Fill Your New Tablet!

HarperCollins' post-holiday campaign, "Fill Your New Tablet" was created so all consumers can enjoy great HarperCollins e-books at a discount.Running through January 7 and including e-books that are up to 75% off, the campaign boasts 2012 bestsellers such as Michael Chabon’sTelegraph Avenue, James Rollins’ Bloodline, Dennis Lehane’s Live by Night, Daniel Silva’s Fallen Angel and Kim Harrison’s Into the Woods.

This link will go live on Christmas Day!
http://ow.ly/g6NcL 

Win a copy of FAIRY TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM

I am delighted to offer one lucky reader a copy of the newly released FAIRY TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM updated by Phillip Pullman. I am just enamored of this beautiful new edition.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Grimm's fairy tales. To celebrate, Viking is thrilled to publish FAIRY TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM, a retelling of fifty beloved stories by Philip Pullman, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

In 1812, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children's and Household Tales. Now, two centuries later, fairy tales are once again all the rage with TV shows like Grimm and Once Upon a Time dominating ratings and two movie adaptations of "Snow White" out in the same year.  With FAIRY TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM, Philip Pullman brings these much-loved tales back to the page.  

From stories like "Cinderella" and "Hansel and Gretel" to lesser-known treasures like "The Girl With No Hands," "The Three Snake Leaves," and "Godfather Death," Pullman retells fifty of Grimm's timeless classics for the modern age in his lively, beguiling prose. He includes all the most familiar characters-Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, the Frog Prince, and Rapunzel-while also introducing readers to some they might not have met yet. 

Pullman has consulted a variety of editions of the work to pull together a seamless version of each story that focuses on engaging readers and demonstrating exactly why these fairy tales have been told over and over again, remaining vibrant since their original publication in the early 19th century. With FAIRY TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM, Pullman pays homage to the tales of romance and villainy that inspired his unique creative vision-and that continue to cast their spell on the Western imagination.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) has sold more than fifteen million copies and been published in more than forty countries.  The first volume, The Golden Compass, was made into a major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.  Pullman is at work on a companion His Dark Materials novel The Book of Dust.  He lives in Oxford , England .

PRAISE

"A fresh, sparkling collection of the finest stories from the Brothers Grimm, hand-picked by an author perfectly suited to the task. This volume is a must-have for any lover of fairy tales...
In the hands of a master storyteller such as Pullman , the Grimms's tales take on a whole new life."
-Library Journal (starred review)

"A wonderfully rich reading experience...not only stylish in its simplicity but also scholarly.  There are, of course, any number of English-language version and editions of Grimm, but few are as felicitous in their telling at Pullman's.  His book surely belongs on the same shelf as the very best of those that appeal to general readers of all ages."
-Booklist (starred review)

"Smooth narration makes every tale accessible while keeping the mystical and lyrical qualities that make fairy tales so beloved...Readers will enjoy not only returning to European fantasy's roots but seeing how the tree still blooms."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"You didn't know you needed to reread Grimm. You do. This is a grand and a great book. With confidence and modesty alike, Pullman adds just enough Pullman to remind us that the oldest stories are always best told by someone who knows how to do the job of storytelling. No grandstanding here, no posturing or poesy-making. Pullman selects familiars and exotics, and gives us the goods anew-the ashes never grittier, the golden shoes never more lively, and the teller's notes concise, witty, scholarly even. Older Grimms-put them on the top of the bookcase. This one needs to be closer to hand. I read it ravenously, rapturously."
-GREGORY MAGUIRE, author of Wicked 

"I could not imagine a better emissary for the Brothers Grimm than Philip Pullman. His translations have the timeless quality of a voice speaking in a quiet room, ancient and immediate to the senses. What a pleasure it is to be reacquainted with these stories in all their swiftness, wonder, horror and charm."
-Kevin Brockmeier, author of The Brief History of the Dead

"Philip Pullman's Grimm is quite eloquent, and his commentary is witty and historically accurate. There is no doubt in my mind that the Grimms would have been delighted with what he has accomplished."
-Jack Zipes, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota

"In this pitch-perfect retelling of the Grimms' fairy tales, Philip Pullman reminds us that the stories have lost none of their relevance or racing energy, even two hundred years after they were written down. As storyteller and sage, he preserves the flavors and aromas of fine old wines from times past and delivers them to us in sparkling new bottles."
-Maria Tatar, Harvard University ; author of The Classic Fairy Tales

"I've admired Philip Pullman since his early fantasy Galatea on through his splendid trilogy, His Dark Materials. All of his gifts, including his prose eloquence and his endless high-Romantic imagination, are manifested in this marvelous retelling of Grimm."
-Harold Bloom

To win your own copy:

Send an email to contest@gmail.com, with “Brothers Grimm” as the subject. Make sure to include your name and mailing address in the US only. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age. One entry per email address, please. Your email will not be shared or sold to anyone. 

