Librarian Nancy Pearl, who has been a fan and follower of Mary Doria Russell since her debut title, interviews her as part of the Book Lust series airing on the Seattle channel.

They discuss her first novel, The Sparrow (RH/Ballantine; Brilliance Audio; OverDrive Sample), published nearly 25 years ago and still a favorite with book groups.

Russell originally planned The Sparrow as a short story, “It kind of got away from me,” she tells Nancy. Turned downed 31 times by 31 agents, Russell proved the doubters wrong and has gone on to write five more well received novels, including Doc (RH/Ballantine; OverDrive Sample) and A Thread of Grace.(RH/Ballantine; Books on Tape; OverDrive Sample).

Russell has an unusual creative process. She writes two books in the same general universe before she moves on to a different one. Her most recent is Epitaph (Harper/Ecco; OverDrive Sample; March, 2015), her second Western following Doc.

She is currently working on a book about unions and thinks the second book in that pair will be about Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa.

Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör (Quirk; Blackstone Audio; OverDrive Sample) is now a “put pilot’ for Fox (translation: “one that will definitely air”) with plans to create an hour-long series inspired by the quirky book.

Horrorstör, with a cover resembling an IKEA catalog and a nifty layout replete with furniture ads, was a September 2014 LibraryReads pick. It follows the fate of several workers of a big box home store who discover the company warehouse was built on top of a prison and is now haunted.

The TV show tweeks the haunted house plot to create an ongoing story. Deadline reports that “the store actually preys upon its customers’ desires to a supernatural degree, selling products that make their wishes and fantasies come true in unexpected and insidious ways.”

The O.C. and Gossip Girl creator Josh Schwartz is part of the production team, which also includes Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind). An air date has yet to be set.

Many in the Twittersphere were unhappy when news broke that Sony plans a remake of the 1995 Robin Williams movie Jumanji, so soon after the actor’s death.

I can't be the only one who thinks its WAY too freaking soon to be messing with ANY #RobinWilliams film, can I? #Jumanji

— Ninja Panda (@cherrycokeaf) August 6, 2015

Joining the fray, E Online wrote “not only is the Jumanji remake unnecessary and kind of insulting, but it’s in danger of tarnishing the onscreen legacy of one of the great comedians of our time.”

Sony plans to release the film on Christmas Day 2016. Thus far none of the production team or actors have been announced.

Jumanji (HMH, 1981) by Chris Van Allsburg is one of the few Caldecott books to be made into a full-length movie. The 2015 winner, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, will join that short list. It was recently announced that Jason Reitman (Juno) will write/direct the adaption for DreamWorks.

Sony has big plans for the upcoming Goosebumps movie, hoping it will spawn a franchise, reports the L.A. Times. However, that may be a problem. The story notes that the books’s heyday was in the early ’90’s so fans are now too old for the movie and their kids may be too young for the its ten-year-old target audience.

As we reported a few weeks ago, Goosebumps which arrives in theaters Oct. 16 starring Jack Black, is not based on any of the specific titles, but uses the entire series as a jumping-off point. Black plays author R.L. Stine, whose library of Goosebumps manuscripts contain actual monsters, unleashed by local inquisitive kids.

Tie-in editions are on their way (see our listing of Upcoming Movie Tie-ins), but keep your eye on the old Goosebumps titles as well, recently reissued as Classic Goosebumps (with the line “Now a Major Motion Picture” on the covers).

It’s difficult to say which titles may get a bump. In an interview with ComingSoon.net, Stine said that the movie features “All the early monsters that are in the books. They all come out, they’re all there.” He names a few specifically,  “The real evil one is Slappy the Dummy (in the three Night of the Living Dummy titles), he’s there, the Abominable Snowman from Pasadena is there, and lawn gnomes, HUNDREDS of lawn gnomes (Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes). They’re great, they’re really good.” He also mentions  the giant praying mantis from  A Shocker on Shock Street.

Like the fashion industry, the book world has its seasonal cycles. The fall book lists are now upon us and this week Entertainment Weekly debuts their runway favorites.

Highlighting “13 Blockbuster Novels to Look Out For This Fall,” the magazine leads with The Story of the Lost Child (Europa Editions; Blackstone Audio; OverDrive Sample) by Elena Ferrante. An underground literary cult favorite, this is the fourth and final book in her Neapolitan series.

If you need background (and you won’t be alone in that), check our rundown of praise for Ferrante. She has also  been the subject of Slate’s Audio Book Club (by the way, the Audio Book Club has now posted their August episode, featuring Go Set A Watchman – spoiler alert, they think it is a boring and pretty bad book).

Big names such as Franzen, Atwood, and Irving make the list of 13 but so do a few debuts including Knopf’s big investment, City on Fire (RH/Knopf; Random House Audio) by Garth Risk Hallberg, acquired for almost $2 million. Producer Scott Rudin also snapped up the movie rights.

Another buzzy title is Welcome to Night Vale (Harper Perennial; HarperAudio) by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. An expansion of their popular podcast of the same name, it got a boost and much attention after being widely suggested as a “what to listen to next” after the popular Serial. It was also
featured at this summer’s ALA.

The full list of fall titles selected by Entertainment Weekly  currently only available in print, is in the August 14th issue.

Two of HBO’s most successful series feature cities in crisis, The Wire, about the drug wars in West Baltimore and Treme about New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The creator of both, David Simon, next turns his attention to Yonkers, New York in the 1980’s when the racially divided city was further torn apart by a court-ordered public housing project.

Show Me a Hero, a six-part series set to debut this coming Sunday, August 16, is adapted from the book of the same title by journalist Lisa Belkin. The NYT says it “arrives at a particularly relevant moment” as debates over public housing continue to rage.

Oscar Isaac stars as Mayor Wasicsko. The cast also includes Catherine Keener, Jim Belushi, Bob Balaban and Winona Ryder.

