Heralded by many as the next Goldfinch (as in, poised to be a popular literary breakout) and an early favorite for the year of librarians on GalleyChat, Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life (RH/Doubleday; OverDrive Sample) is becoming a holds superstar, with some libraries we checked spiking to ratios in the double digits.

Yanagihara’s second novel, after her acclaimed debut The People in the Trees, it tells the story of four friends, one of whom has lived a life of gothic trauma.

The 720-page novel is enjoying lavish attention. The LA Times’ review begins, “I’ve read a lot of emotionally taxing books in my time, but A Little Life … is the only one I’ve read as an adult that’s left me sobbing.” Vogue says the book announces “the arrival of a major new voice in fiction.” Kirkus, in a starred review, claims “The phrase ‘tour de force’ could have been invented for this audacious novel.” John Powers, a reviewer for NPR’s Fresh Air, confesses, “As I was reading, I literally dreamed about it every night.”

Even reviews that mention shortcomings offer high praise. The Huffington Post, in its “Bottom Line” column,  useful for readers advisors because it aims to combine “plot description and analysis with fun tidbits about the book,” calls it “a flawed but impressive novel that lifts the veil on the heart-wrenching consequences of trauma and loss.” It also calls the book “wondrous” and concludes that “the triumph of A Little Life’s many pages is significant: It wraps us so thoroughly in a character’s life that his trauma, his struggles, his griefs come to seem as familiar and inescapable as our own.” Entertainment Weekly in its B+ review says the novel is a “sometimes maddening read” but goes on to assert, “flaws and all, it’s still a wonderful Life.”

Check your holds. The waiting list might be as long as the novel itself.

According to People magazine, in an exclusive this morning, this cover is the real deal.

The art and type echo those from the cover of To Kill a Mockingbird. Quoted on the HarperCollins Library Love Fest blog, President and Publisher Michael Morrison notes,

“There are so many wonderful parts of Go Set a Watchman that it was hard to pick just one iconic image to represent the book. This design is perfect – it draws on the style of the decade the book was written, but with a modern twist. Go Set a Watchman begins with Scout’s train ride home, but more profoundly, it is about the journey Harper Lee’s beloved characters have taken in the subsequent 20 years of their lives.”

Go Set A Watchman, (Harper; HarperLuxe, HarperAudio; July 14, 2015)

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart showcases three authors this week.

Monday started with a bang as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Heretic: Why Islam Needs Reformation Now (Harper), was interviewed by Stewart, who clearly does not agree with her book’s thesis. Excerpted on ABC News, it opens with the assertion that “Islam is not a religion of peace” and goes on to criticize the faith with a broad brush and to suggest five reforms. Stewart pushes hard against the idea that Islam is different in its history of struggle over definition than other religions, pointing out that the Christian Reformation led to over a hundred years of violence triggered by a desire for a purer form of faith. While Hirsi Ali kept to her guns, Stewart was not convinced. The book is rising on Amazon, moving in to the top fifty bestsellers.

Sure to be a much lighter segment, Jon Ronson, author of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed (Riverhead Books; OverDrive Sample), returns to the show tonight. It will be his third appearance with Stewart and based on past interviews the two obviously appreciate each other. Ronson’s book, which will be released early next week, is timely given the current focus on the shaming culture, most centrally highlighted by Monica Lewinsky.
The comic satirist, as Stewart dubs him, has spent years meeting those who have been shamed and those doing the shaming and writes about the fallout on the victims and society as a whole. Ronson’s book was excerpted in the 2/12 NYT Magazine.

By the way, it was recently announced that Scarlett Johanson has signed to star in the film adaptation of Ronson’s earlier book, The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry. He also wrote The Men Who Stare at Goats (S&S, 2004), which was the basis for the 2010 movie starring George Clooney.

John Hargrove ends the week with his appearance on Thursday. He will discuss Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish (Palgrave Macmillan; BOT Audio).

Hargrove worked for Sea World and was featured in the searing documentary Blackfish. Kirkus calls his account of his years as a trainer and his current advocacy efforts to change laws regarding orcas in captivity “a shocking, aggressively written marine park exposé.” Hargrove was also a guest on NPR’s Fresh Air yesterday which sent his book racing up the Amazon charts.

Called a “scathing report” by the NYT when it was issued earlier this month, the Department of Justice’s investigation into the Ferguson, Mo. Police Department concluded that  it “had been routinely violating the constitutional rights of its black residents.”

The not-for-profit publisher New Press just announced that they will publish print and eBook versions in July that will include an introduction by Theodore M. Shaw, a former president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. More details available in the publisher’s press release. The ISBN is 978-1620971604.

The 102-page report is freely available online but major findings such as this are often published later in book form. Last December Melville House published The Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Torture. Many libraries bought paper copies of that report or provided access via OverDrive and several still have copies in circulation.

One spot of good news about Ferguson was the library’s response. Director Scott Bonner kept the building open, even providing space for classes when the schools were closed. As a result, donations poured in, enabling him to hire a children’s librarian.

Bonner was recently named a Library Journal “Mover & Shaker.”

UPDATE: Bonner has also won the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity, announced on March 24th. The prize will be presented by the founder of the award, Daniel Handler and author Jacqueline Woodson at this summer’s ALA annual conference in San Francisco.

Growing attention for Jill Essbaum’s debut novel Hausfrau (Random House; RH Audio; OverDrive Sample), which came out last week, is having an effect. Holds are rising and as a result, some libraries have increased their orders.

About an unhappy wife who seeks solace elsewhere, it has been compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, (see our earlier roundup) and even Anna Karenina mixed with a bit of Fifty Shades of Grey‘s eroticism.

The author was interviewed on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday. Host Lynn Neary quotes reviewer Jane Ciabattari who says, “For a first novelist, Essbaum is extraordinary because she is a poet. Her language is meticulous and resonant and daring.”

