Category: Today In Books

TikToker/Author Alex Aster Changing the Publishing Industry for the Better: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 17, 2022

Blade Runner 2099 Series Given the Greenlight from Amazon’s Prime Video

Amazon’s Prime Video has given the green light to Blade Runner 2099, a limited series sequel to the iconic sci-fi film franchise, based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Ridley Scott, who directed the 1982 film Blade Runner, will executive produce through his Scott Free Productions. Silka Luisa (Shining Girls) will serve as showrunner. Story details about the series are being kept under wraps for now, but the title implies the series takes place fifty years after the film Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve. “The original Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, is considered one of the greatest and most influential science-fiction movies of all time, and we’re excited to introduce Blade Runner 2099 to our global Prime Video customers,” said Amazon studios head of global television Vernon Sanders. Sanders also promised that “Blade Runner 2099 will uphold the intellect, themes and spirit of its film predecessors.”

TikToker/Author Alex Aster Changing the Publishing Industry for the Better

After hundreds of rejections, Alex Aster joined TikTok in March 2021 to share the concept of her young adult novel Lightlark, determined to prove that she wasn’t the only person in the world who wanted to read it. The video, which shows Alex scrolling through her manuscript and sharing fantasy-inspired Pinterest photos, has since received over 1.8 million views, over 363,000 likes, and more than 56,000 saves. Now Aster has found a publisher in Abrams books, and the author tells Huffpost that she would never be in this position if it wasn’t for the support of the BookTok community. Aster and Abrams Books have been using TikTok ever since to help market the novel.

Here’s the Cover Reveal of Atalanta, Jenny Saint’s Latest Greek Mythology Retelling

Jenny Saint, author of the retellings Ariadne and Elektra, has a new novel coming out soon, and Paste has an exclusive cover reveal and author Q&A. Saint’s new novel Atalanta explores the story of the only woman to join Jason’s famous Argonauts. Saint told Paste, “Atalanta appealed to me as a pretty elusive figure in Greek mythology – she’s a brilliant heroine with really intriguing and unusual mythology, but she isn’t as immediately recognizable a name to a lot of people the way that my other protagonists are.” Atalanta will be released on May 2, 2023.

8 Hispanic and Latine YA Authors You Should Definitely Read

September is Hispanic Heritage Month, and what better way to celebrate than to read some of these Hispanic and Latine YA authors!

Today In Books

Celeste Ng Touring for Upcoming Novel MISSING HEARTS: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 16, 2022

Anne Heche’s Memoir Call Me Anne to Publish in January

Anne Heche’s new memoir Call Me Anne is set to be published in January 2023. Start Publishing says the actress turned in a manuscript shortly before her death. In the memoir, Heche will share thoughts and details about her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late 1990s, when the couple were one of Hollywood’s first openly gay couples. “I was labeled ‘outrageous’ because I fell in love with a woman. I had never been with a woman before I dated Ellen,” Heche writes in the memoir. The book’s release was first announced by Publishers Weekly.

Celeste Ng Touring for Upcoming Novel Our Missing Hearts

Celeste Ng’s new novel Our Missing Hearts will be out on October 4th, and the author will be touring to promote the book. Ng’s tour kicks off on October 2nd in Boston at the Brattle Theatre, presented by Porter Square Books. There will also be a free virtual event on November 1st, as part of the Women on the Move Series, presented by Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center. You can find all of the information about each event on Ng’s Events page.

The Trailer for Netflix’s From Scratch is Here!

The trailer for Netflix’s adaptation of Tembi Locke’s memoir From Scratch is here! Attica Locke and Tembi Locke serve as writers and creators of the eight-episode series. The series stars Zoe Saldana, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Judith Scott, Kellita Smith, Lucia Sardo, Paride Benassai, and Roberta Rigano. From Scratch premieres on October 21st on Netflix.

A Banned Books Week Action List

Take action during Banned Books Week with these action items. That, plus this week’s roundup of book censorship news.

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10 Writers Shortlisted for Inaugural (Re)Presenting Romance Award: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 15, 2022

Sponsored by Hyperion Avenue, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide

Netflix Releases Trailer for School for Good and Evil

Netflix has released the trailer for its film adaptation of the YA bestseller School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. The story follows two best friends, played by Sophie Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie, who are training to be future fairy tale heroes and villains. The film also stars Laurence Fishburne, Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, and Michelle Yeoh. Netflix will release The School for Good and Evil on its streaming platform on October 19th.

