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Thomas Peele's nonfiction book KILLING THE MESSENGER: A STORY OF RADICAL FAITH, RACISM'S BACKLASH, AND THE ASSASSINATION OF A JOURNALIST received a great review in Publishers Weekly. "Peele renders characters and scenes with rich detail and his chronicle of events surrounding Bailey's death unfolds with the seamlessness of a fictional thriller, would that were the case." To read the full PW review, click here. Thomas Peele will give a book reading at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Saturday, February 18th at 7 p.m.
We are happy to announce that we sold Laura Florand's THE CHOCOLATE THIEF to German publisher Bastei Luebbe through our foreign rights agent Whitney Lee at The Fielding Agency.
We have collected some stellar reviews for Cynthia Robinson's new book, THE BARBARY DOGS:
"This esoteric tale, peopled with dozens of quirky characters, draws you in and spits you out dazed and delighted with the journey."
"This quirky and offbeat novel may well appeal to fans of Lisa Lutz's Spellman Files, also a little wacky and set in San Francisco."
" . . . a rollicking romp through the caverns of Max's roller-coaster mind. Those seeking a conventional whodunit should look elsewhere."
"The serpentine story line has more wonderful curves than Lombard Street as Max, accompanied by Dixie and the ghosts, provides an intriguing tour of San Francisco." "Somewhere in the authorial firmament, Raymond Chandler is attempting to steal this passage for his latest celestial novel: 'Blashky introduced me to Miss Vicky. She leaned her forearms onto the bar, framing her bounteous breasts in the strong embrace of her bare arms. A man could lose his motel keys in that cleavage.'
Robinson's stylistics and Max's theatrics—equally bravura—make for a most exotic port of call in a mystery that defies categorical gravity, quite like a perpendicular cable-car ride."
Kevin Thomas of The Rumpus reviews two or three books a month in comic form. We are delighted he chose to review Joe Woodward's ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK: A BIOGRAPHY OF NATHANAEL WEST. Click here to see the comic/review.
Liza Campbell's debut novel THE DISSEMBLERS, published by Permanent Press, won the New Mexico Book Award in the "fiction other" category. This contest is sponsored by the New Mexico Book Co-op. Congratulations Liza! To see the list of New Mexico Book Awards winners, click here.
Joe Woodward's ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK: A BIOGRAPHY OF NATHANAEL WEST received a great review by Martin Chilton, the Digital Culture Editor of The Telegraph in the UK. Chilton says: "Overall, the book serves as a vibrant reminder of a talented and somewhat neglected author." To read The Telegraph review, click here.
Janet Hubbard's debut novel CHAMPAGNE: THE FAREWELL was sold to Barbara Peters at Poisoned Pen Press, in a two-book deal, for publication in Fall 2012. Each book in the series is set in a different wine district in France, indulging the senses with descriptions of French culture, and featuring a feisty female protagonist.
Joe Woodward's ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK: A BIOGRAPHY OF NATHANAEL WEST received a review in Lit Fest Magazine. "ALIVE INSIDE THE WRECK by Joe Woodward is a stunning narrative, beautifully constructed to give brilliant insights into the life of a true artist, who never saw the success he absolutely deserved." To read the full Lit Fest review, click here. To read about Joe's recent book launch, see our Agency blog.
Cynthia Robinson's book THE BARBARY DOGS, published by Minotaur/Thomas Dunne, was reviewed by Jessica Moyer of Booklist Online. To read the full review, click here.
We are excited to announce the Kelli Stanley's book CITY OF SECRETS, published by Minotaur, has been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Historical Mystery of 2011. Winners will be announced just prior to the Annual RT Booklovers Convention in Chicago in April 2012. Kelli recently won the Macavity Award for her book CITY OF DRAGONS. Congratulations Kelli! We have our fingers crossed again.
Congratulations to Cynthia Robinson, whose book THE BARBARY DOGS, published by Minotaur Press, received a Kirkus review. The review says: "This esoteric tale, peopled with dozens of quirky characters, draws you in and spits you out dazed and delighted with the journey." To read the full review, click here.
Kelli Stanley's book CITY OF DRAGONS was a Bay Books recommended read in the San Francisco Chronicle. To see the Bay Books recommended reads list, click here.
Kimberley Cameron sold Shamus nominee Tim Hemlin's THE WASTELANDERS to Beth Ann Ryden at Cool Well Press.
Kelli Stanley's book CITY OF SECRETS was reviewed by Oline H. Cogdill for the Florida Sun Sentinel. Cogdill says, "City of Secrets is an outstanding addition to what will prove to be a superb series."
To read the full review, click here.