But another influential reviewer rains all over the parade. On Friday in the daily The New York Times Janet Maslin, who was on board for The Girl on the Train as well as an important early supporter of Gone Girl, is dismissive, calling Hausfrau “graceless.” She damns both the story, “Ms. Essbaum hasn’t got much of a plot in mind” and the prose as having “all the charm of a sink full of dishwater.”

Will this novel do as well as the books it is compared to? Both Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train hit the NYT Hardcover Fiction best seller list at #2 during their first week on sale, quickly rising to #1. We’re not likely to see the same for Hausfrau. Although holds are growing, they are not nearly as high as they were for the other two titles when they first arrived and the book is still relatively low on Amazon’s sales rankings.

R.A. Note: Several librarians on GalleyChat recommend another title, The Kind Worth Killing, by Peter Swanson (HarperCollins/Morrow; HarperLuxe; OverDrive Sample) as “better than The Girl on the Train.” Also check out other comparable new titles in our earlier post, Girl On The Train: A Nonstop Ride and one on the horizon, The Daylight Marriage by Heidi Pitlor (Workman/Algonquin, May, eARCs available from Edelweiss and NetGalley).

Going right to #1 on the 3/29 NYT Hardcover Nonfiction list after its first week on sale, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania (RH/Crown; RH and BOT Audio; RH Large Print) proves that Erik Larson has the magic touch.

Further, the USA Today list, which combines all genres and formats, shows it is the second best selling book in the country, behind The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, (Penguin/Riverhead; Thorndike; BOT Audio Clip; OverDrive Sample) at #1 after nine weeks.

Standalone thrillers from Harlan Coban and Joy Fielding hit shelves next week, as well as an embargoed new bio of  Steve Jobs, already making headlines and two debut Y.A. titles that have caught Hollywood’s attention.

The titles covered here, and several more notable titles arriving next week, are listed, with ordering information and alternate formats, on our downloadable spreadsheet, EarlyWord New Title Radar Week of March 23 2015.

Holds Leaders

The Stranger, Harlan Coben, (Penguin/Dutton; Brilliance Audio; Thorndike; OverDrive Sample)

Kirkus approves of this standalone thriller, saying, “This 100-proof nightmare ranks among his most potent.” PW completely disagrees, but adds, “Even when not at his best, Coben is very good, and readers won’t be disappointed.”

The Cavendon Women, Barbara Taylor Bradford, (Macmillan/St. Martin’s; Macmillan Audio; OverDrive Sample)

A sequel to the Edwardian era Cavendon Hall, (2014), this title brings the family saga in to the 1920’s. Kirkus calls the books “Bradford’s answer to Downton Abbey.” Booklist considers it a “dishy continuation.”

Someone Is Watching, Joy Fielding, (RH/Ballantine; Brilliance Audio; Thorndike)

This standalone gets a star from Booklist, “Not geared to the faint of heart, Fielding’s story of one woman’s search for justice, understanding, and internal peace is nothing short of arresting.”

Media Attention

Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader, Brent Schlender, Rick Tetzeli, (RH/Crown Business; RH & BOT Audio)

The book behind this week’s headlines that Tim Cook offered to donate a portion of his own liver to the dying Steve Jobs. It’s embargoed, but the media, always obsessed with Jobs, has picked over leaks, some of which come from the online version of the upcoming excerpt in Fast Company and others from Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature (since blocked). Another bit of news is that the authors, who will appear on ABC ‘s Good Morning America next week, portray their subject quite differently than Walter Isaacson did in his best seller, Steve Jobs, the basis for the movie that is currently filming. As the Fast Company headline, “Kind. Patient. Human. The Steve You Didn’t Know,” indicates, Becoming Steve Jobs could be considered a rebuttal to the earlier book.

YA Advance Attention

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl: Book One, Paige McKenzie, Alyssa Sheinmel, (Perseus/Weinstein Books; Recorded Books)

Media mogul Harvey Weinstein picked up rights to a book and movie series based on the YouTube series that averages 5 million views per month, catching the attention of the NY Post, which rarely covers books, let alone YA books, in a story headlined “Harvey Weinstein thinks he’s found the latest young adult hit.” The review media is also enthusiastic. Kirkus calls it “Suspenseful, exciting and endlessly entertaining” and SLJ says, “Readers who appreciated holly Black’s Doll Bones (2013) or Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones series should consider picking up this creepy debut.”

The author was featured on the Today Show:

We All Looked Up, Tommy Wallach, (S&S BYR; S&S Audio;  OverDrive Sample)

A SF novel about four teenagers facing the arrival of a meteor that is likely to wipe out the earth, we first started hearing about it from YA Galley Chatters who were intrigued by both the the cover (be sure to click on it, above right, to see the larger version. It really doesn’t work as a thumbnail) and the blurb from Andrew Smith, “Tommy Wallach’s We All Looked Up is a triumphant debut—this generation’s The Stand. It is at once troubling, uplifting, scary, and heart-wrenching, and written with so much compassion for our fragile hold on the fleeting here and now. A glorious, wonderful, completely unforgettable novel.” It’s since received a string of superlative prepub reviews including stars from Kirkus and PW.

MTV News pulls out TV and film references to describe it, “Skins meets The Breakfast Club meets Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia.” Paramount nabbed the film rights.