Exclusive First Look and Cover Reveal for Grounded by Aisha Saeed, S.K. Ali, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, & Huda Al-Marashi

SLJ (School Library Journal) is sharing an exclusive first look and cover reveal for Grounded by Aisha Saeed, S.K. Ali, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, & Huda Al-Marashi. “Grounded follows four unlikely kids who get stuck at the airport during a thunderstorm and come together to undertake an adventure to find a missing cat,” Saeed told SLJ. The book publishes in May 9th, 2023.

Ten Writers Shortlisted for Inaugural (Re)Presenting Romance Award

Ten writers have been shortlisted for HarperFiction and The Good Literary Agency’s inaugural (Re)Presenting Romance Award. The award seeks to help develop and mentor underrepresented romance writers, including writers of color, disabled writers, LGBTQ+ writers, and working-class writers. The winner will be awarded a £1,000 writing grant from HarperCollins, plus a year of mentoring. Two runners-up will also receive a year of mentoring. The overall winner will be announced in mid-October.

2022 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Nominees Announced

The National Book Foundation has announced the 2022 Longlist for the Young People’s Literature Award. Here are the 10 contenders.

Today In Books

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Casts Jacob Lofland in Key Arkham Asylum Role: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 14, 2022

Samantha Irby Offers a Sneak Peek of Her Latest Book

Samantha Irby’s new essay collection Quietly Hostile will be out next year, and she’s giving readers a first look over at Entertainment Weekly. When asked about the subject matter for this collection, Irby said, “I think Covid chose most of the subject matter for me! I didn’t go anywhere or do anything cool but I did get the worst dog on the planet and my brain melted, so I wrote about him and that plus a bunch of indoor stuff like incontinence and the gorgeous, soothing hosts of Quality Value Convenience.” The book hits shelves May 16th, 2023.

Ukrainian Book Festival Authors Announced

Lviv BookForum, Ukraine’s largest book festival, has announced its program for this year, including Neil Gaiman, Abdulrazak Gurnah and Margaret Atwood, among many notable Ukranian authors. The festival is partnering with Hay festival to broadcast the events worldwide, and it will take place in person and online October 6th-9th. You can see the full list of events here.

Joker: Folie à Deux Casts Jacob Lofland in Key Arkham Asylum Role

Jacob Lofland has been cast in a key role in Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the film Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Todd Phillips. While plot details are being kept under wraps, it’s thought that the film will be set in part in Arkham Asylum, and Lofland will play an inmate at the asylum. For the Joker sequel, Lofland will be joined by Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener. Joaquin Phoenix will reprise his role as the Joker, and Todd Phillips returns to direct. Warner Bros. has set the release date for October 4th, 2024.

How Librarians Can Counter Lies from Book Banners

One Illinois library offers a useful case study in how to approach book challenges, especially when the accusations include misinformation.

Today In Books

ON THE COME UP Gets Theatrical Release Date: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 13, 2022

Jacob Elordi to Play Elvis and Cailee Spaeny is Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla

Sofia Coppola is adapting Priscilla Beaulieu Presley’s 1985 bestselling memoir Elvis and Me for the big screen. The feature film, entitled Priscilla, will star Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. A24 will distribute the project, which is set to start filming in Toronto this fall. In addition to writing and directing the film, Coppola is also producing the project alongside Youree Henley, Lorenzo Mieli of The Apartment, a Fremantle Company, and American Zoetrope.

Angela Flournoy Signs Seven-Figure Two-Book Deal with Mariner’s Rakia Clark

Angela Flournoy has sold The Wounded Wilderness to Mariner’s Rakia Clark in a seven-figure, two-book deal. Mariner says the novel The Wounded Wilderness follows the story of four Black women’s friendship and lives over the course of 20 years, examining “how gender expectations, race, class, and the shifting dynamics of city life” affect them. The second book in the deal will be a memoir entitled When Will I See You Again? which examines the author’s experiences during her first pregnancy while her mother was being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Rakia Clark announced news of the deal in a tweet, writing, “Still pinching myself that I’m working with [Flournoy] on her upcoming novel + a memoir to follow. The whole team at Mariner Books is ecstatic. Let’s gooooo!!!”

On the Come Up Sets Theatrical Release Date

Following the world premiere of Sanaa Lathan’s On the Come Up at TIFF, the film is getting a limited theatrical release to coincide with its Friday, September 23rd Paramount+ release date. Chris Aronson, the Paramount Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, said in a statement, “We’re thrilled to share this incredible adaptation of Angie Thomas’s moving novel with audiences everywhere, across multiple platforms. Seeing Sanaa Lathan’s visionary direction and watching the remarkably talented Jamila C. Gray and the rest of the cast light up the screen, viewers will see what we already know: that this is an exceptional film, not to be missed. A heartfelt thanks to our partners at State Street and Temple Hill. We can’t wait to share On the Come Up with the world on September 23.”

