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In his sequel to Calabrian Tales, the historical fiction about the paternal side of his family, Peter Chiarella comes forth with an account of his maternal relatives, the Zinzi family from southernmost Italy, in Out of Calabria (published by Trafford Publishing).

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Reminiscent of Melania Mazzucco's VITA and Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, Out of Calabria spans the period from 1860 - 1920, set first in Calabria in the southernmost region of mainland Italy and later in New York City. Vitaliano Zinzi, Chiarella's great-grandfather, seized the role of patriarch and head of the family at age 10 when his father and two brothers were killed in the war. He worked hard to become a wealthy man, becoming known as "Baron Zinzi," and expected his children to marry into esteemed, prominent families.

Vitaliano sires two sons and two daughters. When his oldest, Caterina, falls in love with a peasant field hand, he is scandalized by their marriage and torrid relationship. Meanwhile, Concetta, Baron Zinzi's younger daughter, has fallen for a young man trapped in a loveless marriage with an older woman. Eventually the man leaves his wife for Concetta and the couple makes their home on the same shabby street as Caterina and her husband.

Follow these two couples as they travel to New York, where they are determined to rise above their peasant status. Will they find success on America's shores, or will the harsh realities of circumstance prove to be too much? Should the sisters have followed Vitaliano's advice and married rich men instead of following their hearts? What will become of them in New York? Find out in the pages of Out of Calabria, a compelling portrait of Southern Italy and the United States at the turn of the century. Discover more in the pages of this engaging new book.

Peter Chiarella was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from St. John's University in New York. Now retired from the corporate world, Chiarella resides in Napa, Calif., where he spends his time as a wine grape grower and vintner. He and his wife have four children and three grandchildren.


June 30, 2010 / category: Fiction / link / comments (0)

Debut Author and Geophysicist Embarks on Voyage to Discover Sunken Treasure and Independence

In his thrilling new novel Roof of Hell (published by Trafford Publishing), author Roger Alidade embarks on a life-threatening treasure hunt in the isolation of the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean as two individuals search for answers to their personal questions of life path and history.

When a small jade Buddha figurine snagged by a Dutch Harbor fishing trawler in the remote Aleutian Islands surfaces in public, its existence sets off a treasure hunt for Imperial Japanese wealth looted after WWII, but a ticking time bomb, the mighty volcano Mt Shishaldin rumbles and spews gray ash high into the sky, threatening all who dare enter her shadow.

In the middle of this race appears Eric, a successful corporate geophysicist and salvage expert for a multinational conglomerate who has just walked away from the perfect corporate life when the burning desire to get back in the field and escape the ever-entombing office overcame him. Fortunately, he has agreed to help a mysterious Japanese-American lawyer from NYC named Naomi, who is also at a life crossroads, on her quest to recover her heritage - a heritage that can only be found in a lost submarine linked to the jade figurine.

As Eric struggles to make sense of the few available bits of information about the location of the Japanese sub, he chides himself for running away from the good life, especially because this adventure may end up killing him. However, he soon becomes resolved to enter the fight when the highest tech salvage ship in existence, the Mediterranean, a ship often commissioned by his old company, shows up in the harbor. With the help of the aging captain of the creaking Arctic Sun and his illusionary side kick, Frankie, Eric and Naomi head into the treacherous dark waters and hidden shoals around the smoldering Mt. Shishaldin. Of course, their uncertainty about who they really are becomes magnified by the disappointing results as they search in vain.

Low on fuel, daring to get even closer to the deadly volcano, can the crew of the Arctic Sun find this mysterious treasure? Or will it continue to elude explorers for years to come? Will Eric and Naomi survive if their heavily armed rival ship, the Mediterranean, captures them? And will they escape the arctic waters before the volcano blows and unleashes a tsunami of epic proportions? Find out in the startling conclusion of Alidade's masterful thriller Roof of Hell, a book that surpasses the archeology and action of Indiana Jones and Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt adventures combined.

Alidade had worked for more than 30 years as a geophysicist in energy exploration, covering virtually every continent, sea and ocean around the world. In his free time, he enjoys photography, studying ancient civilizations, and combining the two into his travels. Roof of Hell is Alidade's first official fiction publication.

Trafford Publishing is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.trafford.com.