Picks

The Precious One, Marisa de los Santos, (HarperCollins.Morrow; HarperLuxe; HarperAudio)

Both an Indie Next and a Library Reads pick:

Taisy hasn’t seen her father since he dumped her family and started another one 17 years ago. An unexpected invitation to write his biography returns her to her hometown, and gives her a rare chance to knit together a broken web of relationships. Like all de los Santos’ books, The Precious One features smart, funny characters who form an unconventional family. It’s luminous and heartwarming, without an ounce of sap.  — Heather Bistyga, Anderson County Library, Anderson, SC

A Reunion of Ghosts, Judith Claire Mitchell, (Harper; HarperLuxe; HarperAudio; OverDrive Sample)

A GalleyChat favorite, this is also an Indie Next pick for March:

‘The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children to the third and fourth generations.’ These are the words that the Alter sisters live by and the reason they have chosen to die at their own hands. Lady, Vee, and Delph Alter have written a suicide note that turns out to be a family history. The sisters are descendants of Lenz, a chemist and the creator of the poison gas that was first used in WWI, and his wife, Iris, the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry and the first in the family to commit suicide. A Reunion of Ghosts is a captivating chronicle of a family and the weight of consequences that grow heavier with time.—Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What Comes Next and How to Like It: A Memoir, Abigail Thomas, (S&S/Scribner; S&S Audio; OverDrive Sample)

People “Book of the Week” — “It’s no wonder Abigail Thomas is leery of what lies ahead. The accident that left her husband brain-damaged was the starting point  for A Three Dog Life (2006); in her new book, she experiences a romantic betrayal that will leave you gasping. Mostly, though, she writes of the changes aging brings us all and of coping through love: of family, dogs, a well-turned phrase. She is superb company.”

Indie Next pick for April:

Like an honest talk with your wittiest friend, Thomas’ new memoir will have you both laughing out loud and on the verge of tears. Examining a life that has changed dramatically over the years and the friendship that has endured it all, What Comes Next and How to Like It reveals simple truths we can all recognize in our own lives. Thomas’ gentle humor is evident in every passage as she writes of struggling with aging, loyalty, and drinking after the death of her loving husband. What makes this all the more brilliant are the sparkling moments of insight, full of depth and emotion, that Thomas so beautifully shares with the reader. —Luisa Smith, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA

Sarah Wendell, one of the founders of the web site Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, appeared on the “Small Batch” edition of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour yesterday to discuss the romance genre.

Wendell and host Linda Holmes’ conversation is wide-ranging and concludes with Wendell offering some reading recommendations: two contemporary romances, Just One Of The Guys by Kristan Higgins (Harlequin, 2010) and A Gentleman In The Street by Alisha Rai (eBook only), and two mysteries with romance, Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn (Harlequin/Mira, 2007) and In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Macmillan/Minotaur, 2003).

Wendell notes that readers internalize the way others respond to their choices: “Romance readers are so often subjected to shamming, we’re not actually ashamed of the books that we read but we’re told we ought to be … even by the people at the checkout counter at the bookstore. When you get that reception to the books you are buying or checking out from the library you internalize that [but] when you find other people who love the same thing you do. there is this enormous ‘squee’ of relief.”

Two separate adaptations of Hilary Mantel’s Tudor series are featured in the New York Times online today. In the Television section, it’s the BBC series which begins on PBS Masterpiece on Sunday, April 5th. The Theater Section features the Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage adaptation which opens tomorrow in the Winter Garden theater on Broadway (note to those going to BEA, it will be running then).

The six-part TV series has already aired in the U.K. where it’s been a hit. According to the New York Times, it drew “an average of 4.4 million viewers a week, making it the most popular television drama on BBC Two since ratings began in 2002.” (Downton Abbey, which aired on ITV in the UK, has had a much larger audience, from a low of 8.29 million to a high of 12.9 million).

Mark Rylance will play the lead as Thomas Cromwell. Considered “the best actor of his generation” by many, including Al  Pacino, he is less well-known to American audiences than Damien Lewis (Homeland), who costars as Henry VIII. Soon to be a household name here, Rylance costars with Sean Penn in The Gunman opening this weekend and is set to play the lead in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming childrens movie, based on the Roald Dahl story, The BFG.

Rylance is featured in an inside look at the series on BBC News Night:

Promo for the play:

Tie-ins were published this week:

Wolf Hall: As Seen on PBS Masterpiece
Hilary Mantel
Macmillan/Picador: March 17, 2015
9781250077585, 1250077583
Trade Paperback, $16.00 USD

Bring Up the Bodies: The Conclusion to PBS Masterpiece’s Wolf Hall
Hilary Mantel
Macmillan/Picador: March 17, 2015
9781250077608, 1250077605
Trade Paperback, $16.00 USD

The script  of the play is also available. It includes, according to the publisher, “a substantial set of notes by Hilary Mantel on each of the principal characters, offering a unique insight into the plays and an invaluable resource to any reader looking for an even deeper understanding of Mantel’s historical creations.”

Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies: The Stage Adaptation, 
Hilary Mantel, Mike Poulton (adapted by)
Macmillan/Picador: February 24, 2015
9781250064172, 1250064171
Trade Paperback; $16.00 USD

UPDATE: Here it is:

And John Green, in a three-on-one interview on the Today Show:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The movie opens on July 24th. The tie-in, as well as tie-ins for other upcoming movies, is included in our continuously updated movie/tv tie-ins collection on Edelweiss.

MTV previewed the trailer to a live audience last night and, yes, everyone was pumped.

USA Today finds it necessary to explain that Paper Towns is NOT The Fault in Our Stars 2.

In the airport, on his way to the Today Show yesterday, John Green explains the meaning of the term “paper towns.”

Our live chat has now ended. Read the archived version below.

Live Chat with Cassie Beasley: CIRCUS MIRANDUS

(03/18/2015)

  

Close

4:10	Lisa Von Drasek Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:10

4:45	Lisa Von Drasek:  We will begin our live online chat with Cassie Beasley, author of CIRCUS MIRANDUS, in about 15 minutes. The book will be published by Penguin/Dial in June. Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:45 Lisa Von Drasek

4:48	Lisa Von Drasek:  A debut middle grade novel, it just received a starred review from Kirkus. Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 Lisa Von Drasek

4:48	Lisa Von Drasek Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48

4:48	Lisa Von Drasek:  Here's the full review … Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 Lisa Von Drasek

