Category: Today In Books

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.

Two Arrested for Possessing “Seditious” Children’s Book in Hong Kong

Two men have been arrested in Hong Kong for possessing children’s books deemed seditious by the authorities. According to a press release, Hong Kong’s national security police arrested the men, aged 38 and 50, after the police searched the men’s homes and offices and found copies of “seditious publications” that allegedly “incited hatred or contempt” against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments and the judiciary. The press release went on to say that the possession of seditious publications was “a serious crime” that could result in a year of imprisonment for initial convictions and two years for subsequent convictions.

International Cast and Director Chosen for The Tattooist of Auschwitz Limited Series

The Peacock original series The Tattooist of Auschwitz has named its stars and its director. Jonah Hauer-King and Anna Próchniak will star in the limited series, which was adapted from Heather Morris’s novel of the same name. Tali Shalom-Ezer will direct the series in its entirety. “I’m inspired and honoured to bring this story to life, alongside the talented team of people assembled,” Shalom-Ezer said in a statement. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is currently in production.

Tor.com Reveals Samit Basu’s The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport

Tor.com has revealed the book cover for The Jinn-Bot of Shatiport, the latest from international bestselling novelist Samit Basu. The publisher describes the novel as “a mash-up of Aladdin and Murderbot — with gloriously chaotic results.” The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport is out October 3rd from Tordotcom Publishing.

12 March 2023 Book Club Books to Get Reading With

Get involved in a book club with this roundup of what all of the online book clubs are reading this March.

Room Broadway Production Shuttered Due to Lack of Funding, Lead Producer Withdrawal

The Broadway production of Room, which was in rehearsals, has been postponed indefinitely. The production announced earlier today that it would not be moving forward due to a “shortfall in capitalization” and the withdrawal of a lead producer. Room, with Adrienne Warren in the lead role, was set to begin performances on April 3, 2023 at the James Earl Jones Theatre. Producer Hunter Arnold said in the press release, “We are incredibly disappointed not to be able to open this remarkable production at this time and are especially heartbroken for our incredibly talented cast and creative team who were hard at work in the rehearsal room.” All purchased tickets will be refunded.

Michelle Buteau to Host the 2023 Audie Awards

Today, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced that writer, comedian, television host, and actress Michelle Buteau will host the 28th Annual Audie Awards. “I’m truly so damn excited to be hosting this year’s Audie Awards!” said Buteau. “As an audiobook narrator myself, it’s necessary to celebrate my peers and the critical craft of storytelling. I simply can’t wait to put faces to the voices!” The Audie Awards celebrate exceptional work in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. The ceremony will be streamed to the public from the Chelsea Piers’ Pier Sixty in NY. The 2023 finalists were recently announced and can be found here.

Read an Excerpt from Reggie Watts’ Memoir Debut

On October 17th, Phoebe Robinson’s imprint Tiny Reparations will be publishing comedian and Late Show with James Corden bandleader Reggie Watts’ debut memoir, Great Falls, MT. And Entertainment Weekly is sharing an excerpt of the book along with a cover reveal. “I want people to get to know me beyond what they’ve experienced thus far, and to give insight to how I became the human I am today,” Watts told EW. “All because of my courageous parents, a magical little town called Great Falls, Montana, and a group of strange friends who joyfully embraced the darkness in each other.”

11 Books Recommended by Colleen Hoover (and Why Her Fans Will Love Them)

From sweet romances to dark family stories and even historical fiction, here are 11 books Colleen Hoover recommends that fans will love.

Best-Selling Authors to Speak at First Mississippi Banned Book Festival

Angie Thomas, Jesmyn Ward, Kiese Laymon, and Rick Bragg are among the best-selling authors who will be speaking at the first-ever Mississippi Banned Book Festival. The Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today is sponsoring the event, along with the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, the Millsaps Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center, the Mississippi Humanities Council, the Mississippi ACLU, and Lemuria Books. The Mississippi Banned Books Festival kicks off at 9 a.m. on March 25 at Millsaps College in Jackson.

Leigh Bardugo Signs Massive New Deal with Macmillan

Macmillan has just announced that bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has signed an eight-figure, multi-million-dollar deal “for a slate of new projects to be published across multiple divisions of the company, in a variety of formats, age categories, and genres.” The new deal with Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone, includes work to be published with four imprints — Flatiron Books, Nightfire, Roaring Brook Press, and First Second Books.

