This month’s singular BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will be a national book launch celebration on September 25th at Sunset Foods in Northbrook, IL. Boy, 9, Missing is the debut novel from Chicago author Nic Joseph, to be released by Sourcebooks Landmark on September 20th. In the tradition of Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth, this suspenseful thriller explores the ramifications of revenge, justice, and the aftermath of a terrible night in the lives of two families. As we enjoy our free wine tasting, we’ll be discussing where inspiration comes from and how this book elevates its theme. As always, audience participation will be encouraged! Books will be available on site from the Book Bin, wine and the ever popular Bonus Buy packages (mementos, merchant discounts, professional photos with the author and more) will also be available for purchase.
October 1st is the deadline for submissions to the Missouri Review’s competition for the 26th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editor’s Prize. Prizes of $5,000 each for Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry. Winners receive publication, invitation to a reception and reading in their honor and a cash prize.
The Unbound Book Festival is looking for hosts to hold fundraising parties for next year’s event. The free Missouri festival aims to bring nationally and internationally recognized authors to Columbia, Missouri to talk about their books, their work, and their lives in interactive activities. Beyond the one-day event, organizers hope to raise funds and awareness to improve literacy standards throughout the State of Missouri.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will celebrate the national book launch of Boy, 9, Missing from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, September 25th at Sunset Foods in downtown Northbrook, IL. The debut novel from Chicago author Nic Joseph, published by Sourcebooks Landmark, has been compared to classic thrillers Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth. The event, hosted by Book●ed, includes a free wine tasting, conversation with the author, book signings and more. Books will be available on site from the Book Bin, wine and the ever popular Bonus Buy packages (mementos, merchant discounts, professional photos with the author and more) will also be available for purchase.
The 13th Annual Best Book Awards entry deadline is September 30th. The i310 Media Group, organizer of the competition, says it is “specifically designed to not only garner media coverage and book sales for the winners and finalists but to promote awarded books to the publishing and entertainment industries.” Open to all books with an ISBN and published in 2016 (galley copies welcome). 2015 and 2014 titles are also eligible.
“Book Readings That Sell Your Book” is a workshop offered by Off Campus Writers Workshop on Thursday, October 13th from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Winnetka Community House in Winnetka, IL. Part of publishing a book today is performing readings and doing signings at bookstores, libraries… and, if you’re really lucky, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Actress, comedienne, and novelist Jennifer Rupp will shares practical tips for giving author readings that entertain, intrigue and help sell books. Jennifer invites attendees to bring three pages of something you’ve written for practice in a safe, supportive environment.
NORTHBROOK WRITES: Character Development with Eric Charles May, part of a series of free workshops for writers, will be offered by the Northbrook Public Library on Saturday, October 29th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. May, who was a BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ featured author in 2015, is an author, associate professor in Fiction Writing at Columbia College Chicago, and former reporter for The Washington Post. His workshop will address how to develop rich and engaging characters.
The psychological thriller is one of the hottest genres in publishing. Twists, turns, playing with your mind. Building tension. Challenging your assumptions. Surprising you. The best ones are described as page turners, the books you can’t put down, the ones that stay with you after the final sentence.
Certain themes and elements tend to populate thrillers: a vulnerable, unsuspecting victim (usually female or young or both) facing an unstable, unreliable menace (human or otherwise). The action is intense and unrelenting. Success of the book depends on an author’s ability to create memorable characters in situations that feel fresh, keeping the reader’s heart racing from scene to scene, page to page before a resolution that satisfies the reader.
The psychological thriller may also fall into other categories (romance, horror, science fiction, etc.) but it has an edge over the standard suspense thriller because of its familiarity. Instead of depending primarily on plot, we get inside the minds of the characters, recognizing elements of ourselves in their thoughts and feelings. This is what pulls us in and holds us captive.
Classic psychological thrillers include Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938), Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train (1950), Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby (1967), Stephen King’s The Shining (1977) and Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs (1988). Popular psychological thrillers on their way to becoming classics include Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island (2003), Gillian’s Flynn’s Gone Girl (2012) and Tim Johnston’s Descent (2015) – Tim Johnston was the featured guest at the June 2016 BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™.