4:48

Lisa Von Drasek:  KIRKUS REVIEW -- starred One strange afternoon, 10-year-old Micah Tuttle finds out that magic is real. Micah always thought Grandpa Ephraim’s wild stories of the centuries-old Circus Mirandus were spun solely for his amusement. But when his dying grandfather writes a letter to the “Lightbender,” hoping to call in the miracle the magician had promised him as a boy, Micah learns the stories were true, and the appearance of Ms. Chintzy, the circus’ cantankerous parrot messenger, clinches the deal. Happily, Micah finds a loyal if somewhat challenging friend to help him track down the elusive light-bending magician: the magic-leery, science-minded Jenny Mendoza. Their budding rapport is nuanced and complex, a refreshing illustration of how absolute like-mindedness is not a prerequisite for friendship. On one level, the book is a fantastical circus romp, with fortunetelling vultures and “a wallaby that could burp the Greek alphabet.” On another, it’s both serious and thick with longing: Micah’s ache for the companionship of his once-vital guardian-grandfather; Grandpa Ephraim’s boyhood yearning for his absent father, as fleshed out in flashbacks; the circus founders’ desire to keep enchantment alive in a world where “faith is such a fragile thing.” A delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care. (Fiction. 9-12) Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:48 Lisa Von Drasek

4:55

Lisa Von Drasek:  I’m your moderator. In addition to being EarlyWord’s Kids Correspondent, I am the curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota, one of the world’s largest collections of children’s literature manuscripts and original. Before that, I was the Children's Librarian of the Bank Street College of Education. I’ve served on many awards committees including the Newbery, the National Book Awards for Young People's Literature and American Library Association's Notable Children's Books. Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:55 Lisa Von Drasek

4:56	Lisa Von Drasek:  You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to the author before the end of the chat. Don’t worry about typos – we’re sure to make them too! Wednesday March 18, 2015 4:56 Lisa Von Drasek

5:00	Lisa Von Drasek:  I see that Cassie has joined us -- we have a crowd gathering. Say hi to them. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:00 Lisa Von Drasek

5:00	Cassie Beasley:  Hi, Lisa! Hi, everyone! So excited about this chat. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:00 Cassie Beasley

5:00	[Comment From M. Circus FanM. Circus Fan: ]  LOVE the book! Thanks for doing this! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:00 M. Circus Fan

5:01	[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ]  Been looking forward to this all month! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Pam D.

5:01	[Comment From Sunny, OhioSunny, Ohio: ]  Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Sunny, Ohio

5:01	[Comment From FridaFrida: ]  Great to know you're a real person, Cassie. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Frida

5:01	[Comment From Brenda J.Brenda J.: ]  Hi from Florida, land of circuses. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Brenda J.

5:01	[Comment From Frances, INFrances, IN: ]  Thanks, Lisa and thanks, Cassie Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Frances, IN

5:01	[Comment From Book LoverBook Lover: ]  Hi from a fan. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 Book Lover

5:01	[Comment From M.G. TeacherM.G. Teacher: ]  Can't wait to share this book with my kids. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:01 M.G. Teacher

5:02	Cassie Beasley:  Hello, hello! I am totally a real person, and I have been looking forward to this at least as much as you guys have! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:02 Cassie Beasley

5:02	Lisa Von Drasek:  I'll start with a few comments. I know you are excited about that great Kirkus review. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:02 Lisa Von Drasek

5:02	Lisa Von Drasek:  You also got some other pretty great news recently. Film and TV rights were recently sold Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:02 Lisa Von Drasek

5:03	Lisa Von Drasek:  And, for audio fans, there's the announcement that Bronson Pinchot to narrate the audio book … Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:03 Lisa Von Drasek

5:03	Lisa Von Drasek Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:03

5:04	Lisa Von Drasek:  You must be feeling pretty good about all that. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Lisa Von Drasek

5:04	Cassie Beasley:  My head is spinning with all of the good things that have happened for CM lately. The Kirkus review was such a thrill, and the movie news was a big surprise! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Cassie Beasley

5:04	[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ]  I LOVED this book! I can't wait to share it with my students! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Brooklyn librarian

5:04	Cassie Beasley:  And Bronson is lovely, lovely. He's promised to sneak me a clip of the audio ahead of schedule. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:04 Cassie Beasley

5:05	Cassie Beasley:  Hi, Brooklyn librarian! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:05 Cassie Beasley

5:05	Lisa Von Drasek:  I'll start with a really tough question: Is there a one sentence “handle” that can describe the book to librarians and teachers? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:05 Lisa Von Drasek

5:06	Cassie Beasley:  Lisa, that is a tough question. I would say that... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:06 Cassie Beasley

5:06	Cassie Beasley:  Circus Mirandus is the story of a boy trying to save his dying grandfather by finding the magical circus that changed his life many years before. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:06 Cassie Beasley

5:07	Cassie Beasley:  Which doesn't cover all of it of course! But one sentence can be tough! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:07 Cassie Beasley

5:07	Lisa Von Drasek:  It works! What does Mirandus mean? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:07 Lisa Von Drasek

5:08	Cassie Beasley:  It means “wondrous” or “that which is to be marveled at”! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley

5:08	Cassie Beasley:  It's Latin. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley

5:08	Cassie Beasley:  I spent a ridiculously long time combing through lists of words to find the perfect name for the circus... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley

5:08	Cassie Beasley:  so I'm glad you asked! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Cassie Beasley

5:08	Lisa Von Drasek:  Even though I know that Great Aunt Gertrudis (now that sounds Latin) is from Arizona I am not sure where Micah lives- is that a deliberate? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:08 Lisa Von Drasek

5:09	Cassie Beasley:  Yes... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:09 Cassie Beasley

5:09	Cassie Beasley:  I was hoping to give Micah’s hometown an Everytown kind of feel… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:09 Cassie Beasley

5:09	Cassie Beasley:  I wanted readers to feel like the circus might show up where they lived... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:09 Cassie Beasley

5:10	Cassie Beasley:  and of course the settings I’m most familiar with are all Southern settings, so I wanted to avoid giving the impression that this was a specifically “Southern story. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:10 Cassie Beasley

