    
|
 2 0 1 0
Joe Woodward, author of the forthcoming biography LONELY HEART: THE LIFE OF NATHANAEL WEST, continues his regular blog for the Huffington Post with "Hagiography: Writing the Lives of the Saints." To read his post, click here.
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER, which launches February 1st, earned high praise from Laura Frazin Steele of the LA Examiner. The review, titled "Kelli Stanley's The Curse-Maker is a mystery worth reading," includes the following excerpt:
"Kelli Stanley is a prize-winning author whose crime novels and short stories are written in the style of noir fiction. Her well-researched novels have a sense of place and authenticity that appeals to readers of historical fiction. Her newest and fast-paced mystery, The Curse-Maker, is no exception." To read the full review, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS made January Magazine's "Best Books of 2010: Crime Fiction" list, which included a rave review by Ali Karim. Here's what Karim had to say:
"Stanley's first P.I. escapade follows the conventions of the genre, especially as established by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Yet it's much more than pastiche, with a rich political commentary, characters that come alive and descriptions of San Francisco between the two world wars that make it clear Stanley not only knows, but loves her town. City of Dragons is a choice treat in a crowded genre. There's every reason to look forward to its planned sequel."
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS has been named to two "Best of" lists: 1. Oline Cogdill of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel named CITY OF DRAGONS #3 on her "Best Mysteries of 2010" list. To read the full list, click here. 2. The San Francisco Chronicle included CITY OF DRAGONS among its list of "Best of 2010 - Books by Bay Area Authors" in the Fiction category. To read the full list, click here.
Heli Perrett's THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK received a glowing review from Ginny Wolter in the December 2010 issue of Library Journal. An excerpt follows:
"As a bacteriologist and United Nations Development Agency technical specialist, Perrett has the scholarly background to dig deep into information on food safety. She has also experienced three bouts of food poisoning and knows the dangers firsthand. ... VERDICT: Perrett writes in a manner that clears the fog of claims surrounding food risks and safety. This book will be an eye-opener for anyone who has had questions about food safety." To read the full review click here.
Children's: Young Adult
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER received a rave review from Harriet Klausner of The Mystery Gazette blog. An excerpt follows:
"The second Ancient Britannia mystery (see Nox Dormeinda) is a superb whodunit that provides readers with insight into the use of curses, apparently a thriving business of the times. The engaging investigation is fast-paced once Arcturus is on the case ... ; he understands two killers is not twice the fun. Armchair travelers will enjoy feeling a sense of being in first century Roman Britain with Arcturus as the tour guide." To read the full review click here.
Turkish rights to Bekka Black's iDRAKULA have been sold to Kirpi/Arunas, to be published in 2011.
Heli Perrett's forthcoming THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK received wonderful advance praise from Ruth Winter, MS, author of A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives. Her blurb follows:
"The overburdened, understaffed agencies that are supposed to inspect and eliminate contaminated food in the United States cannot do an adequate job since most of our edibles are imported. The best protection against unsafe food, therefore, is our own knowledge. Dr. Perrett presents well-balanced, solid information about foods we may choose to eat. She answers many frequently asked questions about pre-packaged food, organic products, and what precautions to take with dishes such as sushi and raw beef. She even answers questions readers may not think to ask such as how to avoid distasteful, contaminated spices."
Kelli Stanley's short story "Children's Day" received special acknowledgement in Claudette Smith's review of First Thrills: High Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors, edited by Lee Child, on the San Francisco Book Review website. An excerpt follows:
"Some of the tales presented fall short of the mark; others, such as Kelli Stanley's 'Children's Day', seem destined to become classics. ...some of the authors are not 'hot' authors—indeed, you've never heard of them. However, I predict in the future we will find many of these now-unfamiliar writers at the top of the New York Times Bestsellers lists. A 'must add to my library' volume!" To read the full review click here.
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER received a fantastic review from Publishers Weekly. An excerpt follows:
"A murder interrupts the holiday of Arcturus, the Roman governor's doctor and sometime sleuth, in Stanley's well-plotted second novel set in Britain during the reign of Domitian (after 2008's Nox Dormienda, winner of the Bruce Alexander Award for Best Historical Mystery). ...all will wish this historical series a long life." To read the complete review click here.
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA received a notable mention in PW's article "Today's YA Scene: New Players, Innovative Directions, Fresh Voices" by Sally Lodge. An excerpt follows:
"The editor plans to continue to tap into the market in teen-savvy ways, which Fire did in September with iDrakula by Bekka Black... 'We have to keep it fresh for the teen market,' [Leah Hultenschmidt] says. 'If we're not constantly innovating, we're going to lose the market.'" To read the full article, click here.
Children's: Young Adult
Heli Perrett's THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK was quoted in an article, titled "Convenient but Dangerous?" in USA Weekend Magazine online. The full text follows: "They save time, but pre-washed, pre-cut, ready-to-go packages of fruits and veggies can be problematic. 'Proportionally more outbreaks of produce-linked illness come from fresh-cut produce than from produce left whole,' says Heli Perrett, author of The Safe Food Handbook. Some studies found that slicing before packaging can multiply the risk by six or more." To read the full article, click here.
Kelli Stanley's forthcoming THE CURSE-MAKER, second book in her critically acclaimed Roman noir mystery series, received glowing praise from novelist David Liss. Here's what David had to say:
"Kelli Stanley shows herself, once again, to be the most remarkable writer of historical noir going. The Curse Maker has an absorbing mystery, a compelling protagonist, and a unique setting, and they are all buoyed up by Stanley's exhaustive research that informs and strengthens the story without ever bogging it down. This is how historical mystery should be done."
Joe Woodward, author of the forthcoming biography LONELY HEART: THE LIFE OF NATHANAEL WEST, continues his regular blog for the Huffington Post with "Madame Bovary: The Exquisite Corpse." To read his post, click here.
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA app received special mention in Rachel Deahl, Calvin Reid, and Craig Morgan Teicher's Publishers Weekly feature "How Publishers are Tackling the App Question." The article highlights different ways publishers are utilizing apps to promote and enhance books on their lists. iDRAKULA was named as a successful example of Sourcebooks's app strategy. To read the full article, click here.
Fiction: Women's/Romance Author of BLAME IT ON PARIS Laura Florand's THE CHOCOLATE THIEF, in which the handsome Parisian sorcerer of artisan chocolate will stop at nothing to guard his secrets from the empress of American chocolate bars, but she is willing to risk everything for his tastes and textures on her tongue, to Alicia Condon at Kensington, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2012, by Kimberley Cameron at Kimberley Cameron & Associates (World).
