JVNLA Blog

Ellen Potter interviewed in Publishers Weekly for THE HUMMING ROOM

2012-02-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

Ellen Potter (author of THE KNEEBONE BOY and the OLIVIA KIDNEY series) has refashioned Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic THE SECRET GARDEN into a contemporary tale in her new book out this February. Publishers Weekly interviewed Potter about the unique process of writing the book, titled THE HUMMING ROOM. You can read the whole article at this link, but to whet your appetite, here's a sampling below!

Q: How did you tackle the actual writing of THE HUMMING ROOM?

A: The idea of writing a contemporary version of THE SECRET GARDEN was very exciting to me, yet at the same time it was very, very intimidating. I knew I needed to follow the original story line--or that I wanted to--but I knew I had to make it different enough that it would be worthwhile for people to read my novel.

The book has already gotten multiple astounding reviews. Don't miss this one!

"Noteworthy...Potter, with classic and contemporary storytelling flair, deftly interweaves fantasy, mystery, suspense, and realism. Beautifully wrought, elegant prose combines with vivid setting details and diversely-drawn characters to affectingly portray themes of loneliness and grief. Roo is a memorable character--her experiences prove transformative in unexpected ways and, ultimately, her complexities and growth ring true. Poignant without sentimentality, this is a compelling read that is certain to resonate--and linger--with young readers." --Booklist, starred review

"Potter pays graceful tribute to the spirit of [THE SECRET GARDEN]. The author borrows plot elements effectively, yet her strong characterizations, fluid dialogue, and evocative descriptions give the novel a vibrant life of its own...Potter lavishes attention on the gothic island setting and Roo's uncle's estate; it's a thrilling ghost story, but one that, like the story it's drawn from, has love and rebirth at its heart." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The author has created a fresh tale with a strong-willed heroine...An homage to a cherished classic that can work as a companion piece or stand alone." --Kirkus

Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, February 2012

Trailer for THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST by Emily Danforth

2012-01-27T17:38:00.000-05:00

THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST by Emily Danforth comes out February 7th from Balzer+Bray, and the book has already received starred reviews from three different publications! View the incredible trailer and the reviews below!

Plus, if you want to learn more about the author and the book, you can view Danforth's website here and the book's Facebook page here.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post Book Trailer from emily danforth on Vimeo.

"[An] ambitious literary novel, a multidimensional coming-of-age...There is nothing superficial or simplistic here, and Danforth carefully and deliberately fleshes out Cam's character and that of her family and friends. Even the eastern Montana setting is vividly realized." --Booklist, starred review

"Runs the gamut from heart-rending to triumphant, epic to mundane...Carefully crafted symbols provide a backbone for the story's ever-shifting array of characters and episodes, each rendered in vibrant, almost memoir-like detail...Handled with particular nuance...Even when events take a dark and gut-punchingly inevitable turn, the novel remains at its heart a story of survival and of carving out space even in a world that wants one's annihilation. Rich with detail and emotion, a sophisticated read for teens and adults alike." --Kirkus, starred review

"The story is riveting, beautiful, and full of the kind of detail that brings to life a place (rural Montana), a time (the early 1990s), and a questioning teenage girl...Danforth's story gains even more complexity and dimension from [a] shift [halfway through], further developing the political, religious, and coming-of-age themes introduced in the first half...Cam's reckoning with her sexuality develops through a series of vignette-like early chapters that focus on the girls that come and go in Cam's life...creating narrative moments that will have teens rereading the sexy bits like an earlier generation did with Judy Blume's FOREVER." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins, February 2012

The Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc, Announces New Venture

2012-01-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

Partners Jean Naggar and Jennifer Weltzof the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc, are excited to announce anumber of changes in the Agency in response to the expanding needs ofour authors in an evolving market.

A New Venture for our Agency:

After great success placing over 70back-list JVNLA titles with emerging publishers, The Jean V. NaggarLiterary Agency, Inc, has expanded its services to offer co-agentrepresentation to literary agencies for reprint rights in bothelectronic and print formats.

Unlike many Agencies in both the US andUK who have chosen to publish or help their clients self publishtheir authors' back-list, The Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency hastaken a unique and successful approach to their authors' titles bypairing them up with emerging e-book or print and e-book publishers. Consequently, the JVNLA authors gain an added vested party in there-release of the title.

Over the past two years, JVNLA hascultivated a number of relationships with a variety of players in thee-book/POD marketplace and continues to expand its understanding ofthis arena as new players emerge and opportunities evolve.

We are interested in partnering withagencies managing a back-list where original publication rights ore-rights were either clearly reserved by the author, or have revertedback to the author. Using the information we have compiled, we willstrategize with the primary agent to find the best placement for thereprint rights, either with an e-book publishing partner or a moretraditional print publisher. All other rights, outside of reprintrights in print and electronic formats, will continue to be managedby the primary agent.

Publishers Weekly on JVNLA's New Venture: link here.

Web Site:

To better assist our authors' effortsin Social Networking and outreach to readers, we at JVNLA havecreated an author/reader focused web-site which highlights ourauthors' current releases, their distinguished awards, and ravereviews. With over 1,000 titles sold out of the Agency, we wereunable to list all of them on the site, but we have made availableinformation on all of our authors as well as their hundreds ofaccolades.

To better help readers connect withauthors, we have an active blog highlighting recent activity for ourbooks and we offer direct help to Book Groups in making their titleselections.

We no longer accept print queries buthave streamlined our query process to better serve prospectiveclients.

International representation:

With sales in over 50 countries JVNLAis committed to finding the best representation around the world. Ournew representatives in Israel and Holland are The Deborah HarrisAgency and Mo Literary, respectively.

Personnel:

In an effort to further expand ourreach into the Australian market, Laura Biagi will be directlyselling our list in this territory. Laura will continue to assistboth Agency partners, Jean Naggar and Jennifer Weltz, as well asassisting Jennifer Weltz in all Subsidiary-Rights submissions.

Contract and Royalties Manager, TaraHart, will now also be overseeing and selling all e-reprint rights aswell as managing the New Venture above with Jennifer Weltz.

CONTACT: Jennifer Weltz

212-794-1082

jweltz@jvnla.com

Outstanding press for THE LAST NUDE

2012-01-13T18:10:00.000-05:00

THE LAST NUDE by Ellis Avery was highlighted in my last post, but this book has received so many phenomenal reviews after only one week of publication that we wanted to put them all in the spotlight!

In addition to the reviews below, Avery was interviewed by NPR. You can listen to the audio at this link. She will be traveling to bookstores across the country t oread and answer questions about her book. Learn which cities she'll be visiting at this link.

