Author: Emily Martin

Prince Harry’s Book Spare Gets Spoofed in Spare Us!

Prince Harry’s bestselling memoir Spare is getting the parody treatment with the book Spare Us! A Harrody. The joke book is very real, and it will be available to buy in the U.K. on April 5. The book cover features an image of Harry with tape covering his mouth, and it was written by Bruno Vincent. It’s still unclear whether the book will be available in the United States.

Brenda Romero Says It’s Unacceptable She Was Not Credited in Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

One of the games developed by the characters in Gabrielle Zevin’s popular, bestselling novel Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow has become the center of a real-life debate about crediting ideas is novels. On Thursday, game developer Brenda Romero wrote in a Twitter thread that Zevin had pulled the ideas for the novel’s game “Solution” from Romero’s board game Train, which was developed in 2009. “A theme in the book is how women struggle to get credit for their work,” Romero wrote in her tweet. Zevin has acknowledged that she was inspired by Romero’s game, and yet Romero was not given credit for her contribution to the novel.

In response to Romero’s tweet, Todd Doughty, Knopf Doubleday’s senior vice president for publicity and communications, said in a statement, “The entire world, characters and themes of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow are solely Zevin’s fictional creation and the only games listed in the author’s acknowledgments are video games. Again, ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ is a novel and not an academic or nonfiction text containing indexes, notes, or works cited. Knopf stands behind Gabrielle Zevin and her work.”

Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlist Includes Four Debuts

The shortlist for Swansea University’s Dylan Thomas Prize includes four debuts. The £20,000 award is for writers aged 39 or under and is open to all forms of literature. Di Speirs, chair of the judges and books editor at BBC Audio, said the list exemplified “not only the talent and excitingly fresh, often startling, writing we were seeking, but draw the reader in and on.” This year’s list is comprised of three novels, two short story collections, and one book of poetry. The winner of the prize will be announced on May 11, ahead of International Dylan Thomas day on May 14.

BookBeat Review: Better Than Scribd but Not Widely Accessible

In this in-depth BookBeat review, let’s find out what makes this service better than Scribd for English-language audiobook listeners.

Book Ban Attempts Hit Record High in 2022

According to a new report from the American Library Association released Thursday, book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries were at a record high in 2022. Apparently, there were more than 1,200 challenges last year, nearly double the amount in 2021, and by far the most since the ALA began keeping data 20 years ago. In 2022, over 2,500 different books were objected to, compared to 1,858 in 2021 and 566 in 2019. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “The last two years have been exhausting, frightening, outrage inducing.”

The Great Gatsby Gets A Graphic Novel Adaptation

Clover Press is releasing a graphic novel adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. The graphic novel, entitled The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel Adaptation, comes from writer Ted Adams and artist Jorge Coelho. The book is currently being crowdfunded through Kickstarter. Clover Press has teamed up with charities so that certain pledge tiers will include donations to schools, libraries, and the charity Reader to Reader, Inc.

Book Fraudster Filippo Bernardini Spared Jail

Filippo Bernardini, the man who stole more than 1,000 manuscripts so he could be “one of the fewest to cherish them before anyone else,” will not be facing jail time. The former rights coordinator plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in New York in January. On Thursday, judge Colleen McMahon sentenced Bernardini to time served, meaning he will not be imprisoned; however, Bernardini has agreed to pay $88,000 to Penguin Random House to cover legal and expert fees. Bernardini will also be deported from the US.

An Overthinker’s Guide to Giving Book Recommendations

Do you question every book you recommend? Spiral immediately after giving a book your stamp of approval? This overthinker’s guide is for you.

Stamp Honoring Strega Nona Author Tomie dePaola Gets Release Date

The U.S. Postal Service has announced that a stamp honoring the Strega Nona author Tomie dePaola will be released on May 5. dePaola’s books have sold nearly 25 million copies. Strega Nona, which was published in 1975, is a Caldecott Honor book and was voted one of the “Top 100 Picture Books” by the School Library Journal. dePaola’s Forever stamp features an image of the character Strega Nona with her magic pasta pot. There will be a “first-day-of-issue event” at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester to celebrate dePaola, who died in 2020 at 85 years old.

Here’s A Preview of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s Second Night Eaters Graphic Novels

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at The Night Eaters: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu and artist Sana Takeda. This is the second graphic novel in Liu and Takeda’s Night Eaters trilogy. The preview pages show Milly, a young woman who has just found out something terrible about her mother and now has to deal with the horrifying repercussions. The Night Eaters: Her Little Reapers is out on October 3.

