4 Family Vacations Inspired By Books

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5 October 2019

4 Family Vacations Inspired By Books by Guest Blogger Anica Oaks

Getting together with your family to decide on a vacation destination can be a fun way to get everyone involved in the planning. Each family member can contribute ideas about the type of attractions they want to see. Reading sometimes provides a wealth of idea on places to visit, to see the real setting for these wondrous stories. These four family vacations are based on books that both adults and children love.

Visit Harry Potter’s London, England

Fans of the Harry Potter books span all ages, which makes its London setting the perfect vacation destination for families. Visit Oxford, the site of many of the scenes in the Harry Potter movies, as well as Piccadilly Circus, Millennium Bridge, Westminster Tube Station, and other street locations where the movies were filmed. London offers many photographic opportunities for Harry Potter fans, as well as fans for fans of British history.

Anne of Green Gables Setting on Prince Edward Island

The beloved stories of Anne of Green Gables have given Prince Edward Island a new popularity as a vacation destination. At Green Gables Heritage Place in Prince Edward Island National Park, you can visit the original house, 19th century farmyard, and garden setting that acted as inspiration for the books. Saunter the walking trails and Haunted Wood. Or take a carriage ride past the Lake of Shining Water. This destination puts you squarely in the center of the settings of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stories.

Shackelton’s Journey in Antarctica

For the adventure lover in your family, who has read about the great explorer Ernest Shackelton, plan to visit Antarctica. This once-in-a-lifetime trip can show your family the extraordinary environment that has inspired the travels of one of the world’s most renowned explorers. There, you can view abundant bird and marine life, icebergs, glaciers, and unique horizons.

Madeline’s Paris

The children’s book, “Madeline,” has inspired many children to wonder what life is like in the exciting city of Paris, France. Even today, you can occasionally see the iconic “twelve little girls in two straight lines” winding their way down the sidewalks of Paris with their teachers. This city offers many historic and cultural activities for both adults and children to enjoy, with a public transportation system that allows visitors to see the many attractions easily and comfortably.

Seeing the places you’ve read about in books offers a singular pleasure that makes the story come to life. Your family can enjoy an exciting vacation, with sights, sounds and smells that stay in the memory for a lifetime and which can be recalled any time they re-read their favorite books. Consider these four literary destinations for your next trip.

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.

Top 5 Film Adaptations That Will Get Your Family to Read the Book

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Readers Entertainment

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3 October 2019

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Top 5 Film Adaptations That Will Get Your Family to Read the Book by Brooke Chaplan

We all have different ways of enjoying media. Some of us like curling up with a tablet while others prefer a physical copy of a book. Film adaptations of popular novels are a great way to get those who aren’t as interested in reading invested in a good novel. You and your loved ones can enjoy the movie together before reading the book version as well.

Holes

This 2003 film is based on the 1998 novel by Louis Sachar. It is commonly cited as one of the best film adaptations of a book. This might be because Sachar himself wrote the screenplay, so he naturally had the best idea of how to condense or change his novel for the big screen. Stanley Yelnats is the story’s young protagonist. Stanley is sent to the juvenile detention camp, called Camp Green Lake. He and his fellow campers must figure out why they have been forced to spend their time digging holes every day. This is a great movie to use to interest younger teens in reading, as the story is fast and engaging and the book is a jam-packed but quick read.

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind is perhaps the best known example of a book’s film version. The Southern drama is over four hours long and will really stand out on your home theater system. Vivien Leigh appears as Scarlett O’Hara while Clark Gable stars as Scarlett’s love interest and eventual husband Rhett Butler. The two have a tumultuous relationship that eventually culminates in their infamous exchange at the end of the film. Rhett decides to leave for Atlanta while Scarlett pleads for him to stay. This movie is a must if you have family members who love historical romances and dramas.

Stand By Me

Stephen King is an incredibly prolific horror writer who has had an equally prolific number of film adaptations under his belt. Stand By Me is the 1986 movie version of his short story, The Body. Four boys decide to go in search of the body of another boy. This coming-of-age drama is set in 1959 but its themes resonate far beyond that era. This is another good one to convince non-readers to sink their teeth into as the book version is a short but shocking novella.

Lord of the Rings

This geeky fantasy trilogy is by now so well known that you don’t really need to plug it that much. If any of your family love fantasy, they’ll enjoy this epic adventure directed by Peter Jackson. The book version is a much denser and longer read, but well worth it for those ready for a bit more of a deep fantasy experience.