"A taut, elegant novel...[Avery's] prose sings." --More Magazine

"What's not to love about Ellis Avery's romantic novel, THE LAST NUDE?...We've been loving this tough-but-vulnerable heroine." --O Magazine

"A dark, sexy romp." --Kirkus

"The no-big-deal way that young Rafaela, the narrator, slips into prostitution in the opening chapters reveals something of Avery's vision: a gorgeous Parisian love story, but not a polite or idealized one...In THE LAST NUDE, the sex feels ripe and real and vital, the very element that artist, model, and masterwork together create, inhabit, and flourish within." --SF Weekly

"A fascinating look at love, art, and betrayal. Highly recommended." --AfterEllen.com

"Heartbreak transcends the page in a beautiful novel of love and regret between painter and muse." --Shelf Awareness

"The strength of Avery's novel lies in her depiction of a driven and accomplished artist and an impressionable waif who finds that her beauty no longer belongs to her." --Publishers Weekly

"Those eyes! Those lips! That hair! Tamara de Lempicka's iconic Jazz Age paintings that immortalize Rafaela Fano in her nude glory (especially The Dream and La Belle Rafaela) now see glittering, luminescent life in Avery's novel, a riveting lesbian love story of heart-stopping passion, rapture, and stunning duplicity...Avery places lovers Tamara and Rafaela within a richly portrayed circle of culture touchstones...Against that brightly pigmented background, this artist-model lovers' tale is...subtle and seductive...Avery's breathtaking shimmer of first love and its aftermath will turn heads." --Booklist, starred review

De Lempicka's painting referenced above, The Dream (1927), was adapted into the cover for Avery's THE LAST NUDE. View some of de Lempicka's other iconic images, La Belle Rafaela and Auto-Portrait, below:

La Belle Rafaela (1927)

Auto-Portrait (Tamara in the Green Bugatti) (1925)

Riverhead, January 2012

Ten books on year-end "Top Ten" and "Best Of" lists!

2012-01-09T12:21:00.001-05:00

The end of the year marks the moment when book reviewers closely scrutinize all the books they've reviewed in a year's span, seeking out those titles that rise to the top, that can be lauded "The Best." We've been excitedly gathering the reviewers' notifications as they've come in over the past several weeks. Now that 2011 is officially over, we are proud to announce that ten of our books have been honored among 2011's "Top Ten" and "Best Of" lists!

IF JACK'S IN LOVE by Stephen Wetta

According to The Wall Street Journal, today is "a new Golden Age of crime fiction," a Golden Age which encompasses everything from detective novels to more literary crime novels. Among the top ten 2011 titles the newspaper highlighted as perfect evidence of such an age is Stephen Wetta's debut novel. The Wall Street Journal called IF JACK'S IN LOVE "funny and suspenseful, poignant and joyous--a one-of-a-kind work worthy of any Golden Age." Link here.

IF JACK'S IN LOVE was also featured on About.com in their "Top 10 Books of 2011" list. About.com called IF JACK'S IN LOVE "a debut novel not to miss." Link here. The website praised the book glowingly: "IF JACK'S IN LOVE has that spark of a writer who fully invests himself and writes with a startlingly bittersweet humor, infusing his first novel with a tinge of something special...Wetta is an author to watch."

IF JACK'S IN LOVE published in September 2011 by Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam.

A DOUBLE LIFE by Lisa Catherine Harper

The National Book Critics Circle named A DOUBLE LIFE their #4 choice for the year's "Best of the Small Presses"! The NBCC lauded Harper's memoir as "incredibly rich and enlightening...a clear example of the successful merging of memoir and scientific study." They added, "[Harper] remains centered...with frequent moments of self-awareness and grace." Link here.

The memoir came out in March 2011 from University of Nebraska Press.

Lisa Catherine Harper has appeared on another "Best Of" list as well. Her essay "Poems from My Ex" was named the #5 most read article on PoetryFoundation.org. Link here.

THE LAST NUDE by Ellis Avery

This novel was only released yesterday, but it made Library Journal's 2011 list of top 25 books to look forward to in 2012. In the Library Journal starred review, the novel was called "an evocative, heart-cutting work" and "absorbing, affecting, and agitating...highly recommended." Link here. THE LAST NUDE was also named a January 2012 Book Pick from Library Journal.

Riverhead published THE LAST NUDE in January 2012.

BEFORE VERSAILLES by Karleen Koen

Library Journal's "Best Of's" don't end with THE LAST NUDE! The journal also released a list of "Best Books of 2011 in Historical Fiction," on which BEFORE VERSAILLES was featured. "Lush prose illuminates one of the most powerful and glittering courts in European history," Library Journal wrote in a rave review. Link here.

Additionally, The Houston Chronicle's book review blog, Bookish, named a list of top 2011 Texas book picks. Prominent among them was Texan author Karleen Koen's BEFORE VERSAILLES. Link here.

BEFORE VERSAILLES was released in June 2011 by Crown.

HEARTSTONE by C.J. Sansom

Marilyn Stasio, columnist for The New York Times Book Review, created a list of "Notable Crime Books for 2011." Featured among these was British author C.J. Sansom's HEARTSTONE. Link here. In an earlier review, The New York Times Book Review said "HEARTSTONE may be the best novel in [Sansom's] richly entertaining and reassuringly scholarly series...History never seemed so real."

HEARSTONE appeared in January 2011 from Viking.

BECOMING FAULKNER by Philip Weinstein

This book was actually released in hardcover at the end of 2009 and will appear in paperback in 2012, but it was a big book under consideration in 2011 for the C. Hugh Holman Award. And win the award it did! The C. Hugh Holman Award is given by the Society for Southern Literature for the best and most significant book of Southern Literary Studies for the year. More information about the award can be found here.

BECOMING FAULKNER will soon arrive in paperback, in April 2012, from Oxford University Press.

THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES by Jean M. Auel

THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES hit three top ten bestseller lists of the year! It was #6 in hardcover fiction for the ABA's "Indie Bestsellers List of 2011," and it was #9 in fiction for the UK's The Sunday Times. Also in the UK, The Guardian newspaper printed the top 2011 books listed on the Nielsen UK sales charts. Here, THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES appeared at #7 in hardcover fiction.

THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES, the sixth book in Jean M. Auel's bestselling Earth's Children® series, came out in March 2011 from Crown.

THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE by Timothy Schaffert

Rachel Manwill at BookRiot.com named five "Best Books of 2011," and ranking high on her list was THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE. She lauded the book as having "so many striking elements and...language...so evocative, that [COFFINS] manages to be the rare book where both the forest AND the trees are perfect." Link here.

This book has received outrageously phenomenal reviews over the course of the year. The New York Times called "each of Schaffert's books...a quirky little gem," People praised COFFINS (in no less than a four stars review) as "memorably narrated" and "a witty...profound story," and The Washington Post deemed it "alluringly strange to the very last page."

THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE was released in April 2011 by Unbridled Press.

A SEA IN FLAMES by Carl Safina

A SEA IN FLAMES was named by the Project on Government Oversight as one of "Ten Books That Matter" for 2011. According to their website, the Project on Government Oversight is "a nonpartisan independent watchdog that champions good government reforms." Link here. Elsewhere, A SEA IN FLAMES has been praised as "an illuminating, monitory study" (Kirkus), full of "factual elegance" (The Washington Post), and "a revealing, thoughtful history...an insightful work" (The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice).

Crown published A SEA IN FLAMES in April 2011.

THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT by Carl Safina

Another book by Carl Safina received acclaim in "Best Of" lists this past year: this time THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT in Newsday's "Best Books of 2011" list. In a separate review, Newsday said the following about the nonfiction work: "Before Carl Safina, environmentalists could often be heard wondering where the next Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, or Henry Beston might be hiding...[Safina writes] pure sensuous detail, seeing the natural world from a variety of angles." Link here.

After reviewing this book, the New York Post called Safina "a Thoreau for the 21st century"; The New York Times featured THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT on a full page feature, named it Editors' Choice, and remarked that "Safina's book soars"; and Huffington Post praised it as "striking," a book "about what it means to be human in a world where the rhythms of life have been thrown askew, indeed, burst asunder."

THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT appeared in hardcover in January 2011 from Henry Holt, and it arrived in paperback this month from Picador.

Happy holidays

2011-12-22T16:48:00.000-05:00

Our most sincere holiday wishes go out to you as we celebrate the holiday season and reign in 2012. Here's to another great year!