Congratulations to Kelli Stanley! CITY OF DRAGONS was nominated for the 2010 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards in the category of Best Historical Mystery. For the full list of nominations, click here.
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER, second book in her Roman noir series, was plugged by Library Journal's pre-pub alert "What Else is Hot?: Spring 2011 Mystery." Here's what they had to say:
"In The Curse-Maker..., Kelli Stanley's third book and second Roman workout after the witty and award-winning Nox Dormienda, Roman physician Arcturus and wife Gwyna are understandably perturbed to find a dead body in the pool when they arrive for vacation in Bath." To read the full article, click here.
Joe Woodward, author of the forthcoming biography LONELY HEART: THE LIFE OF NATHANAEL WEST, continues his regular blog for The Huffington Post with "Biography: The Falsest Art?" To read his blog post, click here.
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA received a rave review from Daniel Kraus of Booklist. An excerpt follows:
"At first glance, this take on Bram Stoker's Dracula—told exclusively through text messages, Web browser screens, e-mails, and various photo and PDF attachments—looks like shameless pandering. But check out the first text: 'Renfield had a psychotic break. Carted off to Bellevue. More l8r.' It's an opening gambit indicative of Black's storytelling instinct, which consistently proves itself able to transcend gimmick. ... Fast, inventive, creepy, and sure to be popular."
Bekka Black and her just-released novel (and app), iDRAKULA, were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and on SFGate.com in an interview by Louis Peitzman. An excerpt follows: "...Black isn't incorporating the supernatural in iDrakula: The vampire was there from the get-go. Instead, her approach is unique—get a young audience's attention by speaking their language. To those who might criticize her for somehow insulting the original, Black says both Dracula and iDrakula are certainly distinct.
"'The bottom line is, these are stories, and we can always play with stories,' Black says. 'When you change a story, you don't change the classic. ... There's plenty of room on the shelves for different takes on everything.'" To read the full article, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A TRACE OF SMOKE was chosen to be a Fresh Pick at FreshFiction.com on October 14th, which includes a feature on their website and inclusion in the Fresh Pick newsletter. To see Rebecca's author page on FreshFiction.com, click here.
Liza Campbell's THE DISSEMBLERS received a fantastic review from The Independent. The reviewer is especially complimentary of Liza, her insights, and her writing. An excerpt:
"It's hard to believe that the author is only 29. She's wise and sophisticated in the ways of the heart—its yearnings, its self-deceptions—and she can craft some knockout landscape descriptions—the sun, the sky, the heat, the wind rule with a defining sensual intensity here that is nothing less than remarkable. And the theme, drawn from the title, is impressively nuanced."
Non-fiction: Science
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA was featured in Jason Pinter's "Books Uncovered—Indie Press Edition!" on The Huffington Post. Pinter calls iDRAKULA "a book that reaches across multiple platforms to retell a timeless story in timely fashion." To read the full feature, click here.
The launch of Bekka Black's iDRAKULA book and app caught the attention of Dianna Dilworth of eBook Newser, the Media Bistro digital book blog. Specifically, Dianna touted that "The iDrakula app lets users receive texts, e-mails and voicemails from the characters in the new book." To read the full brief, click here.
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA received an excellent review from Jon Land of the New York Journal of Books. An excerpt follows:
"A book is supposed to speak to its audience, though, and in that respect it's hard to envision an author following that rule in stronger fashion than Black. Indeed, iDrakula seems perfectly crafted for a generation for whom communication is primarily keyboard based, often exclusively keyboard based." To read the full review, click here.
Liza Campbell's THE DISSEMBLERS garnered a stunning review from Norman Powers of the New York Journal of Books. An excerpt follows:
"In carefully wrought prose reminiscent of Alice Munro, Ms. Campbell displays a remarkable ability to shift from Ivy's interior struggles and musings to the necessities of plot construction to propel the story forward, and uses the severe elegance of both O'Keeffe's work and the desert environment that produced it to echo Ivy's shifting loyalties." To read the full review, click here.
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received a fantastic review by Gayle Surrette of SFRevu website. An excerpt follows:
"This is one of those books that tells a heck of a good action tale... Yet, Destefano still manages to deal with philosophical thoughts on life, death, afterlife, and using technology to give your current life another fresh start...all without bogging down the story." To read the full review, click here.
Amy Burkhardt is happy to announce that she will be speaking at the Whidbey Island Writers Association MFA in Creative Writing program, during their Spring 2011 residency. She'll be presenting three hour-long talks on the current publishing market for fiction, nonfiction, and YA writers. Though the talks aren't open to the public, people are allowed to sign up for the "residency-only" portion of the WIWA program. For more information, click here.
Merrie Destefano's just-released AFTERLIFE continues to garner excellent reviews from a number of blogs and book review sites. A few of our favorite excerpts:
"Merrie Destefano has crafted a premise that's powerful in its simplicity. The perfect blend of urban fantasy and science fiction, there are characters to cheer for and settings that spook. From the City of the Dead to the Underground Circus, from gen-spikes to liquid light, from dogs to their human counterparts, Afterlife has so much to love, and the second Resurrection Chronicle can't come soon enough! (No cliff-hanger ending, though—it's a gorgeous standalone.)" To read the full review, click here.
"The plot is complex and inspired. The mood is dark and suspenseful. It's rare when I'm so impressed by a debut. And this science fiction novel definitely took me by surprise. The narrative is fast-paced, jumping around among several key characters' point of view. So readers see what's coming a bit before Chaz, building suspense and excitement. The mystery builds to a climactic ending, offering several surprises. And I finished the book with a smile, loving every bit of Destefano's thought-provoking tale." To read the full review, click here.
"Destefano's first in The Resurrection Chronicles provides plenty of food for thought by creating a world divided by those who choose resurrection vs. those who decide not to tamper in God's domain. The antagonist is sufficiently strong to balance the protagonists without overwhelming the story and the climax leaves an interesting opening for more adventures. With lots of action, technology and a strong antagonist, this series is one to watch." To read the full review, click here.
"Death is a natural phase of life; creation follows death as death follows creation, it's a cycle of fact. Merrie Destefano takes the fear of dying to the next level in Afterlife by throwing readers into another apocalyptic universe where the race to immortality becomes unavoidable and chaotic with the technology of resurrection in the works." To read the full review, click here.
