Author: Emily Martin

Korean Comics Gaining Popularity in North America

Korean manhwa (the Korean term for comics) is starting to gain popularity in North America. Drawn and Quarterly’s manhwa list has grown steadily since publishing Yeon-sik Hong’s Uncomfortably Happily in 2017. “We were fortuitous in the moment when we started publishing these comics,” said Drawn and Quarterly senior editor Tracy Hurren. “I think we have seen a surge in the popularity of K-pop, films like Parasite, and from a literary perspective, we have seen literary fiction from Korea and about Korea having a moment too, like Han Kang’s Vegetarian and Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko. I think there was a bit of a cultural moment and excitement for the content coming out of Korea.”

Batman: The Audio Adventure is the First of HBO Max’s New Exclusive Podcasts

HBO has announced that they are releasing their new podcast Batman: The Audio Adventure as an in-app exclusive, meaning it will only be available in the HBO Max app and not from other podcast apps. The scripted audio series will be the first of HBO Max’s new exclusive podcasts, including a scripted sequel to Issa Rae’s Looking For Latoya, called We Stay Looking, and a new OC companion podcast called Welcome to The OC, Bitches.

Portland Book Festival Announces Hybrid Event for 2021

After going virtual in 2020, the Portland Book Festival is returning to downtown Portland for this year’s event. In order to include as many participants as possible while still remaining safe, the festival’s organizer, Portland nonprofit Literary Arts, has announced that this year’s festival will include several days of virtual events and one day of in-person events. The festival will take place in November online, at the Portland Art Museum, and at several other downtown venues. This year’s authors will be announced on September 22nd, and tickets will also go on sale at this time. “Whether you join us online or in-person, we are excited to build community and celebrate books, storytelling, and the power of literature with you,” Literary Arts said in a press release.

If You Dream of Owning a Bookstore, Here’s Your Chance

Want to be owner of a beloved bookstore, but not wanting to start from scratch? Here’s your chance! Owl Pen Books in upstate New York has just hit the market and is looking for someone to carry on the store and her legacy.

Brendan Fraser Joins the Cast of Killers of the Flower Moon

Brendan Fraser is joining the cast of the Apple and Paramount Studios adaptation Killers of the Flower Moon, the bestselling book from David Grann. Martin Scorsese is directing the film. Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jesse Plemons are also already attached to the project. Fraser will play lawyer W.S. Hamilton in the film, which is set in 1920s Oklahoma and follows the brutal murders of the Osage Nation known as the “Reign of Terror.”

Awkwafina Will Host the PEN America Literary Gala

Golden Globe-winning actor, writer, producer, rapper, and comedian Awkwafina will be the host of this year’s PEN America Literary Gala, which will take place in person at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on October 5. PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said, “Awkwafina is unapologetic, smashing through barriers in the entertainment business and setting a new course for representation in popular culture. She’s a leader in the industry, and we’re excited to bring her to our stage this fall to celebrate the freedom to speak and the freedom to write.”

Xolo Maridueña Cast as Blue Beetle in HBO Max Film

Xolo Maridueña, star of Cobra Cai, has been cast as the Blue Beetle for upcoming HBO Max film about the superhero. Blue Beetle will be a film about the Blue Beetle’s third incarnation Jaime Reyes, a Mexican-American teenager who becomes bonded with an alien scarab. Angel Manuel (Charm City Kings) will direct the adaptation, and the script will be written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. Blue Beetle will be the first DC film to star a Latinx superhero. Production will begin in 2022.

New Wave of “Concerned Citizens” Discover and Challenge It’s Perfectly Normal

The classic It’s Perfectly Normal—a children’s book that encourages normalizing the changing body during adolescence—was recently rereleased to include more inclusive language. Now, conservatives across the country are challenging the book. Here’s a look at why and what you can do.

