The Book Club Cookbook -- Invite an Author -- Author Directory

INVITE AN AUTHOR

Author Directory

Click on the authors names below
to learn about their books

Susanne Alleyn	Nancy Goldstone	Tekla Dennison Miller
Nassim Assefi	Jane Guill	Jacquelyn Mitchard
Shobhan Bantwal	Stephanie Hale	Rosie Molinary
Rebecca Barry	Elizabeth Emerson Hancock	Sharon Naylor
Alison Bell	Edward Hardy	Diana Raab
Tal Ben-Shahar	Joanna Hershon	Kathleen Reid
Elizabeth Benedict	Kimberly Willis Holt	Jewell Parker Rhodes
S.A. Bodeen	Tara Ison	Laurie Viera Rigler
Debra Borden	Lesley Kagen	Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum
Melodie Bowsher	Daphne Kalotay	Margaret Sartor
Carleen Brice	Rodger Kamenetz	Michele Scott
Jessica Brody	Kristin Kladstrup	Kelly Simmons
Nona Caspers	Alison Larkin	Jodi Thomas
Christine Comaford-Lynch	Judy Larsen	Wendy Nelson Tokunaga
Donna Woolfolk Cross	Min Jin Lee	Amy Wallen
Barbara Delinsky	Marie Myung-Ok Lee	Spring Warren
Lesley Dormen	Yael Goldstein Love	Melanie Wells
Cai Emmons	Robin Merrow MacCready	Kathleen Winters
Jennifer Cody Epstein	Kate Maloy	Janet Ruth Young
Ellen Feldman	Robert Marshall	Michele Zackheim
Martha Frankel	Ruthanne Lum McCunn	Victoria Zackheim
Scott Gac	DeLauné Michel	Peter Zheutlin

A TREASURY OF REGRETS (St. Martin’s/Minotaur, 2007)
Paris, 1797. When an illiterate servant girl is accused of poisoning her employer, Aristide Ravel cannot believe she is guilty of the crime. In a large, bickering household, everyone seems to have a motive for poisoning old Martin Dupont. But as more family members begin to turn up dead, the list of suspects rapidly dwindles. Library Journal (starred review): "If your patrons enjoy historicals and have not yet discovered Alleyn, put her latest on the must-read list.” Library Journal Best Genre Fiction of 2007.

GAME OF PATIENCE (St. Martin’s/Minotaur, 2006)
Paris, 1796. Police agent Aristide Ravel must find the murderer of an aristocratic young woman and her blackmailer. Aristide's investigation leads him through the feverish, decadent society of postrevolutionary France, into a puzzle involving hidden secrets, crimes of passion, and long-nurtured hatreds. Library Journal: "Alleyn knows her French Revolution, creates a complex brain-teaser of a mystery, and excels in making her characters believable…This book has everything.” A Poisoned Pen history/mystery pick.

ARIA (Harcourt, 2007)
When Dr. Jasmine Talahi faces the sudden death of her daughter and only child, she finds little solace in the advice she's prescribed to dying patients and begins a global healing journey, ending up in Iran. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Aria beguiles with its honesty, humanity, empathy and insight."

THE FORBIDDEN DAUGHTER (2008, Kensington, pb)
When a young widow refuses to comply with her in-law's dictate to abort her unborn child, will her rebellion become the greatest mistake of her life, or a blessing in disguise? Author Mary Jo Putney: “Bantwal's novel takes readers into a world…exotic yet completely accessible…makes a compelling and memorable story."

THE DOWRY BRIDE (2007, Kensington, pb)
The story of one young woman trapped in India's arranged marriage and dowry system, and a culture of fascinating contradictions. Author Dorothy Garlock: "Remarkable...imaginative, packed with detail, adroitly depicting passion, brutality, cultures in conflict. The characters are splendid and convincing."

LATER, AT THE BAR (2007; pb, Simon & Schuster, 2008)
In this sometimes hilarious, often poignant novel-in-stories set in upstate New York, a group of barflies wander in and out of the same bar and each other's lives. New York Times Book Review: "funny, fast, and addictive. An intoxicating book, beginning to end...Read this book." Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: "Barry's prose is a delicate, beautiful balance of wit and yarning. She is an artist of the everyday heartache." Booklist: "Barry's remarkably natural, charming, and wise novel-in-stories is perfect for fiction lovers whose reading time is tight." New York Times Notable Book, Booksense Reading Group Pick, The Story Prize runner-up, Barnes & Noble Discovery Pick.

ZIBBY PAYNE & THE DRAMA TRAUMA (2007, Lobster Press, pb) INTERMEDIATE
When spunky sixth grader Zibby Payne lands the lead in the school play, she's thrilled -- until she learns her character has to kiss a boy. Can Zibby find a way out of smooching on stage without letting down her cast members or will she wreck the entire sixth grade musical?

ZIBBY PAYNE & THE WONDERFUL, TERRIBLE TOMBOY EXPERIMENT (2006, Lobster Press, pb) INTERMEDIATE
When Zibby Payne's friends go girly, she decides to become a total tomboy, forming an "exclusive" Tomboy Club -- with mixed results. Can Zibby find a way to be different yet keep her friends, or will she wind up one lonely tomboy? Resource Links Magazine: "Best of 2006".

Boston, Massachusetts
Email Tal Ben-Shahar
www.talbenshahar.com

HAPPIER: LEARN THE SECRETS TO DAILY JOY AND LASTING FULFILLMENT (McGraw-Hill, 2007)
One out of every five Harvard students has lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar's insightful and inspiring lectures on that ever-elusive state: HAPPINESS. Grounded in the revolutionary "positive psychology" movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life.

THE PRACTICE OF DECEIT (2005; pb, Mariner Books, 2006)
A razor sharp psychological thriller about marriage and divorce gone awry in a wealthy suburb. A sensitive guy therapist falls for a tough Scarsdale divorce lawyer. Their cozy new family is threatened when a legal conflict of interest turns up disturbing evidence of the wife's past. Newsday: "Addictively entertaining." NPR's All Things Considered: "A lot of wicked fun."

ALMOST (2001; pb, Mariner Books, 2002)
Smart, sassy Sophy Chase is almost divorced, almost in love with another man, and almost the stepmother to his four adorable Vietnamese kids, when she learns her almost ex has been found dead on the resort island where they lived. Almost a widow, she returns to help her grown stepdaughters, to find her missing dog, and try to discover the truth about her husband's death and her darkest impulses. A bestseller and a Newsweek and "Fresh Air" Best Book of the Year.

THE COMPOUND (Feiwel and Friends, 2008) YOUNG ADULT
Fifteen-year-old Eli and his family have spent the last six years living in an underground compound after a nuclear attack. But all is not as it seems. Starred Review, Publisher's Weekly. Nominated for 2009 BBYA and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers lists.