Kelli was nominated for two awards this year. We look forward to more nominations next year, as this star novelist will only continue to rise.
Congratulations Kelli Stanley!
Author Kelli Stanley's MEMORY BOOK: A NEW MIRANDA CORBIE STORY is available on Criminalelement.com. The Criminalelement.com review says: "Like the city of San Francisco, she'll resonate in your own memory, long after you finish the story."
RT Book Reviews magazine has chosen Kelli Stanley's book CITY OF SECRETS as a Top Pick for its New Books for October/Mystery, Suspense & Thriller Ratings & Reviews section. The review says, "The historical details shine in this perfectly drawn mystery and Stanley doesn't blink at showing the ugly truths of the time such as race relations, sexism and anti-Semitism. This shows how historical mystery can not only re-create the sights but also the atmosphere of the time."
Congratulations to author Cynthia Robinson! Thomas Dunne Books has sold book club rights for her book THE BARBARY DOGS to Bookspan.
Booklist Online reviewed Robin Allen's IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT. Reviewer Mark Knoblauch says Allen's book is "Ideal for fans of culinary mysteries." To read the full review on Booklist, click here.
Even the romance crowd likes D.P. Lyle's ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM! A blog called Love, Romances & More at Blogspot.com reviewed Lyle's book. Reviewer Angie writes D.P. Lyle "is a talented fiction writer" and says the characters in ROYAL PAINS "are quirky, lively and well worth getting to know..." To read the full review, click here.
Congratulations to Kelli Stanley! Her book CITY OF DRAGONS has been nominated for "Best First P.I. Novel" by The Private Eye Writers of America for a Shamus Award, an award "given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction." Winners will be announced at Bouchercon in St. Louis in September. Kelli Stanley's CITY OF SECRETS is up for the Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Macavity Award, winners also to be announced at Bouchercon. We wish Kelli the best of luck at Bouchercon. We've got our fingers crossed! To see the list of categories and finalists for the Shamus Award, click here. To see the list of categories and finalists for the Macavity Award, click here.
Kimberley Cameron & Associates is pleased to announce we have launched our first ebook—SEX & THE SUBCONSCIOUS: PERVERSIONS AND DIVERSIONS IN THE REALM OF THE LIBIDO by bestselling author and renowned psychologist Dr. Arthur Janov (PRIMAL SCREAM)—through ebook distributor Smashwords. Smashwords distributes ebooks to digital retailers such as Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and many others. To view our new book on Smashwords, click here.
Kimberley Cameron sold D.P. Lyle's MD's UNDERSTANDING FORENSIC SCIENCE: A GUIDE FOR LAWYERS, to Erin Nevius at ABA Books for publication in 2012.
DearAuthor.com posted its "August Recommended Reads" and Rebecca Cantrell's book A GAME OF LIES made the list for historical fiction. To see the full recommended reads list, click here.
USAToday.com Book Reviews reviewed Rebecca Cantrell's A GAME OF LIES for its article: "Spy Roundup: Bourne, Sally Sin, Hannah Vogel, Sam Capra." Carol Memmott writes, "There's so much to love about this novel: the setting, the characters, the sexual tension between Hannah and Lars..." To read the full USAToday.com review, click here.
Virginia Wood of TheAustinChronicle.com reviewed Robin Allen's, IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, the first of a mystery series with health inspector Poppy Markham as protagonist. Wood says Allen's characters "are well-drawn" and that she can't "wait for a taste" of Allen's second installment due out in spring, STICK A FORK IN IT. To read the full review, click here.
Publishers Weekly (PW) reviewed author Jeanne Dams' book MURDER IN BURNT ORANGE: A HILDA JOHANSSON MYSTERY. PW said about the book: "Well-portrayed characters and a final surprise sure to please series fans make this a winner." To read the full review, click here.
Author Kelli Stanley launched a book trailer on YouTube for her book CITY OF SECRETS. To watch the video, click here.
TracyReaderDad Book Reviews posted a review of Kelli Stanley's book CITY OF SECRETS to its website. TracyReaderDad said about the book: "I will tell you that this is an outstanding book. My mind was taken away to another time and place where the worries of the real world do not exist." To read the full review, click here.
NTI Upstream, the multimedia production and publishing company publishing author and renowned psychologist Arthur Janov's latest book LIFE BEFORE BIRTH: THE HIDDEN SCRIPT THAT RULES OUR LIVES, showcased the fall release in its online newsletter. "Dr. Janov is one of the world's leading psychologists and author of the 1970s international bestseller, The Primal Scream, in which he describes primal therapy, the lower-brain therapeutic method he used in working with John Lennon and other patients at his Los Angeles clinic. His fascinating new book, Life Before Birth: The Hidden Script that Rules Our Lives, explores how experiences in the womb and at birth may have enduring life consequences, laying the foundation for later life mental illness, heart and respiratory problems, and Alzheimer's disease." To read more on this exciting fall release, click here.