Belkin’s book is being released in a new edition, with an afterword that examines Yonkers today.

Show Me A Hero : A Tale of Murder, Suicide, Race, and Redemption
Lisa Belkin
Hachette/Back Bay Books:September 1, 2015
Paperback; $17.00

YouTube stars had their day at the recently wrapped VidCon. A surprising number of them have ventured in the the old media of books. Coming next week, internet star Felicia Day‘s memoir impresses booksellers, who made it one of their Indie Next picks.

The titles covered here, and several more notable titles arriving next week, are listed with ordering information and alternate formats, on our downloadable spreadsheet, EarlyWord New Title Radar, Week of Aug. 10, 2015

Holds Leaders

Silver Linings: A Rose Harbor Novel, Debbie Macomber, (RH/Ballantine)

Gaining advantage by being published in the midst of season three of the Hallmark series based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove novels starring Andie McDowell, this is the holds leader for the week.

Who Do You Love, Jennifer Weiner, (S&S/Atria)

Kirkus calls this one, “Weiner at her heartstring-tugging best.”

Devil’s Bridge, Linda Fairstein, (Penguin/Dutton)

Featured in a full-page ad in this week;s NYT Sunday Book Review, PW calls it subpar while Booklist says it is “Another solid title … sure to follow its predecessors onto the best-seller lists.”

Media Attention

The tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is coming soon and this week’s NYT Sunday Book Review marks it with a roundup featured on the cover, including Katrina: After the Flood, by Gary Rivlin, (S&S). Closer to the actual anniversary,  the author is set to appear on MSNBC-TV/Hardball with Chris Matthews, August 21 and NPR’s Diane Rehm Show, August 27.

Rivlin presents five surprising facts about the storm in the following video.

Reaching further back in history, the Today Show’s Al Roker is publishing The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival, and the Epic True Story of America’s Deadlest Natural Disaster: The Great Gulf Hurricane of 1900, (HarperCollins/Morrow).

Consumer Media Picks

Days of Awe, Lauren Fox, (RH/Knopf)

People “Book of the Week”, Aug 17:

“You can do everything right, yet when tragedy hits, ‘you’re staring at the moonscape that used to be your life.’ Isabel Moore learns this when her best friend, ‘the glorious roller-coaster that was Josie,’ dies on an icy highway. Iz has a loving husband and a good job, but suddenly she’s fact-to-face with dark truths about Josie and herself. As Fox deconstructs the myths of perfect womanhood, her humor and humanity remind us that love’s the only lifeboat through grief.” It’s also reviewed in this week’s NYT Sunday Book Review.

Peer Picks

In the Dark Places: An Inspector Banks Novel, Peter Robinson, (HarperCollins/Morrow)

Indie Next Pick:

“In the Dark Places, Robinson’s 22nd Inspector Banks novel, is still rich in the landscape and culture of Yorkshire. Still populated with characters moving through their lives, reacting to events, reaching for experiences, skills, relationships — and justice for victims. Still ingeniously plotted, challenging even the astute reader to keep up through the nerve-racking suspense. Still flush with the musicality of Robinson’s prose and with the love of music that is so much a part of Banks’ personality. And still shaping the story with local history and landmarks so that In the Dark Places, like each Banks novel before it, is unique, yet contributing to a remarkable portrait of modern Britain in all its insularity and diversity.” —Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ

The Race for Paris, Meg Waite Clayton, (HarperCollins/Harper)

Indie Next Pick:

“The Race for Paris is an action-packed tale of courage, friendship, and love during the grim, final days of World War II. Clayton’s triumphant new novel brings to life the intrepid female journalists who sought to break the limits of the times. While soldiers faced the brutal reality of war, women had to also overcome sexism and legal obstacles simply to do their jobs. Based on real characters and events, The Race for Paris brings a unique perspective to a little-known aspect of history. Gather your book club and prepare for an intense conversation as these characters will haunt you long after you turn the final page!” —Pamela Klinger-Horn, Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior, MN

Multiply/Divide: On the American Real and Surreal, Wendy S. Walters, (Sarabande Books)

Indie Next Pick:

“In Multiply/Divide, Walters sifts through the weird, quietly horrifying wreckage that structural racism has left behind in everyday American life and presents something like a mythology, but stranger because, of course, it is real, and we have never known life without it. Her prose is as clear as day, her stories are candid, and only a poet could have written a book of essays like this. City by city, over radio waves and under the street, Walters beautifully maps for us what should have been obvious: that nearly all of our heartbreak — and even our joy — is rooted in this mythology.” —Daniel Poppick, BookCourt, Brooklyn, NY

You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir, Felicia Day, (S&S/Touchstone)

A YouTube star featured at this year’s VidCon, this memoir is also an Indie Next Pick:
“Day has penned what is sure to be an instant cult classic. By turns funny, insightful, inspiring, and all-too-familiar, she maps her rise from lonely homeschooled girl to internet darling, along the way revealing her struggles, her insecurities, her stubbornness, and, most transparently, her utterly relatable story of finding her way while not fitting in. For anyone who has woken up to realize they are not where they wanted to be, Day’s honest book is for you!” —Anna Eklund, University Book Store, Seattle, WA

For more on YouTube stars and their books, see our earlier story.

Tie-ins

it’s a big week for adaptations in theaters. Finally debuting today is Gillian Flynn’s Dark Places (reviews are not strong, however) as well as The Diary Of A Teenage Girl and an animated version of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.

Oddly, both of the movie tie-ins coming out next week are for films that don’t yet have a release date.