Natalie Portman’s Days of Abandonment Not Moving Forward

Natalie Portman has stepped down from the HBO’s Days of Abandonment, a film in which the actress was set to star and executive produce. The movie was going to be an adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s novel of the same name, but now that Portman is no longer involved in the project, it is officially dead. HBO announced in a statement on Monday, “Due to unforeseen personal reasons, Natalie Portman has stepped down from HBO Films’ Days of Abandonment prior to the start of filming. Unfortunately, the production will not move forward. We are very sorry we won’t be able to bring this beautiful story to the screen with our talented writer/director and cast. We send our sincere thanks to our cast, producers, and crew for all their passion and hard work.” Representatives for Portman do not have any additional comments at this time.

Children’s Book Author Crowned First Black Miss Pre Teen International

Children’s book author Morgan E. Taylor has been crowned the first Black Miss Pre Teen International. Morgan co-authored the children’s book Daddy’s Little Princess when she was 5 years old. The book is a nonfiction title that introduces real princesses of color from around the world. Now, 12-year-old Morgan has won the worldwide Miss Pre Teen International Competition. “It’s such an honor to represent Pre Teens everywhere and to encourage young people to read,” said Morgan. “My goal is to be authentic and to be a positive role model.”

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar Universe Series Adaptation in the Works

Jumanji producer Radar Pictures is working on an adaptation of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar Universe fantasy series for television. Lackey has written 58 books for the series over the last 30 years. Kit Williamson (EastSiders) and author Brittany Cavallaro (the Charlotte Holmes series) bonded over the books in when they were in school together. Now, the pair will be writing and producing the TV adaptation. The first season of the series will adapt the Last Herald-Mage trilogy, which is comprised of Magic’s Pawn, Magic’s Promise, and Magic’s Price.

10 of Libro.fm’s Most Preordered Books for Fall 2021

What are the 10 audiobooks coming out in fall that Libro.fm listeners are most excited about? Here are the 10 most preordered books for fall 2021, including everything from horror to comedy.

Rankin Designs Special Edition Covers of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Series

Photographer Rankin has designed new covers for an upcoming special edition of Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. For the photographs, Rankin cast models to pose as the characters from the trilogy. The models were photographed alongside their daemons, which are—in the world of Pullman’s novels—animal manifestations of a person’s soul. Of the photographs, Rankin said, “I wanted to create this amalgamation of the daemon and the person. It’s really trying to embody the darkness of the series.” The special edition covers will be available to purchase in September.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Gets A New YA Sequel Trilogy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a getting a new YA sequel trilogy spinoff from Disney Hyperion. The first book in the new series is entitled In Every Generation and was written by Kendare Blake, author of the Three Dark Crowns series. “I have been a Buffy fan since the womb, or at least that’s what it feels like,” says Blake. “Being a fan of Buffy was the whole reason for taking on In Every Generation. I had no choice. You don’t say no to Buffy.” The new series follows Frankie Rosenberg, the first-ever slayer who’s also a witch, and daughter of the most powerful witch in Sunnydale history. In Every Generation hits shelves on January 4th, 2022.

Emmy Award-Nominated Yahlin Chang to Adapt Wednesday Martin’s Primates of Park Avenue

Emmy Award-nominated Yahlin Chang is writing a series adaptation of Wednesday’s Martin’s bestselling memoir Primates of Park Avenue. Wednesday Martin will produce the project alongside Jonathan Glickman (former President of MGM). Martin’s memoir examines the privileged world of motherhood on the Upper East Side of New York. She’s also the author of a memoir about being a stepmother, entitled Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel and Act the Way We Do. Chang, who currently serves as an executive producer on The Handmaid’s Tale, has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, including most recently a 2021 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama for the series.

New York Public Library Employees’ Growing COVID-19 Concerns

Amid continuously rising COVID-19 numbers, New York Public Library employees are demanding to be heard about mounting public health and safety concerns.

Paramount Pictures Acquires the Rights to Wayward Children Fantasy Book Series

Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the Wayward Children fantasy book series by Seanan McGuire. Six books have already been published in the series, and a seventh is coming in early 2022. Sources have said Emma Watts, the president of Paramount’s Motion Picture Group, has had her eye on the series for a while and was hands-on in aggressively pursuing the rights for the series. Paramount is planning a series adaptation, which will be produced by Pouya Shahbazian, who is currently working on Season 2 of Netflix’s Shadow & Bone.

Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney for Breach of Contract over Black Widow Release

Actress Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the company’s decision to release Black Widow on Disney Plus at the same time as it hit theaters. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Attorneys allege that the Johansson’s contract was breached when the studio chose not to debut the film exclusively in theaters. Johansson and other artists connected to the project rely on compensation tied specifically to the box office performance of Black Widow. In other words, when the film hit certain benchmarks at the box office, bonuses would be handed out. The suit reads, “Disney chose to placate Wall Street investors and pad its bottom line, rather than allow its subsidiary Marvel to comply with the agreement.”

John Berlinski, an attorney for Johansson, said in a statement, “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney Plus to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price…But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court.”

6th Grade Author Helps Launch Pop-Up Library in Charlotte

Jade Watkins, the 11-year-old author of the book I AM ME, is helping to launch two pop-up library locations in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Thumbs Up Reading library initiative was established in memory of life-long Charlotte resident Clyde Albert Phifer, who was an avid reader. The initiative hopes to recognize the power of diversity in children’s literature and aims to give children and young adults access to over 1,000 books, specifically those living in historically Black and brown communities. The installation of the first Thumbs Up Reading’s pop-up library is scheduled for Saturday, July 31, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Steele Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, 1500 Shopton Road, Charlotte.

Books to Put on Hold at the Library Right Now

Don’t hesitate when it comes to these new and upcoming releases! Everyone’s going to want to get their hands on these fall 2021 books, so put them on hold at your local library ASAP!

The Latest Addition to Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb Series is Coming Soon!

On Friday, Tordotcom Publishing announced the latest addition to Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb Series. The third novel in the series, Nona the Ninth, will publish in fall 2022, and Alecto the Ninth will follow in fall 2023. Originally, Muir’s beloved series was set to be a trilogy, but with the addition of Nona the Ninth, the world of the Locked Tomb is expanding into a series. Does that mean we have even more books to look forward to in the future? Only time will tell!

Two New Octavia E. Butler Adaptations in the Works

Fans of American sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler have a lot to look forward to! There are two adaptations of Octavia E. Butler works coming our way. HBO is working on a series adaptation of Fledgling, Octavia Butler’s take on the vampire novel. Issa Rae and J.J. Abrams are on board for the project as the executive producers. Sonya Winton-Odamtten and Jonathan I. Kidd, the writers of HBO’s Lovecraft Country, will write the pilot script. Additionally, Butler’s Parable of the Sower has inspired an upcoming A24 film directed by Garrett Bradley (Time) and produced by Paul Mezey (Beasts of the Southern Wild). Octavia E. Butler fans can add these two projects to the list of upcoming Butler adaptations to get excited about. FX is also developing a television series based on Kindred. And Amazon Studios has two Octavia E. Butler projects in the works. The first is a series based on Butler’s Wild Seed, with novelist Nnedi Okorafor co-writing. They’re also developing a series based on Dawn, with Ava DuVernay executive producing.

Kalamata’s Kitchen Publishes Fourth Book About Culture and Cuisine

Earlier this month, Kalamata’s Kitchen published a fourth book in their series encouraging children to be open to new cuisines and cultures. This is the first book of the series to be published with Random House. Previous books in the series invited kids to try cuisine from Venezuela, the South of France, and more alongside the main character Kalamata and her “Taste Buds,” a club which kids could join. In this new book, author Sarah Thomas, a former sommelier at Chef Ripert’s La Bernadin in New York City, welcomes young children to try cuisine from her own Indian background. The book is illustrated by Jo Kosmides Edwards.

Americans Read Nearly 25% More Last Year, According to New Research

Did you find yourself reading a whole lot more in 2020? Well, you’re not alone! According to new research, Americans read nearly 25% more last year.

Crime Novelist Mo Hayder Dies at 59

British crime novelist Mo Hayder has died at the age of 59 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) on December 22. Mo Hayder, which was the pen name for Clare Dunkel, was often called the “queen of fear” for her dark, shocking thriller stories. Hayder’s publisher Transworld, who announced the death earlier this week, said that since Hayder’s diagnosis, the author “fought valiantly,” but ultimately “the disease progressed at an alarming rate.” The publisher reported that Clare Dunkel was working on a new series under the name Theo Sand. The new novel The Book of Sand will be published in early 2022. The author is survived by her daughter Lotte and her husband Bob.

