WWII Historian Douglas Wellman Honors the Memory of the Holocaust While Sending a Warning “It Could Happen Again”

3 May 2024

Author Douglas Wellman Illuminates the Truth About Authoritarianism, Censorship and Control of the Media in His New Book “A Teenage Girl in Auschwitz“

Author and World War II historian Douglas Wellman is noticing a shift in journalism today that he says, “is suspicious.” In his newest book A Teenage Girl in Auschwitz: Basha Freilich and the Will to Live, Douglas Wellman says the way information was controlled by the Nazi regime is what led to the horror of killing innocent people simply because they were Jewish or because they were “others,” the type of person that was tarnished and dehumanized by propaganda. According to Wellman, “The shift in journalism today seems very suspicious because when truth is lost and rampant use of social media or national media outlets continue to deny their audience accurate accounts of what is happening today, the lies and half-facts can go unchecked. It is this kind of control that could lead to even more incidents of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.”

In his new book, A Teenage Girl in Auschwitz: Basha Freilich and the Will to Live, Douglas Wellman tells the true story of survival by Basha Freilich, a fourteen-year-old girl whose real-life recordings of her Holocaust horror and ultimate survival is what the book was based on. Wellman then added more facts and photos from the historical record to her story which provides solid historical knowledge and adds even more truth to the historical record on what actually happened during the Holocaust.

The book also highlights a grim example of the way lies and propaganda in 1934, Germany, under Nazi party rule, guided the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Once the Nazis were in control, they banned all media that was in opposition to Hitler’s own political goals. His government imposed strict censorship on news and gave German citizens ideas to follow based only on a Nazi version of the truth.

The ramifications of this kind of propaganda changed the German youth at the time because they believed lies and misinformation and then acted on Nazi prejudice and hatred. In Nazi youth groups, young adults were taught to believe that the Jews were subhuman. Many took the twisted belief that some people could be treated as non-human, so it was not a concern to lead millions to death in extermination camps.

Douglas Wellman hopes everyone will read his book A Teenage Girl in Auschwitz to honor May 6, 2024, for Holocaust Remembrance Day. He wants us all to be reminded of the power in controlling the media and how another Hitler can rise to power again.

According to Douglas Wellman, “It will not take much to create the next Holocaust, whether it be against the Jews again, or others who fall in disfavor with those in power. A dominant, authoritarian government, backed by a compliant media will capture the eyes and ears of the public and, without opposing thought, lead them in any direction they wish them to go.”

Douglas Wellman will post his thoughts and more at douglaswellman-author877 on his YouTube channel.

Sneak Peek: A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson

Jocie McKade

2 May 2024

A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson

From the bestselling author of the Bookshop Cafe Mysteries, the first in an exciting new series featuring a young female entrepreneur who’s just opened her dream business – a yoga studio filled with adorable, adoptable cats! If only helping humans fund balance and felines find homes didn’t also require she investigate the purrfect murder…

Sure to appeal to fans of Miranda James, Cate Conte, Eileen Watkins, Laurien Berenson, and all lovers of cozy mysteries featuring animal companions!

Finding this killer will be a real stretch . . .

Ashley Branson has a lot to prove with her new cat yoga studio, A Purrfect Pose. It’s a place for humans to find inner wellness—and adopt adorable cats from the local shelter. It’s also a chance for Ash to run her own life, out from under her overbearing mother and a stifling relationship. So far, so successful. Until she discovers one of her new clients, a much-disliked college professor, dead in her studio, locked in child’s pose . . .

To make matters worse, Ash’s hapless always-in-trouble brother, Hunter, instantly becomes the cops’ prime suspect. Determined to clear his name and save her business, Ash does a deep lunge into the surprising—and strange—connections the victim had with her other clients. But countless suspects, contradictory leads, not to mention people desperate to see her studio shut down, mean Ash will have to stretch to the max to outthink a clever killer who’s ready to strike her red in tooth and claw . . .

Visit Myrtle Beach Announces New Sensory-Friendly Children’s Book and Expands Autism-Friendly Initiatives

Jocie McKade

2 May 2024

The new book is designed to inspire sensory-friendly travel and underscores a commitment to accessibility across the region.