A LITTLE BIT MARRIED (2007, Three Rivers Press, pb)
Bitsy Lerner had her whole life figured out: marry, have kids, move to the suburbs, spend glorious days packing lunches and driving carpools. Things have gone exactly as planned. So why is she plagued by worries? So what if her husband's business dealings are vague, or her friends are shallow? So what if her parents radiate disapproval and her mother-in-law finds new ways to torture her? Is it a problem that her daughter's navel is never covered and her son will only talk about sports? One sunny morning, everything changes, and Bitsy will be forced to face these and other questions and instead of wondering when things will get back to normal, she'll wonder if things were ever normal in the first place.

LUCKY ME (2005; pb, Three Rivers Press, 2006)
Julie Berman seems to have it all: a beautiful home, loving husband, budding career, and two great kids. Little do the neighbors know that behind the facade, things are falling apart. A Redbook book club selection, LUCKY ME is for every women who has ever felt, despite her most valiant efforts, less than perfect. Chicago Tribune: “Domestic chaos at its best.”

MY LOST AND FOUND LIFE (2006; pb, Bloomsbury USA, 2007)
From homecoming queen to embezzler’s daughter — a spoiled suburban teenager is horrified when her mother disappears with stolen money. College is out now as the teen must move into a camper and take a job in a quirky coffeehouse. Booklist: “Part sexy romance, part urban survival adventure…Ashley’s first-person narrative is funny…readers will be caught up in the riches-to-rags turnaround in a materialistic world."

ORANGE MINT AND HONEY (2008, Ballantine, pb)
With the help of a teenage boyfriend, the late Nina Simone and the mother she thought she'd never forgive, a late bloomer finally blossoms. Essence magazine: "Carleen Brice's Orange Mint and Honey, a new novel about real mama drama, will have you hooked from page one. Taking on the fabled mother-daughter bond, the Denver author confidently strides onto terrain many lesser writers have tripped over--with winning results."

AGE AIN'T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: BLACK WOMEN EXPLORE MIDLIFE
(2003, Beacon Press, pb)
Featuring the writing of 40 of the finest black women writers, this anthology ranges over every aspect of a woman's life--family, friendship, love, sex, beauty, health, spirituality, work and many other topics. Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper, Pearl Cleage, Elyse Singleton, Tina McElroy Ansa, Nikki Giovanni and Patricia Raybon are just a few of the many writers showcased. Iyanla Vanzant: "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number is my roadmap."

HEAVIER THAN AIR (2006; pb, University of Massachusetts Press, March 2008)
This is a collection of stories about desire and survival and the unexpected ways that people thrive. A farmer on the cusp of a breakdown discovers unexpected solace in nature; teenagers find themselves amidst turkeys searching for meaning. Booklist: "The simplest acts - even just noticing one's breath - become wondrous moments." New York Times Book Review: “The beauty of the prairie itself.” New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction.

RULES FOR RENEGADES: HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY, ROCK YOUR CAREER, AND REVEL IN YOUR INDIVIDUALITY (McGraw-Hill, 2007)
Renegade entrepreneur - and runaway success story - Christine Comaford-Lynch has lived the kind of life most of us can only dream about. From model to monk to muli-millionaire, she does what she wants - and gets things done. Now, in ten outrageous life lessons, she'll show you how to make your dreams come true. Your way. Your rules.

DONNA WOOLFOLK CROSS

Email Donna Woolfolk Cross
www.popejoan.com

POPE JOAN (1996, Ballantine Books, pb)
The dramatic story of the only woman ever to sit on the throne of St. Peter. Los Angeles Times: "Fascinating. Explores the extraordinary life of an independent, intelligent, and courageous woman who overcomes oppression and ascends to the highest religious power." Library Journal: "Highly recommended."

THE SECRET BETWEEN US (2008; pb, Broadway, Oct. 2008)
Deborah Monroe and teenage daughter Grace are driving one night in a raging rainstorm when their car hits a pedestrian who later dies. They share a secret concerning the accident, a lie that takes on a life of its own and threatens both their everyday lives and the special bond between them. THE SECRET BETWEEN US is about making bad choices for the right reasons. It explores the limits of responsibility and the price we pay for denying the truth. Publishers Weekly: "Absorbing, unpredictable storytelling - a winning combination."

FAMILY TREE (2007; pb, Broadway, 2007)
When a white couple gives birth to a baby with distinctly black features, a family is thrown into turmoil. Hugh Clarke, born into a pedigreed New England family, devotes his professional life to championing minorities but is blindsided by his daughter's color. He urges his wife Dana, whose heritage is unknown, to start digging for answers. FAMILY TREE delves into issues of trust, privilege, and identity. The London Times: "A sensitive exploration of the prejudices that many hold but few express."

THE BEST PLACE TO BE (2007; pb, Simon & Schuster, 2008)
"Virginia Woolf meets Candace Bushnell in these funny, beautifully written stories of one woman's struggle to get through the business of ordinary life" said Elle magazine about Grace Hanford's quirky journey from 18 to 50, Ohio to Manhattan, unhappy to happy. O, the Oprah magazine: "Smack-your-forehead familiar, and so crazily funny you could cry."

CAI EMMONS

Eugene, Oregon
Email Cai Emmons
www.caiemmons.com
Upcoming Appearances

THE STYLIST (2007, HarperPerennial, pb)
THE STYLIST is the story of a transforming friendship between two Hoboken salon workers, Hayden, 25, and Emory, 40. Hayden is a Harvard dropout turned hairstylist who is estranged from her family, and Emory is in the midst of hiatus on her journey to becoming a man. When the two travel to a Costa Rican eco-resort to rescue Hayden’s injured father, what transpires there both heals and changes them.

HIS MOTHER'S SON (2003; pb, Harvest Books, 2004)
An emergency room doctor conceals a secret past that she must confront when her 6-year-old son begins to manifest behaviors that remind her of her incarcerated brother. O Magazine: "Gripping. Brings home the power and terror of maternal love." Bookpage: "A gift of a book, an affecting story of violence and forgiveness." A Book Sense selection. Winner, 2003 Oregon Book Award.

THE PAINTER FROM SHANGHAI (2008, W.W. Norton)
A re-imagining of the astonishing life of Chinese artist Pan Yuliang, who escaped a Chinese brothel to study in Shanghai and Paris, and went on to become one of the most celebrated--and controversial--painters of her time.The New York Times: "An irresistible story...luminous". A Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers pick.

SCOTTBORO (2008, W.W. Norton)
Based on a notorious case spanning half the twentieth century, a powerful novel of race, class, sexual conflict, and a lie that refused to die. San Francisco Chronicle: "Riveting drama. Ruby belongs with the best of William Faulkner's, or Alice Walker's, women." Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Emotionally charged...powerful."

