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Pennie Picks: THE ORCHARDIST

The OrchardistThe August pick by Costco’s book buyer, Pennie Ianniciello, featured in the Costco Connection, is a GalleyChat favorite from last year, The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin (Harper; Thorndike Large Print; trade pbk released in March).

Ianniciello notes, “It would be easy for me to love this month’s book pick because it’s set in the Pacific Northwest or because it’s a fist novel. The truth is, I’m singing the praises of The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin, because it gets everything right.” The issue also features an interview with the author.

About a lonely widowed orchard owner whose life is transformed when two pregnant escapees from the local brothel appear on his farm, NPR called it “a stunning accomplishment, hypnotic in its storytelling power, by turns lyrical and gritty, and filled with marvels. Coplin displays a dazzling sense of craftsmanship, and a talent for creating characters vivid and true.”

Ianniciello has long been recognized in the book business for not only influencing sales, but for also picking debuts and below-the-radar titles, giving them a new life in trade paperback. Her July pick Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt, (RH/Dial, 6/19), also a debut, made its first appearance on the NYT bestseller list after she anointed it.

She’s not the only influential Costco buyer. The company’s wine buyer, Annette Alvarez Peters, rose to #4 on this year’s Decanter Magazine Power List, right behind Eric de Rothschild. Her story “Wine Meets Grill” also appears in the August issue of Costco Connection.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 30th, 2013 at 8:55 am and is filed under Fiction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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