#Greenlight bookstore

[whilereadingandwalking]

Got to visit Greenlight Bookstore last week in Brooklyn! What a cozy store!

[andiree]

READY OR NOT release day was a success 🍟🌃🛼💖💬 go buy yours now!

[felicebelle]

Join me and a few of my favorite people and poets for the Viscera launch party at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn. Tuesday, August 22, 7:30PM. 

With special guest appearances by Jennifer Murphy, Regie Cabico, Stephen Colman, & Bassey Ikpi. RSVP today!

[olderthannetfic]

https://olderthannetfic.tumblr.com/post/759473232339419136/httpsolderthannetfictumblrcompost75896449235#notes

ONTF: "I haven’t read the actual book. Does it come across as just a repeat? My impression was that it was supposed to be more of a critique/reaction."

I read the book and watched DitF when they came out, so years and years ago, back when the book still used the lines about being like handmaide's tale and pacific rim, before at my bookstore deleted that tagline. I didn't know it was inspired by DitF when I picked it up.

I read the book without knowing about the DitF ties, and to me the DitF plot elements immediately jumped out and were a bit too blatant. The male female pair needing to pilot the mecha is one thing. Or reversing 02's murderous piloting and making it an all against the women by men, then making the murder part universal and not just exclusive to one individual also was fine. I'm no expert on mechas, so at first I just waved it away.

But parts of the plot also felt very copied to the point that I just knew the twist not because the book did anything to foreshadow it, I just had to remember DitF and could vaguely predict the plot twist. My most eyeroll example is probably the "The humans are the real invaders!" which I kinda guessed within the first few chapters, if not pages, after noticing the DitF ties, even before the story tried to cobble that foreshadowing together. Basically if you have watched DitF you could basically predict 70% of the plot twists and reveals. 🤷‍♀️ I might be misremembering but I think even the Alien plot twist was just used beat for beat, but I'm not sure if I'm mixing them up in my mind.

Even if it was a critique of that anime, it still felt too copied and like more of a fanfic + analysis, than a work standing on its own with original ideas. You could have changed the names, and it'd have felt right at home with the DitF fanfics. I think the best way to compare it is with Hunger game clones, the original Hunger games had a large focus on social commentary and the woes of the people, while many Hunger game clones were basically just focusing on the love triangle and #Girlboss without any of the apparent depth the actual book had. It had a bit of that feel, just that DitF wasn't that good either. 😖Ironically, never read that one, but my friend who read the Hunger games, and some clones explained that to me.

I know the author themselves admitted to it, but I think the problem is less the admitting to having copied certain concepts. I think the problem is them being mad that people still critique that aspect at all. Even if you openly tell people you copied or got inspired by another work, if people think it's too blatant, that doesn't negate the fact that people are gonna find a problem with how obvious or blatant the copying is. Offence can be a defence from accusations of copying, but depending on your writing it can still warrant people criticizing it because of how much you copied or "got inspired by". Like, the tiktok I saw wasn't about people finding out about the DitF copying, it was XJZhao trying to shut up the DitF people by saying they got the greenlight from the DitF showrunners, when that wasn't really the problem. I mean some people bitched about that, but it was also aimed at people just criticizing how obvious it was, even if they admitted to it being based on DitF rewrites. 😐

--

Ah. Honestly... I think a lot of problems come from publishing's love of marketing very young writers because it's exciting and aspirational for the audience and thus sells books. This just sounds like inexperienced writer stuff plus a bad penchant for fighting on social media when they should refrain.

[swansongofalyre]

Where to Find Memento Mori (Updated 9/11/2024)

On August 13, two days before 광복절 (Korean National Liberation Day), my debut novel was released. The book is about Korean-American family, and also about Greek mythology, and I promise this combination makes sense in the end. (For those who are curious, I wrote an uncharacteristically personal guest post for Women's Writers, Women's Books on the topic of what inspired me to write a Eurydice and Orpheus retelling about my Korean grandmother.)