THE BOY WHO LOVED ANNE FRANK (2005; pb, W.W. Norton, 2006)
A novel about the death of memory, the memory of death, and the inescapability of the past. Chicago Tribune: “An ambitious novel about war, identity and the past.” The Boston Globe: “Inventive.” USA Today: “Engaging and morally questioning,” The Forward: “A page-turner.” A New York Times Book Review “Editor's Choice.”

LUCY (2003; pb, W.W. Norton, 2004)
A deeply affecting novel of the private lives behind a public marriage, and a love affair that almost derailed history. Baltimore Sun: “Lyrical...a gem." New York Times: “Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd is a wonderful creation.” Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.: “A touching and sensitive re-imagination of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.”

New York
Email Martha Frankel
www.marthafrankel.com
Upcoming Appearances

HATS & EYEGLASSES: A FAMILY LOVE AFFAIR WITH GAMBLING (2008, Tarcher/Penguin)
HATS & EYEGLASSES is Martha Frankel's hilarious and heartbreaking tale of passion and addiction. Frankel, who grew up in a family of die-hard gamblers, came to her love of poker late in life. And like most obsessions, it nearly knocked her out. USA Today: “Honest, funny, lively..." The New York Times: "In five minutes you will feel not only as if you have known [Martha] all your life, but as if you still have one of her sweaters." O Magazine: “Intimate, exuberant."

SINGING FOR FREEDOM: THE HUTCHINSON FAMILY SINGERS AND THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY CULTURE OF REFORM (2007,Yale University Press)
Quick. Name the most famous American musical act of the 19th century. Don't know? Meet the Hutchinson Family Singers, John, Judson, Asa, and Abby Hutchinson. Starting in 1841 from their family farm in New Hampshire, these siblings went on to captivate antislavery supporters like Frederick Douglass and then the world with their sweet harmony. David W. Blight, Director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition, Yale University: "Behold: a time long before Bob Dylan when lyrics really mattered, and singing abolitionists were rock stars with political clout.”

FOUR QUEENS: THE PROVENCAL SISTERS WHO RULED EUROPE (2007; pb, Penguin, 2008)
The story of the four beautiful daughters of the count of Provence whose brilliant marriages made them the queens of France, England, Germany, and Sicily--a sumptuous buffet of glamour, intrigue, and feminine power. USA Today: "The book’s charm comes from author Nancy Goldstone's witty tone and details about how these women lived. Imagine history with a nice dollop of chick-lit charm."

JANE GUILL

Email Jane Guill
www.janeguill.com

NECTAR FROM A STONE (2005, Touchstone, pb)
A medieval Welshwoman murders her brutal husband, then flees. But visions warn her that the future might be even more dangerous than the past. Booklist: "Irresistibly interwoven with elements of passion, intrigue, and the supernatural." Rain Taxi: "A feminist manifesto for a time in which neither feminism nor novels existed. Luminous."

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN (2007, Berkley Jam/Penguin Group, pb) YOUNG ADULT
The flawless Aspen Brooks was born to be Homecoming Queen. She's dating the most popular guy in school, and she's blessed with stunning good looks, excellent style, and mega brains. Instead, cheerleader Angel Ives wins the title and ultra-dork Rand Bachrach is crowned king. To Aspen's shock and horror, Angel actually accuses her of being behind this. Now someone's leaving Aspen threatening messages and slashing her tires, and Aspen is sure Angel doing these things. And if Angel wants war, by Dooney & Bourke she'll get one.

TWISTED SISTERS (April 2008, Berkley Jam/Penguin Group, pb) YOUNG ADULT
The sequel to Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, Twisted Sisters follows Aspen Brooks to her first year in college. Aspen can't wait to get on campus only to realize that she is no longer royalty. While dealing with trying to fit in with her new sorority sisters, Aspen is also trying to solve another mystery, keep her fabulous bf Rand from being jealous of her newfound Greekdom, all while trying not to fall into the clutches of Rand's charming and dangerous roommate, Koop. Aspen quickly learns that her freshman year is a big, fat, Greek mess!

TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED: THE UNORDAINED MEMOIR OF A PREACHER'S DAUGHTER (2008, Center Street)
Growing up Southern and Baptist in Eastern Kentucky, Elizabeth Hancock's world revolved around Sunday School, foreign missions projects, revival meetings and of course, the Kentucky Wildcats, who "glorified God through their goal-shattering, soul-shattering play." Hancock chronicles her childhood misadventures with sardonic wit, detailing her and her sister Meg's mischievous - if harmless - abuses of power (stealing Guess jeans from the Africa donation box, or hawking backyard swimming pool baptisms during her neighborhood's annual yard sale) and lovingly recalling the wisdom imparted by her long-suffering parents as they ministered to their unruly flock. TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED marks the arrival of a talented new voice in a coming of age story that is by turns comical and affecting.

THE GERMAN BRIDE (2008, Ballantine)
Inspired by a little-known period of American history, THE GERMAN BRIDE follows Eva Frank, a Berlin Jewess, who accepts a marriage proposal from Abraham Shein and embarks on a journey to the wilds of Santa Fe, New Mexico in the 1860's. A nuanced psychological portrait of a marriage, THE GERMAN BRIDE is also a gritty glimpse into the bar rooms and brothels of a lawless frontier territory, where an unforgettable cast of characters struggles for survival and redemption in the brutal, glorious desert of the American Southwest. Kirkus (starred review): "At once lyrical and heartbreaking...A beautifully written tale of small sufferings and redemptions."

THE OUTSIDE OF AUGUST (2003; pb, Ballantine, 2004)
For as long as Alice Green can remember, her elusive mother, Charlotte, has moved in and out of family life. Despite the exotic clutter of souvenirs from Charlotte's international travels, the home becomes progressively hollow. Alice and her brother, August, react in different ways. Years later, when her brother becomes strangely remote, Alice journeys to find him in an isolated beach town. The New York Times Book Review: "Taut and suspenseful...Hershon succeeds in creating idiosyncratic characters and a story that won't let go of your attention."

SWIMMING (2001; pb, Ballantine, 2002)
When Aaron Wheeler brings his girlfriend Suzanne home to meet his family in the woods of New Hampshire, tensions are high, passions are misplaced, and within 48 hours, tragedy unfolds on the shores of the Wheeler's pond. Ten years later, Aaron's younger sister Lila - who was eight years old at the time of this fateful visit - senses there is much she doesn't know about that terrible weekend. She begins a journey to find, among other people, her brother's ex-girlfriend Suzanne, in the hopes of reconciling with the past. Author Sheri Holman: "Intoxicating and terrifying... an affecting tale of memory and loss. I couldn't put it down."