The illustration used to create the above holiday card is from the back cover of THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, illustrated by children's author/illustrator Roger Duvoisin!

POPE JOAN to premiere this weekend!

2011-12-16T14:09:00.001-05:00

POPE JOAN, the two-part movie miniseries, will be premiering in just a few days: on December 18th and 19th! Don't miss it on Reelz Channel, starting at 8 pm!

Reelz has been posting trailers and interviews with the author of the book, Donna Woolfolk Cross, in anticipation of the event. The US premiere of the movie, which has taken international theaters by storm, will feature never-before-seen film footage as well as behind-the-scenes clips and further interviews with Donna Woolfolk Cross. Check out the trailer and an interview below:

Pope Joan | Hollywood Dailies | Pope Joan | Movie Trailer | Review

Meanwhile, the book that inspired the movie is being featured on Crown Publishing's Read It Forward website (view here) and the movie is being featured on Random House's Word & Film website (view here).

To participate in the conversation before the film, join the GoodReads Q&A here. You can also learn a lot more about the film and book on the author's GoodReads page here. During both nights of the film, there will be a Tweetup, where you can ask the author, @DonnaWCross, your questions. Use the hashtag #PopeJoan.

Everyone's getting excited--be sure to tune in!!

Crown, 1996, 2009

THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES is still going strong!

2011-12-09T13:13:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Jean Auel, whose THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES was released in paperback and mass market last month and whose name has been hitting bestseller lists ever since! THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES was first released in hardcover in March (Crown), after which it was on the New York Times bestseller list for 19 weeks. Now, the mass market edition, published by Bantam, has reached #5 on the New York Times mass market list for December 11! And on December 18, it will be #6 on the mass market list.

Since its initial release, THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES has also been on the Publishers Weekly's bestseller list for 13 weeks. It reached #4 on the mass market list this week.

So be sure to open up your New York Times Book Review this weekend to find THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES!

Bantam, November 2011

Comic strip book review!

2011-12-02T17:24:00.001-05:00

The best book reviews are in comic strip form! Check out the below comic strip book review for Joe Woodward's ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK: A Biography of Nathanael West from The Rumpus's Horn! Reviews.

You can learn more about the book, published this month from O/R Books, at the author's website here!

O/R Books, November 2011

POPE JOAN to premiere in the US on Reelz!

2011-11-18T12:59:00.001-05:00

We've just heard exciting news that the film POPE JOAN, based on Donna Woolfolk Cross's novel of the same name (Crown, 1996, 2009), will premiere in the US on Reelz Channel as a two-night miniseries! The film will appear on December 18th and 19th.

POPE JOAN takes place in the 9th century and tells the fascinating story of a controversial figure of historical record: a woman who disguised herself as a man and eventually became Pope. Sonke Wortmann directed POPE JOAN, which stars Johanna Wokalek, David Wenham, and John Goodman. It was first released in October 2009 and premiered worldwide in Berlin, Germany, where it was the #1 film. It also appeared in theaters in the UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, among other countries. View the stunning German movie poster below:

Be sure to tune into Reelz on December 18th and 19th! Learn more on Reelz's website here, or Donna Woolfolk Cross's website here. And find out even more by reading the book!

Crown, 1996, 2009

Who really was "The Bard"?

2011-11-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

Mark Anderson's acclaimed "SHAKESPEARE" BY ANOTHER NAME is out this week for the first time digitally from Untreed Reeds! "SHAKESPEARE" BY ANOTHER NAME is the biography of the man who exhaustive research suggests is the true author of the complete Shakespeare oeuvre: Edward de Vere, the 17th earl of Oxford. First published by the Penguin imprint Gotham Books in 2005, the book has received incredible praise across the US: "Deserves serious attention" (The New York Times); "Quite a compelling argument" (The Chicago Sun-Times); "Especially impressive" (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

You may recognize similarities between Anderson's book and the new movie ANONYMOUS currently out in theaters. The movie is a fictionalized version of many of the arguments Anderson has put forth.

In fact, Anderson is a veritable powerhouse of information in the debate about who Shakespeare really was, as his website can attest (view it here!). In the below Studio 360 audio interview and an article for MinnPost.com (viewable here), Anderson compiles the most compelling pieces of evidence. Be sure to check them out, but learn even more about Edward de Vere and the controversy by reading "SHAKESPEARE" BY ANOTHER NAME!

Studio 360 audio interview:

Untreed Reads, November 2011

Re-released classic picture books

2011-11-04T14:01:00.000-04:00

The coming of November brings with it the re-release of two beloved picture books!

Beautifully worded and vividly illustrated, A STARLIT SNOWFALL was born out of the collaboration of Newbery Medalist Nancy Willard and Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney. Originally published as A STARLIT SOMERSAULT DOWNHILL by Little, Brown in 1993, this gorgeous repackaging invites a new generation of children to experience the wonder of winter. In a starred review, Kirkus praised the previous edition for its "gossamer lyric verse, delicate as early snow." Booklist noted that, "graceful in both picture and word, this [book] creates a mood that transcends the intricacies of the text." The repackaged edition will appear in stores this Monday!

Little, Brown, November 2011

Another re-release appearing at the end of the month is LAPIN PLAYS POSSUM: Trickster Tales from the Louisiana Bayou written by Sharon Arms Doucet and illustrated by Scott Cook. The book compiles three lively trickster tales of Cajun Louisiana's version of Brer Rabbit. It first appeared from Farrar, Straus, & Giroux in June 2002. Reviewers hailed the "colorful vocabulary and peppery idioms [that] season each page" (Publishers Weekly) and the "sly, hilarious regionalisms...spiced with bayou phrases...[that make it] a fine addition to folklore collections" (Booklist).

Pelican Publishing, November 2011

Be sure to pick up these classics this month!

Praise after praise heaped on IF JACK'S IN LOVE

2011-10-28T13:47:00.000-04:00

IF JACK'S IN LOVE, just released this October from debut author Stephen Wetta, is an Indie Next Pick for the month, and excellent reviews for it just keep coming in! Here's a sampling:

"[A] wonderfully written marvel of a book: a work both gripping and hilarious, joyous and heartbreakingly bittersweet." --The Wall Street Journal

"Deftly, Wetta illuminates the gulf between the innocence of age 12 and the realizations that arise at 13...At turns unsparing, tender, and disturbing when it comes to rivalry and the nuances of love versus obligation, this is no typical bildungsroman. That Jack emerges from a crucible determined never to look back is unsurprising; it is the path leading him to this conclusion that is intelligently, wonderfully conceived." --Publishers Weely, starred review

"[An] auspicious debut...IF JACK'S IN LOVE is a moving portrait of a specific time, family, and town, but also a universal story of growing up and coming to terms with the people--and places--that raise us, told with all the humor, truth, and urgency of its teenage hero." --BookPage

"You will fall in love with Jack's endearing voice as he recounts the summer he fell in love and ultimately grew up." --Chatelaine (Canada)

"Wetta has a deft touch at balancing the laugh-out-loud moments with some of the darker plot twists. All the characters feel authentic in their motives, words, and actions throughout, and Jack's relationship with his family members, Gladstein, and Myra are written with compassion and heart...Wetta is an author to watch." --About.com

Be sure to pick up a copy of the book! And find out more about this incredible author at his website, www.stephenwetta.com.

Penguin/Amy Einhorn Books, October 2011

Margolin father-daughter team interviewed for VANISHING ACTS

2011-10-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

In a follow-up to the other week's post, we have a fantastic video of Phillip Margolin and Ami Margolin Rome being interviewed on the morning show AM Northwest for the release of their middle-grade novel VANISHING ACTS!