April 14, 2010 / category: New Releases / link / comments (0)

Dorothy Gilman, celebrated author of the Mrs. Pollifax series of spy novels, has been chosen as this year's Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America (MWA). MWA's Grand Master Award represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing and was established to acknowledge important contributions to this genre, as well as significant output of consistently high-quality material. Gilman, a New Jersey native, has written and contributed to over 30 books that feature uncommon and unique characters. Her writing has continually kept readers coming back for 60 years.

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"What a lovely surprise!" Gilman said. "The list of past Grand Masters is like a Who's Who of the great mystery writers of the last century. To be chosen for this award by my professional peers has to be the greatest honor of my 60 years as an author. Thank you, Mystery Writers of America! And thank you, too, for your important work on behalf of our profession."

"During her long writing career, Dorothy Gilman has helped to shape the mystery genre," Frankie Y. Bailey, Executive Vice President of MWA, said. "MWA is delighted to have this opportunity to honor Ms. Gilman for her work, including the 'unexpected Mrs. Pollifax,' a widow past her youth, whose curiosity, humor, and humanity make her a protagonist that readers of all ages have enjoyed accompanying on her exotic adventures."

Two extraordinary members of the mystery community with a collective respect for the genre will also be honored by MWA with the Raven Award at this year's Edgar Banquet. Zev Buffman, distinguished Broadway Producer, and the Mystery Lovers Bookshop, one of the largest specialty mystery bookstores in the U.S., will each be presented with Raven Awards. Established in 1953, the award is bestowed by MWA's Board of Directors for outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing.

Mr. Buffman's experiences incorporate a vast variety of entertainment ranging from Hollywood acting experiences to producing more than 40 Broadway shows and 100 national tours. He has served as President and CEO for many "first class" performing arts centers, including the Jackie Gleason Center in Miami Beach, the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, and the historic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. Zev Buffman's vision and drive make him the ideal candidate for the Raven Award.

Zev Buffman said, "I have just learned something that exceeded my wildest expectations! Mystery Writers of America have selected me as one of two recipients of the 2010 Raven Award. I will accept the award with the kind of reverence and appreciation that only comes to a person after years, nay - decades of reaching for the moon and the stars. Thanks for getting me up there..."

Mystery Lovers Bookshop (MLB) of Oakmont, Pennsylvania is receiving the Raven Award in recognition of the constant support and dedication they have shown to the mystery community. MLB in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, opened its doors on Halloween 1990. In the 19 years following, it has grown to be one of the largest and most recognized mystery bookstores in the country. The store was founded by Mary Alice Gorman, formerly director of a victim services agency, and her husband Richard Goldman, a former software executive.

Mystery Lovers Bookshop is perhaps best known for its annual Festival of Mystery, an event held each spring which regularly attracts over 400 mystery readers to a one-evening extravaganza involving fifty or more authors. Monday, May 3, 2010 will be the date for the fifteenth Festival.

"Wow, that's terrific" was the initial reaction of co-owner Richard Goldman to the news about the Raven. Said his partner, Mary Alice Gorman, "We're honored at this recognition but the credit for our success really goes to our staff, our customers and, most importantly, to the authors who make our Festival such a success."

Previous Raven winners include Kate's Mystery Books in Cambridge, MA, The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and The Poe House in Baltimore, MD.

The 2010 Ellery Queen award is being awarded to Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald of Poisoned Pen Press (PPP). The Ellery Queen award is given to editors or publishers who have distinguished themselves by their generous and wide-ranging support of the genre. Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald founded Poisoned Pen Press in 1996. Its original mission was to publish reference and out of print books but it quickly shifted gears to original work and today averages 36 new novels a year with a backlist fully in print. The press' authors have earned numerous award nominations and wins and a basket of starred reviews.

Barbara said, "Robert and I are surprised and delighted to receive the 2010 Ellery Queen Award. What wonderful company we are in. I remember introducing my dear friend Susanne Kirk, formerly with Scribner, the night the Ellery Queen award was given to her and thinking how awed I was, and am, with her achievements. And Rob and I will be thinking of Sara Ann Freed, another booster of our fledgling press and recipient of the award. Nothing could be more meaningful to us professionally and personally. MWA has been key to our pursuing publishing with Poisoned Pen Press since the very first book we published was nominated for an Edgar for Best Critical/Biographical Work. It energized and inspired us to stick with an otherwise insane adventure."

Over the years, James Lee Burke, Sue Grafton, Bill Pronzini, Stephen King, Marcia Muller, Dick Francis, Mary Higgins Clark, Donald Westlake, Lawrence Block, P.D. James, Ellery Queen, Daphne du Maurier, Alfred Hitchcock, Graham Greene, and Agatha Christie have been honored as MWA Grand Masters.

