Author: Emily Martin

Toni Morrison’s Beloved Becomes Part of Virginia GOP Governor’s Ad Campaign

A new campaign ad for Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin features a woman who wanted to ban Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved from her son’s school curriculum because it gave him nightmares. The Fairfax County mother Laura Murphy said the Pulitzer Prizer-winning novel was “some of the most explicit material you can imagine. I met with lawmakers. They couldn’t believe what I was showing them. Their faces turned bright red with embarrassment.” Murphy’s son, who was a high school senior at the time of being assigned the novel, said, “It was disgusting and gross…It was hard for me to handle. I gave up on it.” At the time of Murphy’s challenge in 2013, the Fairfax County School Board declined to take up Murphy’s challenge, and it has remained part of the school’s curriculum. Now, Youngkin has tweeted a video of Murphy’s story with the message, “What’s it like to have Terry McAuliffe block you from having a say in your child’s education?”

Brendan Fraser Cast to Play Villain in Upcoming Batgirl Movie

Brendan Fraser has been cast to play play the villainous Firefly in the upcoming Batgirl movie. Fraser will be playing opposite Leslie Grace, who will play Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life) will direct the Warner Bros. film, and Christina Hodson (Bumblebee,The Flash) is writing the screenplay. The project is set to release on HBO Max at some point in 2022. It will be the first DC film to skip theaters and head straight to streaming.

Selma Blair Releasing Memoir in April 2022

Actress Selma Blair, best known for her roles in Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde, is set to release a memoir in April 2022. The memoir is from Knopf press and is entitled Mean Baby, which is a reference to Blair’s earliest memory of herself. Apparently, the actress “was a disagreeable child with a terrible disposition” and got into the bad habit of biting her three sisters. According to the book’s news release, the memoir will explore “a childhood spent in worship of her mother, an adolescence of love and pain, her destructive ways of coping with an illness she did not know she had, her life as a model and muse, her struggles and successes in Hollywood, and her battle with depression as a young mother.”

We Need to Stop Asking “Do Audiobooks Count As Reading?”

Audiobooks are more popular than ever, and yet somehow people are still questioning whether listening to audiobooks counts as reading. It’s time to stop asking this question and embrace the audiobooks!

Grady Hendrix Announces Title of His Next Novel

Earlier today on Twitter, horror author Grady Hendrix announced the title of his new novel. The novel is entitled How to Sell a Haunted House, and it’s expected to release on July 12. The short description of the novel reads, “New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a hilarious and terrifying new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else…” Hendrix is the author of several bestselling horror novels, including The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group.

Tessa Thompson’s Viva Maude to Adapt Luster by Raven Leilani for HBO

Gaumont is partnering with Tessa Thompson’s Viva Maude to develop Raven Leilani’s bestselling debut novel Luster for HBO. Author Raven Leilani posted the news on Instagram earlier today, writing, “What is life. Huge thank you to @tessamaethompson @kishori_rajan @kassieevy, Ellen, @viva.maude @jaqs1205, Lileana, Gaumont, @fsgbooks, and HBO. Absolute dream team.” Writing the script for the project will be Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibbles Drury and Lileana Blain-Cruz, recipient of the Lincoln Emerging Artist Award.

In a statement, Tessa Thompson said, “Luster marks the daring debut by Raven Leilani, a seminal voice for her generation. In her work, which defies categorization, there is an astonishingly singular quality that speaks to spirit of the types of narratives Viva Maude aims to showcase — bold, beautifully crafted, unapologetically human, imaginative and unconventional — it is thrilling to be teamed with Gaumont and the stunning talents of Jackie Sibblies Drury and Lileana Blain-Cruz to develop this story at HBO, the perfect home.”

Contemporary Literature Isn’t Ignoring COVID-19

Have you been wondering how new works of literature would deal with the COVID-19 pandemic? Well, your answer is coming. While some novels have briefly mentioned quarantining and the pandemic, two upcoming works are facing it head-on: Sarah Hall’s Burntcoat and Gary Shteyngart’s Our Country Friends. Both novels will be out on November 2nd of this year.

Rare Fragment from Shakespeare’s First Folio on Auction Block

Shakespeare fans, get your bids ready. A rare fragment of Shakespeare’s First Folio, which contains Henry IV Part One, will soon be up for auction. Bidding will begin at $26,000, and the folio is estimated to sell for $100,000.

Joey King and Chase Stokes Cast in Netflix Movie Based on Uglies Series

Joey King and Chase Stokes have been cast to star in the Netflix movie adaptation of Uglies, based on Scott Westerfield’s young adult science-fiction series. Also cast in the upcoming film are Brianne Tju and Keith Powers. Netflix has yet to confirm who each of the actors will be playing, but fans have been speculating that King will take on the role of Tally Youngblood, the heroine of the series. The screenplay for the adaptation will be written by Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff. Author Scott Westerfield will executive produce the project alongside Jamie King and John Fox. The movie will be directed by McG.