5:10	Lisa Von Drasek:  I think Brooklyn librarian has a one-sentence handle for your CIRCUS MIRANDUS -- one you might enjoy … Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:10 Lisa Von Drasek

5:10	[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ]  I'd say if you have kids that love Dahl and want a meaty fantasy...this is for them Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:10 Brooklyn librarian

5:11	Cassie Beasley:  Ooo....I love that! "Meaty fantasy." Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:11 Cassie Beasley

5:11	Cassie Beasley:  Can I steal that? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:11 Cassie Beasley

5:11	Lisa Von Drasek:  How about the reference to Dahl -- are you fan of his? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:11 Lisa Von Drasek

5:12	Cassie Beasley:  I have heard that comparison so often lately. I do love Dahl, but it's actually been a very long time since I read his books! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:12 Cassie Beasley

5:12	Cassie Beasley:  Matilda was a favorite of mine growing up. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:12 Cassie Beasley

5:12	[Comment From Brenda J.Brenda J.: ]  Do you like circuses? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:12 Brenda J.

5:13	Cassie Beasley:  You know, I only went to an actual circus once as a child, but… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:13 Cassie Beasley

5:13	Cassie Beasley:  we went to the fairgrounds every year for the traveling fair. I think there’s an element of mystery… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:13 Cassie Beasley

5:14	Cassie Beasley:  and maybe even a kind of darkness to it. It’s all so pretty and bright and exciting, but then… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:14 Cassie Beasley

5:14	Cassie Beasley:  there's the background of it. Just at the corner of your eye. Something that makes the glitz seem like a cover for the otherworldly. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:14 Cassie Beasley

5:14	Cassie Beasley:  I think that's a lot of fun to play with as a writer! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:14 Cassie Beasley

5:15	[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ]  It's all yours. That and I appreciated the juicy lNguage. I am looking forward to reading this aloud Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:15 Brooklyn librarian

5:15	[Comment From Brooklyn librarianBrooklyn librarian: ]  The Dahl reference is that you are unafraid of showing difficult circumstances with unsympathetic adults as well as giving agency to the kids....also the wordplay and subtle humor Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:15 Brooklyn librarian

5:16	Cassie Beasley:  Yay! Thank you Brooklyn librarian. I'm going to start telling people I write meaty fantasy with juicy language. My books will sound scrumptious. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:16 Cassie Beasley

5:16	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Who were your favorite authors as a child? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:16 Deborah Baldwin

5:17	Cassie Beasley:  As a child? I loved William Goldman -- The Princess Bride, The Silent Gondoliers (which too few people have read). I was also a big fan... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:17 Cassie Beasley

5:17	Cassie Beasley:  of my parents' collection of adult epic fantasy. And Harry Potter. Of course. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:17 Cassie Beasley

5:18	Lisa Von Drasek:  Micah lost his parents at an early age- (this is typical in children’s books as adventure can’t happen if parents are supervising) we don’t really know anything about them…like how his dad and his aunt got along. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:18 Lisa Von Drasek

5:18	Cassie Beasley:  Oh, and Louis Sachar. I loved the Wayside School books and Holes. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:18 Cassie Beasley

5:19	Cassie Beasley:  I know…children’s authors are terrible to parents aren’t we?… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:19 Cassie Beasley

5:19	Cassie Beasley:  In my mind, Aunt Gertrudis has been more or less estranged from the family, happily living her own life apart from all of her brother’s “nonsense” stories… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:19 Cassie Beasley

5:19	Cassie Beasley:  so Micah's dad would have known her but not been close to her. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:19 Cassie Beasley

5:20	Lisa Von Drasek:  Love the name Gertrudis! Names are clearly important to you. How do you come up with them? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:20 Lisa Von Drasek

5:21	Cassie Beasley:  Gertrudis...I just thought it sounded so crotchety and uptight. Perfect for her! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:21 Cassie Beasley

5:21	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Where did you get your ideas for your characters, especially Aunt Gertrudis? ...Any real life inspirations or purely fictional? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:21 Deborah Baldwin

5:21	Cassie Beasley:  I do think a lot about names. I usually just try tons of different ones until one feels right. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:21 Cassie Beasley

5:22	[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ]  How did you come up with the great character, the parrot Chintzy- Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Pam D.

5:22	Cassie Beasley:  Deborah, my great aunt is the sweetest lady in the whole entire world! So I'm going to have to be really careful to explain to her that... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Cassie Beasley

5:22	Cassie Beasley:  Great Aunt Gertrudis is not in any way based on her! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Cassie Beasley

5:22	Cassie Beasley:  As for the others--none of them are based on anyone in particular, except... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:22 Cassie Beasley

5:23	Cassie Beasley:  Except for Chintzy, Pam! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:23 Cassie Beasley

5:23	Lisa Von Drasek:  We thought it would be fun to ask people who their favorite characters are. Here comes the poll … Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:23 Lisa Von Drasek

5:23	Cassie Beasley Chintzy is based on this pretty girl! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:23

5:24	Lisa Von Drasek:  OK, now everyone is totally distracted by Chintzy! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:24 Lisa Von Drasek

5:24	Cassie Beasley:  Oh, it's a contest! I get to see who everyone likes best! :) Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:24 Cassie Beasley

5:24	Lisa Von Drasek:  You mention that you read Harry Potter as a kid- How old were you and can you tell us a little about that experience? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:24 Lisa Von Drasek

5:25	Cassie Beasley:  Yes, that's my African Grey parrot! She's sweet...except for the biting. And very talkative. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:25 Cassie Beasley

5:25	Cassie Beasley:  Harry Potter-- I was in sixth grade! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:25 Cassie Beasley

5:25	Cassie Beasley:  My homeroom teacher read us a few pages after lunch every day. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:25 Cassie Beasley

5:26	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  What a beautiful bird! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:26 Deborah Baldwin

5:26	Cassie Beasley:  The whole class was enthralled, but it was taking her so long to get through it! I made my mom drive all the way to Savannah (an hour) so that I could get my own copy and the second book. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:26 Cassie Beasley