The Edgar Awards, or "Edgars," as they are commonly known, are named after MWA's patron saint Edgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work in various categories. The Edgar Awards Banquet will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Celebrating their 65th anniversary in 2010, MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre. The organization encompasses almost 3,000 members in three categories of membership that include authors of fiction and non-fiction books, screen and television writers, as well publishers, editors, and literary agents. For more information on Mystery Writers of America, please visit the website: www.mysterywriters.org

SOURCE Mystery Writers of America

December 9, 2009 / category: Awards / link / comments (0)

Tor Books is proud to announce the release of The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson, Book Twelve of The Wheel of Time and the first of three novels to conclude the beloved and international bestselling fantasy series.

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The Wheel of Time series has sold over 14 million copies in North America and over 30 million copies worldwide with translations into 28 languages. The last four books in the series were #1 New York Times bestsellers, and readers have been eagerly awaiting the conclusion to the epic story that first began in 1990.

The release of The Gathering Storm is especially memorable, as it honors the legacy of the late great Robert Jordan. The conclusion to the series was partially written by Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, the bestselling author of the Mistborn trilogy, was then chosen by Jordan's editor -- his wife, Harriet McDougal -- to complete the series based on the notes and materials left behind.

Brandon Sanderson begins a 25-city national author tour with special appearance by Harriet McDougal at select events. Events kicked off with a lively midnight release party in Provo, UT with several hundred people in attendance and continue later today with a special launch event in Charleston, SC, the home of Robert Jordan. This year also marks the inaugural Storm Leader program, for which the largest Wheel of Time site hand-selected a dedicated team of fans to head up community outreach in each tour city.

The Wheel of Time comic books debuted this year from the Dabel Brothers, and the comics will later be collected and published as graphic novels by Tor books. A New Spring graphic novel with bonus material is scheduled to release next year.

Universal Pictures acquired the movie rights to the Wheel of Time in August 2008 and plan to adapt The Eye of the World as the first movie. A video game is in progress and a documentary on Robert Jordan is in post-production.

The final two books in the Wheel of Time series will be titled Towers of Midnight and A Memory of Light. The Gathering Storm marks the beginning of the dramatic conclusion to an amazing series, one whose journey began almost twenty years ago.

SOURCE Tor Books

October 27, 2009 / category: New Releases / link / comments (0)
On the 80th Anniversary of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 (October 24-29th), regardless of the gyrations in the current stock market, there will be hope for anyone who loved the movie TITANIC and enjoyed reading THE GREAT GATSBY. Beginning in the last decadent days of the roaring twenties, 1929 AN UPPER CLASS AFFAIR is a riveting love story that poignantly recreates the Stock Market Crash and ends as America emerges from the Great Depression.

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"Whether you are looking for a book to read on the subway, train, bus, or airplane, in the bathroom, or even under the covers with a flashlight, once you get into the story, you will find it hard to put down," states Alice Jacobs, Founder and CEO of IntelligentMDx.

Given the economic turmoil of the past year and comparisons to the 1929 Crash and ensuing depression, after doing significant research that involved conducting oral histories as well as going through traditional documented accounts and published works, Margaret Chai Maloney wrote 1929 AN UPPER CLASS AFFAIR primarily for a female audience in the hope of generating interest in the period while providing light entertainment and strong role models.

According to Terrence Yang, who has had 15 years experience as a Wall Street bulge bracket investment bank officer, "If you work in the financial services sector, 1929 AN UPPER CLASS is the perfect gift for your girlfriend, wife, mother or any family member who you'd like to understand more of what happened. It's a light, fun read but also explains what happened financially." He adds, "Even for finance people, there are some little known fascinating facts."

Chai Maloney, who studied history at Mount Holyoke College and Oxford University, meticulously remains true to the period in terms of the lifestyles, attitudes, events, places, music, books, movies, stores, clothes and of course people. The fictional main characters interact effortlessly with the famous real people of the period. The heroine watches the Stock Market Crash from the New York Stock Exchange with Winston Churchill, who did in fact witness the first day of the carnage. Readers also get a chance to mingle with the famous at Texas Guinan's New York City speakeasy and meet the infamous cross-dressing prohibition agents Izzy Einstein and Mo Smith, watch Helena Rubinstein, the beauty industry doyenne, lose millions on board Cunard Liner's Berengaria, which had the first online brokerage and was steered by Captain Ronston, who had rescued surviving TITANIC passengers and see Joseph Kennedy slighted by Jack Morgan and then wisely pull out of the market before the crash.