It was surreal to go to a store the other day and see it on a table next to Salman Rushdie and other acclaimed writers. After 13 years of this story existing in some form, I'm so excited that this book is finally out—both because it is a beautiful book that I am proud of and that I hope you enjoy, and also because I would love to stop being my own publicist (it is VERY awkward).

So here is an omnibus post of book-related info that I will keep updated and pinned going forward to finally give the memento mori tag a rest. Below the cut, you will find a running list of indie bookstores and public libraries that I know carry my book. (If you have a New York Public Library card and have 5 minutes, I will love you forever if you would email your local branch to ask them to carry my book, thus fulfilling my lifelong dream of living in the NYPL.)

Also below are a few upcoming events at which I have been invited to speak!

Bookstores by State (as of 9/11/2024)

Search for your local bookstore here!

Arizona

Changing Hands Bookstore (Phoenix and Tempe)

California

Gallery Bookshop (Mendocino)

Timbre Books (Ventura) Sold out for now (but you can still order online)!

Indiana

The Press (Valparaiso)

Iowa

Prairie Lights Books (Iowa City)

Maine

Longfellow Books (Portland) Sold out for now (but you can still order online)!

Massachusetts

Nantucket Book Partners (Nantucket) Sold out for now (but you can still order online)!

Porter Square Books (Cambridge and Boston both back in stock!)

Missouri

Skylark Bookshop (Columbia)

Montana

Chapter One Book Store (Hamilton)

New Hampshire

Water Street Bookstore (Exeter)

New Jersey

Watchung Booksellers (Montclair)

New York

Astoria Bookshop (Queens, 1 signed copy left!)

Book Culture (Signed copies at the 112th St. and Broadway stores; also available at LIC and Pittsford Pittsford has sold out for now!)

Books are Magic (Brooklyn, at both Smith St. and Montague St.)

Market Block Books (Troy) Sold out for now (but you can still order online)!

Greenlight Bookstore (Brooklyn) Back in stock!

Shakespeare & Co (Manhattan, Lincoln Center has signed copies; Lexington also as copies back in stock)

Yu and Me Books (Manhattan; comes with bonus goodies, see below!)

North Carolina

Quail Ridge Books (Raleigh)

Oregon

Powell's (Burnside, Cedar Hills, and Hawthorne locations)

Rhode Island

Heartleaf Books (Providence)

Vermont

Phoenix Books (Burlington and Essex)

Washington, D.C.

Politics and Prose (at both CT Ave NW and Union Market)

Washington State

Elliott Bay Book Company (Seattle)

Wisconsin

Woodland Pattern (Milwaukee)

Libraries (as of 09/10/2024)

Worldcat Listings (Probably the most comprehensive)

Libby (for e-books)

California

Berkeley Public Library

Illinois

Chicago Public Library

Kentucky

Lexington Public Library

Maine

Portland Public Library (On Order)

Michigan

Canton Public Library (On Order)

New York

Greenburgh Public Library (Available)

New York Public Library (Available)

Queens Public Library (Available)

Texas

Harris County Public Library (In Processing)

Virginia

Arlington Public Library (In Processing)

Wisconsin

Whitefish Bay Public Library

Washington State

Seattle Public Library

Online

Bookshop.org (US)

Bookshop.org (UK)

Massive Bookshop (all profits go to community bail funds)

Barnes & Noble

Target

KYOBO 교보문고 (Korea)

Upcoming Events

September 3: Astoria Bookshop in conversation with Maia Lee-Chin for the release of her incredible book Et Cetera

September 22: Narrative Bookshop (Somerville, MA) in conversation with Maia Lee-Chin

September 28: Brooklyn Book Festival for a debut authors panel moderated by THEE Edwidge Danticat

October 17: Fall for the Book Festival in Fairfax, VA for a panel on mythology with Rania Hanna, the amazing author of The Jinn Daughter

[geocyclist]

Home after a few days working in the poconos, saw a pileated woodpecker!

