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Friday Reads (10/4/13 Edition)

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Anne Spieth

We're so happy it's October! Talia’s already in Halloween mode and Anne is getting caught up on a gem in today's #FridayReads:

Talia "the terror" Sherer is sinking her teeth into:

WHERE MONSTERS DWELL by Jørgen Brekke
The corpse of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum curator in Virginia is found flayed in his office by the cleaning staff; the corpse of an archivist at the library in Trondheim, Norway is found inside a locked vault used to store delicate and rare books. Richmond homicide detective Felicia Stone and Trondheim police inspector Odd Singsaker find themselves working on similar murder cases, committed the same way, but half a world away. And both murders are somehow connected to a sixteenth century palimpsest book—The Book of John—which appears to be a journal of a serial murderer back in 1529 Norway, a book bound in human skin. A runaway bestseller in Norway that's been sold to over fourteen countries, WHERE MONSTERS DWELL is one of the most anticipated English language crime fiction debuts in years.

Anne’s getting nosy with her neighbors with:

THE AFFAIRS OF OTHERS by Amy Grace Loyd
Loyd’s mesmerizing debut novel about a young widow who rediscovers passion when she’s drawn into the lives of her Brooklyn apartment building’s tenants was a September Indie Next pick and received rave reviews from Entertainment Weekly (A-), O Magazine (“forceful”), and Redbook (“stunningly rendered” and a Sept. book club pick). Library Journal’s Barbara Hoffert named it one of her “Don’t Miss” debuts in the October 1 issue so you know it’s a standout.

Let us know what you're reading this weekend. Share your #FridayReads with us @MacmillanLib. Happy weekend and happy reading!

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Monday Fun Day – Hot Debuts & Book Fashion

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Anne Spieth

Hello friends! Did you have a nice weekend? We did. We're rested and ready to share more awesome news with you this week, starting with the Spring 2014 Indies Introduce program.

The Indies Introduce list consists of titles from 10 Adult and 10 Children's debut authors, all chosen by booksellers as the best in new talent for the upcoming season, and two terrific Macmillan titles made the cut:

THE WIVES OF LOS ALAMOS by TaraShea Nesbit
Bold and emotionally charged, THE WIVES OF LOS ALAMOS is told in the collective voices of the wives of the men who created the atom bomb. Mostly in their mid-twenties and hailing from around the country, the women arrived in New Mexico ready for adventure. What they found was anything but—they lived in barely finished houses in a rugged military town encircled by barbed wire. Though they were strangers, they joined together adapting to a landscape as fierce as it was absorbing, forging friendships and creating families and a true community all amidst intense secrecy and chaos of the war. Think THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY meets THE ASTRONAUT WIVES' CLUB, only fiction.

“In this fascinating and artful debut, TaraShea Nesbit gives voice to the women closest to one of gravest and most telling moments in our collective history: the development and testing of the nuclear bomb at Los Alamos. Tender and mundane details of marriage and domesticity quietly collide with the covert and solemn work at hand. With chilling implications and charged, sure-footed prose, this is a novel—and writer—of consequence.” — Paula McLain, author of THE PARIS WIFE

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler
Hank, Leland, Kip and Ronny were all born and raised in the small town of Little Wing, Wisconsin and are now coming into their own (or not) as husbands and fathers. One stayed while others left to make good, with varying degrees of success. Seamlessly woven into their patchwork is Beth, whose presence among them—both then and now—fuels the kind of passion one comes to expect of love songs and rivalries. Now all four have returned to Little Wing in hopes of finding their place in the world. SHOTGUN LOVESONGS explores the age-old question of whether or not you can ever truly come home again and the kind of steely faith and love returning requires.

"This debut, told in the alternating voices of four lifelong friends, could do for Wisconsin farm towns what THE LAST PICTURE SHOW did for Texas football towns. Living with the main characters under the microscope that is small-town life, we experience their heartbreaks, successes, failures, loves, and losses. This novel is crafted with heart-wrenching sorrow and joy, displaying the pain and beauty possible when relationships carry from childhood into adulthood." — Kelly Estep, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville KY

Before we get into 2014, don’t forget that tomorrow is the deadline to submit your LibraryReads nominations for November titles! We offer our suggestions here.

BONUS FUN: Check out this cool library dress we found!
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Starred Reviews for The Edge of Normal

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Ali Fisher

"This is a book you won’t soon forget."
—Chevy Stevens

Carla Norton, author of the #1 New York Times nonfiction bestseller PERFECT VICTIM (which, by the way, the FBI have on their Behavioral Sciences Unit reading list!), has written her debut novel and it's a scalp-tingling psychological thriller called THE EDGE OF NORMAL!

