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Stone Upon Stone, Spectacle & Pigsty Win Best Translated Book Awards

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Wieslaw Mysliwski's Stone Upon Stone, translated from Polish by Bill Johnston, has won the Best Translated Book Award for fiction. Kiwao Nomura's Spectacle & Pigsty, translated from the Japanese by Kyoko Yoshida and Forrest Gander, took the top honor in the poetry category.

Stone Upon Stone is narrated by a Polish farmer determined to build a tomb for himself after a life of boozing, brawling, fighting in the resistance, serving as a marriage officer, and exaggerating his way through the twentieth century and the modernization of his small town. This is the second book published by Archipelago, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit press, to win the award.

Spectacle & Pigsty is described a collection of strange and wild poetry. The poems deal with sex and loss and memory by making unpredictable leaps of association.

Each winning book will receive $10,000 of prize money to be divided among the author and translators thanks to the support of Amazon.com. The annual award is given by the University of Rochester's Three Percent.

Photos: Archipelago Books (top)/Omnidawn Publishing (2nd image)

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Charlaine Harris Announces the End of the Sookie Stackhouse Series

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:14:00 EST

Bestselling author Charlaine Harris announced on the Facebook page that the Sookie Stackhouse series is finally coming to an end. Charlaine said, "Save the date...the final Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead After After, will be on sale May 2, 2013!" The last book will be the 13th book in the series.

Sookie's adventures are the basis of the hit HBO series True Blood which stars Anna Paquin as Sookie, as vampire Eric Northman and Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton. The twelfth Sookie Stackhouse book, Deadlocked, was just released.

Photo: Penguin Group

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Fifty Shades of Grey is Now Amazon.com's Bestselling Book of 2012

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

Well, that didn't take long. Fifty Shades of Grey has just passed The Hunger Games to become as Amazon's #1 bestselling book of 2012. The list only counts paperback and hardcover books, not ebooks.

The second through fourth spots are still held by the three books in The Hunger Games trilogy. For ebooks, The Hunger Games trilogy still takes the top spots. All three books are available for loan for free from Amazon.com for Amazon Prime members.

Photo: Random House

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Tony DiTerlizzi Talks A Hero for WondLa on CNN

Wed, 9 May 2012 14:00:00 EST

A Hero for WondLa is the second book in author Tony DiTerlizzi's Search for WondLa's trilogy. The series follows Eva Nine's adventures on the planet Orbona. Eva discovered she is not the only human in the world in the first book. Eva was rescued by a boy named Hailey who led her to the colony of New Attica, where humans of different shapes and sizes appear to live in peace and harmony. In the new entry in the series, Eva discovers something sinister is going on in the idyllic colony. Both of the book in the series contain artwork that features Augmented Reality.

DiTerlizzi talked with CNN's Randi Kaye about the series and the latest book, which just arrived in bookstores. He says the series was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz. He says the world is actually Earth far in the future and not an alien planet. Ancient Greece and Rome served as his inspiration for New Attica. DiTerlizzi says his parents and teachers really encouraged his imagination, which enabled him to become "Kid's Book Guy." Take a look:

Photo: Simon & Schuster

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The Art of War Graphic Novel Tells of a Violent Future

Mon, 7 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins, has announced it will publish The Art of War: A Graphic Novel on July 31, 2012. The graphic novel was written by Kelly Roman and illustrated by Michael DeWeese. It is edited by Will Hinton.

The graphic novel, adapted from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, tells of a violent near-future when financial markets are militarized and China is the dominant economy. The book took six years to write and illustrate, with most of the pages hand-painted on watercolor paper.

A 50-page sample of the graphic novel can be read on the book's website. The following book trailer was also released. Take a look:

Image: HarperCollins

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New Library of Congress Book Features Historical Presidential Campaign Posters

Sat, 5 May 2012 21:00:00 EST

Presidential campaign posters are featured in a new book, Presidential Campaign Posters From the Library of Congress. Drawn from the Library's collection of more than 100,000 posters covering a wide variety of subjects, 100 ready-to-frame campaign posters about politicians from Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama are included in the book. Each of the posters is backed with historical commentary and additional artwork from their respective campaigns.

Media analyst Brooke Gladstone in the book's preface, "Political art is nothing less than an illustration of the skirmishes and stalemates that created and continue to animate the American experiment ... Fortunately, the Library of Congress has preserved all of these examples for future generations to see."

Some of the posters in the book show Andrew Jackson portrayed as a king to invoke voters' memories of royal rule; Jimmy Carter as a Christ-like savior of his nation; Gerald Ford as "The Fonz" ("Fordsie") keeping his cool against Reagan during the 1976 primaries; and Ronald Reagan as "Rambo" ("Ronbo") ready to attack communists. Others feature campaign slogans such as Dwight Eisenhower's "We Like Ike," "Nixon's the One," and Barack Obama's one-word message, "Hope."

Photo: Quirk Books

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Peter Bergen's Manhunt Details Ten Year Search for Osama Bin Laden

Wed, 2 May 2012 18:44:00 EST

CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen has a new book out about the ten-year search for Osama Bin Laden, called Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden--from 9/11 to Abbottabad. The book provides an inside account of the long search for bin Laden. Bergen had access to White House officials, CIA analysts, Pakistani intelligence, and military officials. Bergen was also granted exclusive access to the Abbottabad compound in which bin Laden lived his final years.

