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The cover has been unveiled for Marissa Meyer’s forthcoming young adult book, Heartless. According to Meyer’s blog post, the story for this standalone novel will be a prequel to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

We’ve embedded the full image for the jacket design above—what do you think? Entertainment Weekly reports that Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, has scheduled the release date for Nov. 08.

Here are some literary events to pencil in your calendar this week.

To get your event posted on our calendar, visit our Facebook Your Literary Event page. Please post your event at least one week prior to its date.

Lindsey Stirling, a YouTube star, will celebrate the launch of her book, The Only Pirate at the Party, at Barnes & Noble (Union Square branch). Meet her on Tuesday, Jan. 12 starting 7 p.m. (New York, NY)

Nelsie Spencer, a teacher at the Gotham Writers Workshop, will host a free humor writing workshop at the Housing Works Bookstore Café. Join in on Sunday, Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (New York, NY)

Eric Litwin will read from his picture book, The Nuts: Sing and Dance In Your Polka Dot Pants, at the Lincoln Center Atrium. Hear him on Sunday, Jan. 17 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (New York, NY)

BURN: MICHAEL FARADAY'S CANDLE

Coming February 9!

PreOrder Now!

Amazon is now providing a new twist on book marketing with an embeddable widget that allows a preview. Word is that it looks great on mobile or desktop. And Wow, is it easy to implement!

Here’s an example of how it looks for a picture book.

And an example of how it looks for a novel. It allows you to read a couple chapters before you decide if you want to buy or not.

Want your own widget? Here’s Amazon’s simple 1-2-3 step process to put such a widget on your website. The screenshots make it easy. Are you an Amazon affiliate? If you embed the code on your website, the widget allows you to add your affiliate id number. This is a slick, dead-simple promotional tool!

I did try it for my forthcoming book, BURN: MICHAEL FARADAY’S CANDLE, which is now available for preorder. Unfortunately, the widget wasn’t available for it. I also tried adding the link to Facebook, but that didn’t work either.

The post Preview Widget: Amazon Book Marketing Tool appeared first on Fiction Notes.

Hotel Transylvania 2 DVD and Blu-ray

Hotel Transylvania 2 fans will want to check this out! The Blu-ray and DVD version of the movie hits stores today and we have an exclusive video featurette about the making of the movie.

Video courtesy Sony Pictures Animation

In the featurette, director Genndy Tartakovsky and his animation team walk us through amazing visuals which show how they created the lighting, animation, character effects, simulation techniques, and more.

Future animators, pay close attention! This might be your job someday! Watch the video!

So cool, right? Leave a Comment to tell us what you think!

I’m all packed and ready to catch a plane back home, tired but re-energized & excited to begin to utilize some of the resources and information I’ve learned while at ALA Midwinter in Boston.

Reflecting on the highlights of the conference, I think of:

• The information I learned at the ALSC Collection Management Discussion Group session and the decision to create a Facebook page for the group; this will surely be a good place for ongoing discussions.

• The announcement of Pat Scales as the 2016 recipient of ALSC’s Distinguished Service Award. A former middle school and high school librarian and a passionate advocate for children’s intellectual freedom, it was exciting to see her receive this well-deserved award.

• Sitting in on book discussions

• Visiting the exhibits and talking with vendors

• The number of ARCs in my suitcase which I will bring back to my library to offer to excited young readers and to start work on our 2017 Mock Election programs

• Learning new ideas about creative programming in libraries

• Networking

• Participating in ALSC Board meetings and working to move the division forward

ALSC Board of Directors Midwinter 2016

• Meeting authors & illustrators and hearing them speak about their work

• The excitement of being among the hundreds and hundreds of people at the YMA Press Conference as the 2016 Awards were announced.

Hundreds of librarians excitedly listen to the announcement of winners at the 2016 YMAs

• Seeing old friends and colleagues; meeting new friends

• Learning more about the importance and usefulness of ALSC’s newly revised Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries.

So much to process!

Thanks, Boston! It’s been a great conference.

The post Reflecting on ALA Midwinter #alamw16 appeared first on ALSC Blog.

The cover for Illusion is being revealed on Hypable.com TOMORROW, along with an amazing giveaway themed with some of the things in the book. In the meantime, here's the very first glimpse ANYWHERE of the cover copy.

Are you ready? : )

Ta da . . .