All entries, including names, email addresses and mailing addresses, will be purged after winner is notified. This contest ends November 8, 2012. Good luck!

Guest Blogger: WENDY WAX

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am honored to have Wendy Wax be my guest blogger today.

Top 10 Reasons to Spend Time at TEN BEACH ROAD in October

By Wendy Wax

TEN BEACH ROAD is hitting the shelves anew this month as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Penguin Group’s READ PINK® program.

The READ PINK® program was created by my publisher, Penguin Group (USA) to promote public awareness of breast cancer and breast cancer research and to support and recognize the contributions of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®(BCRF) by connecting the cause to books written by, for and about women.

For the past two years, Penguin's Read Pink donation has sponsored 500 hours of research time and I’m incredibly proud and honored to have my book on the shelves with the Read Pink Seal on the cover and information about BCRF in the back of the book.

But… it’s October!  My books usually hit the stores when temperatures are rising, school is out and we’re either headed to the beach or at least daydreaming about sand, surf and sun.  So this got me thinking about what makes a book a beach book, and why we should throw caution to the wind and read them all year long.   After all, if some fashionista somewhere can decree that white pants are acceptable all year long, then why can’t we do the same with beach books?

Not convinced?  Well, let me share my “Top 10 Reasons to Spend Time at TEN BEACH ROAD in October” list with you and see if we can get on the same page.  (Pun fully intended!) 

1. Since school is back in session, it’s important to set a good example for your kids by reading.  If you pick up TEN BEACH ROAD, you’ll be enjoying a sweat-soaked summer with Maddie, Nicole, and Avery as they rehab a dilapidated beachfront mansion in Pass-a-Grille, Florida.  Your kids will just think you are very smart and studious.

2. If you need something to warm you up, the men of TEN BEACH ROAD are hot.

3. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure why books that really take you away are necessary in the summer.  What better time for a good mental escape to the beach than a cold, rainy day in October?

4. When you’re looking ahead to long cold months with the sun setting earlier and earlier each day, you can at least feel good that you have not lost everything in a Madoff-style Ponzi scheme like the women of TEN BEACH ROAD.

5. If your neighborhood is getting too cold and windy for DIY projects, you can read about Maddie, Nicole and Avery’s work on Bella Flora and just tell your hubby that you’re in the “planning stages” for next spring and summer.

6. Did I mention that there are some hot guys in TEN BEACH ROAD?

7. Reading beach books in the summer can make you feel bad about not being quite bikini ready… but in October, you can pull out a big cozy sweater and some chocolate cake and know you have months before you have to worry about that again!

8. If beach vacations are not just for summer, then beach books shouldn’t be either.  October is actually a good time to head to the beaches in Florida.  The crowds have thinned and the temperatures are still warm.  You could leave the kids with Dad, grab your girlfriends, a few copies of TEN BEACH ROAD and call it a book club weekend! 

9. Friendships are timeless, and so are troubles.  TEN BEACH ROAD is the story of three women who are thrown together when they lose everything.  It could be set in Aspen in March, Boston in December or Dubuque in May.  The story is about the women, their lives, and their bond.  So reading it in October wherever you live will work.  I promise. 

10. I think I have mentioned that there are some hot guys in the book, but it bears repeating!  If you’re looking for a way to warm up, there’s nothing better than picturing Joe Giraldi running shirtless on the beach.  (Not sure who Joe is?  Pick up the READ PINK® edition of TEN BEACH ROAD to find out)!

So, show the world the kind of woman you really are: brave, fearless, and bold.  Wear white pants after Labor Day, drink a Piña Colada in December and proudly show off your copy of TEN BEACH ROAD in October.  You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood, and you can be proud knowing you’re supporting a great cause!

Guest Blogger: THOMAS ENGER

PIERCED

By Thomas Enger

A body lies in front of him.

The back of the bloodstained leather jacket has been slashed repeatedly. Above the collar the skull shines brightly through the shaven and tattooed scalp. He recognizes the tattoo immediately.

Only Jocke Brolenius has ‘Go to hell’ tattooed on the back of his neck.

His mobile goes dark. His eyes dart around and he pricks up his ears, but he hears nothing in the profound silence.

Someone has set him up.