Visit Myrtle Beach has announced the upcoming availability of their new children’s book, titled “Splish, Splash, Squawk! Finding Joy in a Sensory-Friendly Vacation.” In partnership with author and illustrator Lynda Farrington Wilson, the book is designed to inspire families with children on the autism spectrum to explore the joys of traveling together. Through a captivating fictional narrative, the story illustrates the wonders of family vacations while addressing the challenges of adapting to new surroundings and experiences.

“At Visit Myrtle Beach, we believe that The Beach is for everybody and are continuously striving to enhance our destination, making it welcoming and inclusive for people of all abilities,” said Karen Riordan, President and CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach. “We recognize that families with children on the autism spectrum often feel vacations are challenging and want to change that. Recognizing the restorative and life-altering power of travel, we continue to further our efforts to provide greater support and access to memorable vacation experiences for all.”

“Splish, Splash, Squawk! Finding Joy in a Sensory-Friendly Vacation” tells the heartwarming story of Maris the parrot. Maris, armed with her trusty telescope and heart full of compassion, watches over the families vacationing in Myrtle Beach, ready to lend a helping wing to those in need. The book, published by White Garment Publishing Group, is available to pre-order online and will be available for purchase at Myrtle Beach-area retailers this summer. A full list of retailers and book events will be released in the coming weeks at visitmyrtlebeach.com/autism.

“As the mother of a son with autism who has spent more than 20 years vacationing in Myrtle Beach, this project is close to my heart,” said Farrington Wilson, author and illustrator. “Myrtle Beach is my son Tyler’s happy place within his challenging world. I hope this book provides the encouragement and strategies for special needs families to navigate travel and find their unique vacation joy!”

In addition to the book, Visit Myrtle Beach has released a trailer for their new television series “Traveling the Spectrum.” This unscripted show captures the heartfelt journeys of three extraordinary families as they navigate the unique challenges and triumphs of traveling with a family member on the autism spectrum. By giving viewers a real-life glimpse into their beach vacation, “Traveling the Spectrum”aims to inspire and empower other families, while fostering empathy and understanding.

Visit Myrtle Beach and the communities along the region’s 60 miles of coastline have been committed to creating an autism- and sensory-friendly destination since 2016. As a recognized autism-friendly destination, Myrtle Beach continues its increasing efforts to provide a safe, accessible and welcoming destination for all, including a sensory-friendly pledge and numerous initiatives to promote and foster inclusivity throughout the region.

Highlights of sensory-friendly services and programs available throughout the Grand Strand include:

In conjunction with the Champion Autism Network (CAN) and TravelAbility, Visit Myrtle Beach launched The Beach is for everyBODY: Sensory-Friendly Pledge in 2022. To date, more than 150 businesses along the Grand Strand have pledged their support or received CAN certification. Participating organizations are committed to welcoming guests with autism and other neurodiverse disabilities through tangible and meaningful actions designed to support residents and visitors.
Myrtle Beach International Airport has launched its participation in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. This initiative provides a discreet way for travelers with a hidden disability, including autism, to self-identify and alert airport personnel that they may require additional assistance or patience throughout their travel journey. Individuals wishing to utilize the program can request a sunflower lanyard at one of the two information booths in the terminal (pre-security at baggage claim and post-security near Nacho Hippo and Gate A2). The airport also offers a “Quiet Room” in the baggage claim area to give families a space to decompress before or after a flight.
The Autism Travel Card offered by CAN is a simple way for guests to identify their family as one that includes someone with autism, without needing to say a word. Participating restaurants, hotels and venues have been trained in the needs of individuals with autism and their families and to provide a special or expedited service. Autism Travel Cards are available online at AutismTravel.Club for a $7 membership fee and offer several benefits, including services and discounts with participating businesses.
- Participating hotels, including the 15 properties of Vacation Myrtle Beach and many others, help create a safe and sensory-friendly experience for children with Autism and their families, including room placements, removing potentially dangerous or trigger items from rooms, coordinating unique experiences and more.
- Wait staff at participating restaurants are trained to seat guests in a quiet space, expedite meals and check outs as needed, and handle potential sensory-overload situations with understanding and compassion.
- Myrtle Beach attractions offer services such as trained staff, special programming and discounts to families that present the Autism Travel Card. Examples of the available experiences include SkyWheel Myrtle Beach where families receive expedited attraction access along with discounted tickets and Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach where noise-canceling headphones and special pricing are available.
Through Project Lifesaver, Myrtle Beach area police and tourism professionals are trained to administer a GPS tracking band program for children who are prone to wandering off or are at risk of becoming lost. Those wearing the band, whether on the wrist or ankle, can be quickly located by search teams and returned to families/caregivers.