5:26	Lisa Von Drasek:  Have you tried reading CIRCUS MIRANDUS aloud to any kids? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:26 Lisa Von Drasek

5:27	Cassie Beasley:  Oh, she knows, Deborah! She thinks she is hot stuff. :) Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:27 Cassie Beasley

5:28	Cassie Beasley:  That sounds terrifying, Lisa! What if they didn't like it?! Seriously though, I have a friend who is reading a copy to her two boys right now, and I am on pins and needles waiting to find out if they like it or not! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:28 Cassie Beasley

5:29	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  How long did it take you to write Circus Mirandus? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:29 Deborah Baldwin

5:29	Cassie Beasley:  I have heard from a few librarians (Yay librarians!) that their students are really enjoying it, and that is the best feeling. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:29 Cassie Beasley

5:29	Cassie Beasley:  It took me about two years to write the book. Almost all of that spent on various revisions. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:29 Cassie Beasley

5:30	Lisa Von Drasek:  So far, Ms. Chintzy is beating Lightbender in our poll. Come on, Grandpa! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Lisa Von Drasek

5:30	Cassie Beasley:  The writing process never seems to stop though... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Cassie Beasley

5:30	Cassie Beasley:  I just made my very very final tweaks a few days ago, and sent it back to my editor. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Cassie Beasley

5:30	Cassie Beasley:  It's totally out of my hands now! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:30 Cassie Beasley

5:31	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Thank you for sticking with it! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:31 Deborah Baldwin

5:31	Lisa Von Drasek:  Interesting that revisions continue AFTER galleys are sent out. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:31 Lisa Von Drasek

5:32	Cassie Beasley:  I know, isn't it though? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:32 Cassie Beasley

5:32	Lisa Von Drasek:  How did you develop the character of the grandfather? He has many endearing attributes not the least is his faith in Micah. (and the twinkly in his eye) Who is like that in your life? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:32 Lisa Von Drasek

5:33	Cassie Beasley:  Revisions can happen write up until the moment when they pry it out of the author's fingers and send it to the printer! Which has happened! It's going to be a real book! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:33 Cassie Beasley

5:33	Cassie Beasley:  Grandpa Ephraim has had his own backstory from the very beginning… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:33 Cassie Beasley

5:34	Cassie Beasley:  which I think is so important, because too often grandparent figures in kids’ books are a little one dimensional… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:34 Cassie Beasley

5:34	Cassie Beasley:  Grandpa Ephraim's part of the story--finding Circus Mirandus as a boy and then losing it as an adult--is at the heart of the book... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:34 Cassie Beasley

5:34	Cassie Beasley:  so he grew as a character right alongside Micah. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:34 Cassie Beasley

5:35

Lisa Von Drasek:  There are small humorous moments throughout the story that lighten the sadness and desperation of the plot, Chintzy of course but also in the dialog. My favorite is when Micah is desperate to speak with Jenny and says it’s an emergency, its about home work and the mom says, “ Oh, okay.” Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:35 Lisa Von Drasek

5:35	Cassie Beasley:  And, I seem to have said that "Revisions can happen 'write up until'"...proof that I am a real person, folks! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:35 Cassie Beasley

5:36	[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ]  We agreed to overlook typos! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:36 Pam D.

5:36	Lisa Von Drasek:  Circus Mirandus survives because of faith…can you talk a little about why that is important to you? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:36 Lisa Von Drasek

5:36	Cassie Beasley:  Oh, Jenny! She's so cool. She's a lot like I was at that age. And she and Chintzy both make me laugh! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:36 Cassie Beasley

5:37	Cassie Beasley:  I think that's important in any book...not to have one tone. To have humor and heartache...just like life! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:37 Cassie Beasley

5:37	Cassie Beasley:  I don’t know if this answers the question, but… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:37 Cassie Beasley

5:38	Cassie Beasley:  I think for Micah the circus represents hope, even after he reaches it and finds that things aren’t what he had initially expected… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:38 Cassie Beasley

5:38	Cassie Beasley:  the hope that there is something better out there, and the belief that that something is within his grasp… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:38 Cassie Beasley

5:39	Cassie Beasley:  it keeps him going even when the situation seems unassailable. It makes him stronger. Hope, faith, belief-- I think we need it... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:39 Cassie Beasley

5:39	Cassie Beasley:  I think we lose some of it as we go through life, especially at the moments when we need it most, and I think that’s tragic. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:39 Cassie Beasley

5:41	[Comment From FridaFrida: ]  That is, after all, what life is about. And kids really eat up stories that show both sides. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:41 Frida

5:41	Lisa Von Drasek:  I related to the themes of a child learning how to deal with change and overcoming adversity. Were you conscious of those, or did the story just reveal itself to you? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:41 Lisa Von Drasek

5:42	Cassie Beasley:  I don't think too much about themes/lessons/morals when I'm writing, especially the initial draft. I think the story has to come first... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:42 Cassie Beasley

5:42	Cassie Beasley:  and then once that's done, readers are the ones who can really find all of the potential meanings I didn't even know were there! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:42 Cassie Beasley

5:42	[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ]  Well said! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:42 Pam D.

5:43	[Comment From Pam D.Pam D.: ]  Tell us about the art in the book. i loved the second cover! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 Pam D.

