A new bestseller, 20 years after publication

THE ORACLE GLASS by internationally beloved and critically acclaimed author Judith Merkle Riley was re-published in November by Sourcebooks. Now, almost twenty years since its original publication by Viking in 1994, the book has hit The New York Times bestseller list AND the USA Today bestseller list! The climb came just after THE ORACLE GLASS was featured as a Kindle Daily Deal and a Nook Daily Find on a Monday in early May.

As might be expected, the most significant impact appeared among e-book sales. In The New York Times rankings, THE ORACLE GLASS reached #7 on the E-Book Fiction list:

But e-book sales were most definitely not operating in an e-book bubble. THE ORACLE GLASS also hit #8 on The New York Times Combined Print and E-Book Fiction list:

On USA Today's overall bestseller list, THE ORACLE GLASS climbed to #16:

This bestseller success reflects the hard work and tactical strategy behind Sourcebooks's relaunch scheme. Sourcebooks bought rights to another Riley book at the same time as they bought rights to THE ORACLE GLASS.  This other book was THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES, originally published by Viking in 1999.  It will be released in July, eight months after THE ORACLE GLASS's release.  Sourcebooks's two-part plan allows each book to capitalize on the promotions, sales, and successes of the other.

With THE ORACLE GLASS now a bestseller a month-and-a-half before Part II of Riley's Sourcebooks relaunch, THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES is sure to reap much of the first book's success.

Sourcebooks also gave the books new, updated covers.  Below are the older covers so you can get a sense of the changes made:

And below are the two new covers!  Notice the commonalities: the font, layout, mystical tone, and the stars sprinkled throughout.  These commonalities brand the books as a pair. The print copy of THE ORACLE GLASS also has a lovely metallic sheen to it, with the title in raised lettering.  We're looking forward to seeing the print copy of THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES when it arrives in July!

Furthermore, Sourcebooks paired new praise with the fabulous quotes the books had already garnered upon their original publication.  A sampling of the praise is below:

“Take a full cup of wit, two teaspoons of brimstone, and a dash of poison, and you have Judith Merkle Riley's mordant, compelling tale of an ambitious young woman who disguises herself as an ancient prophetess in order to gain entry into the dangerous, scheming glamour of the Sun King's court. Based on scandalous true events, THE ORACLE GLASS brims with our human foibles, passions, and eccentricities; it's a classic of the genre and unlike any historical novel you have ever read.” --C.W. Gortner, author of THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI, on THE ORACLE GLASS

“Open the pages and out comes a whiff of brimstone, as THE ORACLE GLASS transports you to the Paris of kings and witches, on a guided tour of corruption, love, and sorcery.” --Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of OUTLANDER, on THE ORACLE GLASS

“Absorbing and arresting.” --The New York Times, on THE ORACLE GLASS

“Fascinating and factual.” --Los Angeles Times, on THE ORACLE GLASS

“Chilly, witty, and completely engrossing...Great, good fun.” --Kirkus, on THE ORACLE GLASS

“A delicious, romantic romp.” --The Seattle Times, on THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES

“[A] dazzling mix of history, romance, and the occult...Riley [is] a writer who excels at getting the background right and creating strong, intelligent heroines.” --Kirkus, on THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES

“Delightfully rich in history, humor, and imagination.” --San Jose Mercury News, on THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES

“A tightly woven, suspenseful and fiendishly funny novel.” --Publishers Weekly, on THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES

“A delightful blend of history, romance, and the supernatural, served with generous helpings of wit and humor.” --Booklist, on THE MASTER OF ALL DESIRES

Regel's do's and dont's for attending a writers' conference

I'll be attending a number of fantastic writers' conferences in the upcoming months (Backspace, Willamette, and NJ SCBWI). The potential to discover new talent is what gets me excited for writers' conferences, but, that said, I also slightly dread the uncomfortable exchanges that are bound to happen. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to give you some guidelines for how to successfully attend a writers' conference. Here goes!