A Woman in Arabia : The Writings of the Queen of the Desert, Gertrude Bell, Georgina Howell, (Penguin Classics)

Called “the “female Lawrence of Arabia.” Gertrude Bell was a  Middle East expert who lived with Bedouin tribes and helped the British army find their way in the desert during the World War I. This is the latest of several collections of Bell’s writings is published to coincide with Werner Herzog movie Queen of the Desert, starring Nicole Kidman as Bell with James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damian Lewis. The U.S. release date has not yet been announced.

The Dressmaker, Rosalie Ham, (Penguin Books)

Called a “revenge comedy,” the movie stars Kate Winslet, Judy Davis and Liam Hemsworth. It is adapted from a best selling Australian novel which is getting its first U.S. release. The film’s U.S. release date has not yet been set, however.

For our full list of upcoming adaptations, see our Books to Movies and TV and our listing of tie-ins.

Get ready for the ice and fear (and the requests for books). The new adventure disaster film Everest is coming in September (on the 18^th in IMAX 3-D and the 25^th everywhere else). Click on the film poster, left,  to see the full version, but only if you have no fear of heights (the same applies to the trailer, below).

Based on the events of 1996 when eight people died in a blizzard on Mount Everest, the movie stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal. It is directed by Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns, Contraband).

According to the British film magazine, Empire, the film is not based on any single title but draws from multiple sources as well as interviews with the survivors.

Still, there are plenty of books on the disaster. Best known is Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. Others include Beck Weathers with Stephen G. Michaud’s Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest and Anatoli Boukreev’s The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest. In the film Brolin plays Weathers, Kelly plays Krakauer, and Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson plays Boukreev.

The only tie-in edition is an unofficial one for Left for Dead (Movie Tie-in Edition): My Journey Home from Everest (RH/Bantam; OverDrive Sample), which according to the publisher “will not feature official tie-in art but will reflect the look and feel of the feature film, and will feature a reading line to make the Everest movie connection.”

“The wizarding world is getting a handsome new addition,” reports Time magazine. Colin Ferrell is joining the cast of the Harry Potter spinoff, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  Planned as the first in a trilogy, the movie is scheduled for release on November 18, 2016.

Directed by David Yates, who was responsible for 4 of the 7 original Potter films, it stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, the writer of the fictional Hogwarts textbook (a real edition was published in 2001 and rereleased earlier this year). J.K. Rowling has written the script.

The other movies in the series are planned for release in two-year intervals; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 (2018) and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3 (2020).

In his final week hosting the Daily Show, Jon Stewart uncharacteristically did not interview any authors, but he did a shout out to a book coming in October, Do Unto Animals, (Workman, Artisan), by an author he knows well, Tracey Stewart.

As a result the book has been rising on Amazon’s sales rankings and is currently
at #7.

Stewart’s final episode airs tonight. The show resumes on Sept. 28 with Trevor Noah as host.

Charles Frazier’s 1997 novel Cold Mountain, a long-running best seller and National Book Award winner that was made into an equally successful movie, has recently become, wait for it, an opera.

Composed by Jennifer Higdon (who won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in music) with a libretto by Genre Scheer, it premiered last week at the Santa Fe Opera.

Scheer told NPR’s Morning Edition that both he and Higdon “were convinced that [the novel] was really a great idea for an opera. That there was a way of inviting music in to really illuminate the story.”

Frazier was surprised by the request for opera rights, telling NPR “My first reaction was that Inman is such an internal character — that he hardly speaks … To see him on stage singing took a little bit of adjustment.”

That is a common response from authors of print books. But perhaps one that will have to be recalibrated as more and more titles move from the page to the stage. The adaptions are not done, the beloved Tuck Everlasting is coming to Broadway in 2016.

The New York Times reports that interest is so high in Cold Mountain that the Santa Fe Opera mounted an additional a performance and is making plans to release a recording. Until then, here is a sample

The production will move to Opera Philadelphia in Feb. 2016. The Minnesota Opera also has plans to stage it.

To ask a question or make a comment click on the box below, enter your name, then hit “Set.”

The chat is moderated. You can send your questions through at any time. They’ll go into a queue, and we’ll submit as many of them as we can to Kelly before the end of the chat

Live Chat with K. L. Going - PIECES OF WHY

(08/05/2015)

  

Close

4:02	Nora, EarlyWord:  Our chat will begin in about an hour. Meanwhile, here is a video of K.L. Going: Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:02 Nora, EarlyWord

4:03	Nora, EarlyWordNora, EarlyWord Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:03

4:44	Nora, EarlyWord:  This video being was created by a grad student. Teachers and librarians are welcome to share it with their classes. Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:44 Nora, EarlyWord

4:52	Nora, EarlyWord:  In a few minutes, we will begin our online chat with K.L. going, the author of Pieces of Why, which will be published by Kathy Dawson Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers on Sept 8. Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:52 Nora, EarlyWord

4:53

Nora, EarlyWord:  Here is a quick plot summary: Tia lives with her mom in a high-risk neighborhood in New Orleans and loves singing gospel in the Rainbow Choir with Keisha, her boisterous and assertive best friend. Tia’s dream is to change the world with her voice; and by all accounts, she might be talented enough. But when a fatal carjacking in her neighborhood takes the life of an infant, she finds she can’t sing anymore. From the gossip ignited in her community, she learns the truth about her own father: His life-sentence prison conviction was not just for a robbery, as her mother always told her. The shock of finding out what really happened prompts Tia to start asking the people in her community hard questions—questions everyone has always been too afraid to ask. Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:53 Nora, EarlyWord

4:53	Nora, EarlyWord:  You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can by the end of the hour. Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:53 Nora, EarlyWord

4:54	Nora, EarlyWord:  And please don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too! Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:54 Nora, EarlyWord

4:58	KL Going:  Hello everyone! Wonderful to be here... Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:58 KL Going