Internationally bestselling author Thomas Enger returns with another pulse-pounding thriller, (Atria Books; $15.00, October 2nd, 2012). A follow up to the gripping masterpiece, BURNED, Enger once again takes readers into the terrifying world of investigative crime reporter Henning Juul, a man who is desperate to determine the truth about his son’s killer while struggling to fight his inner demons.

 “If you find out who set me up, I’ll tell you what happened the day your son died.” This is the message Henning Juul— back at work after being terribly burned and scarred for life in a fire that killed his son—receives from incarcerated former extortionist, Tore Pulli. Pulli is convicted for a murder he claims he didn't commit, and he knows Henning will want to find the real killer if it leads to information about his son’s death.

When Pulli ends up dead in prison—under mysterious circumstances—Juul decides to dig deeper. He knows the murders Pulli was convicted of do not bear his signature, and Juul is convinced that Pulli would never take his own life. Juul strikes up a fragile partnership with Iver Gundersen, a colleague now living with Juul’s ex-wife. They believe that Pulli’s death is part of an internal power struggle in a gang world where the desire for serious money is destroying the traditional, honor-based hierarchy. To parse out the truth, Juul must dive deep into an impenetrable world surrounded by a haze of myth.

Uncovering more questions than answers, Henning soon realizes that he has to find not one but several killers...killers who have never been more dangerous than they are now.

Intense and absorbing, will take readers on a spine-tingling journey through the seedy Norwegian crime world and behind the scenes of the lives that are caught in the whirlwind of an international crime ring, leaving them shocked and breathless, eager for the third book in the Henning Juul series.

Henning Juul - a Dexter in disguise?

a blog by Thomas Enger

A lot of people have asked me during the last four years: "How did you go about creating Henning Juul as a character?" "And how is it even possible to know that you are going to write six novels?"

Let me tell you how it all began. In the space of almost 15 years I made four attempts at writing a novel. None of them were published. Number three and four came quite close to making it, but it wasn't to be. So when the idea for this new character (Henning Juul) came to me, I sat down and asked myself: are you good enough to pursue a career as an author? Maybe you should try something different this time?

So I started thinking about TV. Maybe that format would suit me better. And I wanted to do something that hadn't been done before on television. I wanted the series to say something about our society in a satirical kind of way, and at the same time be as suspenseful as it could possibly be.

So I thought of Henning Juul as the journalistic equivalent to Dexter, a man running around killing people that somehow deserved it. And because he killed people, he needed a motivation, and that's where Henning's son came in. What if Henning was trying to find his son's killer? What if he justified his actions that way?

I remember writing scenes like Henning walking down the streets of Oslo, and then there would be this guy in the background painting a picture with his penis and people standing by applauding while drinking huge amounts of red wine. I wrote a scene where a man was talking to someone on the banks of Akerselva, the river that runs through parts of Oslo, with a lot of dead sea gulls floating by at the same time with no one seeming to care. Old people trying to sell drugs to the police in the open. Taxi drivers offloading their cars after they had only gone about 2000 miles. Things like that.

And I wrote all these different stories, what kind of people Henning should kill in each episode, and why. And of course, how that all should lead to Henning finding his son's killer. At one point I thought it was going to be 12 episodes. Then I got down to eight. It even went as far as me meeting with the head of development at NRK - Norway's biggest producer of TV series. The guy told me he loved the idea, and he wanted me to write a pitch that - if it was good enough - could result in me getting some working money.

At that point I was unemployed, and I needed an income quite quickly. And then, all of a sudden, the man I had met with decided to quit, and he handed me over to this other guy that was involved in a production somewhere up north in Norway. And he was just impossible to get in touch with.

So there I was, with an idea for a TV series but with no real prospects of getting somewhere with it. So I said to myself: hey, you're really on to something here. Why don't you go back to your original goal when you started writing? Why don't you see if you can write this universe as a novel series instead?

But because I had made four unsuccessful attempts, I decided to try to figure out what I previously had done wrong. I quickly realised that I had written stories set in cities I had never been to. I had written about people and environments I knew nothing or very little about. And I hadn't mapped anything out before I started writing.

But I had a great plan for Henning Juul. And I had made him a journalist, like I once had been myself. He lived in Oslo, like I did. And because the novel format is largely different from a TV series, I decided to lose all the satire and concentrate on the main issue at hand: Henning Juul finding his son's killer. And once that was in place, it was just a matter of mapping out the stories in a slightly different manner. When I was finished with that I realised I had material for six novels.