"The first Resurrection Chronicles is a terrific New Orleans science fiction thriller that rotates first person viewpoints with the prime star being Chaz, who fumbles, stumbles, and grumbles with keeping the newbie safe from those who want her dead. Fast-paced, readers will relish this dark New Orleans drama as the hero has no idea what he has stepped into by doing his job except he knows that Angelique is the cause that threatens him and his family." To read the full review, click here.
Kelli Stanley's forthcoming THE CURSE MAKER, her second book in the series continuing on NOX DORMIENDA, received a strong advance endorsement from Barbara Peters of The Poisoned Pen. Here's what Barbara had to say:
"Kelli Stanley can etch a landscape as vividly as she gives voice to Roman noir. In The Curse Maker, the spa at Aquae Sulis—modern Bath—frames a drama driven by superstition, by longing, by greed, and by the ease with which people get suckered and the penalties ultimately paid. It's an exciting successor to Nox Dormienda where readers first met Arcturus the medicus and entered the frontier world of First Century Roman Britain."
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received five (out of five possible) stars and an outstanding review by Tori of Book Faery blog. Tori calls Destefano "an insanely talented author" and the book "a unique debut," "rich with beautiful descriptions, reflections, and events." A long excerpt follows:
"I've never read a book that's left me completely and utterly speechless by the time I finished it. ... A simple 'I love it,' however, won't cut it for Afterlife. ... This novel was refreshing and exciting, and I am eagerly anticipating Merrie's future releases. If you enjoy urban fantasy, and if you want to see a new take on what life would be like if humanity could be almost immortal, then you definitely need to check this book out. You'll regret it if you don't!" To read the full review, click here.
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received 5 (out of 5 possible) stars from Teril of Snarky Mamma blogspot, who warns, "Once you pass the first 30 pages, you are hooked." To read the full review, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS made the top of Oline Cogdill's list of historical mysteries set in San Francisco (in honor of the upcoming Bouchercon Mystery Conference, which will take place October 14-17th in the city). Cogdill calls the book "one of the most exciting novels to come out this year," and quotes her own review (published online earlier this year):
"The gritty, hard-boiled City of Dragons works as an insightful look at racism and sexism. Stanley never misses a beat as she also shows San Francisco's hidden corners, seething emotions in the days before WWII." To read the full blog, click here. Also, Oline will be interviewing Kelli for Mystery Scene as part of the blog's Bouchercon 2010 coverage. Check back for more news to come!
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received a 5 Tombstone review by Jackie of Bitten by Books review website. An excerpt follows:
"It begins like a nice, calm stroll through the woods. The birds are singing, the smell of pine tickles your nose, and the faint sound of water lapping at the riverbank lulls you into complacency. Then you find the first body buried beneath a pile of leaves. You panic and race to safety only to realize there is no such thing as safety in these woods. The things that go bump in the night will find you and, when they're done, they'll bring you back to life so they can do it again. ... Afterlife is everything I love about fiction—there's danger, romance, a despicable villain, and room for a sequel. A strong start to a new series!" To read the full review, click here.
French rights to Catherine McKenzie's SPIN have been sold to Editions Goelette, to be published in Spring or Fall 2011.
Joe Woodward's regular blog for the Huffington Post books section continues with "Bibliography: A True Confession," about the back matter of books and his experience compiling the bibliography for his forthcoming biography, LONELY HEART: THE LIFE OF NATHANAEL WEST. To read his blog post, click here.
Liza Campbell's THE DISSEMBLERS received an outstanding review by Patty Wetli in the September 15th issue of Booklist. An excerpt follows:
"In her sure-handed, compact debut, Campbell offers a portrait of the artist as a young woman. ...the reader might expect Campbell's narrative to turn toward a crime thriller or artworld satire, but she opts instead for a subtle yet engaging study of her characters' contradictions—the small cast includes Ivy's neighbors, Maya and Jake, and Jake's cousin, Omar—and the corrosive effect that discontentment has on their lives. ..." To read the full review, go to Booklist Online, here.
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA received an excellent review in the September 1st issue of Kirkus Reviews. An excerpt follows: "Forget the modern vampire, who sparkles in the sunlight and struggles with the desire for blood. Black brings Bram into the modern age with e-mails, smart phones and websites, all while preserving the brooding heart and vicious nature of Dracula, the literary ur-vampire. ...this bite-sized retelling of the seminal vampire novel won't drain anyone's attention span."
"Powerhouse Author" D.P. Lyle was featured on the cover of the September 2010 issue of Suspense Magazine. Inside the issue, he was interviewed about his current Dub Walker Series, his forthcoming Royal Pains tie-in novels, his nonfiction forensics guides for writers, and his work as a consultant for various TV crime dramas. The feature also included a glowing review of STRESS FRACTURE by Shannon Raab. Shannon opens her review with the following endorsement:
"If there were an award for the Best Chapter Endings, D.P. Lyle would be the hands down winner. A master in the art of tethering readers to each and every crisp, deftly written word, his bold imagery snakes through the pages of his latest action packed thriller Stress Fracture, making it physically painful to put down." To order the magazine, click here.
Liza Campbell's THE DISSEMBLERS received a strong review in the September 1st issue of Kirkus Reviews. An excerpt follows: "Set off by O'Keeffe quotations and shadowed by descriptions of her early years, the book basks in thoughts and feelings on the meaning of art, as well as the nature of love, the contradictions of self and the power of one's surroundings. ...the book draws emotional resonance from the parallels she [the protagonist] sees between her life and O'Keeffe's. An affecting ... novel about art and the ways it does and doesn't reflect life."
Merrie Destefano, author of AFTERLIFE (forthcoming), has launched her author microsite on the HarperCollins website. Click here to read about Merrie, AFTERLIFE, and what she's currently working on.
Liza Campbell's THE DISSEMBLERS received an outstanding review from Marc Schuster of Small Press Reviews blog. Not only did Marc call the novel "beautifully written" and "a loving meditation on ... the nature of art and its place in our world," but he also had this to say:
"THE DISSEMBLERS is a beautiful novel in so many ways, and Campbell's prose shines throughout. Whether describing the sweeping vistas of New Mexico or the longing of the human heart, she paints with words what pigments and brushstrokes might not so readily capture."
Catherine McKenzie, author of SPIN, has begun blogging regularly for the Huffington Post on how authors use social media to promote their work. The column is the result of the initiative she started called "Author Effect." Her blogs thus far include:
"Betty White + Facebook = Book Sales?"