KIMBERLY WILLIS HOLT

Email Kimberly Willis Holt
www.kimberlywillisholt.com

KEEPER OF THE NIGHT (2003; pb, Laurel Leaf, 2005) YOUNG ADULT
Isabel's mother died peacefully. At least that's what Isabel likes to think, since no one will talk about the truth. But the truth has a way of revealing itself at night. Tata sleeps curled up on the floor right where her mother's body was found. Olivia wets her bed and wakes repeatedly from nightmares, and Frank starts carving his anger into the bedroom wall. It's up to Isabel to help her family get beyond the pain and loss — to be the keeper of the night. Publishers Weekly (starred review): "The author works magic, recreating the sights, sounds, and smells of Guam and encapsulating the essence of her characters through very few words." Kirkus Reviews (starred review): "Stunningly beautiful." School Library Journal (starred review): "A beautifully written description of sorrow and recovery that should appeal to a wide audience."

WHEN ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN (1999; pb, Yearling, 2001) INTERMEDIATE
Toby Wilson is having a tough summer in his small Texas town when Zachary Beaver, "The Fattest Boy in the World," comes to town. It's a summer filled with heartaches and friendships. And it's Zachary who turns the town upside down and leaves everyone, especially Toby, changed forever. National Book Award Winner.

MY LOUISIANA SKY (1998; pb, Yearling, 2000) INTERMEDIATE
Set in the south in the late 1950's, this coming of age novel explores a twelve-year-old girl's struggle to accept her grandmother's death, her mentally slow parents and the changing world around her. Booklist (starred review): "This lyrical first novel brings fresh perspective to the guilt and anger and caring that surround the mentally disabled."

Sherman Oaks, California
Email Tara Ison
www.taraison.com

THE LIST (2007, Scribner)
An in-love, ill-matched couple make a list of 10 things to do before saying good-bye. But the list takes a dark turn when they realize they would rather destroy each other than let go. Meg Wolitzer: "THE LIST is both wise and wicked about love." Chicago Tribune: "A tale of intoxicating love that turns toxic."

A CHILD OUT OF ALCATRAZ (1997; pb, Faber & Faber, 1998)
A mother and daughter story, set on Alcatraz Island. Boston Book Review: "A sad, often beatiful novel. Ison renders the slow disintegration of a once-vital woman, and its effect on her daughter, with perfect, heartbreaking despair."

WHISTLING IN THE DARK (2007, New American Library, pb)
Revisit the summer of 1959 in this funny, wise and uplifting debut novel. Sally O’Malley made a promise to her daddy before he died to keep her sister Troo safe. Now the girls’ mother is hospitalized, their stepfather has abandoned them for a six-pack, and their big sister, Nell, is too busy making out with her boyfriend to notice that Sally and Troo are on the loose. And so is a murderer and molester. Now Sally has no choice but to protect herself and Troo as best as she can, relying on her own courage and the kindness of neighbors. Sara Gruen: “bittersweet and beautifully rendered.”

CALAMITY AND OTHER STORIES (2005; pb, Anchor, 2006)
Interwoven stories chronicling friends’ varied twists of fate. San Francisco Chronicle: “Like short-story collections by Alice Munro and Lorrie Moore...Lovely [and] comic.” New York Times Book Review: “Kalotay’s collection builds force so quietly that when all the characters appear together in the final story you’re stunned—by how well it works and by how familiar these women now feel.”

THE HISTORY OF LAST NIGHT’S DREAM (2007; pb, Harper One, September 2008)
The culmination of decades of research, The History of Last Night's Dream is a riveting intellectual, cultural and personal investigation of dreams and what they have to teach us. We discover how the age-old struggle between what we dream and how we interpret our dreams has shaped Western culture from biblical times… to last night's dream. Times-Picayune: "This smart, funny, and revolutionary book is filled with compassion for our dreaming minds, for the ways in which they reveal ourselves to ourselves, for the ways our dreams, nighttime or waking, can carry us back to love and so to God." Andrei Codrescu, NPR: “Reads like a thriller.”

THE JEW IN THE LOTUS (2007, Harper One, pb)
A landmark international bestseller and classic account of dialogue between rabbis and the Dalai Lama, now in a new plus edition with an afterword by the author.
New York Times: "A book for anyone who feels the narrowness of a wholly secular life or who wonders about the fate of esoteric spiritual traditions in a world that seems bent on destroying or vulgarizing them.”

THE BOOK OF STORY BEGINNINGS (2007, Candlewick, pb) INTERMEDIATE
A spellbinding story that lures you in - and won't let go. Kristin Kladstrup's "charming debut fantasy" (Washington Post Book World) - featuring a ship full of orphaned pirate children, a pair of warring royals, and plenty of magic potions - is sure to thrill all those who dare turn its pages.

THE ENGLISH AMERICAN (2008, Simon & Schuster)
Pippa Dunn is adopted by loving British parents and doesn't meet her American birth parents until she is twenty-eight. She discovers they are southern Americans and nothing at all like the practical Brits who raised her. Chaos ensues when reality collides with fantasy and Pippa finds herself struggling with two sets of parents, two opposing cultures and the fact that she is falling in love with two very different men. With a delightful, authentic adopted heroine at its center, Larkin's novel poses questions about how much of your character is nature, how much is nurture, and how much is individual choice. Redbook Magazine Book Club Selection. Vogue Magazine Most Powerful Book of the Season. Shape Magazine, Family Circle Magazine and Women's Wear Daily Scoop Best Book Picks. Chicago Sun Times: “A funny, charming and poignant book – the kind that you can’t resist reading in a single day.”

JUDY LARSEN

St. Louis, Missouri
Email Judy Larsen
www.judymerrilllarsen.com
Upcoming Appearances

ALL THE NUMBERS (2006, Ballantine/Random House, pb)
When her son is killed, Ellen faces the unimaginable while remaining strong for her older son. First, she must heal herself. This emotional journey depicts Ellen s vulnerability and finding the grace to begin again. Author Cassandra King: "This powerful story of tragedy, grief, and redemptive love haunted me long after I read the final uplifting yet heartbreaking words."

FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES (2007; pb, Grand Central Publishing, April 2008)
Princeton grad Casey Han, the daughter of Korean immigrant parents, struggles with her culture and identity while trying to find her place in the world. New York Times Book Review: "[An] accomplished and engrossing first novel." People: "a first-rate read." A Book Sense #1 Pick.