DON'T read me your pitch. When I've said this before on panels, I can actually see the distress wash across the attendees' faces. I understand that reading is more comfortable to you, but look at it this way, if you're going to read me your pitch, then why do we even need to meet face-to-face? I know how to read (it's kind of a prerequisite for the job), so you might as well just email me your query. The whole point of going to a writers' conference is to have a conversation with an agent. I can tell you in about 30 seconds whether I'm interested in reading your material. (Is it a genre I represent? Check! Am I interested in the plot? Check!) When I sit down across from an author I want to see that they can intelligently engage me in a discussion about their work. Because if I do read and love their work, I need to know that they will be able to talk about their book to potential editors, booksellers, and readers. 

DO come with questions. Once you've pitched the project there are only two things for me to do: 1) Ask for materials, and 2) Tell you it's not right for me. Once that's out of the way, what can we talk about? I've flown all these miles to meet you, so you might as well walk away with some knowledge! Use this time to your advantage.

DON'T expect me to take materials from you. First of all, no one wants to lug around heavy pages. Second of all, these days, almost everyone (including me) reads on a reading device.

DON'T pitch me at inappropriate times. What's an inappropriate time, you ask? ANY TIME THAT IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PITCHING. Every conference offers their attendees the opportunity to sit down and pitch an agent for a specific amount of time. That is really the only time you should be pitching an agent, EXCEPT...

DO be prepared to pitch at any time. We could be meeting casually over lunch and when I ask YOU, "So, what's your book about?" you should be prepared to talk about it. Otherwise you're missing an opportunity.

DO remember that we WANT to say yes. We want to discover the next big thing. And we hope that it's you! That's the whole reason why we attend writers' conferences. So try to keep a positive attitude and don't take it personally if we turn you down.  Remember that we're all here because we love writers and books, but this is still a business.

I hope to see you at a writers' conference soon!

http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/

 

http://www.willamettewriters.com/wwc/3/inf-00.php

http://www.newjerseyscbwi.com/events/110604%20conference.shtml

Take a walk on the blonde side

Last month, It Books released THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES: Highlights from a Fair-Haired Life by stand-up comedian, storyteller, and writer Selena Coppock.

A natural blonde, Coppock was awarded the “Best Hair” superlative in high school and has since embarked on numerous adventures and misadventures in her navigations through a world in which blondes are often considered ditzy, dumb, and vain. Now she has compiled her hilarious hair-care anecdotes and pearls of wisdom into a laugh-out-loud--and witty--essay collection. As Examiner.com noted, “[Coppock] admits she has benefited from some stereotypes, especially the ones about being fun-loving and young. However, she proves repeatedly [throughout THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES that] she is not dumb nor does she want to play dumb.”

Coppock's particular brand of humor can perhaps best be sampled in her book trailer below:



Since its publication, THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES has hit media outlets by storm. It was featured in Time Out New York and Glamour, and it is currently part of a give-a-way with She Knows, lasting until May 23 (so enter now!).

In an interview with Yuletide Snapper, Coppock describes why it was important to her to put together these “new rules” in the first place: “Today...things have changed and blondes have evolved. Just look at bold blondes such as Lady Gaga (naturally a brunette but most often seen with blonde hair now) and Hillary Clinton--blondes are killing it in politics, entertainment, and elsewhere, so I wanted to map out a new pathway for all of us.” Read the full interview here.

Meanwhile, over at Motherhood Moment, Coppock describes her favorite “blonde moment” and blonde hero, and she explains how hair color is like a chicken-or-the-egg scenario. Find out more here.

Coppock lists her do's, don'ts, must haves, bests, lasts, and more regarding all things writing related at Chick Lit Is Not Dead. Learn here the importance of setting boundaries in writing, how Coppock overcomes writer's block, and how she celebrated her book deal.

In a guest post at Fresh Fiction, Coppock describes exactly how she became the author of this book, which originated as the brainchild of her blonde agent and blonde editor. Check it out here.

Lastly, in an interview with Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Coppock gets to the heart of one of the deeper themes in her book: self-esteem. Here's an excerpt below, but be sure to read the full piece here.