Life of Pi

The 2012 adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel stunned audiences with its beautiful visuals and realistic CGI. The complicated question raised at the ending and the emotional story of survival revolving around a boy trapped on a life boat with a tiger will give you and your family much to talk about and consider. The book is also a fairly easy read, with a lot of detail about survival and animals. It’s an especially good read for any family members interested in psychology, biology, nature, and religion.

Book-to-screen adaptations provide an excellent family bonding experience. You can all get together and compare how well each movie holds up against its novel counterpart. And you might be able to show some non-readers in your family just how good some books can be!

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

LIBRARIES TRANSFORM BOOK PICK for October

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2 October 2019

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The Libraries Transform Book Pick is a new digital reading program that connects readers nationwide by offering free access to the same ebook through public libraries.

At the same time, it gives public libraries and the professionals working there opportunities to engage with readers about the ebook, as well as showcase digital collections and other library resources and programs.

Participating is easy! Do you have a public library card? Great! (And if you don’t, visit your library to get one.) Does your public library use OverDrive to serve your community’s ebook needs? (Most do, but if you aren’t sure, check back during October 7-21 to find a library.) All public libraries in the U.S. currently participating in OverDrive will be ready to lend unlimited copies of the ebook to borrowers during the reading period October 7-21, 2019, which makes it a great pick for your book club. Not a member of a book club? Discuss After the Flood with us on social media using the hashtag #LTBookPick.

Cool! But what are we reading?

The Book Pick — After the Flood

By Kassandra Montag
Published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Available for download October 7-21

Synopsis

An inventive and riveting epic saga, After the Flood signals the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.

A little more than a century from now, our world has been utterly transformed. After years of slowly overtaking the continent, rising floodwaters have obliterated America’s great coastal cities and then its heartland, leaving nothing but an archipelago of mountaintop colonies surrounded by a deep expanse of open water.

Stubbornly independent Myra and her precocious seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, fish from their small boat, the Bird, visiting dry land only to trade for supplies and information in the few remaining outposts of civilization. For seven years, Myra has grieved the loss of her oldest daughter, Row, who was stolen by her father after a monstrous deluge overtook their home in Nebraska. Then, in a violent confrontation with a stranger, Myra suddenly discovers that Row was last seen in a far-off encampment near the Arctic Circle. Throwing aside her usual caution, Myra and Pearl embark on a perilous voyage into the icy northern seas, hoping against hope that Row will still be there.

A note from Donna Seaman, the Booklist editor who helped select this title: “As we pondered the criteria for the Libraries Transform Book Pick,” Booklist’s Adult Books Editor Donna Seaman observed, “we found ourselves––and by ‘we’ I’m referring to myself, Senior Editor Susan Maguire and Associate Editor Annie Bostrom––galvanized by how the overarching theme of transformation is manifest in such totality and so very dramatically in Kassandra Montag’s After the Flood, a speculative epic set in a world ravaged by climate change. We also felt that the strong women protagonists in this tale of a mother’s quest for a lost daughter made for exciting reading, as does Montag’s skill in provoking us to think about timely issues as she holds us rapt with the timeless thrills of heroism, adventure, and suspense. After the Flood is an ideal catalyst for lively and probing book-club discussions.”

Booklist review
Discussion guide (PDF)
Read alike list (PDF)
Interview with Kassandra Montag

Discuss After the Flood on social media using the hashtag #LTBookPick.

SNEAK PEEK: Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier

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1 October 2019

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A year after Rico’s death, Chloe is still working to piece her life back together after learning of his betrayal and sickness. Though she wants to be with Shane, she senses that it may be too soon to move on, given that she is broken inside. After recommitting her life to God, she learns to love again, but just when she thinks she’s over the past, Raegan resurfaces.

Rico’s lies initially introduced them to one another, but Chloe’s mother has an even bigger lie that has remained hidden for over thirty years. Can Chloe handle it? Will she allow yet another secret to keep her from experiencing the love that Shane is so willing to give?

If she allows God to mold her heart, out of the shadows of her pain will come love, forgiveness and a sense of peace unlike she’s ever known.

Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier
Excerpt from Out of the Shadows

“Look at that smile. What did Shane say to you?” Kelly teased.

“Whatever. He just does what he always does.”