4:59

Nora, EarlyWord:  Hi Kelly; Thanks for joining us! Our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota, one of the world’s largest collections of children’s literature manuscripts and original. Before that, she was the Children's Librarian of the Bank Street College of Education. She’s also served on many awards committees including the Newbery, the National Book Awards for Young People's Literature and American Library Association's Notable Children's Books Wednesday August 5, 2015 4:59 Nora, EarlyWord

5:00	lisa von drasek:  Hello Everyone! Also Joining us today is JoAnn Jonas. a collection development librarian from New Mexico Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:00 lisa von drasek

5:01	Nora, EarlyWord:  I see others out there -- please say hi. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:01 Nora, EarlyWord

5:02	lisa von drasek:  KL, Lets get started with your new book Pieces of Why. I was struck by the characters first then the circumstances. Can you introduce the major character to us? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 lisa von drasek

5:02	[Comment From SoCalSoCal: ]  Hi JoAnn and Lisa! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 SoCal

5:02	[Comment From JoshJosh: ]  Hi Kelly! Thanks for doing this! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 Josh

5:02	KL Going:  Sure, Lisa... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 KL Going

5:02	[Comment From Fran L.Fran L.: ]  Loved the book. Can’t wait to talk about it. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 Fran L.

5:02	[Comment From Carolyn PCarolyn P: ]  This is a special treat on a hot summer day. Thanks. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 Carolyn P

5:02	JoAnn Jonas:  Hi again everyone! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:02 JoAnn Jonas

5:03	[Comment From Jill W.Jill W.: ]  Hi, K.L. – why do you used initials instead of “Kelly”? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:03 Jill W.

5:03	KL Going:  The main character is Tia, a young gospel singer who is growing up in rough circumstances and must find her solid inner core of strength. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:03 KL Going

5:03	[Comment From Philly LibrarianPhilly Librarian: ]  Been looking forward to this. Thanks for doing it. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:03 Philly Librarian

5:03	[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ]  Great to “meet” you, K.L. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:03 Pam D.

5:03	KL Going:  My editor suggested I use KL since Fat Kid has a male narrator... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:03 KL Going

5:03	KL Going:  That was my first novel. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:03 KL Going

5:04	KL Going:  Wonderful to meet you all... thanks for joining! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:04 KL Going

5:04	lisa von drasek:  KL could you say something about Tia's family and friends? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:04 lisa von drasek

5:04	[Comment From Jody P.Jody P.: ]  Looking forward to sharing this with my kids come September. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:04 Jody P.

5:04	KL Going:  Sure, Lisa... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:04 KL Going

5:05	KL Going:  Tia's family is a tough one. Her father is in prison and her mother is basically agoraphobic, although I don't name it as such ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:05 KL Going

5:05	KL Going:  Her main sources of support are her best friend Keisha and the Rainbow Choir she sings in ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:05 KL Going

5:06	KL Going:  She also has a love interest in the story ... a boy named Kenny who has a bad stutter. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:06 KL Going

5:06	KL Going:  This book is largely about the power of communication and the difficulties we can all face with that ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:06 KL Going

5:06	[Comment From JoshJosh: ]  What kinds of questions do you get from kids? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:06 Josh

5:07	KL Going:  Josh, kids are both amazing for my ego and brutally honest ... ha... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:07 KL Going

5:08	KL Going:  I get everything from questions about sequels to existing books, to "you're the best author ever", to why did you write this a certain way. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:08 KL Going

5:08	KL Going:  I also get a lot of questions that are thinly veiled report questions from teachers. Ha. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:08 KL Going

5:08	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  I really liked the fact that the Rainbow Choir really is so inclusive. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:08 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:09	KL Going:  Thanks, Suzanne... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:09 KL Going

5:09	lisa von drasek:  KL Can you talk about the inspiration for that vehicle? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:09 lisa von drasek

5:09	KL Going:  I was working on a Playlist today and going on YouTube to find amazing children's choirs. There are great ones out there with kids of every race. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:09 KL Going

5:09	JoAnn Jonas:  What vehicle, the choir? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:09 JoAnn Jonas

5:09	KL Going:  Lisa, can you clarify? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:09 KL Going

5:10	lisa von drasek:  The choir as the vehicle for the story telling and trauma of the beginning of the plot Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:10 lisa von drasek

5:10	lisa von drasek:  ignore if not making sense Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:10 lisa von drasek

5:10	[Comment From Jody P.Jody P.: ]  What do you think about the cover? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:10 Jody P.

5:10	KL Going:  I sang in a gospel choir in college. I was one of the only white kids in this particular choir, but it made an impression on me. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:10 KL Going

5:11	KL Going:  Jody, I love the cover ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:11 KL Going

5:11	KL Going:  It took three tries to get things right and each attempt was very different ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:11 KL Going

5:11	KL Going:  It's hard to strike the right balance. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:11 KL Going

5:12	lisa von drasek:  Where did you get your ideas for your characters? Especially Kenny and Tia's mom? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:12 lisa von drasek

5:12	KL Going:  Many of my characters come from some version of real life... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:12 KL Going

5:13	KL Going:  Not exact people, but compilations of people I've met. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:13 KL Going

5:13	KL Going:  Kenny is one of my favorite characters because he is a "sleeper" character who comes into his own as the book progresses... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:13 KL Going

5:14	KL Going:  He's easy to underestimate in the beginning but I hope by the end the audience will see his strength... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:14 KL Going

5:14	KL Going:  In many ways the mother's character is the opposite. She's actually very weak and Tia needs to learn to see that and accept her anyway. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:14 KL Going

5:14	JoAnn Jonas:  KL, this question was posted on SmartStream..."Why did you decide on vocal music as the medium of Tia's voice rather than, say, visual or dramatic arts?" Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:14 JoAnn Jonas

5:15	KL Going:  Good question, JoAnn... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:15 KL Going

5:15	KL Going:  The inciting incident in this book - when Tia overhears a gunshot that kills a child - is something that actually happened to me... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:15 KL Going