"This is a must read, especially if you're a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen. You'll be completely enraptured by Josie and her feisty and engaging personality as you follow her through her various adventures and love triangles that are a behind-the-scenes look into a New York socialite's life during the roaring 20s and Crash of 1929. You'll get an insider's view into the differences between the greed and naivety that fueled that period which also happens to be rather pertinent to today's environment. In addition to the character complexities, I particularly enjoyed the New York architectural references and the level of detail behind the Crash itself and those who saw it coming (e.g., JP Morgan, Joe Kennedy)," states Suzanne Messere, Director of Investor Relations, at Organogenesis and former investment banker.

Chai Maloney has also developed a website with resources for those interested in learning more about the period as well as the opportunity to document one's own family histories from the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and Great Depression. The author is most interested in encouraging everyone to record their family stories before they are forgotten or lost.

For more information visit: www.1929anupperclassaffair.com or pre-order "1929 AN UPPER CLASS AFFAIR" at amazon.com or via Kindle.

SOURCE 1929 Productions

October 23, 2009 / category: New Releases / link / comments (0)

A mysterious legend of the Pemon tribe in the Caribbean islands tells of a gate between the divine and the Canaiman jungle, and it is up to a group of adults, orphans and an ancient dog to fulfill the legend and their destiny. Journey through time in Captain Atlantis' new novel, "Murata Tek: A Journey Through Legends, Time and Adventure" (published by AuthorHouse), as these unsuspecting tropical adventurers push the boundaries of humanity and unlock ancient secrets.

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"Murata Tek" follows two young orphans, a couple, a 400-year-old dog called Marco Polo, a mute man, a toucan aptly named "Two Cans" and a "millennium-old" man called Xklixmls through the Amazonian land of Venezuela. The misfit group encounters endless dangerous pitfalls on their quest to discover the truth to the Pemon mystery. Throughout the book the reader is introduced to Caribbean and South American culture and landscape. Murata Tek shares an exotic story of magic, love, curiosity, compassion and adventure in the steamy Amazonian jungle reminiscent of the strength of humanity:

        "We need to surface, and I mean right now. That's a Sea King
        loaded with MK46 torpedoes. They can crack this sub like an
        eggshell. Pull that wheel toward you. We need to nose up real
        quick," she informed Jimmy. "Simon! Get on the other wheel and
        pull it too!" she ordered.

        ...A bright blue light exploded from Marco Polo's necklace and
        spread like a giant ring throughout the submarine.

        Marina sighed and said, "Impact!"

Captain Atlantis is originally from the fishing port of Juan Griego in the Caribbean island of Margarita, where tourists would visit to see its castle and famous sunsets. He came to the U.S. 25 years ago, but has since traveled the world. "Murata Tek" began as a musical in his home country, including 14 original songs composed by Captain Atlantis, and then was published years later. He is now a tour guide and author and enjoys traveling, water sports, cooking and playing the ukulele and piano in his free time. Captain Atlantis plans to keep writing and traveling in the future.

"Murata Tek: A Journey Through Legends, Time and Adventure"

Available from: http://www.authorhouse.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and http://www.amazon.com.

October 6, 2009 / category: New Releases / link / comments (0)

Forget TWILIGHT, NEW MOON, VAMPIRE DIARIES, TRUE BLOOD and all the current sagas that depict vampires like twenty-something supermodels. Author R. H. Greene wants to put the monster back into vampire fiction, and that's why he wrote INCARNADINE: THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF COUNT DRACULA, a just-released "origin myth" for Dracula and his three "wives" written as if by Dracula himself that hopes to do for vampires what Gregory Maguire's WICKED did for the Witches of Oz.

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"Like a lot of teen culture, I think TWILIGHT is basically an overwrought metaphor for the emotional perils of dating," Greene says. "You know, Edward Cullen as the bad boy the world won't let you be with because he's too dangerous and you're too pure. That just doesn't speak to me, and I don't think I'm alone."

According to Greene, INCARNADINE tries to do something TWILIGHT can't. "Something closer to what WICKED does, which is to give an entirely fresh perspective on a character we all think we know.

"And it's for grown-ups," Greene adds. "It has to be. Violence, heresy, erotic compulsion - they're at the heart of Dracula's story, because, for me, they're at the heart of what Bram Stoker originally wrote."

