#delacorte children's

[hollymbryan]

Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read NEAR MISSES & COWBOY KISSES by Katrina Emmel! #tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses, the YA debut novel from Katrina Emmel! I've got all the details on this debut book and author for you below, plus my top 5 reasons to read!

About the Book

title: Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses author: Katrina Emmel publisher: Delacorte Romance release date: 23 July 2024

A swoon-worthy YA rivals-to-lovers romance between a Nebraskan cowboy and California girl, thrust together on the Oregon Trail. Anything’s possible under a prairie sky… Riley Thomas is feeling stuck—she’s moved from California to Nebraska, she’s on a weeklong Oregon Trail family bonding excursion, and her luggage is lost. There’s no one her age on the trip except a tall, dark and irksome cowboy who wrongly assumes she has zero ability to handle the great outdoors. She can’t wait for this misery to end—even though going “home” isn’t even possible anymore. Lone wolf Colton Walker loves the simpler life of the plains and his family’s tourism business that helps protect them. He’s a stand-up guy—not a love ‘em and leave ‘em type like his rival, Jake. And he knows better than to take his chances with a prairie princess like Riley. But Riley’s got more sense than Colton thinks–and he’s not nearly as inflexible as he seems. And under a wide prairie sky of puffy clouds and bright stars, everything comes into focus–including a cowboy’s heart. Katrina Emmel’s Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses will take you on a sweeping journey across the American prairie . . . once you love a boy in a Stetson, you’ll never be the same.

Add to Goodreads: Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Katrina grew up in New Hampshire, and has a love for literature and science. She studied biochemistry in college before moving to the Midwest for graduate school, where she earned her Ph.D. in chemistry. Continuing her journey to the West Coast, Katrina lives in an active household that includes her husband, two children, father-in-law, and their rascally pup. She works as a chemistry consultant, and writes YA fiction and children’s fiction and non-fiction. Katrina loves chai, science and nature, trying out new recipes, music, and crafting.

Connect with Katrina: Website | Instagram

Top 5 Reasons to Read

I read all kinds of romance and love it all, but there's just something so special about YA romance. It's the first-love butterflies, the sweet and swoony feelings that feel unique to YA that I love so much.

I adore cowboy romance, but I've only ever read adult books, so to have a YA romance with a true cowboy was so much fun!

Both Colton and Riley learn the importance of not making snap judgments or just taking the measure of someone by how they appear; instead, they realize that there are layers of complexity to people that you'd never know about if you didn't allow yourself to get to know them. I think that's an important lesson for teens to learn!

Both Riley and Colton have the best, most supportive parents! They don't play large roles in the book, but of course, as parents, their influence can be outsized, so I love the fact that both sets of parents are extremely supportive of their kids and really root for them. Even when, in Riley's case, she has barely spoken to them for like a month because she's upset about the surprise move. As parents, we should always be there for our kids, even when they think they hate us!

It's important to support debut authors who write such beautiful books, so we can get more books from them in the future! I hope you'll pick this one up, or ask your local library to buy a copy for the teen section. If you've got teens, it's a no-brainer!

Thanks so much to TBR for having me on the tour, and to the publisher and author for the eARC of the book! I loved this one, and I think teen readers, especially, will too. In addition, if you like clean romance, this one's for you!

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

[lilibetbombshell]

[thegirlwiththelantern]

More 2024 YA Fantasy Books

Our last foray into 2024 YA. Unfortunately not all of the books I’d planned to include feature here have been as some are published under the SMP umbrella. I am aware that the Readers for Accountability page has all but been deleted. However with no better source for how that’s going I’ve chosen to abide by it for the remainder of this year. Most of this selection were made with that in mind…

[winningthesweepstakes]

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce. Delacorte Press, Random House Children’s Books 2024. 9780593647011 Rating 1-5 (5 is an excellent or Starred review): 3.5 Format: Paperback Genre: Realistic fiction/romance What did you like about the book? This enemies-to-fake-dating-to-lovers story is told from the point of view of Riley, a high school junior who lives for musical theater. She is…

[readingwithwrin]

Waiting On Wednesday | May Release!

Originally Waiting on Wednesday created by Jill @ breakingthespine Synopsis A fresh new take on Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery The Mysterious Affair at Styles, with iconic detective Hercule Poirot recast as a brilliant, brash teen girl named Holiday, and narrated by her childhood friend Linden, an athlete-scholar who fits right in at his elite New England prep school—all the while…

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Blurb:

magical training by breaking a powerful family’s curse. But her own affliction—to never find true love—gets in the way when she falls for the girl she’s trying to save.

Magic is in Delilah Bea’s blood. Her absentee father is the world’s most famous cursebreaker, while all the women in her family are fated to never find true love. So when Delilah sets out to complete her magical Calling and gain her full powers as a witch, she has the perfect task in mind—breaking the Bea family curse.