Tiffany Haddish Signs Three-Book Deal with HarperCollins Children’s

Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish has signed a three-book deal with HarperCollins Children’s Books. Her first book with HarperColls Children’s will be a picture book entitled Layla, the Last Black Unicorn, which will be out on May 10, 2022. Layla, the Last Black Unicorn is the story of a unicorn who doesn’t fit in with others and struggles to find her place in the world and what makes her special. Two middle grade novels that Haddish will cowrite with Paula Chase are set to release in winter 2023 and winter 2024. Haddish said in a statement, “It’s no secret that when I was growing up, I had a lot of difficulties learning to read. Like many kids, more than anything, I wanted to see myself in the books I read.…Layla is incredibly close to my heart, and I can’t wait to share this book, along with my two middle grade novels, with the world, and I hope they encourage more kids to read.”

Mental Health Charity Denies Donation from Jamie Lynn Spears’ Forthcoming Book

Britney Spears’ younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears offered to give the proceeds of her upcoming book to the non-profit organization This Is My Brave. But the organization has turned down Spears’ offer. This Is My Brave is a mental health non-profit started by Jennifer Marshall. In the wake of the #freebritney movement, This Is My Brave was flooded with criticism, and so the organization took to Instagram to announce that they would no longer be accepting the donation. “We heard you. We’re taking action,” they wrote on Instagram. “We are deeply sorry to anyone we offended. We are declining the donation from Jamie Lynn Spears’s book.”

Book Challenges and Censorship This Week

Haven’t been able to keep up with all the book challenges and censorship news going on lately? Here’s your update for the week, from a book being pulled from school shelves that the media does not want to name to The Onion taking on real headlines.

Here’s a Sneak Peek at the New Stage Adaptation of Winnie the Pooh

Ahead of its opening in early November, previews began last night for the new stage adaptation of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, entitled Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation. You can get a sneak peek at images from the family-friendly show exclusively from Playbill. The cast of the new musical includes Jake Bazel as Pooh; Chris Palmieri as Tigger; Kirsty Moon as Piglet/Roo; Emmanuel Elpenord as Eeyore, Rabbit, and Owl; and Kristina Dizon as Kanga/Owl. The music was written by The Sherman Brothers, the songwriting duo behind many Disney films, including Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Aristocats.

Authors Pull Out of Frankfurt Book Fair Due to Presence of Far-Right Publishers

Writers are pulling out of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the biggest book fair in the world, due to concerns about the presence of far-right publishers. One of the writers who is stepping back from the Book Fair is writer and activist Jasmina Kuhnke, who decided to withdraw after discovering that right-wing activist Philip Stein would have a stand next to the stage where Kuhnke was set to participate in a roundtable. Kuhnke, who has been threatened by right-wing groups before, says that the presence of right-wing extremists “poses an unmistakeable danger.” Following Kuhnke’s announcement, others have followed suit. Authors Nikeata Thompson, Annabelle Mandeng and Riccardo Simonetti also announced they would no longer participate. A restaurant also canceled their partnership with the Book Fair. In a statement, The Frankfurt Book Fair and the German Publishers and Booksellers Association said that they are “committed to promoting freedom of speech and freedom of the press worldwide. That is why it is also clear for us that publishers who operate within the law can exhibit at the book fair, even if we do not share their views.”

Kristen Stewart Responds to Social Media Campaign for Her to Play the Joker

A social media campaign has been pushing for Kristen Stewart to be cast as Joker opposite Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson in the new Batman film series. However, Kristen Stewart appears to feel lukewarm about the idea. “I love the energy behind [the social media campaign],” Stewart said. “I love that gusto. Let’s figure something else out. I’m totally down to play a freaky, scary person.” When asked if that meant that was a definite no, Stewart added, “Not ‘no,’ but not the most stoked I’ve ever been. Let’s do something new.”

Here’s Your Weekly Dose of Good Bookish News

Here’s the thing: not all news is bad news. Here’s a roundup of all the happy, fun, and hilarious things that have happened this week in the world of books, from a library chicken to literacy funding.

Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction to Launch in 2022

Ursula K. Le Guin’s estate is launching a new literary award. The award will honor, as Le Guin described in her 2014 acceptance speech for the National Book Foundation medal for distinguished contribution to American letters in 2014, “the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine real grounds for hope.” The Ursula K. Le Guin prize for fiction will be awarded for the first time a year from now, on October 21st, which also happens to be Le Guin’s birthday. While Le Guin died in 2018, Theo Downes-Le Guin, her son and literary executor says that he hopes the prize would “provide meaningful help and recognition to writers who might otherwise not receive it.” Le Guin was author of 21 novels, 11 volumes of short stories, 4 collections of essays, 12 children’s books, six volumes of poetry, and more. She was the winner of six Nebula awards, eight Hugo awards, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America’s Grand Master award.

Here’s a First Look at Lessons in Chemistry, a Novel That’s Already Been Optioned by Brie Larson

Bonnie Garmus’ upcoming debut novel Lessons in Chemistry is already getting a lot of buzz. In fact, it will soon be an Apple TV+ series starring and executive produced by Brie Larson (Captain Marvel). Although the novel doesn’t hit shelves until April 5, 2022, you can get a first look at the cover and details of the story here.