John Green’s First Novel May Be Banned at His Old School

“Please don’t ban my books in my hometown,” John Green concluded in his TikTok. “It’s really upsetting for my mom.”

Today In Books

Disney+ Releases Trailer for PERCY JACKSON Series: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 12, 2022

Sponsored by Boynton Bookworks, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Special Collector’s Edition Guide to Stephen King Available from Entertainment Weekly

Ahead of Stephen King’s 75th birthday on September 21st, Entertainment Weekly is publishing their Ultimate Guide to Stephen King. The collector’s issue of the magazine includes behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at Stephen King films like It, The Shining, and the upcoming Salem’s Lot. The magazine also features an exclusive excerpt from the author’s recently released novel Fairy Tale. The Ultimate Guide to Stephen King is now available online and wherever magazines are sold.

Disney+ Releases Trailer for Percy Jackson Series

Disney+ released the first trailer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians at the D23 Expo 2022. Walker Scobell stars as Percy Jackson, and the trailer shows the character in what appears to be Camp Half-Blood, talking about what it’s like to be a half-blood. “Look, I didn’t want to be a Half-Blood,” Percy says. “Being a Half-Blood is dangerous. It’s scary. Most of the time it gets you killed. If you think you might be one of us, my advice is… turn away while you still can. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth. Try to live a normal life, because once you know what you are, they’ll sense it too, and they’ll come for you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The series is expected to release on Disney+ sometime in 2024.

Teenage Afghan Girls are Defying the Taliban with a Secret Book Club

The Taliban has been trying to restrict girls’ education since Afghanistan was seized by the Taliban over a year ago. But one secret book club in Kabul, Afghanistan has Afghan girls connecting with one another over a shared love for learning and books. While the Taliban has banned girls from high school and forced them to cover up and stay home, these girls are finding solace in The Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank. “She had hope. She was fighting. She was studying. She was resisting her fate,” said Zahra, one book club member. Check out NPR News for the full interview.

The 25 Best YA Books of All Time

Here are the best YA books of all time, including classics like The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton to newer favorites like The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

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The Booker Prize 2022 Shortlist Announced: Today in Books

Post author By Caitlin Brehm
Post date September 11, 2022

‘Paper Girls’ Canceled at Amazon Prime Video After One Season

Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, Paper Girls the series, produced by Amazon Studios for Amazon Prime Video, has been canceled after one season despite debuting to positive reviews.

The Booker Prize 2022 Shortlist Announced

The Booker Prize shortlist was announced live from an event at the Serpentine Pavilion in London on Tuesday evening and streamed via the Booker Prizes website and social media channels. The six books on the shortlist are all set in different places at different times, but are about events that in some measure happen everywhere and concern everyone. They are Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo, The Trees by Percival Everett, Treacle Walker by Alan Garner, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, and Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout.

Resurgence in Independent Bookstores: New Book Shop Opens in Hintonburg

The Spaniel’s Tale, a new bookstore, opened Labor Day Weekend in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighborhood. Owners Cole Davidson and Stephen Crocker named the store after their English Springer Spaniel named Skype. They stock the shop with various genres and topics, including sections for children, Canadian authors, Indigenous books, LGBTQ2S+ books, and a space dedicated to local authors.

How to Run for School Board

School board elections right now are crucial to get representation for an entire community and not just those interested in infuse the board with specific conservative agendas.

Today In Books

Attica Locke Shares First Look at New Show FROM SCRATCH: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 10, 2022

Art Spiegelman to Receive Honorary National Book Award

Art Spiegelman, author of Maus, will be receiving an honorary National Book Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. “Art Spiegelman has captured the world’s imagination through the comics medium,” David Steinberger, chair of the National Book Foundation’s board of directors, said in a statement. “His masterful graphic novels tackle and illuminate topics from the Holocaust to the aftermath of 9/11, alongside the personal intimacy of the people, events, and comics that shaped him as an artist. Spiegelman’s groundbreaking work has shown us the limitless possibilities for comics as a literary arts form.” Spiegelman will be honored at a ceremony on November 16th. Neil Gaiman, who said Spiegelman’s work “left prints on my soul,” will introduce the author.

Literati Book Fairs Expand Into New Territories

Following a strong first season, Literati Book Fairs are expanding into new territories for the 2022-2023 school year. The fairs will now serve schools in select states across the Southeast and Midwest United States as well as Northern California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Arkansas. PK-8 elementary schools can now book Literati Book Fairs for this school year and beyond. Literati VP of sales Barbara Wing said in a statement, “The expansion into these new regions allows us to bring the magic of a Literati Book Fair to even more students and families.” Beyond this school year, the company plans to continue to expand its book fair business to support both young readers and libraries.