GHOSTS IN THE FOG reviews, videos, and WWII revelations

2011-10-21T16:29:00.001-04:00

Just released this month, GHOSTS IN THE FOG by Samantha Seiple is a gripping narrative nonfiction account of the little-known Japanese invasion into Alaska during World War II. Seiple's website has a wealth of intriguing photos and videos about this facet of history, which you can view at this link! Be sure to also check out Seiple's editor at Scholastic talking about the book at the video below. GHOSTS IN THE FOG is in great company!

"Grabs the reader...Ms. Seiple has brought us a treasure." --Library Media Connection

"Just when you thought everything that could be written about the major battles of World War II had been, along comes GHOSTS IN THE FOG...Riveting descriptions and insights." --North County Times

"An enlightening account full of compelling stories of survival and perseverance." --Kirkus

"Well-researched and incredibly detailed." --VOYA

Scholastic, October 2011

Bookstores prepping for the release of VANISHING ACTS

2011-10-07T13:21:00.000-04:00

VANISHING ACTS, an exciting new middle grade mystery from New York Times bestselling thriller author Phillip Margolin (SUPREME JUSTICE, FUGITIVE) and his daughter Ami Margolin Rome, is coming out next week. Bookstores across the US are already preparing for the release, with Powell's Books in Oregon highlighting the authors and their upcoming local talk and signing on the bookstore marquee!

Check out this great early review for the book:

"[VANISHING ACTS] pulls a few Nancy Drew parallels into a wholly contemporary story. Like titian-haired Nancy, 12-year-old Madison Kincaid lost her mother in early childhood and lives with her well-known, highly successful attorney dad. And, like Nancy, Madison is a well-rounded high-achiever...The authors work in realistic emotional tensions as they thread their way through the two central plot strands...A budding romance and vivid court scenes give readers more reasons to hope for future installments of Madison's adventures." --Booklist

HarperCollins, October 2011

MY CELEBRITY, MY NEW YORK featured on Pix 11 News

2011-09-30T13:39:00.000-04:00

Journalist Jeryl Brunner's MY CELEBRITY, MY NEW YORK: Famous New Yorkers Share Their Favorite Places comes out next week, and the book and author have just been featured on Pix 11 News! Brunner has written for InStyle Magazine, O Magazine, People, and Us Weekly. Her interviews with celebrities inspired her book, which features the secret hot-spots celebrities love to visit in New York City. Brunner calls the book "a love letter to New York."

Be sure to check out the Pix 11 video below! In a neat twist, Brunner's interviewer also happens to be a JVNLA author: Karen Schaler, author of TRAVEL THERAPY (http://traveltherapytrips.com/).

MY CELEBRITY, MY NEW YORK comes out from Globe Pequot Press in October 2011. Learn more about Jeryl Brunner and MY CELEBRITY, MY NEW YORK at www.mycitymynewyork.com!

Italian trailer for A SEA IN FLAMES

2011-09-23T13:06:00.001-04:00

Carl Safina's A SEA IN FLAMES (Crown, April 2011) has just been released in Italy, and the publisher, VerdeNero, has created a fabulous trailer for the book! Now, it may be a little difficult to understand the entire trailer if you don't speak Italian, but we thought this was just too cool not to share!

US reviews for this incredible book:

"[A SEA IN FLAMES] offers a revealing, thoughtful history of a moment when human manipulation of nature malfunctioned spectacularly...Written in a clear, conversational style...Readers will find the book accessible and agreeable...An insightful work." --The New York Times Book Review

"Not since Rachel Carson wrote her sea trilogy has a conservationist written about marine ecosystems with the factual elegance of Carl Safina." --The Washington Post

Rave review for LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR

2011-09-16T12:48:00.000-04:00

Mary McGarry Morris's LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR has just received a stunning rave review from The Associated Press, and it has been reprinted and re-posted by newspapers across the US! You can read the full review by clicking here. An excerpt is below.

Including this new rave, several reviews have now compared Morris's novel to Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Lee's widely beloved classic has been popular in the media lately, with UK readers having just voted it as the #1 book they want to receive on the next World Book Night (see link here). For anyone who's ever read and enjoyed TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, be sure to pick up what's sure to become a new classic: LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR!

LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR was released into bookstores this week. Learn more about the author here: http://marymcgarrymorris.com/

From The Associated Press:

Morris laces new novel with growing sense of dread
By Monica Rhor

Morris's finely crafted prose--simple and lyrical--captures perfectly that sliver of pre-adolescence when the very world around us seems to shudder and shift, when the adults we admire suddenly reveal their flaws, and everything we treasure seems to be slipping away...The journey of Nellie, smart, independent, and unwilling to bend, into being a traditional girl, recalls the central thread of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD where violence and tragedy also propel Scout Finch into a deeper understanding of human nature.

But unlike that book, in which Atticus Finch forms an unassailable center of honor and integrity, LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR portrays a muddled adult world, where honor can often hide weakness, success can mask cruelty, and even heroes can harbor dark impulses.

Morris...nimbly laces her latest novel with a growing sense of dread, hinting at the awfulness that is about to enter the lives of Nellie and her fragile family. But it is that awfulness the violence itself, the aftermath, or simply the terrible knowledge that comes when all veneers are stripped away?

The lessons of LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR may not be as uplifting as the clearly drawn morality of Harper Lee's classic, but Nellie Peck's stubborn belief in the goodness of a fellow human being offers a much-needed counterpoint to our culture of cynicism and moral muddiness.

Crown, September 2011

POPE JOAN author on the Oprah Winfrey Network

2011-09-09T17:47:00.006-04:00

On Wednesday, September 21, at 10 pm, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will be airing a Primetime special on the fascinating and controversial history of Pope Joan, featuring author Donna Woolfolk Cross!

Cross's historical novel POPE JOAN (Crown 2009 reprint) has been a smashing success since its initial release in 1996. The international bestseller has sold in 33 countries and has been described as "a fascinating and moving account" by Library Journal. The Los Angeles Times Book Review said it had "all the elements one wants in a historical drama--love, sex, violence, duplicity, and long-buried secrets."

The Primetime special originally aired on ABC in 2005. According to the OWN website, the special takes "a look at the mystery and lore behind the medieval legend of Pope Joan, believed by many to be the only female pointiff of the Roman Catholic Church."

Be sure to tune in! Plus, learn more about the author of POPE JOAN and her novel at www.popejoan.com!

Crown, 2009

Sneak peek of THE LAST NUDE!

2011-09-01T15:27:00.004-04:00

Check out the beautiful cover for Ellis Avery's newest, THE LAST NUDE, a sweeping historical set in 1920s Paris! The novel chronicles the affair between artist Tamara de Lempicka and the young woman who posed for her most iconic Jazz Age images, Rafaela. Fittingly, the cover portrays one of de Lempicka's most famous paintings of Rafaela, The Dream (1927).

Riverhead Books, January 2012

This book won't be out until January, but it has already received some fabulous reviews, as well as an incredible interview with Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of ROOM. You can read the interview online, here. THE LAST NUDE is also a Library Journal pick and has been featured in Go Magazine. It is also already available for online pre-order!