5:16	KL Going:  I was always struck by the power we give the visual over and above the auditory, and yet when you stop to think about it, sound is such a powerful force in our lives. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:16 KL Going

5:17	KL Going:  Also, I love music, and look to include it as often as I can in my writing. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:17 KL Going

5:17	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  I haven't finished the book yet. But I love the character of Tia. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:17 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:17

[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  It is very realistic, the way you have Mary-Kate who wants the spotlight and the adults don't seem to realize she has made Tia feel so awful so that she can take the solo. Things like that happen all the time with kids and adults miss it. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:17 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:17	KL Going:  I agree, Suzanne... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:17 KL Going

5:18	KL Going:  The small things that happen in kid's lives are often as meaningful as the bigger ones. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:18 KL Going

5:18	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  The dialogue about who could and should sing gospel felt authentic. Can you share any text to life connections? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:18 Deborah Baldwin

5:18	KL Going:  Deborah... that's based on my own experience... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:18 KL Going

5:19	KL Going:  As one of the only white people singing in a gospel choir, I was certainly aware of their being some debate about my presence. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:19 KL Going

5:19	[Comment From Jill+W.Jill+W.: ]  Love the comment about small things -- applies to adults as well! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:19 Jill+W.

5:19	KL Going:  There's a great parallel with who should be allowed to write about different races within children's literature... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:19 KL Going

5:20	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Mary-Kate and the dynamic with Tia feels authentic. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:20 Deborah Baldwin

5:20	KL Going:  Thank you. That's always a huge compliment. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:20 KL Going

5:20	[Comment From Jill W.Jill W.: ]  Feels like you nailed the atmosphere of New Orleans. Have you ever lived there? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:20 Jill W.

5:21	KL Going:  Jill... yes. I lived there for about three years while doing volunteer service. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:21 KL Going

5:21	lisa von drasek:  Sorry for stepping on your comment... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:21 lisa von drasek

5:21	KL Going:  I taught adult literacy. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:21 KL Going

5:21	KL Going:  This book is actually quite autobiographical. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:21 KL Going

5:21	lisa von drasek:  do you want to finish your thought about writing about differernt races? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:21 lisa von drasek

5:22	lisa von drasek:  More please Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:22 lisa von drasek

5:22	KL Going:  Lisa ... I mostly wanted to draw the parallel... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:22 KL Going

5:23	KL Going:  Among authors and publishers there's a lot of debate about whether it's okay for an author of a certain race to write from the POV of a character of a different race. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:23 KL Going

5:23	KL Going:  I've heard many differing opinions on the topic... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:23 KL Going

5:24	KL Going:  Personally, I've seen many authors do this well, but I feel like I'd have to be very, very confident that I was getting everything right. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:24 KL Going

5:25	lisa von drasek:  Do you have "critical friends" who read your unpublished work with an eye to those issues? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:25 lisa von drasek

5:25	KL Going:  Pieces of Why has many diverse characters, and part of the reason I felt confident about creating such a diverse setting and cast list is because I lived there. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:25 KL Going

5:25	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  You show how self-doubt can stop us dead in our tracks, without coming off as preachy. I think my readers will be able to find a number of characters and situations to relate to in this book. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:25 Deborah Baldwin

5:26

KL Going:  Lisa, usually, it's one of the ladies in my writer's group reading fragments as I go along who offers critique... I meet with Clara Gillow Clark, author of the Hill Hawk Hattie series (among other wonderful books) and Marileta Robinson, a long time editor with Highlights for Children (and author of the Spot feature!). Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:26 KL Going

5:26	[Comment From Philly LibrarianPhilly Librarian: ]  I’m looking forward to the audio after listening to the clip. Do you find that a lot of kids listen to audiobooks? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:26 Philly Librarian

5:26	KL Going:  That's great, Deborah. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:26 KL Going

5:26	KL Going:  Philly, I'm not sure about the numbers, but I know I LOVE listening to audio books and play them with my son. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:26 KL Going

5:27	KL Going:  I can't wait to listen to Pieces of Why. It's really fun to hear your book performed ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:27 KL Going

5:27	[Comment From Philly LibrarianPhilly Librarian: ]  FAT KID won a Printz. AND it was your first novel! How did that make you feel? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:27 Philly Librarian

5:27	KL Going:  And the reader will be a New Orleans native! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:27 KL Going

5:27	KL Going:  Great question, Philly... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:27 KL Going

5:28	KL Going:  Humbled? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:28 KL Going

5:28	KL Going:  But also tremendously excited... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:28 KL Going

5:28	Nora, EarlyWord:  We have a clip of the audio: Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:28 Nora, EarlyWord

5:28	Clip from Audio of PIECES OF WHY  Play Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:28

5:28	lisa von drasek:  Can you give me a phonetic pronunciation of Tchoupitoulas Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:28 lisa von drasek

5:28	KL Going:  And completely shocked. I never expected Fat Kid to be more than a niche book with a tiny audience of punk rock kids! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:28 KL Going

5:29	KL Going:  Lisa... it's Chop-i-too-lus. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:29 KL Going

5:29	[Comment From Jill W.Jill W.: ]  I heard that the narrator of the audio of you first book, FAT KID RULES THE WORLD fell in love with it and decided to make it into a movie. True? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:29 Jill W.

