Category: Today In Books

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Today In Books

Oscar Isaac TikTok Suggests MOON KNIGHT Will Be Back for a 2nd Season: Today in Books

Nic Stone Reveals Cover of Upcoming Novel Chaos Theory

Author Nic Stone has shared the cover of her upcoming novel Chaos Theory on her Instagram. The author confesses that the book, which was the second novel she ever wrote, is a very personal one for her. “As a Black person who is living with — and has been medicated for — a couple of mental illness diagnoses, creating accurate and well-vetted representation of Black kids with ‘abnormal brain chemistry’ (Pffffft!) is of paramount importance to me,” she wrote. “And BLACK is important here. Because yes: while mental health experiences are SUPER individualized in general, our racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds absolutely impact the way we experience the world and therefore how our brains function within it. And stigma sucks.” Chaos Theory is on sale January 28th, 2023.

Batgirl Star Leslie Grace Responds After Film is Shelved

Batgirl star Leslie Grace took to Instagram to share her thoughts after the announcement that Warner Bros. Discovery is shelving the $90 million film. “I am proud of the love, hard work and intention all of our incredible cast and tireless crew put into this film over 7 months in Scotland,” Grace wrote. “I feel blessed to have worked among absolute greats and forged relationships for a lifetime in the process! To every Batgirl fan — THANK YOU for the love and belief, allowing me to take on the cape and become, as Babs said best, ‘my own damn hero!’ Batgirl for life!” The decision to shelve Batgirl follows a change of corporate ownership for the studio, with CEO David Zazlav seeking $3 billion in cost savings and opting for a tax write-down on the movie. Sources say the studio is looking to prioritize theatrical releases over streaming ones and that company leadership also had concerns about whether Batgirl would live up to the level of spectacle of other DC films.

Oscar Isaac TikTok Suggests Moon Knight Will Be Back for a 2nd Season

If a recent TikTok is to be believed, it looks like the Disney+ series Moon Knight will be back for a second season. The TikTok video in question shows Moon Knight executive producer and the MCU show’s star Oscar Isaac being asked, “The question on everyone’s mind — is there a season two?” Isaac, who plays main characters Steven Grant/Marc Spector, responds by saying, “Why else would we be in Cairo?” Disney+ and Marvel Studios have yet to officially announce a second season.

A Template for Talking with School and Library Boards About Book Bans

How to talk at a school or library board meeting, with sample script and shareable graphics. That + this week’s book censorship news.

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Heartstopper Novella NICK AND CHARLIE Hits Shelves in January: Today in Books

Marvel Casts Drag Race Winner Shea Couleé in Ironheart

RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Shea Couleé is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a series regular in the Disney+ series Ironheart. Details about Couleé’s role in the series are under wraps, but she’ll be the first drag queen performer to join the MCU. In response to this casting announcement, Coulee wrote on Twitter, “Words cannot express how excited I am to be a part of this amazing project! Acting was my first love, and I’m thrilled to be doing it again in such a big way!” Ironheart debuts on Disney+ in fall 2023.

Heartstopper Novella Nick and Charlie Hits Shelves in January

Earlier this week, Publishers Weekly revealed the cover of Alice Oseman’s upcoming Heartstopper novella Nick and Charlie. The novella picks up the story of Heartstopper main characters Nick and Charlie as Nick is getting ready to leave for college. Charlie is a year younger, so the two grappling with their upcoming separation and how it will affect their relationship. “Nick and Charlie have existed as characters for a whole decade, and, like me, many of my readers have grown up along with them,” Oseman told PW. “I adored exploring their lives now that they’re a little older and I hope readers will enjoy reading this new chapter of Nick and Charlie’s love story.” Nick and Charlie hits shelves on January 3, 2023.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism Movie Streaming in September

The film adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s horror novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism is coming to Amazon Prime Video! The story is described on Hendrix’s website as “Beaches meets The Exorcist with all the E.T. love, Phil Collins, wine coolers, United Colours of Benetton perfume, and demons from Hell that personified the 80s.” Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Cathy Ang, and Rachel Ogechi Kanu star in the film, which premieres on Amazon’s streaming platform on September 30th.