Rebecca Cantrell's second book in the Hannah Vogel series, A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES, received an outstanding review from Jen Forbus in the most recent issue of CrimeSpree Magazine. An excerpt follows: "In A KNIGHT OF LONG KNIVES the blending of historical facts with the passionately imagined lives of these characters makes for a thought-provoking, riveting read."—Jen Forbus Rebecca was also mentioned as one of the "big guns" of the FIRST THRILLS anthology in a separate review in the same CrimeSpree issue. An excerpt of this review follows: "This is another thriller anthology and it's got the big guns it. Ken Bruen, Lee Child, Rebecca Cantrell, Heather Graham, Gregg Hurwitz, John Lutz, Karin Slaughter and many more. ... As these are short stories I really can't say much without giving things away, but I'll tell you, there's not a clunker in the bunch, these are all stories by authors at the top of their game."—Jon Jordan To purchase a copy of the magazine, click here.
Amy Burkhardt attended Killer Nashville, an annual conference for thriller and mystery writers in Nashville, TN, the weekend of August 20th-22nd. In conjunction with the event, Amy was interviewed by Paige Crutcher for the Books section of The Examiner.com. To read her Q&A about how she came to be an agent, what she looks for in submissions, and why all writers must wear two hats, click here.
Joe Woodward, author of LONELY HEART: THE LIFE OF NATHANAEL WEST, will be blogging regularly for the Huffington Post books section on "The New Author in the New Media." Woodward begins his first blog: "News of my death has been greatly exaggerated (and captured, fed, and hyper-linked). I'm talking here about the new author in the era of new media, but too, about literary agents, editors, publishers, readers, librarians—People of the Book. Every day the headlines trumpet our demise. Every day another shovel of dirt hits the crowns of our caskets, and so on. I'm here to say, don't believe it."—Joe Woodward To read the full blog, click here.
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received an outstanding review from Terri of Night Owl Reviews. Terri had this to say about the book:
"It has adventure, violence, betrayal and loyalties. Things aren't always what they appear. I couldn't imagine the ending yet it's excellent. I'm not sure where this author will be going next but I'm sure where ever it is, it will be fantastic."
Japanese rights to THE END OF WORK AS YOU KNOW IT by Milo and Thuy Sindell were sold to Hankyu Communications Co. by Whitney Lee of the Fielding Agency on behalf of Kimberley Cameron & Associates.
Joe Woodward, author of the forthcoming biography LONELY HEART: The Life Of Nathanael West, published a piece about West's last days in Hollywood and the importance of place in creating biographies in 3:AM Magazine. To read "Nathanael West Slept Here," click here.
Contributors Kelli Stanley, Rebecca Cantrell, and Cynthia Robinson all scored a positive review from Joe Hartlaub of BookReporter.com for the ITW anthology FIRST THRILLS: High Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors. Kelli Stanley, her story "Children's Day," and her book CITY OF DRAGONS were all mentioned by name in the review. Specifically, Hartlaub had this to say:
"Yesterday, my favorite story was 'Children's Day' by Kelli Stanley. Stanley, whose CITY OF DRAGONS is one of this year's most impressive books, works her magic once again in a prequel to that title. Set in 1939 San Francisco and dealing with a missing child, 'Children's Day' is a somber examination of an ongoing societal problem that continues to fester to this day."
Cynthia Robinson's THE DOG PARK CLUB received a rave review from Jay Strafford of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Strafford calls the book "uproariously funny" and sums up his review with the following:
"Robinson brings profound gifts to her first novel, not the least of which is her intelligent questioning of how well we really know the people in our lives."
The "Incredibly Generous" D.P. Lyle was interviewed by Cassy Pickard of Mysteries and Margaritas Blog. In the interview, Lyle discusses working as a forensics expert for mystery and crime writers as well as writing STRESS FRACTURE—his most recent novel and the first book in the Dub Walker Series of medical thrillers—among his many fiction and nonfiction titles. You can find the full interview here.
Fiction: Thriller
Rebecca Cantrell appeared on the WTMJ Morning Blend show on July 16th to promote A TRACE OF SMOKE. Click here to watch her full interview.
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT earned a glowing review from Edie Dykeman, Mystery Books Editor for BellaOnline.com. An excerpt follows:
"How Dani gets out of her predicament, and who are the good guys and bad guys, provide an intriguing story starring a heroine, and of course a hero, just begging for a sequel. Hopefully, we have not seen the last of at least some of this interesting and sometimes eccentric group of characters."
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT was #3 on the Marin Independent Journal's Fiction Best-sellers list for the week of July 4th. To view the entire list, click here.
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT earned a fantastic review from Cathy of Kittling: Books blog. The review was also posted on Amazon, Paperback Swap, Facebook, LibraryThing and Glue. An excerpt follows:
"Shea definitely knows whereof she speaks, and the information she shares about the often cutthroat world of art is fascinating, ...
Strong, believable characterization, good settings, an interesting, fast-paced mystery, insider information... all this makes me hope that I will be reading the further adventures of Dani O'Rourke in the very near future."
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT earned a rave review from Becky Lejeune on BookBitch.com. An excerpt follows:
"Susan Shea's cozy-ish debut is a light mystery with an engaging heroine and an interesting setting. With a cast of fun (and suspicious) characters and a mystery that really keeps you guessing, Murder in the Abstract has everything a mystery fan is looking for in a new series. Brings to mind the early Goldy Shultz titles by Diane Mott Davidson (set in the art world, of course)."
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT garnered a glowing review from blogger Elizabeth A. White of Musings of an All Purpose Monkey. The review was also picked up by Savannahnow.com. An excerpt follows:
"Dani O'Rourke is a refreshingly real character: she's closer to 40 than 30, closer to a size 14 than a size 4, doesn't know martial arts or weapons, isn't a master computer hacker, and she doesn't single-handedly figure out whodunit. She's just a regular gal caught up in a highly irregular situation, which makes her very easy to identify with because she could actually be your next door neighbor, an old college roommate... even you! ... Whether you're looking for a book to curl up with while having a glass of wine or one to stuff in your bag to take to the beach, MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT is picture perfect!"
Cynthia Robinson's THE DOG PARK CLUB received a superb review from David Marshall James of Shine, Yahoo's website for women. An excerpt:
"Debut novelist Cynthia Robinson references such film-noir classics as Double Indemnity and Laura, and her dialogue moves from the crunchy argot of that genre to the theatrical/cocktail-party ripostes and repartee of All About Eve. ... 'Brava' to Robinson for writing outside the box of more traditional mystery-novel paradigms. Max and Claudia's retro-metro, uphill-downhill lifestyles may well attract a cult following."
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT received an excellent review from blogger Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts. An excerpt follows:
"It's a light, fun who-dunnit; perfect for the beach or park or front porch. ... Fans of Jane Cleland's Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series will likely enjoy MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT with its smart and savvy, light-hearted plot, compelling characters and authentic backdrop."