I still hadn't found any work, so I decided to make contact with two publishers in Oslo, and the very next day I was invited to a meeting with Gyldendal. They told me they loved the idea, and they wanted me to start writing. So that's what I did. Six weeks later I presented them with the first 120 pages of what was later to become Burned, volume one in the Henning Juul series, and based on those 120 pages Gyldendal told me they wanted to publish it.

I guess you can imagine what that felt like. I was unemployed, had no income, I had been trying for so long to make it as an author. All of a sudden I had. And not only that; as of now Burned has been sold to 21 countries, including England, Japan and the US.

And guess what? A production company in Norway (not NRK, but they wanted to as well) has purchased the right to make a movie out of ALL my Henning Juul novels. In due time they hope it will become a TV series as well.

Funny how life works out sometimes, right?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Thomas Enger is the internationally bestselling author of Burned. A former journalist and a music composer, he lives in Oslo, Nowray.

Dorothy L. Sayers is back!

Last week I received a box of books from Harper Paperbacks. I receive a lot of boxes of books every week but these were special - these weren't just any books, these were newly re-released Dorothy L. Sayers books.

The grand dame of mysteries. The spirit behind the eponymous Dorothy-L mystery fiction listserve. 

The four titles follow Lord Peter Wimsey, a proper English aristocrat and sleuth, and Harriet Vane, the astute mystery novelist whom Lord Wimsey is hell-bent on marrying. 

The good folks at Harper Paperbacks enlisted Elizabeth George to write new forwards and they will be available for purchase October 16. Plus they have beautiful new covers!

“One of the greatest mystery story writers of this century.”

—Los Angeles Times

Bourbon Street Books Presents

Dorothy L. Sayers’

Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery Series

With an introduction by Elizabeth George

HarperCollins Publishers is proud to reissue STRONG POISON, HAVE HIS CARCASE, GAUDY NIGHT, and BUSMAN’S HONEYMOON (Bourbon Street Books/Harper Paperbacks/HarperCollins Publishers; October 16, 2012; Paperback; $14.99 each), four Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers, published as part of the new Bourbon Street Books line. This spell-binding series includes:

·         STRONG POISON — Mystery novelist Harriet Vane knew all about poisons, and when her fiancé died in the manner prescribed in one of her books, a jury of her peers had a hangman’s noose in mind. But Lord Peter Wimsey was determined to find her innocent—as determined as he was to make her his wife.

 

·         HAVE HIS CARCASE — The mystery writer Harriet Vane, recovering from an unhappy love affair and its aftermath, seeks solace on a barren beach—deserted but for the body of a bearded young man with his throat cut. With the appearance of her dear friend Lord Peter Wimsey, she finds a reason for detective pursuit—as only the two of them can pursue it.

·         GAUDY NIGHT — When Harriet Vane attends her Oxford reunion, known as the “Gaudy,” the prim academic setting is haunted by a rash of bizarre pranks: scrawled obscenities, burnt effigies and poison-pen letters—including one that says, “Ask your boyfriend with the title if he likes arsenic in his soup.” Harriet finds herself ensnared in a nightmare of romance and terror, with only the tiniest shreds of clues to challenge her powers of detection, and those of her paramour, Lord Peter Wimsey.

·         BUSMAN’S HONEYMOON — Murder is hardly the best way for Lord Peter Wimsey and his bride, the famous mystery writer Harriet Vane, to start their honeymoon. It all begins when the former owner of their newly acquired estate is found quite nastily dead in the cellar. What Lord Peter had hoped would be a very private and romantic stay in the country soon turns into a most baffling case: the deceased has not a spot of blood on his smashed skull and not a pence less than six hundred pounds in his pocket.

Packaged with stunning new designs and accompanied by an introduction by contemporary mystery stalwart, Elizabeth George, these new editions are sure to captivate Sayers’ legion of fans and mystery novices alike. These four titles stand apart from Sayers’ renowned oeuvre as magna opera, and the quintessential gentleman detective, Lord Peter Wimsey, is at his finest.

About the Author

Often called the greatest detective novelist of the Golden Age, Dorothy L. Sayers was born in 1893. She was one of the first women to be awarded a degree by Oxford University and later became a copywriter at an ad agency. In 1923 she published her first novel featuring the aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey, who became one of the world’s most popular fictional heroes. She died in 1957.

You can preorder through Amazon.com

Gaudy Night: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery with Harriet Vane

Have His Carcase: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery with Harriet Vane

Busman's Honeymoon: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery with Harriet Vane

Strong Poison: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery with Harriet Vane

or your favorite bookseller. 

