If you (like me) are eagerly awaiting the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey this winter, check out the new Hobbit production video just released. Peter Jackson and a host of other production team members take you on a backstage tour at the studio lot; there’s also a quick… Read more »
Cynthia Rylant is celebrating her 58th birthday today (June 6, 2012). Born in 1954, Rylant grew up in West Virginia, and discovered a love of writing in college. Her books range from picture books and early chapter books for younger readers (ages 3 to 8) to books for the middle… Read more »
If you have young children, chances are you have at least one book by Richard Scarry in your house. Why not celebrate his birthday today (June 5) by sitting down to read it together? Richard Scarry was born in 1919 and died in 1994. He wrote and illustrated over 250… Read more »
Random House and mystery author Laurie R. King are giving away twelve advanced reading copies (ARCs) of her forthcoming Mary Russell novel, Garment of Shadows. To enter this contest, you have to have a Facebook account. (There may be other giveaways in the future, including one on Twitter.) Go to… Read more »
Photo by Modern Arts Studio, Oakland, California. From the Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust website. Marion Zimmer Bradley, best known for her Darkover novels and a series of Arthurian fantasies beginning with The Mists of Avalon, was born on this day in 1930. She died in 1999. Bradley’s Darkover… Read more »
If you’re interested in books, ebooks, libraries, self-publishing, or even book blogs,there’s quite a lot to interest you this week: The Nation has published a long, thoughtful piece on “The Amazon Effect” by Steve Wasserman. A history of Amazon’s rise as well as an examination of its tactics and its… Read more »
Want to know whose birthday it is? I’ve added a page of author (and illustrator) birthdays to this blog. For the most part, the authors listed are a mix of classic literary types, children’s authors, and authors of fantasy, SF, and mystery. They appear by date. You’ll find the page… Read more »
Magic Under Glass blends elements of fantasy, steampunk, and the gothic novel: orphan girl swept into a high social milieu, mysterious and romantic sorcerer, hidden wife, enchanted clockwork automaton, missing fairy prince. Dolamore melds all of these into a cohesive, intriguing, but oddly spare whole. I have very mixed feelings… Read more »
I’ve been a fan of Aunt Dimity almost as long as the books have been around. Aunt Dimity’s Death is one of my comfort novels, the books I turn to when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or feeling blue: the reading equivalent of a nice cup of tea; and several of the… Read more »
Fantasy author Patricia Wrede recently posted a piece on her blog in which she recalls hearing Judith Merrill, the noted SF author, challenging another panelist’s assertion that a fiction author shouldn’t try to send a message – shouldn’t preach. “Why not?” responded Ms. Merrill. “What better place is there?” A… Read more »