For more information on Myrtle Beach’s autism-friendly offerings and accessible trip planning resources, visit www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/autism.

About Lynda Farrington Wilson
Lynda Farrington Wilson is a beloved children’s book author and illustrator, as well as a passionate advocate for autism awareness. She has authored five books and illustrated over 120 thus far. Endorsed by Dr. Temple Grandin, her award-winning book titled “Squirmy Wormy, How I learned to Help Myself” is about a boy with autism and sensory processing disorder. The book was written to help her son Tyler navigate a calmer world through easy strategies that can make him feel better. For more information, visit www.lyndafarringtonwilson.com.

Sneak Peek: The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle by Annie Rains

Jocie McKade

1 May 2024

The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle by Annie Rains

In a grown-up twist on The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains pens a powerful, uplifting story of female friendship and resilience in a small Southern town, as former childhood friends overcome grief and begin to take new chances in their lives…with the help of a long-lost gift they were meant to share. Perfect for readers of Karen Hawkins’ The Book Charmer or Heather Webber’s Midnight at the Blackbird Café.

Ten years after she left her hometown of Trove Isle, NC, Melody Palmer is back to receive an unexpected inheritance—her great aunt’s thrift store, Hidden Treasures. There, in a glass case beneath the register, Melody spies the long-lost charm bracelet she shared with her high school friends, Liz and Bri, and her younger sister, Alyssa. After a devastating prom night accident, it disappeared, and the girls’ friendship evaporated with it. Slipping the bracelet on her arm for safekeeping, Melody soon finds herself crossing paths with her former friends once more.

While Melody fled, Liz has stayed in Trove Isle, helping with her parents’ business instead of pursuing her photography goals. Guilt still weighs on her after that fateful night when they lost Alyssa. For Bri, the consequences were even more stark. After spiraling into self-destruction, Bri served four years in a women’s state prison and is about to be released—but can Trove Isle ever feel like home again?

Yet despite everything that’s changed, the promise that the bracelet once held—of adventures, achievements, love, and lifelong friendship—hasn’t quite faded. And together, they might yet find a way to reconcile their pasts and futures, one charm at a time . . .

RECLAIM THE PAST WITH “BACKFLASH” A NEW ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL FROM BERGER BOOKS AND DARK HORSE

Jocie McKade

1 May 2024

A wild, time traveling thriller where nostalgia is a superpower

Presented by acclaimed and award-winning creators, writer Mat Johnson (Incognegro, Pym) and artist Steve Lieber (Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Whiteout ), Backflash tells the story of Devin whose life is spiraling out of control, until he discovers the impossible: with a random touch of an article of family memorabilia, he can travel back in time, mentally reliving the best moments of his past while escaping his problems of the present. But the more Devin “backflashes” he finds himself on a mysterious tReader’s Erail of family secrets and betrayal. On this hunt for a truth that was never supposed to come to light, Devin must come to terms with his past if he wants any chance at a future.

“I’ve been Steve Lieber’s number one fan since reading The Superior Foes of Spider-Man,” said Mat Johnson. “Not only are his illustrations gorgeous, but their mix of humor and heart are totally unique in the comics landscape. It was a bucket-list dream to team up with Steve, and even more special to do so on such a personal project, inspired as it is by the recent loss of my mom. Having the project benefit from the editing of the legendary Karen Berger made it all even more magical.”

“I’ve been a huge fan of Mat’s work since Pym and Incognegro, and it’s been a tremendous privilege to work with him on Backflash,” said Steve Lieber. “Every moment of this story is full of humor and pathos and true-to-life observation.”