Rainbow Rowell Announces a Short Story Sequel to Fangirl

If you read Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and have been wondering what Reagan has been up to, you’re in luck! Yesterday on Instagram, Rowell announced that she has written a new Christmas short story that checks back in on what Regan’s been doing, several years later. In her post, Rowell wrote, “Fangirl manga had me really missing Reagan and wondering what she was up to. So I wrote a short story about her! This is a Christmas romance set during the last year. (Reagan is very grown up!)” The short story, entitled “If the Fates Allow,” will be available on Amazon starting on November 18th. The short story will be free for Amazon Prime members and $1.99 for non-members. Rowell promises, “If you haven’t read Fangirl, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to read it for the short story to make sense.”

Beloved Illustrator Jerry Pinkney Dies at 81

Jerry Pinkney, beloved author and illustrator, has died at the age of 81. Pinkney is the author and illustrator of over 100 books for children and adults, winner of five Coretta Scott King Awards, a Caldecott Medal, and a Horn Book Award, among many other honors.

Ijeoma Oluo Starts a Newsletter

On Tuesday, October 19th, New York Times bestselling author Ijeoma Oluo announced on Instagram that she is starting a newsletter with Substack. Oluo’s new newsletter will come out a few times a week and cover two major topics: Behind the Book and Beyond the Book. Behind the Book will include a look into Oluo’s writing life, writing advice, and more. Beyond the Book will be, according to Oluo, “like the variety newsletter – what I’m thinking about in the world, questions I may have for you, what I and my family have been up to outside of writing. Anything goes here.” Behind the Book and Beyond the Book will be free for anyone to read, but there will be occasional bonus posts for paid subscribers. You can find more information about the upcoming newsletter here.

Sequel to Stephen Graham Jones’ My Heart is a Chainsaw Announced

Tuesday, October 19th was a big day for literary announcements, because this was also the day that horror author Stephen Graham Jones took to Twitter to announce his upcoming sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw, which will be entitled Don’t Fear the Reaper. The tweet reads, “something slashery this way comes . . .” and links to the Simon & Schuster page for the upcoming title. Warning that the description for the sequel includes minor spoilers for My Heart is a Chainsaw. Don’t Fear the Reaper is set to release on July 26, 2022.

Eva Longoria to Star in Upcoming TV Adaptation of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits

Actress Eva Longoria has been announced as the star of the upcoming TV adaptation of Isabel Allende’s bestselling novel The House of the Spirits. The magical realist story follows three generations of the Trueba family, living in South America. Longoria will be playing Blanca Trueba. “It’s truly an honor to bring one of Isabel Allende’s iconic works to the screen for audiences worldwide alongside FilmNation, Francisca, and Fernanda,” Longoria said in a statement. “This is a story rich in themes of family, love, and magic. I am excited to show the world the beauty, creativity, and masterclass talent that our community continues to produce.” Francisca Alegría and Fernanda Urrejola are writing the adaptation, and Urrejola is directing.

Graphic Novels and Graphic Nonfiction About Stuff You Should Care About

Here are graphic novels and graphic nonfiction about stuff you should care about, from current events to feminism to mental health.

Frances Lincoln Gives Free Copies of This Book is Anti-Racist to Schools

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books is partnering up with with Peters, a school library supplier, to give UK schools free copies of This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell and Aurélia Durand. The book teaches readers about the history of racism and the resistance against it, and it shows readers how they can become an active part of the antiracist movement. Claire Bowles, the sales and marketing director for Peters said, “We’re committed to supporting schools in ensuring they have diverse and inclusive books that empower all children and young people, so we’re delighted to be partnering with Quarto to get this important book into the hands of secondary school students across the UK.” The book will be available to libraries and secondary schools throughout the month of October to coincide with the UK’s Black History Month.

Netflix Moves Forward with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Spinoff

Earlier this year, there were whispers that a To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before spinoff series was in development. Now, Netflix has officially handed out a 10-episode series order for XO, Kitty, a half-hour comedy starring Anna Cathcart, reprising her role as Kitty Song Covey. Jenny Han, author of the To All the Boys series, will serve as a show-runner on the new series alongside Sascha Rothchild (GLOW, The Baby-Sitters Club, The Bold Type). Han and Rothchild will also executive produce alongside Matt Kaplan from ACE Entertainment. There is no word yet on when the series will be released.

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Has Released a Documentary on Diversity in Children’s Books

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation has just released a documentary on diversity in children’s books, which is available to view for free on their website. “Tell Me Another Story” is a 30-minute free access documentary, produced by the EJK Foundation, in association with The Office Performing Arts + Film, that “presents a compelling and lively portrait of the giants, past and present, who have advanced diversity in picture books, illuminating the reality that multicultural literature is critical to our children’s quality of life and the health of our society.” The documentary is directed by Damani Baker.

In Defense of Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn has been getting a lot of attention lately. Here’s why the DC star deserves all her recent shine.