Destined to grab readers’ attention is a psychological thriller set to debut on September 20th. Boy, 9, Missing is the debut novel from Chicago author Nic Joseph, published by Sourcebooks Landmark. BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is “thrilled” to host Nic at a book launch celebration this month. In the tradition of Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth, this is a suspenseful debut that explores the ramifications of revenge, justice, and the aftermath of a terrible night in the lives of two families.
As we enjoy our free wine tasting, we’ll be discussing where inspiration comes from and how this book elevates its theme. As always, audience participation will be encouraged! Books will be available on site from the Book Bin, wine and the ever popular Bonus Buy packages (mementos, merchant discounts, professional photos with the author and more) will also be available for purchase.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™, hosted by Book●ed, are monthly events connecting authors and their books with booklovers who also enjoy great wine. Check out the Book●ed website and click on BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ for details of the upcoming events.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is thrilled to introduce booklovers to author Jessica Chiarella and her haunting debut Speculative Fiction novel And Again (Simon & Schuster, 2016) at our August 29th event in Chicago and August 30th event in Northbrook, IL.
And Again asks the question: Would you live your life differently if you were given a second chance? How much of your identity rests not just in your mind, but in your body and heart? The story, told with Chiarella’s keen imagination and soaring prose, examines the consequences when four ordinary individuals with terminal illnesses are given a chance to continue their lives in genetically perfect versions of their former bodies. Drawing from today’s headlines about advances in genetics and cloning, Chiarella develops four memorable characters who need to contemplate what it means to be human.
U.S.A. Today calls the book “haunting” and awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars. As always, the author conversations and book signings will be complemented with equally stellar wines.
When was the last time you wondered what your life would be like if just one decision in the past had been different? When you had that thought, did you decide to make changes going forward? This compellingly human experience has launched many of our best literary stories over generations and in all settings.
Books that explore this universally human dream of alternate lives, only imagined or made real, include:
Fiction The Awakening – Kate Chopin The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck The Razor’s Edge – W. Somerset Maugham Disgrace – J.M. Coetzee
Non-Fiction Seven Years in Tibet – Heinrich Harrer Into the Wild – John Krakauer This Boy’s Life – Tobias Wolff Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is thrilled to introduce booklovers to author Jessica Chiarella and her haunting debut Speculative Fiction novel And Again (Simon & Schuster, 2016) at our August 29th event in Chicago and August 30th event in Northbrook, IL.
And Again asks the question: Would you live your life differently if you were given a second chance? How much of your identity rests not just in your mind, but in your body and heart? The story, told with Chiarella’s keen imagination and soaring prose, examines the consequences when four ordinary individuals with terminal illnesses are given a chance to continue their lives in genetically perfect versions of their former bodies. Drawing from today’s headlines about advances in genetics and cloning, Chiarella develops four memorable characters who need to contemplate what it means to be human.
U.S.A. Today calls the book “haunting” and awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars. As always, the author conversations and book signings will be complemented with equally stellar wines.
Speculative Fiction is a fast-growing literary genre you may not have heard of but have probably read and enjoyed. The genre encompasses literature ranging from hard science fiction to epic fantasy, ghost stories, horror, folk and fairy tales, magical realism and modern myths.
As broad in plot as Speculative Fiction is, the best of the genre will:
• Introduce a memorable and relatable protagonist with human traits (whether human or alien).
• Present the protagonist with a dilemma — an antagonist (another being or a situation) — and build tension by before showing resolution.
• Make the resolution worth the journey – for the reader as well as for the main character.
• Research the “factual reality” behind the speculation to develop a firm, believable foundation before letting the imagination soar into speculative fantasy.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest news for inspiration and to keep the story fresh.
Speculation asks us to imagine “what if…?” At the heart of the “what if…” is the human connection: “What if this were to happen to me?”
A sampling of the best in this genre includes:
• The Time Machine – H.G. Wells
• 1984 – George Orwell
• Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlein
• The Left Hand of Darkness – Ursula K. Le Guin
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is thrilled to introduce booklovers to author Jessica Chiarella and her haunting debut Speculative Fiction novel And Again (Simon & Schuster, 2016) at our August 29th event in Chicago and August 30th event in Northbrook, IL.