“And what’s that?”

Make everything better, Chloe thought to herself as her smile widened, but she said to Kelly, “I think we have more pressing things to deal with.” She recalled the day that she and Shane were outside playing tag the day before they started fourth grade. She must have thought she was part of someone’s stunt team because she jumped over a hedge of bushes trying to catch him and skinned her knee in the process. Shane immediately ran into the house for bandages and alcohol to patch her up. He even prayed and asked God to make it better so that her first day of fourth grade would still be good. She wasn’t sure why that particular thought popped into her head just now, but it was a reminder that he’d always wanted to do whatever he could to make things better for her.

“Maybe. But if Shane can put a smile on your face after that scene you put on in there, I need to talk to him too.”

Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier. Read an excerpt of Chapters 1-3: https://amzn.to/2lRvXPP
Excerpt from Out of the Shadows

“So here’s this woman who slept with my husband, got pregnant, lost the baby, and I forgave her. I wasn’t supposed to see her again. That was supposed to be the end of it. Now here she is with her perfect little life dancing right back into mine. I never even conceived a child with Rico and here she is with three children! It’s not fair and I want to scream at the top of my lungs. I’m angry, Shane. Angry at her and at my parents. And I feel really helpless but I’m trying to get over it. I had a good talk with God last night, so I’m trusting that He will help me through it.”

Chloe didn’t realize that tears had escaped her eyes in her frustration. Shane slid his chair around next to her and took a napkin to dab at her cheeks. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I’m here for whatever you need. It seems like a lot to take in, but we can get through this together. Can I pray with you?”

Read an excerpt of Chapters 1-3: https://amzn.to/2lRvXPP
Purchase Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier
https://www.amazon.com/Out-Shadows-Love-Lies-Consequences-ebook/dp/B07VLNMYXP

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM BLACK PEARLS MAGAZINE

SNEAK PEEK: FATES FURY By Australia’s own, Liz Butcher

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30 September 2019

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FATES FURY — The last thing Jonah Sands expected on his thirtieth birthday was to have his life thrust into the hands of a dangerous, red-haired woman— or to be the only person in the world to survive an encounter with her.

As the death toll skyrockets, Jonah and his two best friends, the siblings Tristan and Ava Carter, find themselves at the epicentre of inexplicable phenomena—a stranded ferry transforms into a barge headed for the Underworld; young girls levitate to whisper ancient riddles; technology across the globe is controlled by some unseen hand. And it all seems to lead back to the woman with red hair. When a stranger finds them in the midst of a thunder storm and offers his otherworldly assistance, Jonah finally unravels the truth about who he really is. And what it means for the rest of humanity.

About The Author:
Liz Butcher resides in Australia, with her husband, daughter, and their two cats. She’s a self-confessed nerd with a BA in psychology and an insatiable fascination for learning. Liz was previously the former Executive Assistant at the Horror Tree, which is a mainstream resource for authors and has published a number of short stories in anthologies including her own collection, After Dark, in 2018. Fates Fury is her debut novel set for release, September, 2019.

More information can be found about Liz at her website.

To request additional review copies or an interview with Liz Butcher, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. We look forward to the coverage.

For the Love of Plants

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29 September 2019

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“It’s been proven by quite a few studies that plants are good for our psychological development. If you green an area, the rate of crime goes down. Torture victims begin to recover when they spend time outside in a garden with flowers. So we need them, in some deep psychological sense…. ”

– Jane Goodall

Are there enough plants in your life? As Climate Week winds down, awareness and activism is ramping up regarding climate change. We know plants can improve our lives inside and out, locally and globally. Embrace their restorative power through our featured titles:

The Plant Messiah by Carlos Magdalena THE PLANT MESSIAH: ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE WORLD’S RAREST SPECIES by Carlos Magdalena

Carlos Magdalena is a man on a mission to save the world’s most endangered plants. He has travelled to the remotest parts of the globe in search of exotic species, protecting plants from man-made ecological destruction and thieves hunting for wealthy collectors. Here, Magdalena takes readers from the Amazon to the jungles of Mauritius to deep within the Australian Outback in search of the rare and the vulnerable. Passionate and absorbing, The Plant Messiah is a tribute to the diversity of life on our planet and to the importance of preserving it.