12 Must-Read August Children’s Book Releases

August children’s book releases are hot, and include super sweet grandma picture books, lots of disability representation, and Ride On for horse kids.

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Lucy Liu Narrating Audiobook of Celeste Ng’s OUR MISSING HEARTS: Today in Books

Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford to Host Culture Podcast on Stitcher

Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford are hosting a new weekly podcast for SiriusXM’s Stitcher called Vibe Check. The podcast, which debuts on August 17, will focus on news and culture from a Black and queer perspective. Sanders is a former NPR host who has since joined New York magazine. He also host a podcast for Vulture, called Into It. Jones is a poet and author of the Kirkus Prize-winning memoir How We Fight for Our Lives. Stafford is a co-producer of the Tony Award–winning musical A Strange Loop and a contributor at MSNBC. “We couldn’t be more excited to invite people into our funny, thoughtful, and supportive sister circle on Vibe Check,” the hosts said in a joint statement. “This show is the culmination of years of friendship, and we look forward to helping you keep your vibe right!”

Lucy Liu Narrating Audiobook of Celeste Ng’s Our Missing Hearts

Actress, producer, director and artist Lucy Liu is narrating Celeste Ng’s forthcoming novel Our Missing Hearts. Liu said in a statement: “Celeste is such a beautiful writer. When I was asked if I would narrate her new novel, I was incredibly excited. She worked on Our Missing Hearts for seven years and it is spectacularly written and absolute poetry. Narrating a book in its entirety is a big task because you delve into the process of what the author is trying to express through the characters and through the story. I hope listeners understand the impact of Celeste’s words about discrimination, racism, separating children from their families and the impact it has on humanity.” The audiobook will be available on October 4, and you can preorder it now.

Join the Feminist Press Launch Party for It Came from the Closet

In the Feminist Press’ forthcoming essay collection, queer and trans writers reflect on the horror films that shaped them, from Halloween to Hereditary. Edited by Joe Vallese, this anthology features twenty-five original essays by writers including: Carmen Maria Machado on Jennifer’s Body, Jen Corrigan on Jaws, and Samuel Autman on Get Out. If you want to back the project, you can get a ticket to the book’s launch party on Wednesday, October 5. Join the Feminist Press at the 3 Dollar Bill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for an evening of music, dancing, drinks, book signings, prizes, and a show-stopping set by the queer performance collective The Neon Coven.

$90M Batgirl Movie Canceled

The $90 M Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace, J.K. Simmons, and Michael Keaton has officially been pulled by Warner Bros. studio.

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Amazon Greenlights MY LADY JANE Adaptation: Today in Books

Samantha Shannon’s A Day of Fallen Night Gets A Cover Reveal

Yesterday on Instagram, fantasy author Samantha Shannon revealed the cover of her upcoming novel A Day of Fallen Night, illustrated by Ivan Belikov and designed by David Mann. The novel is a sequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree, and as with the first novel, the whole jacket (including the back and spine) of A Day of Fallen Night forms a picture, which Shannon will reveal soon. A Day of Fallen Night comes out February 28, 2023 and is available for preorder now.

First Kill Canceled at Netflix After One Season

Netflix has decided against picking the teenage vampire series First Kill for a second season. The series based on the short story by V.E. Schwab received lukewarm reviews from critics. It scored a 58% approval rating on review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. But the series found a dedicated following in the weeks following its premiere in June. In a tweet confirming the cancellation, series cast member Dominic C. Goodman expressed gratitude for the show’s fanbase: “To all the First Kill fans; I have nothing but love for every single one of you! Thank you all for taking the show in as your own, seeing you all feel seen made all the hard work and hours worth it.”

