Author: Emily Martin

Fonda Lee’s Next Novel is a Cyberpunk Samurai Space Opera (Without the Space)

Fonda Lee has announced Orbit’s acquisition of her new sci-fi duology, which the author describes as a “samurai space opera (without the space)” and “what you’d get if Akira Kurosawa wrote Dune starring a 50-something give-no-fucks swordswoman on her last job, blended with vibes of Blade Runner plus a touch of John Wick.” The Last Contract of Isako, the first novel in the duology, is set for a winter 2025 release.

This Welsh Bookshop Filled With Hundreds of Books is For Sale

A bookshop in the mining town of Blaenavon in Wales will go to auction next week, with a guide price of £75,000. The shop closed in 2021, but it is still filled with hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books. A new owner would have an opportunity to revive the shop. Additionally, there are two floors above the shop that make up a three-bedroom maisonette. There is also a basement and large attic. Debra Bisley, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said, “We’ve already had interest from people intrigued by the area which is steeped in history from the dawn of the industrial revolution at the start of the eighteenth century, while others recognise the opportunities there are for exploiting the potential for these and other properties in this World Heritage town.” Bidding is scheduled to open at midday on March 7 and will close at around 6pm on March 9.

Great British Baking Show Finalist Kim-Joy Has A New Graphic Novel

The Great British Baking Show finalist Kim-Joy has written a graphic novel. Titled Turtle Bread: A Graphic Novel About Baking, Fitting In, and the Power of Friendship, the graphic novel is inspired by Kim-Joy’s mental health struggles and her love of baking. Kim-Joy said in a statement, “Turtle Bread is a book about self-awareness…It’s about that feeling of loneliness, of not fitting in or feeling good enough, of self-criticism, and the path towards self-acceptance. This is explored through baking, and in particular, the symbolism of the turtle — coming out of its shell and moving forward; however slowly that may be. Hence: Turtle Bread!” The graphic novel will include a recipe for turtle bread, but if you’re looking for more recipes from Kim-Joy, there’s a cookbook coming out soon as well: Bake Me a Cat. As for Turtle Bread, the graphic novel will be available digitally in May via Comixology, and in print this fall from Dark Horse. 

Turn These Headlines into Rom Coms Stat!

Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico secretly got married? That’s a romance novel waiting to happen, and so are these are other headlines.

Priyanka Chopra to Executive Produce Assume Nothing Limited Series at Amazon

Priyanka Chopra’s Purple Pebble Pictures is producing a limited series based on Tanya Selvaratnam’s memoir Assume Nothing for Amazon Studios. Chopra will also potentially star in the project. The series will be adapted and executive produced by Mimi Won Techentin, who also will serve as showrunner.

Penguin Random House Announces New Leadership

After a turbulent few months for the publishing company, Penguin Random House has announced new leadership. The interim chief executive of Penguin Random House, Nihar Malaviya, will retain the “interim” title for now, but he will be taking charge for the foreseeable future. Malaviya announced a new adult publishing division, Crown Publishing Group, which was created in an effort to foster the company’s “autonomy and independence.” David Drake, the former publisher of Crown, who oversaw the publication of Barack Obama’s memoir A Promised Land, has been promoted to lead the group. Meanwhile, Sanyu Dillon will become president of Random House Publishing Group. So far, all announced changes have all been internal promotions rather than bringing in new leadership from the outside.

As LGBTQ Book Challenges Rise, Some Louisiana Librarians Are Scared to Go to Work

Some librarians in Louisiana claim they feel scared going into work as they are now facing harassment from conservative activists who want to ban or limit access to LGBTQ books in public libraries. Middle school librarian Amanda Jones says that ever since she spoke out against censorship, she has been targeted and attacked online. For instance, some have falsely claimed that Jones shares “sexually erotic and pornographic materials” with children as young as six and “advocat[es] teaching anal sex to 11 year olds.” In a defamation lawsuit filed by Jones in August, she claims that she was cast “as a deviant and a danger to children.” Jones says it’s “very scary” to be a librarian in Louisiana at this moment: “I fear for my safety…I purchased a taser. I purchased pepper spray. I got additional security cameras around my home.”

For a guide to fighting book bans and challenges like these, check out our anti-censorship tool kit.

March 2023 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

Welcome the new month with March 2023 horoscopes and new book recommendations for each sign.