But Delilah’s Calling is hijacked by Kieran Pelumbra, the spoiled son of the most powerful family in the country, and breaking his curse suddenly becomes her official assignment. Every generation, a pair of Pelumbra twins is doomed, with one twin draining the other of their life and magic. Kieran grows weaker while his sister, Briar, becomes…something monstrous. 

As Delilah and the twins set out on their quest, they quickly realize that breaking the Pelumbra curse isn’t going to be simple. For one thing, the rest of the Pelumbra family doesn’t actually want their curse broken—and they’ve sent hunters after the trio to ensure they fail. For another, something about Briar gets under Delilah’s skin, distracting her and making her want to kiss the perpetually grumpy look off her face. But with time running out for the twins and Delilah’s own true love curse getting in the way, they may not stand a chance of finding their happily ever after.

Review:

A delight sapphic witchy romance about breaking curses, falling in love, and getting your happily ever after. This was a touch of Practical Magic meets Howl's Moving Castle, Delilah Bea's family is cursed so that any man who falls in love with a Bea woman will forget all their memories of said lover once they fall in love. Delilah is a witch who's father is a famous cursebreaker and when it's time for her Calling, a ceremony in which she is tasked to perform a magical feat to prove that she should be allowed to keep her magic, she opts to break the family curse.... too bad someone objects and sets a new task for her: to break his family curse. Kieran Pelumbra is the spoiled son of the most powerful family in the country and breaking his family curse has become her official assignment. Delilah should be mad but when she finds out that Kieran is dying and he doesn't have much time left and he is sorry for doing this to her but she is his final hope before he dies... she relents. Keiran needs Delilah to help him break his family curse: a curse that has killed every single set of twins in the family, and Keiran needs Delilah to help him find his twin Briar who has run away. Delilah is determined to break both her own curse and Keiran's curse, yet when she meets Briar she doesn't expect to be so completely taken aback by the prickly, eye patch wearing snarky girl who would sooner wrap vines around someones neck than ask for help. Delilah and Briar immediately get off on the wrong foot but the longer they spend together the more Delilah is beginning to realize that the reason Briar gets under her skin so much might be because she is falling for her. But can she fall for a woman when she is cursed to have all her lovers forget her? With the clock ticking and so many curses to break, can Delilah do it all? This was such a cozy romantic read and I loved the witchy atmosphere and the banter between Briar and Delilah was really cute. It's a great read for the autumn time and it's got a sweet love story at the center. I've loved Kayla Cottingham's books and this one was another great read! If you want a witchy sapphic read I would absolutely recommend this one!

Purchase Link: Amazon

Tour Link: TBR Beyond

Author Info: website

Release Date: August 27,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley , Random House Children's | Delacorte Press, and TBR Beyond Tours for sending me an arc in exchange or an honest review*

[richincolor]

New Releases for January 30, 2024

The four new releases we found this week are filled with poetry, murder, romance, and a little more murder of the fantastical variety.  

Poemhood: Our Black Revival: History, Folklore & the Black Experience: A Young Adult Poetry Anthology edited by Amber McBride Taylor Byas, & Erica Martin HarperCollins

Starring thirty-seven poets, with contributions from acclaimed authors, including Kwame Alexander, Ibi Zoboi, and Nikki Giovanni, this breathtaking Black YA poetry anthology edited by National Book Award finalist Amber McBride, Taylor Byas, and Erica Martin celebrates Black poetry, folklore, and culture.

Come, claim your wings.

Lift your life above the earth,

return to the land of your father’s birth.

What exactly is it to be Black in America?

Well, for some, it’s learning how to morph the hatred placed by others into love for oneself; for others, it’s unearthing the strength it takes to continue to hold one’s swagger when multitudinous factors work to make Black lives crumble. For some, it’s gathering around the kitchen table as Grandma tells the story of Anansi the spider, while for others it’s grinning from ear to ear while eating auntie’s spectacular 7Up cake.

Black experiences and traditions are complex, striking, and vast—they stretch longer than the Nile and are four times as deep—and carry more than just unimaginable pain—there is also joy.

Featuring an all-star group of thirty-seven powerful poetic voices, including such luminaries as Kwame Alexander, James Baldwin, Ibi Zoboi, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks, this riveting anthology depicts the diversity of the Black experience by fostering a conversation about race, faith, heritage, and resilience between fresh poets and the literary ancestors that came before them.

Edited by Taylor Byas, Erica Martin, and Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner Amber McBride, Poemhood will simultaneously highlight the duality and nuance at the crux of so many Black experiences with poetry being the psalm constantly playing.

Wander in the Dark by Jumata Emill

Delacorte Press

Amir Trudeau only goes to his half brother Marcel’s birthday party because of Chloe Danvers. Chloe is rich, and hot, and fits right into the perfect life Marcel inherited when their father left Amir’s mother to start a new family with Marcel’s mom. But Chloe is hot enough for Amir to forget that for one night.

Does she want to hook up? Or is she trying to meddle in the estranged brothers’ messy family drama? Amir can’t tell. He doesn’t know what Chloe wants from him when, in the final hours of Mardi Gras, she asks him to take her home and stay—her parents are away and she doesn’t want to be alone.