Fifth Season Developing Series Based on Jean Kwok Novels The Leftover Woman and Mambo in Chinatown

Fifth Season is developing a series based on Jean Kwok’s 2014 novel Mambo in Chinatown and her upcoming book The Leftover Woman, which comes out in October. Both adaptations will be produced by Kristen Campo under her Campout banner. “I’m thrilled that there is room these days for stories like mine about women, ambition and people of color,” Kwok said in a statement to Variety. “I have complete faith that Kristen and the amazing team at Fifth Season will bring my work to the screen with respect, creativity and authenticity.”

What Happened to Vlog Adaptations of Books? An Exploration

From 2012 to 2014, vlog adaptations of books, like The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, were everywhere. What happened to them?

Funk Legend Sly Stone Announces Memoir with Questlove’s New Book Imprint

Questlove’s new book imprint will be launching with a memoir from funk legend Sly Stone. The memoir, named Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) after the Sly and the Family Stone song, is co-written by Ben Greenman. “For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story,” said Stone in a statement released earlier today. “I wasn’t ready. I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It’s been a wild ride and hopefully my fans enjoy it too.” The memoir will be released on October 17.

Amazon to Adapt E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars as a Series

Amazon has handed out a series order for a new drama series based on the YA novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. The series is being adapted by Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie, who previously collaborated on The Originals and Roswell, New Mexico. In a joint statement released on Tuesday, Plec and MacKenzie said, “We’ve been obsessed with this beloved story for years…we are elated to be bringing it to life with everyone at Prime Video and UTV, who are just as passionate about this twisty tale as we are. We’re also incredibly grateful that the author has joined our creative team behind the scenes. As die-hard book fans ourselves, we have one message to the many loyal readers out there: if anyone asks you how it ends…just lie.”

Hilary Mantel Memorial to be Held at Southwark Cathedral

A memorial and celebration of author Dame Hilary Mantel will be held at Southwark Cathedral on April 20. “It was a terrible shock to lose Hilary so suddenly last autumn,” said Mantel’s editor, Nicholas Pearson. “The outpouring across the world of literature in the days that followed was a comfort. But now it is time to reflect and celebrate one of the greatest writing careers…There was no one quite like her.” A limited number of tickets will be available to the public via Eventbrite closer to the date of the memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked those who wish to show their support to donate to Scene and Heard, a charity near and dear to Mantel’s heart that uses theatre to benefit children from the Somers Town area in Euston.

Before There Was Evelyn: A Guide to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Backlist

Looking to start reading Taylor Jenkins Reid? Here’s a guide to her backlist, from her lesser-known early books to recent BookTok darlings.

Supporters of NYC Public Libraries Gathered to Protest Budget Cuts

Yesterday, supporters of New York City public libraries gathered at City Hall to protest the proposed $36.2 million cuts to libraries. The New York Public Library says that the budget cuts “will severely impact our ability to deliver the free services, programs, and resources New Yorkers depend on.” That’s why they’re asking that supporters sign their name to send a message to Mayor Adams and the New York City Council and let them know how critical libraries are to the communities they serve. 

White Lotus Star Will Sharpe to Direct Crying in H Mart

Will Sharpe, star of the most recent hit season of The White Lotus, will direct the upcoming adaptation of Crying in H Mart, based on Michelle Zauner’s memoir of the same name. In the book, Zauner reflects on the loss of her mother to terminal cancer and her feelings about her Korean identity. “There were lots of things that resonated with me as somebody who is half-Japanese, half-British, spent my childhood in Tokyo,” Sharpe said in an interview with People. “Some of the descriptions of being jet-lagged in your family’s kitchen felt very familiar to me.” Michelle Zauner said in a statement that Sharpe’s “sensitivity as a director and an actor, his ability to find humor and grace within the tragedy of the everyday, and his own personal experience, having grown up between two cultures, make him the perfect director for this film.”

Book Sanctuary Cities are a Response to Book Bans Across the Country

As book bans and challenges continue to unfold across the United States, some cities are declaring themselves “book sanctuaries.” Book Sanctuary programs protect challenged books and help to ensure communities can access books that represent a wide variety of viewpoints and ideas. The Chicago Public Library launched its book sanctuary program last September, during Banned Books Week. “It’s really a public declaration that ensures Chicagoans are aware of the access that they have, just [by] being a resident of the city, to all these different kinds of stories, especially from marginalized or underrepresented populations,” Julie Koslowsky, director of teen services at the Chicago Public Library, explained. If you want to help combat censorship, start your book-saving journey with the Book Sanctuary toolkit.

The Most Influential Sci-Fi Books of the Past 10 Years

Ready to read some stellar science fiction? Here are the most influential sci-fi books of the past 10 years.

Libro.fm Joins in on Trans Rights Readathon

Today is the first day of the Trans Rights Readathon, and Libro.fm is joining in with a playlist to get audiobook listeners started. From now until the end of the Readathon on March 27, you can use code TRR35 to take 35% off all titles in this playlist. The Trans Rights Readathon was created by Sim Kern. Make sure to follow #TransRightsReadathon on Instagram and TikTok to join in.