5:43	Lisa Von Drasek:  Speaking of that cover -- here it is: Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 Lisa Von Drasek

5:43	Cassie Beasley:  I love it too, Pam! It's by Diana Sudyka... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43 Cassie Beasley

5:43	Lisa Von Drasek Interior cover by Diana Sudyka Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:43

5:44	Cassie Beasley:  They didn't give me much say in the art, and I'm glad... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:44 Cassie Beasley

5:44	Cassie Beasley:  because I never could have come up with something so cool! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:44 Cassie Beasley

5:44	Lisa Von Drasek:  There are references to children’s literature embedded throughout this book- Peter Pan…. Can you tell us another? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:44 Lisa Von Drasek

5:45	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  Wow! I love that much better than just the circus tent . Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:45	Cassie Beasley:  I love that that art will show through the die-cut hat on the hardcover's dustjacket. And wait until you see the interior art! I just saw it all for the first time last week. Soooo good. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Cassie Beasley

5:45	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Love the new cover! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Deborah Baldwin

5:45	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  I was a Latin major in college, so I love the name of the circus! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:45	Cassie Beasley:  Oh yes. The book has two covers basically, which is so neat! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:45 Cassie Beasley

5:46	Cassie Beasley:  Lisa...about other references. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:46 Cassie Beasley

5:47	Cassie Beasley:  Those usually aren't intentional, so I have a hard time picking them out! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:47 Cassie Beasley

5:47	Cassie Beasley:  I think the books we really love stick with us, even if its been years since we've read them, Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:47 Cassie Beasley

5:48	Cassie Beasley:  we all internalize things, often without even realizing it, and then as a writer… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Cassie Beasley

5:48	Lisa Von Drasek:  Tell us what it was like to find out about the TV and film rights. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Lisa Von Drasek

5:48	Cassie Beasley:  hose story elements you’ve internalized and those themes, they keep cropping up whether you know it’s happening or not! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Cassie Beasley

5:48	[Comment From FridaFrida: ]  Which would you prefer, a book or a movie? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:48 Frida

5:49	Cassie Beasley:  I wish I had a picture of myself jumping up and down and squealing, because I did quite a lot of that! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:49 Cassie Beasley

5:49	Cassie Beasley:  And it all happened very very quickly. The producer who pre-empted the rights contacted me, and five days later we had the deal! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:49 Cassie Beasley

5:50	Cassie Beasley:  Well, around five days. I didn't keep perfect track. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:50 Cassie Beasley

5:50	Cassie Beasley:  Frida, books! I am a book girl through and through. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:50 Cassie Beasley

5:50	Cassie Beasley:  Though I do love to go to the movies. I love sitting in the theater in the dark and seeing stories unfold. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:50 Cassie Beasley

5:51	[Comment From FridaFrida: ]  That was a slip -- I actually meant to say -- which would you prefer, a movie or a TV series! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Frida

5:51	Cassie Beasley:  For that to be a possibility with Circus Mirandus--it's hard to fathom and so, so thrilling! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Cassie Beasley

5:51	Cassie Beasley:  Oh! A movie. I think. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Cassie Beasley

5:51	[Comment From Suzanne (from Tennessee)Suzanne (from Tennessee): ]  Who wouldn't be jumping? That's such exciting news. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:51 Suzanne (from Tennessee)

5:52	[Comment From M. Circus FanM. Circus Fan: ]  I've seen comparisons to the adult book, NIGHT CIRCUS. Have you read it? I don't agree -- NIGHT CIRCUS had great atmosphere, but NO plot! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 M. Circus Fan

5:52	Cassie Beasley:  Yes, a movie. Only because I'm not sure I can picture how they would string the story out into multiple seasons. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 Cassie Beasley

5:52	Lisa Von Drasek:  THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER perhaps not but….Can you talk about your choice to have Aunt Gertrudis be unredeemed. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 Lisa Von Drasek

5:52	Cassie Beasley:  I *have* gotten a lot of comparisons to NIGHT CIRCUS. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:52 Cassie Beasley

5:53	Cassie Beasley:  I waited to read it until after I was basically finished with CM because I was afraid I would pick up elements, and I didn't want to copy! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:53 Cassie Beasley

5:53	Cassie Beasley:  I enjoyed it, by the way. Love her conception of the circus. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:53 Cassie Beasley

5:53	Cassie Beasley:  Lisa, absolutely! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:53 Cassie Beasley

5:54	Cassie Beasley:  I did have a few early readers question whether it was right for Aunt Gertrudis not to have her moment of redemption… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:54 Cassie Beasley

5:54	Cassie Beasley:  but I’ve been pretty adamant from the start that she doesn’t get that. Just because it would feel good to have that tidy bow on the ending… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:54 Cassie Beasley

5:54	Cassie Beasley:  that doesn’t make it the right thing for the story. I want to write characters who are real, and the real Aunt Gertrudis has had decades to build up… Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:54 Cassie Beasley

5:55	Cassie Beasley:  her emotional armor, her resentment, her bitterness. She’s not willing to change. She doesn’t even want it for herself. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:55 Cassie Beasley

5:55	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Are there more "Circus Mirandus" stories in the works? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:55 Deborah Baldwin

5:56	Cassie Beasley:  CM does stand on its own, so it's not the kind of story that has to have a sequel. But, I have written one! It's a work in progress... Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:56 Cassie Beasley

5:56	Cassie Beasley:  waiting to see how my editor feels about it. I like it a lot, but that's pretty unsurprising. ;) Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:56 Cassie Beasley

5:56	[Comment From M.G. TeacherM.G. Teacher: ]  Do you do school visits? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:56 M.G. Teacher

5:57	Cassie Beasley:  I haven't done one before, since this is all so new, but I am totally game for school visits! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:57 Cassie Beasley

5:57	[Comment From M.G. TeacherM.G. Teacher: ]  How can we contact you for a visit? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:57 M.G. Teacher

5:57	Cassie Beasley:  The person to contact about that is my publicist at Penguin. Lauren Donovan. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:57 Cassie Beasley

5:58	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Looking forward to hearing if there will be more adventures... good luck... hope your editor like it. Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:58 Deborah Baldwin

5:58	Lisa Von Drasek:  We're closing in on the last few minutes. One last question -- If you weren’t a writer what would you be? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:58 Lisa Von Drasek

5:58	Cassie Beasley:  Or, you can always send requests through my website, and I'll forward them to her to address since I haven't quite got a handle on my own upcoming schedule! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:58 Cassie Beasley

5:59	Cassie Beasley:  It's probably cheating to pick something that involves me reading books all day long isn't it? Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Cassie Beasley