Looking forward to going to Brooklyn this weekend. Listening to a podcast today, someone mentioned Karczma, a polish restaurant, so that’s on our list to visit, along with Greenlight Bookstore, and the Brooklyn botanical gardens.

[klapollo]

i still have sooooo many indie bookstores to explore in this massive city but the ones i love a lot so far are book culture, bookmark shop in bay ridge, books are magic on montague, greenlight on fulton street and mcnally jackson in manhattan

[emi98338]

It’s officially my birthday week, and as promised I’m bookstore hopping. I’ve stopped into Strand, The Ripped Bodice, Book Off, Greenlight Books, and Book Culture, with an attempt at Better Read Than Dead. I’ve gotten so many books from authors that I love to read, signed up for so many book programs, and learned about so many fun special events coming up! We have another handful of stores today, with one last one this weekend. God I love this city 💖

[noellfettuccine]

Went to the city today :DD (✨Adelaide, heck yeah✨)

Wrote a whole journal entry under the cut

This is a bit stupid but I kinda forgot how loud it can get in public, especially in the city. I'm really used to being a recluse, ngl.

I originally planned to take a picture of the"Mall's Balls", an art sculpture made by Bert Flugelman and one of Adelaide's iconic landmarks. Apparently its actual name is "The Spheres", which sounds... ominous.

Turns out we didn't go that far down the Rundle Mall street, so I took a picture of one of the pig sculptures instead. There's 4 of them in total. The art piece is called "A Day Out" and it was done by Marguerite Derricourt. All the pigs are really cute, I love them 🥺

Also, apparently there's a pigeon sculpture as well?? And I missed it?? I'll never recover from this ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ

Anyway, we checked out a few video-game and anime type stores (that's the main reason I went, to look at cool nerdy things and maybe buy something). Then, we headed over to the Pan-Asian district for lunch and browsed a bit.

Before we left, we got a drink from a bubble tea shop. Saw this really cute pigeon while waiting at the bus stop. They sat on the floor near us! My heart melted aaaa 😍

Here's the stuff I got: anime girl soda, 2 sticker sheets and 2 visual novels!

The bookstore we went to is super cool! It's called Greenlight Comics and almost all the books they sell are graphic novels!! I'm definitely going there again!

Also wanted to share the book blurbs in case anyone is interested :3

Yeah, that's it! If you've read this far, thank you! Here's a Miku figure I saw as a reward(?)

[tjalexandernyc]

This comes out tomorrow! Which means today is the last day to preeeeeeeeorder.

Preorders! They are important to authors because:

They count toward your 1st week on-sale numbers

Your 1st week numbers determine whether you hit a bestseller list (not something I've ever done so far but maybe one day!)

Also helps bookstores know there's interest so they buy more copies

More copies in more stores means better placement in shops which means more copies sold

More queer/polyam/trans books get the greenlight when queer/polyam/trans books sell well because publishers love comps! (comparative titles)

So please! If you plan on buying a copy at some point, this is a great point to do so

Say hello to Triple Sec, out June 4, 2024 from Simon & Schuster! (Art by Petra Braun.)

It’s queer! It’s poly! It’s cocktails!!! Official synopsis below the cut.