Mean Girls Writer Says Tina Fey and Studio Haven’t Paid Her for Franchise Success

Rosalind Wiseman, the author of Queen Bees and Wannabes, the basis for the cult-classic 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls, is considering taking legal action against Tina Fey and Paramount. Wiseman says she has not been fairly compensated for the success of the franchise. In 2022, Wiseman signed a deal for $400k. Wiseman’s contract included net profits and residual gains dependent on how the movie fares at the box office. But Wiseman claims the studio insists that it has made no net profits, accruing so many extra costs that it has no revenue to share with her. Wiseman told the New York Post in a story published Saturday, “Yes, I had a terrible contract, but the movie has made so much money, and they keep recycling my work over and over again…Over the years Tina’s spoken so eloquently about women supporting other women, but it’s gotten increasingly clear to me that, in my own personal experience, that’s not going to be the experience.”

Alice Feeney Reveals Cover of New Novel Good Bad Girl

Over the weekend, bestselling author Alice Feeney took to Instagram to share the cover of her sixth novel Good Bad Girl. Feeney wrote that the new novel “takes place on Mother’s Day and this book is for all the mothers and daughters out there…Good Bad Girl is a dark and twisty tale with three suspects, two murders, and one victim.” Good Bad Girl is out from Flatiron Books in August and is available for preorder now.

8 of the Most Anticipated YA Debuts of 2023

Prepare your preorder lists or library holds, YA readers! Get ready to mark your calendars for the most anticipated YA debuts of 2023.

Carnegie Medal for Writing Announces All-Female Shortlist

Seven authors have been announced for the Carnegie Medal shortlist. The Carnegie Medal celebrates outstanding achievement in children’s writing. Authors Jessie Burton, Patrice Lawrence, and Sita Brahmachari are all first-time nominees and part of an all-female shortlist for Yoto Carnegie medal for writing. Also on the shortlist are Katya Balen, who won the award in 2022, Louise Finch, and Ruta Sepetys. Chair of judges Janet Noble said that the nominees show that “stories of bravery, compassion and community are told authentically and sensitively in a range of distinctive written and illustrative styles.” Winners will be announced on June 21.

America’s Most “Recession-Proof” Business is Bookstores

Good news for book lovers everywhere. According to a Forbes Advisor analysis, bookstores are projected to be the most recession-proof type of U.S. business in 2023. The analysis, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trend, sees bookstores at the number one spot, followed by PR firms, interior design services, staffing agencies, and marketing consulting services. Apparently, bookstores in the U.S. increased by 43% during the pandemic and also enjoyed a 16% wage growth. These stats, in addition to their comparatively low start-up costs, are what landed bookstores at the top of the Forbes list, which assessed 60 small business types.

Here’s a First Look at the New Pokémon Manga

The upcoming Pokémon anime series is also getting a manga adaptation, and here’s a first look at the highly-anticipated manga. The artwork for the manga adaptation features the same characters as the new anime series, and it is done by Yamadaka Kei. The Pokémon manga will make its debut in Monthly Corocoro Comic on April 14.

9 of the Best Documentaries About Writers

Dive into these fascinating documentaries about writers, including those who may be familiar and those who you may first discover here.

Lucy Boynton to Lead Adaptation of Best-Selling Romance Novel One Day in December

Netflix is adapting Josie Silver’s best-selling romance novel One Day in December into a series, and Lucy Boynton is attached to lead. Boynton is also set to executive produce alongside Drake Doremus and Contenta Superba’s Joel Stillerman. Doremus and Stillerman are developing, and Doremus will write and direct the project. One Day in December is still in early development stages, but more details should be announced soon.

Rare Early Letter from Jane Austen to Her Sister Will Go on Display

A letter from Jane Austen to her sister will be going on display at the author’s former home. In the letter, dated 1798, Austen shares domestic news and neighborhood gossip with her sister. The letter is one of approximately 160 letters by Austen that survive, and one of the earliest in existence. It will be part of an exhibition at Austen’s home Chawton, Hampshire. The exhibition, which opens on March 22, explores Austen’s relationship with her sister.

Brandy Colbert Reveals Cover of New YA Novel The Blackwoods

Brandy Colbert has shared the cover of her new YA novel The Blackwoods. The cover features an illustration by Poppy Magda by Colagene and is designed by Corina Lupp. The novel comes out from Balzer + Bray on October 3 and is available for preorder now.

Less is More: Minimalist Covers of 2023

Minimalist design is all about subtlety and conveying meaning with shapes and colors. Here are some great minimalist covers of the year.