How to Make a Plant Love You by Summer Rayne Oakes HOW TO MAKE A PLANT LOVE YOU: CULTIVATE GREEN SPACE IN YOUR HOME AND HEART by Summer Rayne Oakes

Summer Rayne Oakes, an urban houseplant expert and environmental scientist, is the icon of wellness-minded millennials who want to bring nature indoors, according to a New York Times profile. Summer has managed to grow 1,000 houseplants in her Brooklyn apartment (and they’re thriving!) Her secret? She approaches her relationships with plants as intentionally as if they were people. This is Summer’s guidebook for cultivating an entirely new relationship with your plant children. When we become plant parents, we also become better caretakers of ourselves, the people around us, and our planet.

Plant Power Bowls by Sapana Chandra PLANT POWER BOWLS: 70 SEASONAL VEGAN RECIPES TO BOOST ENERGY AND PROMOTE WELLNESS by Sapana Chandra

70 nourishing plant-based bowls to energize and fuel your body naturally, from Instagram star and blogger Real + Vibrant’s Sapana Chandra including a chapter featuring treats like her Coconut Chia Pudding Bowl with Caramelized Bananas, a Rosewater Bliss Ball & Yogurt Bowl, and several coconut-milk-based ice creams, such as Blackberry-Lavender, Ash-Lemon, and Chocolate-Tahini Fudge.

Thus Spoke the Plant by Monica Gagliano THUS SPOKE THE PLANT: A REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF GROUNDBREAKING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES AND PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH PLANTS by Monica Gagliano, Suzanne Simard

In this “phytobiography”—a collection of stories written in partnership with a plant—research scientist Monica Gagliano reveals the dynamic role plants play through her research into plant communication and cognition. The book draws on up-close-and-personal encounters with the plants themselves, as well as plant shamans, indigenous elders, and mystics from around the world and integrates these experiences with an incredible research journey and the groundbreaking scientific discoveries that emerged from it.

The Greenprint by Marco Borges The Greenprint: Plant-Based Diet, Best Body, Better World by Marco Borges, Jay-Z, Beyoncé

New York Times bestselling author and CEO of 22 Days Nutrition, Marco Borges introduces one of the most inclusive, practical, and revolutionary plant-based lifestyle plans – The Greenprint. By following its 22 proven effective guidelines, you will shift your mindset, improve your health, lose weight, and impact the planet for the better.

The Inspired Houseplant by Jen Stearns The Inspired Houseplant: Transform Your Home with Indoor Plants from Kokedama to Terrariums and Water Gardens to Edibles by Jen Stearns

The ultimate go-to guide for aspiring indoor gardeners, this book offers inspiration and instruction to envision and create your own gorgeous in-home garden spaces. Whether you are looking to pick a statement plant for your living room, create a terrarium centerpiece, or arrange an artful display of air plants, this book will provide the tools you need.

Propagating Plants by Alan Toogood PROPAGATING PLANTS: HOW TO CREATE NEW PLANTS FOR FREE by Alan Toogood

From amaryllis to zinnias, this book is an indispensable manual for any gardener; useful for budding houseplant owners with an interest in propagating succulents and indispensable for anyone who wants to expand their range of plant cuttings. Fill your garden with beautiful plants for next to nothing with the brand-new edition of the most comprehensive guide to propagating plants ever published.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS by Christopher Brickell

Choose the right plants for your garden and find all the inspiration and guidance you need with TheEncyclopedia of Plants & Flowers. Drawing on expert advice from the RHS, this best-selling book features a photographic catalogue of more than 4000 plants and flowers, all organized by color, size, and type, to help you select the right varieties for your outdoor space. Discover perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and trees, succulents, and ornamental shrubs, all showcased in beautiful, full-color photography.

The Power of a Plant by Stephen Ritz and Suzie Boss THE POWER OF A PLANT: A TEACHER’S ODYSSEY TO GROW HEALTHY MINDS AND SCHOOLS by Stephen Ritz, Suzie Boss

Stephen Ritz became a teacher more than 30 years ago. In 2004, he was teaching in the South Bronx at a high school with rampant crime and a 17 percent graduation rate. After what can only be defined as a cosmic experience where a flower broke up a fight in his classroom, he saw a way to start tackling his school’s problems: plants. He flipped his curriculum to integrate gardening as an entry point for all learning. What has happened since has become an international phenomenon. In The Power of a Plant, Ritz highlights how greening a curriculum allows students to grow their capacity to better their lives.