A jaded bartender is wooed by a charmingly quirky couple in this fresh and sizzling polyamorous rom-com, set in the exclusive world of high-end cocktail bars—from the acclaimed author of the “tender, decadent, and sparklingly funny” (Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author) Chef’s Choice. As a bartender at Terror & Virtue, a swanky New York City cocktail lounge known for its romantic atmosphere and Insta-worthy drinks, Mel has witnessed plenty of disastrous dates. That, coupled with her own romantic life being in shambles, has Mel convinced love doesn’t exist. Everything changes when Bebe walks into the bar. She’s beautiful, funny, knows her whiskeys—and is happily married to her partner, Kade. Mel’s resigned to forget the whole thing, but Bebe makes her a unique offer: since she and Kade have an open marriage, she’s interested in taking Mel on a date. What starts as a fun romp turns into a burgeoning relationship, and soon Mel is trying all sorts of things she’d been avoiding, from grand romantic gestures to steamy exploits. Mel even gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition that would make her dream of opening her own bar a reality. In the chaotic whirl of all these new experiences, Mel realizes there might be a spark between her and Kade, too. As Bebe, Kade, and Mel explore their connections, Mel begins to think that real love might be more expansive than she ever thought possible. With TJ Alexander’s signature “witty and insightful voice, complex characters, and full-throated celebration of the joy of queer community” (Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood), Triple Sec is a passionate, thirst-quenching love story that will have you asking for another round…or three.

You know the drill, folks!! I am asking/begging you to please spread the word and help me out. This book is a VERY different kind of romance and I am desperate for it to find its audience. Here are some ways you can help me:

Pre-order. I know, I know, June 4 is forever away but it really is the biggest thing. Pre-ordering is a gift to yourself and to authors who would really like to hit some kind of bestseller list some day. If you don’t want to pre-order now, consider putting a note in your calendar to buy it on June 4?

Add the book to your GoodReads or Storygraph TBR.

Share my pinned posts on Instagram or tumblr.

Tell your local bookstore or library (or both!) to stock this book.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Next round’s on me.

[whilereadingandwalking]

It was so lovely to visit Greenlight Bookstore on Fulton in Brooklyn just before the holiday! A cozy small indie that l’ve been following and hearing about for years (and there’s a cute stationery shop just next door!)

[andiree]

July 2! 7:30! Join me, Anso Jouhanneau and our friends at Greenlight Brooklyn for the release of READY OR NOT (my debut graphic novel) 🎉 It’ll be a good time, I promise!

The night will consist of a bit of chitchat about the book, Q&A, and conclude with a book signing. You can bring your pre-order or purchase at the store—whatever works best for you!

I would love to see you all there 💖

[anotherwaytosay]

We are so excited to be bringing you a special evening that features literature-in-translation-standard-bearer Archipelago Books titles and translators for our next event at Molasses Books on Friday, December 9th at 8PM. Archipelago's distinctively beautiful books are a personal reference point for what books can feel like, look like, do to us. 

(Keep the high of Giving Tuesday going! Also Archipelago's membership options are worth it.)

***Featuring*** three translators working primarily from Spanish/Galician, Greek, and French: Jacob Roger's translation of The Last Days of Terranova by Manuel Rivas from the Galician is particularly suited to the space as the narrator and bookstore owner Vicenzo Fontana contemplates in memory the bookstore a place that is both a refuge from as well as an actor in Argentina's revolutions. Karen Emmerich's co-translation (with Edmund Keeley) of Diaries of Exile by Yannis Ritsos won the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation 2014; of her translation of Good Will Come From the Sea by Christos Ikonomou, Maggie Nelson for NYT Book Reviews writes, "[the first story in the collection] blew my head off with its tender and awful brutality." Mark Polizzotti's translation of the recently-released Kibogo by Rwandan-French author Scholastique Mukasonga has received much praising, but here is perhaps my favorite: "A searing tale of contending gods, religions, and economies in colonial Rwanda [...] Pensive and lyrical; a closely observed story of cultures in collision." (Kirkus, starred.) Read on for more about the readers, and further still for a list of upcoming literary/translation events in the upcoming weeks around  the  city .      

***

Jacob Rogers is a translator of Galician and Spanish. He has received grants from the National Endowment of the Arts and the PEN/Heim translation fund. His translations have appeared in The Offing, Arkansas International, Asymptote, Words Without Borders, and Epiphany, among others. His translation of The Last Days of Terranova, by Manuel Rivas, was just released by Archipelago Books.

