Natalie Zemon Davis wins the Holberg International Memorial Prize

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

Out Today!!!
Simon & Schuster March 2010

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

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

Harper Teen December 2009

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

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!!

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!!