“It’s been a thrill working with Mat again, and Steve for the first time–two masterful storytellers at the top of their game,” said editor Karen Berger. “Together they deliver a delightfully strange and fresh take on time travel, full of emotional power and sly wit. It’s a hell of a ride!”

Colored by Lee Loughridge (Fables, Batman) and lettered by Clem Robins (Abe Sapien, Hellboy) be sure to look for Backflash on store shelves in November 2024 from Berger Books and Dark Horse.

Presented in paperback (6.625″ x 9″), spanning 104 pages, Backflash appears in bookstores on November 12, 2024, and in comic shops on November 13, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, TFAW, and more for $22.99.

Be sure to follow DarkHorseComics on social media and check our website, www.darkhorse.com for more news, announcements, and updates.

Praise for Incognegro

”A talented writer of both fiction and creative non-fiction, Johnson’s publications have established him as an important new voice in the African- American tradition.”—Walter Mosley

“(An) engrossing graphic novel, with… smart dialogue and sharp images.” – The New York Times

“A series well deserving of further exploration… Just hop on. Period.” – Black Nerd Problems

Dark Horse Comics

Uncover the Truth With These New Mystery Series

Jocie McKade

1 May 2024

If you love uncovering clues and solving mysteries, we have some amazing new mysteries for you get caught up in! From reimagining Shakespearean plays to spooky bookstores, you’ll be cracking cases all year long.

A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

Knives Out meets Bridgerton in Fair Verona, as New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd kicks off a frothy, irreverent, witty new series with an irresistible premise—told from the delightfully engaging point of view of Romeo and Juliet’s clever, rebellious, fiercely independent daughter, Rosie Montague.

Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg

Kate Quinn’s The Rose Code meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this intrigue-filled debut, as two former spies who shared more than just missions during WWII reunite in 1948 Los Angeles. Can they let go of heartbreak long enough to team up for one last operation in this tightly-plotted, emotionally rich postwar mystery?

Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith

In the first of a charming new series spin-off of Karen Rose Smith’s Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries, Daisy’s daughter Jazzi Swanson has opened her own tea and book shop, providing a variety of literature and flavored beverages for a rural New York community. But Jazzi hasn’t just inherited her mother’s gift for brewing tasty drinks–she also has a nose for sniffing out murder…

To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower

While not as famous as her older siblings Wilbur and Orville, the celebrated inventors of flight, Katharine Wright is equally inventive – especially when it comes to solving crimes – in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s radiant new historical mystery series inspired by the real sister of the Wright Brothers.

The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan

Fans of Veep and readers of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz, and Nita Prose will love this intelligent, wildly funny, literary mystery from the host of the “All About Agatha” podcast as a ghostwriter is chosen to collaborate on a presidential candidate’s memoir, only to end up as a prime suspect in a twisted murder investigation.

Murder by Lamplight by Patrice McDonough

As a deadly cholera pandemic burns its way through Victorian London in the winter of 1866, a trailblazing female physician and a skeptical Scotland Yard detective reluctantly team up to stop a sadistic killer in this dark, atmospheric, historically rich mystery.

A Deadly Walk in Devon by Nicholas George

For fans of M.C. Beaton, Martha Grimes, and Alexander McCall Smith, the first in a charming new mystery series set in the English countryside, as a retired San Diego police detective embarks upon group walking tours in England’s most scenic counties.

A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime and Croissants by Ann Claire

Vicariously tour the sundrenched Mediterranean Coast in this perfectly escapist new cozy mystery series starring American expat-turned-bike tour company owner in Southern France.

A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson

Puzzle Me a Murder by Roz Noonan

The Golden Girls meets puzzle lovers in New York Times bestselling author Roz Noonan’s first Pacific Northwest-set Alice Pepper Lonely Hearts Puzzle Club Mystery!

Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly

First in a captivating new series, Jane Austen’s Emma Knightley entertains a different role in Highbury—going from clever matchmaker to Regency England’s shrewdest sleuth.

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan

The first in a new Pacific Northwest-set mystery series inspired by the real Halloweentown! Bailey Briggs adores her year-round Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon. But when she takes over her grandfather’s beloved bookshop, Lazy Bones Books, she accidentally discovers the town’s secret dark side.

Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books.

