You may or may not know that booksellers, librarians and reviewers get early reading copies of books prior to publication.  They are called ARCs (advance reading copy), galleys, uncorrected proofs, whatever, but what is important is that they are not available to the general public. 

A few months ago I read an early manuscript of a book titled WHITE HORSE by Alex Adams.  It will be published in April by Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Publishers, and it is the first book of a trilogy.  I loved it and sent the publisher a bookseller quote.

Atria contacted Bookworks wanting to know if the store had a book group (yes, Bookwork's Book Group - aka BBG) and if BBG would be interested in reading advance copies of WHITE HORSE and then create questions to be used in the Reading Group Guide.  The Guide would be bound in the finished book to be used by reading groups around the country.

WHITE HORSE is a post-apocalyptic (or dystopian) novel and it is not the kind of book that BBG normally reads.  Like any good dystopian novel today, it has some pretty gruesome details in it.  Bookwork's Book Group said "yes, let's do it!". 

In December, Atria shipped a box of bound manuscripts to the store.  The BBG members picked up copies and employees started reading it, too.  Atria sent us a stack of WHITE HORSE bookmarks with my bookseller quote and a link to Bookworks on them.

7:00 p.m. January 25, was chosen as THE Night To Come Up With The Reading Group Guide Questions.  Bookworks provided pizza, sparkling cider, garlic bread and yummy cinnamon/sugar goodies.  We laughed a lot.  We disagreed.  We even got a bit rowdy at times.  We talked until it was time for the store to close.

Best of all, we created some interesting, intelligent, thought-provoking questions (which, thankfully, will be edited by professionals at Atria!).

My thanks to the people at Atria for letting us participate in this process; thanks to Bookworks for the food & drink; and thanks to everyone, BBG members and store employees, who read the book and provided questions.  It was a unique experience and everyone involved is excited about seeing the finished book and the Reading Group Guide.  April.  Check it out!  WHITE HORSE by Alex Adams.

And if you are interested in attending Bookworks' Book Group, it is open to the public, everyone is welcome, and all opinions matter.  2nd Wed. of every month, 7:00 p.m., at Bookworks.  

So far, this new year is sprinting fast enough to win a gold medal! Yikes I was kinda hoping for a leisurely, scenic jog. Oh well,
when I ask my 90 something year old neighbor how he is, he checks his pulse and says, still ticking, I'm great! So here's to Bob and keeping in the race fast or slow!
Here are my sit down and read choices for this week, Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery. Penguin Publishing is doing some classics with lovely cloth covers. Every time I walk by the shelf I am drawn to the pink and yellow cover of Anne Of Green Gables. It just yells out, attic window reading perch, even in January. I am one of the lucky kids who did have an attic window at which to read and wouldn't mind a bit reliving a few moments of that time.
Balzac's Omelette by Anka Muhlstein, Random House hardcover, $19.95. Food, France and Literature! We're talking clear the afternoon for me. I was also one of the lucky kids who had free reign of the kitchen. Triple that with the fact that I've been entranced with France since I had a pen pal from southern France when I was in grade school, I am definitely going to give myself a present of this one!
From the Psychology section, Max Your Memory the Complete Visual Program, by Dr. Pascale Michelon, paperback DK Publishing, $19.95, stopped me in my tracks the other day. It just looks too cool to not stop and read. I'm not saying my memory isn't what it used to be, but I will say I am willing to try strategies to perk it up and get it going a little more effectively! This book is colorful and fun looking. (Also has pictures of the Eiffel Tower).
Throw Out Fifty Things, by Gail Blanke is still percolating in my brain. My tally for the past couple of weeks,
Storyboards for a tv show I produced three years ago, - recycle bin.
A big box of clothes that are still nice, but no longer fit, - Storehouse donation.
Here's hoping your jog or sprint is going well and your sit down and read program is on track.
Your book pal,
Contessa Connie

When I was given a copy of James Carlos Blake's COUNTRY OF THE BAD WOLFES to read in advance of publication, my first thought was "ok, it isn't a spy thriller or a murder mystery but I'll try it".

I was completely hooked within a few pages and I have been telling readers about it ever since.

James Carlos Blake will be at Bookworks this Saturday, January 28th, at 3:00 p.m.

I can't wait to meet him.  I can't wait to hear him discuss this book.  Yes, I am excited about this!