BostonHerald.com featured Rebecca Cantrell's book A GAME OF LIES. The website boasts: "Mixing historical figures and events with fictional characters and situations, Cantrell's books are a blast." To read the full article, click here.
Congratulations to Kelli Stanley, whose book CITY OF DRAGONS, is a 2011 Macavity Award nominee!! Stanley's book has been nominated by Mystery Readers International for the Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award. Winners of the Macavity Awards will be announced in September at Bouchercon in St. Louis.
USAToday.com's article "I Spy A Stash of Espionage Novels" by Carol Memmott featured author Rebecca Cantrell's A GAME OF LIES: A HANNAH VOGEL NOVEL as one of this summer's hot reads. Memmott writes:
"A cadre of novelists are serving up tense, thrilling spy novels that are perfect summer reading fare. They're packed with mystery, suspense and romance and enough double crosses, bombings, gunfire and car chases to satisfy even the most jaded fans of the genre." To read the full article, click here.
Author Starr Gardinier Reina reviewed D.P. Lyle's HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL. Reina says: "Lyle paints the scenes and plants the reader into the story as if they themselves were fighting the ugly evil alongside Walker. A must read!"
Min Jung of FreshFiction, a website dedicated to popular fiction readers, reviewed D.P. Lyles ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM. Jung declares the book "a great summer read!" To read the full review, click here.
Marilyn Meredith and Terell Byrd of Kings River Life Magazine interviewed author D.P. Lyle and reviewed his novel ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM. In the interview, Meredith asks D.P. Lyle how he got started helping mystery writers with forensics: "Everything began a decade or so ago when Jan Burke was president of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She was trying to beef up the newsletter and asked if I would contribute an article. I wrote one titled "Timely Death" that discussed how the medical examiner determines the time of death. The article is on my website if anyone wants to read it. That elicited a huge response from the readers in that they wanted more of this type of information. Jan and I then designed a monthly column where I would answer medical and forensic questions for writers. After that I developed my website and things took off from there." Terell Byrd, who reviewed ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM for the magazine, suggests readers "pick the book up for your summer vacation even if you are only going as far as the wading pool in the back yard. It is a fun read!" To read the full interview with D.P. Lyle and book review, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A GAME OF LIES: A HANNAH VOGEL NOVEL received a Kirkus Book Review. Kirkus writes: "Hannah's third adventure is a mix of romance, complicated thriller and mystery, greatly enhanced by the author's vivid portrait of prewar Berlin." To see the full review, log-in to your Kirkus Reviews account or create one by clicking here.
International Thriller Writers (ITW) and BookBitch.com have formed a partnership to feature ITW authors each month. Rebecca Cantrell's A GAME OF LIES will be a featured book in July and Bookbitch.com will host a lottery for signed copies of the book. Visit Bookbitch.com's "Win Thrillers" page in July by clicking here and enter to win your own, signed copy of A GAME OF LIES.
D.P. Lyle's ROYAL PAINS: FIRST DO NO HARM will launch in June 2011, in conjunction with the start of the third season of the USA Network show "Royal Pains." As described in the studio/publisher press release: "The first original book based on the series will focus on Dr. Hank Lawson (played in the series by Mark Feuerstein) and one of his elite and most cherished clients. Hitting shelves this June, 'Royal Pains: First Do No Harm' was written by award-winning author D. P. Lyle, MD."
Nick Krieger's memoir, NINA HERE NOR THERE: My Journey Beyond Gender, was highlighted in SF Weekly's "June Literary Events" section. The write-up described the book as "an honest chronicle of self-discovery through heretofore unknown categories of queerdom" and noted, "However we identify, it's heartening to know how much we all still have in common, like being able to drive ourselves and each other crazy." Nick Krieger will read from and discuss his book at the Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library on June 14th. For more information on the book and details on how to attend this event, click here.
Congratulations to Nick Krieger! His memoir, NINA HERE NOR THERE: My Journey Beyond Gender, received an "honorable mention" in the "Biography/Autobiography" category of the 2011 New York Book Festival. To see the full list of winners, click here.
D.P. Lyle, author of HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL, wrote an informative guest blog for RT Book Reviews webzine titled "D.P. Lyle Asks 'Can Too Much Forensic Science Smother Your Fiction?'" He recommends:
"If you write crime fiction in any genre—hard boiled, cozy, thriller, romantic, literary—you must have some knowledge of forensic science. Even if your story doesn't include DNA or fingerprints or toxicology or autopsies or any of the other forensic techniques, you have to know what's out there. Failure to do so can sink your story." To read the full article, click here.
