators at HBO and HBO Max.  Together we are committed to developing interesting and inclusive stories with inventive creators and to discover new voices and visionaries.”

Books By Ibram X. Kendi, Jason Reynolds, and Angie Thomas Among Most Objected to in 2020

On Monday, the American Library Association reported more than 270 challenges to books in 2020. Topping the list was George by Alex Gino, a book that was under fire for its LGBTQ content and “not reflecting the values” of the community. Other books making the top ten included Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give, and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.

Anisfeld-Wolf Award Winners Announced

The Anisfeld-Wolf Award winners were announced Monday. The award honors books that, according to jury chair Henry Louis Gates Jr., “bring us fresh insights on race and the human condition.” Deacon King Kong by James McBride took the prize for fiction this year. For nonfiction, there were two co-winners: Natasha Trethewey’s Memorial Drive and Vincent Brown’s Tacky’s Revolt. Victoria Chang’s Obit was honored in poetry. The Anisfeld-Wolf Awards were established in 1935 and are managed by the nonprofit Cleveland Foundation.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid During a 24 Hour Readathon

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon is coming up on April 24! Planning on joining in? Here are some beginner mistakes to avoid during a 24 hour readathon.

Lord of the Rings Soviet TV Adaptation Rediscovered

A Soviet television adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings was rediscovered last week and posted on YouTube. The 1991 film Khraniteli is based on the first book in Tolkien’s series, The Fellowship of the Ring, and it is thought to be the only adaptation of the books made in the Soviet Union. But few remembered the existence of this film adaptation before 5TV posted the film to YouTube last week. You can watch part 1 of Khraniteli here, and part 2 here.

Keke Palmer Turns Instagram Videos into Amazon Original Stories

Keke Palmer is heading into the world of fiction with a collection of short stories Amazon Original Stories will publish, based on Palmer’s original Instagram characters and sketch comedy videos. Palmer will play each role in the Audible audiobook. In an interview with Variety following the announcement, Palmer said, “I’m just really excited for everyone to see it and jump into these stories. And really, I’m just excited for them to see it come off the page, and see the kind of world that I decided to create with these characters and the types of themes.”

Real Estate Tycoon Ari Rastegar Co-Authoring Book with 11-Year-Old Podcaster

Real estate tycoon Ari Rastegar’s next big project is a book he’s co-authoring with a young podcaster. Eleven-year-old Paolo Ben Salmi met Rastegar after asking him to appear on his podcast “Life According To Paolo” to talk about how he overcame a stutter and a lisp. From there, the pair hit it off and are now planning on writing a book together that will focus on health and wellness topics geared towards kids.

9 Horror Short Story Collections to Keep You Up at Night

The weather outside might be getting warmer, but the season for horror stories never ends. Here are 9 of the best horror short story collections to keep you up at night.

Get a First Look at Lauren Groff’s New Novel Matrix

Matrix is Lauren Groff’s first novel since her 2015 bestseller Fates and Furies. Needless to say, Groff’s latest is highly anticipated. And while the book doesn’t come out until September, you can now get an exclusive first look at the novel at Elle.com. Matrix is a historical novel set in the 12th century. It follows the real-life story of poet Marie de France, who at 17 was cast out of the French royal court and sent to England to work as the new prioress of an ailing abbey.

Cincinnati Firefighter Writes Children’s Book to Empower Young Girls

Cincinnati firefighter Mario Jackson has written a children’s book aimed at inspiring and empowering young girls. The book, entitled Nya the Great and Her Visit to the Fire House, shows kids what a day in the life of a firefighter is like, but more importantly, it shows young girls that women can be successful. Jackson, a father to daughters aged 7 and 13, said, “I realized that there isn’t a lot of representation for women, especially women of color, in jobs that are usually male-dominated…I just wanted to give them something to let them know that you can do this job, probably better than I can, and don’t be afraid to do it just because you’re a woman.”