FOR YOUNGER READERS

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons FROM SEED TO PLANT by Gail Gibbons

With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination. Important vocabulary is reinforced with accessible explanation and colorful, clear diagrams showing the parts of plants, the wide variety of seeds, and how they grow. The book includes instructions for a seed-growing project, and a page of interesting facts about plants, seeds, and flowers.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC READERS: PLANTS (LEVEL 1 CO-READER) by Kathryn Williams

Adult and child readers will learn all about plants together in this new Co-reader from National Geographic Kids. Find out how plants grow as well as the different parts of plants, seeds, and flowers.

Plant Secrets by Emily Goodman PLANT SECRETS by Emily Goodman, Phyllis Limbacher Tildes

Young scientists will love this nature mystery that reveals the secrets hiding in seeds, plants, flowers, and fruits throughout the life cycle of various flora. Curiosity will bloom in this introduction to botany and primary nature science.

DK Eyewitness Books: Plant by David Burnie PLANT: DISCOVER THE FASCINATING WORLD OF PLANTS FROM FLOWERS AND FRUIT TO PLANTS THAT STING (DK Eyewitness Books) by David Burnie

Stunning real-life photographs of flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, and more offer a unique “eyewitness” view of the natural history of plant anatomy and growth.See the biggest flower in the world, where a seed develops, what the inside of a plant stem looks like, how a flower attracts insects, what a plant’s reproductive organs look like, how a dandelion spreads its seeds, and much more.

For more on these and related titles visit the collection: Plants!

SCHOLASTIC KIDS PRESS ANNOUNCES 50 KID REPORTERS TO COVER “NEWS FOR KIDS, BY KIDS” DURING 20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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28 September 2019

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SCHOLASTIC KIDS PRESS ANNOUNCES 50 KID REPORTERS TO COVER “NEWS FOR KIDS, BY KIDS” DURING 20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

Since 2000, more than 400 Kid Reporters ages 10–14 have covered “news for kids, by kids” as part of the award-winning Scholastic News Kids Press Corps. Today, in celebration of the program’s 20th anniversary, Scholastic has revealed a new name and look for the team of young journalists—Scholastic Kids Press. This special anniversary year, 50 new and returning Kid Reporters have been selected to share stories from around the world with a focus on the critical topics and issues that matter most to young people. They represent 21 states in the United States and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, in addition to Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic (Czechia), New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Learn more and meet the full team of 2019–2020 Scholastic Kid Reporters:
http://www.scholastic.com/kidspress.

As they work closely with an editor throughout the school year, Kid Reporters receive valuable, hands-on journalism experience pitching stories and doing interviews. They build confidence and sharpen their communication and critical-thinking skills as they cover current events, breaking news, entertainment, sports, and more in their hometowns and on the national stage. All original Kid Reporter stories are published on the Scholastic Kids Press website as well as in select issues of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, which reach more than 25 million students in classrooms nationwide.

Scholastic Kid Reporters have reported on national and global moments since the program’s inception, covering five United States presidential elections, as well as other history-making events such as the Olympics, Tony Awards, and National Book Awards. Past Kid Reporters have also made headlines interviewing influential figures who are leaders in their fields, including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, conservationist Jane Goodall, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah, civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, Captain Underpants and Dogman creator Dav Pilkey, author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jacqueline Woodson, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Quotes About Scholastic Kids Press:

Suzanne McCabe, Editor of Scholastic Kids Press: “Celebrating 20 years of student journalism is so rewarding for us. Since its beginning, Scholastic Kids Press has educated students about the world by giving kids the opportunity to report on news that matters to them. We’re dedicated to giving young people a voice, and the best way to do that is to continue our commitment to student reporters who are helping their peers become informed citizens of the world.”
Marley I. Alburez, age 13, Kid Reporter: “Being a Kid Reporter is an exciting job where I can explore writing and reporting. It’s also an opportunity to learn from inspiring people and the world around me. I think it’s important to be aware of what is happening in the world…Listening to or reading about current events can help your geography skills, improve your vocabulary, and open your eyes to the struggles and conflicts other people’s experience. But you can also be inspired by the kindness and perseverance of other people around the world.”
Nolan Pastore, age 13, Kid Reporter: “As a Scholastic Kid Reporter, I have the opportunity to explore journalism as a potential career while I am still a student. The program has enabled me to get a sneak peek at what a journalist does from day to day, and for that, I am extremely thankful.”

