Monday Fun Day! (3/11/2013 Edition)

Monday Fun Day! (3/11/2013 Edition)

Welcome back to the blog, librarians! We're kicking off the week with some most excellent news about a few of our fine debuts.

- Major congratulations to debut author Amelia Gray who's first novel, THREATS, is one of five finalists for the 2013 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction!! See all of the finalists here.

- In The New York Times Janet Maslin calls Becky Masterman's debut thriller, RAGE AGAIST THE DYING, "pulse-quickening," "scorching," and "invigorating." She says,

"In one final demonstration that she has learned the lessons of crime fiction well, Ms. Masterman hides important evidence in the unlikeliest place: within plain sight. But this book is too cleverly manipulative for readers to get ahead of Brigid in making such startling discoveries."

opens in a new windowIndie NextRead the full article, "This ‘Granny’ Can Dish It Out," now.

Library Journal and Publishers Weekly each gave Masterman's debut a starred review and it has been selected as a March Indie Next Pick! This title will be available tomorrow from Minotaur Books.

- Chista Parravani was interviewed on NPR's All Things Considered about her debut memoir, HER, in which she comes to terms with her twin's premature death. Listen or read "A Twin Carries On Alone In 'HER: A Memoir'" at NPR.org.

- And finally: cats being jerks. As per usual.

opens in a new windowcats being jerks vid

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THREATS Longlisted for the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize!

THREATS Longlisted for the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize!

"CURL UP ON MY LAP. LET ME BRUSH YOUR HAIR WITH MY FINGERS. I AM SINGING YOU A LULLABY. I AM TESTING FOR STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS IN YOUR SKULL."

That's just one threat from Amelia Gray's haunting debut novel, THREATS, which has been longlisted for the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize

fsgAccording to their website the Dylan Thomas Prize is "an international literary award aimed at encouraging raw creative talent worldwide. Established in response to the enormous international phenomenon of new writing by young authors, the Prize recognises the obvious ambitions of those writers as reflected in the marked popularity of creative writing classes."

See the press release and full longlist here

Congratulations, Amelia! The shortlist will be announced in September; we'll have our fingers crossed until then.

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AAP Sneak Peek Success!

AAP Sneak Peek Success!

Yesterday's AAP Librarians' Sneak Peek Book Preview was the perfect way to spend a rainy Wednesday!

Of the titles I presented (see below), THE INQUISITOR, THREATS, TRIGGERED, and MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND prompted the strongest audience reactions (mostly ooo's, ewww's, and oh my's!). Join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag: #aapbookbuzz!

Macmillan's Titles:
  • LOVE IN A NUTSHELL | Evanovich, Janet | 978-0-312-65131-2 
  • COME HOME | Scottoline, Lisa | 978-0-312-38082-3 
  • HOME FRONT | Hannah, Kristin | 978-0-312-57720-9
  • ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART | Green, Jane | 978-0-312-59182-3 
  • THE INQUISITOR | Smith, Mark Allen | 978-0-8050-9426-8
  • AVAILABLE DARK | Hand, Elizabeth | 978-0-312-58594-5
  • HEART OF A KILLER | Rosenfelt, David | 978-0-312-59837-2
  • ASHES TO DUST | Sigurdardottir, Yrsa | 978-0-312-64174-0; 978-1-250-00493-2
  • CLOUDLAND | Olshan, Joseph | 978-1-250-00017-0
  • THE MAN FROM PRIMROSE LANE | Renner, James | 978-0-374-20095-4
  • THREATS | Gray, Amelia | 978-0-374-53307-6
  • THE CAT SITTER’S PAJAMAS | Clement, Blaize | 978-0-312-64313-3
  • NO COOPERATION FROM THE CAT | Babson, Marian | 978-0-312-33240-2
  • GYPSY BOY | Walsh, Mikey | 978-0-312-62208-4 (YA crossover)
  • TRIGGERED | Wortmann, Fletcher | 978-0-312-62210-7 (YA crossover)
  • THE STARBOARD SEA | Dermont, Amber | 978-0-312-64280-8 (YA crossover)
  • HEMLOCK GROVE | McGreevy, Brian | 978-0-374-53291-8 (YA crossover)
  • JOE GOLEM AND THE DROWNING CITY | Mignola, Mike | 978-0-312-64473-4 (YA crossover)
  • MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND | Hale, Shannon | 978-1-60819-625-8
  • THE DARKENING FIELD | Ryan, William | 978-0-312-58651-5
  • CHILDREN OF WRATH | Grossman, Paul | 978-0-312-60191-1

BOOKS FOR TEENS | See info under Books for Teens

There should be a partial recording of the event out soon (unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties near the end), so stay tuned!

We owe a big thanks to Becca of the AAP and Erica at Random House for putting the event together and to all the librarians that came out and joined us!

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