NPR Wants Your Mini Poems for National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and to celebrate, NPR wants you to submit your original mini poems. On Twitter, you can tweet your poem, in 140 characters or less, with the hashtag #NPRpoetry. And this year for the first time, you can also submit your poem via TikTok. Just post your poem to your TikTok page using #NPRpoetry, and remember to keep it to no more than 15 seconds. Each week for the rest of April, a professional poet will join All Things Considered to talk about the poetry submissions that caught their eye. Now get to submitting!

Meet the Winners of the 2021 Windham-Campbell Prize

The winners of the 2021 Windham-Campbell Prizes were announced last week. Here are all the winners in non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and drama.

Mena Suvari’s Memoir to be Published in July

American Beauty and American Pie actress Mena Suvari is publishing a memoir with Hachette Books about how coming of age in Hollywood led to losing herself “to sex, drugs, and bad, often abusive relationships.” Suvari’s The Great Peace: A Memoir is coming out on July 27.

Bridgerton Star Regé-Jean Page Will Not Be Returning for Season 2

Bridgerton fans, unfortunately the television series’ breakout star Regé-Jean Page will not be back to reprise his role of Simon Bassett, duke of Hastings, in season 2. Netflix and Shondaland announced the sad news via a note from Lady Whistledown on Instagram. In an interview with Variety, Page explained that only signing on for one season was part of the appeal of the role: “I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.” Season 2 will follow the events of the second novel in the Bridgerton series, The Viscount Who Loved Me.

ALA Asks Biden Administration Not to Overlook Libraries in Infrastructure Plan

In a statement this week, American Library Association leaders expressed disappointment that Biden’s American Jobs Plan currently leaves out specific funding for libraries. In a press release, ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., said, “ALA welcomes President Biden’s focus on modernizing our nation’s infrastructure, including educational facilities. However, we are deeply concerned that the administration’s infrastructure plan fails to include funding for library facilities and would provide only half the level of grants for school facilities that was approved by the House last year.” ALA officials urge library advocates to contact their local lawmakers about the Build America’s Libraries Act, a bill that would provide $5 billion to support long term improvements to public library facilities, and the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act, which would provide $100 billion in grants for K-12 school facilities, including school libraries.

Poems About the Weather to Celebrate National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and it’s spring! So it’s the perfect time to celebrate by reading poems about the weather.

Randall Park Makes Feature Film Directorial Debut with Adaptation of Graphic Novel Shortcomings

Randall Park is taking on directing duties for the upcoming film Shortcomings. The movie is based on Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel Shortcomings, which follows Ben Tanaka, Miko Hayashi, and Alice Kim, three young people living in the Bay area and grappling with what it means to be Asian-American. Randall Park had previously directed the series finale episode of Fresh Off the Boat, the ABC sitcom in which he starred as Louis Huang. This will be Park’s feature film directorial debut. Park will also be producing alongside Michael Golamco and Hieu Ho’s Imminent Collision.

To All the Boys Spinoff Series in the Works

After the To All the Boys film trilogy turned out to be a major success for Netflix, the screen franchise from Awesomeness and ACE Entertainment is looking to keep the magic going with a TV series spinoff. The new project, which is still in early stages of development, would follow Kitty Song Covey, the youngest of the Covey sisters, on her quest to find true love. Anna Catchcart, who played Kitty in the To All the Boys movies, is on board to reprise her role. Jenny Han, author of the To All the Boys novels, would be the creator, writer, and executive producer of the potential series. She’s currently working on a pilot script with Siobhan Vivian.

Asian American Writers’ Workshop Hosts Women Warriors: A Solidarity Reading

On Thursday, April 8, Asian American Writers’ Workshop is hosting Women Warriors: A Solidarity Reading. About the event, the organization said, “In the aftermath of the horrific murders in Atlanta, GA, we offer this space as one for grieving, healing, and empowering. During a time marked by tragedy, anger, and loss, we look to our artistry to find and celebrate the resilience and brilliance of each and every woman warrior.” Tune in for readings from authors including Susan Choi, Kimiko Hahn, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Jia Tolentino, C Pam Zhang, and many others. This event will be streamed on the Asian American Writers’ Workshop YouTube channel.