For more information about Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), visit the Company’s media room: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

SNEAK PEEK: Deanna Oscar Paranormal Cozy Book 11: A Drug Den, A Demon, and Dark Matter

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27 September 2019

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Deanna Oscar Paranormal Cozy Book 11: A Drug Den, A Demon, and Dark Matter by CC Dragon
(Releasing Today!)

Greg is still missing and possibly possessed by demons. Everyone in New Orleans from police the paranormal crowd is trying to help. Deanna is invading every convent, monastery, and hideout she can think of because she can’t seem to track her old friend down.

The bad guy who started it all is missing and not helping at all. Greg has made some new friends who see things very differently. Trying to keep Greg safe and free all of those inflicted by demons, Deanna needs a few clones but her friends, brother, and hubby will have to do!

Let’s just hope those demons don’t open a black hole or something serious…

About the Author:

Writing contemporary romantic suspense and cozy mysteries is my real love. Playing with the motives and passions of people in life or death situations is the ultimate fun for me…and if love is on the line as well, it just doesn’t get any better!

Join me on an adventure or ten between the lines the legal system so arbitrarily draws. Be prepared to fall for con men, reformed thieves, former feds, and shameless rebels…They do what the law can’t or won’t.

Tell the truth: a guy who breaks the rules is really hot!

Oh…About Me?

I have lived in the Chicagoland area all my life, still do.

No, I’m not connected—to the legal system or anything else.

So cliché, but I do love fedoras and cats!

I own a gun…and yes, I can shoot it

I love Ocean’s Eleven, Leverage, Monk, Psyche, The Blacklist, and so on…all the rebels/misfits in all varieties.

I write stories with modern day Robin Hoods, crime stoppers, and Godfathers you can trust to get you justice!

Penguin Teen Launches “We Are YA” Podcast with Anna Borges

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26 September 2019

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Penguin Young Readers announced today the launch of Penguin Teen’s “We Are YA,” the first Young Adult podcast of its kind from a major publisher that gives creators a platform to speak their minds, dig into sensitive topics, and reflect on the social media zeitgeist. Hosted by Anna Borges, a mental health journalist formerly at Buzzfeed, senior editor at Self Magazine, and author of The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care, “We Are YA” creates a safe space where authors can have honest, thoughtful conversations about sensitive topics. The show launches on September 19^th with “Finding Joy” with Gabby Rivera (Juliet Takes a Breath). A new episode of “We Are YA” will premiere weekly through October and will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor. Upcoming guests include Laurie Halse Anderson, Renée Ahdieh, and Nina LaCour.

“We Are YA provides a platform for real, nuanced conversations and the freedom to explore sensitive topics. YA books are longer than 280 characters. Conversations about YA should be too,” says Alex Garber, Director of Digital Marketing at Penguin Random House. “Securing Anna Borges as our host was a real win for us. She was able to approach these conversations from so many different angles that led to revelatory, moving exchanges and some surprisingly funny moments as well.”

“I’m a journalist who also happens to be obsessed with YA, so getting to dive into the tough stuff with the brilliant authors of the community was not a chance I was about to pass up,” says Borges, “plus, there are so many important conversations happening on social media about YA right now, and authors need a space to weigh in without worrying about sticking to a character count.”

The Fall 2019 episode schedule will feature:

Finding Joy with Gabby Rivera [launching 9/19]
Is Social Media Bad? with Akilah Hughes [launching 9/26]
The YA Mental Health Crisis with Nina LaCour [launching 10/3]
Taking the Guilt Out of Guilty Pleasures with Renée Ahdieh [launching 10/10]
Who Owns #OwnVoices? with Kat Cho [launching 10/17]
Is YA Losing Its Edge? with Amanda Joy [launching 10/24]
Good Sex in YA with Laurie Halse Anderson [launching 10/31]

You can listen to the first episode of “We Are YA” with Gabby Rivera on September 19^th here.

NEW BOOK FROM COMEDIAN CHRIS ROCK

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25 September 2019

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Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers, announced today the acquisition of a new book by iconic comedian, actor, director, and producer, Chris Rock. Currently titled MY FIRST BLACK BOYFRIEND, the book is scheduled for release in Fall 2020 and is comprised of funny essays about relationships and race.

Rock is a New York Times Bestselling Author.