...the book is fun and informational, but at its core it’s a book trying to encourage self-love.  Girls and women are socialized to be really hard on themselves and each other--we get a lot of grief for how we look or what shape we are and many of us internalize those toxic messages without even knowing that we are.  With THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES obviously I’m talking about blondeness, but I’m also encouraging the reader to embrace the fact that she is smart and spunky and unique, and who cares what other people think. 

Below we've compiled some of the exciting reviews the book has received so far:

“Perfect for the summer…The key to recounting stories like these is making them pop off the page...Thanks to Coppock’s writing style, which I would liken to hanging out with a funny best friend..., she manages to do just that and ends up making reading New Rules a breeze.” --Glamour.com

“Her writing is FUN with a capital F!...Whether you are blonde or not, you will love this book!” --Chick Lit Is Not Dead Blog

“A humorous guide to undermining stereotypes and becoming both self-aware and self-assured...Coppock’s book is both fun and informative, whether or not you’re of the golden-haired persuasion.” --Brooklyn Daily Eagle

“Selena Coppock is hilarious!....THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES is entertaining for anyone of any hair color who wants to laugh.” --Sweeps4bloggers.com

“A must-read for all blondes, those who hate blondes, or anyone with a sense of humor. Otherwise, this is NOT a book for you!” --Kristen Johnston, actress and New York Times bestselling author

“Selena Coppock is a hilarious, sexy bundle of blonde madness. Her willingness to own her magnificent dorkitude is an inspiration to us all. Read this book and fall in weird, awkward love with her.” --Sara Benicasa, author of AGORAFABULOUS!

“Blondes have more fun reading this book, at least this fair-haired broad did. A fresh, fun "lady-guide" that all girls can enjoy...even dumb brunettes. You heard me!” --Jillian Bell, comedian (Saturday Night Live, Workaholics)

It Books/HarperCollins, April 2013

Margolin's SLEIGHT OF HAND on multiple bestseller lists

Phillip Margolin's newest, SLEIGHT OF HAND, has just hit three bestseller lists! The book came out from HarperCollins the other week, and it has made bestseller status in the following places...

The New York Times's Bestseller List.  This makes SLEIGHT OF HAND Margolin's seventeenth New York Times bestseller!

USA Today's Bestseller List:

Publishers Weekly's Bestseller List:

In their review of SLEIGHT OF HAND, Publishers Weekly called the book “stylish” and “clever.” The Associated Press also gave a glowing review, which was picked up in newspapers across the US, including The Miami Herald and Salon.com. Below is the full rave:

Private investigator Dana Cutler returns in SLEIGHT OF HAND, Phillip Margolin's best book in years. Deception is prominent, and the villain is truly vile.

Charles Benedict is a criminal defense lawyer, amateur magician and cold-blooded killer. Ten years earlier, millionaire Horace Blair persuaded the prosecutor in his DUI case to marry him. He also persuaded her to sign a prenuptial agreement that promised her $20 million if she remained faithful for the first 10 years of their marriage.

Two days before the payout, Benedict slips her a date-rape drug and videotapes the deed. When she confronts him and demands the truth, he kills her. Benedict then frames Blair for the crime.

Meanwhile, Cutler receives a cryptic offer to investigate the theft of a scepter with origins in the Ottoman Empire. As it takes her across the country, she realizes the pieces don't fit and she might have been set up.

A magician never reveals his secrets, and like the best prestidigitators, Margolin manipulates readers into believing one thing, then reveals the surprising truth. In SLEIGHT OF HAND, he has created a legal thriller that's guaranteed to mislead and shock readers.

HarperCollins, April 2013

"Engaging, magical," HAMMER OF WITCHES presents a quest story that subverts the stereotypes

“What would happen if you took [the] standard quest story and set it in the real world in 1492?” Author Shana Mlawski posits this question in a recent post on John Scalzi's Whatever blog. Her YA debut novel HAMMER OF WITCHES is the answer.