TAKE A SPIN DOWN LONELY STREET IN ERIC POWELL’S “THE GOON: A BUNCH OF OLD CRAP” OMNIBUS VOLUME

Jocie McKade

30 April 2024

Dive into the award-winning series!

Dark Horse Books presents The Goon: A Bunch of Old Crap Omnibus Volume 1, now published under Eric Powell’s Albatross Funnybooks imprint. Written and illustrated by Powell (The Goon, Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?), this first omnibus volume of the award-winning crime pulp series combines horror, crime, and a twisted sense of humor and includes three short forewords by Powell and a sketchbook section. It will be available November 2024.

On Lonely Street, crime is cheap but justice comes at a price, so the Goon and his sidekick Franky defend the neighborhood against crime lords and supernatural ne’er-do-wells alike to keep the neighborhood safe.

The Nameless Man, the Zombie Priest, has come to town to build a gang from the undead. The Goon is the only man brave enough to stand up to him, and even the undead fear the Goon! The Goon: Bunch of Old Crap Volume 1 collects the first four books of The Goon, featuring his misadventures on Lonely Street and the childhood story of how a boy born into a circus family became protector of the neighborhood. Collects The Goon: Rough Stuff, The Goon: Nothing But Misery, The Goon: My Murderous Childhood, and The Goon: Heaps of Ruination.

The Goon: A Bunch of Old Crap Omnibus Volume 1 (496 pages, 10.1875” x 6.625”) will be available in bookstores on November 5, 2024 and in comic shops on November 6, 2024. It is now available to pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, tfaw.com, and your local comic shop and bookstore for $34.99.

Be sure to follow Dark Horse Comics on social media and check our website, www.darkhorse.com, for more news, announcements, and updates!

Praise for The Goon:

“There aren’t many characters like the Goon in comics and there aren’t many characters as unique and enjoyable as Eric Powell.”–IGN

“The Goon is one of my favorite comics, and Powell is on the top of my list of best artist/writers out working today.”–Steve Niles

“[The Goon] is sweet when it needs to be, warm and touching when it wants to be, and brutal and gruesome when it has to be.”–Bloody Disgusting

“Mixing the genre expectations of noir with an endearingly amoral lead, The Goon is pure entertainment.”–Publisher’s Weekly

Dark Horse Comics

PODCAST::: Shaping Worlds in SciFi and Fantasy with Author Edward Willett on Book Lights

Jocie McKade

30 April 2024

Shaping Worlds in SciFi and Fantasy with Author Edward Willett on Book Lights

LISTEN HERE!

Edward Willett is an award-winning author of more than sixty books science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults. He’s also host of the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers: “Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process.” (http://www.theworldshapers.com). He successfully Kickstarted and edited a new anthology, Shapers of Worlds, featuring authors who were guests during the first year of the podcast.

Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.

He’s married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter and a black Siberian cat named Shadowpaw. You can find out more about him at: https://edwardwillett.com/

And for more about our host Lisa Kessler visit http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Here’s a quick look at WORLDSHAPERS

The series takes place in the Labyrinth, an extra-dimensional space in which there are multiple worlds, each shaped by an individual from our world to be whatever he or she wishes it to be…much like the worlds shaped by the authors who are the focus of the podcast.

Shapers of Worlds features new fiction from Seanan McGuire, Tanya Huff, David Weber, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., D.J. Butler, Christopher Ruocchio, John C. Wright, Shelley Adina, and yours truly; plus reprints from John Scalzi, Joe Haldeman, Julie Czerneda, Fonda Lee, Gareth L. Powell, Derek Kunsken, Dr. Charles E. Gannon, and Thoraiya Dyer.

Shapers of Worlds Volume II features brand-new stories from Kelley Armstrong, Marie Brennan, Garth Nix, Candas Jane Dorsey, Jeremy Szal, Edward Willett, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Lisa Foiles, Susan Forest, Matthew Hughes, Heli Kennedy, Helen Dale, Adria Laycraft, Edward Savio, Lisa Kessler, Ira Nayman, James Alan Gardner, and Tim Pratt, plus fiction by Jeffrey A. Carver, David D. Levine, Carrie Vaughn, Nancy Kress, Barbara Hambly, and S.M. Stirling.