5:29	KL Going:  Jill, yes! That's completely true... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:29 KL Going

5:30	KL Going:  Matthew Lillard (Scream, The Descendants) made it into a wonderful movie that won the SXSW audience award. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:30 KL Going

5:30	Nora, EarlyWord:  The audio of PIECES OF WHY is scheduled to come out Sept. 9, the same date as the book -- from Listening Library. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:30 Nora, EarlyWord

5:31	lisa von drasek:  Your bio states you worked in a literary agancy What is a literary agency? What do agents do? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:31 lisa von drasek

5:31	lisa von drasek:  waht did you do? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:31 lisa von drasek

5:31	KL Going:  Here's a pic of me with the cast... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:31 KL Going

5:31	lisa von drasek:  did the experience inform your work writing? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:31 lisa von drasek

5:31	KL Going Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:31

5:32	KL Going:  Great questions, Lisa... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:32 KL Going

5:32

KL Going:  A literary agency/agent represents an author's work to publishers, first in trying to match the right book with the right editor/publishing house, and then after a work is sold, managing an author's career, including contracts, royalties, subrights, etc. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:32 KL Going

5:33	KL Going:  And yes, it definitely informed my writing... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:33 KL Going

5:33	KL Going:  As your brain practices processing what's working or not working in other people's manuscripts, it makes it easier to apply those same critiques to your own work. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:33 KL Going

5:34

[Comment From Philly LibrarianPhilly Librarian: ]  I just wanted to point out to other librarians that Kelly offer lots of Writers Resources on her site. We often get questions about how to get a book published and this is very useful and has the extra credibility that Kelly worked for an agent. http://klgoing.com/writers-... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:34 Philly Librarian

5:34	KL Going:  Would now be a good time to mention that I'm partial to librarians? ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:34 KL Going

5:34	KL Going:  My mom is a librarian! So I'm biased, but they're my favorite people. :-) Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:34 KL Going

5:35	lisa von drasek:  Did she read aloud to you when you were a kid? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:35 lisa von drasek

5:35	KL Going:  Absolutely... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:35 KL Going

5:35	KL Going:  We read aloud until I was in high school, believe it or not! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:35 KL Going

5:35	KL Going:  I'd read while she ironed. My dad read with us a lot as well... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:35 KL Going

5:36	lisa von drasek:  wha t was one of your favorites and how old were you? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:36 lisa von drasek

5:36	KL Going:  I loved Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:36 KL Going

5:36	lisa von drasek:  ME Tooo!!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:36 lisa von drasek

5:36	KL Going:  I was probably in late elementary school? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:36 KL Going

5:36	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  I wanted to marry Will Stanton when I read those books. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:36 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:37	KL Going:  Also loved Island of the Blue Dolphins.... and The Hobbitt... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:37 KL Going

5:37	KL Going:  Suzanne, that's too funny! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:37 KL Going

5:37	[Comment From Jody P.Jody P.: ]  What's your favorite piece of writing advice AND your favorite advice about promoting your book once it's published? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:37 Jody P.

5:37	KL Going:  Favorite writing advice... hmmm... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:37 KL Going

5:38	KL Going:  Live a great life. It's your life experiences that will inform your writing, so live large... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:38 KL Going

5:38	KL Going:  As for promotion... worry more about writing a book you love. If you feel passionate about it, that passion will naturally shine through. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:38 KL Going

5:39	lisa von drasek:  Tell us about your writing day... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 lisa von drasek

5:39	lisa von drasek:  .... Did you have music on while you were writing? Favorite musicians? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 lisa von drasek

5:39	KL Going:  I wish I could play music... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 KL Going

5:39	KL Going:  Unfortunately, I need silence to write... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 KL Going

5:39	[Comment From Jody P.Jody P.: ]  Thanks; I will take both pieces of advice to heart -- working on living a great life! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 Jody P.

5:39	KL Going:  As for my schedule, it varies according to when my son is in school... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 KL Going

5:39	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Do you have a favorite place you like to write? A particular time of day? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:39 Deborah Baldwin

5:40	KL Going:  Deborah, I love to write in the mornings when everything is fresh... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:40 KL Going

5:40	KL Going:  I write all over the place. My husband works at home too and he says he never knows where he'll find me! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:40 KL Going

5:40	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Do you write in journals, on a computer...? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:40 Deborah Baldwin

5:41	KL Going:  I write on the computer... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:41 KL Going

5:41	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Is there a specific author that has inspired you? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:41 Deborah Baldwin

5:41	KL Going:  Unless I have writer's block and then I write by hand. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:41 KL Going

5:41	KL Going:  So many writers in all different fields … Virginia Euwer Wolff, Wendy Mass, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Cynthia Rylant ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:41 KL Going

5:42	KL Going:  Just to name a few! Oh, and the biggest is Lloyd Alexander... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:42 KL Going

5:42	lisa von drasek:  I LOVE these authors! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:42 lisa von drasek

5:42	KL Going:  I met him before I was published. He invited me and my family to his house and showed us his writing mementos. So amazing. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:42 KL Going

5:42	lisa von drasek:  Wow! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:42 lisa von drasek

5:43	KL Going:  He was exceedingly generous with his time, and set a great example for me. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:43 KL Going

5:43	JoAnn Jonas:  KL, are you going to do a bookstore tour for PIECES OF WHY? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:43 JoAnn Jonas

5:44	KL Going:  He invited us because my sister (who has no shame) found his phone number on-line and called him to say how much she and her kids loved his books. We were complete strangers to him. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:44 KL Going

5:44	KL Going:  JoAnn, no... but I'll do on-line events... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:44 KL Going

5:44	KL Going:  And I'll be at the AASL national conference in Ohio... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:44 KL Going

5:45	JoAnn Jonas:  KL, do you Skype into classes? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:45 JoAnn Jonas

5:45	Nora, EarlyWord:  Here's the link to Kelly's site for visits: http://klgoing.com/visits/ Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:45 Nora, EarlyWord

5:45	KL Going:  Yes. I love Skype! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:45 KL Going

5:46	lisa von drasek:  Okay peanut gallery. time for last questions!!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:46 lisa von drasek

5:46	KL Going:  Before we run out of time, I'd like to post my Pieces of Why playlist for anyone who is interested... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:46 KL Going

5:46	lisa von drasek:  YES!!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:46 lisa von drasek