No details about what Bardugo has planned have been announced, but the author said in a statement: “Macmillan took a chance on me over a decade ago and they’ve been my home ever since. When no one in YA was interested in epic fantasy, they welcomed Shadow and Bone. When everyone wanted books about kings and queens, they rolled the dice on my team of six outcasts trying to pull off an impossible heist. And when I wanted to go someplace far darker, they backed me in welcoming readers to Ninth House. Publishing is a tough business and it’s no small thing to be able to write the stories I’m most passionate about.”

Meet the 2023 Finalists for NYPL’s Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism

The New York Public Library has announced the five finalists for its 36th annual Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. The award recognizes nonfiction books written by journalists who are bringing attention to societal issues and/or significant current events. The nominees this year are: The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher; My Fourth Time, We Drowned by Sally Hayden; The Other Side of Prospect by Nicholas Dawidoff; The Treeline by Ben Rawlence; and Under the Skin by Lydia Villarosa.

Why More Men Should Read Romance

Less than 20 percent of romance readers are men, but here are the many reasons this number should be higher.

How to Stop Book Bans: PEN America Needs Your Help to #FreeTheBooks

Florida Governor Ron De Santis may say book bans are a “nasty hoax,” but dozens of books have been removed from shelves in Martin County, Florida. Looking for how you can help #FreeTheBooks? Check out PEN America’s website to find out how you can take action. And add your name to the growing band of activists working and striving to protect the written word.

Drag Queen Storytime Sparks Protest at Royal Oak Bookstore

On Saturday, Sidetrack Bookshop in Royal Oak held a Drag Queen Storytime, which was met by protests from both supporters and people who opposed the event. “We have created a bit of a kerfuffle,” bookstore co-owner Jenny Carney said. “There are a lot of people in the world who apparently don’t know what drag queen storytime is but drag queen storytime is a celebration of being your true self.” Royal Oak police were on the scene to keep the peace, and a spokesperson for the city said they were happy with how the event went.

Oprah Has Chosen Her 100th Book Club Pick

Earlier today, Oprah announced her milestone 100th book club pick on CBS Mornings. The new selection is Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. “I’m telling you,” Oprah says of her pick, “once you start, you won’t want it to end…and be prepared for tears.” Inspired by the classic novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Hello Beautiful is the story of four sisters living in Pilson, a working-class neighborhood of Chicago. “I’m pretty sure I’m still in shock,” Napolitano said in response to being chosen for Oprah’s Book Club. “[Oprah] has done so much to amplify authors and their work. The writers and books she has featured in her club reads like a list of my literary heroes, and to be included among them is an unbelievable honor.” In the coming weeks, Oprah Daily invites readers to join in on the book club for a special discussion of Hello Beautiful on the website, Instagram, Facebook, and thei newly launched TikTok.

8 Books That The Authors Regretted Writing

Authors work hard on their books, they don’t always like the results. Discover eight books that authors regretted writing and why.

Keanu Reeves’ Action Comic BRZRKR Offers Sneak Peek at Final Issue

Keanu Reeves’ action comic book series BRZRKR is coming to its explosive end, and here’s a preview of the final chapter. Launched in March 2021 with writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney from publisher Boom! Studios, BRZRKR became one of the best-selling original comics released in recent years. Though this final installment marks the end of the original BRZRKR series, additional stories in the BRZRKR world are already planned for later this year. A new standalone story is already set to be released this summer. BRZRKR #12 goes on sale March 15.

Book Thief Who Stole More Than 1,000 Manuscripts “Wanted to Cherish Them Before Anyone Else”

Filippo Bernardini, the former publishing employee who stole manuscripts of books by Margaret Atwood, Sally Rooney and Ian McEwan, plead guilty to wire fraud in January, encompassing the theft of more than 1,000 manuscripts. In court papers released last week, Bernardini claimed he never leaked the manuscripts, but “wanted to keep them closely to my chest and be one of the fewest to cherish them before anyone else, before they ended up in bookshops.” Bernardini said that he knew his actions, impersonating hundreds of people in the world of publishing, were “egregious, stupid and wrong.” But when reading these manuscripts, he says he felt a “special and unique connection with the author, almost like I was the editor of that book.” Bernardini will be sentenced on April 5.

Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan Reunite in Disney+’s American Born Chinese

Academy Award-winning actors Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan are reuniting in the upcoming Disney+ series adaptation of American Born Chinese. Released Sunday morning by Disney+, the series’ first teaser trailer announces a premiere date of May 24. The series is an adaptation of Gene Luen Yang’s 2006 graphic novel of the same name. The cast also includes Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Sydney Taylor and Poppy Liu — and we can expect a guest starring role from Yeoh and Quan’s Everything Everywhere All At Once co-star Stephanie Hsu.

Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin vs. Paul Tremblay’s Cabin at the End of the World

A reader unpacks the differences between Paul Tremblay’s Cabin at the End of the World and its 2023 film adaptation, Knock at the Cabin.

Amazon Studios Developing From Blood and Ash TV Series

Amazon Studios is developing Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash novels as a TV series. Anne Cofell Saunders, writer and producer of The Boys and Star Trek: Discovery, will adapt the books and serve as showrunner on the project. She also executive produces with Armentrout and Luke Ryan and Sascha Hecks of Chaotic Good Studios. “We are thrilled to work with Anne and Amazon Studios, who have the vision and creative capacity to bring every corner of this phenomenal world Jennifer has created to life,” Ryan and Hecks said in a statement. “Our heroine, Poppy, and the characters that surround her in this rich world are the elements that expand and perpetuate properties into franchise entertainment.”

Watch the Trailer for Documentary Judy Blume Forever

Amazon Prime has released the trailer for the upcoming documentary Judy Blume Forever. “Just like her books, there’s more to Judy underneath the surface,” directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok said in a statement. When you watch Judy Blume Forever, get ready to hear from a lot of famous “Blume-ites,” including Molly Ringwald, Tayari Jones, Lena Dunham, Samantha Bee, Mary H.K. Choi, Jacqueline Woodson, Jason Reynolds, and Cecily Von Ziegesar. The film, which is produced by Imagine Documentaries, is slated to premiere on Prime Video on April 21.

Cartoonist Dina Norlund Has Died of Cancer

Dina Norlund, the Norwegian artist behind the graphic novel The Snowcat Prince, has died of cancer. Norlund was only 27 years old. Norlund had been working on a new project, Nettle and the Hush-Hush, which she had been documenting through her Patreon page. Norlund’s Patreon account, where she also shared her cancer journey for her followers, has been on hold since late 2021. In a statement regarding Norlund’s passing, Oni Press editor Grace Scheipeter said, “Dina was an incredibly talented artist and storyteller. She was such a joy and inspiration to work with, and her passing is a heartbreaking loss. I know her work will continue to inspire young artists, authors, and readers the same way it will inspire me for years to come.”

8 of the Best Manga Websites

Looking for the best manga websites? These eight will let you read manga as well as learn about upcoming releases, anime adaptations, and more.

Christopher Paolini Returns to Eragon with New Novel Murtagh

Twenty years after the publication of Eragon, Christopher Paolini is returning to his epic fantasy world for a new standalone novel, Murtagh. The book will focus on Eragon’s rival Murtagh, and will take place one year after the end of the original Inheritance Cycle. Paolini said in a statement, “I’ve had a ridiculous amount of (sometimes devilish) fun writing Murtagh, and I can’t wait for readers to experience it for themselves. Welcome back to Alagaësia!” Both Eragon: The Illustrated Edition and Murtagh will be released on November 7.

A Beloved New God Steps into the Spotlight with DC’s YA Graphic Novel Barda

DC’s new YA graphic novel Barda will reexamine the DC Universe’s beloved character. Written and drawn by Ngozi Ukazu, Barda will follow the iconic warrior during her years serving under Darkseid and Granny Goodness. Ukazu says, “Barda is a story of a very tough soldier who slowly realizes that her loyalties are more complicated than it seems. Barda is a great character because she is so complicated. She’s big, she’s mean, she’s tough. But on the inside, she’s very scared. But she’s a defender. The story calls her to be a bit more cruel than she actually is. And we start to see the tension. Does she like defending people or does she like causing pain? And she figures out who she is through the course of the story.” Barda releases in June 2024 from DC Comics.

Hay Festival to Hold Inaugural Eurovision Book Contest

The Hay Festival is partnering with the Eurovision Song Contest to hold the first-ever Eurovision Book Contest. At the Hay Festival in June, a panel will discuss the books that have been selected to represent the 37 countries that take part in the music competition each year. Right now, people are being asked to submit their favorite fiction from any of the eligible countries. Suggestions can be of any genre and language, but the books must have been first published in or after 1956, the year Eurovision began.

The Best New March 2023 YA Releases

Pop these new YA releases for March 2023 on your TBR to dive into some creative retellings, scary spaces, and more.