Bergen first met bin Laden in the middle of the night in a mud hut in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan in early 1997. In the course of that interview bin Laden surprised Bergen by declaring war on the United States on camera, the first time he had done so before a Western audience.

In the book, Bergen recounts the initial failures of the hunt for bin Laden, including the Battle of Tora Bora, where U.S. forces came close to capturing him only to see him slip away. He also covers the period of time when CIA resources and energy were redirected toward the Iraq War and the closing of the specialized bin Laden unit at CIA headquarters in 2005. In 2006, however, things turned around when Operation Cannonball put more American spies in Pakistan, and a group of tenacious analysts in the HVT (high-value target) section of the CIA - many of them women, despite the hypermasculine culture of the Agency - took a fresh look at all the clues to bin Laden's whereabouts. When, in 2009, a number of CIA employees and contractors were killed by an al-Qaeda suicide bomber posing as an informant, the Agency redoubled its focus on finding its nemesis.

Bergen says, "By the time bin Laden was killed, al-Qaeda was an ideological 'brand' long past its sell-by date and an organization in deep trouble. Bin Laden's successor is unlikely to turn things around, U.S. drone strikes continue to decimate the bench of al-Qaeda's commanders, and the popular revolts against the authoritarian regimes in the Middle East make it unlikely that al-Qaeda will be able to grab the reins of power."

Photo: Crown Publishing

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Uggie the Dog to Publish No Holds Barred Memoir

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:40:00 EST

Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books imprint will publish the autobiography of Uggie the Dog, who starred in the Oscar winning film The Artist. Uggie, who attended the White House Correspondents Dinner last night, will tell the story of his life from being an unwanted child to to achieving international stardom.

In the photograph, above Uggie is pictured posing backstage during the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 84th Academy Awards from the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26, 2012. It was a big night for Uggie and the rest of the cast of The Artist, which won Best Picture.

The book will be called Uggie -- My Story. The book will be written by biographer Wendy Holden. Uggie spent long hours sharing his story with Holden. The Jack Russell terrier was born in 2002. He was about to be sent to the pound by his own who thought he was too wild, when he was adopted by a dog trainer.

The book will tell of Uggie's time touring with a dog talent show, acting in Water for Elephants and The Artist, and his gig as a spokesperson for Nintendo. Uggie will dish the dirt about his co-stars, such as George Clooney, Jessica Simpson, Katy Perry and the love of his life, Reese Witherspoon. Uggie won't hold back. The publisher says he will reveal "his private demons and his life as a felon."

Uggie, said in a statement released by his owner/trainer Omar von Muller, "It has been an exciting year of non-stop travel and red carpets since the film festival season started and it will be a welcome break to sit with my co-writer, Wendy Holden, and tell her of my adventures. I'm very pleased my devoted agent, Alan Nevins, convinced me this was the next practical step in my career."

Jennifer Bergstrom, Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of Gallery Books, had this to say about her big get: "Uggie is the perfect author - not only does he have a scene-stealing personality and crowd-pleasing good looks, but he also knows how to sit, stay, and shake hands." Uggie's tell all will hit bookshelves in October, 2012.

Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.

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Valerie Harper to Publish Memoir With Gallery Books

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Simon & Schuster' Gallery Books imprint announced it will publish a memoir by actress Valerie Harper entitled I Rhoda Book. The book is scheduled for publication in January 2013.

In the memoir, Valerie reflects on the groundbreaking CBS series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and on the spin-off show Rhoda. She also talks about the pressures of helming her own sitcom, Valerie. Valerie also discusses her childhood in New Jersey and upstate New York to the beginnings of her acting career as a dancer and chorus girl on Broadway - performing alongside stars like Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason.

Valerie Harper says, "I Rhoda Book is the book I can't wait to write! Decades after The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda Morgenstern and Mary Richards are still alive in the minds of so many people. I get called Rhoda so often that I sometimes forget who's who. And what fun it will be to tell people that I wrote a book called I Rhoda Book!"

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Simon Cowell Issues Apology to His Family and Celeb Friends for Bombshells in His New Autobiography

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:44:00 EST

Simon Cowell issued an apology to his family and his famous friends for the revelations in his tell-all biography.

The Telegraph reports that Simon showed at the book launch party and said, "I want to publicly apologize to anybody I embarrassed because I have tried to keep my private life quiet a bit, and I do have to apologize to certain people and certain members of my family. That's the score."

The book, Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell was written by author Tom Bower with Cowell's cooperation. In the book Simon reveals he had an affair with Danni Minogue, that he despises Jennifer Lopez (although he's never met her), he considered having an affair with Paula Abdul but did not out of worry over the morning after drama, and that he was obsessed with Cheryl Cole.

Excerpts have been released in the British press and it really hit the fan after some of the bombshell revelations. Simon said, "I will be honest with you, I spent last week under a pillow in my bedroom. Newspapers were literally banned for a week. I always know how bad things are when my head of TV sends me these really sweet messages saying 'Are you OK', which means it's really bad."

The book is available now in the U.S. at Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere.

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Charlie Kaufman to Adapt Chaos Walking YA Series into Feature Film

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Deadline reports that Oscar winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Being John Malkovich) will adapt the first book in the Chaos Walking series into a new feature film. The bestselling young adult series is authored by Patrick Ness.