Here’s Your First Look at John Le Carré’s Final Novel

Legendary spy novelist John le Carré’s posthumous novel Silverview will be released on October 12th of this year, and here’s your fist look at the book. Le Carré’s final novel follows Julian Lawndsley who flees the city to work at a bookstore in a small town. Meanwhile, a London spy chief arrives to that same town to investigate a potential leak. Silverview will include an afterword from le Carré’s son Nick Cornwell, paying tribute to his father — along with his siblings and an archivist, he’s currently cataloguing all of le Carré’s work. “This is the authentic le Carré, telling one more story,” Cornwell said. “The book is fraught, forensic, lyrical, and fierce, at long last searching the soul of the modern Secret Intelligence Service itself. It’s a superb and fitting final novel.”

4thWrite Short Story Prize Reveals 2021 Shortlist

The 4thWrite Short Story Prize—a prize seeking out the best new Black, Asian, and minority ethnic writers—has announced its 2021 shortlist. Chosen from a longlist of twelve stories, the six finalist are: “Cadaver” by Sulaxana Hippisley; “Home Is Not Here” by Laura Blake; “Hopscotch” by Inigo Laguda; “The Ritual Seat of the King” by Zimbabwe-born Gift Nyoni; “Pontianak” by architect Nicola Sheppey; and “Postpositions” by Amaan Hyder. The winner will be announced on September 1st. The winner’s prize includes £1,000, a one-day publishing workshop at 4th Estate, and publication on The Guardian website.

#TheNewLatinoBoom: The Rise of Literature Published in Spanish in the U.S.

In the United States, there’s been a growing interest in Spanish literature in its original language. Here’s what you should know about the New Latino Boom.

Regé-Jean Page to Star in Paramount’s Reboot of THE SAINT

Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page is set to star and executive produce Parmount’s upcoming reboot of The Saint. The project is based in part on Leslie Charteris’ 1920s book series and the 1960s UK TV series, starring Roger Moore. The story follows Simon Templar, also known as The Saint, a criminal and a thief for hire who goes on an adventure that takes him around the world. Plot details for the film are still unknown, but insiders say this new version of The Saint will be a completely fresh take on the character and his world. Lorenzo DiBonaventura, Brad Krevoy, and Mark Vahradian will produce the film, and Kwame Kwei-Armah is writing the script.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Working on Book About Leadership and Philanthropy

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are keeping busy. After the announcement that Harry would be publishing a memoir, the royal couple also announced that they are working together on a book about “leadership and philanthropy.” Additionally, it is rumored that Meghan is working on a memoir of her own and another book about “wellness.”

Tracey Ullman Narrating the Latest David Sedaris Audiobook

David Sedaris’ latest book A Carnival of Snackery will be hitting shelves (and headphones) this October. And if you decide to go for the audiobook version of the book, you’ll be treated to a narration from actress and comedian Tracey Ullman. While Sedaris traditionally narrates his own works, this collaboration with Ullman was what Sedaris wanted for this particular book. He explained, “I knew early on that I wanted someone to read all the U.K. and Irish and Australian entries in this book. So much of what I’ve heard in those countries is funny specifically because of the way it was said…Then I thought, Well, since people think it’s a woman recording my audiobooks anyway, why not get the real thing? A British woman who’s fun and patient and good at accents. Tracey Ullman.”

No More New Episodes of Arthur

Say farewell to all the memes. The PBS animated series Arthur is ending in 2022.

New Amanda Gorman Book CALL US WHAT THEY CARRY Coming Out Dec 7

Penguin Random House announced earlier today that Amanda Gorman’s upcoming collection of poetry will be entitled Call Us What They Carry, and it will be out on December 7th of this year. Gorman’s collection will include  “The Hill We Climb,” her breakout poem that she read at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, and new works. In a statement, statement, Gorman said, “I wrote Call Us What We Carry as a lyric of hope and healing. I wanted to pen a reckoning with the communal grief wrought by the pandemic. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever written, but I knew it had to be. For me, this book is a receptacle, a time capsule both made by and for its era. What is poetry if not a mirror for our present and a message for our future?”