Amazon Greenlights My Lady Jane Adaptation

Amazon Studios has greenlit the historical comedy series My Lady Jane for Prime Video. The series, based on the novel My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, will star Emily Bader (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin) as Lady Jane Grey, Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve) as Grey’s husband Lord Guildford Dudley, and Jordan Peters (Blue Story) as King Edward. Gemma Burgess will be co-showrunner/executive producer alongside Meredith Glynn. Jamie Babbit (Only Murders in the Building) is directing the pilot and is producing director/executive producer. Sarah Bradshaw and Laurie MacDonald are also executive producers.

Book Banners Don’t Know What A Book Ban Is

People trying to remove books from libraries insist it’s not a book ban. Everyone wants to ban a book, but no one wants to be a book banner.

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Stephen King to Testify in Books Merger Trial: Today in Books

The Flash to End With Abbreviated Season 9 on The CW

The CW has announced that the ninth season of The Flash will be its last. The 13-episode final season will air in 2023 as part of the CW’s midseason roster. Production on the final season will begin next month. Executive producer/showrunner Eric Wallace said in a statement Monday, “So many amazing people have given their talents, time and love to bring this wonderful show to life each week. So, as we get ready to honor the show’s incredible legacy with our exciting final chapter, I want to say thank you to our phenomenal cast, writers, producers and crew over the years who helped make The Flash such an unforgettable experience for audiences around the world.”

A Librarian Collects All Things Left in Books

At the Oakland Public Library, librarian Sharon McKellar collects the found artifacts and posts them on the library’s website in a collection titled “Found in a Library Book.” McKellar told NPR, “I had always collected little things I’d found in library books and I knew other people did that too. So that was how it started. It was pretty simple, I was inspired by a magazine called Found Magazine.“

Stephen King to Testify in Books Merger Trial

The Justice Department is looking to convince a federal judge that the proposed merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would be damaging to authors, and testifying for the government is Stephen King. The author of Carrie and The Shining has publicly criticized the $2.2 billion deal announced in late 2021. While King himself would likely benefit from the Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster deal, the author has a history of favoring the well-being of others over his material wealth. For instance, King has openly called for the government to raise his taxes. In response to this proposed merger, King tweeted, “The more the publishers consolidate, the harder it is for indie publishers to survive.”

Library Stormed by Proud Boys During Drag Week Story Hour Starts Year of “Every Month is Pride” Events

San Lorenzo Library’s Drag Queen Story Hour was disrupted by Proud Boys. In response, they are holding Pride events all year.

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Jenna Bush Hager Developing THE FEATHER THIEF Series Adaptation: Today in Books

Little Shop of Stories Hosts Book Bar at Wedding

This past weekend, Atlanta bookshop Little Shop of Stories hosted a book bar at a wedding reception held at Fernbank Museum. Guests were invited to visit the bar and take a book home with them as a wedding favor. Love the idea and want to do it at your own event? Little Shop of Stories is available for your wedding (or bar or bat mitzvah or Sweet 16 or quinceañera).

Jenna Bush Hager Developing The Feather Thief Series Adaptation

Jenna Bush Hager and Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, have teamed with Kirk Wallace Johnson to develop a series adaptation of Johnson’s true-crime book The Feather Thief. Johnson will write the adaptation, and Ben Spector will executive produce on behalf of Hager’s production company. “This book – like the birds, rogues, and adventurers at the heart of it – has had an astonishing life, and, thanks to exuberant readers, continues to find a wide audience,” said Johnson. “I’m honored for the opportunity to helm the adaptation with such a great team – their passion for this project was so overwhelming that it made me feel as though I was discovering the story for the first time.”

Now Hiring Barefoot Bookseller

Would you like to run a bookstore on a desert island in the Maldives for a year? “Barefoot Bookseller” is now accepting applications! The Pop-Up Bookshop on the island of Kunfunadhoo was created by Ultimate Library for luxury resort Soneva Fushi in 2018, and has since hosted a rotating cast of Barefoot Booksellers. Yes, you are not allowed to wear shoes, and the pay is only $750 a month. But free accommodation is provided along with meals and access to a spa and a private beach for staff. 