Win PEACHES FOR FATHER FRANCIS by Joanne Harris

The bestselling author of Chocolat and The Girl with No Shadow returns to Lansquenet in this enchanting new novel

                                          

PEACHES FOR FATHER FRANCIS

 By Joanne Harris

*Advance Praise for PEACHES FOR FATHER FRANCIS*

“Harris’s skill at vibrantly depicting the charm and eccentricity of rural French life is at the heart of this delightful novel…Harris has used this story as a plea for tolerance and understanding, but her message is not the least pedantic. Fans of the first two books will delight in becoming reacquainted with Vianne, her dashing man, Roux, and her clever daughters.”—Library Journal

 

* UK Praise *

“Like Chocolat, this book is a feast for the senses. Every page of the book is steeped in scents, colours and tastes, without ever tipping into the pretentious or showy.  The writing is seductive and engaging throughout; and the magic, too, is intrinsic without ever being soppy or embarrassing. What is magic (or religion), after all, if not an ability to understand the human heart? Peaches for Father Francis is a wonderful return to form for Harris.”—Literary Review

“Absorbing and atmospheric...Joanne bravely tackles religious differences head-on but very sensitively. It's expressive, rich, vibrant and even shocking in parts.”—Heat Magazine

“A delightful jumble of the sensuous sights, sounds and smells the author describes so well.”—Glamour

Anyone who has read Joanne Harris’ best-seller Chocolat will be familiar with the deliciously warm character of Vianne Rocher. In Harris’ latest novel, PEACHES FOR FATHER FRANCIS (Viking; Strict On Sale: October 2, 2012; $26.95; ISBN: 978-0-670-02636-4), it’s eight years later and Vianne receives a letter from beyond the grave from her friend Armande, summoning her back from her life on a houseboat in Paris to the quaint village of Lansquenet where she used to run her chocolate shop.

Upon returning with her daughters Anouk and Rosette, Vianne discovers that everything and nothing has changed in the small village. Her adversary, Father Francis Reynaud, still feels persecuted and misunderstood—only this time he needs Vianne’s help. Her one-time best friend, Josephine, still has an ambiguous relationship with Vianne’s lover Roux, and, unbeknownst to Vianne, has an eight-year-old son born just days after Rosette. And Lansquenet itself has changed with the arrival of a large number of Moroccans. The cultural mix is welcomed by some and resented by others.

Ultimately, Vianne is left to unravel the mystery of newcomer Inés Bencharki, who is part of the new Muslim community and is stirring up things. Inés insists on dressing in the traditional full black veil, under which “she seems as impervious to hostility as she is to gossip, scandal or offers of friendship.” Tensions between these two communities reach a fever pitch and it’s up to Vianne to rescue Father Francis and to discover what’s really going on in Lansquenet before it’s too late.

About the Author:

Joanne Harris  is the author of the Whitbread Award-shortlisted Chocolat, which was made into an Oscar-nominated feature film, and eleven other bestselling novels.   She is published world-wide, in approximately 50 countries, and is the winner of several international and UK awards.  She is an Honorary Fellow at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and lives with her husband in Yorkshire .

I am delighted to be able to offer one lucky reader copies of both Peaches for Father Francis and Chocolat along with peach truffles! To enter, send an email to contest@gmail.com, with “Peaches for Father Francis” as the subject. Make sure to include your name and mailing address in the US only. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age. One entry per email address, please. Your email will not be shared or sold to anyone.

All entries, including names, email addresses and mailing addresses, will be purged after winner is notified. This contest ends October 15, 2012. Good luck!

Win Homegrown in Florida!

Homegrown in Florida

Edited by William McKeen

 “Sparkles with all the colors of our childhood, like the Florida sun setting over the Gulf. A surprising cross-section of thirty-four talented writers, poets, politi­cians, and entertainers transport us to a state where anything was possible, where memories take on a life of their own and have lasting consequences.”— Victor DiGenti, author of the Windrusher series

“Brings back a world in which kids played outside unsupervised, when grand­mothers wore pearls and smelled of talcum powder and cooked hot breakfasts, and when a mother might spend Sunday morning immersed in the Miami Herald but felt it her duty to have grace said at the dinner table.”—Joy Wallace Dickinson, author of Remembering Orlando

Florida can seem like a child’s dream of paradise: endless sunny days, trips to the beach to swim and build sandcastles, bike riding without a jacket in the middle of January, and magical themeparks only a short drive away. But what was life really like for those who grew up here?

During a recent reunion, writers Bill McKeen, Tim Dorsey, and Jeff Klinkenberg found themselves lamenting that so many of their childhood memories were fading away. For them, and for many, Florida is not just a place people go to, it’s where they come from.

