Blogs

AUTHOR SQUARED
Janet Fitch
Adrienne Sharp

Two Authors chat about writing, books, and everything in between

I'm excited to bring the third Author Squared to On the Bookcase.

Author On the Bookcase
Kelly O'Connor McNees

So thrilled to welcome Kelly O’Connor McNees, author of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. Kelly's story includes factual accounts with fictional ideas to study Alcott's life and loves. With fine details from 19-century New England, the novel centers on a fictional period of her life -- Louisa attracts the attention and affection of Joseph Singer, a charming merchant.

AUTHOR SQUARED
Eleanor Brown
Sarah Pekkanen

Two Authors chat about writing, books, and everything in between

I'm excited to bring to the second Author Squared to On the Bookcase.

Another New Feature!

Sisters of the Traveling Computers

Eight great writers are going to produce a progressive novel -- like a progressive dinner! Each one will write a couple paragraphs in round robin style without discussing it with each other. This novel-in-progress will continue through the rest of the year.

AUTHOR SQUARED
Caroline Leavitt
Heidi Durrow

Two Authors chat about writing, books, and everything in between

I'm so thrilled to announce this new feature for On the Bookcase! The first AUTHOR SQUARED combines two New York Times bestselling authors, Caroline Leavitt (Pictures of You) and Heidi Durrow (The Girl Who Fell from the Sky). Both excellent book club picks!

Go girls!

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance has announced the finalists for the 2011 Southern Indie Book Awards, which recognize "the books from last year that Southern Indie Booksellers especially loved, the ones they most enjoyed putting into the hands of their customers with the earnest, heartfelt and ever hopeful words 'You’ve got to read this.' "

Winners will be announced in July and will be celebrated at SIBA's trade show in Charleston, S.C., September 17-19.

Two titles of the Fiction short list are Reading Group Choices selections!

Fiction

Bloodroot by Amy Greene

Burning Bright by Ron Rash

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

TOP TEN FAVORITE
DISCUSSIBLE BOOKS OF 2010

What was your favorite discussible book of 2010? There was one run-away favorite of hundreds of book groups, and it was - the envelope, please! - The Help by Kathryn Stockett!

Author On the Bookcase
Lisa Scottoline

So thrilled to welcome Lisa Scottoline, author of Save Me, Think Twice, Look Again, and 13 other novels! Save Me is the story of a woman who tries to save her child, tries to save another, and finally, ends up saving herself. Lisa's new book will have readers wondering just how far they would go to save the ones they love.

Lisa chats with us about her books, life, love, and the mother-child bond.

Author On the Bookcase
Sarah Winman

I'm excited to welcome Sarah Winman, author of When God Was a Rabbit, to On the Bookcase. Sarah's novel reveals the love of a brother and a sister, unwinding over many years -- backlit by historical events and cultural references.

From Essex and Cornwall to the streets of New York, from 1968 to the events of 9/11, When God Was a Rabbit follows the evolving bond of love and secrets between Elly and her brother Joe, and her increasing concern for an unusual best friend, Jenny Penny, who has secrets of her own. When God Was a Rabbit is a love letter to true friendship and fraternal love.

Here, Sarah talks about her book and the way she tried "to stop the film.

I was at Quail Ridge Book & Music (Raleigh, NC) last week for their semi-annual Book Club Bash. Nancy Olson and her so smart staff have welcomed me for five years. It is always such a great time listening to staff picks and, then, the book club audience chimes in about their recent book club picks. I always learn some much.

Wine, book chat, and book clubs!

Thanks, QR!