HAMMER OF WITCHES came out last week from Tu Books, an imprint of Lee and Low. Set in 1492 Spain and "the New World,” the novel follows bookmaker's apprentice Baltasar Infante, who has a bad run-in with the Spanish Inquisition. The Inquisition demand that he reveal the whereabouts of a legendary Moorish sorcerer, but Baltasar hadn't realized the sorcerer was real outside of stories, and he certainly doesn't know where to find him. Baltasar escapes the Inquisition and soon finds himself joining Columbus's voyage to "the New World,” a journey on which he will battle demons, befriend a genie, seek out the sorcerer, and learn of the magic inherent in all stories.

As Mlawski explains in her post, standard quest stories have many problems--particularly being colonialist. Typically, the hero is a boy of uncertain ancestry who, along his journey, learns he has “noble, or even divine, blood.” The hero as well as his journey is portrayed very one-sidedly. “Be they villain, bystander, love interest, or sage, [the] secondary characters have one purpose: to help the hero come of age and complete his quest,” Mlawski writes.

But what about the perspectives of the villain, the love interest, or the seemingly unimportant bystander? In Mlawski's words,

HAMMER OF WITCHES approaches the quest story from a different angle. Here the narrator isn’t an omniscient god but a semi-unreliable teenager who spends most of the book unclear on who’s the hero and who’s the villain (or if these terms are even useful)....Characters’ powers don’t come from their pure, noble blood but from their ability to uncover and control the meanings of stories. Every time our narrator thinks he has a handle on these stories, some other character butts in to explain why he’s got it all wrong.

To read more of Mlawski's post, visit here.

And if Mlawski's subversion of stereotypes in HAMMER OF WITCHES intrigues you, you may also be intrigued by her online journalism with Overthinking It. Her pieces “have become somewhat of a meme in certain geeky cultures,” according to Diana Peterfreund in Mlawski's recent interview on Peterfreund's blog. Peterfreund points to Mlawski's “Strong Characters, Female” piece and her “Female Character Flowchart”; Mlawski subverts female stereotypes in both. In the interview, Mlawski writes, “We geeks just have to be careful to add to the conversation instead of shutting it down” in regards to feminism, racism, sexism, etc. To read more of the interview, visit here.

Mlawski's writing has been praised as "dazzling," "fast-paced," and "rollicking," but if you need to see it to believe it, the first two chapters of HAMMER OF WITCHES have been made available as an excerpt on Scribd.  Check it out here:

And if that isn't enough to get you interested in the book, here is a round-up of some of the wonderful reviews received in so far:

“An engaging, magical adventure...Mlawski’s central characters...are imaginative and well-developed, and her swashbuckling pace and intriguing plotting keep readers at seat’s edge...Mlawski invites young readers to see the familiar Columbus story from another perspective—and to consider the power of stories to shape perception in everyday life...Set in the 1490s, this provocative blend of fantasy and history offers loads of contemporary appeal.” --Kirkus

“Newcomer Mlawski delievers a fast-paced coming-of-age adventure, respectfully evoking the complexities and cultural landscape of the period. She draws from a variety of sources, including Jewish and Biblical myth, offering an accessible, attention-grabbing story that seamlessly inserts its magical elements into historical fact.” --Publishers Weekly

“Mlawski's magical take on the exploration of the New World is a dazzling, richly imagined tale about history, legend, and the fantastic power of story.”—Diana Peterfreund, national bestselling author of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS

"A truly enjoyable, energetic tale and an altogether original take on one of the most important events in human history--the first voyage of Columbus." --Joseph Bruchac, national bestselling author of WOLF MARK and SKELETON MAN

“HAMMER OF WITCHES is a historical revelation--an eye-opening magical carpet ride that takes the reader over the ocean and through the woods to an ancient time, full of beauty and grace, and the ever-present conflict between man's spirituality and his natural brutality.” --Guadalupe Garcia McCall, internationally bestselling author of UNDER THE MESQUITE

“This rollicking historical fantasy has it all--nail-biting adventure, exciting mystery, fabulous magics, and characters you can really root for. I enjoyed every word." --Victoria Strauss, internationally bestselling author of PASSION BLUE