That can mean many things to many people, as the stellar cast of writers, journalists, and musicians eloquently reveal in Homegrown in Florida. This utterly satisfying and powerful anthology aims at the heart of the glories of childhood and the pain of growing up. Both a celebration of the exotic, untamed wilderness of a youth filled with moss-draped oaks and citrus fields, evergreen winters and palmetto fronds, and a reminder that innocence often gave way to experience as bike paths became private developments, and swimming holes were paved over by interstates, Home­grown in Florida is filled with tears and laughter alike.

Featuring contributions from Carl Hiaasen, Tom Petty, Zora Neale Hurston, Michael Connelly, and many more, this is a book for every child of old Florida, and every child at heart.

William McKeen is the author of nine books, including Mile Marker Zero, Outlaw Journalist, Highway 61, and Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay. He teaches at Boston University, where he chairs the Department of Journalism.

To win your own copy of Homegrown in Florida, send an email to contest@gmail.com, with “Homegrown in Florida” as the subject. Make sure to include your name and mailing address in the US only. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age. One entry per email address, please. Your email will not be shared or sold to anyone.

All entries, including names, email addresses and mailing addresses, will be purged after winner is notified. This contest ends October 10, 2012. Good luck!

29th MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL

Readings, Author signings and Topical Discussions

29^th MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL 

Presented and produced by The Center @ MDC

Nov. 11 – 18, 2012/ MiamiBookFair.com

The 29th edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International, presented by The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College (MDC), will take place November 11 – 18, 2012, at Miami Dade MDC’s Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave., in downtown Miami. The always-popular Street Fair runs Friday through Sunday, November 16 – 18, with more than 200 exhibitors from around the country selling books in a festive atmosphere.

The Fair, MDC’s flagship cultural event, will treat book lovers to eight days of cultural and educational activities, including the beloved Evenings With… series, the IberoAmerican Authors program, myriad learning activities for children, and programs for food enthusiasts in partnership with the college’s Miami Culinary Institute.

TOP CONFIRMED AUTHORS

 The Fair continues to raise the bar of excellence by offering a fine roster of writers from the U.S. and abroad, and this year will be no exception. Confirmed authors include  talk show host Bill O’Reilly, actress Molly Ringwald, political commentator Andrew Solomon, historians Robert Caro and Deborah Dash Moore, David Maraniss, Michael Grunwald; Pulitzer Prize winning Junot Diaz; essayists and commentators Adam Gropnik and Camille Paglia; novelists Sandra Cisneros, Emma Donoghue, Jess Walters, Ann Lamott Lauren Groff, Robert Goolrick, Thane Rosenbaum, personality Lemony Snickett;  fashion designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo; best selling authors James Patterson, Jo Nesbo, RL Stine, Justin Torres, and opening the Fair on Nov. 11 is novelist and journalist Tom Wolfe, to name just a few of the 300 plus authors coming to Miami from all over the world to read from their newest works, to meet their readers and sign books.

The IberoAmerican program will present an array of Spanish-speaking literary voices from around the world, including Homero Aridjis (Mexico), Mayra Santos Febres (Puerto Rico), Abilio Estévez (Cuba-Spain), Santiago Roncagliolo (Perú) and more.   

Back again this year is the fall edition of The Miami Writers Institute, with workshops taught by novelist Margot Livesey, literary agent Kimberly Witherspoon, and award-winning author Teresa Dovalpage with a workshop in Spanish, among others.

This year, the Fair continues to expand its children’s programming with Generation Genius Days, a component for toddlers, children, tweens and teens to explore, discover and learn through reading and writing, storytelling, art-making, music and theater. Age-appropriate, book-inspired activities will be offered, and will include a “musical petting zoo”, where kids can handle instruments; map-making and star-gazing; junior engineering projects and science experiments; creative writing and theater workshops, computer storyboarding for comics and cartoons, and other activities that can lead to learning and discovery in the various subject areas, such as English, math, history, geography, the sciences, the visual arts and others. An additional day of author readings for students on field trips is now on the schedule, as well as a fourth day of readings, storytelling and entertainment on the two children’s stages.