Attica Locke Shares First Look at New Show From Scratch

Netflix is releasing its adaptation of Tembi Locke’s best-selling memoir From Scratch on October 21st. Tembi’s sister, author Attica Locke, tweeted her excitement for the upcoming series: “I can’t wait for you guys to see my show, made with love with my sister @tembilocke, based on her NY Times Bestselling memoir!” Attica Locke serves as showrunner of the series, which stars Zoe Saldaña. Along with her tweet, Locke shared a link to the USA Today article listing From Scratch as one of the most highly-anticipated series of the season and featuring a picture of Saldaña in the show. The series will consist of eight episodes, which will all be released on the 21st.

30 of the Buzziest, Best Fall Books of 2022

Fall is for cooler weather, spicy drinks, and amazing books. Get your TBR ready to jot down 30 of the buzziest, best fall books of 2022!

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Is the Publishing Industry Broken?: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 9, 2022

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry Releases First Trailer

Vertical Entertainment has just released the official trailer for the upcoming film The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, based on the 2014 bestselling novel of the same name by Gabrielle Zevin. The romantic dramedy is the story of a depressed bookstore owner whose life is changed by a young child who is left at his shop. Hans Canosa directed the movie from a script by the author. The movie stars Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, Blaire Brown, Lauren Stamile, David Arquette, and Scott Foley. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry hits theaters on October 7th.

Is the Publishing Industry Broken?

Book publishing has long been an industry with a reputation for low-paying salaries, but over the past few months, more questions have been raised about whether publishing jobs are worth it. Junior staffers’ complaints about crushing workloads and low pay are beginning to enter the public discourse. But the higher ups also seem dissatisfied, noting that between corporate consolidation and multiple years of working from home, cracks in the industry are being exposed. Are staffers in the publishing industry unhappier than ever before? One executive blamed social media: “Thanks to more ways of being heard, and more listening by publishers, unhappiness that has always been here — over things like low starting pay, long hours due to the nature of working with books, difficult advancement paths — is more audible now than ever before.”

Julia Fine Reveals Cover for New Book Maddalena and the Dark

Author Julia Fine has shared the cover for her upcoming novel Maddalena and the Dark. In a post on Instagram, the author wrote, “I’m delighted to share the cover for Maddalena and the Dark, my baroque Venetian fairytale about two young female music students and their all-consuming hold on one another. It’s got jealousy and ambition and obsession, ghostly lagoons and palazzos and Vivaldi and canals, and this cover captures it all perfectly.” The book cover was designed by MM Designs and Keith Hayes. Maddalena and the Dark hits shelves on June 13th, 2023.

How TikTok Gave Colleen Hoover and Her Novels a Resurgence

Colleen Hoover is one of the most popular authors on TikTok. But how did her popularity soar on the platform?

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Censorship Attempts Will Have a Long-lasting Impact on School Library Collections: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date September 8, 2022

Sponsored by HarperCollins Children's Books

Tracie D. Hall to Receive 2022 NBF Literarian Award

The National Book Foundation has announced that Tracie D. Hall is the recipient of the 2022 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. Hall has been the executive director of the American Library Association since 2020. She has previously held positions at the Seattle Public Library, the New Haven Free Public Library, Queens Public Library, and Hartford Public Library. She will be honored at the 73rd National Book Awards Ceremony on November 16th.

Censorship Attempts Will Have a Long-lasting Impact on School Library Collections

A School LIbrary Journal survey shows that censorship attempts will have a long-lasting impact on school library collections. In search of more detailed information about the impact of the coordinated censorship campaigns across the country, the SLJ opened up a survey from May 4th to June 13th. The survey received responses from 720 school librarians, 90 percent of whom worked in a public school. All responses were anonymous.

Pretty Little Liars Reboot Renewed at HBO Max

HBO Max has renewed Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin for a second season. The decision comes a few weeks after the final episode of its first season. “We are so proud of the incredible response both critically and from fans that Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin has received,” said HBO Max head of originals Sarah Aubrey. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series currently has an 88 percent score among critics and a 70 percent rating among viewers. Co-creators Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring said in a joint statement, “Eternal thanks to the fans who have embraced this new, horror-version of Pretty Little Liars — which we’ll be continuing, of course — as well as our partners at HBO Max, Warner Bros. Television and Alloy Entertainment. As Tabby would say, ‘There’s a sequel in the offing!'”

The Words “I Wanted” Do Not Belong in Book Reviews

If your review is peppered with the words “I wanted”, it doesn’t mean the book was bad. But it probably means you’ve written a bad review.