Illusion (Heirs of Watson Island, Book 3)
by Martina Boone
Simon & Schuster, Simon Pulse
October 25, 2016

Caged by secrets all around her and haunted by mistakes that have estranged her from Eight Beaufort, Barrie Watson is desperate to break the curse that puts her family in danger—without breaking the beautiful magic that protects Watson’s Landing. To do that, she must heal the rifts that have split the families of the island apart for three hundred years, unravel the mystery of the Fire Carrier and the spirits he guards, and take control of forces so deadly and awe-inspiring they threaten to overwhelm her.

With the spirits that cursed Watson Island centuries ago awake and more dangerous than ever, she finds an unlikely ally in the haunting and enigmatic Obadiah, whose motivations and power she still can’t read—or trust. His help comes at a price, however, plunging Barrie into a deadly maze of magic and wonder, mystery and intrigue that leads through history to places she never imagined she could go.
    
I've also got a few teasers for the cover and the giveaway for you. I think it's the best of all three of the covers, and I'm beyond excited to share it with you. You can see glimpses of it in the background behind the giveaway photos. : ) Here you go . . .

All 18 Items in the Giveaway

Magical Mason Jar Garden Light, Silicone Teacup Baking Set, and a Secrets Box

Indigo Stone Photo Frame, Magic Garden Coloring Book, Waterfront Beach Sachet, Trinket Bookmarks

Magical Mason Jar Garden Light, Sketch Pad, Floral Charms, Shoe Notepad, Summer Romance Satchel

Signed Hardcovers, Compulsion Charm Bracelet, Oak Tree Necklace, Dreamcatcher Earrings

Compulsion For Reading January Book Donation

* * * 

* * *

Who has their book? #OurSharedShelf @GloriaSteinem #mylifeontheroad #bookclub pic.twitter.com/ZX3ze6BAc5

— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) January 11, 2016

Earlier this week, Emma Watson announced the launch of a feminist book club called Our Shared Shelf. The actress and United Nations women goodwill ambassador shared a photo on Twitter (embedded above) with the first read for the group: My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a new selection will be made on a monthly basis. Thus far, more than 78,000 people have joined this group. Some of the celebrity participants include actress Sophia Bush, soccer star Abby Wambach, and filmmaker Lena Dunham. At this point in time, it is not known if singer Taylor Swift or author J.K. Rowling will also take part.

Over at the Goodreads page for Our Shared Shelf, Watson revealed the origins behind this venture: “As part of my work with UN Women, I have started reading as many books and essays about equality as I can get my hands on. There is so much amazing stuff out there! Funny, inspiring, sad, thought-provoking, empowering! I’ve been discovering so much that, at times, I’ve felt like my head was about to explode…I decided to start a Feminist book club, as I want to share what I’m learning and hear your thoughts too.”

Click here to listen to Watson’s HeForShe campaign speech. (via People)

  Pictured above is one of the characters from Ame Dyckman’s upcoming picture book (coming in April), illustrated by Zachariah OHora. I love this girl’s shock of red hair. She’s welcoming you all to a sort of illustration dump today. Well, that phrasing sounds very ineloquent, but it’s a happy thing. About two weeks ago, […]

Isn't that awesome! First month of the year and Anna and Crocodile win a surprise honour.

I wrote a making-of feature for the Walker Books blog, you can read it here.

I wondered who these instructions were for. Was this a chapter from a pirate primer? Who was reading it now and why? I started to illustrate it, first imagining myself as a small child, practicing to sleep with my eyes open to make sure no one could steal the gold I hadn’t found yet.

“Get yourself a pet that will surprise you at night,” the story recommended. “A crocodile is ideal. Carry one with you wherever you go to build up your strength. Start with a young crocodile. It will grow.”

This was an idea taken from the Greek myth of Milo who carried a calf on his shoulders every day until it grew into a bull and he grew into a mighty Olympian. More importantly, one summer when I was tiny my mother bought me an inflatable crocodile in the supermarket. It was big enough to ride on and intended for the seaside. I carried it everywhere, dragging it by the tail until its snout wore through on the tarmac and it deflated before the holiday even started.

I drew a girl and her toy crocodile. It wasn’t quite right. They just seemed very quiet and small. - I drew them in on a new page and asked the girl some questions about the crocodile. She said it was called Rupert Maureen, and didn’t move unless she threw it and she wasn’t supposed to throw it. I didn’t expect that.

Excerpt

Intro from Sarah MacLean

Being shot on the Great North Road isn’t exactly a thing people expect to happen, and Lady Sophie Talbot finds herself in the rooms above The Warbling Wren pub, under the welcome care of a rather mad doctor and the watchful eye of the rather infuriating (and infuriatingly handsome) Kingscote, Marquess of Eversley. There are worse things, she supposes. Or are there? Not for King.)