Slovak rights to TRACE OF SMOKE by Rebecca Cantrell have been sold to Ikar.
German rights to SPIN by Catherine McKenzie have been sold to Droemer, a well-regarded German publisher.
Congratulations to Rebecca Cantrell!! A TRACE OF SMOKE, her first book in the Hannah Vogel historical mystery series, was nominated for a 2010 Barry Award for Best First Novel. To read the full announcement on the Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine website, click here.
Congratulations to Rebecca Cantrell!! A TRACE OF SMOKE, her first book in the Hannah Vogel historical mystery series, was nominated for a 2010 Macavity Award (specifically, the Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award). The winner will be announced at Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention, in San Francisco, in October 2010. To read the full announcement on Mystery Fanfare blog, click here.
Spanish rights for Rebecca Cantrell's A TRACE OF SMOKE have been sold to Ediciones Duomo.
Rebecca Cantrell's A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES, second book in the Hannah Vogel historical mystery series, received an outstanding review from Maggie Mason in the upcoming issue of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine. An excerpt:
"This is a fascinating, meticulously researched view into Germany in the 1930's. ... The characters are fully drawn and both inspiring for bravery, as well as inspiring hate, for their horrific actions. ... I look forward to the next book in the series."
French rights for Pragito Dove's LAUGHTER, TEARS, AND SILENCE have been sold to Editions ADA.
Rebecca Cantrell's A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES, second book in the Hannah Vogel historical mystery series, received a terrific review in Pop Syndicate and was picked up by USA Today! An excerpt follows:
"A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES is compelling, exciting, and entertaining reading. This is a great read for anyone who wants to disappear inside a great story. Whether you like novels set during World War II, suspense, or just a great plot line with a strong character, this book will not disappoint. Don't miss this one."
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received glowing advance praise from Wayne Thomas Batson, author of The Door Within Trilogy, Isle of Swords, Isle of Fire, and (with Christopher Hopper) Curse of the Spider King. Here's what Batson had to say:
"After reading Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE, I didn't want to review it because I was afraid my words could not do it justice. It's that good. From the first chapter, Destefano's AFTERLIFE drops you into a jazzy New Orleans netherworld where you'll be both delightfully disoriented and splendidly spooked. You don't have to die. Your very life essence can be downloaded into a nearly flawless cloned body—this is a concept so groundbreaking that I had to tell all my friends. Their collective reaction: a moment of stunned silence and then, 'Whoa!' AFTERLIFE will whisper to you between readings and sizzle in your mind like liquid light. No matter your genre, this is a book you won't want to miss."
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS is featured as the "Reviewed to Death" pick on the cover of the Spring issue of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine. A majority of DP reviewers raved about the book!
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received a wonderful advance blurb from Christopher Hopper, author of Rise of the Dibor, The Lion Vrie, and (with Wayne Thomas Batson) Curse of the Spider King. Here's what Hopper had to say:
"Absolutely my favorite book of the year. Destefano's raw, poetic prowess is haunting and gritty, reminiscent of Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. AFTERLIFE has all the marks of becoming a classic in it's own day."
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was reviewed by Charlaine Harris on her blog. Harris—bestselling author of paranormal mysteries—called protagonist Miranda Corbie "a woman so hard-boiled you could crack eggs on her" and CITY OF DRAGONS "Vivid and complex." To read the full blog post, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was featured at Tantor Audio's BEA booth, May 25th through 27th.
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received high advance praise from Tosca Lee, author of Havah and Demon: A Memoir. Here's what Lee had to say:
"Merrie Destefano storms the world of urban fantasy with AFTERLIFE, breathing new life into the vast genre of the undead. Gritty, poignant, in the tradition of Bladerunner, with the nostalgia of New Orleans. With crisp and beautiful prose, AFTERLIFE blurs the line between the living and the dead to ask life's ultimate questions—even if they take nine lives to solve."
Cynthia Robinson's THE DOG PARK CLUB received a starred review in the May 15th issue of Kirkus Reviews. The full review follows: "A half-Gypsy, bisexual opera singer makes a snobbish, unlikely and often uninterested sleuth. Max Bravo's European tour is interrupted by a series of desperate phone calls from his longtime friend Claudia Fantini, whose husband Larry wants a divorce. When he returns home, he finds Claudia sodden with drink and her usually neat person and home in ruins. Taking Claudia's terrier Asta to the dog park, he meets a very mixed bag of fellow dog walkers: the Catalan Jordi Almirall, Ed, an old hippie, the apparently rootless Gator, and the beautiful, pregnant Amy. The unlikely bunch become friends of sorts, and when Amy disappears, the others unite in suspecting her husband Steve of doing away with her. Max's German lover arrives for a visit and joins the club, while Larry stalks Claudia, possibly with the intent of getting back together. The police question Steve but turn him loose, leaving the dog-park group to watch him and bug his house in an attempt to prove that he killed Amy. All the while, Claudia starts to get her life back together, Max continues to receive visits from his late grandmother, who wants him to marry a Gypsy girl, and events and people eventually prove to be far different than Max expected. Robinson's fiction debut is an amusing dark comedy with charismatic characters and a story that seems ripped from the headlines but turns out to be far more interesting than the truth."
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received an excellent review from Joe Hartlaub of Bookreporter.com. An excerpt follows:
"Such a work does not occur by happenstance; indeed, there is an intriguing afterword that describes how Stanley immersed herself in the past in order to create the magic that you will find in this story of murder and mystery. Add her considerable talent as a wordsmith—in one passage, there is a short description of the wares of a drugstore that alone is worth the price of admission—and you have an instant winner that earns a place of prominence and permanence on your bookshelf."
Andy Hill's NOWHERE-LAND (and the rest of his Stephan Raszer series) was lauded by Swing Set Safety Blog. Here's an excerpt:
"All three Stephen Raszer novels—or 'investigations' in the author's parlance—are page turners. They're the kind of books you think about when you're running errands, and you itch to open them up again. ... That's certainly the case with Nowhere Land, the third and best book in the series."
Doug Lyle was interviewed about his new book, STRESS FRACTURE, by Hank Phillippi-Ryan of JungleRedWriters.com. Here's an excerpt from the interview, in which he talks about working with Kimberley Cameron on early drafts of the book: "I actually did write this book 12 years ago and submitted to my wonderful agent Kimberley Cameron. She read it and called me a couple of days later saying, 'There's a story in here somewhere, I just can't find it.' Ouch. But true. It was 138,000 words of garbage. To make a long story short over the next 12 years it was rewritten 23 times and at least a half dozen of these were major surgeries. It changed locations three times, titles four times, and protagonist once. The only thing that remained unchanged were the bad guy and the basic through line of the story. It's now 85,000 words and is much tighter and moves much more quickly." To read the full story, click here.