Stormzy’s #Merky Books Launches Literature Festival to “Inspire Young Creatives”

Grime star Stromzy’s #Merky Books imprint is launching a free festival, aiming to demystify publishing for aspiring writers. The festival, which will take place on April 22 and 23, will be headlined by musician Wretch 32, poet John Agard, and former children’s laureate Malorie Blackman. This is an expansion of a pop-up held by #Merky Books in 2019 and will consist of two days of workshops and masterclasses at the Roundhouse in London. There will also be career drop-in clinics held by Penguin Random House UK, a spoken-word performance with Sophia Thakur, Monika Radojevic, Caleb Femi and Yomi Ṣode, a panel discussion exploring the theme of girlhood with author Candice Brathwaite and playwright and screenwriter Theresa Ikoko, a conversation on mental health and resilience hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Richie Brave, and more. The festival is sponsored by Netflix.

Rick Riordan Reveals the Cover of Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods

Rick Riordan has unveiled the cover of his upcoming novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods. Riordan told Entertainment Weekly that the idea for the novel was partially inspired by the process of adapting the books for the Disney Show. The author said the book “was kind of my idea to sort of pitch something that might be of interest to Disney overall as a way of saying, ‘Well, what we could do is if you guys are open to doing a new TV show, maybe I could revisit Percy and do a new Percy book for the first time in umpteen number of years.'” The Chalice of the Gods will be out on September 26.

Here’s A First Look at Rosie Danan’s Supernatural Rom-Com Do Your Worst

Indiana Jones meets enemies-to-lovers meets supernatural rom-com in Rosie Danan’s latest novel Do Your Worst, and here’s a first look at the upcoming book. The novel follows the story of occult expert Riley Rhodes, who has been hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. There’s only one problem. Archeologist Clark Edgeware is fresh off a scandal and refuses to let a curse-breaker taint his reputation even further. And so he makes it his mission to make her time on the excavation site as miserable as possible. Do Your Worst is out from Berkley on November 14.

Storytel Review: A Standout Scribd Alternative — But With A Catch

Storytel is a standout Scribd alternative, but there’s a catch. In this Storytel review, we’ll explore that and more.

Gatsby, Featuring Music By Florence Welch, Will Premiere at A.R.T. in 2024

Gatsby, a brand-new musical stage adaptation of the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, will have its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater in 2024. The musical will feature music by Florence Welch with a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok. It will be directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin and choreographed by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh. Additional news about the musical to be announced soon.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is Getting a Sequel Not Written by Dr. Seuss

65 years after Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was published, the classic Christmas story is getting a sequel. This marks the first time the Grinch’s story has been expanded upon without Seuss, who died in 1991. The new book, How the Grinch Lost Christmas, will be written by Alastair Heim with art by Aristides Ruiz. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is one of the most beloved holiday celebration books of all time. Adding to that legacy with a sequel is a process we have carefully considered, and we love what the author and illustrator have created,” President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises Susan Brandt said in a press release. “We feel it will be yet another heartwarming piece of Seussian literature that will help families around the world grow their hearts three more sizes as they celebrate the holidays for decades to come.” How the Grinch Lost Christmas will hit shelves on September 5.

HBO Orders It Prequel Series Welcome to Derry

HBO Max given a straight-to-series order to a drama based on Stephen King’s horror novel It. Andy Muschietti (who made the film adaptations It and It: Chapter Two) will direct multiple episodes of the series, including the first episode. Also on board are filmmakers Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. The new project has a working title of Welcome to Derry, and while many details about the series are still unknown, we do know that this will be a prequel to the original story. Of the upcoming series, Stephen King said, “I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara…Red balloons all around!”

The Big Five Aren’t Enough: Supporting Small Presses Supports Communities

Small presses know their communities and invest in the literature they specialize in, making a way for a wider range of books to be published.

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon Potentially Debuting at Cannes Film Festival

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is looking at a potential Cannes Film Festival debut. The film, which also stars Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, and Robert De Niro, would mark Scorsese’s first return to the festival with a film since 1985. Sources caution that no official offer has been made yet, and Thierry Fremaux, Cannes’s director, is still making final decisions about the festival’s lineup.

Marvel’s Fake Captain America Musical is Headed to a Real Stage

Rogers: The Musical — the fictional, over-the-top Broadway musical featured in the Disney Plus series Hawkeye — is headed to a real stage. Disney’s California Adventure Park will be premiere a “short one-act musical” version of Rogers in summer 2023. The Disney Parks account on TikTok shared a short video teasing the upcoming musical production.

Here’s the Cover Reveal for Isle McElroy’s People Collide

Electric Literature is sharing the cover for acclaimed writer Isle McElroy’s sophomore novel, People Collide. The novel follows Eli, who wakes up one morning in his wife Elizabeth’s body: “As Eli searches throughout Europe for his missing wife, he embarks on a no holds barred exploration of gender and embodied experience.” The novel’s cover was designed by Stephen Brayda with art by Tina Berning. People Collide will be released by HarperVia on September 19.

Underpaid and Overworked: A Look At Salaries and Benefits in Publishing

On paper, the publishing industry seems glamorous. But this façade belies the deep problems that persist, and one of them is the low pay.