The first book in the series, The Knife of Never Letting Go, won a number of prestigious book awards. The book is set in the future on a distant planet colonized by humans. A war with the indigenous aliens leaves nearly all the human women dead and the men and animal infected with the Noise -- an infection that has caused all thoughts to be audible. It nearly drives everyone crazy. Young Todd Hewitt finds out some secrets about the Noise and ends up having to go on the run with his talking dog.

The series has quite a bit of violence and it's unlikely that it would have been considered for a movie adaptation if The Hunger Games hadn't paved the way for some more interesting, darker YA books being made into movies. Author Patrick Ness is thrilled that Kaufman was hired. He posted on his blog, "Yeah, I know. Seriously. I don't even know what to say next. Charlie Kaufman! I just can't tell you how excited I am about this news..."

We're also pretty excited and can't wait to see what Kaufman does with the material.

Photo: Candlewick

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Chemists Reveal What Makes Old Books Smell the Way the Do

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:05:00 EST

The aroma of old books is unmistakable, especially to a book lover. So what creates that heady, specific aroma that bibliophiles love so? Online bookseller AbeBooks posted an interesting video that explains recent findings by research chemists in England. Richard explains that books are made up of organic matter which reacts with heat, light and moisture and -- most importantly of all -- the chemicals used in its production. It is this reaction which causes the unique used books smell. Chemists at University College, London's The Bartlett Centre for Sustainable Heritage conducted research into the chemical cause of the old book odor. They concluded that old books release hundreds of volatile compounds into the air. The lead chemist described the smell as a "combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness."

Acid is what makes books decay, which is why books created with paper with a lot of acid in it (most of the 19th and 20th century works) are decaying rapidly. Some books have lasted 500 years, because of the purity and quality of the paper used. The best way to store your books is in a smoke-free, cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. Oh -- and never put a newspaper clipping in a book. The acid in the cheap newspaper accelerates decay. Take a look:

Via The Atlantic.

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Palomar Pictures Options Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden Series

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Independent film production company Palomar Pictures has optioned Blood of Eden, a new series from young adult author Julie Kagawa. The Immortal Rules, the first entry in the Blood of Eden series, will be published by Harlequin Teen on April 24, 2012.

The Immortal Rules is set in a future world where humanity, decimated by a deadly virus, exists primarily as a food source and slave class to an elite society of vampires. When a young woman, a survivor who dreams of the day humanity will rise up against their supernatural masters, is turned into a vampire, she is forced to choose between becoming what she despises or helping those who would destroy her.

Palomar principal Joni Sighvatsson says, "It's simply a great story with an electrifying heroine for the 21st century. It makes the series an ideal subject for a film adaptation. Julie's ability to familiarize the reader with this complex world in a few pages demonstrates the cinematic qualities of her imagination and complements my own sensibilities as a film producer."

Julie Kagawa says, "Joni does not take on a project unless he really loves it. He's thoughtful and established, and I know he's going to make a great movie that respects my material."

Photo: Harlequin

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James Patterson's Private Book Series Being Adapted for Television

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Sonar Entertainment and James Patterson Entertainment announced they will produce a new television series based on Patterson's bestselling book series Private. John McLaughlin (Black Swan) will write the two hour pilot script.

In a release the producers described the series: "The story follows former CIA agent Jack Morgan, who runs the world's most elite investigation firm. With maximum force and maximum discretion always guaranteed, Jack's staff of global investigators uses advanced forensic tools to make and break the cases that involve the secrets of the most influential people in the world."

Patterson had this to say about the adaptation, which he will executive produce: "My ultimate goal is to tell stories in television that fans love and want to come back to again and again. Television is the ideal medium to deliver that type of entertainment. Sonar represents the kind of collaborative television partner I want with creative vision and strong emphasis on innovative sales and marketing."

Steve Bowe, the president of James Patterson Entertainment, explained why they chose Sonar: "Sonar has an ability to turn popular literary works into major television programs and its vast international distribution network insures that we will reach our tens of millions of fans in every corner of the world."

Sonar is putting together a 13 episode first season package. There has been no word yet on casting or a director for the pilot.

Photo: Little, Brown and Company

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Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall Book Cover Art Revealed

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Simon & Schuster unveiled the book jacket for Arnold Schwarzenegger's autobiography, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, which will be published in October 2, 2012. The book is already available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

The book jacket art was first unveiled on Twitter this morning by Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger is having fans pin photograph suggestions for the back cover on Pinterest.

The book covers Schwarzenegger's journey to the United States from Austria. It also covers his bodybuilding career, which he began on the sands of Venice Beach. The book also covers Arnold's career in film and politics.

There was nothing specific mentioned in Simon & Schuster's press release, but the autobiography could contain information about Schwarzenegger's affair and separation from his wife, Maria Shriver. Simon & Schuster says in its release, "Proud of his accomplishments and honest about his regrets, Schwarzenegger spares nothing in sharing his amazing story." The word "regrets" could be a clue that the book mentions his marital troubles, or it could be regrets about anabolic steroids use.

Total Recall is also the name of a 1990 science fiction film Schwarzenegger starred in. Coincidentally, a remake of the film, starring Colin Farrell, will arrive in theaters in August.

Photo: Simon & Schuster

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Reading Is Fundamental Launches Book People Unite Campaign

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST

Reading is Fundamental (RIF), a children's literacy nonprofit, has launched Book People Unite, a new campaign to focus a spotlight on children's literacy nationwide. The campaign features many beloeved book characters. The PSA is a collaboration among RIF, the Library of Congress and the Ad Council and was created by Mother New York.