MARIE MYUNG-OK LEE

Providence, Rhode Island
Email Marie Myung-Ok Lee
www.marielee.net

SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER (2005; pb, Beacon Press, 2006)
Nineteen-year-old Sarah Thorson, Korean-born and adopted by a white American family as an infant, is determined to solve the mysteries of her past. Kyung-sook, the Korean woman who has always longed for her lost child, learns her daughter is searching for her. Will Kyung-sook risk destroying the life she's built for herself and her new family to regain her daughter? Booklist (starred review): "A grown-up gem of a novel where joy mingles with sorrow, and heartbreak is laced with hope."

NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (1996; pb, HarperTrophy, 1998) YOUNG ADULT
Chan Kim's family moves to a small town in Minnesota from Los Angeles. Chan, a soccer player, throws himself into the only game in town: football. On the field, it's "justifiable violence." Off the field, it's a whole different ballgame. Kirkus Reviews: "Gritty and moving...a strong and intelligent novel." An American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.

FINDING MY VOICE (1992; pb, HarperTrophy, 2001) YOUNG ADULT
Ellen Sung, a Korean American girl growing up in the Midwest, learns to navigate between her own heart and that of her immigrant parents. Winner of the Friends of American Writers Award, The New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age and an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. The New York Times: "Deals with the subject of racism in a way that is both explicit and sensitive."

OVERTURE (2007; pb, Broadway Books, August 2008)
A world-famous violinist confronts the sins she's committed toward music, men, and, most importantly, her daughter in this captivating glimpse into the world of classical music. The New York Times: "Shows signs of brooding genius." Tucson Citizen: "Passionate, moving. . . a literary treat!"

BURIED (2006, Dutton Juvenile) YOUNG ADULT
Claudine has long buried her own needs and dreams to care for her alcoholic mother. After Mom suddenly disappears, a much darker truth is uncovered, buried under years of angry denial and enabling behavior. A suspenseful and mind-twisting psychological thriller. Winner of the 2007 Edgar Award for Best YA novel.

EVERY LAST CUCKOO (2008, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill)
At 75, after a grievous loss, Sarah Lucas is tempted to “lie back and go dark.” Instead, drawing on strengths gained from her long life in Vermont’s rugged terrain, she heals by helping an odd array of strangers in need. Publishers Weekly: "A moving debut novel..." Library Journal: "An excellent book club selection; highly recommended." Book Sense Pick. More magazine "Don’t Miss Book".

ROBERT MARSHALL

New York City
Email Robert Marshall
www.robertmarshall.net

A SEPARATE REALITY (2006, Carroll & Graf, pb)
Mark Grosfeld is a lonely twelve-year-old growing up in Phoenix, Arizona during the early 1970s. His life begins to change when he meets Anna Voigt, a teacher who becomes his mentor. An ex-hippie poet, Anna introduces him to a circle of teenagers who smoke pot and meet at her house for poetry readings. She also introduces him to Zen Buddhism and the writings of the popular pseudo anthropologist, Carlos Castaneda. Mark enters upon a semi-comic suburban vision quest, trying to conduct his middle school life according to the teachings he finds through Anna - most significantly, Castaneda's. The Washington Post: "As good an encapsulation of adolescence as you're likely to read."

GOD OF LUCK (2007; pb, Soho Press, September 2008)
Ah Lung and his beloved wife, Bo See, are separated by a cruel fate when he is kidnapped, enslaved, and sent to the deadly guano mines off the shore of Peru. Praying to the God of Luck and using their own ingenuity, the couple struggles to reunite. Library Journal: “A real page-turner. Highly recommended.” A Book Sense Pick. A 2008 Kiriyama Prize Notable Book.

THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD (2004, Beacon Press, pb)
Lalu Nathoy’s father called her his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold,” yet he is forced to sell her during a famine. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, brought to America, auctioned off as a slave in San Francisco, taken to mining camp in Idhao, and wins her freedom in a poker game. Los Angeles Times: “Enthralling.” A Quality Paperback Book Club Alternate. Washington State Library’s Washington Reads Program 2006.

THE MOON PEARL (2000, Beacon Press, pb)
Three girls - drawn from the lives of China’s real nineteenth-century heroines - make the radical decision not to marry but live as independent women. Publishers Weekly: "McCunn’s vivid, intimate portrait of early women’s liberation in China is, above all, a good story, lovingly told.” Washington Post: “Bewitches...utterly inspiring and captivating.” American Library Association 2002 “Best of the Best.”

THE SAFETY OF SECRETS (May 2008, Avon A/HarperCollins, pb)
“Now we’re just alike.” So begins Fiona and Patricia’s friendship that morning in 1st grade in Louisiana, forged closer by Fiona’s abusive mother and Patricia’s neglectful one. Their friendship gives them continuity and strength as they pursue LA acting careers, romantic relationships, and fame. When their husbands’ needs and Hollywood pressures exact a toll, they wonder if their friendship can survive. But the true test is just beginning. A dark secret emerges from their past, threatening to destroy not only their bond, but all they’ve worked for as well.

AFTERMATH OF DREAMING (2006; pb, HarperCollins, 2007)
Other than the fact that she wakes up screaming at night, life is great for Yvette. Her jewelry career is taking off, she’s back with her boyfriend, and she no longer thinks about her once-in-a-lifetime love, movie star Andrew Madden. Until a chance encounter with him changes everything. Swept up by memories of her estranged father, and juggling the demands of her bride sister and her male best friend, Yvette plunges into an obsession with Andrew that forces her to confront the past she thought she had left behind.

LIFE SENTENCES (2005, Medallion Press, pb)
There are men who take women's lives. There are men who kill their minds. Celeste Brookstone has the perfect life. On the surface when her daughter takes a job with the Michigan Prison System, she fears for Pilar's safety. But she's glad Pilar is away from the hell on earth Marcus Brookstone has created within his home. Pilar Brookstone is an idealist. She thinks she can make inmates' lives a little better. And never, ever make the mistake her mother made. Chad Wilbanks is a serial killer serving life. Eight young women were his victims. Is he about to take his ninth?

THE WARDEN WORE PINK (1996, Biddle Publishing, pb)
This memoir tells the story of Tekla's 20 year career in corrections and introduces the reader to the best and the worst among prison administrators, employees and inmates. Warden Miller's story is a sometimes shocking, sometimes hilarious, and always honest examination of the world of criminal justice. It relates one woman's courageous journey into a difficult, dangerous, often hostile environment

NOW YOU SEE HER (2007, HarperTeen) YOUNG ADULT
On the surface, Hope is beautiful, a straight “A” student and a talented actress. But behind the scenes something strange is going on. When Hope is found in the woods and claims to have been abducted, her story does not make sense. Could it be that she faked her own kidnapping? As she tries to answer that question, Hope begins to doubt her own story and even her sanity. School Library Journal:
"This riveting page-turner is sure to be in hot demand."