Amir never gets an answer to his question, because when he wakes up, Chloe is dead—stabbed while he was passed out on the couch downstairs—and Amir becomes the only suspect. A Black teenager caught fleeing the scene of the murder of a rich white girl? All of New Orleans agrees, the case is open and shut.

Amir is innocent. He has a lawyer, but unless someone can figure out who really killed Chloe, it doesn’t look good for him. His number one ally? Marcel. Their relationship is messy, but his half brother knows that Amir isn’t a murderer—and maybe proving Amir’s innocence will repair the rift that’s always existed between them.

To find Chloe’s killer, Amir and Marcel need to dig into her secrets. And what they find is darker than either could have guessed. Parents will go to any lengths to protect their children, and in a city as old as New Orleans, the right family connections can bury even the ugliest truths.

Just Say Yes by Goldy Moldavsky Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Jimena Ramos had no idea she was undocumented.

Now she’s seventeen, and she needs to figure out a way to stay in New York City, the only home she can remember. There’s only one possibility that will get her a green card quickly enough: Jimena is going to find an American to marry her.

She’s got one excellent candidate: Vitaly, her next-door neighbor and friend, the only person she trusts with her secret. But Vitaly’s got his own plans for the future. He’s a definite no.

So Jimena tries online dating. She decides to approach this marriage like a business transaction. She figures out a plan that just might save her and make her a citizen at last.

But of course, she can’t stop thinking about Vitaly.

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

A teenage sorcerer’s apprentice must solve her boss’s murder in order to prove her innocence in this twisty, magic-infused murder mystery perfect for fans of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games .

Being an apprentice for one of the world’s most famous sorcerers has its challenges; Tabatha Zeng just didn’t think they would include solving crime. But when her boss, the infamous fortuneteller Sorcerer Solomon, predicts his own brutal death—and worse, it comes true—Tabatha finds herself caught in the crosshairs.

The police have their sights set on her and Callum Solomon, her murdered boss’s youngest son. With suspicion swirling around them, the two decide to team up to find the real killer and clear their own names once and for all.

But solving a murder isn’t as easy as it seems, especially when the suspect list is mostly the rich, connected, and magical members of Sorcerer Solomon’s family. And Tabatha can’t quite escape the nagging voice in her head just how much can she really trust Callum Solomon?

Nothing is as it seems in this quick-witted and fantastical murder mystery.

[literaticat]

Hi Jenn - I was wondering whether there is any discernible difference between being published by a big 5 imprint that has the same name as the overall house (ex. the Random House imprint itself), vs an imprint under the same house but with a different name? Are you more likely to be a lead title and get more marketing support if you are being published by the former? Is there more implied prestige? Thank you <3

Short answer: no.

But since you probably want a longer answer:

In case you don't know it, most publishers, particularly large and VERY large publishers, are broken up into "groups" and "imprints" -- that is, different brands all under the umbrella publisher. This goes for ALL the big publishers, but I'll focus on PRH since that was your example:

Penguin Random House is broken up into multiple "groups" and within those groups are multiple imprints. << (that link shows all the groups and their imprints!)****

The two groups you mostly would be familiar with on the kids side are Penguin Young Readers Group and Random House Children's Books. But WITHIN those, on the Penguin side, there is Viking, Dutton, Philomel, Putnam, Kokila, Penguin Workshop, Rocky Pond, etc etc. And on the RH side, there's Random House Books for Young Readers, Delacorte, Knopf, Crown, Labyrinth Road, Make Me a World, etc etc.

They are ALL part of PRH. There is no imprint just called "Penguin" on the kid's side -- you have to go to one of the imprints. There IS an imprint called RH BYR -- but there is no special perk or prestige to being published by that imprint vs Knopf, or whatever other RH imprint. Individual imprints may be different sizes or have different specialities, missions, or "vibes" -- but they are all PRH, none of them are particularly "better" or "worse". (They might be better or worse for YOUR book, but they aren't better or worse to the general public or anything like that!)

For example: Rocky Pond is pretty much one main editor, and it has a specific mission: Kids books for all ages that focus on mental health and social/emotional learning. Kokila has several editors, and a specific mission: Kids books for all ages that center marginalized voices/experiences. Rise has two editors, and a specific mission: "To engage, empower, and evolve the youngest readers (ages 0-5) with authentic, relevant, and elegant books." -- you get the picture, right? Different vibes! So if YOUR book was appropriate for one of those imprints, maybe that's the best imprint for it. You'd still be "published by Penguin Random House" -- you'd be a "Penguin author" -- you'd just be at one of the smaller imprints that specializes in that kind of book. (And in the case of Penguin, since there literally IS NO IMPRINT just called "Penguin" -- well, you are gonna be at a differently named imprint!)