5:59	Cassie Beasley:  But I guess I would be either a literature professor or a chef. School, books, food—my loves are simple ones! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Cassie Beasley

5:59	Lisa Von Drasek:  Oops, forgot -- I think you have a pecan recipe to share with us! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Lisa Von Drasek

5:59	Cassie Beasley:  I do! Wednesday March 18, 2015 5:59 Cassie Beasley

6:00	Cassie Beasley:  http://www.myrecipes.com/re... Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley

6:00	Lisa Von Drasek:  And, WHY do yo love pecans? Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Lisa Von Drasek

6:00	Cassie Beasley:  My favorite way to bribe editors, agents, and everyone in between! It's the best toffee there is. :) Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley

6:00	Cassie Beasley:  I do! Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley

6:00	Cassie Beasley:  But even if I didn't I would be obligated to say yes, all things considered. Farmer's daughter and all. :) Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:00 Cassie Beasley

6:01	Lisa Von Drasek:  Cassie, thanks so much for doing this. We know we'll be hearing a lot more about CIRCUS MIRANDUS come June and we feel privileged to be amonth the first to talk to you about it. Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:01 Lisa Von Drasek

6:01	Cassie Beasley:  Oh...WHY? Because they're delicious. And good for your heart... Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:01 Cassie Beasley

6:02	Cassie Beasley:  Thank you too! Thank you all! This was so much fun. Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:02 Cassie Beasley

6:02	[Comment From Frances, INFrances, IN: ]  Thanks, Cassie, good luck. Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:02 Frances, IN

6:02	[Comment From Sunny, OhioSunny, Ohio: ]  Agree! This was great! Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:02 Sunny, Ohio

6:03	Lisa Von Drasek:  Over and out, everyone. The next title in our program is Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb -- The Tonight Show showrunner reinvents the Excalibur legend—with rats! More: http://bit.ly/1ByT1wZ Wednesday March 18, 2015 6:03 Lisa Von Drasek

 

 

Nancy Pearl featured Katherine Heiny’s debut short story collection Single, Carefree, Mellow (RH/Knopf; RH & BOT Audio, OverDrive Sample) on Seattle’s NPR affiliate KUOW yesterday.

Offering tips on how to read short stories, she suggests they are closer to poetry than fiction and advises readers to start with the first story and then put the book down for a day or two before picking it up again. “They repay you more,” she says, “if you give them space.”

Suggested as read-likes are Laurie Colwin’s The Lone Pilgrim and Melissa Bank’s The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing.

Nancy is not alone in appreciating Heiny. She has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, The Millions, and in The New York Times. Her book has been reviewed in Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times and was highlighted in O, the Oprah Magazine as one of the “17 Books You Should Be Reading This Spring.”

Circulation is strong in libraries we checked with holds at or exceeding a 3:1 ratio.

Nancy discusses a book each Tuesday on KUOW. An archive is available of past titles.

Mark your calendars: the next Star Wars film, Episode VII The Force Awakens, premiers on December 18, 2015. It picks up after the events of Return of the Jedi and is co-written and directed by J.J. Abrams (his qualifications include directing the TV series Lost and two films in the Star Trek franchise).

A teaser trailer was released in November (the full trailer is rumored to be coming in May):

Related books are also on the way. According to the Disney Publishing/Lucasfilm press release, there will be a lot of them, over 20, for kids, teens, and adults in a range of formats.

Star Wars: Aftermath (Del Rey/Lucas Books; 978-0345511621; Sept. 4), by Chuck Wendig is the first novel in an expected trilogy. According to USA Today, it “bridges the approximately 30-year gap between [Return of the] Jedi and The Force Awakens. With the Emperor and Darth Vader both assumed dead, a new government arises to replace the fallen Empire in the novel.”

Also forthcoming is another of the popular DK visual guides, Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know (Penguin/DK; 978-0241183700; Sept. 4, 2015) and several comics from Marvel, including Star Wars: Journey to the Force Awakens (Marvel Comics; 978-0785197812; Nov. 17).

A full listing of related titles has not been released but Entertainment Weekly offers a rundown of projects in the works as well as the backstory on how the massive, and secret, publishing program was organized.

Given the size of the fan base and their devotion, expect requests far in advance of the Sept. pub. dates.

This month’s YA & MG GalleyChat has ended. Join us for the next one, Tuesday, April 21, 5 to 6 p.m. EDT (virtual cocktails served at 4:30).

#ewyagc Tweets

 A literary nonfiction ghost story that is part family history, part haunted house story, and part investigative journalism, American Ghost: A Family’s Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest by Hannah Nordhaus, (Harper; Tantor Audio; OverDrive Sample) sounds like the kind of book readers devour.

As we reported last week, Entertainment Weekly is hot for the title, selecting it as one of their “20 Books We’ll Read in 2015.” They follow up by interviewing Nordhaus. Calling the book “captivatingly creepy.” they offer this quick, R.A.-worthy summary,

Hannah Nordhaus discovers that her great-great-grandmother, Julia Staab, is New Mexico’s most famous ghost, haunting a Santa Fe hotel called La Posada. Backed by an army of psychics and ghosthunters, a crumbling family diary, and a frontier-sized heap of curiosity, Nordhaus sets out to discover who Julia was—and why her spirit has stuck around for all these years.

American Ghost has earned starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, which enticingly details Nordhaus’s research process.

She consults a variety of self-appointed supernatural experts—psychics, tarot-card readers, mediums, and dowsers—as well as more traditional sources such as newspaper archives, family diaries, and aging relatives. She also visits the settings of her grandmother’s life, from villages in Germany to the deserts of New Mexico where the Staabs lived.

It was featured on Sante Fe’s News 13:

It is also getting attention in print publications, including the Sante Fe New Mexican, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Boston Globe (subscription required), and is on Elle magazine’s list of “The 7 Must-Read Books Of March.”

Holds are strong on light orders in libraries we checked.