And Again asks the question: Would you live your life differently if you were given a second chance? How much of your identity rests not just in your mind, but in your body and heart? The story, told with Chiarella’s keen imagination and soaring prose, examines the consequences when four ordinary individuals with terminal illnesses are given a chance to continue their lives in genetically perfect versions of their former bodies. Drawing from today’s headlines about advances in genetics and cloning, Chiarella develops four memorable characters who need to contemplate what it means to be human.
U.S.A. Today calls the book “haunting” and awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars. As always, the author conversations and book signings will be complemented with equally stellar wines.
Regardless of the genre, it has been said that no story is wholly original. Each one has been told before in some form or fashion. Researchers at MIT recently demonstrated the truth behind the theory that one of only six core plots form the building blocks of complex narratives. You can read the MIT explanation at the MIT Technology Review.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is proud to feature an Elle Magazine Readers’ Choice winner at our July events. Come sip excellent wines as you get to know author Mitchell Bornstein and learn about his inspirational true book, Last Chance Mustang. Join us from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, July 25th at TASTE Food & Wine in Chicago or on Tuesday, July 26th at Sunset Foods in Northbrook. Wine, books and the popular Bonus Buy packages are available for sale at these free events.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is proud to feature an Elle Magazine Readers’ Choice winner at our July events. Come sip excellent wines as you get to know author Mitchell Bornstein and learn about his inspirational true book, Last Chance Mustang. Join us from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, July 25th at TASTE Food & Wine in Chicago or on Tuesday, July 26th at Sunset Foods in Northbrook. Wine, books and the popular Bonus Buy packages are available for sale at these free events.
With 24/7 news reports screaming violence and tragedies and Facebook friends spewing hurt, angry invective from every viewpoint, it feels like our world is suffering from PTSD.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined by the National Institute for Mental Health as, “… a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.” The explanation goes on to explain, “It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This ‘fight-or-flight’ response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.”
PTSD is like a black hole, a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out. This can happen when a star is dying. Because no light can get out, people can’t see black holes. They are invisible.
In dark, desperate times like these, we seek answers. We seek solace. We seek hope. Can anything be done to heal our wounded world? Is there a way to overcome the barriers we’ve built as emotional protection from past wounds, real or imagined, at the expense of peace, contentment and happiness?
This year, I found inspiration in the moving true story about a remarkable horse named Samson. Part history lesson, part training manual, and part animal narrative, Last Chance Mustang by Mitchell Bornstein tells the entwined story of America’s once great, now forgotten wild herds and one mustang’s efforts to forgive and forget his abusive, dark past.
Mitch had twenty years of experience fixing unfixable horses. His task was to tame Samson, the violent beast whose best defense had become offense. Samson would be Mitch’s greatest challenge. Through the pair’s many struggles and countless battles, Samson would teach Mitch about the true power of hope, friendship, redemption and the inspiring mettle of the forever wild and free American mustang.
What struck me about this book, beyond Mitch’s compelling storytelling and my love of animals, was how Samson represented all deeply wounded sentient creatures – including humans – and how Mitch’s approach to helping Samson could be — should be — applied to other fractured souls.
I’m pleased and proud that Last Chance Mustang will be the featured book with an author appearance at this month’s BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. The free wine tastings and book signings will be Monday, July 25th from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food & Wine in Chicago and on Tuesday, July 26th from 6-8 p.m. at Sunset Foods in Northbrook, IL. Details can be found on the Book●ed website.
If you’re wondering “Do books really have the power to heal?” check out Katie Engelhart’s thought-provoking article in the September 2013 Maclean’s magazine.
Recommended literature (three novels and two memoirs) with insights about understanding and coping in the real world: The Giver – Lois Lowry One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcí¬a Márquez Narcissus and Goldmund – Hermann Hesse Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom Last Chance Mustang – Mitchell Bornstein
The Chicago Writers Conference, a non-profit organization, is accepting registration for its three-day conference, September 23rd-25th. Conference Chicago at University Center includes workshops, panels and guest speakers.
The Midwest Writers Workshop at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, will be held July 21-23. It provides writers more than 45 tutorials to hone their craft, whether it’s writing poetry, penning dialogue or mastering the art of social media writing.
