Reviews and Publicity - Macmillan Library

Two Stars for Dark Jenny

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Alex Bledsoe continues his mysterious and scandal-riddled Eddie LaCrosse series with DARK JENNY, where once again classic fantasy meets hard-boiled detective fiction (after THE SWORD-EDGED BLONDE and BURN ME DEADLY). This case brings us back to Eddie's early years to solve an Aurthurian-type court murder and reviewers are delighted.

"Bledsoe’s clever combination of noir and myth makes for an engaging story, and placing investigator Eddy at the center offers a fresh twist. Bledsoe’s characters are especially memorable, including Dave Agravaine, a bully who likes to hit women; overweight and overworked but loyal Bob Kay; and Marc’s nephew, Dread Ted Medraft—not to mention the giggleweed-smoking Kern. Fans of Bledsoe’s other blends of fantasy and noir will love his latest, and new readers will be able to jump right in. Try suggesting this to fans of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files." —Booklist, Starred Review

"The mystery and its ramifications for the Grand Bruan royals will seem familiar to readers of Thomas Malory, but Bledsoe skillfully combines humor, action, deduction, and emotion to make the material fresh and engaging for fans of both fantasy and noir." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Chat with Alex Bledsoe (@AlexBledsoe) on Twitter!

Enter to win one of five copies available on the GoodReads giveaway page! [...]

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Gone with a Handsomer Man Book Trailer

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Author Michael Lee West has put together a delightful book trailer for her soon to be released debut mystery, GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN.

Teeny Templeton believes that her life is finally on track. She’s getting married, she’s baking her own wedding cake, and she’s leaving her troubled past behind. And then? She finds her fiancé playing naked badminton with a couple of gorgeous, skanky chicks. Needless to say, the wedding is off. Adding insult to injury, her fiancé slaps a restraining order on her. When he’s found dead a few days later, all fingers point to Teeny...

Janet Evanovich says, “Gone with a Handsomer Man is fun, funny, and fabulous!” and Publishers Weekly assures us, "Readers will look forward to more helpings of Teeny Templeton."

Watch the trailer on YouTube or GoodReads!

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Del Quentin Wilber on Tour

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Award-winning reporter for The Washington Post, Del Quentin Wilber, goes on tour tomorrow with his definitive account of the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan.

Catch Wilber with RAWHIDE DOWN at Politics & Prose tomorrow at 7pm. Not in DC? Catch him in another state! See the entire tour schedule here.

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Drinking with Miss Dutchie Reviewed

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Ali Fisher

In today's divine-as-ever issue of Shelf Awareness the gurus ran a charmed book review for Ed Breslin's memoir, DRINKING WITH MISS DUTCHIE.

The reviewer says it's more than a memoir, "This is a meditation on grief, alcoholism, loss, destructive behavior and the author's love for his wife, along with occasional rants about things he finds unconscionably stupid and, most of all, his inordinate love for the dog who helped transform his life."

Read the full review here!

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Vote for Burned: A Children’s Choice Book Award Nominee!

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Ali Fisher

It's time to tally up your students' votes for Book of the Year, Author of the Year, and Illustrator of the Year for the Children's Choice Book Awards! We're delighted to see that BURNED, a House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, is nominated for the 7th-12th grade category. You can read Chapter One by clicking here.

How Voting Works:

You can tally up votes and send them in on the teachers, librarians, & booksellers page here: www.bookweekonline.com/voting/teachers

Or, you can send teens directly to the teen voting page here: www.bookweekonline.com/voting/7-12

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Reading for the Ides of March

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Friends, readers, countrymen,

The Ides of March is upon us! Flavorwire has pulled together a list of "books on treachery and deceit in honor of this fateful day in history. The books fall into two categories: military and strategic deceit, or duplicitous relationships. Many times, though, there are components of both at work. All is fair in love and war, we suppose."

Their list includes Tristan Garcia's Prix de Flore winner, HATE: A ROMANCE. It is, indeed, a novel in which love turns to hate and fidelity turns to betrayal, in both affairs of the heart and politics. If this book is in your TBR pile, today's the day to flip to chapter one! [...]

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Interview with Stefanie Pintoff

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Ali Fisher

After adding a big ol' red star to their glowing review of SECRET OF THE WHITE ROSE, Publishers Weekly asked author Stefanie Pintoff a few questions about her early 20th-century NYC mysteries.

Pintoff says, "For SECRET OF THE WHITE ROSE, I wanted to explore the anarchist threat that was part of early 1900s New York City, creating a time of uncertainty much like the present, where we live with the constant threat of terrorism."

And how does she write period pieces with such rich details? "Like most historical writers, I use a variety of sources, from libraries to contemporary newspapers to old photograph collections."

Pintoff also talks about which came first, plot or characters, and who she considers to be her literary role models. Read the full Q&A here! [...]

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Eaarth: A ‘Books for a Better Life’ Award Winner

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Ali Fisher

In his recent release, EAARTH, Bill McKibben argues that we've created, in very short order, a new planet, still recognizable but fundamentally different, and it's now time to scale back and create a sustainable society that can weather futher change.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has selected this book as the winner of their Books for a Better Life Award in the Green category! If you would like a copy, I have a few available! Shoot me an email (subject: Eaarth) to: library at macmillanusa dot com.

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Spring 2011 Mystery Announcements Webcast Available

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Ali Fisher

Did you miss Library Journal's Spring 2011 Mystery Announcements last Thursday? Don't fret, the entire webcast is now archived and available for your listening pleasure!

Catch all the hottest mystery releases from Macmillan, HarperCollins, and Crème de la Crime. Simply click the box below*:

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Sartorial Friday: Hats & Breeches

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Ali Fisher

HATS!
by Sarah Cant
Cloches! Trilbies! Pillboxes! Coolies! A hat for every mood and outfit. Deceptive surname aside, Sarah Cant shows how you can, in fact, master a range of classic and tailored hat designs. Not only does Sarah help you master the basics, she also shows how modifications on the design can be made successfully for personalized creations. Flappers rejoice! There's even instructions on attaching feathers and beading.

THE VICTORIAN TAILOR, AN INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD TAILORING
by Jason Maclochlainn
And for the semstress that swoons over petticoats, pantalettes, and crinolines, Jason Maclochlainn has made it easy to recreate your favorite late 19th century fashions. Not only are there patterns for capes, waistcoats, and the like, Maclochlainn also includes tips on which fabrics to pick, which stitching techniques to use, and fills in some historical context. Perfect for tea parties and steampunk conventions. (available 3/15/2011)

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