RIF says in low-income neighborhoods there is only 1 book for every 300 children. They also say only 32% of 4th graders read at a proficient level.

The following characters from books are included in the campaign: Pinocchio, Madeline, Greg (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Rip Van Winkle, LeVar Burton, Three Blind Mice, Humpty Dumpty, Curious George, Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Goldilocks and the three bears, Captain Ahab, Three Pigs, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Babar the Elephant, Mr Men, Little Miss, Mr Tickle, Little Miss Chatterbox, Mr Tall, Peter (The Snowy Day), The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Black Beauty.

Take a look:

Photo: Reading is Fundamental

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Pottermore Opens to Everyone

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST

Pottermore, J.K. Rowlings online Harry Potter universe, has opened up to everyone. The registration process requires a little bit of patience. They will assign you a username (to protect identities and ensure child safety). You will also have to confirm your registration by validating your email, but it is worth it once you are finished.

After you've signed up, you'll get sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses and you will have a wand choose you. J.K. Rowling and Sony have created an amazing online world to explore.

Here is a sneak peek clip:

Pottermore/Sony

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Elmo, Abby and Gordon Read at 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Elmo, Abby and Gordon read from Jon Stone's classic, The Monster at the End of this Book, at the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll. The book stars Grover who begs readers not to turn the pages because there is a monster at the end of the book. Elmo and Abby didn't like Gordon's Grover imitation at first, but he was an entertaining reader. They also didn't want Gordon turning the pages. Take a look:

Photo: Golden Books

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Jeff Kinney Reads From Diary of a Wimpy Kid at 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST

Author Jeff Kinney read from his popular novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, at the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll. Kinney told the crowd that a lot of the events in the book are based or inspired on things that happened to him as a kid. He had his two sons with him at the book reading. Take a look:

Photo: Amulet Books

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Rick Riordan's The Serpent's Shadow Gets 2 Million Copy First Printing

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) has announced a 2-million-copy first printing for Rick Riordan's The Serpent's Shadow. The book is the third and final book in the Kane Chronicles series. The novel has a national lay down date of May 1, 2012.

Rick Riordan will partake in a live webcast from the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium in San Jose, California, on Tuesday, May 1. The webcast will include a tour of actual Egyptian artifacts, a reading from the new book, and a chance to ask Rick live questions.

Riordan's first enhanced, interactive ebook, The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide - an illustrated guide to the Kane Chronicles series - was released this week on the iPad and Nook.

Photo: Disney Publishing Worldwide

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Readers Read Joins Pinterest

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:04:00 EST

Readers read has joined Pinterest. Pinterest is a social network that lets users create virtual pinboards about different subjects. Users can then pin their favorite articles, blog posts, book reviews and more to their pinboards using a graphic or photograph. You can find us on Pinternet here.

You can also get updates from Readers Read on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

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Cyndi Lauper to Publish Memoir With Atria Books

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:04:00 EST

Cyndi Lauper will publisher her memoir, Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir, with Atria Books. The book, written with journalist Jancee Dunn, will arrive in bookstores this fall. The book will detail Cyndi's tumultuous years growing up in Queens, the ups and downs of a career that has spanned over three decades, her conflicted feelings on fame and her advocacy of equality for all that led to the creation of her foundation, the True Colors Fund.

At 17, Cyndi left her chaotic home life with no prospects and no money. She took odd jobs at the racetrack and as an IHop waitress. She found refuge in music and moved from band to band, playing small gigs, before finally landing a solo deal. She got her break in 1983 with her hit, "She's So Unusual," which earner her a Grammy for Best New Artist.

Cyndi says, "Sometimes I come off good, sometimes not so good. But I never wanted this book to be anything but my truth. It's not about what people think of me, but what I learned along the way. And if telling the story of what I went through can help someone else, then it's worth it."

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Danielle Steel Talks Betrayal

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST

Danielle Steel stopped by Good Morning America to talk to Robin Roberts about her new novel, Betrayal. In Betrayal, a successful woman's seemingly perfect world is shattered when she faces embezzlement by the last person she would ever suspect. Danielle talked about her personal feelings experience with betrayal. Her former assistant stole over $750,000 from her.

Danielle says, "It's a huge shock and especially if you're embezzled, you have to get over feeling stupid because everyone looks at you like how could be so dumb you didn't know it was happening."

She says, "You have to get past it and trust people again." Danielle says she is writing lyrics now, a new experience for her, and she is loving the process. Take a look:

Photo: Random House, Inc.

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William Morrow to Publish Dwayne Wade's Memoir

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, has announced plans to publish a memoir by Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade. Wade will share insights on his life both on-and off- the court, with a large focus on fatherhood. The book is called, A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger than Basketball. It will be released on September 18, 2012.

In March 2011, Wade earned sole custody of his two young sons. Most recently, Dwyane teamed up with President Barack Obama to support his Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative, a national parenting program geared toward encouraging fathers to become more involved in the lives of their children.

Wade says, "As a child, I grew up with aspirations to one day be a professional basketball player, and I am living that dream every day as a proud member of the Miami Heat. However, the daily role I play in the lives of my two children is the single most significant undertaking of my life, and the job I take most seriously. While my basketball career has brought me many rewards - including an NBA Championship in 2006 and an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Games, my children are the two greatest gifts of my life."