Fiction: Mystery/Crime
Rebecca Cantrell's forthcoming A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES—second in the series following A TRACE OF SMOKE—received an excellent review by Donna Bird of Green Man Review. An excerpt follows:
"Like A Trace of Smoke, A Night of Long Knives is written in the first person, entirely from Hannah's point of view. With brevity and elegance, Rebecca Cantrell provides enough narrative to enable a reader who missed the first novel or who has forgotten key details to make sense of Hannah's history and to recall the numerous characters from the first novel who make return appearances in this one."
Susan Shea's MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT received an outstanding review in Booklist's May 1st issue. The full review follows:
"Shea's debut mystery stars Danielle ('Dani') O'Rourke, a fund-raiser for the fictional Devor Museum in San Francisco. The novel begins with tragedy at a gala museum event—an upcoming artist plunges to his death from a museum office window. Things don't look good for Dani when it is revealed that it was her office and that this was clearly murder and not suicide. As Dani tries to figure out who might have had a motive for the murder, readers are treated to an insider's look at the cutthroat, money-driven world of fine art. Shea writes convincingly about art and those who collect it. A series to watch."
Michael R. Stevens's Fortuna was released May 1, 2010 and has garnered numerous great reviews and mentions. Some excerpts and links follow:
"...an intriguing blending of on-line role playing and global economics, as Michael R. Stevens argues that both consist of players starring in roles other than themselves. ...readers will find the saga of Jason-Father Allesandro fascinating."
"If it was the author's idea to scare people to death, he definitely succeeded in my case. ... [Fortuna is] a book for anyone who loves brilliant high-tech thrillers."
"A wonderful exploration of the slippery slope of the seduction from a virtual world, Fortuna is intricately detailed, well-researched, and thoroughly developed."
"...there's enough action to keep the pages turning and the plot kept me guessing. I stayed up late to finish it."
"What Stevens has done most successfully in Fortuna is shown the allure of living another life, but the impossibility of escaping one's own."
"Highly recommended. Fortuna is a game worth playing and a unique tale that is well worth reading." You can read guest posts by Michael R. Stevens on Murder By 4 and Page 69 Test blogs. Fortuna was also mentioned in The Big Thrill (International Thriller Writers) and reviewed in Library Journal, and you can find mentions and reviews of FORTUNA on the following blogs and websites: Sir Reads A Lot, New Books, Florida Book News, Mainly Mysteries, Lori's Reading Corner, Bookloons, and America Reads.
Non-fiction: Advice/Relationships
Fiction: Debut
Cynthia Robinson's THE DOG PARK CLUB received an excellent review in the May 1st issue of Booklist. Reviewer Jessica Moyer describes the characters as "fascinating and well drawn" and the book as "compelling and readable."
D.P. Lyle was interviewed by Brayden Hirsch of WriteBig.wordpress.com. To read the full interview, click here.
Kelli Stanley and her Roman noir NOX DORMIENDA are the subject of an upcoming reception workshop given by Sarah Janda of Stanford University's Department of Classics. For full event details, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was named by Oline Cogdill as one of her top books of the year so far. To read the full interview, click here. CITY OF DRAGONS was also picked as an EDITOR'S CHOICE on Bookbrowse.com.
Pragito Dove's LAUGHTER, TEARS, AND SILENCE has been bought as an alternate selection for the One Spirit Book Club.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was mentioned in the Huffington Post by author Mark Coggins. To read the full article, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES was featured in Kirkus Reviews Spring and Summer Preview, including a summary and quote from Rebecca. An excerpt: "Cantrell's mission was to spotlight the heroics of women during World War II. 'I don't think that women spies and resistance fighters have received due attention in thrillers or in real life,' says the author. '... A Night of Long Knives definitely deals with the price that mothers/sisters/daughters pay in wartime.'" To read the full feature, click here.
A.W. Hill's THE LAST DAYS OF MADAME REY, recently released in paperback, received a glowing review from Melissa Slachetka on her "Groovy Reviews" blog as well as www.MinnesotaReads.com. Slachetka declares, "The Last Days of Madame Rey is a perfect companion to A. W. Hill's Nowhere-Land...It will have its readers at the edge of their seats; instinctively checking the length on their tailbones." She also touts, "Hill's complex and intense story-telling make it hard to describe this novel without going into a 30 minute synopsis and that is one of the reasons it is so good." To read the full review for THE LAST DAYS OF MADAME REY, click here. To read her earlier review of NOWHERE-LAND, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was included in a short list of "Lit Picks" in the Books section of the San Francisco Chronicle.
D.P. Lyle's STRESS FRACTURE received a fantastic review by L. Dean Murphy of www.BookReporter.com. Murphy touts, "D.P. Lyle writes the perfect prescription for a psychological thriller." To read the full review, click here.
Bekka Black was photographed at the March 18th launch party of Sourcebooks Fire and named (along with her forthcoming title, iDRAKULA) in Publishers Weekly "In Brief" short about the event. To read the full article, click here.
Kelli Stanley was featured on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle Books section (page FE - 4) in the Sunday, March 28th issue. Her most recent novel, CITY OF DRAGONS, received an exceptional review by Tom Nolan. A brief excerpt follows: "Stanley, winner (for a previous book set in ancient Rome) of the Bruce Alexander Award for best historical mystery, knows how to bring the past to life: not only with a wealth of references to old buildings and politics and popular culture, but with thoughts and attitudes, dialogue and gestures, that seem both true to another time and as spontaneous as right this minute. 'City of Dragons,' with its brittle patter and its broken heart of gold, is a joy to read."—Tom Nolan We encourage you to read the full review here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a glowing review in the Petaluma Argus-Courier, including a detailed analysis of the ways Miranda Corbie fits and exceeds the essence of a noir protagonist, as defined by the inimitable Raymond Chandler. An excerpt follows: "Kelli Stanley would have made Chandler proud. She writes us into an authentic world of urban brutality where someone like Miranda Corbie can survive without breaking or losing her way or her heart. Her prose is as sharp as a knife-thrower's blades and just as accurate. It's difficult to read this book without smiling broadly from time to time at Miranda Corbie's penchant for putting men in their place either with a word or a fist. She is hard to forget. But I'm sure we'll have a chance to meet again. She is a character who bears repeating."—Bookcase We encourage you to read the full review here.