What kinds of books thrill you? They come in many varieties – science fiction, mystery, spy, sports, romance…. You get the idea. Thrillers are as varied as the people they thrill. Take any genre and you can turn it into a thriller by following a few standard rules. Or at least you can try:
• Create a protagonist the reader cares about. With a lot to lose. Up against a formidable antagonist (the antagonist can be a person, place or thing, real or imagined).
• Add complex, believable characters with relatable traits (be they good or evil).
• Surprise with twists and turns, like a roller coaster offering two possible tracks while building moments of tension and relief as the ride progresses.
• Pace the story to reveal something new and end each chapter leaving the reader questioning what will happen next.
• Show, don’t tell. It’s all about anticipation and action, even if it takes place in the mind.
• Relate to the reader’s own sensory experiences to make the action real and intimate.
• Have the protagonist grow from the experience.
• Leave the reader with a take-away after the story ends… so it lingers in the mind and heart.
You’ll always find new thrillers on the just-published lists. They’re popular for obvious reasons. One that burst on the scene last year and broke through the competition for glowing reviews is the best-selling Descent by Tim Johnston – featured at this month’s BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™.
An idyllic Rocky Mountain vacation turns into a heart-pounding page turner when a family’s teenage daughter goes out for a run… and disappears. Readers become enmeshed with the family as its members respond to events over time in this New York Times, USA Today and Indie National bestselling novel.
The Washington Post literary critic said, “The story unfolds brilliantly, always surprisingly . . . The magic of his prose equals the horror of Johnston’s story; each somehow enhances the other . . . Read this astonishing novel.” The Denver Post said, “What makes the novel unforgettable is its sense of character, its deliberate, unadorned prose and Johnston’s unflinching exploration of human endurance, physical and psychological.” NPR made this astonishing comparison: “Tim Johnston has written a book that makes Gone Girl seem gimmicky and forced.”
This month marks the expansion of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ to two venues and we are so excited that the occasion brings this award-winning author to the Chicago area: We’ll be at TASTE Food & Wine in Chicago on Monday, June 27th and Sunset Foods on Tuesday, June 28th. Great books and great wine. Ah, the thrill(er) of it all!
Individuals interested in writing are invited to attend Writers’ Week Workshops on a non-credit basis at a cost of $30 per session, or $100 for all four sessions, including the Saturday box lunch for July 16 and July 23. Register as a non-credit participant below or by emailing CASWRITERS@nl.edu or calling National Louis University at 312.261.3010. One semester hour of graduate credit, or two quarter hours of undergraduate credit for Writers’ Week Workshops, awarded through the College of Professional Studies and Advancement to students in any NLU or other university program, can be earned by registering online or in person for LAE 486B at the special rate of $360. Inquire about registration for credit by emailing Joanne Koch, director of the Master of Science in Written Communication Program at jkoch@nl.edu. Complimentary box lunch with the authors will be held both Saturday, July 16, 1-2pm and Saturday, July 23 from 1-2pm for all those who register for workshops on either or both of those days. All workshops will be held at the Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue, in the second floor atrium.
Authors would be wise to go behind the numbers of this year’s BookCon to see why Chicago should be part of any book tour.
Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of BookCon as well as BookExpo America (which ran in Chicago May 11–13), reported that consumer attendance was 7,200 for the 1-day BookCon on May 14. The 2-day BookCon in New York in 2015 drew 18,000 attendees, and the first BookCon in 2014 attracted 10,000 readers over one day. However, attendees this year were more interested in the books, rather than just looking for celebrity authors, as was often the case at the past two NYC shows. Moreover, the audience in Chicago skewed slightly older and was more inclined to buy books.
Publishers reported that they ran out of their most popular free items – books, tote bags and T-shirts — quickly. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group said its signed copies of John Grisham’s The Litigators were gone in less than five minutes, and the same held true for the 10th-anniversary edition of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Galleys that went quickly included those of Carl Hiassen’s forthcoming novel Razor Girl and Nathan Hill’s The Nix. Abrams Books said its children’s titles sold “like hot cakes,” and that some adult titles also “sold briskly”. W.W. Norton & Company called the Chicago event “great”.
The biggest complaint from consumers, many of whom came from different parts of the country, was that BookCon wasn’t long enough.
What all of this should suggest to authors and publishers is that there is a hungry, healthy market of readers in the Midwest. Properly chosen venues and well-crafted publicity can pay back in strong book sales while building reader loyalty for authors who head to Chicago.