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Simon & Schuster to Publish Children's Book Series Based on CSI

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

Simon Spotlight, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, is going to publish a children's series based on the CBS series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The book series will be named Club CSI. The first two books in the series, by Dave Lewman, will be released in April 2012.

The series features a crew of junior high school investigators inspired by their forensic science class to form a Club CSI to solve crimes and capers at school. The first books, Case of the Mystery Meat Loaf and Case of the Missing Moola, will be released simultaneously in hardcover and paperback. Author Dave Lewman has also penned additional titles for release later in the summer and beyond.

A launch event for the books will be held in April at CSI: The Experience, an exhibition at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The interactive exhibit challenges guests to solve one of three crime scenes using 15 forensic lab stations.

Photo: Simon & Schuster

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Cover for Lemony Snicket's New Book Released

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST

The cover art for Lemony Snicket's next book, Who Could That Be at This Hour? has been released. The book will debut October 23, 2012 with a one million copy print run. The book is the first in a four book series, All the Wrong Questions.

The book includes artwork by Seth, the pen name of Canadian cartoonist Gregory Gallant.

In a statement, Lemony Snicket said, "I suggest extreme caution. The distribution of this cover image should be on a need-to-know basis, limited to librarians, booksellers, readers, e-readers, educators, journalists, muck-rakers, bloggers, tweeters, men, women, and children."

Photo: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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Myke Cole Discusses His New Series, Shadow Ops

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:55:00 EST

Author Myke Cole discusses his new series, Shadow Ops. Army officer Oscar Britton is a lieutenant in the military's Supernatural Operations Corps (SOC). Britton's mission is to bring order in a world where people are waking up eoyj magical talents following an event called the Great Awakening. When Britton abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power himself he finds himself transformed from government agent into public enemy number one. Shadow Ops: Control Point is the first book in the series.

Cole says he has worked at the Pentagon and defense institutions, which taught him that there is a culture of conservatism, rigidity and internal suspicion in the military. He says this idea combined with his nerdiness - like thinking "what if there was an elf here" as he walked the halls of the Pentagon - helped provide the genesis for the series. Take a look:

Photo: Ace Books

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Harry Potter Ebooks Arrive on Pottermore

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

The ebook versions of the Harry Potter novels have finally arrived. The ebooks work with all leading ebook readers, tablets and smartphones, including Kindles and Nooks. They can only be purchased at shop.pottermore.com. If you try to buy the ebooks on Amazon.com or BN.com you are redirected to the Pottermore.com site, which is a first. To be able to control the destination where the Harry Potter ebooks are sold shows the power and reach of J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series.

Individual Harry Potter ebooks vary in price from $7.99 to $9.99. The complete set in ebook form costs $57.54. The launch of the ebooks and digital audio books was announced here in the Pottermore Insider.

Photo: Pottermore Limited

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Jewel to Publish Children's Picture Book

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST

Jewel has signed with Paula Wiseman Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, to publish a children's book. That's What I'd Do, a picture book and CD, will be published on September 18, 2012. The book is a gentle lullaby from a mother to a child. It features illustrations by artist Amy June Bates. Paula Wiseman will edit the book.

The book was inspired by the song "What I'd Do," music and lyrics by Jewel and Patrick Davis, from the bonus edition of the album The Merry Goes Round.

Jewel says, "I love to sing to my son, Kase, and I hope my first children's book, That's What I'd Do, will be shared with new babies in the same way. All children need the joy of music in their lives."

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Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson Attend Hunger Games Event at Barnes and Noble

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson have been traveling the globe promoting the film release of the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. This past week, Jennifer and Josh did an event at the Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City.

Fans of the series camped out for 24 hours before the special event, in which they could get an autograph and meet the stars of the film. In this video clip you can see Jennifer and Josh run the gauntlet of fans and press. Jennifer is wearing a gorgeous green silk Calvin Clein cocktail dress that she also wore to an earlier screening of the film. It was a long evening for the young stars, but they look happy to be there. The Hunger Games opened in theaters nationwide yesterday and looks like it's going to break box office records. Take a look:

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Scholastic to Publish Jeremy Lin Book for Kids

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST

Scholastic will publish a children's book about New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin. Jeremy Lin: Rising Star is geared to kids ages 8 and up. The book, written by James Buckley, Jr., chronicles Lin's rise from humble beginnings to his superstar status that has generated massive media attention and coined catch phrases like "linsanity" and "lincredible." The book will be published on April 1st.

The inspirational book traces Lin's years of hard work and practice - from his high school in Palo Alto, California, to his college hoop days at Harvard, to bouncing around the NBA, and finally his astounding performances with the New York Knicks.

Scholastic publisher Debra Dorfman says, "Jeremy Lin's story is that feel-good sports story that is surprising and uplifting. His hard work, determination, and perseverance serve as an inspiration to sports fans of all ages. Jeremy Lin is a role model and we look forward to publishing this."

Photo: Scholastic Corporation

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Wimpy Kid 7 to Arrive in November

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST

Amulet Books, a division of Abrams, has announced that the 7th Diary of a Wimpy Kid title will be released on November 13, 2012 in the U.S. The United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Greece, Japan, Korea, and Norway will release the book the day after. The popular series has sold over 75 million copies worldwide.

Author Jeff Kinney at the at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Kinney says, "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Greg Heffley's stories would be enjoyed by kids around the world. I'm incredibly excited to have the chance to lay down the seventh Diary of a Wimpy Kid book in seven countries at the same time. My international publishers have been supportive of the series from the very start, and it's great to be able to team up with them and create a special moment like this."