The Fair also continues special programming for educators with the day-long School of Comics and Graphic Novels -- a series of workshops on how to use comics in the classroom--and adds workshops on how to teach creative writing to K-12 students.  Miami Book Fair International 2012 promises to be another exceptional literary event!  For regular updates on the Miami Book Fair, please visit www.miamibookfair.com

MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL AND The Center @ MDC

Miami Book Fair International is the largest and is regarded as the finest literary gathering in America. It is the premier event of The Center for literature and theatre at Miami Dade College. The Center promotes reading and writing throughout the year by consistently presenting quality literary activities open to all in South Florida. Literacy projects target children of all ages—from kindergarten to high school—as well as college students and adults. Established and emerging writers from South Florida and all over the U.S. read, lecture, and teach workshops. They work with K-12, MDC students, and diverse members of the community, helping to deepen their understanding of literature, and encouraging their work of writers at all stages of development. The Center envisions South Florida as a nexus of literary activity in the Americas and beyond, and will continue to champion its mission of promoting the advancement and appreciation of the literary arts in all forms.

Miami Book Fair International is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners.

ABOUT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings including The Miami Book Fair International, The Florida Center for the Literary Arts, The Miami International Film Festival, the MDC Live! performing arts series, The MDC Tower Theater Cinema Series, the Miami Leadership Roundtable speakers’ series, the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower, numerous renowned campus art galleries and theaters, and the nationally recognized School of Entertainment and Design Technology. With an enrollment of more than 174,000 students, MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is a national model for many of its programs. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including baccalaureate, Associate in Arts and Science degrees and numerous career training certificates leading to in-demand jobs. MDC has served nearly 2,000,000 students since it opened its doors in 1960.

Win THE MEMORY THIEF by Emily Colin

In Emily Colin’s exquisite debut novel THE MEMORY THIEF (Ballantine Trade Paperback Original) one man’s vow to his wife sparks a remarkable journey that tests the pull of memory and reaffirms the bonds of love.

Deftly weaving together two strands of plot, THE MEMORY THIEF spins an unforgettable tale of love lost and found. Though she has lived with her husband Aidan’s adventure-seeking tendencies for the entirety of their relationship, Maddie has particularly strong reservations when Aidan tells her of his plans to summit Alaska’s Mount McKinley. When she eventually gives in to him, Aidan promises her, “I will come back to you.” Yet, late one night, she receives shocking news: Aidan has died in an avalanche. Confronted with grief, newfound single parenthood, and the realization that J.C., Aidan’s climbing partner and best friend, has been in love with her for years, Maddie must swim through her swirling emotions in a quest for understanding.

Across the country, Nicholas Sullivan awakes from a motorcycle accident. Unable to remember any part of his life to this point, he finds that his dreams are haunted by images of a beautiful woman and a young boy. Feeling as though these mysterious people may hold the answers to his own problems, Nicholas is driven to find them. Nicholas’s journey leads him to great discoveries—which not only change his life, but Maddie’s, too.

Poignant, yet ultimately triumphant, THE MEMORY THIEF is a unique and compelling love story that marks Emily Colin as a young author to watch.

I am delighted to introduce Emily Colin, my guest blogger for today:

“When people hear about my debut novel, The Memory Thief, one of the first questions they usually ask me is, “So, are you a climber?” I’ll admit, this makes me giggle. For one thing, I am most assuredly acrophobic, the kind of person who white-knuckles the steering wheel and says a prayer to St. Michael—the patron saint of high places—whenever the vicissitudes of life require me to drive across a bridge. (Coming from a nice Jewish girl, this ought to tell you something.) For another, my poor athleticism is rivaled only by my extraordinary lack of grace.

Still, given the circumstances, their question isn’t all that unreasonable. After all, two of the characters in my book are high-altitude mountaineers. And as Madeleine, The Memory Thief’s female protagonist, says upon meeting the man who will later become her husband:

I considered it an act of supreme balance if I walked the morning’s first cup of coffee across the room without spilling it, and here he was, feeling embarrassed because he hadn’t made it to the top of the tallest mountain in the world. If there was ever a sign that two people were mismatched, this was it.  

Truly, I felt the same way when it came to writing about climbing.  Which begs the question—why?

Needless to say, I did a lot of research in the process of writing The Memory Thief—which blends high-altitude mountaineering, a love story, a ghost story and a mystery. And what I came to, ultimately, is this: I will never be a mountaineer (as anyone who’s known me for more than ten minutes will doubtless attest). But for the year-and-a-half that I worked on this book, I got to try on another identity, to slip into its skin and see what life looked like from the dark side of the mountain. This changed the way I saw the world, the ideas to which I was drawn and the issues that caught my interest. It changed me.

I think at its most basic level, that’s what writing fiction does—it allows you to become someone else for a little while, to see what might have been if your life had led you down a different path. And when you find your way back into the real world, you take this knowledge with you; you carry all the alter egos of the people you might have been.

When I wrote this book, I wasn’t living in that real world, not really. Most of the time I wandered around in a haze, even clumsier than usual, bumping into everything because all I could see was my imaginary landscape, the one where my characters lived. I wrote and wrote and revised. And then I revised some more.