(The RH side is more difficult to discern from that link because the RH imprints don't have their "mission statements" listed like that, so I'll just tell you -- Delacorte is mostly highly commercial YA & MG fare, Knopf is books for all ages that are more "literary", RH BYR tends to be commercial middle grade, chapter books, series, etc, RH Graphic = Graphic novels, Joy Revolution is basically diverse romances by and about BIPOC characters, Labyrinth Road I'd think of for MG adventure/fantasy series, etc. There's crossover, of course, but essentially: Different vibes for different kinds of books! If your book is a commercial chapter book series, it's probably gonna be RH BYR -- if it is a lyrical and literary picture book, it probably WON'T be -- and that's fine!)

--

**** ETA: If you want to know more, this info is out there and available online for all the publishers, it's not secret information. I always suggest, when you read a book, make a note of the publisher/imprint, because you will start to see patterns -- that's the best way to get the "vibe" of a given imprint, and can help you find comps, figure out where YOUR book belongs, etc etc.

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig

The Thirteenth Child is a sweeping yet haunting fairy tale about a young girl named Hazel Trepás who is promised to Merrick, the god of death.

The youngest of thirteen, Hazel spends her childhood unloved, unwanted, and unseen, as she waits for her godfather to come and collect her. When he finally arrives, he says that she will become a great healer, someone who is gifted with the ability to diagnose ailments in sick people and cure them. However, her gift also comes with a steep price, for not everyone can be healed, and it's up to her to end the suffering each time a new deathshead appears.

This comes to an inflection point when she is ushered to royal court to treat the king, who is suffering from The Brilliance, an illness where the body leaks then solidifies into gold. Though he is marked for death, Hazel is torn. What if she saved him? Is there a bargain she could strike with the gods? And if there were, what would happen if she went against her godfather's wishes?

Romantasy fans will love this! Craig's writing is lush and atmospheric, with vivid descriptions that make readers feel as if they've been dropped into a dark Grimm Brother's fairy tale. That said, there's also a warmness at the core that burns with hope as well as humanity. It makes for the perfect blend of magic and sentimentality.

Hazel is a lonely and secluded character for the most part, a woman who yearns for company, for someone who will look after her and think of her first, and because of that, she feels somewhat reminiscent of Addie La Rue. They have a similar longing in the soul. A desire to belong, not only to the world, but to some of the people in it. I loved that, as well as the tenderness it welled in me as a reader.

A powerful and intimate fairy tale, through and through!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

4/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

[starqueen87]

Anna Maria Horsford (born March 6, 1948) is an American actress best known for her roles in the film Friday(1995), as Craig Jones' mother Betty, Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom Amen (1986–91), and as Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. (1995–99).

She had dramatic roles on the FX crime drama The Shield playing A.D.A. Beth Encardi, and CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Vivienne Avant, for which she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series in 2016 and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2017.

Horsford appeared in a number of movies, most notable as Craig Jones' mother Betty in 1995 comedy film Friday and its sequel Friday After Next (2002). Her other film credits include Times Square (1980), The Fan (1981), Presumed Innocent (1990), Set It Off (1996), Along Came a Spider (2001), Our Family Wedding (2010), and A Madea Christmas (2013).

Horsford was born in Harlem, New York City to Victor Horsford, an investment real estate broker originally from Barbuda and Lillian Agatha (née Richardson) Horsford, who emigrated from Antigua and Barbuda in the 1940s. She grew up in a family of five children. According to a DNA analysis, she has maternal ancestry from the Limba people of Sierra Leone.

Horsford attended Wadleigh Junior High School and the High School of Performing Arts. After high school, she got into acting through the Harlem Youth for Change program.

Her first job out of high school was with the Joe Papp’s Public Theater, a part in Coriolanus at the Delacorte in Central Park.

On October 29, 2011, Horsford was awarded the title of Ambassador of Tourism of Antigua. She is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

Her first major role in television was as a producer for the PBS show Soul!, hosted by Ellis Haizlip, which aired between 1968 and 1973. One of her first TV appearances was in 1973 on the first run syndication game show of To Tell the Truth where she was an imposter for Laura Livingston, one of the first female military police. Horsford made guest appearances on such sitcoms as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sparks, Moesha, The Bernie Mac Show, The Shield, Girlfriends, and Everybody Hates Chris.

Horsford currently has a recurring role as Vivienne Avant on The Bold and the Beautiful. For the role, she was nominated for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series in the 43rd Daytime Emmy Awards.

She began playing a recurring role on B Positive in the show's second-season premiere. She also has appeared in the TBS sitcom The Last O.G. featuring Tracy Morgan, as a recurring character (Tray's mother).

AWARD NOMINATIONS

▪1988 Image Awards (NAACP) Outstanding Lead Actress

in a Comedy Series (Amen)

▪2005 Black Reel Award Best Actress

Network/Cable Television (Justice)

▪2016 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Special Guest Performer

in a Drama Series (The Bold and the Beautiful)

▪2017 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress

in a Drama Series (The Bold and the Beautiful)

▪2021 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Performer

in a Daytime Fiction Program (Studio City)

[lboogie1906]

Lisa Arrindell (born March 24, 1969) credited as Lisa Arrindell Anderson, is an actress. Beginning her career in 1991 is known for her role as Vanessa Breaux-Henderson in Madea’s Family Reunion, Heather Comstock in In the House, and Toynelle Davis in Livin’ Large.