THE BREAKDOWN LANE (2005; pb, HarperTorch, 2006)
Advice columnist Julieanne Gillis lives a blessed life. But when she loses her husband, her health and her confidence, her season of despair is leavened by the grit and humor of her son, Gabe, and a startling new life begins. The Minneapolis Star Tribune: "An honest, moving, passionate portrait of what happens when we fall off the track. Not one false word in the whole book."

A THEORY OF RELATIVITY (2001; pb, HarperCollins, 2002)
When his beloved only sister and her husband die in a car wreck, leaving behind a baby daughter, Gordon McKenna expects to fulfill his sister's last wish and raise little Keefer. But in a wrenching twist, Gordon is prevented by a judge who rules that Gordon, adopted as a newborn, does not meet the test of a "blood relative." The rogue decision plunges two families into a bitter custody battle for love the of a child. San Diego Times-Union: "A nuanced, captivating story striking in its authenticity. Emotionally richer than her first novel, yet devoid of heavy-handed sentiment." Library Journal: "Another slam dunk here...these characters are wonderfully human and their wrenching situation skillfully unfurled."

THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN (1996; pb, NAL, 1997)
When three-year-old Ben wanders away from his mother and brother in a crowded hotel lobby, the Cappadora family is thrust into a nine-year torment of uncertainty that will leave every member of the family changed forever. Publishers Weekly: "A blockbuster novel...a rich, moving and altogether stunning first novel, Mitchard imbues her suspenseful plot with disturbingly candid psychological truths about motherhood and family relationships. A universal tale of traumatic loss...an astute inquiry into the wellsprings of identity, and a parable of redemption through suffering and love." The first novel of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club.

IT'S MY WEDDING TOO (2007, Kensington, pb)
It's all-out war between the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom in this comedy about two very different mothers who battle over every element of the upcoming wedding, and the hapless bride and groom caught in the middle. Upper-crust romance novelist Delilah Winchester and middle-class earth-mother Carmela Cantano (who's way too attached to her son!) sabotage each other's plans, attempt to steamroll the big day, and in the end have to face the real reasons why this wedding is so hard for them to handle. Author Jacqueline deMontravel: “As deliciously layered as a Sylvia Weinstock Cake.”

IT'S NOT MY WEDDING (BUT I'M IN CHARGE) (2007, Kensington, pb)
Have you ever wondered what the assistants to celebrity wedding coordinators go through when there's a Wedding of the Century planned and the paparazzi are all over it? Mylie Ford is that assistant. She's hot-glue-gunning rosebuds in concentric circles until 3am, caring for her eccentric boss, enduring CIA-level security that includes retina scans and full body searches, throwing the paparazzi off of their trail, and falling in love with a chef whose six year-old daughter absolutely hates her. An inside look at the worker bees of the celebrity wedding industry and a spoof on a pop-tart's wedding-for-publicity.

RENEWING YOUR WEDDING VOWS: A COMPLETE PLANNING GUIDE TO SAYING “I STILL DO” (2006, Broadway, pb)
Find out all you need to know about renewing your wedding vows from renowned wedding author Sharon Naylor, and have the author personally consult on your group's planned vow renewals. From etiquette questions (what to wear, who to invite, can it be “the wedding we never had”?) to style details, vow wording, great locations, flowers, favors, menus, and more, this hot new trend of celebrating what's great in your marriage is a gift to your children and grandchildren as well. With over 20 real-life vow renewals photo-featured, this book will get your entire group planning your own large or small, at-home vow renewals on any anniversary or Valentine's Day.

REGINA'S CLOSET: FINDING MY GRANDMOTHER'S SECRET JOURNAL (Beaufort Books, 2007)
The book is based on author Diana Raab finding her grandmother's retrospective journal depicting her life as an orphan during World War I and her subsequent immigrations to Vienna and the United States. The journal was found years after Diana's grandmother took her life in the author’s childhood home. Diana draws strength from her grandmother’s example, which sustains her when she receives some of her own shattering news. To share her personal story, Diana must first tell Regina’s. The book is a unique braided narrative with excerpts of Regina’s diary interwoven with Diana’s own life experiences, creating a touching portrait of a relationship between granddaughter and grandmother. 2008 Indie Excellence Book Award.

GETTING PREGNANT & STAYING PREGNANT: OVERCOMING INFERTILITY AND MANAGING YOUR HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY (Hunter House, 1999)
A self-help book interspersed with helpful anecdotes and tips. Diana Raab is a nurse writer who experienced three high-risk pregnancies and was laden with bed rest each time. The book’s introduction is a summary of the journal she wrote during bed rest with her first child. Easy-to-read and understand. The 20th anniversary edition will be released in 2008. Booklist: “An excellent information source on the complex issues and decisions of infertility and high-risk pregnancy.”

KATHLEEN REID

A PAGE OUT OF LIFE (2008, Berkley Books, pb)
A Page Out of Life is about love, friendship, heartbreak and scandal in the fictional city of Belloix, Alabama. It all starts when stressed-out mother of four Ashley Gates gets dragged by her best friend to a meeting of the local scrapbooking club. Ashley is surprised to meet such a diverse group of women from Tara, the single grad student looking for love to Libby, a retired schoolteacher, whose life is blown apart by scandal. These friendships become a source of strength as the women support each other through good times and bad and uncover a trail of secrets.

JEWELL PARKER RHODES

Scottsdale, Arizona and Natick, Massachusetts
Email Jewell Parker Rhodes
www.jewellparkerrhodes.com

YELLOW MOON (Atria, August 2008)
Jewell Parker Rhodes continues the magical, mystical story of legendary voodoo priestess Marie Laveau - begun in the best-selling Voodoo Dreams - and brings it into the New Orleans of the present day. David Morrell, author of Creepers: “Richly dark and vividly haunting…a magical, mysterious, and transfixing read." Betty Webb, author of the Lena Jones mysteries: “In this stunning novel, the author once again demonstrates that her gifts as a storyteller are unparalleled.”

DOUGLASS' WOMEN (2002; pb, Washington Square, 2003)
This historical reimagination of American hero Frederick Douglass focuses on the two women in his life and the love triangle formed as they lived under the same roof. His wife Ann, a free woman of color, bore him five children and remained at his side for over forty years, while Ottilie, his German mistress, provided him with intellectual companionship. It is a story of love and jealousy, resentment and union, and a vivid portrayal of history and a powerful man through this different lens. The Washington Post: "[A] courageous and beautiful book." Winner of the 2003 American Book Award.