Photo: Abrams Books for Young Readers

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Cheerios Puts Six Million Children's Books Inside Cereal Boxes

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

Cheerios, Jennie Garth and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing have partnered to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its Spoonfuls of Stories program. The program will provide more than six million bilingual children's books free inside specially-marked cereal boxes.

Jennie Garth says, "Parents play a key role in helping their children become readers, which is why reading is a daily ritual in my family. As a mother and advocate for childhood literacy, I am proud to once again support the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories program, which has helped young children cultivate an interest in reading simply by providing access to books."

This books are appropriate for children ages three to eight. Here are the books included in Cheerios boxes this year:

Peeny Butter Fudge by Toni and Slade Morrison and illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Scott Magoon
Noodle & Lou by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Arthur Howard
If I Were a Jungle Animal by Amanda Ellery and illustrated by Tom Ellery
Hello Baby by Mem Fox and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Can I Just Take a Nap? by Ron Rauss and illustrated by Rob Shepperson

Photo: Cheerios/Business Wire

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William Morrow to Publish Tony La Russa's Memoir

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

William Morrow announced that it will publish the memoir of baseball manager Tony La Russa. The book will be called One Last Strike: Fifty Years in Baseball, Ten and a Half Games Back, and One Final Championship Season. The book will be published in the fall of 2012.

Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Development Lisa Sharkey said in a statement, "When it comes to baseball, Tony La Russa is legendary. He defines America's greatest pastime, and every season in his nearly fifty year-long pro baseball career primed him for the post season of 2011. This book is a must-read for sports fans everywhere,"

The publisher says that the book will reveal how La Russa's years of experience managing the St. Louis Cardinals helped lead the team to the 2011 World Series victory, despite all the injuries and setbacks the team encountered.

La Russa said, "This is a story, not only of dramatic moments, but how those dramatic moments were produced. This is a story about being ten and a half games out, a historic comeback and winning a World Series Championship as an underdog. People ask me 'how did you do it'? This book will explain how." Veteran journalist Rick Hummel will co-write the book.

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Amazon Says Suzanne Collins is Bestselling Kindle Author

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

The Hunger Games movie arrives in theaters on March 23rd. The box office is expected to be very big - at least $75 million. People were camping out overnight just to meet the stars of the film at the premiere. Interest in the movie has given the already popular books by Suzanne Collins an extra boost. Amazon revealed today that Suzanne Collins is the bestselling Kindle author of all time. Amazon has also set up a Hunger Game Store featuring the books, clothing, music, toys and other merchandise.

Jessica Schein, Amazon.com Young Adult Books Editor, says, "There's no denying that the Hunger Games has become a worldwide phenomenon, and we love that it all started with a great book. These books appeal to customers of all ages - adults and teens alike - and you can see from our Top 20 list they're captivating readers across the whole country. All three books in the trilogy are best sellers in print and on Kindle, and now our customers have made Suzanne Collins the best-selling Kindle author of all time."

Amazon also revealed the Top Hunger Games cities. These are the top cities after Amazon compiled sales data of all versions of the Hunger Games books, in both print and Kindle formats, on a per capita basis in cities with over 100,000 residents. Here are the top ten cities on the list:

Sunnyvale, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Tallahassee, FL
Seattle, WA
Orlando, FL
Pittsburgh, PA
St. Louis, MO
Provo, UT
San Francisco, CA
Naperville, IL

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Joe Hill Talks About His New Novel Horns

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

Joe Hill talks about his new novel, Horns. Hill says the story is about Ig, a decent guy who has always tried to do the right thing. When his girlfriend is killed and everyone suspects that he did it even though he is never charged with the crime. He goes in a downward spiral and wake up one morning and discovers he has grown horns and inherited the powers of the devil.

Hill says, "I sort of have this idea about the devil. He's really in every story. There's always a character who walks on stage and pulls the other characters towards what's worst in them."

Hill also reveals that he writes to music, including Kiss. He also says he wrote Horns for "money and chicks." Take a look:

Photo: HarperCollins

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Cassandra Clare to Publish Third Shadowhunters Series

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:11:00 EST

Cassandra Clare, author of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series, has signed an agreement with Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's, for a third young adult fantasy series featuring her Shadowhunters characters. The new series will be entitled The Dark Artifices.

There are currently more than six million copies Cassandra Clare's books in print in the US alone. Her books have also been translated into 35 foreign languages. Her debut novel, City of Bones, published in 2007, became a New York Times bestseller.

The first book in The Dark Artifices will be published in 2015. The series, set in present-day L.A., follows Emma Carstairs, the fiercest warrior and most skilled young Shadowhunter since Jace Wayland, and Emma's sworn partner in arms, Julian Blackthorn. Despite Emma's complicated feelings for Julian, the two must band together to investigate a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

Cassandra Clare says, "I know readers will come to love Emma, Mark, Cristina, and Julian just as they have loved Jace, Clary, Will, Tessa, and Jem. Readers have often asked what will happen in the Shadowhunter world after the events of The Mortal Instruments and this series will give them a chance to find out."

Photo: Simon & Schuster Children's

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Grand Central Acquires Cookbook by Chef Daniel Boulod

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

Grand Central Life & Style, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, has acquired a cookbook by New York-based French chef Daniel Boulud. The cookbook, My French Cuisine, is scheduled for publication in Fall 2013. Bill Buford, author of Heat, will contribute a foreword and several essays about Boulud and French cuisine.