She was born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn. She attended the High School of Performing Arts. She earned her BFA in Theatre from The Juilliard School.

She made her film debut in One Good Cop. She appeared in Trial by Jury and Clockers. She co-starred in several made-for-television movies, including A Lesson Before Dying, and Disappearing Acts. She appeared in Big Momma’s House 2 and The Second Chance. She appeared in The Wronged Man. She appeared in The Sin Seer, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. She had guest starring roles on The Cosby Show, The Practice, The Steve Harvey Show, Drop Dead Diva, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Elementary. She had a recurring role in Saints & Sinners. She appeared in Our Kind of People.

She starred in 12 Angry Men And...Women and Favorite Son. She opened the revival of Law & Order in its first episode as Veronica King. She has guest starred on several other network series, including Random Acts of Flyness, Bull, Madam Secretary, Law & Order SVU, and Notorious. Some of her stage performances include the Broadway revival of Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Jubilee (Arena Stage), Reparations (Billie Holiday Theatre), Richard III (Delacorte Theater), Heliotrope Bouquet (Playwrights Horizons), and Earth & Sky (Second Stage).

She married Basil Anderson (1993-2015). Together, they have two children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #womenhistorymonth

[fearsmagazine]

The 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® Final Ballot

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) announced the Final Ballot for the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards®, an award they’ve been presenting  in various categories since 1987 (see http://www.thebramstokerawards.com/)

Works appearing on this Ballot are Bram Stoker Award® Nominees for Superior Achievement in their Category, e.g., Novel.  Congratulations to all those appearing on the Final Ballot.

THE 2022 BRAM STOKER AWARDS® FINAL BALLOT

Superior Achievement in a Novel • Iglesias, Gabino – The Devil Takes You Home (Mullholland Press) • Katsu, Alma – The Fervor (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) • Kiste, Gwendolyn – Reluctant Immortals (Saga Press) • Malerman, Josh – Daphne (Del Rey) • Ward, Catriona – Sundial (Tor Nightfire)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel • Adams, Erin – Jackal (Bantam Books) • Cañas, Isabel – The Hacienda (Berkley) • Jones, KC – Black Tide (Tor Nightfire) • Nogle, Christi – Beulah (Cemetery Gates Media) • Wilkes, Ally – All the White Spaces (Emily Bestler Books/Atria/Titan Books)

Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel • Dawson, Delilah S. – Camp Scare (Delacorte Press) • Kraus, Daniel – They Stole Our Hearts (Henry Holt and Co.) • Malinenko, Ally – This Appearing House (Katherine Tegen Books) • Senf, Lora – The Clackity (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) • Stringfellow, Lisa – A Comb of Wishes (Quill Tree Books)

Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel • Aquilone, James (editor) – Kolchak: The Night Stalker: 50th Anniversary (Moonstone Books) • Gailey, Sarah (author) and Bak, Pius (artist) – Eat the Rich (Boom! Studios) • Manzetti, Alessandro (author) and Cardoselli, Stefano (artist/author) – Kraken Inferno: The Last Hunt (Independent Legions Publishing) • Tynion IV, James (author) and Dell’Edera, Werther (artist) – Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4 (Boom! Studios) • Young, Skottie (author) and Corona, Jorge (artist) – The Me You Love in the Dark (Image Comics)

Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel • Fraistat, Ann – What We Harvest (Delacorte Press) • Jackson, Tiffany D. – The Weight of Blood (Katherine Tegen Books) • Marshall, Kate Alice – These Fleeting Shadows (Viking) • Ottone, Robert P. – The Triangle (Raven Tale Publishing) • Schwab, V.E. – Gallant (Greenwillow Books) • Tirado, Vincent – Burn Down, Rise Up (Sourcebooks Fire)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction • Allred, Rebecca J. and White, Gordon B. – And in Her Smile, the World (Trepidatio Publishing) • Carmen, Christa – “Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell” (Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror) (Wicked Run Press) • Hightower, Laurel – Below (Ghoulish Books) • Katsu, Alma – The Wehrwolf (Amazon Original Stories) • Knight, EV – Three Days in the Pink Tower (Creature Publishing)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction • Dries, Aaron – “Nona Doesn't Dance” (Cut to Care: A Collection of Little Hurts) (IFWG Australia, IFWG International) • Gwilym, Douglas – “Poppy’s Poppy” (Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine, Vol. V, No. 6) • McCarthy, J.A.W.  – “The Only Thing Different Will Be the Body” (A Woman Built by Man) (Cemetery Gates Media) • Taborska, Anna – “A Song for Barnaby Jones” (Zagava) • Taborska, Anna – “The Star” (Great British Horror 7: Major Arcane) (Black Shuck Books) • Yardley, Mercedes M. – “Fracture” (Mother: Tales of Love and Terror) (Weird Little Worlds)

Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection • Ashe, Paula D. – We Are Here to Hurt Each Other (Nictitating Books) • Joseph, RJ – Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted (The Seventh Terrace) • Khaw, Cassandra – Breakable Things (Undertow Publications) • Thomas, Richard – Spontaneous Human Combustion (Keylight Books) • Veres, Attila – The Black Maybe (Valancourt Books)

Superior Achievement in a Screenplay • Cooper, Scott – The Pale Blue Eye (Cross Creek Pictures, Grisbi Productions, Streamline Global Group) • Derrickson, Scott and Cargill, C. Robert – The Black Phone (Blumhouse Productions, Crooked Highway, Universal Pictures) • Duffer Brothers, The – Stranger Things: Episode 04.01 "Chapter One: The Hellfire Club" (21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, Upside Down Pictures) • Garland, Alex - Men (DNA Films) • Goth, Mia and West, Ti – Pearl (A24, Bron Creative, Little Lamb, New Zealand Film Commission)

Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection • Bailey, Michael and Simon, Marge – Sifting the Ashes (Crystal Lake Publishing) • Lynch, Donna – Girls from the County (Raw Dog Screaming Press) • Pelayo, Cynthia – Crime Scene (Raw Dog Screaming Press) • Saulson, Sumiko – The Rat King: A Book of Dark Poetry (Dooky Zines) • Sng, Christina – The Gravity of Existence (Interstellar Flight Press)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology • Datlow, Ellen – Screams from the Dark: 29 Tales of Monsters and the Monstrous (Tor Nightfire) • Hartmann, Sadie and Saywers, Ashley – Human Monsters: A Horror Anthology (Dark Matter Ink) • Nogle, Christi and Becker, Willow – Mother: Tales of Love and Terror (Weird Little Worlds) • Ryan, Lindy – Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga (Black Spot Books) • Tantlinger, Sara – Chromophobia: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women in Horror (Strangehouse Books)

Superior Achievement in Non–Fiction • Cisco, Michael – Weird Fiction: A Genre Study (Palgrave Macmillan) • Hieber, Leanna Renee and Janes, Andrea – A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts (Citadel Press) • Kröger, Lisa and Anderson, Melanie R. – Toil and Trouble: A Women’s History of the Occult (Quirk Books) • Waggoner, Tim – Writing in the Dark: The Workbook (Guide Dog Books) • Wytovich, Stephanie M. – Writing Poetry in the Dark (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Superior Achievement in Short Non–Fiction • Murray, Lee – “I Don’t Read Horror (& Other Weird Tales)” (Interstellar Flight Magazine) (Interstellar Flight Press) • Pelayo, Cynthia – “This is Not a Poem” (Writing Poetry in the Dark) (Raw Dog Screaming Press) • Wetmore, Jr., Kevin J. – “A Clown in the Living Room: The Sinister Clown on Television” (The Many Lives of Scary Clowns: Essays on Pennywise, Twisty, the Joker, Krusty and More) (McFarland and Company) • Wood, L. Marie – “African American Horror Authors and Their Craft: The Evolution of Horror Fiction from African Folklore” (Conjuring Worlds: An Afrofuturist Textbook for Middle and High School Students) (Conjure World) • Wood, L. Marie, “The H Word: The Horror of Hair” (Nightmare Magazine, No. 118) (Adamant Press)

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fictional novel summaries

Avocados on the Windowsill by Aubrey K. Meacher (Delacorte Press, 1992). Literary fiction. Winner of the 1992 Booker Prize. Adapted into a major Hollywood film in 1999, starring David Morse and Bobby Cannavale. A recently divorced chef leaves his home in California to live in a small Peruvian town, where an agricultural corporation's avocado production threatens to cause a disastrous water shortage. Ingratiating himself with the locals, he finds an unlikely way to come to terms with his past.

Project Rhombus by Gordon Chapman (Ace Books, 1962). Science fiction. In the then-near future of the late 1970s, a clandestine space race develops between the United States and the Soviet Union to uncover mysterious transmissions under the surface of the dark side of the Moon, while geopolitical tensions mount back on Earth.

The Subtle Art Of Disappearing Quietly by Emmeline van Asch (Simon and Schuster, 2009). Romance/literary fiction. Became a global sensation and was adapted into a 2014 film starring Felicity Jones and Rose Byrne. A depressed woman suddenly develops the uncontrolled ability to teleport, visiting a random person in the world for ten minutes every day. After falling for someone on the other side of the planet, she must grapple with truths about herself that she has long kept hidden.

The Talisman of Gek by Joseph Hughes Bertrand (J.B Lippincott & Co., 1956). Dark fantasy. First in the Gek series (1956-1980). In the post-apocalyptic wastelands of Gek, the last knights of a collapsed religious order battle with the mutant Clawed Sorcerer in the search for a relic from the old world, an ancient machine lost in the desert with the power to save or destroy Gek itself.