Shapers of Worlds Volume III features stories by Griffin Barber, Gerald Brandt, Miles Cameron, Sebastien de Castell, Kristi Charish, David Ebenbach, Mark Everglade and Joseph Hurtgen, Frank J. Fleming, Violette Malan, Anna Mocikat, James Morrow, Jess E. Owen, Cat Rambo, K.M. Rice, and Edward Willett and new poetry by Jane Yolen, plus stories by Cory Doctorow, K. Eason, Walter Jon Williams, and F. Paul Wilson.

Shapers of Worlds Volume IV has new stories by David Boop, Michaelbrent Collings, Roy M. Griffis, Sarah A. Hoyt, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Noah Lemelson, Edward M. Lerner, David Liss, Gail Z. Martin, Joshua Palmatier, Richard Paolinelli, Jean-Louis Trudel, James van Pelt, Garon Whited, and Edward Willett, plus previously published stories by James Kennedy, Mark Leslie, R.S. Mellette, and Lavie Tidhar. Each story features an illustration by Wendi Nordell.

Behind The Words with CROW TALK Author EILEEN GARVIN 

Jocie McKade

30 April 2024

We’re excited to welcome Eileen Garvin to the blog. Today, we’ll be talking about her latest release CROW TALK. First, tell our readers a bit about yourself. Where you’re from, where you live? Is writing your full-time job?

Hello! I’m from originally from Spokane, which is in eastern Washington, and I now live in Hood River, Oregon. Writing is my full-time job.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first “book” as a six-year-old (a volume of poetry with a cardboard cover bound with yarn. It was a big hit in Sister Jane’s classroom, if I remember correctly). I’ve been writing professionally for more than twenty years—first as a newspaper reporter and later as a freelancer. My first book, a memoir called How to Be a Sister, was published in 2010, and my debut novel, The Music of Bees, came out in 2021.

What does your typical writing day look like?

Coffee first. Then, if I’m lucky, a few of hours of work on whatever project I have underway. In the afternoon, I like to work on revision, answer emails, and catch up on administrative tasks.

Tell us about your latest release? Where the idea came from? Perhaps some fun moments, or not so fun moments?

My new book is a novel called Crow Talk. It’s about three wounded people whose fates intersect at a remote alpine lake when one of them rescues an injured baby crow. The main characters include Frankie, a grieving ornithologist; Anne, an Irish musician and young mom; and Aiden, a bright, curious five-year-old boy who has suddenly stopped speaking.

I got the idea for this story during a not-so-fun moment—early in the pandemic when all the trails in Oregon shut down. I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of my life, but until the closure happened, I never knew how much I depended on the outdoors—not only for peace of mind, but also because I get new ideas when I’m in the woods. Once the trails reopened and I got back outside, I thought I would play with the idea of how nature can help us heal and connect. These three trouble souls emerged, and I set them up to meet in this beautiful, if moody, setting (the book takes place in fall) and see what might happen.

Who has been the most difficult character for you to write?

The most difficult character to write was five-year-old Aiden. When the book opens, it’s apparent that he has stopped speaking, and no one knows why. All the chapters from Aiden’s point of view take place inside his head. It was challenging to inhabit his mindset and reveal bits and pieces of his story without giving too much away.

If you could be one of your characters for a day which character would it be?

I guess I’d choose Anne. She’s a talented Irish musician and composer. I love to sing, but I have no professional training. I think it would be fun to get a sense of a composer’s creative process, and the vocal talent would be a thrill.

If you could spend the day with your character, what would you do? What would that day look like?

I’ll pick Frankie for this one. Because she’s an outdoorsy person, I’d like to go mushroom hunting or huckleberry picking with her (huckleberries are a bit like wild blueberries but better). I know she’d know the best spots, and it would be fun because we could have time together and time on our own. As an introvert, I appreciate that kind of social activity!

What’s your take on research and how do you do it?

I try to write as much as I can through a first draft and incorporate research later during revision. For me research includes reading, watching movies, and interviewing people.

Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write?

I really appreciate the writing advice I’ve read from Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird), Stephen King (On Writing), and Ursula K. Le Guin (Conversations on Writing), among others.

Do you have a secret talent readers would be surprised by?