In many ways, Reeve LeClaire looks like a typical twenty-two year old girl. She’s finally landed her own apartment, she waitresses to pay the bills, and she wishes she wasn’t so nervous around new people, but Reeve is anything but normal. Ten years ago she was kidnapped and held captive. After a lucky escape, she’s spent the last six years trying to rebuild her life—a recovery thanks in large part to her indispensable therapist Dr. Ezra Lerner. But when he asks her to help another girl rescued from a similar situation, Reeve realizes she may not simply need to mentor this young victim—she may be the only one who can protect her from a cunning predator who is still out there.

"Norton skillfully keeps the suspense taut with myriad surprises while giving a tender look at victims whose ordeals are rehashed by lawyers, the media, and pop psychologists. Reeve’s realistic maturation into a woman who refuses to remain a victim adds to the intriguing story. 100,000-copy first printing." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Norton has created a page-turner with well-developed characters, a truly horrible villain, and the psychological depth of Jonathan Kellerman at his best." —Booklist (starred review)

"Winner of a Royal Palm Literary Award for best unpublished mystery, this nail-bitingly delicious tale will be a treat for psychological thriller fans." —Library Journal (starred review)

"Norton skillfully develops her tricky subject, gradually shifting from an emphasis on its tabloid aspects to a close identification with the victim/heroine in a story of justice served by the one who deserves it most." —Kirkus Reviews

if you want "wrenching" read Carla Norton's EDGE OF NORMAL #readadv

— Talia Sherer (@taliasherer) August 2, 2013

@PublishersWkly interviewed @CarlaJNorton about her amazing debut novel, THE EDGE OF NORMAL: "We write what we fear" http://t.co/hdT1zQSDsD

— Minotaur Books (@MinotaurBooks) July 19, 2013

Get whitelisted and download an e-galley from Edelweiss now!

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Debut Novels that Kirkus LOVES!

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Ali Fisher

Kirkus Reviews recently posted a list of "11 Debut Novels We Love."

They said "There’s an unmitigated joy when you’re there watching right at the beginning of a writer’s career" and we couldn't agree more, so we're re-posting the three excellent Macmillan debuts that they looove here:

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FOUR Starred Reviews for THE NIGHT GUEST

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Ali Fisher

Fiona McFarlane's debut, THE NIGHT GUEST, (which you may recognize as our cover of the month from June!) is the suspenseful story of Ruth, a widow living alone and isolated in a beach house on the southern coast of Australia, and the mysterious arrival of Frida who claims to be a care worker sent by the government. THE NIGHT GUEST is already getting stellar reviews.

UPDATE: FOUR STARRED REVIEWS AND MAJOR MEDIA FOR THE NIGHT GUEST!

ABA’s Debut Dozen Fall 2013
October 2013 Indie Next List
Amazon Big Books of Fall 2013
Amazon Best Books of the month October 2013
Bookish – Must Read Fiction, Fall 2013
The Millions “Most Anticipated” Preview
Vogue.com – Fall’s Guilty Reading Pleasures
Oprah.com Fall Reading List for Book Clubs

"An enrapturing debut novel that toys with magical realism while delivering a fresh fable. McFarlane’s rendering of Ruth’s interior is quiet and exacting, and she builds suspense so gently that the danger is, at first, hardly noticeable."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This book is at once a beautifully imagined portrait of isolation and an unsettling psychological thriller." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Gothic in sensibility, with a touch of magic realism, this novel feels at once like a classic and a fresh, original tale . . . Fans of psychologically oriented Scandinavian fiction should feel a familiar draw to this first novel, which is already creating significant buzz around the globe.”
—Library Journal (starred review)

“McFarlane’s crisp, clean prose is a pleasure to read.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Enthralling... This stellar debut will haunt you—and remind you to call your mother.”
—Entertainment Weekly (A-)

“A novel of uncanny emotional penetration... What makes THE NIGHT GUEST especially unnerving is the way it immerses the reader in a mind that is slowly slipping its moorings. You’re in [Ruth’s] head, and that head gets less and less sound as the novel progresses, but it’s a strangely delightful place to be, for all the darkness surrounding it.” —Laura Miller, Salon

“Mesmerizing.” —Nylon

“[A] striking debut.” —Megan O’Gray, Vogue.com

With review coverage still to come from the New York Times Book Review, People Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Barnes and Noble Review, The Rumpus, and many more!

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Starred Reviews for Sea Change

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Ali Fisher

Krakens and witches and bandits, oh my!

S. M. Wheeler's incredible girl-and-her-kraken fantasy debut, SEA CHANGE, is inspiring the most heartfelt and awestruck reviews.

The Story:

The unhappy child of two powerful parents who despise each other, young Lilly turns to the ocean to find solace, which she finds in the form of the eloquent and intelligent sea monster Octavius, a kraken. In Octavius’s many arms, Lilly learns of friendship, loyalty, and family. When Octavius, forbidden by Lilly to harm humans, is captured by seafaring traders and sold to a circus, Lilly becomes his only hope for salvation. Desperate to find him, she strikes a bargain with a witch that carries a shocking price.