"As erotica and powerful as the paintings that inspired it, Ellis Avery's artist-muse love story is as much about money, class, and betrayal." --Emma Donoghue

"A remarkable novel: at once a seductive evocation of Lost Generation Paris, a faithful literary rendering of Tamara de Lempicka's idiosyncratic and groundbreaking art, and a vibrant, intelligent, moving story in its own right. It's also smoking hot." --Emily Barton, author of BROOKLAND

"A sly, sleekly written stereograph of art, desire, and desperation in Paris in the '20s, THE LAST NUDE brings Rafaela to electric life, much as Tamara de Lempicka did when she painted her." --Alexander Chee, author of EDINBURGH

"THE LAST NUDE carries us through one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in modern art, and into the minds and bodies of two of art history's most riveting heroines. With prose and imagery that are both lyrical and unabashedly sensual, Avery breathes life and depth into famed artist's muse Rafaela, tracing her rocky but thrilling path from lost girl to Lost Generation icon, and laying bare acts of love, desire, and betrayal with all the assuredness of a master artist herself." --Jennifer Epstein, author of THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI

"Avery transports the reader on a fast-paced magic carpet ride to Paris between the World Wars, a time when artists, patrons, and models fused the business of sex and art, with deeply painful results." --Aaron Hamburger, author of FAITH FOR BEGINNERS

EVERY DAY ON EARTH honored by YALSA

2011-08-26T13:09:00.005-04:00

EVERY DAY ON EARTH by father-son team Matt and Steve Murrie has been named a Quick Pick by the Young Adult Library Services Association! Check out these great reviews for this highly informative and incredibly fun fact book:

"This is the kind of book I would have loved to have growing up...This is a perfect book to make learning fun!" --Rosemary's Reading Circle Blog

"It's an easy book to read and belongs out in the open around the house rather than on the bookshelf, because it's great for spot entertainment, or for breaking the ice at parties, or simply for reinforcing knowledge in oneself or one's kids." --New York Journal of Books

"It's the type of book I remember ADORING when I was 9 or 10 years old." --Mama Smiles Blog

Scholastic, August 2011

Discerning wolves agree: SECRETS OF THE WOLVES is great!

2011-08-19T11:26:00.007-04:00

At her reading of SECRETS OF THE WOLVES in Berkeley, CA, author Dorothy Hearst brought along real wolves for the audience to meet and learn about. As you can see below, one wolf thought her book was so good he tried eating it!

SECRETS OF THE WOLVES is the second in The Wolf Chronicles trilogy, in which Hearst imagines a time 14,000 years ago when humans and wolves lived not so different lives, a time when they had to learn to cooperate and depend on one another in order to survive. Visit the author's website to learn more by clicking here!

"If you liked WATERSHIP DOWN, you must read PROMISE OF THE WOLVES." --Jean Auel, New York Times bestselling author

"A crackling foray into a dangerous past...Immediately absorbing...Hearst's keen interpretations of wolf behavior, senses, and sensibilities will enchant paranormal fans and animal lovers alike." --Publishers Weekly, on PROMISE OF THE WOLVES

"A vivid, enchanting tale of friendship, trust, and adventure, good Tolkien-esque ingredients." --Kirkus Reviews, on PROMISE OF THE WOLVES

Simon & Schuster, August 2011

Authors of THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF BIG RED FLAGS interviewed on Fox News

2011-08-16T11:23:00.004-04:00

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF BIG RED FLAGS by Natasha Burton, Julie Fishman, and Meagan McCrary
Adams Media, June 2011

Upcoming titles already receiving excellent reviews

2011-08-05T12:45:00.005-04:00

September will see the release of New York Times bestselling author Mary McGarry Morris's LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR and standout debut author Stephen Wetta's IF JACK'S IN LOVE. Check out the phenomenal press these novels have already begun accumulating!

"Morris offers a timeless and timely look at small town life, as seen by wise, verbose...thirteen-year-old heroine Nellie Peck...Morris's page-turner (which evokes TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) will...send new readers searching for her earlier titles." --Publisher's Weekly

Crown, September 2011

"Deftly, Wetta illuminats the gulf between the innocence of age 12 and the realizations that arise at 13...At turns unsparing, tender, and disturbing when it comes to rivalry and the nuances of love versus obligation, this is no typical bildungsroman. That Jack emerges from a crucible determined never to look back is unsurprising; it is the path leading him to this conclusion that is intelligently, wonderfully conceived." --Publishers Weekly

Amy Einhorn Books/Penguin, September 2011

Trailer for HOOKED by Catherine Greenman!

2011-07-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

HOOKED by Catherine Greenman
Delacorte Books, August 2011

Brenda Marshall interviewed for DAKOTA

2011-07-08T11:39:00.000-04:00

DAKOTA: Or What's a Heaven For

North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, November 2010
Untreed Reads, December 2010

Phenomenal reviews for AMONG THE MISSING by Morag Joss

2011-06-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

“This remarkable novel has an abundance of suspense at its core, put forth in beautiful prose that all but glows on the page...Vivid, propulsive language.” --Booklist, starred review

“Joss builds the suspense with the touch of a master...AMONG THE MISSING—haunting and affecting—is a novel so striking that the reader will feel the rush of the river, the collapse of the girders and, most of all, the compassion of its creator.” --Richmond Times-Dispatch

“An exceptional piece of writing. This is a marvelously executed narrative that underscores the invisible ties that bind us to our identities, to our histories, and to one another.” --Tucson Citizen

“Beautiful, evocative.” --Romantic Times Book Reviews, Top Pick, 4 1/2 stars

Delacorte, June 2011

THE PRACTICAL NAPPER featured in USA Today

2011-06-17T13:25:00.001-04:00

Looking for a funny, unique, and inventive gift for Father's Day? Look no further than THE PRACTICAL NAPPER by Jennifer Eyre White! The book--which compiles research-based facts, celebrity quotes, and humorous insights on why everyone should nap more--was featured in USA Today as a great gift idea for this Sunday's most paternal of celebrations. Read the full article by clicking here.

Andrews McMeel, June 2011

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF BIG RED FLAGS featured on MTV blog

2011-06-10T11:48:00.000-04:00

MTV's Clutch Blog is featuring Natasha Burton, Julie Fishman, and Meagan McCrary's THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF BIG RED FLAGS! The blog emphasizes some simple "DOs" and "DON'Ts" for guys based on the hilarious and horrifying dating stories in the book. Read the MTV feature by clicking here.

And don't forget to check out the blog that started THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF BIG RED FLAGS at http://bigredflags.wordpress.com/!

Adams Media, June 2011

Safina Interviewed in The Atlantic

2011-05-23T17:37:00.000-04:00

A SEA IN FLAMES, the newest title by ecologist and marine conservationist Carl Safina has been making waves since its late April release! Check out his interview in The Atlantic by clicking here.