Meet the Book Riot New Release Index: How it Works and Why You’ll Love It

Looking to keep up with all of the latest book releases? Have you heard about the Book Riot New Release Index?

American Gods TV Series is Canceled, but May Return as TV Movie

The Starz adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods just finished its third and final season. It was just announced that the show has been canceled due to a 65% decline in ratings since the first season. However, fans of the show who are looking for closure need not despair. The network is in discussion with the producers about how to complete the story through a TV movie.

John Lewis’ Posthumous Graphic Novel to be Published This Summer

Late civl rights leader John Lewis has a posthumous graphic novel set to be released this summer. Lewis’s Run: Book One, which is a sequel to March, comes at a time where voting rights in his home state of Georgia are being heavily restricted, and more than 40 other states are also seeing similar restrictive efforts. In a statement released by the book’s publisher Abrams ComicArts, Lewis said, “In sharing my story, it is my hope that a new generation will be inspired by Run to actively participate in the democratic process and help build a more perfect Union here in America.”

Game of Thrones Becoming a Stage Show on Broadway and the West End

George R.R. Martin’s latest project that isn’t writing the next novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series? The author is developing a stage version of Game of Thrones for Broadway, the West End, and Australia. The story of the stage play will revolve around the Great Tourney at Harrenhal, and it will bring back many of the well-known characters from the Game of Thrones books and television series.

The Shadow and Bone Trailer Dropped, and We Have Questions

Netflix dropped the latest Shadow and Bone trailer yesterday, and the fans have questions.

Nominees for the Agatha Awards Announced

The mystery fan convention Malice Domestic has announced the shortlist for its annual Agatha Awards, which honor outstanding achievements in the cozy mystery genre. The awards have been given out since 1988. This year, the winners will be honored virtually during the More than Malice festival on July 17.

New Grant Program Will Aid Indie Bookstores

A new fundraising initiative has been launched today to help independent bookstores and comic shops that have been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Survive to Thrive Grant Program, created by Ingram Content Group chairman John Ingram, is looking to raise a total of $2 million by the end of May to support indie booksellers. 

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Novel The Perfect Nine Makes History As International Booker Nominee

Kenyan novelist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is making history as the first writer to be nominated for the International Booker Prize as both the writer and translator of the same book. Additionally, Thiong’o’s nominated novel The Perfect Nine is the first work written in an indigenous African language to be longlisted. The author is among 13 authors nominated for the award for best translated fiction.

The Full List of International Booker Prize Nominees Is Here!

Head here to learn more and see the full list of nominees for the International Booker Prize.

The Official Gudetama Cookbook is Coming

Jenn Fujikawa took to Twitter to announce that a new Gudetama cookbook is hitting shelves soon. You can find it in bookstores in October, or you can preorder Gudetama: the Official Cookbook now. Since the cookbook is based on the Sanrio character Gudetama, who is a lazy egg, each of the recipes helpfully includes a “Lazy Meter” so you know exactly how much effort it will take to make. Recipes include: Unmotivated Breakfast Sandwich, Too Tired Tater Tot Bake, Tuckered Out Tamago Sando, and more.

Bill Gates Recommends the 3 Best Books He’s Read Lately

Several times a year, Microsoft founder-turned-philanthropist Bill Gates recommends the best books he’s read lately, and Gates recently announced his latest favorites. As part of a promotional push for his new book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Gates participated in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) where, among other topics, he got into the books he’s been reading. His picks were A Promised Land by Barack Obama, The Overstory by Richard Powers, and Hot Seat by Jeff Immelt.

George R.R. Martin Signs Massive Deal with HBO

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has just signed a new deal with HBO that allows Martin to develop even more series for HBO and HBO Max, including several Game of Thrones spinoffs. Martin’s new deal with HBO spans five years and is worth mid-eight figures. The first Game of Thrones spinoff series to be green-lit, House of the Dragon, goes into production next month.

The Best Bookish Spring Decor for a Cheerful Space

Big news: it’s spring! Here’s the best bookish spring decor to spring-ify your reading life.