Farrow Hill by Harvey Keenan (Little, Brown and Company, 1983). Crime thriller. Fourth book in the Carl Duplessis series. When a series of deaths with seemingly no real cause occur in the sleepy Oregon town of Farrow Hill, Detective Carl Duplessis must face his hardest case yet, while dealing with scrutiny from his superiors and tension between him and his newly-assigned partner.

Jasper Leung Is Scared Of (Nearly) Everything by May Nguyen (Macmillan, 2013). Children's fiction. Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Prize 2013. When shy, geeky Jasper moves to a new city in the middle of the school year, he has to contend with bullies, a new baby sister and the difficulties of making new friends. Frustrated, Jasper sets out to prove to his new school that he's not afraid of anything.

What He Left Behind by Johanna Boswell (Avon Romance, 1976). Historical romance. Second book in the Wives of the War series. After her husband is killed in Dunkirk, newly widowed Mary leaves London for a small village in the Herefordshire countryside. Dealing with the loss of her husband, she nevertheless finds herself enamoured by the village's charming postmaster.

Absolution by G. T. Rowcroft (Putnam, 1935). Crime/literary fiction. Made into two films (1953, 2019), the most recent starring Liam Neeson, Noah Jupe and John C. Reilly. When his son is murdered, a grieving father ventures into the Alaskan wilderness in order to escape the police investigation, of which he is the chief suspect. As he struggles to survive, he must come to terms with the circumstances of his son's death. Often ranked by critics as one of the 'greatest American novels/films of the 21st century'.

Jay Powell's Definitely-Kissed List by Alex Casey (Simon and Schuster, 2017). Young adult fiction. Adapted into a 2022 film starring Tanner Buchanan, Kathryn Newton and Jack Dylan Grazer. A self-authored list of students kissed by high school basketball star Jay Powell is spread on social media, turning him from hometown hero into controversial figure overnight. Inspired by the list, a trio of misfits attempts to uncover the truth behind the list and the enigmatic Jay himself.

Exodus by Katrine Eischmann (Voyager, 1998). Winner of the 1998 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. In the future, stars are disappearing from the night sky: a false vacuum experiment by a long-dead alien race threatens to destroy the Milky Way galaxy. Humanity is forced to work with fleeing alien races to escape the disaster, and to try and find a way to stop its expansion before it reaches Earth.

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When They Trod the Boards: Christopher Walken, Song and Dance Man by Jeremy Megraw, Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library For the Performing Arts April 2, 2013

How do we love Christopher Walken? On his 70th birthday, let us count the ways. Star of film, TV, and NYPL's own iBook Point, somehow everyone has a favorite film that stars him, be it The Deer Hunter, True Romance, or Pulp Fiction. The consummate villain, he faced off Batman and James Bond with his signature dead stare that transforms at the drop of a hat into a Rockwellesque boyish grin. By the time his fancy footwork stupefied us in Spike Jonze's Fatboy Slim video, few knew Walken was already a 30-year Broadway veteran, sharing the stage with Liza Minnelli and Raul Julia.

Christopher Walken was born in Astoria, Queens. His father ran Walken's Bakery, which in the 1950s served a predominantly German community in Long Island City. Born Ronald Walken (named after the great British actor Ronald Colman), he was still called Ronnie Walken when he and his brother Glenn attended the Professional Children's School in Manhattan. His debut role was in J.B. at ANTA in 1959, and he toured soon after in West Side Story. His dream of being a dancer was somewhat realized in a string of musicals, including Best Foot Forward with Liza Minnelli. In 1966 he won the Theatre World Award for his performance in Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo.

After an extended stint of Shakespeare with the Stratford Festival in Canada, he travelled all over the U.S. and starred in his first film Me and My Brother (1968). He returned to the New York stage and won the Drama Desk Award for his work in Lemon Sky in 1970. During this period he started getting more roles in movies, with a small part in the psychedelic Cleopatra (1970) and a more prominent role that got him noticed in the Anderson Tapes (1971).

Walken continued to garner acclaim on the stage, winning an Obie for his performance in Joseph Papp's production of Kid Champion in 1975. In the 1980s, as critics hailed his Hollywood work, such as Dead Zone and Brainstorm, he was still walking the theatrical boards in the Big Apple. He was a familiar face downtown in Central Park's Delacorte Theater and at the Public, performing Chekhov and Shakespeare. In the 1990s, so as not to rest on his laurels after achieving cult-status in Pulp Fiction, he continued to do Shakespeare in the Park and even a one-man show entitled Him.

Walken's stage and screen two-step continues to this day, including the recent stage production A Behanding in Spokane. A victim of his own success, Mr. Walken's evil persona endures (he once referred to himself as The Malevolent WASP). But the interviews we've found in the archives reveal his true nature: a soft-spoken person who is really quite ordinary. At 70, Christopher Walken remains as ever the nice guy with the boyish grin who sometimes breaks into dance.