Because of the strong Midwest market, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will expand to a second venue next month. Authors and publishers are invited to check out BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events in the greater Chicago area at the Book●ed website.
Only one week to go until Rory Flynn’s arrival in Chicago! The celebrating begins with BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on May 16th. The daughter of film legend Errol Flynn will be personally signing copies of her memoir, The Baron of Mulholland, while sipping wine with guests from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine. A sampling of Rory Flynn talking about her famous father can be seen online.
Honoring Errol’s native land, the wine tasting will feature three notable Australians: a Riesling, a Chardonnay and a Sparkling Shiraz. TCM’s film historian, Robert Osborne, described Rory’s book as “fascinating” and “revealing”, showing “a side of Papa the public has not been exposed to before.” In addition to books and wine for purchase, our popular Bonus Buy tickets will also be available at the event; each ticket gets you a wine-themed memento along with discounts on wine, restaurants and extra goodies.
Rory Flynn will be joined by Taryn Power Greendeer (daughter of Tyrone Power) at the Pickwick Theatre on May 17th. The program begins with live prelude music at 7 p.m., an on-stage appearance by the daughters of Hollywood idols Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, a screening of the 1935 classic film, Captain Blood (the first pairing of Flynn and Olivia de Havilland), and several surprises. Copies of The Baron of Mulholland and Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power, will be available for sale and personal autographing.
After a very happy Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ last month, plans are well under way to celebrate Rory Flynn’s arrival in Chicago on May 16th. The daughter of film legend Errol Flynn will be personally signing copies of her memoir, The Baron of Mulholland, while sipping wine with guests from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine. A sampling of Rory Flynn talking about her famous father can be seen online.
Honoring Errol’s native land, the wine tasting will feature three notable Australians: a Riesling, a Chardonnay and a Sparkling Shiraz. TCM’s film historian, Robert Osborne, described Rory’s book as “fascinating” and “revealing”, showing “a side of Papa the public has not been exposed to before.” In addition to books and wine for purchase, our popular Bonus Buy tickets will also be available at the event for mementos, discount on wine, restaurants and extra goodies.
Rory Flynn will be joined by Taryn Power Greendeer (daughter of Tyrone Power) at the Pickwick Theatre on May 17th. The program begins with live prelude music at 7 p.m., an on-stage appearance by the daughters of Hollywood idols Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, a screening of the 1935 classic film, Captain Blood (the first pairing of Flynn and Olivia de Havilland), and several surprises. Copies of The Baron of Mulholland and Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power, will be available for sale and personal autographing.
April 30th will mark the second annual Independent Bookstore Day across the U.S. Followers of the Book●ed Blog know I’m a longtime big supporter of indie stores. Last December, I re-ran a post that first appeared in March 2013, titled Guilty as Charged. Little did I know, three years ago, the important role independent bookstores would play in the success of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. There are more reasons than ever to check out your local independent bookstore. You are likely to be very pleasantly surprised by the changes taking place.
Because they are not bound by the corporate strictures of chain stores and large discounters, independent bookstores have freedom to be creative in the way they serve their customers. Their hallmark has been personal service. Now they’ve expanded in-store events to feature local and self-published authors, along with nationally known ones.
Some stores have created ongoing programs to instill a love of books among children from toddlers to teens. Others have added cafés or bars, becoming social gathering spots for booklovers. Independent bookstores make it possible for libraries and clubs to bring in authors for speaking engagements, as well as support community events, by handling book sales at those venues.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that bookstore sales increased 2.5 percent from 2014 to 2015. The American Booksellers Association, which represents independent sellers, reported 1,712 member stores (in 2,227 locations) in 2015, up from 1,401 (in 1,660 locations) in 2009. It has been reported that 421 independent bookstores in 48 states will participate in this year’s Independent Bookstore Day. Eighty percent of last year’s participating stores saw a sales increase, and those stores saw an average sales increase of 70 percent compared with the Saturday the year before. Will you be part of the fun?
Lovers of history, mystery and great wines: If you’re in Chicago, stop by Taste Food & Wine between 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 25th for BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Certified Wine Educator Phoebe Snowe will be pouring some great wines while Susanna Calkins, author of the just-released A Death Along the River Fleet, talks about the latest in her popular Lucy Campion series.