Crown, April 2011

Astounding Praise for MINDING BEN by Victoria Brown

2011-04-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

With features in The New York Times, People, NPR, and New York Daily News, MINDING BEN by debut author Victoria Brown is a hit! Check out excerpts from the phenomenal reviews it has received:

“What makes this title stand out from other nanny fiction is the author’s focus on Grace’s island culture and the West Indian nannies and friends with whom Grace spends time. Revealing New York’s melting pot at its most complicated, this interesting first novel is told from the perspective of someone who has been there and done that. Brown drew from her personal experience as a young immigrant nanny, and her story is fascinating, tender, and heartbreaking.” --Library Journal, starred review

“Refreshing...What gives this story its momentum is Grace’s endearing personality and strength of character.” --The Baltimore Times

“One great book.” --People

“Part of the novel’s appeal lies in Grace’s spirited voice, but the fascinating insider details on the nanny life also add an extra dimension...Although a social satire in some ways like THE NANNY DIARIES, MINDING BEN is also a moving immigrant story. Brown vividly depicts the vibrant and diverse West Indian communities of Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood...Especially notable is the author’s knack for the colorful patois that distinguish various Caribbean nationalities...Brown was...not afraid to tackle the thorny issues of race, religion, and class.” --Library Journal, Editor's Pick Review

“Troubling and touching...The language of the Caribbean sings through the pages.” --Publishers Weekly

“Brown is a new voice with much to offer.” --Kirkus

“Like THE NANNY DIARIES and THE HELP, MINDING BEN probes the racial and class dynamics between nannies and their wealthy employers ... Brown, herself an immigrant who worked as a nanny, brings alive both Grace’s quest to be independent and her resourcefulness in dealing with the condescension of Manhattan’s elite. ” --Booklist

"A realistic and utterly compelling immigrant story that is also hopeful and witty. I look forward to more from Victoria Brown, who is a lyrical, arresting writer and a fresh new voice in fiction." --Amy Sohn, New York Times bestselling author of PROSPECT PARK WEST

“Grace Caton’s pursuit of the American Dream is a story of courage and elegance in circumstances that are not always easy or even kind. Brown’s writing is at once gritty and big-hearted, full of deep pathos and, also, celebration. Like Jhumpa Lahiri, Brown chronicles the immigrant experience with affection, grace, and depth.” --Caitlin Shetterly, NPR contributor and author of MADE FOR YOU AND ME

Hyperion Voice, April 2011

Rave reviews for Timothy Schaffert's THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE

2011-04-15T18:02:00.000-04:00

Due to publish on Tuesday, THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE by Timothy Schaffert has been receiving phenomenal press, and the feature that appeared in The New York Times on Wednesday is only the latest! The book is also an Indie Next List pick for May 2011 and has received a starred Publishers Weekly review. Here is a sampling of some of the excellent quotes:

“Each of [Schaffert's] books is a quirky little gem, particularly the first one...There’s a lot of plot to THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE. But Mr. Schaffert’s style is so gossamer-light that the story elements don’t become cumbersome. His book can accommodate a large cast of characters who bump into one another with an almost screwball regularity...Mr. Schaffert’s sly wit and frank affection for his characters can make him sound like a very American Alexander McCall Smith. ..A faint but important frisson of fear runs all through this seeming lightheartedness, giving the book a spooky undercurrent.” --The New York Times

Read the full NYT review by clicking HERE.

“It's small town, big drama in Schaffert's sublime latest...Schaffert spins out the story and its offbeat characters with compassion, spoofing the nation's voracious appetite for "news" and suggesting that perhaps not all stories are created equal. Piercing observations and sharp, subtle wit make this a standout.” --Publishers Weekly, starred review

Unbridled Press, April 2011

Susan Schoenberger interviewed for A WATERSHED YEAR

2011-03-14T12:31:00.000-04:00

A WATERSHED YEAR by Susan Schoenberger

Guideposts, March 2011

Trailer for A DOUBLE LIFE by Lisa Catherine Harper!

2011-03-04T17:44:00.000-05:00

A DOUBLE LIFE by Lisa Catherine Harper

Winner of the 2009 River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize

University of Nebraska Press, March 2011

Trailer for THE TUDOR SECRET by C.W. Gortner!

2011-02-18T17:32:00.000-05:00

Trailer for PALE ROSE OF ENGLAND by Sandra Worth!

2011-02-11T15:02:00.000-05:00

Trailer for THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES by Jean M. Auel

2011-01-14T11:43:00.000-05:00

THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES by Jean M. Auel
Pub Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Check out www.jeanauel.com for all the latest updates!

Trailer and reviews for THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT by Carl Safina

2011-01-07T12:45:00.000-05:00

Carl Safina's THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT (Henry Holt), just released on January 4, has been receiving phenomenal reviews! Here's a sampling:

“A superb work of environmental reportage and reflection.” --Kirkus, starred review

“[A] lyrical conversationist...[A] compassionate account.” --Publishers Weekly

“A book of beautifully modulated patterns and gracefully stated imperatives. --Booklist

“A true masterpiece...LAZY POINT just might become the 21st century's WALDEN POND.” --Gary Soucie, former editor of Audubon Magazine

“Moves easily from revelatory observation...to passionate, lyrical philosophy.” --The Economist

Check out what Safina himself has to say about it in the promo video:

Trailer for TEMPESTUOUS by Lesley Livingston!

2010-12-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

Teaser for THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES by Jean M. Auel!

2010-11-12T17:41:00.000-05:00

Visit www.jeanauel.com for the most up-to-date info!

Everyone's excited about THE KNEEBONE BOY! -- Coming out on September 14

2010-08-27T11:15:00.000-04:00

“With a dark, witty absurdity suggestive of Lemony Snicket, Potter draws readers into this compelling mystery-adventure....sharp, humorous, and poignant observations...Often laugh-out-loud funny, this tale quietly solves a deeper mystery: how to heal the hearts of this immensely likable trio.” --Publisher's Weekly

“Fresh, funny and surprising. The sibling dynamics--alternately testy and touching--are believable, as are the wonderfully odd characters....A quirky charmer.” --Kirkus, starred review

“Metafictional flourishes keep us amused and on our toes as Potter tackles some serious topics from a position both gothic-cheeky and compassionate.” --Horn Book Magazine

And, in a poignant haiku from one blogger:

Yes, it really is
that good. Voice, character, and plot --
it's got them all.

--EmilyReads.com

Feiwel and Friends, September 2010

Astounding reviews for COMMUTERS by Emily Gray Tedrowe

2010-07-16T11:44:00.000-04:00

"In her wonderfully cohesive debut novel, short-story writer Tedrowe graduates to elegant novelist with a winding, convincing familial drama about the ties that bind and the bonds that bend to the breaking point....From her first steps into the story, Winnie is the most winning member of a multifaceted cast....the author’s deft handling of a large and distinctive cast should win raves from those who revel in this sort of ensemble crazy quilt. A lovely and literate family drama that wins bonus points for its sincerity and open-hearted delivery." --Kirkus

"[An] impressive debut novel." --Chicago Sun-Times

"Tedrowe is an exceptionally adept first-time novelist, creating a thoroughly engrossing plot, redolent settings, and intriguing characters coping valiantly with fear, terrible decisions, and the bewitchment of money. Tedrowe’s tale of family conflict, shelter, love, and loss is suspenseful, funny, and tender." --Booklist

"Tedrowe...shows great promise in her compassionate, nuanced depiction of love--among the old and young alike--and her confident handling of alternating, multigenerational narrators." --Publisher's Weekly

"The reader feels sympathy for Tedrowe's characters, even when they behave badly, and through the various threads, Tedrowe reminds us that love transcends social and monetary boundaries....This New England family drama will be a good book club selection." --Library Journal

Plus, COMMUTERS was a "Best New Paperback" featured in Entertainment Weekly, an IndieNext Notable Pick for August, and a Target "Breakout Book" selection for August! Congrats to Emily!

Harper Perennial June 2010

Safina interviewed on PBS's NEED TO KNOW

2010-06-07T13:44:00.000-04:00

As news about the BP oil spill continues to come to light, renowned marine biologist and author Carl Safina has been providing his opinions and insights in the media. The latest is his interview on PBS's Need to Know. Watch the video below! Safina is the author of SONG FOR THE BLUE OCEAN, EYE OF THE ALBATROSS, and VOYAGE OF THE TURTLE.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Theater Production of Willard's EAST OF THE SUN & WEST OF THE MOON

2010-05-17T17:48:00.000-04:00

Shaking the Tree, a theater based in Portland, Oregon, recently produced Nancy Willard's EAST OF THE SUN & WEST OF THE MOON. Willard's story is a retelling of a Norwegian folktale involving hideous trolls with long noses, a prince trapped in bear skin, and a girl who must rescue her prince from the trolls. Check out the incredible pictures below or click the link here to see more!