August 2022 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

Find out what August has in store for you and what new book to read!

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Stuart Woods, Author of Stone Barrington Novels, Dead at 84: Today in Books

Print Sales Rose 4.4% in Mid-July

Publishers saw a 4.4% increase in unit sales of print books in the week ended July 23, 2022, over the comparable week in 2021, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Sales rose 23.1% in adult fiction and 15.6% in YA fiction with Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, five Colleen Hoover titles, and five Jenny Han titles leading the sales.

Stuart Woods, Author of Stone Barrington Novels, Dead at 84

Prolific thriller writer Stuart Woods passed away in his sleep on Friday, July 22 at the age of 84. Woods authored over 90 novels, many featuring the lawyer-investigator character Stone Barrington. W.W. Norton & Company published Woods’s first novel in 1981, Chiefs, which won literary awards and was made into a CBS miniseries starring Charlton Heston, Danny Glover, Billy Dee Williams and John Goodman. From that book’s success, Woods went on to write five books a year for G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Woods’s memoir, An Extravagant Life was published just last month, and Putnam will be releasing two more books in the Stone Barrington series, Black Dog and Distant Thunder on August 2 and October 11 respectively.

George R.R. Martin Says A Song of Ice and Fire Book Series Will End Differently Than the Game of Thrones TV Show

Although George R.R. Martin does not like to give detailed updates on the progress of The Winds of Winter, the in-progress sixth title in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, he recently set the record straight saying that much of the story will be quite different than HBO’s Game of Thrones.

20 Must-Read Queer Books to Get Excited About in the Second Half of 2022

There are tons of amazing queer books coming out this summer and fall, so although Pride Month is over, there are still plenty of LGBTQ+ books to stack your TBR for the rest of the year.

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George R.R. Martin Tests Positive for COVID-19 and Misses HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Premiere: Today in Books

Nicola and David Yoon are Ready to “Change the World” with Joy Revolution Imprint

Committed to publishing young adult romance novels starring people of color written by people of color, Nicola and David Yoon’s imprint Joy Revolution is set to publish its first list in spring 2023. David and Nicola note that so many novels featuring characters of color focus on the “struggle or trauma” and that the characters and stories are mostly centered around “teach[ing] a largely white audience about racism.” Of course, stories like these are important to tell, but both Nicole and David want to remind readers that “there’s a whole other side to our existence besides trauma.” David explains, “We don’t wake up thinking, ‘Oh, I’m Black,’ or ‘I’m Asian’…Depicting people of color just as being human and experiencing all the normal things is quietly revolutionary.” Joy Revolution’s spring 2023 lineup features young adult novels from bestselling authors Talia Hibbert and Amalie Howard. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Hibbert will be on sale in January, and Howard’s Queen Bee hits shelves in April.

New “Weird Al” Yankovic Photo Book Announced

1984 Publishing has announced a new “Weird Al” Yankovic photo book entitled Lights, Camera, Accordion! The book collects over 300 photos taken by Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz, Yankovic’s longtime drummer and photographer. Schwartz said in a statement, “We’re currently on a six-month, 125+ date tour and I’ve been sharing the book’s progress with Al and the band, and they’re as excited about it as I am! The fans have been very loyal to us for the last 40 years, and I know they’ll enjoy this book as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together.” The 256-page book goes on sale November 15, 2022. 

George R.R. Martin Tests Positive for COVID-19 and Misses House of the Dragon Premiere

George R.R. Martin missed the premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon on Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19. Speaking at the premiere, HBO and HBO Max’s chief content officer Casey Bloys said, “I was going to start today by introducing George R.R. Martin and tell you how great it is to have George on the journey with us. Unfortunately, George got COVID at Comic-Con, so he’s not here. I think he’s feeling fine, so nothing to worry about.” In a YouTube video announcement, Martin confirmed his current illness, which has caused him to cancel several upcoming appearances.

The Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize Longlist Announced

The Center for Fiction has announced its longlist for the 2022 First Novel Prize, celebrating the best debut authors of the year.

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Ben Affleck to Return as Batman for AQUAMAN Sequel: Today in Books

Oprah Daily Reveals the Cover of Geena Davis’s Memoir Dying of Politeness

Two-time Academy Award winner Geena Davis is publishing her memoir entitled Dying of Politeness on October 13th, and Oprah Daily has the exclusive cover reveal. The book’s cover, photographed by Mark Seliger, reinforces the memoir’s theme of playing the role of polite person, even when it might be in your best interest to speak up. The book is available for preorder now.

Ben Affleck to Return as Batman for Aquaman Sequel

Ben Affleck is returning as Batman for the Warner Bros/DC sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Aquaman star Jason Momoa announced the news on Instagram earlier this week. “REUNITED bruce and arthur,” Momoa wrote on Instagram, along with a photo of him and Affleck. “love u and miss u Ben WB studio tours just explored the backlot alright. busted on set all great things coming AQUAMAN 2 all my aloha j.” There is no official word yet on how big Affleck’s role will be in the film, which is set to hit theaters on March 17, 2023. 

Strive Bookstore Celebrates Grand Opening During Black Business Week

Strive Bookstore held its grand opening as the city of Minneapolis celebrates Black Business Week. This week-long event goes until July 31st, which leads into National Black Business Month in August. “After years of teaching in the public schools, I still was not finding books about and for Black people that the children wanted to read, so I decided we need to get more books in the world by Black people,” store owner Mary Taris said. Strive Bookstore is located in the IDS Center and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4pm.

The School Board Project, Round Two: Book Censorship News

School board information for four more states available from The School Board Project, plus this week’s book censorship news.

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Paramount+ Sets Premiere Date for ON THE COME UP: Today in Books

Paper Girls Comic Book Creators Rave Over Netflix Adaptation

Paper Girls comic book creators Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang say that watching their comic series be adapted for the small screen was one of the “happiest experiences.” Chiang said, “To see actresses really inhabit these roles has been really thrilling. And it’s amazing to see how they’ve expanded on the story. I think it’s a show that will reward people who are fans of the comic, but also people who’ve never read it.” Regarding the casting, Vaughan added, “We comic nerds are so specific in what we want out of our adaptations, and we’re never happy…and universally anyone who’s read Paper Girls the moment they see that trailer they’re like, ‘Oh, my God, they got it completely right.'” Paper Girls will premiere in full on Prime Video on Friday, July 29th.

Paramount+ Sets Premiere Date for On the Come Up

Paramount+ has announced that Sanaa Lathan’s On the Come Up will be hitting the streaming platform on Friday, September 23rd in U.S., Canada, and Italy. This will follow the movie’s world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, which runs from September 8-18th. One the Come Up is based on the novel by Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give. The movie stars newcomer Jamila C. Gray as 16-year-old rapper Bri. Also starring in the film are Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Justin Martin, Titus Makin, Michael Cooper Jr., GaTa, Lathan and Cliff “Method Man” Smith.

Beloved Indie Bookstore Books Are Magic to Open Second Location

Author Emma Straub’s beloved Carroll Garden bookstore Books are Magic is opening a second location in another Brooklyn neighborhood. The bookstore will open at 122 Montague St. in Brooklyn Heights in late October. “One consequence of opening a physical space is that almost immediately, people start asking when you’re going to open a second,” Straub, her husband and co-owner Mike Fusco, and the Books Are Magic staff said in a joint statement announcing the news. “The friend who helped us build the store on Smith Street is helping us again, and right now, we are brainstorming with the booksellers about what the space should be.” Can’t wait ’til October? You can visit their first location on 225 Smith St., or you can shop their online store.

Are Ebooks on the Decline Again?

As sales continue to take a nosedive in the beginning of 2022, it raises a question on the state of ebooks: are they on the decline again?