The Reviews:

"Wheeler’s stunning debut is a sophisticated fantasy whose lush descriptions, lyrical dialogue, and engaging structure are reminiscent of the very best fairy tales. [...] With an almost poetic sensibility, Wheeler explores gender, sexuality, friendship, and love, offering up complex characters and emotional depth all laced with subtle magic." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Wheeler’s truly original, fanciful, and transformative story will delight fantasy lovers of all types, as well as those readers attached to coming-of-age narratives and feminist sf." —Library Journal (starred review)

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Download The Bone Season Now!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Ali Fisher

Librarians, the Bloomsbury USA team is eager to approve your NetGalley requests for Samantha Shannon's epic futuristic debut, THE BONE SEASON! This is book one in a seven part saga that will appeal to both teen and adult Fantasy readers.

In the year 2059 several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others' minds. When Paige is arrested and sent to the prison for clairvoyants she is assigned to a Rephaite keeper who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master and her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

Check out the book trailer on YouTube.

"Not only has Shannon dynamically and shrewdly imagined every element of this spooky yet earthy world-at-war, from its unforgiving hierarchy to vile if essential herbal concoctions, encounters with monstrous predatory creatures, and the terror of 'spirit combat,' she has also tapped into the timeless wellsprings of fear and prejudice, repression and resistance. The result is a dazzlingly brainy, witty, and bewitching tale of outrageous courage, heroic compassion, transcendent love, and the quest for freedom." —Booklist (starred review)

Download the e-galley:

Request THE BONE SEASON from its NetGalley page (link). So long as you have your title and current employer in your profile bio, you will be approved. Please contact me if you have any trouble!

While you're waiting for approval you can start by reading an excerpt on THE BONE SEASON Facebook page.

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Spring 2013 Debut Chapter E-Sampler for Librarians

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Ali Fisher

The excellent team at St. Martin's Press has put together a great chapter sampler of their hot Spring 2013 debuts. And it's only available to librarians!

We would love to have you take a peek at the work of these new writers and give them a chance in your libraries.

Download the sampler from Netgalley now: http://bit.ly/Spring2013Sampler

**Expect approval in 24-48 hours. Be sure your professional information is included in your profile!

Titles include:

THE WEIGHT OF A HUMAN HEART by Ryan O'Neill
REVIVER by Seth Patrick
FOAL PLAY by Kathryn O'Sullivan
CLAWS OF THE CAT by Susan Spann
FLAT WATER TUESDAY by Ron Irwin
THE LAST LINE by Anthony Shaffer and William H. Keith
THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS OF SHIPWRECK LANE by Kelly Harms
SON OF ZEUS by Noble Smith
PAINTED HANDS by Jennifer Zobair
BLOOD ORANGE by Karen Keskinen
MURDER, SHE RODE by Holly Menino
THE CARETAKER by A .X. Ahmad
CUT THRUOGH BONE by Alaric Hunt

Let us know what you think of the new kids!

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Starred Reviews for A GOOD DEATH

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Ali Fisher

Award winning journalist Christopher Cox has delivered a nail-biting debut mystery that will take your patrons through the side streets of Bangkok and across violent Lao hill county and the reviews are spectacular.

Damon is a sharp-witted and likeable though down-on-his-luck Boston PI who catches an intriguing case. Linda Watts is a beautiful, talented Lao immigrant with a promising career—or she was, until she turns up dead in a cheap Bangkok guest house. Her death seems like a straightforward overdose to the Thai authorities, but her insurance company isn’t buying it. They hire Sebastian to travel halfway around the world to investigate.

"Cox’s action-packed debut is perfect for armchair travelers who will be amazed by the author’s ability to make gaudy Bangkok and the remote hill country of Laos come alive." -Library Journal (starred review)

"A GOOD DEATH is another example of the only positive to emerge from the Vietnam War—fine writing." -Booklist (starred review)

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Featured Review: Little Known Facts

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Ali Fisher

We're excited to see that the featured fiction review in the most recent American Libraries Direct newsletter (10/24) is LITTLE KNOWN FACTS, a debut by Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist Christine Sneed!

lkf

The verdict of the review says it best,

"As Sneed illuminates each facet of her percussively choreographed plot via delectably slant disclosures––overheard conversations, snooping, tabloids, confessions under duress, and journal entries, among them—she spotlights 'little known facts' about the cost of fame, our erotic obsession with movie-star power, and where joy can be found." -Booklist (starred review)

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Talia "the terror" Sherer is sinking her teeth into:

Anne’s getting nosy with her neighbors with:

BONUS FUN: Check out this cool library dress we found! [...] Know More...

UPDATE: FOUR STARRED REVIEWS AND MAJOR MEDIA FOR THE NIGHT GUEST!

With review coverage still to come from the New York Times Book Review, People Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Barnes and Noble Review, The Rumpus, and many more!

The Story:

The Reviews:

Download the e-galley:

Titles include:

BONUS FUN: Check out this cool library dress we found!
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