C.W. Gortner on THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI and THE LAST QUEEN

2010-05-07T13:24:00.000-04:00

THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI (Ballantine Books) will be released on May 25, 2010!

THE LAST QUEEN (Ballantine Books) is available in bookstores now!

Interviews with Wendy Webb and Carl Safina

2010-04-29T17:30:00.000-04:00

Debut author Wendy Webb's THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE just keeps getting great press! Most recently, Webb was interviewed by KAXE Radio. Click here for the interview and to hear more about the book!

Carl Safina, a MacArthur fellow and a 2010 recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, interviewed with WHYY Radio for Earth Day about the future of the ocean. Safina has written a variety of books about ocean life, including SONG FOR THE BLUE OCEAN, EYE OF THE ALBATROSS, and VOYAGE OF THE TURTLE. Click here for his insights into our ocean's fate!

Ann Mazer on SPILLING INK, coauthored with Ellen Potter

2010-04-02T09:28:00.000-04:00

Get to the Point, the MacMillan Kids blog, has a guest post with Ann Mazer, who co-wrote SPILLING INK with JVNLA author Ellen Potter. Check it out if you want to see Ann's top ten reasons for writing the book!

"6. Because every time Ellen Potter sent me one of her sections, I was practically screaming with delight. (If you don’t believe me, just read SLOB, PISH POSH, or OLIVIA KIDNEY and see for yourself.)"

Feiwel and Friends March 2010

Huffington Post raves about LANGUAGE OF SECRETS

2010-03-29T12:22:00.000-04:00

"Destined to become this year's THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER and a perennial book club favorite . . . an absorbing, provocative and, ultimately, satisfying read from the first page . . . Pick it up. You won't be sorry."

Click here for the full review!!

Doubleday March 2010

Natalie Zemon Davis wins the Holberg International Memorial Prize

2010-03-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

Natalie Zemon Davis, author of THE RETURN OF MARTIN GUERRE and TRICKSTER TRAVELS, has been awarded the prestigious Holberg Prize--a major award for excellence in law, theology, the arts, humanities, or social sciences.

Click here for The Varsity's excellent interview with Natalie Zemon Davis, in which she discusses her life and work.

Cecilia Galante on WILLOWOOD

2010-03-09T10:40:00.000-05:00

Out Today!!!
Simon & Schuster March 2010

The Editorial Role: An Agent's View by Jean Naggar

2010-03-03T15:50:00.000-05:00

Jean Naggar, president of JVNLA, Inc., wrote a wonderful blog post for the Huffington Post that's currently up on their website. Check it out!!

"We literary agents are now essentially functioning as editors, stepping into the vacuum and metaphorically taking up the stubby red pencil we had stored as a memento of a bygone age. It is now our responsibility to our writers to polish the gem before it is even seen by editorial eyes. And since most publishers today will not consider unagented manuscripts, over our transoms they come tumbling for us to filter and refine."

I realize with gratitude that for every editor who espouses the fast and furious view there are still some willing to fall in love and to commit. I know who they are. Their names are lovingly breathed within the walls of our agency, Their opinions are shared and treasured. We know the editor who knows how to edit without dictating or ruffling the feathers of a sensitive novelist, who grasps the unspoken intent of the author and enables it, who believes in a work before that belief has been endorsed by everyone else, and who is willing to fight for it in a job climate where a lay-off may be a breath away."

Click here for more!!

Book Trailer: DARKLIGHT (Wondrous Strange #2) by Lesley Livingston

2010-02-24T14:20:00.000-05:00

Harper Teen December 2009

And the Nominations Keep Coming: Nancy Springer's CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRINOLINE, Sarah Waters' THE LITTLE STRANGER

2010-02-22T17:20:00.001-05:00

Nancy Springer has already received an Edgar nomination--the Enola series' second! Nancy's fourth!!--for 2009 THE CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRINOLINE, Springer's fifth title to feature Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes' brilliant young sister Enola. Late last week, CRYPTIC CRINOLINE was similarly honored with an Agatha Award nomination. We're rooting for you, Nancy!

Philomel May 2009

In other award news, Strand magazine (which has the distinction of having first published over fifty of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories--a minor theme here, perhaps?) announced its Critic Awards nominees, including the much-ballyhooed, Man Booker shortlisted LITTLE STRANGER, by Sarah Waters. Great news for great writers--congrats to Springer and Waters both!!

Riverhead May 2009

Special Sneak Peek: Potter's KNEEBONE BOY Cover Art!!

2010-02-01T11:24:00.000-05:00

Ellen Potter's KNEEBONE BOY is scheduled for Fall 2010 publication, yet news about the title is already spreading through the blogosphere.

Ellen Potter is featured as a guest blogger on MacKids, offering up her enthusiasm for the absolutely stunning cover art that has just been finalized for KNEEBONE BOY!

Fuse 8, a School Libary Journal blog, picked up the story and ran with it in a post of their own--as did Bookshelves of Doom, which offered the following prediction:

"This book cover is so very gorgeous that it will tempt so very many readers currently unaware of Ellen Potter's fantabulous storytelling, characters and general writing skillz . . . with this new book, she will become the NYT Bestselling Author with Legions Upon Legions of Fans that she SHOULD be . . ."

Fingers crossed for oh-so-fantastic Ellen Potter!!

Cecilia Galante on Writers Block

2010-01-26T11:26:00.000-05:00

Check out more clips at Simon and Schuster's author page for Cecilia--and be on the lookout for WILLOWOOD, coming March 2010!

Red Writer to the Rescue!!

2010-01-15T15:31:00.000-05:00

See below for Episode 1 of Alison Lyne's RED WRITER, inspired by the heroic exploits or Martha Bennett Stiles! (Click images to maximize panels.)

JVNLA Welcomes Elizabeth Evans

2010-01-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Evans worked for six years with Kimberley Cameron & Associates (formerly the Reece Halsey Agency). Elizabeth specializes in nonfiction, including memoir, current affairs, pop culture, relationships, journalism, history and popular science. She also represents select titles in up-market women’s fiction, mysteries and young adult novels.

Welcome aboard, Elizabeth!!!

(Click here for more)

Stephen King Top Pick of 2009? Waters' LITTLE STRANGER

2009-12-18T10:42:00.000-05:00

Stephen King's Top Ten Books of 2009 column from last week's Entertainment Weekly is up on EW's site. Uncle Stevie's top pick? Sarah Waters' THE LITTLE STRANGER--"a deeply textured and thoughtful piece of work. Several sleepless nights are guaranteed."

[Edit 12/23: King was also quoted on The New Yorker's book blog about his fave of '09: "Like the best ghost stories, this is a tale of deepening obsession . . . authentically horrifying."]

Riverhead May 2009

Happy Holidays from JVNLA!!

2009-12-11T16:09:00.000-05:00

Click here to see the animated card!!!

NIGHT NAVIGATION in Psychiactric Services

2009-12-07T17:36:00.000-05:00

Ginnah Howard's NIGHT NAVIGATION, whose themes include addiction and mental illness, has been awash in praise from newspapers, blogs, and literary journals since its publication in April 2009--rave reviews include those from, among others, New York Times Book Review, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.