Boulod will tell the story of his beginnings as a chef and his signature cooking at Restaurant Daniel. He will offer many recipes of dishes served at the restaurant. The book will also include a special section featuring iconic French dishes, grand classics that Boulud and Buford will cook together.

Boulod has written six other cookbooks, including Daniel's Dish: Entertaining at Home With a Four-Star Chef and Daniel Boulud's Cafe Boulud Cookbook.

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James Patterson Talks Guilty Wives

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

James Patterson talks about his novel, Guilty Wives, which comes out on March 26, 2012. Patterson wrote the novel with author David Ellis. The story is set in Monte Carlo. It involves four women who take a trip together and stay in a lavish resort. Things take a terrible turn when the four women end up thrown in prison for murder. Patterson says he has been to Monte Carlo a couple times. He says he did lots of research on French women's prisons for the novel. Take a look:

Photo: Little, Brown and Company

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The Lorax Pop-up Book Published to Coincide With Movie, Dr. Seuss's Birthday

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

Random House Children's Books has published The Lorax Pop-Up. The book was published in conjunction with the release of The Lorax movie on March 2, which was Ted Geisel's birthday. David Carter brought to life the Lorax, the Bar-ba-loots, the Truffula Tree Tufts and other creatures and scenes from the story in eight colorful pop-up spreads. Take a look:

Photo: Random House Children's Books

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Pottermore to Open in Early April 2012

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

Pottermore, an interactive website for the Harry Potter series, finally has a launch date. An announcement was posted on the Pottermore blog that says the site will open to everyone in early April 2012. The post acknowledges the delays have frustrated Harry Potter fans.

We know that the extended wait for those wishing to be part of Pottermore has been frustrating, and we'd like to thank you all for your patience so far.

Many of you are interested to know why we extended the original opening date beyond October of last year.

We always knew Pottermore would be incredibly popular, which is why we made the decision to only open to one million Beta users to begin with. We wanted to make sure that we had a really good understanding of how people want to use the site and which bits we'd need to modify before giving more people access.

The blog post also says they had to move Pottermore to an "entirely different platform set up," which attributed to the delays.

Here is a video of author J.K. Rowling's announcement of Pottermore from October. Take a look:

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Cee Lo Green to Publish Memoir in 2013

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST

Cee Lo Green has announced plans to publish his memoir. The currently untitled memoir will be published in 2013 by Grand Central Publishing. Cee Lo will write the book with Big Gipp and David Wild.

Cee Lo is a coach on NBC's The Voice. He won two Grammy Awards in 2012. He recently performed with Madonna during the Super Bowl halftime show. Cee Lo's single "F*** You" has sold over 7.5 million singles. The official video has nearly 66 million YouTube views.

Cee Lo says, "Talk about art imitating life? Enter into the super-natural, the surreal and the extra-ordinary that is Cee Lo Green you think this is by chance? Crazy? Forget You? After reading this book, there will be no doubt that I am meant to be. Cee Lo Green A.K.A 'everybody's brother' will make you a believer, not only in me, but also...yourself."

Photo: Art Streiber/NBC

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Astronaut Mark Kelly to Publish Children's Picture Book

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

Astronaut Mark Kelly has signed a deal with with Paula Wiseman Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, to publish a children's book inspired by the mice he traveled in space with. Mousetronaut: A Partially True Story will be illustrated by C.F. Payne. It will be published on October 9, 2012. Mousetronaut can be pre-ordered here on Amazon.com.

Astronaut Mark Kelly flew with little "mice-tronauts" on his first spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2001. Mousetronaut tells the story of a small mouse that wants nothing more than to travel to outer space. The little mouse works as hard as the bigger mice to show readiness for the mission . . . and is chosen for the flight! While in space, the astronauts are busy with their mission when only the smallest member of the crew can save the day.

Kelly says, "After traveling in space over five million miles with these very small space explorers, I take great pleasure in telling their story. While astronauts get all of the credit, we are really just part of a larger (or in this case smaller) team."

Kelly told ABC News that there were 18 mice on his first flight and one of them seemed to really enjoy the trip, while the others were clinging to their cage.

Mark Kelly was a captain in the United States Navy when he commanded the final mission of space shuttle Endeavour in May of 2011. A veteran of four space flights to the International Space Station, he is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and holds a masters degree from the US Naval Postgraduate School. As a naval aviator, Kelly flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Kelly's first book, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, was co-written with his wife Gabrielle Giffords in collaboration with Jeffrey Zaslow and was a New York Times bestselling memoir.

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Lemony Snicket to Launch Four Book Series in October

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers announced that a new four book series from children's author Lemony Snicket will launch in October. The new series, All the Wrong Questions, is described as an autobiographical account of Lemony's childhood. It will illustrated by artist Seth. The first book in the series, Who Could That Be at This Hour?, debuts on October 23, 2012 with a one million copy print run.

Lemony drew on events that took place during a period of his youth spent in a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, to write this new series. However, Snicket is not sure his new series will be interesting enough for readers. Lemony said in a statement, "these books are questionable and contain questions. I, for one, question why anyone would be interested in reading them."

Snicket and Little, Brown have also launched the mysterious LSATWQ.com website, which offers clues about the new series.