VOODOO DREAMS (1993; pb, Washington Square, 1995)
Rhodes' debut novel describes the rise of Marie Laveau into the legendary voodoo practicioner of mid-nineteenth century New Orleans. Focusing on the woman behind the legend, the story weaves history and myth into its narrative fabric as Marie journeys from bayou to city in search of her lost grandmother, guided by dreams, and finds John, the voodoo doctor that opens the door for her legendary power. A bewitching read--erotic, atmospheric, exploring the intersections of race, class, gender, and feminine spiritual power. Publishers' Weekly: "Rivet[ing]"

CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT (2007; pb, Plume, 2008)
After nursing a broken engagement with Jane Austen novels and Absolut, a modern L.A. girl wakes up as an Englishwoman in Austen’s time.
Times-Picayune: "A delightful comic romp." Publisher’s Weekly: "A winner."
St. Petersburg Times: "Clever, cheeky." Book Sense Notable Book. Audiobook is a Publisher's Weekly Listen Up Award winner.

A DAY OF SMALL BEGINNINGS (2006, Little, Brown)
Who are we if we don't know where we came from? Set in Poland, a multigenerational story of a contemporary American family wrestling with their hidden history and the faith they left behind. The Los Angeles Times: “[a] breathtaking debut...a love story between a ghost and a Jewish family.” The Book of the Month Club: “...[it] will keep you flipping pages long after you should be in bed. We should all have a guardian spirit like Freidl - funny, unforgettable, and determined not to let us forget where we come from.” A Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection.

MISS AMERICAN PIE: A DIARY OF LOVE, SECRETS, AND GROWING UP IN THE 1970S (Bloomsbury USA, 2006, pb)
A spellbinding and authentic document of American adolescence in the 1970's. This appealing story tackles all of the decade's issues with humor, frankness, and unexpected insight. O Magazine: 2006 Pick for "What to Read this Summer." Chicago Tribune: "This is a gorgeous book, and its power is not to be underestimated." The Washington Post Book World: "Everyone must read this book!"

A VINTAGE MURDER (July 2008, Berkley, pb)
Nikki and her boss-turned-boyfriend came to Australia to visit the Hahndorf Winery, but it seems they've also walked onto a movie set. And when lead actress Lucy Swanson is found dead in her trailer, bitten by a poisonous snake, Nikki must comb the vineyards of the valley to catch a killer with a venomous streak-before she's struck herself.

TACKED TO DEATH (2008, Berkley, pb)
A new tack shop and a gala polo match are reasons to celebrate for horse trainer Michaela Bancroft - until equestrian Sterling Tabor is found clubbed to death with a polo mallet. Worse yet, suspicion falls on Michaela...

The weapon belongs to Michaela, her prints are all over it, and rumors of her alleged affair with the victim aren't helping. With her boyfriend Detective Jude Davis out of town, Michaela doesn't stand a chance of proving her innocence and clearing her name unless she delves into Tabor's mysterious life and death on her own. But in unearthing a real suspect and a motive, she discovers a deadly past. And Tabor's shady friends are more than willing to throw Michaela off the track - for good.

SILENCED BY SYRAH (2007, Berkley, pb)
As the Vineyard Manager at Malveaux Estates, Nikki Sands knows a lot about wine pairings, but she has a harder time making matches in her own life. Is it finally time to give up her crush on her boss, Derek Malveaux, and commit to winemaker Andrés? With big changes afoot at the Estates, Nikki's days of wine and roses may be over sooner than she thinks.

Malveaux Estates has added a boutique hotel and spa to its beautiful grounds, and everyone in Napa is abuzz about the hotel's restaurant, Georges on the Vineyard. Its opening has been delayed a bit by the quirks of star chef Georges Debussey, better known for his cuisine than his couth. When Georges doesn't return to the kitchen after a relaxing Syrah bath splash at the spa on opening night, Nikki figures the bubbles must have gone to his head. But instead of bubbles, it was a bullet - leaving Nikki to wonder what kind of wine can be paired with murder.

KELLY SIMMONS

Pennsylvania
Email Kelly Simmons
www.bykellysimmons.com
Upcoming Appearances

STANDING STILL (2008, Atria)
When Claire Cooper begs to take her daughter's place mid-kidnapping, she has as much to hide - and bargain for - as her captor. Publishers Weekly starred review: "An exhilarating debut...the perfect read for a stormy night."

TWISTED CREEK (2008, Berkley, pb)
Bad luck's been biting at Allie Daniel's heels all her life, so when she inherits a tiny café in a small Texas lake community she's sure there has to be a catch. But Allie brings her grandmother along, and the cafe gives Nana a chance to do what she loves best - cook. As Allie settles in to try and make the best of what surely must be a mistake in an old man's will, the people of the lake drop by. Lonely folk discover there's always a "table for one" available, with down home food to warm the soul. An old maid, a shy young man, a drifter who races the moon across the lake: slowly, they become the family Allie never had. And when trouble comes, Allie finds she's not alone any more - and that sometimes, the only cure for bad luck is the courage to love.

TEXAS PRINCESS (2007, Berkley, pb)
Ever since he defended the Whispering Mountain Ranch as a boy, Tobin McMurray vowed to steer clear of outsiders. But something about Liberty Mayfield has made it impossible to keep his distance. Every minute spent with the vulnerable beauty has left him hungering for something he swore he'd never have - a wife and a family. Unfortunately, the woman who's ignited his desire is about to marry another man.

TEXAS RAIN (2006, Berkley, pb)
The first time Rainey Adams meets Texas Ranger Travis McMurray, she steals a kiss - and then his horse. Now Travis is determined to track down this intriguing woman and bring her back to the Whispering Mountain Ranch as his bride. But this renegade may be too much for even the toughest Ranger to handle.

Email Wendy Tokunaga
www.WendyNelsonTokunaga.com
Upcoming Appearances

MIDORI BY MOONLGHT (St. Martin's Griffin, 2007, pb)
Fresh-from-Japan Midori Saito gets lost in translation in San Francisco as she searches for her American Dream and the perfect dessert. Publisher’s Weekly: “Tokunaga depicts Midori's determination to create her own version of the American dream with exuberance [in this] delectably frothy debut.” San Francisco Chronicle: “You'll muse for days about the characters you've left behind and why they matter so much to you.”

MOONPIES AND MOVIE STARS (2007; pb, Plume/Penguin, June 2008)
A laugh-out-loud romp across America pits a feisty Texas momma against the Hollywood machine. Ruby Kincaid is busy these days—running her late husband’s bowling alley, wrangling her pistol of a sister, and chasing after the two grandchildren her daughter abandoned. When she sees her runaway daughter Violet starring in a TV commercial, there’s only one choice and Ruby knows it—Hollywood or bust. Ruby packs a Winnebago with two friends, two unruly grandkids, and a mondosize package of MoonPies and hightails it to California to fetch her wayward daughter. In a madcap road trip from the dusty flats of Texas to the glittering aisles of The Price Is Right, Ruby survives with a little pluck and some Texas spunk. Fans of Lorna Landvik and Billie Letts will love this tender and side-splittingly funny story of indomitable spirit and unstoppable force.