To "get into character" as Dracula, Greene relocated to Bulgaria and lived in a ramshackle farmhouse in a remote village near the Romanian border. In Bulgaria, Greene did virtually all the writing on INCARNADINE and its Victorian-era follow-up THE CHARNEL HOUSE, completed last July and currently being rewritten.

"It was like finding a time machine," Greene says. "It brought me as close as I could get to living in the Middle Ages, the era Dracula comes from. Because despite a few conveniences and a lot of bottled beer, the life of a Bulgarian village is much the same as it was 500 years ago. There are superstitions. People live and die where they're born, and grow most of what they eat. There was even a Medieval-era stone cross at the mouth of the village, supposedly put there to ward off the plague."

Virtually no one spoke English, which Greene found "useful. Most days, the only meaningful conversation I could have was with myself. I think that's what a memoir is - a conversation with the self.

"And I was like a unicorn to them - the only American they'd ever seen. Dracula is a sort of unicorn too. He's a mythical beast, an object of fascination and wonder. It helped me to feel what he might be feeling, while living in a place where he might have lived. I couldn't figure out a way to become a vampire, and I was short a few wives. So this was the next best thing."

INCARNADINE: THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF COUNT DRACULA is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and in better bookstores everywhere.

SOURCE Protagonist Productions

September 25, 2009 / category: New Releases / link / comments (0)

Who doesn't like a great treasure hunt especially when the bounty is free, signed copies of "The Lost Symbol" at Borders.

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The retailer has secured 80 copies of the book -- each signed by author Dan Brown -- and will place them in 80 Borders and Waldenbooks stores nationwide for lucky readers to claim. Borders will deliver the clues to the locations of the books via Twitter at twitter.com/BordersMedia beginning Tuesday Sept. 15 through Thursday, Sept. 24. Each clue will direct readers to the approximate super-secret location of the "Lost Symbol Golden Ticket," hidden somewhere in the 80 stores, which readers must discover and present at the information desk to claim their free, signed copy of "The Lost Symbol."

"There's a rabid anticipation and excitement for the 'The Lost Symbol' -- it's not everyday that a book becomes part of the collective conversation like this particular title has," said Rich Fahle, vice president of Outreach and Entertainment for Borders. "We are going to make 80 Dan Brown fans extremely happy by giving them a rare gem: a free, signed copy of a book they've been waiting years for and will treasure for years to come. It's going to be a lot of fun."

"The Lost Symbol" Twitter promotion is the latest in a series of successful mini-Twitter promotions Borders has been hosting. For example, to commemorate the release of the film "9," Borders gave away nine copies of the collector's edition of the "9" movie book plus 180 free tickets to the movie. Also, in late August, the retailer gave away seven signed copies of "The Hunger Games," the first book in the wildly popular Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with approximately 25,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,000 stores primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names. For online shopping, visit Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com/media.

Source: Borders Books

September 11, 2009 / category: New Releases / link / comments (0)

Twin sisters are faced with the beauties and perils of the Arizona desert in the "Wild Horse Creek" series by Sharon Siamon (Walrus Books/Whitecap). The series launches with The Mystery Stallion, and follows with Coyote Canyon in Winter 2010. Siamon has sold more than a million copies of her internationally-loved horse series, which include the ten-book Mustang Mountain series and the Saddle Island trilogy.

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In The Mystery Stallion, Sophie and Liv spend spring break on their grandparents' ranch in Arizona and encounter more adventure than they'd anticipated. Their grandfather's prize stallion is badly injured, the rest of the herd of horses disappears, and the twins are thrown into a dangerous mystery. The Arizona desert comes alive in this fast-paced, engrossing horse adventure for kids ages 9-12. The twins survive snakebite, fight off wild pig-like javelinas, and confront bandits.

Enthusiastic Liv faces challenges head-on while anxious Sophie plays it safe, but as the story progresses, they develop, as individuals and in relation to one another. Unlike series where the protagonists remain the same throughout, these girls grow and change, just as their tween readers are doing.

"Girls love horse stories and horses, especially wild horses," says Siamon. "As J. Edward Chamberlin says in his wonderful book, Horse, wild horses give us 'a way of imagining what it would be like to be free and to wander with the herd in the field of our dreams.'"

Coyote Canyon, the second book in the "Wild Horse Creek" series, finds the twins on the ranch in Arizona for several months. The excitement focuses on the desperate search for a beautiful and precious foal.