Here is what I told his publisher (Cinco Puntos Press) about the book and my quote was chosen to be in the Indie Bound, Indie Next flyer for January.    FREE copies of Indie Next can be found on the front counter at Bookworks.  We get new flyers each month - Indie booksellers from around the country tell you about great new books just being published.  It is a wonderful resource, especially if you aren't sure what book you want to read next.

So, here is my quote:

"In the early 1800s, Irishman Roger Blake Wolfe arrived in New Hampshire, married, and fathered twin boys.  Within a year, he was arrested and executed for maritime piracy in Veracruz, Mexico.  Thus begins the Wolfe family connection with Mexico.  One twin, Samuel Thomas Wolfe, fought in the Mexican-American War, deserted and joined the San Patricios on the Mexican side, married, and lived in Mexico City.  His twin, John Roger Wolfe, became very wealthy and lived on a hacienda near Veracruz with coffee plantations and entire vilages within his ownership.  John Roger and his wife had twin boys, who are the very meat of the book - a sprawling, magnificent story of three generations of men, their fortunes, loves and losses, during a fascinating time in the history of the United States and Mexico."  

Reminder:  this Saturday at 3:00 p.m.   If you can't be there, you can always order the book online or over the phone - after the event, we'll have signed copies for sale on the shelves.

I am looking forward to seeing you there! 

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season has been bright and shining! I had a charmingly lovely holiday this year, both at the store and at home. We were busy here at the store. It was fun to look up and see people filling the aisles and selecting books for presents. One of the nicest parts of being busy was how happy customers were for us! I went home feeling needed and loved because people told us they are grateful we are in business. I love this store and I love books so it was joyful for me to hear people say keep this place going, we like it!
Being on the floor helping people and neatening and restocking books did point up a frustration I have though. This is it, coming across books that look so good I want to sit down on the floor and start reading. I am pretty sure I'm going to ask Danielle and Wyatt if they don't think we should have a reading allowance. I wouldn't be piggy, just half hour a day to discover a book and start it. In the meantime, I've decided to begin a weekly listing of titles I would stop and read if I had that allowance.
I spend most of my time in the children's/teen department, the majority of the titles will be from there. However, on my walks across the store I find treasures so a few will be from various locations. Here are just a few titles, check in next week for what else I've found.
Best Regards,
Contessa Connie, on the book discovery trail
From picture books:
Calico the Wonder Horse or the Saga of Stewy Stinker
story and pictures by Virginia Lee Burton
paperback, Houghton
From the fairy tale shelf:
Once Upon Time a collection of classic fairy tales
illustrated by Kevin Tong
hardcover, Harper
The art on/in both of these is very persuasive in its argument to give them a try.
From mid school readers:
Moon Pie by by Simon Mason,
hardcover Random House
present day fiction
Black Radishes by Susan Lynn Meyer
historical fiction
paperback, Random House
From the Teen shelf:
Troubadour
Mary Hoffman
hc MPS
I like another book by this author, I am pretty sure this is going to be one I'll have to read
From the Art section:
The Conference of the Birds
by Peter Sis
hardcover, Penguin
Sis is an author/illustrator who has created many children's books
The illustrations are gorgeous, the story in poetry fashion
From the Mantle:
Throw out Fifty Things Clear the Clutter find your Life
Gail Blanke
paperback Hachette
My desk, nor my kitchen table, are not the neatest places on earth so every tip for clearing stuff out comes with my name on it! I better make time for this one.

I've been under the weather but now I am ready to start telling you about some books that would make terrific gifts for the holidays.

My husband, an old basketball player (oops - guess I should say EX basketball player!) reads every night but it usually takes him several weeks to finish a book because he only reads for a short time, not hours like I do. 

I have never seen him finish a book as quickly as he did ONE ON ONE, Behind the Scenes with the Greats in the Game by John Feinstein.  It is in hardcover - $27.99 (Little Brown), published this week.  It is Feinstein's encounters off the fields, in the locker rooms, behind the scenes with everyone from Jim Valvano and Bob Knight to Tiger Woods and John McEnroe.

Don, my old (ex) basketball playing husband, says this is the most enjoyable book he has read in a very long time.  He wants to read it again.  This is the highest praise he could possibly give a book.  I am so impressed with how much he liked it that now I'm going to read it.

My old basketball player says it doesn't even matter what sport someone enjoys, and whether they are a player or an armchair fan, either way, this book will be the hit of their season.  Check it out!