James Patterson Speaks Out

This came out a while back and I have been meaning to post it. James Patterson took out ads in the NYT + Publisher's Weekly encouraging the US government  Click to read his interview in PW + Salon.

It's Coming!!! Ender's Game...the movie

What an amazing cast! We were all very excited to get this trailer. For more inf on the movie and the book you can go to the Tor website.  
OK now back to work...

Sherman Alexie addresses censorship

Love Sherman Alexie!  Here he is on the subject of censorship. 
By the way, my favourite all time movie?  Smoke Signals.  The movie is based on a short story in Sherman Alexie's collection Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.  Check out his most recent collection, Blasphemy.

Customers Say the Darndest Things!

Customer: I’ve forgotten my glasses, could you read the beginning of this book to me to see if I like it?

Customer: What books could I buy to make guests look at my bookshelf and think: ‘Wow, that guy’s intelligent’?

You can check out more of these hilarious conversations at Parade. These are taken from the book (natch!) Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores.

Property

When I was first presented Property: The True Story of a Polygamous Wife at sales conference, I couldn't believe that this was happening in Ontario and I had never heard about it before. Carol Christie has written her life married to the leader of the church and the years of abuse she went through at his and his son’s hands. As a woman who lived in fear and isolation for decades in an alleged cult, she wants the government to shut down the “church” and save those who still live there – including her youngest son. For more information on the movement to STOP polygamy go to www.stoppolygamy.com.

Best Bookstores on CNN!

Author Hilary Davidson, gave a shout out to her fave bookstores on CNN including our own Ben McNally Books and La Maison Anglaise. Here's what she said about Ben's store:

Ben McNally Books: Toronto

If I could give an award for the most beautiful bookstore in North America, this one in Toronto's Financial District would win. With its soaring ceiling, elegant chandeliers, slender columns and leather wing chairs, Ben McNally looks like an idyllic private club for book lovers. Some dedicated bookworms have even tied the knot in the store. Beautiful as it is, the shop's biggest strength is its charming staff, who are adept at sussing out any visitor's interests and recommending what to read next. Seductive as their home base is, they also sponsor readings and events around the city.

To see her other faves go here!

My Favourite PICTURE Book of the Season

It's soooooooo hard to choose but here it is. IN THE TREE HOUSE is set on backdrop of the night of the Eastern Seaboard blackout and is the story of two brothers growing up; one faster than the other. Sara Ellis gave it a starred review in Quill and Quire and had these lovely word's to say...so it's not just me!!!

“In the Tree House by Andrew Larsen demonstrates another potential for the picture book, that of a parallel story enacted in the illustrations (ably provided here by Dušan Petričić). In a few perfect words, Larsen captures the idyllic nature of that summer. The turning point of the story is a blackout. I've never seen a picture book that so perfectly captures the pleasure of such an event. Larsen's text is full of delights, simple sensory details that capture a mood. To these crisply written words, Petričić brings his own rich dimension of narrative and character.”

A Guide to Responsible Digital Reading

One of the arguments for ebooks is that they are more environmentally friendly...I don't think that this is totally accurate. New Society Publishers has put together a Guide to Responsible Digital Reading. For more info click here.

Canadian Crime Authors Southwestern Ontario Crime Spree

Author Hilary Davidson

Four Canadian crime authors are joining forces this month to visit libraries in seven Southwestern Ontario towns — Woodstock,Orangeville, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, Thornbury, and Orillia — for a literary crime spree. The Crime Tour authors are Hilary Davidson, Ian Hamilton, Robert Rotenberg, and Robin Spano. All four are relatively fresh faces on the crime-fiction scene, though they have 15 novels (count them!) published amongst them over the past four years. This is the second time Davidson, Hamilton, and Spano have toured together. In June 2012, they visited a series of libraries in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, from Vancouver to Squamish, with novelist Deryn Collier. Since Collier was unable to travel this year, the trio will bejoined by Toronto-based Rotenberg. “We are all writers who rage on the page,” says Robin Spano. “But we are really friendly in real life. Whether you're an aspiring writer looking for inspiration or you love books and are intrigued by what goes into their creation, we hope you'll come away having learned something.”
The Events: Thursday, May 9,2013, Woodstock, ON, 2pm Woodstock Art Gallery / sponsored by Woodstock Public Library 449 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON, N4S 1C2 519-539-6761 This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, May 9,2013, Orangeville, ON, 7pm Centre Fellowship 375 Hansen Blvd., Orangeville, ON, L9W 0C2 519-942-9421 Tickets are $10 with proceeds going to the University Women Scholarship Fund.
Friday, May 10, 2013, Cambridge, ON, 9:30am Clemens Mill Library 50 Saginaw Parkway, Cambridge, ON, N1T 1W2 519-740-6294 This event is free and open to the public
Friday, May 10, 2013, Guelph, ON, 1pm Guelph Public Library 100 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 4J6 519-824-6220 This event is free and open to the public.
Friday, May 10, 2013, Brantford, ON, 4:30pm Brantford Public Library 173 Colborne Street, Brantford, ON, N3T 2G8 519-756-2220 This event is free and open to the public.
Saturday, May 11,2013, Thornbury, ON, 1pm L.E. Shore Memorial Library 173 Bruce Street South, Thornbury, ON, N0H 2P0 519-599-3681 This event is free and open to the public.
Sunday, May 12, 2013,Orillia, ON, 1pm “Murder and Mayhem on Mother’s Day at Manticore” Manticore Books 103 Mississauga Street,Orillia, ON, L3V 1V6 705-326-7776 This event is free and open to the public.

BEST POSTER EVER!!!!!!

Vader and Son has been a huge hit everywhere. The sequel Vader's Little Princess has just been released. To commemorate Chronicle has come out with is awesome poster. To download a copy go here!