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Center Street to Publish Jeremy Lin Book in May

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:04:00 EST

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin has become the hottest name in sports over the past few weeks. The young Harvard graduate's sudden rise to fame has been widely covered in newspapers, tv and online. Coverage of Lin is now moving to books. There are already a few rushed ebooks about Lin on Amazon.com. Hachette Book Group announced today that its Center Street imprint will publish a Jeremy Lin book in May.

Jeremy Lin: The Reason for the Linsanity by Timothy Dalrymple will be published in May 2012. Dalrymple has interviews with Jeremy Lin over the past two years. He has followed the basketball phenom even before his emergence on the world stage. The book will chronicle Lin's early career as well as his impact on the Asian-American community.

Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin recently became a New York Knicks phenomenon and he's the NBA's first American-born player of Taiwanese descent. The book will chronicle Lin's high school, college and early career in the NBA with particular emphasis on the media explosion surrounding his success as starting guard with the Knicks. It will explore how Jeremy's Christian faith, family, education and cultural inheritance have contributed to his success. The book will also include interviews with basketball experts on Jeremy's future in the NBA, Asian-American thought leaders on the role of race in Jeremy's rise to stardom, and renowned Christian athletes and pastors on the potent combination of faith and sports.

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Stephen Colbert's Children's Book, I Am a Pole, Set for May 8 Release

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

Stephen Colbert's children's book, I Am a Pole (And So Can You!), is scheduled to be published on May 8, 2012. Jamie Raab, publisher of Grand Central Publishing, made the announcement.

Colbert said in a statement, "It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write a children's book. I hope the minutes you and your loved ones spend reading it are as fulfilling as the minutes I spent writing it."

Stephen Colbert read his book to Maurice Sendak during a hilarious interview last month. Sendak liked the book. This is part two of the interview, which includes Colbert reading the book. You can watch part one of the interview here. Take a look:

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Secrets of Sith Lords Unveiled in the Book of Sith

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

A cool Star Wars book has been released called Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side. The book, by Daniel Wallace, chronicles the history of the Sith. Five artifacts are included with the 160-page book. These include a scrap of Sith burial shroud, a Great Galactic War battle map, a diagram of Palpatine's master plan, an Empire propaganda poster and a note from Luke Skywalker. The book also comes with a Sith crystal and a Sith talisman. The book and the extras come in a Holocron case, which can be opened by touching a button.

The Daily got an early look at the book. Take a look:

Photo: 47North

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HarperCollins Acquires Rights to Amanda Knox Memoir

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

HarperCollins has announced it will publish a memoir by Amanda Knox. The book is tentatively scheduled for publication in 2013. Knox was charged with murder and incarcerated for four years in Perugia, Italy. She was acquitted of all charges after an appeal. The L.A. Times says Amanda Knox was paid $4 million for the book.

HaperCollins says Amanda Knox will share the truth about her terrifying ordeal in her book. She will give a full account of the events that led to her arrest in Perugia and her struggles with the complexities of the Italian judicial system. Aided by journals she kept during her imprisonment, Knox will also tell of her harrowing experience at the hands of the Italian police and later prison guards and inmates.

Jonathan Burnham says, "Many accounts have been written of the Amanda Knox case, and countless writers and reporters have speculated on what role, if any, was played by Knox in that tragic and terrifying sequence of events. No one has yet heard Amanda Knox's own account of what happened, and this book will give Knox an opportunity to tell the story in full detail, for the first time. It will be the story of a crime and a trial, but also a moving account of a young woman's struggle to cope with a nightmarish ordeal that placed her at the center of a media storm, and led to her imprisonment."

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Disney Announces One Million Copy First Print Run for Final Artemis Fowl Novel

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST

Disney Publishing's Disney-Hyperion imprint has announced a one-million copy first printing for The Last Guardian, the eighth and final book in the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. The book will be released on July 10th. A first chapter is available on artemistfowl.com.

In The Last Guardian, Artemis Fowl's arch rival Opal Koboi is wreaking havoc yet again. The evil pixie has somehow reanimated dead fairy warriors who were buried on the grounds of Fowl Manor. Their spirits have possessed Artemis's little brothers, Butler's sister, Juliet, and assorted forest animals. Artemis and Holly must outwit all of them and defeat Opal before the world is destroyed.

Eoin Colfer says, "Artemis Fowl has been like an imaginary son to me for more than a decade. I was determined to finish the series with an adventure that will leave fans happily exhausted."

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Scholastic Announces New Series by Maggie Stiefvater

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST

Scholastic has announced it will publish a new series, The Raven Cycle, by author Maggie Stiefvater. Stiefvater's Shriver trilogy has over 1.7 million books in print. The new series will begin with The Raven Boys on September 12, 2012.

The Raven Boys introduces readers to Richard "Dick" Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all - family money, good looks, devoted friends - but he's looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find Glendower will be granted a wish - either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart. Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die, but she is too practical too believe in true love. Blue's policy is to stay away from the rich boys - known as the Raven Boys - at the prestigious Aglionby Academy as they can only cause trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But now she's not so sure.

Maggie Stiefvater says, "I grew up on a diet of exceptional fantasy series for children - The Dark Is Rising, The Black Cauldron, A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia - and I've always wanted to write one of those sprawling epic sagas built from intimate moments. I sat on a draft of The Raven Boys for a decade, but it wasn't until I had the tools I learned from writing the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races that I knew how to do it."

Photo: Scholastic

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