D.P. Lyle, forensics expert and author of HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL, stopped by Heartbeat RWA—he online RWA chapter for Medical Romance Writers—for a Q&A with readers. Writers posed questions about medical topics ranging from childhood leukemia to Asperger's syndrome to treatment for a severed femoral artery. To read the answers, click here.
D.P. Lyle, author of the recently released HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL, wrote an informative guest blog titled "Modern Crime Fiction: Cool Science or Hot Characters?" on Janice Gable Bashman's blog, The Writing Life. An excerpt follows:
"With the exception of the most high-concept movies, your story should never be built around a single cool scientific fact. That's not a story. That's an essay. The key is that the scientific fact is not the heart of the story but simply the background on which the story is told. It is the characters that drive the story and therefore it is the effect of the cool science on these characters that make the story rich." To read the full blog post, click here.
D. P. Lyle's ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM received a positive review from Kendall Gutierrez in the June issue of Suspense Magazine. An excerpt follows:
"Royal Pains was a very enjoyable, light mystery. It had enough action, twists to keep you guessing and interested, and the characters are people you want to get to know better... The medical scenes are well written in plain English. You will be entertained and learn some things you may not have known at the same time." To read the full review, you can buy the magazine here.
Nick Krieger's NINA HERE NOR THERE received an excellent, thoughtful review by Jim Plechota, accompanied by the book's cover art, in The Bay Area Reporter. Plechota called the work "an edifying, passionate memoir" and continued to say:
"...the uninitiated and the curious will find these pages brimming with an enlightening, first-person experience that is both intriguing and educating... What emerges is a powerful and moving portrait of one man's quest for happiness in finding the truest sense of himself. Krieger has produced an intimate memoir about how vital physical changes can beautify every aspect of life, inside and out." To read the full review, click here.
Kelli Stanley, author of CITY OF DRAGONS and the forthcoming CITY OF SECRETS, accompanied Oline Cogdill of Mystery Scene magazine on a walking tour and dim sum lunch in San Francisco's Chinatown (where CITY OF DRAGONS is set). As Oline recounted:
"Kelli gave me a view of Chinatown that I have never seen and may not have seen on my own. And that is what often happens with mystery authors—they show us a part of their world we may never have seen without them."
Kelli is also featured in the Spring issue of Mystery Scene in an article written by Oline Cogdill. The feature, described in its tagline as "Stanley uses two very different eras and settings—Roman Britain and 1940s San Francisco—to examine timeless issues of race, gender, and social justice" also includes a "Kelli Stanley" checklist. To read more about Oline's Chinatown adventure with Kelli, click here. To read Oline's interview with Kelli about her two historical mystery series, order the Spring Issue of Mystery Scene (No. 119) here.
D.P. Lyle's HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL and ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM earned him two interviews (one for each book) with John T. Cullen of The Big Thrill, International Thriller Writers' monthly webzine. When asked about Dub Walker, the protagonist of HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL, D.P. Lyle explained:
"In creating this character I wanted him to have medical knowledge but not be a physician... I wanted him to be able to bend the rules and even break them if necessary... Dub's driving need is to catch bad guys. The killer of his sister got away and that fact causes him to take every case personally. This is what drives him forward but it is also his weakness in that he tends to charge headlong into an investigation and sometimes gets in too deep." When asked about the characters of ROYAL PAINS, which were adapted from the television series by the same name, D. P. Lyle had this to say:
"The most important aspect of dealing with Hank, Evan, Jill, and Divya is that they are not my characters. I can't manipulate them or develop them in any significant way. They are locked in by the TV series and by the creators of that show... I have a lot in common with Hank and therefore can feel what he feels. He is a guy who in many cases fights the machine. He doesn't care for bureaucracies and thinks that taking care of sick folks is what's really important. He doesn't care whether they are rich or poor or whether they can pay or not he simply has to solve the problem and make the patient better. I like that about him." To read his full Q&A about HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL, click here. To read his full Q&A about ROYAL PAINS: FIRST, DO NO HARM, click here.
Nick Krieger's NINA HERE NOR THERE: My Journey Beyond Gender received a rave review from Sarah Burghauser in Lambda Literary. Here's what she had to say:
"Krieger's book is easy to read, entertaining, informative, and an important contribution to the body of literature about contemporary queer culture and lives. Nina Here Nor There is a book queers across the gender and sexuality spectrum should read. An insightful, accessible, and witty page-turner, Nina Here Nor There is the transgender narrative we've been waiting for." To read the full review, click here.