Do hobbies count as talents? I’m a kiteboarder and a beekeeper. For in-born talent, I’ll say I do play a mean mouth trumpet! (Think: Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker, but no instrument…)

Your favorite go-to drink or food when the world goes crazy!

Red rooibos tea with bee pollen. As much as I love coffee and red wine, my nervous system needs more calming substances these days.

What is your writing kryptonite?

House guests.

What is the one question you never get ask at interviews, but wish you did? Ask and answer it.

Why, thank you for asking this one! Here’s my question: What’s one priceless treat or gift that you would most welcome when you’re deep into a writing project?

Answer: A great meal with a loved one that I do not have to make or clean up.

HA! Great answer! Thank you so much for joining us today. Readers, here’s a quick look at CROW TALK:::

Frankie O’Neill and Anne Ryan would seem to have nothing in common. Frankie is a lonely ornithologist struggling to salvage her dissertation on the spotted owl following a rift with her advisor. Anne is an Irish musician far from home and family, raising her five-year-old son, Aiden, who refuses to speak.

At Beauty Bay, a community of summer homes nestled on the shores of June Lake, in the remote foothills of Mount Adams, it’s off-season with most houses shuttered for the fall. But Frankie, adrift, returns to the rundown caretaker’s cottage that has been in the hardworking O’Neill family for generations—a beloved place and a constant reminder of the family she has lost. And Anne, in the wake of a tragedy that has disrupted her career and silenced her music, has fled to the neighboring house, a showy summer home owned by her husband’s wealthy family.

When Frankie finds an injured baby crow in the forest, little does she realize that the charming bird will bring all three lost souls—Frankie, Anne, and Aiden—together on a journey toward hope, healing, and rediscovering joy. Crow Talk is an achingly beautiful story of love, grief, friendship, and the healing power of nature in the darkest of times.

There’s a Book for That: The Earth!

Jocie McKade

29 April 2024

We’re celebrating, and advocating for, our earth this week. In the lead-up to Earth Day on Monday, EarthDay.org organizers promoted the theme “Planet vs. Plastics,” calling for a massive reduction in plastic production. There is always so much to learn about protecting this beautiful world. Here are recent and acclaimed books to help us appreciate its biodiversity and motivate us to improve our planet’s health:

UNDERSTANDING IMPERILED EARTH: HOW ARCHAEOLOGY AND HUMAN HISTORY CAN INFORM OUR PLANET’S FUTURE by Todd J. Braje

The world faces an uncertain future with the rise of climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, overfishing, and other threats. Understanding Imperiled Earth meets this uncertainty head-on, presenting archaeology and history as critical guides to addressing the modern environmental crisis. Anthropologist Todd J. Braje draws connections between deep history and today’s hot-button environmental news stories to reveal how the study of the ancient past can help build a more sustainable future.

A World in a Shell by Thom van Dooren A WORLD IN A SHELL: SNAIL STORIES FOR A TIME OF EXTINCTIONS by Thom van Dooren

In this time of extinctions, the humble snail rarely gets a mention. And yet snails are disappearing faster than any other species. In A World in a Shell, Thom van Dooren offers a collection of snail stories from Hawai‘i—once home to more than 750 species of land snails, almost two-thirds of which are now gone. Following snail trails through forests, laboratories, museums, and even a military training facility, and meeting with scientists and Native Hawaiians, van Dooren explores ongoing processes of ecological and cultural loss as they are woven through with possibilities for hope, care, mourning, and resilience.

An Immense World by Ed Yong AN IMMENSE WORLD: HOW ANIMAL SENSES REVEAL THE HIDDEN REALMS AROUND US by Ed Yong

In An Immense World Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Ed Yong takes us on a “thrilling tour of nonhuman perception” (The New York Times)

The Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, electric and magnetic fields. But every animal is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving but a tiny sliver of an immense world. This book welcomes us into a previously unfathomable dimension—the world as it is truly perceived by other animals.

The Heartbeat of the Wild by David Quammen THE HEARTBEAT OF THE WILD: DISPATCHES FROM LANDSCAPES OF WONDER, PERIL, AND HOPE by David Quammen

For more than two decades, award-winning science and nature writer David Quammen has traveled to Earth’s most far-flung and fragile destinations, sending back field notes from places caught in the tension between humans and the wild. This illuminating book features 20 of those assignments: elegantly written narratives, originally published in National Geographic magazine and updated for today, telling colorful and impassioned stories from some of the planet’s wildest locales.