—

“If you want a bath, you’ll have to accept my help,” he said.

She pursed her lips at that, her gaze settling longingly on the steaming bath. “You mustn’t look.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” It might have been the most obvious lie he’d ever told.

Somehow, she believed it, nodding and throwing back the coverlet to step out of the bed. She came to her feet, the top of her head at his chin, and he resisted the urge to help her across the room. “How do you feel?” he asked, hearing the gravel in his words. He cleared his throat.

“As though I’ve been shot, I’d imagine.”

He raised a brow. “Clever. There’s food when you’ve bathed.” The words summoned a low growl from her, and her hands flew to her stomach. Her cheeks turned red, and he smiled. “I take it you are hungry.”

“It seems so,” she said.

“Food after the bath. And then sleep.”

She met his gaze. “You’re very domineering.”

“It’s a particular talent.”

“What with you being called King.”

“Name is destiny.”

She moved past him to the high copper bathtub. He resumed his place against the wall, arms crossed, watching her carefully as she reached down, her long fingers trailing in the hot water as she sighed her anticipation. The sound was like gunfire in the room—pure, unadulterated pleasure. It was delicious.

King stiffened. He was not interested in the lady’s pleasure.

If only someone would tell his body that.

Dear Readers,

What a week! We were thrilled that so many of you stopped by and left such thoughtful comments for Alexandria (and me!). Thanking my stars this morning that I don't have to pick the winner, because Random.org has done it for me. Whew!

The LUCKY WINNER of PRETTY OMENS is announced at the end of the post, but please take a moment to read about two other titles in the series by Alexandria LaFaye:

Ever since her father remarried, Nissa feels like a stranger in her own home. Her new stepmother rearranges the house and removes all signs that Nissa’s free-spirited mother ever lived there. And her best friend wants to trade her time with Nissa for the opportunity to impress boys. Hoping to find traces of how life used to be, Nissa accepts an invitation from her mother and moves to Chicago.

    ऑड ईवन कार नम्बर – दिल्ली और कोर्ट का आदेश Audio-Pollution-Awareness- Odd Even cars in Delhi मेरे मन की बात खुश तो बहुत होंगें आप कि 15 जनवरी आने वाली है अब ऑड ईवन से छुटकारा मिलेगा… जान बची सो लाखो पाए.. पर क्या वाकई !! जान अब तक बची हुई थी या […]

The post ऑड ईवन कार नम्बर – दिल्ली और कोर्ट का आदेश appeared first on Monica Gupta.

    ऑडियो- प्रदूषण -जागरुकता- ऑड ईवन कार नम्बर- दिल्ली Audio-Pollution-Awareness- Odd Even cars in Delhi मेरे मन की बात खुश तो बहुत होंगें आप कि 15 जनवरी आने वाली है अब ऑड ईवन से छुटकारा मिलेगा… जान बची सो लाखो पाए.. पर क्या वाकई !! जान अब तक बची हुई थी या अब जाएगी… […]

The post ऑडियो- प्रदूषण -जागरुकता- ऑड ईवन कार नम्बर- दिल्ली appeared first on Monica Gupta.

Google has created a Doodle to celebrate Charles Perrault’s 388th Birthday. He has become well-known for writing his own versions of some of the world’s most beloved fairy tales.

Here’s more from the Google Doodle webpage: “We owe the Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty narratives we’ve known since childhood to Charles Perrault, the 17th-century French author and academician…For today’s Doodle, artist Sophie Diao created tableaux for Perrault’s Mother Goose stories (Les Contes de ma Mère l’Oye, 1697): Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Puss in Boots.”

In the past, Google has crafted Doodles in honor of Little House series author Laura Ingalls Wilder, Where the Wild Things Are creator Maurice Sendak, and Anne of Green Gables novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery. Here’s a video from Google headquarters spotlighting the artists behind the doodles. Which authors would you suggest as future Doodle subjects? (via Time)

Question: My entire story stemmed from one simple image of a soldier & a firing squad. The problem is that since then I have created proper detailed characters

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominees for the 2015 Academy Awards, the James Franco/Seth Rogen comedy The Interview wasn’t on the list. That Oscar spurned this “bromance” surprised nobody. Most critics hated the film and even Rogen’s fans found it one of his lesser works. Those audiences almost didn’t have a chance to see the film.

The post Cultural foreign policy from the Cold War to today appeared first on OUPblog.