Karen Emmerich's translations from the Greek include books by Margarita Karapanou, Amanda Michalopoulou, Sophia Nikolaidou, Ersi Sotiropoulos, and Vassilis Vassilikos. Her translation of Miltos Sachtouris for Archipelago was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry and her translation of Yannis Ritsos's Diaries of Exile with Edmund Keeley won the 2014 PEN Literary Award. She teaches at Princeton University.

Mark Polizzotti is a biographer, critic, translator, editor, and poet. In 2016, he received an Award for Literature from the American Academy of Arts & Letters and was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. His translation of Scholastique Mukasonga's Kibogo was shortlisted for the National Book Award in 2022 and his translation of Eric Vuillard’s The War of the Poor was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2021. Polizzotti’s books include Revolution of the Mind: The Life of André Breton; Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited; a monograph on Luis Buñuel's Los Olvidados; and Sympathy for the Traitor: A Translation Manifesto. He has translated over fifty books from the French, including works by Patrick Modiano, Gustave Flaubert, Marguerite Duras, Raymond Roussel, André Breton, and Jean Echenoz. He directs the publications program at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

***

This Saturday, DECEMBER 3RD, 4:30 - 6:00 PM, "Preeminent translator of Russian verse and prose" Ainsley Morse reads a selection of her translations for Translation Mixtape at the Harriman Institute Atrium 

DECEMBER 6TH, 7:00 PM @ The Rockwell Place and hosted by Greenlight Books: Translators Emma Ramadan and Olivia Baes will be discussing their translation of The Easy Life by Margeurite Duras with Stephanie LaCava

Circumference Magazine launches their 10th issue at Black Spring Books on DECEMBER 10th, 7:00 PM, with readings by Mayada Ibrahim, Eunice Lee, Ostap Kin, John Hennessy, Matvei Yankelevich, and more!

The Segue Reading series at Artists Space DECEMBER 17TH at 5:00 PM, featuring Mónica de la Torre and Sue Landers (everytime seeing Mónica read has been incredible) (also check out the series' other events this month). 

[greenlightbklyn]

Now We Are One

On Saturday we are celebrating one year in PLG! For our first birthday, we’re offering 20% off all day throughout the bookstore -- as our way of saying thank you to the friends, neighbors, and community who have helped us thrive. There will be hot cider, treats, giveaways and surprises. And just as last year, we’re celebrating our birthday on Small Business Saturday.

[Above: illustration by Bob Eckstein]

We’ve got some pictures of this time last year, in case you’d like to see...

Hello, PLG!

A bookstore in boxes!

Needs more books. And floor. (And ceiling.)

Our wonderful neighbors, shelving their bookstore.

More volunteers! Thanks for volunteering!

Are We Open Yet??

First day! First customers! First sale! First DOG!

Plus, a message from our co-owner, Rebecca Fitting: 

“Thank you dear customers for being such good friends of the bookstore. This time a year ago we were digging out of boxy chaos, scrambling to get our second store open and it's been an incredible year.  Thank you for helping us to exist!”

On Friday we’ll be looking back at our first year in PLG, so check back soon.  

With love,

Your Neighborhood Bookstore

[tullyheart]

So I left work early to schlep to Fort Greene, Brooklyn to see Hillary Clinton. It’s the second signing I’ve gone to, and she’s still amazing. The only downside is that I didn’t get my picture taken with her. On the plus side, only waited in line for two hours versus the six hours I waited for the Hard Choices signing. Although it was a pain to get to Brooklyn, it was still excellent. I just wish the Montclair, NJ signing didn’t sell out so quickly, especially since it was the next town over. 

 Not gonna lie, it’s going to take me some time to read What Happened. Regardless, HRC is still a badass, and would have been a kick ass Commander in Chief. 

Plus, a bonus picture from 2014. Still my facebook profile pic, will probably never change it.