The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg THE CLIMATE BOOK: THE FACTS AND THE SOLUTIONS edited by Greta Thunberg

In The Climate Book, Greta Thunberg has gathered the wisdom of over one hundred experts – geophysicists, oceanographers and meteorologists; engineers, economists and mathematicians; historians, philosophers and indigenous leaders – to equip us all with the knowledge we need to combat climate disaster. We are alive at the most decisive time in the history of humanity. Together, we can do the seemingly impossible. But it has to be us, and it has to be now.

The World As We Knew It by THE WORLD AS WE KNEW IT: DISPATCHES FROM A CHANGING CLIMATE by Amy Brady, Tajja Isen

Nineteen leading literary writers from around the globe offer timely, haunting first-person reflections on how climate change has altered their lives—including essays by Lydia Millet, Alexandra Kleeman, Kim Stanley Robinson, Omar El Akkad, Lidia Yuknavitch, Melissa Febos, and more. As the stories unfold—from Antarctica to Australia, New Hampshire to New York—an intimate portrait of a climate-changed world emerges, captured by writers whose lives jostle against incongruous memories of familiar places that have been transformed in startling ways.

EMBRACE FEARLESSLY THE BURNING WORLD: ESSAYS by Barry Lopez; Foreword by Rebecca Solnit

This collection represents part of the enduring legacy of Barry Lopez, hailed as “a national treasure” (Outside) and “one of our finest writers” (Los Angeles Times Book Review) when he died in December 2020. An ardent steward of the land, fearless traveler, and unrivaled observer of nature and culture in all its forms, Lopez lost much of the Oregon property where he had lived for over fifty years when it was consumed by wildfire, likely caused by climate change. Fortunately, some of his papers survived, including five never-before published pieces that are gathered here, along with essays written in the final years of his life; these essays appear now for the first time in book form.

FOR YOUNGER READERS

The Last Plastic Straw by Dee Romito THE LAST PLASTIC STRAW: A PLASTIC PROBLEM AND FINDING WAYS TO FIX IT by Dee Romito, Ziyue Chen

Learn how and why a useful, 5000-year-old invention has become a threat to our planet–and what you can do about it–in this history of the simple straw.

GREEN: THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE ON OUR PLANET by Nicola Davies, Emily Sutton

On land and in the seas, green plants make the oxygen and food that many living things—including us—need to survive. Covering the evolution of the first plants billions of years ago, the secret, microscopic workings of trees and leaves today, and the role of plants in both creating fossil fuels and combating climate change, this book is a lush and fascinating introduction to the science of plants that goes well beyond photosynthesis.

Wild Places by Hayley Rocco WILD PLACES: THE LIFE OF NATURALIST DAVID ATTENBOROUGH by Hayley Rocco, John Rocco

An inspiring and accessible picture book biography of the beloved naturalist, broadcaster, and documentarian David Attenborough—stunningly illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree.This is the story of David Attenborough. It’s also the story of our planet, which has changed rapidly over the course of one person’s lifetime, and a clarion call for us to do our part to bring back the wild places and protect the creatures who call Earth home.

The Wild by Yuval Zommer THE WILD by Yuval Zommer

Once upon a time, somewhere not far away, was the Wild. The Wild was huge and giving, and everything from insects to birds to humans made their home in it. At first, people lived lightly and took only what they needed, but when they started to take more, the Wild suffered. But one day, a young child is brave enough to raise their voice . . .In this environmental story told as a fairy tale, author-illustrator Yuval Zommer shares a hopeful and powerful message of healing, well-being, and humanity’s precious and precarious relationship with nature.

Serengeti by Leslie Bulion SERENGETI: PLAINS OF GRASS by Leslie Bulion, Becca Stadtlander

Award-winning science poetry master Leslie Bulion presents a lyrical salute to Africa’s Serengeti Plain, one of the most spectacular and productive ecosystems on Earth.

For more on these and related titles visit the collection, Earth Week, 2024

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