Sharon Siamon http://www.sharonsiamon.com/ has sold more than a million copies of her novels worldwide. She is the author of the best-selling Mustang Mountain series, and has published fourteen novels in Canada, two series in England, and a series in Norway.

As a child, Siamon had a passion for horses, mountains, and books. She grew up in rural Ontario, Canada, and first went to the Mojave Desert as a young teenager. She says the Wild Horse Creek series "echoes the thrill of her first ride across the desert, galloping hard into the sunset."

SOURCE Sharon Siamon

August 6, 2009 / category: Young Adult / link / comments (0)

NBC's Today show announced this morning that Ingrid Law's Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestseller SAVVY will be Al Roker's next Book Club Pick. The TV host and young fans will have a chance to interview the author in the studio during a live show later this summer. SAVVY was published under the joint venture between Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, and Walden Media and will soon be a major motion picture from Walden Media.

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Al's Book Club for Kids has become synonymous with outstanding children's literature. The club began in 2007 as a way to get kids to keep reading and not experience the "summer slide". Roker chooses books for kids between the ages of 9-11 and then gives them the opportunity to discuss what they are reading. Past selections have included The Golden Compass, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Tale of Despereaux, in addition to other acclaimed titles.

Ingrid Law is thrilled to be part of this growing institution and said, "It's wonderful to have the opportunity to share SAVVY with Al's Book Club. After all, the only 'summer slide' we should aim for in children's reading is the one kids can find in the playgrounds of their imagination."

Lauri Hornik, President and Publisher of Dial Books for Young Readers commented, "Al Roker has such perfect taste! All of our hopes for the fabulous SAVVY have now come true with this exciting news, and we couldn't be happier."

Francis X Flaherty, EVP Publisher of Walden Media is equally enthused and said, "Walden Media has always worked to bring classic stories to a wide audience through our films and publishing division. We are so glad that through Mr. Roker's book club SAVVY can continue in that tradition."

SAVVY (Dial Books for Young Readers/Walden Media; May 2008; ages 8-12) is the story of the Beaumonts, an eclectic family who can move mountains, stir up hurricanes and spark electricity. Each of them possess a "savvy"-- a special power that erupts when they turn thirteen -- and young Mibs Beaumont is celebrating her big birthday in two days. Mibs is eager to blow out her thirteen candles, but more importantly, she can't wait to discover her savvy. When her day arrives, she finds herself on an odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up -- and of others, who also might have a few secrets hidden just beneath their skin.

Ingrid Law is a big fan of words and stories, small towns and big ideas. Born in New York, Ingrid's family moved to Colorado when she was six years old. Now the mother of a teenage daughter, Ingrid still lives in Colorado, where she is hard at work on a sequel to SAVVY. Scumble is scheduled for publication in fall 2010.

Awards for SAVVY include:

    2009 Newbery Honor Book
    An ALA Notable Book for Children 2009
    New York Times Bestseller
    Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award
    A Kirkus Best Children's Book of 2008 (Starred review)
    A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2008 (Starred review)
    Booklist "Top Ten First Novels for Youth 2008" (Starred review)
    Booklinks "Lasting Connection 2008"
    #1 Children's Booksense Pick
    Publisher's Weekly Flying Start
    Borders Original Voices Selection
    Association of Booksellers for Children New Voices Pick
    2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Choice
    Oprah's Reading List Pick
    New York Public Library "100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing"
    A San Francisco Chronicle Best Fiction Book for Young Readers 2008
    A Kansas City Star Noteworthy Children's Book 2008
    A Chicago Tribune "Book Not to Miss" 2008
    2008 Cuffie Award: "Book We Couldn't Stop Talking About"
    2008 Cuffie Award:  "Favorite Jacket"
    2009 Cybil Award nominee
    2009 Andre Norton Nebula Award Nominee
    2009 Indie Choice Nominee: Best Young Adult Buzz Book
    2009-2010 Virginia Readers' Choice Award Master List
    2010 New York State Reading Assoc. Charlotte Award Suggested Reading List,
         Primary
    2009-2010 Keystone State Reading Assoc. Young Adult Book Award Master List
         (PA)
    2009 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List, Kansas Title
    2009-2010 Maine Student Book Award List
    2009-2010 Black Eyed Susan Book Award Master List (Maryland)
    2009-2010 Rhode Island Children's Book Award Master List
    2009-2010 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List (Vermont)

SOURCE Walden Media

July 30, 2009 / category: Book Clubs / link / comments (0)

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