D. P. Lyle's STRESS FRACTURE received an excellent review on www.SingleTitles.com. An excerpt follows: "Award winning author D. P. Lyle quickly immerses his readers into the blood thirsty world of a serial killer. Shockingly authentic and psychologically disturbing, STRESS FRACTURE pulls us in against our will to read every horrifying detail while hoping for an ending that we can live with. Lock your doors before you read this heart-thumping thriller by talented D. P. Lyle." For the full review, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a great review in the Toronto Globe and Mail. Reviewer Margaret Cannon describes the book as "...a terrific debut novel for a new series." The full review can be found here.
Listen to Kelli Stanley in a radio interview with Steve Murphy and Roger Clark of The LawBusiness Insider for the "America's Best Selling Author Series" here.
Brenda L. Baker's THE IRON SAREE, in which two women from radically different cultures—a high-powered executive and a former slave living in Chennai, India—change each other's lives when they form an unlikely collaboration to create decent housing for poor working women in India, to Danielle Perez at NAL, in a two-book deal, by April Eberhardt at Kimberley Cameron & Associates (World).
Michael Kurland's SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE AMERICAN YEARS received an excellent review in The Boston Globe. An excerpt follows:
"As editor of a new volume of short stories, 'Sherlock Holmes: The American Years,' he [Michael Kurland] has assembled an exceptionally talented gang of authors to 'emulate the Master' and add to the ever expanding canon.... Readers who wonder what fresh hell can be inspired by Doyle's original four novels and 56 short stories are in for a treat."
Congratulations to Rebecca Cantrell, winner of the 2010 Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award!! The award was announced on Saturday, March 13th at Left Coast Crime, an annual event sponsored by fans of mystery literature for fans of mystery literature. It honors the best historical (events prior to 1950) mystery published during the previous year. To watch the announcement and Rebecca's acceptance, click here or watch it below.
Michael Kurland's SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE AMERICAN YEARS received a favorable review on Gosh!TV's website. You can read the full review here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was listed as #4 on Seattle Mystery Bookshop's February 2010 Bestseller list (behind some big names). The top four are...
Hardcover To read the full list, click here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was chosen as the recommended March Read on Jet Set Smart blog. To read the complete blogpost, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A TRACE OF SMOKE was featured in the Paperback Row column of the New York Times Book Review. The full excerpt follows: "A crime reporter in Berlin in 1931 secretly investigates a murder close to home—that of her kid brother, a gay cabaret singer. The trail leads to sex scandals among the brownshirts. Marilyn Stasio, our reviewer, praised the novel's "bold narrator and chilling historical setting."—Elsa Dixler
Kelli Stanley will host a Book Signing Party at Book Passage (Corte Madera) on Wednesday, February 24th at 7 PM to promote CITY OF DRAGONS. Kelli has garnered several starred reviews from such literary magazines as Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and the late Robert B. Parker gave her this awesome quote just before he passed away: "City of Dragons is a stunning recreation of time and place that I greatly enjoyed...as will everyone who reads it." CITY OF DRAGONS is also an Indie pick for February. Besides meeting both Kelli and Kimberley, there is further incentive to attend this event: Wine and cupcakes will be served! Please join us!
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS was featured in the most recent issue of Deadly Pleasures magazine as the next "Reviewed to Death" title.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a rave review from Oline Cogdill of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The full review, titled "A Death in the San Francisco Fog" can be found here. The review was also mentioned in Sarah Weinman's blog, "Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind," which can be found here.
Kelli Stanley was interviewed by David Wilk of WritersCast.com about her recently released novel, CITY OF DRAGONS. To hear the podcast interview, click here.
Tom Peele has been awarded the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage for his forthcoming book, KILLING THE MESSENGER: The Assassination of Chauncey Bailey and the Ruination of an American City. The McGill Medal is an award administered by the University of Georgia and is named for the late editor of the Atlanta Constitution, Ralph McGill, who wrote editorials in favor of civil rights and voting rights for African Americans in the 50s and 60s despite criticism and threats from whites. Tom will be headed to Athens in March to accept the award. Congratulations Tom!
International Rights: Nonfiction
Fiction: Debut
Bekka Black's iDRACULA was featured in Publishers Weekly as part of their "Children's Books: Fall 2010 Sneak Previews" under the Sourcebooks Fire imprint. The excerpt follows: "Sourcebooks Fire has an app for that with iDRACULA by Bekka Black, a retelling of Bram Stoker's tale using text messages, emails, and Twitter feeds;..."—Publishers Weekly For the full text, click here.
Michael Kurland's SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE AMERICAN YEARS received an excellent review in the February edition of School Library Journal, in the "Adult books for High School Students" column. The full text follows: "Adult/High School—Kurland has found 10 competent contributors of 10 worthy additions to the growing sum of stories set in the world of Sherlock Holmes. The selections are all true to character and era, at the same time adding new Holmes adventures, exploits, and successes as an innovator of detective techniques. While Conan Doyle made several references to America and Americans in his tales of Holmes's life and work, he did not explore any adventures the detective might have had on this side of the Atlantic. This gap in the saga is filled admirably. Readers find Holmes in East Coast cities, in Middle American towns, and on the wild frontier of the West. He meets and confronts people from all walks of life, including many of lasting fame—Mark Twain, Edwin Booth, P. T. Barnum, and Robert Louis Stevenson—as well as bandits, schemers, and murderers of high and low breeding. The plot devices, dialogue, and character development are uniformly first-rate. Without question, Kurland has achieved his goal: to entertain in the well-established tradition of the Holmes canon."—Robert Saunderson, formerly at Berkeley Public Library, CA
Nonfiction: Biography
Catherine McKenzie's SPIN received a fabulous review from The Globe and Mail, Canada's largest newspaper. An excerpt follows: "The tag line is: 'How far would you go to get what you always wanted?' and Kate Sandford, protagonist of Catherine McKenzie's first novel, Spin, goes so far she makes you cringe. ... Where A Million Little Pieces...was tortured and powerful, Spin is more about entertainment and fun. ... Full of pop-culture allusions, some really funny ones. ... Spin is a compelling, fast-paced read."—Michelle Berry You can read the full review here.
Catherine McKenzie's SPIN rocketed to #15 on The Globe & Mail's Canadian bestseller list, Canada's preeminent national listing, just 10 days after its debut January 9 and holds steady. It also garnered a glowing review from Elle Canada, which named SPIN one of its Top 3 Books. SPIN has also received over a dozen additional reviews online. Some excerpts and links follow: Catherine's website, complete with an impressive blurb lineup, including one by Tish Cohen, author of Inside Out Girl and Town House: catherinemckenzie.com
"Catherine McKenzie has the Austen touch in this novel."