In the end, I picked my head up and realized that I’d still never climbed a mountain—but with all the risks I’d taken; the unshakeable belief that writing a novel was something I could do; my focus on a single, far-reaching, attainable goal—well, I sure felt as if I had.

And that, as they say, has made all the difference.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

EMILY COLIN is the Associate Director of the DREAMS Center For Arts Education, a nationally award-winning nonprofit dedicated to building creative, committed citizens through high-quality arts programming. Prior to DREAMS, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Carolina Press, and co-founder of Carolina Women’s Partnership. She also works closely with the North Carolina Arts Council. In Though Colin is not a mountain climber—she’s actually afraid of heights—she spent innumerable hours doing research for THE MEMORY THIEF: shadowing Outward Bound instructors as they scaled cliffs in Colorado’s Rifle Canyon, conducting reconnaissance missions in an indoor rock-climbing gym closer to home, and speaking with alpinists who took on Alaska’s Mt. McKinley—and lost. For more information, please visit the author’s website at www.emilycolin.com.

To win your own copy of THE MEMORY THIEF by Emily Colin, send an email to contest@gmail.com, with “MEMORY THIEF” as the subject. Make sure to include your name and mailing address in the US only. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age. One entry per email address, please. Your email will not be shared or sold to anyone.

All entries, including names, email addresses and mailing addresses, will be purged after winner is notified. This contest ends September 30, 2012. Good luck!

The Crime Fiction Academy

 

Amazon.com & The Crime Fiction Academy Make Crime Fiction Notoriety Accessible for Creative New Yorkers

New York, NY (September, 2012) - The Center for Fiction is pleased to announce that their one-of-a-kind writing program, The Crime Fiction Academy (CFA), is one of the most recent recipients of an Amazon Grant. The grant program, offered by Amazon.com, provides funding for exceptional nonprofit author and publisher groups that, “foster the creation, discussion, and publication of books.” The $25,000 grant will allow the CFA to offer significant scholarships of 50% or more to incoming Fall 2012 students.

The Crime Fiction Academy launched in February 2012 as the first ongoing program dedicated exclusively to crime writing in the United States. Each student enrolled in CFA attends a 12-week Writing Workshop, a once a month Master Class, a Crime Fiction Reading seminar, as well as up-close-and-personal discussions with leading agents and editors in the field including Megan Abbott, Lawrence Block, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Thomas H. Cook, Linda Fairstein, Susan Isaacs, Dennis Lehane, Elmore Leonard, Laura Lippman, Val McDermid, Joyce Carol Oates, Jason Pinter, S.J. Rozan and Karin Slaughter.  Students also receive 24-hour access to the Center for Fiction’s Writing Studio and free admission to all Center for Fiction events.

Admissions for the Fall 2012 session are rolling and classes begin October 1, 2012. Students can apply directly through the Center for Fiction’s website and grant scholarships will be awarded on as case-by-case basis. Tuition may be paid in person at the Center, online, over the phone, or by mailed check.

About the Center For Fiction: The Center for Fiction is the only nonprofit in the U.S. solely dedicated to celebrating fiction, and works every day to connect readers and writers. Time Out calls The Center one of the top three reasons to stay in Manhattan for literary events, citing the innovative panels, lectures and conversations that take place in the beautiful landmark building on East 47th Street. The CFF features workspace, grants, and classes to support emerging writers, reading groups on classic and contemporary authors, and programs to help get kids reading.  The CFF recognizes the best in the world of fiction through their annual awards, and operates one of the few independent fiction bookshops in the country.  The CFF is also an important piece of New York City history, continuing to build their renowned circulating library collection, begun in 1820 by New York City merchants before the advent of the public library system.

About the Crime Fiction Academy: The Crime Fiction Academy made its debut in mid-February 2012 as the first ongoing, serious program exclusively dedicated to crime writing in all its forms.  Students accepted into the program are taught by successful practitioners of the genre, and classes take place in The Center’s eight-story building at 17 E. 47th Street in Manhattan. Every writer enrolled in CFA attends a 12-week Writing Workshop, one Master Class each month, and a Crime Fiction Reading seminar.  In addition, each writer has access to special lectures and discussions with editors and agents from the world of crime fiction publishing, round-the clock membership in The Center’s Writers’ Studio, free admission to all Center for Fiction events, and access to the Center’s extensive circulating collection, which won a Mystery Writers of America Raven Award for its amazing in-depth collection of crime fiction. All classes, workshops, and lectures take place in the evening.