Netflix’s Mindhunter Not Being Renewed, According to David Fincher

Crime drama Mindhunter will not be renewed for a third season on Netflix, according to the show’s creator and executive producer David Fincher. “I’m very proud of the first two seasons. But it’s a very expensive show and, in the eyes of Netflix, we didn’t attract enough of an audience to justify such an investment,” Fincher told French publication Le Journal du Dimanche. Fincher reportedly planned to keep the series, based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, running for at least five seasons.

New Publisher Sibylline Press Celebrates Women Authors Over 50

New publisher Sibylline Press aims to celebrate women authors over 50, with plans to publish six books this fall. “We believe women, our Sibyls, are formidable especially when collaborating,” said publisher Vicki DeArmon. “Sibylline is a traditional publisher, but we’re giving our authors unheard of support and access in producing and collaboratively promoting their books. We’re a team. We also know that the better an author understands the industry, the better she can work within it and with us to achieve success for her book.” The complete list of Sibylline’s upcoming releases can be seen at sibyllinepress.com.

Rachel Howzell Hall, George Saunders, James Hannaham Among L.A. Times Book Prize Finalists

The finalists for the 43rd Los Angeles Times Book Prizes were announced earlier this week. Among the nominees for the annual literary awards were Rachel Howzell Hall, George Saunders, and James Hannaham. Additionally, the winners in three special categories were announced: James Ellroy will receive the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement; the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Foundation will receive the Innovator’s Award; and Javier Zamora will receive the Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose. The rest of the Book Prize winners, selected from among 56 finalists in 11 categories, will be announced in a ceremony on Friday, April 21, at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.

While We’re On the Subject: 10 of the Best Essay Collections

Expand your TBR and your brain power with 10 of the best essay collections! Information — it does a body good!

Alison Brie and Jake Lacy Join Apples Never Fall Series on Peacock

Alison Brie and Jake Lacy have joined the cast of Peacock’s upcoming limited series adaptation of Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. Both actors will play members of the Delaney family, who, per the official logline, “from the outside appear to be an enviably contented family. Former tennis coaches Joy (Annette Bening) and Stan (Sam Neill) are parents to four adult children. After decades of marriage, they have finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. But after Joy disappears, her children are forced to re-examine their parents’ marriage and their family history with fresh eyes.” Brie stars at the oldest Delaney child, Amy Delaney, and Lacy will play the second oldest Delany child, Troy Delaney. The series is being filmed in Australia.

New 1999 American Girl Dolls Include Book It! Accessories

While everyone is freaking out that the latest historical American Girl dolls are from 1999, there are some accessories for the new dolls that nostalgic book-loving ’90s kids are going to want: Pizza Hut Book It! accessories. That’s right. You can nab an iconic red Pizza Hut cup for your dolls, along with a Book It! button, a mini-book, and of, course, a personal pan pizza: the pizza of choice for Book It! winners.

Florida Students Walk Out to Protest DeSantis Race Education Policies

On Thursday, hundreds of students at the University of South Florida, University of Florida, and Florida State University walked out in protest against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his policies concerning higher education. Some high school students also joined in the state wide protest against DeSantis’s plans to ban colleges and universities from having programs on diversity and critical race theory.

Why Winter is the Best Season for Reading

Is there a best season for reading? One book lover makes the case for winter as the perfect time to cozy up with books.

Florida Schools Reinstate Banned Roberto Clemente Book

A Florida school district has reinstated the children’s book Roberto Clemente: The Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates after a review to see if this and other titles violate new Florida laws limiting discussions about race. Because the book mentioned that Clemente once experienced racism, the book was pulled from Florida schools’ shelves and has been unavailable in the school district for over a year. The school district, which includes Jacksonville, Florida, received national criticism for pulling the book.

Netflix to Adapt Something is Killing the Children with Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese

German writer-creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese are working on an adaptation of the comic series Something is Killing the Children for Netflix. The series will tell the story of a small town plagued by monsters that eat children. The town’s only hope is a mysterious young woman with special powers who shows up to fight against the creatures. Something is Killing the Children is published by Boom! Studios and co-created by DC Comics writer James Tynion and Werther Dell’Edera.

Get a First Look at Beth Revis and Sara Raasch’s Fantasy Novel Night of the Witch

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at Beth Revis and Sara Raasch’s fantasy novel Night of the Witch, the first book in a planned duology. The story is about a witch who joins forces with a witch hunter to fight against those responsible for killing both of their loved ones. Night of the Witch is out from Sourcebooks Fire on October 3.

8 Cozy Video Games That Feel Like Reading A Book

These intricate, story-driven games will scratch the same itch as reading does. Be prepared to increase your TBP (To Be Played) pile!