Christian Robinson Announces Collaboration with Target

On Monday, children’s author and illustrator Christian Robinson tweeted about his collaboration with Target, just in time for back-to-school: “Today, every molecule that I am made of is buzzing with excitement! Y’all… @Target and I have collaborated on a limited edition collection of 70 items across home and apparel for kids and baby! Available in all Target stores and online August 15th!” The items Robinson is creating for Target range from clothing for toddlers and babies to bedding, backpacks, and home decor. You can get a first look at some of the items from the collection on Essence‘s website.

Sylvia Plath’s Tarot Cards Sold for $270K

Sylvia Plath’s tarot cards just went for £151,200 (or $270,000) in an auction at Sotheby’s. The cards were a 24th birthday present from her husband, poet Ted Hughes, and they were a major influence on Plath’s poems in Ariel. The cards ended up selling for about £100,000 more than their valuation.

2021 Booker Prize Longlist Announced

The 2021 Booker Prize longlist has been announced! The longlist is comprised of 13 novels, chosen from 158 novels that span the globe from South Africa to Sri Lanka.

Scarlett St. Clair Launches New Dark Fantasy Series with Bloom Books

Bloom Books, Sourcebooks’ new imprint for entrepreneurial women authors, is launching a new dark fantasy series from author Scarlett St. Clair. The publisher will release St. Clair’s new novel King of Battle and Blood in November 2021. The story will follow a woman who is forced to marry a powerful vampire king. St. Clair’s previous series—which includes the novels A Touch of Darkness, A Touch of Ruin, A Touch of Malice, and A Game of Fate—were originally self-published, but these books will now be available from Sourcebooks as well. When asked how she feels about joining Bloom Books, St. Clair said she is “ecstatic,” adding, “Readers and fans always ask me, ‘How can I get your books?’ Joining Bloom means that all readers and booksellers will have access—something that is very important to me not only as a writer but as a former librarian.”

Amazon Orders Series Adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys

Amazon has ordered a six-episode series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys. Gaiman himself will pen the script with the help of British actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and writer Sir Lenny Henry. Anansi Boys is the story of Charlie Nancy, who discovers a surprising secret about his family after the death of his father: his father was the trickster god Anansi, and Charlie has a brother named Spider. While Mr. Nancy does appear in American Gods, Gaiman’s Anansi Boys is a standalone story. Of the upcoming series, Gaiman said, “Anansi Boys as a TV series has been a long time coming…We needed Amazon Prime to come on board and embrace our vision, we needed a lead director with the craft and vision of Hanelle Culpepper, we needed the creative and  technical wizardry of Douglas Mackinnon, who worked out how we could push the bounds of the possible to shoot a story set all over the world in a huge studio outside Edinburgh, and we needed the rest of the amazing talents that nobody knows about yet.”

Avon x Mushens Entertainment Prize Longlist Announced

Avon and Mushens Entertainment have have announced the 12 nominees who have made their longlist for inaugural Avon x Mushens Entertainment Prize. The prize is for writers from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds who are writing commercial novels. Launched on January 11th of this year, the competition accepted submissions from unpublished writers of color in the UK. The winner will receive a two-book deal with HarperCollins, a grant to support their writing career, and representation from Mushens Entertainment. Included in the longlist are: Spaghetti by Tamara Bugembe, Little White Lies by Farah Faqir, The Radiant Dark by Cheyanne-Joni Morris, Just So You Know by Betty-Maxine Onwuteaka and The Element of Trouble by Ivy Ngeow. Also featured is Double Blind by Perween Richards, The Country Ain’t Built for Us by Ayo Okoya, Bully by Dee Spencer, House of Olympus by Ingrid Banerjee Marvin, alongside Almost Strangers by Farrah Yusuf, How to Divorce a Psychopath by Angelina Melwani, and Ben & Gia by Ipsita Deb. A winner will be announced this fall.

Pandemic Reading Habits Survey Results

Two weeks ago, we asked readers to answer questions about how the pandemic had (or had not) changed reading habits. Here are the results of that survey.