Category Archives: Book Talk

Authors, Book Column, Book Talk, Publishing Industry News

Watching BEA from Afar

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Last week Book Expo America 2015 was held in New York City. It’s an industry-only event best described as if a giant bookstore and Mardi Gras had a baby. Is that too weird?

This year (as last) BEA backed up into BookCon. Which is an event for book fanatics, fans and the general public. It’s more as if a giant bookstore and a Hollywood red carpet had a child. If you like celebrity sightings then it’s certainly your cup of tea.

I didn’t get to go this year (all these photos are courtesy via BEA), but had a blast watching via the bookterwebs. If you know where to look you don’t have to dig too far before you virtually bump into an author or publisher you admire.

BEA15_authors

So while there are no free books or ARC’s here , here is a quick rundown of the more notable highlights that are worth a read-through if you’d like to catch up:

Let me know if you know of something I missed out on. I have so many links and articles to read through as I dig deeper into some really great reads coming out later this year. Maybe I can get through them all before BEA descends on Chicago in 2016.

BEA15_Lines

Authors, Birmingham, Book Talk, Events

BOOK EVENTS: MAY 25, 2015 – June 05, 2015

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What a fantastic holiday weekend here in Birmingham, AL. The weather has been fantastically cool and even spit out a little summer shower this evening. So I don’t blame you if you’re out hiking, biking or sunning this next week – but if the rain falls again consider checking out one of these book events in and around the Birmingham area over the next two weeks.

Tuesday, May 26th from 10:00am – 12:00pm – Author Roe Bonner, will be at the West End Library talking about and signing his book Behind The Mic: The Rise and Fall of Personality Radio, which discusses  the business aspects of owning or managing a radio station.

Wednesday, May 27th from 6:30pm – 7:30pm – Author Mary Kay Andrews will be participating in a Q&A session and signing books at the Vestavia Hills Library.

Friday, June 5th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm – Jeff Shaara will be at the Alabama Booksmith signing his latest Civil War book The Fateful Lightning.

Book Column, Book Covers, Book Talk, Upcoming Titles

New Book Continues Stieg Larsson’s Series

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The Girl in the Spider’s Web hits U.S. bookstore shelves on September 1, 2015 and the U.K. a few days earlier on August 27, 2015. This book is the fourth book in the late Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium Trilogy“.

The U.S. publisher Knopf released the two covers yesterday. One for the U.S. edition and the other for the U.K. edition.

U.K. edition cover of "the Girl in the Spider's Web"
U.K. edition cover of “the Girl in the Spider’s Web”
U.S. edition cover of "the Girl in the Spider's Web"
U.S. edition cover of “the Girl in the Spider’s Web”

“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” series was a global publishing phenomenon by all accounts. Not quite Harry Potter, but oh so close. The books raced up the charts in every country they were published in.

Since Larsson died in 2005, this book has been written, in secret, by a Swedish crime-news reporter. Hopefully it will live up to what Larsson had started. Some say Larsson had planned on the series to run a full seven books.

The NPR Blog has a few more details on the new books and series.

Birmingham, Book Talk, Events

Book Events: February 29, 2015 – March 8th, 2015

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It looks like the weather and temperatures are going to be all over the place in the coming week around Birmingham, AL. Here are three author / book events that you might want to consider attending if you’re dodging raindrops or trying to stay warm.

Sunday, March 1st from 2:00pm – 3:00pm – Local author Hunter Murphy will be at the North Shelby Library talking about his new mystery novel Imogene in New Orleans. Come on out and hear about his adventures as a writer and get a signed copy.

Friday, March 6th starting at 6:30pm – there is a fundraiser at the Homewood Library for the Library and the special guest this year is best-selling author Joshilyn Jackson.  Tickets are $25 and must be bought in advance.

Sunday, March 8th starting at 2:30pm –  the Avondale Library is hosting its Adaptations Movie event. This showing is Chocolat. The discussion will revolve around the film as well as Joanne Harris’ book of the same title.