The Billy Rose Theatre Division has documentation of Christopher Walken's entire career in the form of clippings, photographs, reviews, videos, and oddly enough, a published biography in French. An Inside the Actor's Studio production and an oral history where he talks about his Shakespeare Festival years, are among the archived interviews held in the collections at the Library for the Performing Arts.

If you want to join a fun crowd project, please give us your favorite Christopher Walken movie or TV quotes in the comments section and we will combine them in a unique and fun way. Watch this space! In the meantime...

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Central Park: A Timeless Oasis in the Heart of New York City

Central Park, a sprawling green oasis nestled in the heart of Manhattan, is one of the most iconic urban parks in the world. Covering 843 acres, this beloved landmark offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City. With a rich history, diverse attractions, and year-round activities, Central Park is a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike. This article explores the history of Central Park, highlights its key attractions, and provides tips on the best times to visit.

The History of Central Park

The idea for Central Park was conceived in the mid-19th century, driven by the need for a public green space in a rapidly growing city. In 1853, the New York State Legislature set aside over 700 acres of land in the center of Manhattan for the creation of the park. A design competition was held, and the winning proposal, known as the "Greensward Plan," was submitted by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

Construction of Central Park began in 1858 and continued for over a decade. The project was a massive undertaking, involving the relocation of thousands of residents and the transformation of a rocky, swampy area into a lush, landscaped park. The design incorporated elements of both formal gardens and naturalistic landscapes, creating a harmonious blend of open meadows, woodlands, and water features.

Central Park officially opened in 1858, but its development continued well into the 1870s. Over the years, the park has undergone numerous renovations and restorations to preserve its beauty and functionality. Today, it stands as a testament to the vision and ingenuity of its creators, providing a serene and picturesque retreat for millions of visitors each year.

Exploring the Central Park

Central Park is home to a wide array of attractions, each offering unique experiences and sights. Here are some of the must-see places to explore within the park:

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain: Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is often considered the heart of Central Park. The grand staircase, adorned with intricate carvings, leads to a stunning fountain featuring the Angel of the Waters statue. The terrace overlooks the picturesque Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, a popular spot for photography and relaxation.

The Mall and Literary Walk: The Mall, a wide, tree-lined promenade, is one of the most iconic features of Central Park. It is flanked by American elm trees, creating a lush canopy overhead. At the southern end of The Mall is Literary Walk, which features statues of renowned writers, including William Shakespeare and Robert Burns.

Strawberry Fields: Strawberry Fields is a tranquil, meditative area dedicated to the memory of John Lennon, the legendary musician and member of The Beatles. The centerpiece of this serene spot is the Imagine mosaic, a tribute to Lennon's vision of peace.

Central Park Zoo: The Central Park Zoo is a favorite attraction for families and animal lovers. It houses a diverse collection of animals, from snow leopards to sea lions, and features interactive exhibits and educational programs. The adjacent Tisch Children's Zoo offers a hands-on experience for young visitors.

Belvedere Castle: Belvedere Castle, perched atop Vista Rock, provides panoramic views of the park and the city beyond. This charming, medieval-style structure houses a visitor center and an observation deck, making it a perfect spot for sightseeing and photography.

The Great Lawn: The Great Lawn is a vast, open space that serves as a gathering place for picnics, sports, and concerts. It is surrounded by trees and offers stunning views of the city skyline. The Great Lawn is also home to the Delacorte Theater, where the annual Shakespeare in the Park performances are held.

Bow Bridge: Bow Bridge is one of Central Park's most romantic and picturesque locations. This elegant cast-iron bridge spans the Lake, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. It is a popular spot for couples and photographers, especially during the spring and fall seasons.

The Ramble: The Ramble is a 36-acre woodland area designed to resemble a wild, natural landscape. It features winding paths, rocky outcrops, and dense vegetation, creating a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. The Ramble is ideal for those seeking a more secluded and immersive experience within the park.

The Conservatory Garden: The Conservatory Garden is a formal garden divided into three distinct sections: the Italian Garden, the French Garden, and the English Garden. Each section features beautifully manicured lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and ornate fountains. The garden is a peaceful retreat, perfect for a leisurely stroll or quiet contemplation.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir: The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is a scenic water body surrounded by a 1.58-mile running track. It offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and is a popular spot for jogging, walking, and birdwatching. The reservoir is particularly beautiful during the spring and fall, when the surrounding trees are in full bloom or adorned with vibrant foliage.

Conclusion

Central Park is more than just a park; it is a cultural and historical treasure that continues to captivate visitors with its natural beauty and diverse attractions. Whether you're exploring its iconic landmarks, enjoying a peaceful moment in its gardens, or partaking in seasonal activities, Central Park offers something for everyone. Its timeless appeal and ever-changing landscape ensure that each visit is a new and memorable experience. If you are not a native New Yorker, keep a time zone converter handy to get NYC time while planning your stay.