5:46	lisa von drasek:  Please!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:46 lisa von drasek

5:46	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  Chronicles of Prydain was a favorite. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:46 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:47

KL Going:  1) When the Saints Go Marching In sung by Louis Armstrong – Classic New Orleans! 2) Come on Children, Let's Sing sung by Mahalia Jackson – Mahalia Jackson is one of Ms. Marion and Tia's favorite singers and this song showcases the spirit of gospel music. 3) His Eye Is On the Sparrow sung by Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston is another one of Tia's favorites; this is an example of a slower gospel song. 4) Banks of the Pontchartrain sung by Nanci Griffith – Tia's mom listens to Nanci Griffith; Lake Ponchartrain is located nearby. 5) Deep River sung by Mahalia Jackson – This is the song that Ms. Marion sings when she gives Tia her lesson. 6) There is Hope sung by Mississippi Children's Choir – This is exactly the kind of song I imagine Tia's choir singing. 7) Burn sung by One Voice Children's Choir – Another example of what I imagine the Rainbow Choir singing; one of the leads reminds me so much of Tia! 8) Heal the World sung by CBS Children's Choir (of Seoul Korea) – Children's voices are so powerful! I love the fact that we can watch and listen to singers from all around the world. 9) Note to God sung by Charice – This is the song Tia imagines singing for the Raven woman. 10) Pyramid by Charice (featuring Iyaz) – This is Keisha and Tia's favorite song that they sing with Kenny at the end. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:47 KL Going

5:47	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Do you have any writing mementos you keep to inspire your work? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:47 Deborah Baldwin

5:47	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  Nina Simone is one of my favorite singers. It was wonderful to see that she was one of Tia's heroes. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:47 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:47	KL Going:  Deborah... indeed I do... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:47 KL Going

5:47	KL Going:  I worked at Curtis Brown, Ltd. when Linda Sue Park won the Newbery... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:47 KL Going

5:48	KL Going:  She gifted me and Ginger Knowlton (her agent and my boss at the time) with pieces of pottery done in the style of the book A Single Shard... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:48 KL Going

5:48	JoAnn Jonas:  I was on that Newbery Committee! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:48 JoAnn Jonas

5:48	KL Going:  I keep one on my writing desk to inspire me. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:48 KL Going

5:48	lisa von drasek:  Celedon!!!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:48 lisa von drasek

5:48	KL Going:  Yes! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:48 KL Going

5:49	lisa von drasek:  Ten minutes to go!!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 lisa von drasek

5:49	[Comment From EvelynEvelyn: ]  Just looking at the play list brings tears to my eyes. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 Evelyn

5:49	KL Going:  And to respond to an earlier comment... I love Nina Simone Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 KL Going

5:49	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  I am so jealous! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 Deborah Baldwin

5:49	KL Going:  I may have to add a #11 to the playlist... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 KL Going

5:49	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  I read somewhere you're writing some picture books of your own. Are they a part of a series? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 Deborah Baldwin

5:49	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  And the sound follows us long after the event. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 Deborah Baldwin

5:49	KL Going:  Deborah, I have five picture books under contract... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:49 KL Going

5:50	KL Going:  The first one comes out next year and is illustrated by Yuyi Morales! And no, they're not a series. All individual titles. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:50 KL Going

5:50	lisa von drasek:  2016? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:50 lisa von drasek

5:50	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Do you have a favorite picture book author? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:50 Deborah Baldwin

5:50	KL Going:  That's right, Lisa. Yuyi is illustrating it now! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:50 KL Going

5:51	JoAnn Jonas:  WOW! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:51 JoAnn Jonas

5:51	KL Going:  I love everything Cynthia Rylant does ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:51 KL Going

5:51	KL Going:  I love When The Relatives Came to Visit... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:51 KL Going

5:51	KL Going:  Sorry if I mangled that title! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:51 KL Going

5:51	lisa von drasek:  Thats the one I love the best! you read my mind Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:51 lisa von drasek

5:52	KL Going:  Lisa, we're definitely on the same page... ha. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:52 KL Going

5:52	lisa von drasek:  I was just saying hey what was the one with the coal miner dad! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:52 lisa von drasek

5:52	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Sorry my comments seem to get lost ... and then appear at a much later time and in a weird sequence. :( Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:52 Deborah Baldwin

5:52	lisa von drasek:  yes they do because we try to post them in the topic but there are so many comments we can't post them all!!! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:52 lisa von drasek

5:52	lisa von drasek:  sorry Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:52 lisa von drasek

5:53	[Comment From EvelynEvelyn: ]  Hey, didn't I read that you were a bookseller? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:53 Evelyn

5:53	KL Going:  Evelyn, yes... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:53 KL Going

5:53	KL Going:  I worked for Merritt Bookstore for a long time... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:53 KL Going

5:54	KL Going:  The owner, Scott Myer, just passed away. He was a brilliant, beauftiful, generous man who championed so many authors. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:54 KL Going

5:54	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  (That makes sense, Lisa. Thanks for letting me know. ) Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:54 Deborah Baldwin

5:54	lisa von drasek:  You have a six year old at home. What books do you share with him? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:54 lisa von drasek

5:54	KL Going:  We're currently reading The Magic Treehouse series ... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:54 KL Going

5:55	KL Going:  Before that we read the Little House series and Charlotte's Web. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:55 KL Going

5:55	KL Going:  And lots and lots of superhero books! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:55 KL Going

5:55	[Comment From Carolyn PCarolyn P: ]  What’s your favorite piece of writing advice? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:55 Carolyn P

5:55	lisa von drasek:  You have started to enter the world of picture books- how is that different from novels? Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:55 lisa von drasek

5:56

KL Going:  Carolyn, if you want to write a book... Go for it. Write a complete draft as fast as possible. Put the manuscript away for as long as possible. Go back and edit as much as possible. Repeat as often as possible. As you do this, remind yourself that anything is possible. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:56 KL Going