In advance of her attendance at the Writers' League of Texas Conference (Austin, June 10-12), Amy Burkhardt gave a blog interview about being a literary agent, complete with advice to writers and little known facts about herself. Asked about her favorite part of being an agent, Amy had this to say:
"My favorite part of the job is working with my clients. I'm very hands on, and I like to work with them on development and editing before I send it out to editors. Once I've been involved in the development of a project, I'm invested in its success, and I don't give up." To read the full interview, click here.
Jason Tesauro, co-author of the recently published 2nd edition of THE MODERN GENTLEMAN, was interviewed by Shawn Alff of the Daily Loaf. In their Q&A, Tesauro discussed the 2nd edition, what has changed in the world of gentlemanly etiquette since the 1st edition, and the role of etiquette for men in modern society. He also gave a shout out to Kimberley and the agency in the following excerpt:
"I couldn't have asked the Fates for a better literary agent: Kimberly Cameron. Her firm had represented Henry Miller, Aldous Huxley, Upton Sinclair. They appreciated artists and weren't just looking for volume." To read the full interview, click here.
D.P. Lyle was interviewed by Susannah Young in the May issue of Orange Coast magazine, about his work as a consultant to mystery writers as well as his forthcoming medical thriller HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL. Here's what D.P. Lyle had to say about his work as a consultant:
"As a physician, if you go to a cocktail party, people want to talk about their gallbladder or their cholesterol. But if you go to a writers conference, they want to talk about how to kill somebody, how poisons work, what gunshot wounds look like. That's how it all started." To read the full interview (p. 42-3) and/or a review of HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL (p. 38), order a copy of Orange Coast magazine here.
Fiction: Mystery/Crime
Robin Allen, author of IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, read and signed books at BookPeople in Austin, TX on May 14th. The event was featured in the "Literary Arts" category of Austin360.com, as well as on the BookPeople Events Page. Event details described the book as, "Chock full of humor and Austin landmarks, this series offers a culinary look at our town." To view the event listing on Austin360.com, please click here. To view the listing on the BookPeople website, click here.
Kelli Stanley's NOX DORMIENDA is now available on Amazon (for Kindle) and Smashwords (in various formats), for ebook reading pleasure! To purchase the book via Smashwords, click here. To purchase the book via Amazon, click here.
Congratulations to Kelli Stanley, Rebecca Cantrell, and Cynthia Robinson! All three authors contributed stories to the thriller anthology FIRST THRILLS: High Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors, edited by Lee Child. The complete anthology launches in paperback May 24th and in ebook (as four mini ebook volumes) June 7th. (Kelli is included in Volume 2, alongside Stephen Coonts and Heather Graham. Rebecca is included in Volume 3, with the likes of Karin Slaughter and Jeffrey Deaver. Cynthia is a contributor to Volume 4, in company with John Lutz and John Lescroart.) Additionally, as part of the promotion for the paperback volume, Kelli Stanley's short story "Children's Day" is available—for free—on the International Thriller Writers' website. To read the story, click here.
Stan Goldberg's memoir, LESSONS FOR THE LIVING: Stories of Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Courage at the End of Life, received its 5th major award in two years—the International Book Awards Committee awarded the memoir First Place in the "Spirituality: Inspirational" category. A complete list of winners in each category can be found here.
Fiction: Mystery/Crime
Congratulations to Michael Stevens!! His novel, FORTUNA, has been nominated for a 2010 Benjamin Franklin Award in the "Mystery/Suspense" category. Given by the Independent Book Publishers Association, the award recognizes excellence in independent publishing.
Rebecca Cantrell's forthcoming A GAME OF LIES, the third book in the Hannah Vogel series, received a nice nod from Allen Appel of Publishers Weekly in his article about thriller writers and spy stories, titled "I Spy." His mention of Cantrell includes the following summary of her novel:
"Rebecca Cantrell has her own series set in pre-WWII-era Germany, featuring journalist/spy Hannah Vogel, who in A Game of Lies (Forge, July) is posing as a travel writer covering the 1936 Olympics. Vogel has been collecting German secrets from her lover, SS officer Lars Lang, and must get her information out of Germany before the Olympics end." To read the full article, click here.