“HAMMER OF WITCHES is everything I crave in a story--magic, adventure, danger, depth, a rich historical setting, and an irresistibly charming hero. What a fantastic voyage!” --Lesley Livingston, internationally bestselling author of WONDROUS STRANGE

Tu Books/Lee and Low, April 2013

BEYOND THE BEAR's extraordinary account of survival inspires, per reviews across the board

Just published this month from Lyons Press, BEYOND THE BEAR by Dan Bigley and Debra McKinney has been recently featured in People Magazine!  The magazine gave the book 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

BEYOND THE BEAR tells the story of Dan Bigley and the day that changed his life forever. A 25-year-old who loved exploring the Alaskan outdoors and who was newly in love, Dan had spent a glorious midsummer's day in July 2003 doing what he enjoyed most, salmon fishing with friends, when a grizzly bear charged around a bend and mauled him, leaving him blind and near death. 

People writes,

In this richly detailed, emotional memoir, Bigley retraces his harrowing journey of recovery, including the six surgeries it took to reconstruct his face. With the help of dedicated doctors, nurses, friends and family--including future wife Amber Takavitz, whom he'd met just before his accident--Bigley returned to health. His story inspires and sticks with you long beyond the final page.

Here's the review in People's books section:

Publicity is ongoing for BEYOND THE BEAR, particularly in Alaska, where the book has taken newspapers and magazines by storm.  The Anchorage Daily News featured an excerpt of the book in its newspaper just this week, and you can read that excerpt here.

Authors Bigley and McKinney also recently hosted an online book launch party, which streamed live (if you're interested in watching it, the live feed is viewable here).  And there was a non-online launch party as well!  Festivities took place at a bar in Anchorage.  The night included signings and a reading.  Check out a photo of Bigley and McKinney signing copies of the book below:

Bigley has been previously featured in an animal attack survivor series on The Discovery Channel, which continues to air on TV.  For a glimpse of what's to come in the book, watch it below:



In addition to the People review, BEYOND THE BEAR has received a wealth of other wonderful praise.  Here's a summation of what's come in so far:

“Inspiring...Unflinchingly recounts the horrific details of the mauling and its aftermath...Perhaps the most moving part of his story, however, is his relationship with Amber, the woman he fell for the night before the attack, who has remained steadfast despite his early attempts to let her go. A well-written and touching tribute to human resilience.” --Booklist

“This moving memoir of his experiences is more about Bigley's emotional recovery and beyond-impressive triumph over adversity...Readers will appreciate Bigley's inspirational and well-written story.” --Publishers Weekly 

“Combine a man shaped by an extraordinary experience with a writer adept at weaving the threads of his story and the result is a stunningly powerful book. BEYOND THE BEAR may compel you to worry less about all the bad things that could happen in life and focus instead on embracing its possibilities. You might as well buy extra copies for you will soon want to give others the gift of this insightful and riveting read.” --Jill Fredston, bestselling author of ROWING TO LATITUDE and SNOWSTRUCK

"BEYOND THE BEAR delivers in gut-wrenching detail the harrowing account of one of the most horrific bear attacks in recent Alaskan memory, but the book is so much more than a bear mauling. BEYOND THE BEAR is a powerful love story, an unforgettable tale of hope and resilience, a triumph of the human spirit in the darkest of hours. A life destroyed in a blinding flash of blood and fur. A bright and beautiful Alaskan landscape seemingly darkened forever, the midnight sun all but extinguished, yet Dan Bigley's courage and heart take us all beyond the bear and along the way we all learn to see the world in a new and beautiful light." --Don Rearden, award-winning author of THE RAVEN'S GIFT

"This book is surprising in so many ways--heartfelt, funny, buoyant, tragic and triumphant--that after awhile I wanted to do nothing else but read it and be inspired and enthralled. And so I was." --Kim Heacox, bestselling author of THE ONLY KAYAK and VISIONS OF A WILD AMERICA

For more information about the authors, visit the website here, and follow them on Facebook here!

Lyons Press, April 2013