SPRING WARREN

TURPENTINE (2007, Grove Press/Black Cat, pb)
The year is 1871, and Edward Turrentine Bayard III leaves Connecticut to recuperate in a private sanitarium, only to end up at a rickety outpost on the Nebraskan plains. Jodi Picoult, New York Times best-selling author of My Sister's Keeper and Nineteen Minutes: "...a novel filled with wit, brilliant characterizations, and descriptions that will leave you feeling as if you can still feel the dust of a buffalo stampede settling around you." A Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers Book.

MY SOUL TO KEEP (2008, Multnomah Books, pb)
Dylan Foster, the eccentric and slightly compulsive university psychology professor, is trapped in the mind games of Peter Terry, an unwelcome stranger who seeks to steal her peace of mind. Author Melanie Wells is a licensed psychotherapist who uses complex characters, deft humor and dead-on dialogue to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

THE SOUL HUNTER (2006, Multnomah Books, pb)
Dylan Foster, a psychology professor at Southern Methodist University, is preparing for a Saturday night date when she hears something at her front door. She opens the door - and a bloody ax falls into her entryway, bringing a young woman’s murder, quite literally, into Dylan's living room. Caught up in a desperate search for answers, Dylan must use her psychologist’s mind and acute spiritual radar to unearth the connections between the murdered girl; the accused murderer and convicted rapist Gordon Pryne; and Peter Terry, the elusive white man with the slash on his back. As Dylan draws closer to the answer she seeks, she stumbles upon a discovery that draws her ever deeper into danger. But Dylan cannot find the truth - not until she realizes nothing is as it seems in the fight for the human soul…

WHEN THE DAY OF EVIL COMES (2005, Multnomah Books, pb)
School is back in session, but for psychology professor Dylan Foster, the promise of a new semester is dying in the heat of the late Texas summer. First, there is the bizarre encounter with a ghastly pale stranger. Then her mother’s engagement ring turns up—the same ring that was buried with her mother two years before. Soon, Dylan’s carefully ordered world is unraveling, one thread at a time. A former patient accuses her of impropriety, putting her career in jeopardy. A suicide plunges her deeper into shadow. Relationships with colleagues start to crumble. And then there are those flies in her house...Dylan Foster is about to get a crash course in spiritual warfare—and a glimpse of her own small but significant role in a vast eternal conflict. But when the dust settles, will anything be left of her life as she knows it?

Email Kathleen Winters
www.kathleenwinters.com

ANNE MORROW LINDBERGH: FIRST LADY OF THE AIR (2006; pb, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008)
This biography focuses on Anne Morrow Lindbergh's youth and achievements as an aviator flying dangerous expeditions during the 1930s. Kirkus Reviews (starred review): "A perfectly calibrated tribute to an early heroine of the air." Booklist: ". . . beautifully written biography, Anne Morrow Lindbergh emerges as a more complete and relatable character than ever before, and an aviator long overdue for respect."

JANET RUTH YOUNG

Gloucester, Massachusetts
Email Janet Ruth Young
http://janetruthyoung.com
Upcoming Appearances

THE OPPOSITE OF MUSIC (2007; pb, Simon Pulse, 2008) YOUNG ADULT
Along with his mother and sister, fifteen-year-old Billy will do almost anything to save his father from a life-threatening depression. See author site for discussion guide. Boston Sunday Globe: "This has been a year of tremendous debut novels, and The Opposite of Music…deserves its place at the top of that list."

BROKEN COLORS (2007, Europa Editions, pb)
Colored with moments of passion, heartbreak, and longing, Sophie Mark's journey takes her from World War II England, to Paris and the Italian countryside, the American southwest, and back again to Europe where she comes face to face with hidden memories. Vanessa Redgrave: "I loved Broken Colors . . . it went into my heart and stayed there."A Book Sense selection for 2008.

FOR KEEPS: WOMEN TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR BODIES, GROWING OLDER, AND ACCEPTANCE (2007, Seal Press/Perseus, pb)
Gifted authors write about youth, about pushing their bodies to the limit...and beyond. Martha Stewart's Body + Soul Magazine: "This surprising collection is full of moving takes on aging gracefully in a female body." StoryCircle Book Review: "A rare collection, uncompromisingly honest, ruthlessly real, uncomfortably raw, yet warmed with a very human compassion and brightened by the triumphs, small and large, that make each of these writers a heroine in her own right." San Francisco Chronicle: "...the excavation of memories is for a constructive end: to show the reader how women have managed to cope under circumstances beyond their control and, especially, under circumstances they have the power to alter."

THE OTHER WOMAN: TWENTY-ONE WIVES, LOVERS, AND OTHERS TALK OPENLY ABOUT SEX, DECEPTION, LOVE, AND BETRAYAL (2007; pb, August 2008, GrandCentral)
Featured twice on The Today Show, this anthology of personal memoirs offers intimate, poignant, sometimes hilarious revelations by such authors as Jane Smiley, Lynn Freed, Mary Jo Eustace (her husband left her for Tori Spelling, three weeks after they adopted a baby), Diana Abu-Jaber, Connie May Fowler, and 16 other gifted writers. "O" Magazine: an "unusually frank and furious collection." The Toronto Star :"Powerful, poignant, wrenching and yet weirdly uplifting, The Other Woman is an astonishing read that once again proves the old saw about truth being stranger than fiction."

THE BONE WEAVER (2001, Elton-Wolfe MissionBay Press, pb)
Following the death of her lifelong friend, professor Mimi Zilber sets off on a journey to discover how she came to this lonely place in her life and why she is running from the man who loves her. The Bone Weaver is a blend of history and fiction created around three generations of women, beginning with Mimi's great-grandmother Malka, and their struggles to survive pogroms, illness, and the violence of shtetl life in 19th Century Eastern Europe. The Midwest Book Review: "...a unique, powerful, moving, inspiring, and very highly recommended novel."

AROUND THE WORLD ON TWO WHEELS: ANNIE LONDONDERRY’S EXTRAORDINARY RIDE (November 2007, Citadel Press/Kensington)
"The most extraordinary journey ever undertaken by a woman,” said the New York World -- an audacious ‘round the world race against time on a bicycle. In 1894, under an assumed name, a working class Jewish mother from Boston turned every Victorian expectation of female propriety on its ear. This is the remarkable story of the author's great-grandaunt, who transformed herself into an international celebrity as the globe trotting cyclist, Mlle. Annie Londonderry. Booklist: "Well researched and written...she was a remarkable woman and well worth getting to know."