Bekka Black's iDRAKULA was named to Kirkus Reviews list for "Funny Paranormal Teen Reads." Here's an excerpt from an earlier Kirkus review about the book:
"There are nods to vampire lore in both URLs and webpage titles, and Mina's heartfelt final e-mail to Lucy blends a traditional goodbye with the ephemeral nature of today's digital technology. While not for the Gothic scholar, this bite-sized retelling of the seminal vampire novel won't drain anyone's attention span." To see the full list of Paranormal Teen picks, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A TRACE OF SMOKE was recommended, along with other hard-boiled fiction titles, by Bill Ott in his Booklist article "A Hard-Boiled Gazetteer to World War II." Notably, Ott had this to say:
"Cantrell nails both the life-is-a-cabaret atmosphere and the desperation lurking inside the champagne bubbles. To read the full article, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A GAME OF LIES, the third book in her Hannah Vogel mystery series, garnered a fantastic review from Bill Ott in Booklist. An excerpt follows:
"Cantrell uses the Olympics backdrop to good effect here, setting Jesse Owens' triumphs against the gathering storm... the prewar mood of uncertainty turning to terror remains palpable, and the climax contains some genuine surprises."
Robin Allen's IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT earned praise from Jennifer Monahan Winberry of TheMysteryReader.com. An excerpt follows:
"Readers get an insider's view of the restaurant industry in Robin Allen's debut mystery: the back-stabbing (literally), the liaisons between the staff and the professional rivalries and jealousies that can kill relationships and businesses, and sometimes even chefs... All in all, a fun, fast-paced mystery that is a welcome addition to the ranks of culinary mysteries." To read the full review, click here.
Rebecca Cantrell's A TRACE OF SMOKE, the first in the Hannah Vogel historical mystery series, was highlighted in a Wall Street Journal article titled "In the World of Night and Fog," by Allan Massie. Massie's discussion of why the Third Reich is fertile ground for novelists included this mention of Cantrell:
"The playful, but also despairing, decadence of Weimar Berlin, captured vividly by Mr. Rabb and Ms. Cantrell in their pre-1933 novels, represented a feverish questioning of inherited values." To read the full article, click here.
Merrie Destefano, author of AFTERLIFE and the forthcoming FEAST, was featured in Dinah Eng's blog post "Romance novels feature paranormal twist" on Scrippsnews.com. Eng's account of the Avon Paranormal Party at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention includes a brief interview with Destefano about FEAST (due out June 28th) and the inspiration behind the dream-harvesting paranormals who hunt her protagonist. To read the full blog post, click here.
Nonfiction: General/Other
Portuguese rights (Brazil) to Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE have been sold to Galera/Editora Record.
Nick Krieger's NINA HERE NOR THERE: My Journey Beyond Gender received an outstanding review from Whitney Scott in the April issue of Booklist. An excerpt follows:
"Daughter of proper East Coast parents, seriously lesbian travel writer Nina Krieger moves to San Francisco's Castro district and a new take on life. ... Questioning herself, she builds a new persona, becoming 'Nick' in this humorous, moving, and engagingly authentic journey, ..." To read the full review, subscribe to Booklist Online.
Mari Ruti, PhD, author of THE CASE FOR FALLING IN LOVE, now has a regular blog titled "The Juicy Bits" at psychologytoday.com. As Mari defines it,
"But then there are The Juicy Bits: what I'm calling the trinity of love, lust, and the luster of life. These are what I'll primarily be talking about in this blog, for—let's be honest—they are what we usually want to talk about. ... We get a special buzz from gossiping about the failures of love, the foolishness of lust, and the elusiveness of life's luster—about all the ways in which we are robbed of what (we imagine) would make our lives worth living." To read the blog, click here.
Amy Burkhardt was introduced by Kathy Chung on the Surrey International Writers' Conference blog. Amy will be attending and presenting at the conference in Surrey, BC, Canada October 21st-23rd, 2011. To read the blog, click here.
Mari Ruti, PhD, author of THE CASE FOR FALLING IN LOVE, was featured in an article by Ellen McCarthy of the The Washington Post. McCarthy's sums it up nicely in the following excerpt:
"Mari Ruti spent two weeks immersed in 20 relationship self-help books. Then she devoted the next 10 weeks to writing one of her own—begging women to toss the dime-store advice and start listening to their guts when it comes to love." To read the full story, click here.
Robin Allen's IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT—first book in the Poppy Markham Culinary Cop mystery series—received a fantastic review in the March 15th issue of Kirkus Reviews. An excerpt follows:
"Poppy Markham, who used to work in the restaurant before decamping to become a public-health inspector, decides to save the day, the restaurant and even Ursula with a bit of supersleuthing. ... First-timer Allen delivers a breezy likable menu..."
Russian rights to Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE have been sold to AST Publishers.