How does the title hold up under the critical eye of the psychiatric world? Just as well, it seems--Psychiatric Services, a monthly journal for mental health professionals and others interested in mental health issues, published a similarly positive review of NIGHT NAVIGATION in its December 2009 issue. The reviewer praises the verisimilitude of Howard's story, stating: "clearly [Howard] has either done her homework or has had first-hand experience with addiction and its meandering course."

Final analysis? "An entertaining and worthwhile true-to-life story about complicated people grappling with vexing problems."

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt April 2009

Stills from the Lynne Barasch Museum Corner Exhibit @ Middle Country Public Library

2009-12-02T18:03:00.000-05:00

The above and below photographs show the gorgeous exhibit featuring the lush, original sketches of author/illustrator Lynne Barasch now available to visit at the Middle Country Public Library in New York State.

Mark your calendars--Lynne will appearing at the exhibit on January 16th!

THE BIG THRILL Interviews Steve Perry

2009-11-11T16:39:00.000-05:00

The International Thriller Writers, Inc.'s monthly webzine The Big Thrill features an interview with Steve Perry, "prolific writer of media tie-ins, teleplays, and original work," whose latest INDIANA JONES AND THE ARMY OF THE DEAD "brings the cultural icon face-to face with a resurgent horror subgenre."

"Perry's insight into Indiana Jones? He's "a classic adventure hero [whose] appeal is that he seems like an ordinary guy who rises to the challenge. Reluctantly sometimes . . . but he still does what needs to be done."

More on the challenges of writing in an established universe in the full article!!

Del Rey September 2009

POPE JOAN Film Premiers at #1 in Germany

2009-10-30T12:30:00.001-04:00

From ScreenDaily.com:

"Constantin’s UK-Germany-Spain-Italy co-production Pope Joan . . . made a strong start to its run, with a $5m tally from 565 screens in three territories. The lion’s share of the gross came from Germany, where the film secured top spot with $4.4m from 465 screens, a $9,500 average. Set in the 9th century, the drama follows a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to rise through the ranks of the Vatican. Pope Joan opens in Belgium on November 18 and Netherlands on December 17."

Crown paperback rerelease June 2009

Lisa Cook on Life After Japan

2009-10-26T17:19:00.000-04:00

"With no job of my own waiting for me, and only six days of marriage under my belt, I boarded a plane for Nagoya, Japan, a place that apparently had preserved the era and mindset of the 1950s." --Lisa Cook, on the journey recounted in her memoir Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me, and new motherhood, on Momlogic.com

Broadway Books October 2009

New Doreen Orion interview on WOW!--Women on Writing

2009-10-16T11:11:00.000-04:00

"Everyone always says the most important thing is to spend time with the people we love, but I don’t think most of us really put this into practice. Spending 24/7 together in 340- square feet for 365 days with our 60-pound dog and 2 cats, Tim and I discovered we were happier than we’ve ever been." --Doreen Orion, on her memoir QUEEN OF THE ROAD, now in its sixth printing

Broadway Books June 2008

CEZANNE'S QUARRY on New York Times Book Review's Paperback Row!!

2009-10-05T12:25:00.000-04:00

"This elegant mystery by a historian is full of period details as well as questions about women's place in the 19th century and the conflict between science and religion." --New York Times Book Review, Editors' Pick, Paperback Row, Sunday 10/4

Pegasus Books paperback September 2009

Lynne Barasch's FIRST COME THE ZEBRA in The New York Times

2009-09-11T16:58:00.000-04:00

"Barasch successfully dramatizes a real-life conflict . . . the scenes are simply drawn, and the resolution feels hopeful and realistic." --The New York Times, Children's Bookshelf

Fishing Lessons with Carl Safina

2009-09-01T11:49:00.000-04:00

Filmed during an outing with New York Times Dot Earth blogger Andrew Revkin--click here for the Times post.

Jewish Journal interview with Zoe Klein

2009-08-28T12:46:00.000-04:00

“He’s a brooder; he’s the most autobiographical of the prophets, and there’s something so desperately lonely and sad about him that I wanted to reach back in time and comfort him somehow . . . I wanted to provide someone who is just mad about him and loves him as a man, not as a prophet.” --Zoe Klein, expounding on her novel DRAWING IN THE DUST

LITTLE STRANGER Tribune Article

2009-08-26T15:49:00.001-04:00

"From the outset, with Tipping the Velvet, her debut novel, to the present . . . [Waters] has persistently gone where few dare follow, in the echoing footsteps of Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins and the Brontes." --The Herald, on Sarah Waters' literary antecedents

The Little Stranger is short-listed for the Man-Booker Prize.

The Little Stranger, Riverhead May 2009

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

2009-08-20T11:36:00.000-04:00

The Taiwanese edition of Doreen Orion's riotous memoir QUEEN OF THE ROAD just came in and everyone at the office is absolutely smitten with the cover.

We are all also intensely curious about what Doreen's adoring husband is exclaiming down at the bottom of the image, as nature calls during a photo (in)opportunity:

Anyone read Chinese?

Broadway Books June 2008, Marco Polo Press June 2009

Lucinda Roy in Newseek, USA Today

2009-08-10T16:39:00.000-04:00

The always-insightful Lucinda Roy was twice featured in major publications in the past two weeks. Her reflections on US race relations in the Obama era, sparked by the controversial arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates last month, was published in USA Today at the end of July, and has swiftly been followed by an article in Newsweek this past Friday that discusses how writing can help students and parents get--and stay--connected. Check 'em out!

Riveting . . . balanc[es] sympathy over an anguished soul with horror over his presence. Filled with a poet's mastery of tactile details. Calm analysis only highlights the urgency of Roy's warning that fundamental problems . . . need to be addressed lest similar tragedies recur." --Kirkus Reviews

Heartbreaking . . . infused with startling moments . . . conveys the anguish of being caught up [as] an accidental actress in am American melodrama." --Washington Post

Harmony Books March 2009

LAST BRIDGE Media Blitz!! New Links

2009-08-03T11:40:00.001-04:00

LA Times article of this weekend: Where Few Men Dare to Tread, featuring Cat Drucker of Teri Coyne's debut novel--part of a tradition of "damaged, kick-butt women" from crime fiction in recent decades. Check it out!!

Bookreporter.com on THE LAST BRIDGE: "Coyne's pacing and prose are unrelenting . . . Very accomplished and confident . . . haunting and scary, full of rage and energy . . . a worthwhile and compelling examination."

Teri Coyne takes the Page 69 test

Ballantine, July 2009

Sarah Waters' THE LITTLE STRANGER nominated for Man Booker 2009!!

2009-07-29T09:47:00.000-04:00

[update 09/08/09 Sarah's made the shortlist as well!!]

Sarah Waters has twice been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for her novels FINGERSMITH and THE NIGHT WATCH. Now, her newest, THE LITTLE STRANGER, has been longlisted for this year's award, with the shortlist to be announced on September 8th. Go Sarah!

Waters on her inspirations and influences for THE LITTLE STRANGER:

LAST BRIDGE Trailer

2009-07-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

POPE JOAN Motion Picture, German Trailer

2009-07-27T16:46:00.000-04:00

Zoe Klein on debut novel DRAWING IN THE DUST

2009-07-27T16:43:00.002-04:00

Christopher Gortner on THE LAST QUEEN

2009-07-27T16:43:00.001-04:00

Karen Schaler on TRAVEL THERAPY: Where Do You Need to Go?

2009-07-27T16:27:00.000-04:00

Dr. Joseph Luciani on recording RECONNECTING

2009-07-27T16:09:00.001-04:00