5:56

KL Going:  It's very different … picture books are a unique art form. Imagine writing something as sparse as poetry that must fit into a 32 page format, with room for diverse illustrations and page turns, and it must simultaneously appeal to a 3 year old and a 30 year old. It's far more difficult to write a good picture book than people imagine … but I love the challenge, and since my son is young, it's a world I'm immersed in, so I've been writing a lot of them. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:56 KL Going

5:57	lisa von drasek:  It's time to say good-bye and thankyou. KL tell people where they can send you any questions that didn't get answered. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:57 lisa von drasek

5:57	KL Going:  I'd love to hear from you... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:57 KL Going

5:57	KL Going:  Send them to kl@klgoing.com... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:57 KL Going

5:58	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Thank you! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:58 Deborah Baldwin

5:58	KL Going:  If you put Early Word in the subject line it will help me find yours in the midst of the spam! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:58 KL Going

5:58	KL Going:  Thank you so much for having me... Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:58 KL Going

5:58	JoAnn Jonas:  Thanks everyone! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:58 JoAnn Jonas

5:58	Nora, EarlyWord:  Thanks, Kelly for alll your insights. It's been a lot of fun. Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:58 Nora, EarlyWord

5:58	lisa von drasek:  KL Thank you so much. The time just flew! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:58 lisa von drasek

5:59	KL Going:  I agree! Wednesday August 5, 2015 5:59 KL Going

6:00

Nora, EarlyWord:  The next book in our series is The Wild Ones C. Alexander London When a country raccoon used to a soft life winds up all alone in the big city, there’s no telling what he’ll do to survive—and to save his fellow wild animals in the process. Redwall meets Gangs of New York in this action-adventure animal fantasy. Sign up for the program here. Wednesday August 5, 2015 6:00 Nora, EarlyWord

6:00	JoAnn Jonas:  Goodbye all! Wednesday August 5, 2015 6:00 JoAnn Jonas

 

 

“The smart summer thriller you’ve been waiting for. The black and harmful little book you want in your carry-on. The novel you should be reading tonight.” WOW — that’s what NPR’s Jason Sheehan says of Christopher Yates debut novel Black Chalk (Macmillan/Picador; OverDrive Sample).

In a review any writer would kill for, Sheehan reports that Yates “writes like he has 30 books behind him; like he’s been doing this so long that lit games and deviltry come to him as natural as breathing… I don’t want to say a word. And not because I don’t love the book (I do, deeply and weirdly), but because I want you to go into it cold, knowing nothing and expecting nothing, like I did. I want you to suck it down in one breath, like a lungful of dark water. For it to hit you the same way it did me: like a sucker punch delivered slowly and with exquisite precision.”

It’s also an IndieNext pick:

In Black Chalk, Yates has taken the traditional novel and tweaked it to create something very special. In Thatcher-era England, six first-year Oxford University students have come together as friends. As they get to know each other, an idea forms and quickly gains traction: they should play a ‘game,’ with the loser facing a consequence. All six agree, and the dares begin as innocuous fun. As time goes on, however, something shifts within the group and the stakes become much higher — even deadly. Fourteen years later, the remaining players meet in New York City to finish the ‘game,’ but what has transpired for them in the interim? And is winning worth the price? A gripping, sinister, and suspenseful read.”—Peggy Elefteriades, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT.

Jamie Lubin of The Huffington Post gets in on the game too, saying the novel “reminds me of a Hitchcock film: multiple twists and reveals, the suspenseful IV drip of information Yates doles out to the reader with a master hand, the shadowy yet intense secrets locked inside the characters while they struggle to maintain composure, the ominous atmospheres of Oxford and New York — so seemingly opposite but equally threatening.”

Debut novels can sometimes slip out of mind. The next time a reader asks for a twisty clever thriller and has exhausted the usual suspects, try to remember Black Chalk.

On NPR’s Fresh Air yesterday, Susan Casey talks about  her new book Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins (RH/Doubleday; RH and BOT Audio; OverDrive Sample), sending the book charging up the Amazon rankings.

In a fascinating and lengthy interview Casey details sections from her book including stories about dolphin researchers investigating language acquisition, her own unexpected swim with a pod of spinners, the astounding attributes of dolphins, and the threats facing them today.

In the following clip from the audio narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Casey explains what draws her to scuba diving, even when there is a threat of sharks.

Casey, an experienced ocean adventure writer, has also published the bestselling books The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean and The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America’s Great White Sharks.

Holds are steady on fairly light ordering.

Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success by Michael D’Antonio (Macmillan/Thomas Dunne; Oct. 6) will be in the hands of readers sooner than first planned.

Originally scheduled for release in January, it will now be issued in early October in response to “high demand and heightened interest in Republican Presidential candidate Trump,” reports Entertainment Weekly. The LA Times adds that the biography will feature information gathered from interviews with Trump’s children and his ex-wives.

An update of Trump’s own 2011 book, Time to Get Tough: Making America Great Again (Regnery Publishing) is set for publication on Aug. 31. The burst on the cover, “Updated for 2016” indicates this may be his campaign book (the original, published in 2011, came out before the 2012 elections. He had hinted he would run then but ended up dropping out).

Neither book, however, will be available before the first Republican debates, scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, August 6 at 9 p.m EST.

Trump has published many books. Carlos Lozada, nonfiction book critic of The Washington Post, binge-read all eight of them and reports he “encountered a world where bragging is breathing and insulting is talking, where repetition and contradiction come standard, where vengefulness and insecurity erupt at random.” He doubts Trump would be satisfied if he actually became President, quoting him on what makes him happy, “The same assets that excite me in the chase, often, once they are acquired, leave me bored … For me, you see, the important thing is the getting, not the having.”