D.P. Lyle's HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL received the following endorsement from T. Jefferson Parker, author of The Border Lords:
"If this thriller doesn't give you goosebumps and nightmares, check your pulse. Bone-chilling doesn't begin to describe the horrors within. Thank heaven for Dub Walker, a tireless investigator with an ear for music and a knack for looking deep into the criminal psyche. I can sleep at night knowing he's on the case."
Robin Allen's debut mystery novel, IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, the first in her Poppy Markham, Culinary Cop series, earned a positive review from Publishers Weekly. The verdict: "Readers will want to see more of this laid-back Austin-style snoop..." To read the full review, click here.
D.P. Lyle's HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL secured an enthusiastic endorsement from PJ Parrish, New York Times bestselling author of The Killing Song. Here's what PJ had to say:
"A gritty and grisly tale of serial murder, told in the edgy style of classic noir but powered with a 21st century plot. Dr. Doug Lyle delivers a scalpel-sharp thriller."
Congratulations to Liza Campbell! Her debut novel, THE DISSEMBLERS, has been named a Finalist by ForeWord Reviews for the 2010 Book of the Year Awards in the Literary Fiction category. The nomination distinguishes THE DISSEMBLERS as "an example of independent publishing at its finest." The award will be presented in June 2011. To view the full list of literary fiction finalists, click here.
Heli Perrett, author of THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK, was interviewed on "A Touch of Grey" radio show, hosted by Carole Marks, and broadcast on 35 stations across the country. To read more about the show or listen to an audio recording of Heli's March 12th appearance, visit www.atouchofgrey.com.
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER received a rave review from Joe Hartlaub of Bookreporter.com. Here's an excerpt:
"...while Arcturus is the protagonist, the real star of this award-winning series is the Roman Empire and its mores and customs, which Stanley lovingly and accurately portrays down to the last well-shod sandal. ... However, the most striking element of THE CURSE-MAKER is that, as different as Arcturus's world may be from our own, the human emotions and desires that motivate our baser actions haven't changed much at all." To read the full review, click here.
Congratulations to Rebecca Cantrell! A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES, her second book in the Hannah Vogel historical mystery series, was nominated as a 2011 Crossover Finalist in the DABWAHA tournament of romance novels run by Dear Author, The TBR LLC, and Smart Bitches. To see the complete list of finalists, click here.
Robin Allen's IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT garnered an excellent review in the January/February issue of Crimespree magazine. An excerpt follows:
"If you've ever wanted to know what goes on in the kitchen and the running of an upscale restaurant, read this book. The personalities are the entrée, and one in particular, a Michelin-star visiting chef gets a knife in his miserable heart."
D.P. Lyle's HOT LIGHTS, COLD STEEL, the second in his Dub Walker mystery series, won high praise from New York Times bestselling author Gayle Linds. Here's what Gayle had to say:
"Hippocratic oath meets hypocritical practice in D. P. Lyle's exciting new book, Hot Lights, Cold Steel. Dub Walker, med school dropout and forensic criminologist, follows a trail of discarded bodies in this engrossing tale of medicine and murder, told in a witty tongue-in-cheek style that humors as it horrifies. A renowned physician himself, Lyle is a master of the medical thriller. Your prescription is simple, and highly enjoyable: Read this book."
Congratulations to Kelli Stanley! The LA Times has named Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS as a Finalist for its Mystery/Thriller Book Prize. The winners will be announced at April 29, 2011 in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Times building. To see the full list of nominees, click here.
Nick Krieger's NINA HERE NOR THERE received a positive review from Publishers Weekly ahead of its May release date. PW called the memoir "a beautifully rendered and personal account that feels like a fresh addition to trans literature," and noted, "...the final discussions of occupying a place somewhere not quite on either extreme of the gender binary are fascinating..." To read the full review, click here.
Nonfiction: General/Other
Mari Ruti's THE CASE FOR FALLING IN LOVE received a starred review from Publishers Weekly on Valentine's Day. An excerpt follows:
"Instead of using strategies based in soft science or 'emotional intelligence,' Ruti taps sources ranging from Lacan to 'Gossip Girl'; women, she argues, have worked too hard in their careers to fall prey to 1950s gender tropes in dating. ... Ruti's approach is both funny and thought-provoking, and she moves effortlessly between intellectual and popular sources to provide an extremely refreshing take on an overdone genre."
To read the full review, click here.
Congratulations to Kelli Stanley and Becky Cantrell! Both have been nominated—Kelli for CITY OF DRAGONS and Becky for NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES—for this year's Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery award. The winner will be announced at The Left Coast Crime Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico in March 2011. Both Kelli and Becky have won the award once before (Kelli in 2009 for NOX DORMIENDA, Becky in 2010 for A TRACE OF SMOKE). For a full list of nominees, check out the Mystery Fanfare blog here.
