Marti's Monthly Update - What’s New This Month!
October - What’s new this month?
This is a big seasonal time for publishing books. There is a big push to get out the new books and have them on the shelves ready for people to buy for Christmas presents. After all a book is a great gift!
Wally Lamb has a new book out this month called, We are Water. Once again he has written about families both new and old and the secrets that come out. Anne Oh changes her life and leaves her marriage and children surprised as she plans to wed Viveca. The story is told in many voices and leads you to seeing how families struggle to find hope and forgiveness.
Jhumpa Lahiri has a new book out called The Lowland. She has written a novel about two brothers and how their lives seem to be so much the same and separate until a tragedy brings one brother home to find out what happened to his brother.
Scott Turow has a new mystery/thriller out called Identical. It is a story of two brothers and the death of a girl friend. The Book description by the publisher says that, “it is a complex web of murder, sex, and betrayal-as only Scott Turow could weave-dramatically unfolds...”
Chris Matthews new book is, Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked. This is a nonfiction book about how two of the greatest politicians and political opponents worked together for the good of the country. An interesting book published in interesting times.
Amy Tan has a new book out called The Valley of Amazement. The book is about three generations of women and the things that happen to them. The book is set in China, Singapore and San Francisco. Her characters explore the mother daughter boundaries in this saga.
Jamie Ford’s new book is called The Songs of Willow Frost. The book revolves around the story of an orphan as he seeks out his mother in a journey thru Seattle during the Great Depression.
September
I have always wondered about what we creative talents are passed on in families. I wonder if I can sew and crochet because of my grandmother and her sisters who were constantly creating afghans and quilts. I wonder if I am such a reader because both of my parents enjoyed reading. All three of us sisters write. (Nancy a book –It’s Not About the Hike, Anne a blog- AnneLyze, and me -marjay.simplesite.com). I carried the wondering to another step. Are some of the writers in our world today descendents to other writers? I ran across some interesting answers.
Sir Walter Scott is well known for the classics he wrote. Ivanhoe and Lady of the Lake are two of his famous works. Scott O’Dell was his ancestor. Scott O’Dell is famous for his children’s books like the Island of the Blue Dolphins and My Name is not Angelica and Zia. There are a lot of years and generations separating them.
Another example would be Joe Hill and Steven King. Their family connection is much closer. Stephen King is the father and Joe Hill is the son. Both are writers with Steven King being better known at this point with It, Carrie and The Shining. Joe Hill published under a pseudonym so he could be recognized for his writing – not for being Steven King’s son. He has shown success with his new novel NOS4A2. He has won awards for his fantasy writing and is known for writing a comic book series. Interestingly enough when I was researching them, I discovered that another son Owen also writes.
Liza Klaussmann is the great-great-great granddaughter of Herman Melville. Melville is famous for Moby-Dick and Billy Budd. Liza Klaussman’s first book was published in paperback in June of this year. It is called Tigers in Red Weather, a book that I found to be really good. My blurb on the book: “Family dynamics are often strange and muddled, especially when witnessed from the perspective of each member. Old histories with resentment and fear do not stay hidden, but come bubbling to the surface in inopportune times.”
Jodi Picoult is famous for her stories about families and relationships. Some books are The Storyteller and Her Sister’s Keeper. Her daughter, Samantha van Leer just finished co-writing a book with her mom. The book is called Between the Lines and is a YA book.
On Sunday, September 15th at 1, MainStreet BookEnds will host Martha White. She has published a book about her grandfather E.B. White. E. B. White is known to children all over with his famous book Charlotte’s Web. The blurb that describes the book: “In E. B. White on Dogs, his granddaughter, Martha White, has compiled the best and funniest of his essays, poems, letters, and sketches depicting over a dozen of White’s various canine companions... Some previously unpublished photographs from the E. B. White Estate show the family dogs, from the first collie, to various labs, Scotties, dachshunds, half-breeds, and mutts, all well-loved.” You might want to check it out.
I guess writing is passed down too.
Remember to stop in and check out the staff picks.
August
My favorite genre of all times is Romance... It can be historical, present day, or futuristic. It can be paired with a murder, mystery, wedding, or a secret. It can be rich or poor, black or white, red or green, uptown or down town. Romance is my favorite.
Some people do not have a good reaction when they see you reading romance. They say things like – “oh, you are reading that” or “I prefer books with more meat” or “I prefer more intellectually stimulating books” or “that is okay for some people”. My answer to all of them is have at it. I am happiest when a book ends Happily Ever After. I am happiest when a book tells a story that brings me away to anther time/place and teaches me yet again that there is love. I am happiest when I am reading a novel with characters that are not perfect but manage to open their hearts to someone.
Yes, some people believe that these books are fairy tales and therefor unrealistic. Bring them on – I say! Why should everything in our world be negative with death, violence and hatred. I think Romance novels can open eyes and give confidence. I think they can help people escape from the drabness of their world. I think they give hope: a commodity in short supply for many people.
This month is Read-a-Romance Month to help celebrate romance novels. Find hope, love, comfort, joy and laughter in the pages of a book!
Some of the best that have new books out right now:
Susan Mallery: Three Little Words
Susan Wiggs: The Apple Orchard
Barbara Delinsky: Sweet Salt Air
Linda Lael Miller: Big Sky Summer
Jill Shalvis: It had to be You
Robyn Carr: The Newcomer
More great romance authors:
Laura Griffin, Lisa Kleypas, Kristan Higgens, Eloise James, Grace Burrowes, Kristen Ashley, Jennifer Probst, Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Elin Hilderbrand and many many more
No comments:
Post a Comment