"Damn, I loved this book!"
"Lovely! ....if you have a soft spot for sex, drugs, rock n roll and gossip, you need to pick up this book."
"Katie Sandford stands heroic despite—and perhaps because—of her imperfections in this wildly entertaining debut novel.
"A fresh and fun, yet serious debut novel ...For me it was a perfect escape to another world, with characters I loved and a storyline that grabbed me from the beginning to the end."
A "wickedly candid and genuinely funny story of a woman who must make a Sophie's Choice for her career."
"Intelligently written...with solid knowledge of the addiction / recovery process... I was thoroughly surprised."
" 'Bridget Jones goes to rehab'... I loved it."
"If you haven't read this book, you should. Like...now. Go get it. Seriously....go on now, scoot! Come back and tell me when you've bought it."
"I am utterly convinced this will be a movie starring that chick from Chuck (except she''ll have a dye job.) It's that freaking good."
"Fellow Canadian author Catherine McKenzie's debut is a remarkable work... and I'm a dude."
Milo and Thuy Sindell's THE END OF WORK AS YOU KNOW IT received a glowing review in the February 1st issue of Library Journal. The full review follows:
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS has been selected for the February Indie Next List by the American Booksellers Association. The full review follows:
As part of her blog tour promoting CITY OF DRAGONS, Kelli Stanley was interviewed on writingonthewall.blogspot.com. You can read the full interview, titled "Kelli Stanley: From Small Press to Big Success," here.
Michael Kurland's SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE AMERICAN YEARS received a wonderful review on www.shine.yahoo.com. Excerpts of the review follow: "...a superlative story by any standards. "Editor Kurland has helmed other anthologies similar to this one, and future volumes in this vein ought to prove most welcome."—David Marshall James
Rebecca Cantrell's A TRACE OF SMOKE has been nominated for the 2010 Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award. The winner of the award will be announced at Left Coast Crime, an annual event sponsored by fans of mystery literature for fans of mystery literature. It honors the best historical (events prior to 1950) mystery published during the previous year. (Kelli Stanley's NOX DORMIENDA was the 2009 winner.)
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a glowing review in The Olympian, Olympia, WA's daily newspaper. You can read the full review here.
Catherine McKenzie guest-blogged "What Twitter Taught Me"—about selling yourself (and your book) online—for The Globe and Mail's Book section. Read the full blog entry here.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received an excellent review by Becky LeJeune of NoMoreGrumpyBookseller.blogspot.com. You can read the full review here.
A write-up of Milo and Thuy Sindell's THE END OF WORK AS YOU KNOW IT for the Associated Press's Financial Bookshelf fixture was picked up by the New York Times. An excerpt follows: "SUMMARY: Just 45 percent of Americans surveyed recently said they were satisfied with their work—the lowest level recorded by the Conference Board research group in the poll's 22 years. This book by two career experts and leadership consultants addresses such dissatisfaction, saying people can be happier at their jobs by spending time finding out what they want from the experience. "The Sindells, who founded two software companies, suggest strategies that can be adapted for different life stages. For example, those early in their careers may want to initiate change, demand autonomy and create meaning in their work. Mid-career workers may be more interested in learning about how to seize recognition and maintain balance, while those late in their careers may be thinking about building their legacies. "Sprinkling in some real-life examples, they give tips about how to see what you do professionally in a new way and provide tools to get back on track when you find yourself frustrated. "QUOTE: 'If you want to feel more positive toward the experience of work, you've got to figure out what's in it for you beyond a paycheck. When you do, you will have discovered the end of work as you know it. Work will take on a different meaning for you.'"—Dave Carpenter
Milo and Thuy Sindell will host a Book Signing Party at Book Passage (Corte Madera) on Wednesday, January 20th at 7 PM to celebrate publication of THE END OF WORK AS YOU KNOW IT: 8 STRATEGIES TO REDEFINE WORK IN YOUR OWN TERMS. In today's challenging job market, many of us want to feel more engaged with our current jobs rather than try to find the "perfect" position. Veteran leadership consultants Milo and Thuy Sindell share stimulating strategies in their book. Please join us on Wednesday for wine, cupcakes, and to show your support.
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received yet another excellent review on FreshFiction.com. The review led with a description of the book as "An outstanding, viscerally authentic mystery set in an exciting time and place." The full review follows: "P.I. Miranda Corbie literally trips over the body of Eddie Takahashi as she's walking home during San Francisco's Rice Bowl Party Celebration of 1940. It's Chinese New Year. The streets are crowded. No one sees a thing. The Chamber of Commerce wants the murder to go away and the cops are good with that, but Miranda wants the truth and she puts one foot in front of the other until she's covered the entire city looking for answers. "I'd say that CITY OF DRAGONS reminded me of 1940's film noir, except that instead of the dreamlike black and white noir shadows, everything about the novel is in living color. You can almost experience Stanley's world with all five senses. Her re-creation of the time and place—1940 San Francisco's Chinatown—couldn't feel any more authentic. It's her details that draw you in, but her story keeps you turning the pages until the ending that slowly and cleverly takes you by surprise. If you've read a better mystery lately, I need to know the name of it. "CITY OF DRAGONS is outstanding! Miranda is one tough cookie; I can't wait to read more about her and her city by the Bay."—Sue Burke
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a starred review in the January 15th issue of Library Journal. The full review follows: "While navigating the crowds celebrating the Chinese New Year in San Francisco's Chinatown, PI Miranda Corbie finds the body of Eddie Takahashi. It is 1940, and relations between the Chinese and Japanese communities are tense, owing to Japan's invasion of China. City officials want this case to go away, but Miranda wants justice for an innocent young man. Her past as a highly paid call girl gives her entry into establishments that no one admits are flourishing. VERDICT Miranda Corbie has the potential to be a great series character. Think Barbara Stanwick meets Myrna Loy, then toss in a hard-boiled crime story worthy of Raymond Chandler. This atmospheric series debut by the author of Nox Dormienda, winner of the Bruce Alexander Award for best historical mystery, will appeal to fans of noir historicals."
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a starred review in the January 1st issue of PW. The full review follows:
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS received a starred review in the January 1st issue of Booklist. The full review follows:
Amy Burkhardt is profiled in the January 2010 edition of www.WritingRaw.com. To read her full interview, click here. (PDF)
 |
|
 |
||
 |
||
December 30, 2010