April 26th is the final day to get your discount registration for BookExpo America, to be held May 11-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago. BEA is North America’s largest book industry event. I’ll be there; will you?
There are just a few days left until the highly anticipated Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Appearing April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago, our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). You can read an excerpt from the book at Criminal Element.com. The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered.
And mark your calendars for May 16th, when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ welcomes model/photographer/author Rory Flynn to Chicago to talk about and sign copies of her handsome photographic memoir about her father, movie idol Errol Flynn, The Baron of Mulholland. Check out Rory speaking about her father’s life and films on TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar. You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.
Just two weeks to go until the Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Appearing April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago, our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered.
And mark your calendars for May 16th, when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ welcomes model/photographer/author Rory Flynn to Chicago to talk about and sign copies of her handsome photographic memoir about her father, movie idol Errol Flynn, The Baron of Mulholland. Check out Rori speaking about her father’s life and films on TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar.
I first wrote about the importance of “hearing” what we read in my July 28, 2013 post, Test-Driving Books—On the Road. Since July 2015, myBOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™events have been taking booklovers on some of those test drives. It’s a great way to decide which literary rides to hop on. Here’s why:
We tend to think of creative writing as something to read, to ingest through the eyes. But most of us hear voices in our head when we read. Our brains translate what our eyes see into words we hear internally.
Writing that is meant to be spoken (think of speeches) is approached a bit differently from writing that is expected to be read with the eyes. Speeches that sound good also read well. But what seems good in print doesn’t always sound good when spoken. You can test this yourself by picking up a handful of novels and randomly reading passages aloud. See if the writing holds up when you speak it.
The best writing, in my opinion, satisfies when read and spoken. This is why writers are advised to read their work aloud, either to others or in solitude. That exercise often turns up awkward, unrealistic dialogue, repetitive verbiage or other weaknesses that need improvement.
One way for readers to test the satisfaction quotient of a book before committing to it is to attend a reading by the author. Increasingly, authors are arranging readings from their latest book as a way to market their work. These events are usually free and open to the public — at the public library or neighborhood bookstores. Sometimes venues require a reservation and a fee – a secluded room in a restaurant, a literary conference or an arts retreat. BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ was created to provide a very accessible, convivial way for readers to meet authors and hear about their books as well to enjoy sample readings.
Large or small, free or with a fee, bare bones or full menu, there are opportunities to hear authors read their work throughout the year. You can find out about these events by checking your community newspaper, your library’s schedule of events, your neighborhood independent bookstore’s newsletter, literary periodicals that carry event news, or simply Google “author readings”. Those in the greater Chicago area can check out BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ by following the weekly Book.ed Blog, checking the Book●ed website (click on the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ tab), or liking Book●ed on Facebook.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ kicks off Season 2 on April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago. Our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered. You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.
The Chicago Tribune placed The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George, #2 on their Chicagoland Best-Sellers list this week. I’ve had the book since last May, when I picked it up — free — at BookExpo America (BEA) in NYC. It was one of several free books I was able to get during book signings and giveaways at North America’s largest publishing event. This year, BEA is coming to Chicago’s McCormick Place May 11th-13th. Free books are the bonuses to an event filled with useful workshops, fabulous exhibitions, author appearances and countless networking opportunities for anyone involved with the book industry. Who knows – you may come home with next year’s best sellers.
Note to Readers – Every now and then, I will re-post a blog entry that has withstood the test of time. Whether you missed it the first time ‘round or read it years ago, I feel it’s worth sharing again. When I learned that my friend Tina Schwartz would be the guest speaker at the March 24th Off Campus Writers Workshop, I took a look at my interview with her that I posted in February 2014. Today, “A” is for Agent is as relevant as ever.
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, the only route to getting a book into the hands of readers was through major publishing houses, book stores and libraries. Online booksellers, self-publishing and eReaders have turned that approach on its ear. With so many changes in the publishing industry, often discussed in previous Book●ed blogs, authors might be wondering what the role of an agent is today.