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE received an outstanding review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. An excerpt follows:
"In this powerful exploration of loneliness and attachment, Rosenthal expertly captures both the euphoric passion of first love and the utter devastation it can sometimes leave behind. ... there are no good guys or bad guys here, just people attempting to forge and maintain relationships to the best of their abilities. ... This will speak strongly to the recently brokenhearted and will perhaps remind them that there is a reason they are called 'first' loves."
She'll be at the San Francisco Writer's Conference from Friday, February 18th—Sunday, February 20th, where she'll speak on two panels (about adult and YA fiction) and take speed-dating pitches. For more information, click here. She'll also be attending the Women's National Book Association San Francisco Chapter's Meet the Agents and Editors Event on Saturday, March 26th, where she'll take speed-dating pitches. For more information or to register for the event, click here.
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE has been included in Amazon's list of Best YA Books of the Month for February 2011. To see the full list, click here.
Heli Perrett's THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK continues to garner attention and positive reviews. Here's a picture from her January 19th reading at Book Passage at the Embarcadero, where Heli signed books, spoke about the dangers of unsafe food, and took questions from audience members. Thanks to Book Passage for an informative and excellent evening!
Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS and Rebecca Cantrell's A NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES were both nominated for the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award for 2011. The winner will be announced at the Awards banquet for Left Coast Crime 2011 on March 26th. To see all nominees, click here.
Lorraine Rosenthal, author of OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, was featured in the article "Hebron author gets novel published," which ran in the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Kentucky Enquirer (online and in print). Here's an excerpt from the article:
"'I carried around the idea of the protagonist and her family and friends for quite a while before I clearly visualized the story,' said Rosenthal, of Hebron. 'The reception has been phenomenal. There is a wonderful online community of book bloggers—both young adults and adults—and I am very fortunate to have received an extremely positive response from bloggers who have taken an interest in my book and have been promoting it via the Internet for the past several months.'" To read the full article, click here.
Heli Perrett, author of THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK, was interviewed by Dave Iverson on KQED's Forum radio show. Heli discussed the book and took questions from callers about food safety. To listen to the interview, click here.
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER received a starred review from Connie Fletcher in the January issue of Booklist. An excerpt follows:
"Besides writing an engrossing mystery, in which the first murder leads to a typically Roman orgy of revenge, Stanley serves up fascinating and never heavy-handed information on Roman life. For fans of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series."
Merrie Destefano's AFTERLIFE received a rave review from Carolyn Cushman in the December issue of Locus Magazine. Here's what she had to say:
"It's a real thrill ride ... the fast pace and skillfully eked out clues keep things moving along, for a good read—and a strong first novel."
Heli Perrett's promotion of THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK continues on Wednesday, January 19th with a 6 PM reading at Book Passage (Embarcadero store), in the Ferry Building. To learn more, click here. Please come for advice on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of our risky food supply!
Heli Perrett's launch of THE SAFE FOOD HANDBOOK will commence on Wednesday, January 12th with a 6 PM reading at the Green Arcade bookstore, at 1680 Market Street. To learn more, click here. Please join us for this event and opportunity to become a savvy food consumer!
Thanks to the work of designer David Baldeosingh Rotstein, the cover of Kelli Stanley's CITY OF DRAGONS came in #2 in a vote for Best Crime Novel Cover of 2010 on The Rap Sheet blog. Kevin Burton Smith, editor and creator of The Thrilling Detective Web Site and one of the judges for the competition, praised it thusly:
"[It] evokes perfectly a time, a place, a mood. Or two. The hustle and bustle of a vibrant city versus the tired resignation/optimism of a working girl. Hope versus cynicism. Light versus dark. Places to go versus going nowhere. And perfect color choices. They even work in a neon sign."
To read the full article about the contest results, click here.
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, which launches January 11th, has been included in Amazon.com's "Best Books of the Month for Young Readers: January 2011." To check out the "Best of January" page on Amazon, click here.
Kelli Stanley's THE CURSE-MAKER received an excellent review in the January 1st issue of Kirkus Reviews. An excerpt follows: "Stanley's ... novel, supplemented by a glossary and a lengthy explanation of curse-making, captures the details and rhythms of daily life in the ancient empire. The whodunit often takes a backseat to the subtle and interesting interactions of [her] characters."
Congratulations to Rebecca Cantrell, Kelli Stanley, and Cynthia Robinson! All three authors contributed to Lee Childs's anthology FIRST THRILLS, which was #1 in the Kindle UK app store over the January 1st-2nd weekend.
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December 10, 2011