I sat down recently with agent Tina P. Schwartz, author and founder of The Purcell Agency, to talk about the role of agents in today’s literary marketplace. Prior to becoming a literary agent, specializing in Young Adult literature, Tina worked in advertising for many years. She negotiated and sold broadcast time, a skill that she found could transfer to publishing. Tina is a published author who sold 10 books of her own and who helped another eight friends get published before formally establishing her own agency in July 2012; since then she has sold 14 manuscripts. Here are excerpts from our conversation:
EED: What do literary agents do and why do authors need them?
TPS: Some of the things agents do for authors are research appropriate editors and publishers for the manuscripts, build relationships with editors and publishers, polish or rewrite queries and proposals, and help edit manuscripts with the authors before they are ready to be submitted. Agents negotiate contracts to be in the best interest of author (often a better advance and royalty agreement than an author might get on his or her own). Agents are often like coaches to authors, looking out for the author’s best interest.
EED: How do you and authors find each other?
TPS: I am listed on PublishersMarketplace.com, I have a company website, I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and I and speak at various conferences and writing groups, which is how I find most of the talent that I represent.
EED: How has publishing changed since you started as a literary agent?
TPS: Self-publishing has become much more accepted, whereas in the past it was looked down upon Now, even some of the most successful authors have chosen to self-publish. Another thing is that many more publishing houses are closed to authors without agents.
EED: What is the biggest mistake made by new authors when trying to get their book published?
TPS: They don’t spend enough time on their query letters. The query letter deserves the proper time, given that it may be the only impression that an agent or editor gets of an author. Also, they may not research appropriate houses or agents to submit to.
EED: What are your three best tips for aspiring authors before they get published?
TPS: 1. READ! Read as much as you can in the genre you write. See what’s been published, what is popular, how the books that have been published so far are written. Notice pacing, characterization, story arc, etc. for fiction, and notice the Table of Contents and Index for non-fiction.
2. Spend enough time on your query letter and researching appropriate publishing houses or agents (go to conferences when you are able to and meet some of these people in person!).
3. Join a critique group!!! You need feedback on your manuscript more than just friends and family can supply. You need other authors’ opinions on what works and what doesn’t.
EED: What are your three best tips for aspiring authors after they get published?
TPS: 1. Celebrate! Not everyone can say they are in the Library of Congress, and as a published author, you are one of those people. It may have been a very long journey to publication, so take a moment to congratulate yourself.
2. If possible, create a “platform” for your book. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, what is the topic of your writing? Find the core of your story and promote it as your expertise. Why did you write the story you wrote, what were your experiences that you drew from when researching or writing the book?
3. Do as much as possible to get publicity for your book. Arrange signings whenever possible, promote your book to any and every group that may be appropriate, from your children’s schools, to local newspapers or cable channels, to all the public libraries within a 10-mile radius. Arrange to do author visits to promote your book’s “platform”.
For authors who want to go the traditional publishing route, a literary agent is more important than ever because many houses today want “Agented Authors Only”. For authors who choose the Self-Publishing route, an agent can offer valuable experience to maximize success. Don’t simply select an agent because of a pretty face or a pretty website. Find out who the agents were for books and authors you admire. Talk to your colleagues in the field for referrals. If your book is your brainchild, make sure that “child” has quality people helping to foster it.
Literary agent Tina P. Schwartz welcomes queries at The Purcell Agency. She will discuss Top Five Questions Writers Most Frequently Ask at the March 24th Off Campus Writers Workshop.
BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ launches its second season on April 25th from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine in Chicago. Back by popular demand is author Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death at the River Fleet, the latest in the Lucy Campion mystery series. Reflecting themes in the book, the wine tasting will feature a Spanish Verdelho, a French Riesling and a California Claret. Books will be available for purchase from the Book Bin. Bonus Buy tickets will also be available at the event for extra goodies.
April 26th is the deadline for an early bird discount registration to BookExpo America (BEA) — North America’s largest publishing event — coming to Chicago May 11th–13th (with BookCon on May 14th).
Mystery Writers of America will host its Edgar Symposium in New York City on April 27th.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators — one of the largest organizations for writers and illustrators in the world — will hold its 2016 Wild, Wild Midwest Conference at the Chicago Marriott Naperville April 29th – May 1st.
In its 27th year, The Sewanee Writers’ Conference will convene its workshops in Poetry, Fiction and Paywriting from July 19th-31st at the University of the South in Sewanee Tennessee. Fellowships and scholarships are available.
