Books Are My People Weekly Newsletter
out today, paperback releases and more!
Dear Reader,
I’m a liar. I said I was pausing Substack for the month of August, but then I thought about it, and with my Books Are My People podcast coming back mid-month after a glorious eight-week hiatus, who am I to pause anything? So we’re back on for the month of August. For Paying Subscriber happenings, keep on scrolling down.
Goose is settling nicely into her new home. I’m behind on everything in my life, but I get puppy cuddles and it’s the best. And I know it’s fleeting. I think it was the right time for us to get a puppy (and by puppy, I mean 6-8 months-old) because my son is leaving for college in August, so hopefully our house won’t feel as empty.
My free Book Cover Chat and Draw went really well! Thank you to those of you who showed up and signed up to receive the recording! Here are just a few of the wonderful works of art generated at this event!
I’ll do another one in September.
Showcased above is wonderful work from four amazing artists who all teach classes online or in-person:
(Frida), (The Hundred-Foot Journey), (The Guest) and (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.)Let Me Help You Discover Books You Might Not Otherwise Read!
Out Today (I’ve starred the ones I’ve read)
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
A year in the life of the unforgettable Catalina Ituralde, a wickedly wry and heartbreakingly vulnerable student at an elite college, forced to navigate an opaque past, an uncertain future, tragedies on two continents, and the tantalizing possibilities of love and freedom.
The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu
By the acclaimed author of Moxie, a funny, bighearted adult debut that is at once an ode to educators, a timely glimpse at today's pressing school issues and a tender character study, following a sprawling cast of teachers, administrators, and staff at a Texas high school.
The blistering story of a marriage as it burns to the ground, and of a woman rising inexorably from its ashes that explores its protagonist struggling to balance life as a wife, mother and artist.
Queen B: The Story of Anne Boleyn Witch Queen by Juno Dawson
I love anything Tudor-related. This is the next installment of Juno's "irresistible" fantasy series Her Majesty's Royal Coven and takes readers back to the reign of Henry VIII and the origins of Her Majesty's Royal Coven under the beautiful, bewitching, Anne Boleyn.
The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall
The world is dying around her. Enemies lurk in the shadows. And she can't remember a thing about who she is. This book is an otherworldly blend of fantasy and adventure--perfect for fans of N.K. Jemisin and The Witcher. I read and loved her suspense / thriller What Never Happened.
The Modern Fairies by Clare Pollard
Lauren Groff's Matrix meets Ophelia Field's The Favourite in this wry, sexy, and sharp historical novel--inspired by true events--featuring an elite group of Paris intellectuals who perform fairy tales that will change the course of literature--and put both the storytellers and their closely kept secrets in grave danger.
Paperback Releases:
*The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
From the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Magnolia Palace, a thrilling story about nineteen-year-old Marion’s adventures with love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams, set amidst the glamour and glitz of Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday.
Day by Michael Cunningham
An exploration of love and loss, the struggles and limitations of family life--and how we all must learn to live together and apart--from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours.
Paid Subscriber Corner:
Book to Film Adaptation In July:
The Talented Mr. Ripley. Read the book. Watch the movie. Watch the series or any combination. We’ll meet up July 29th at 12:00 PM PT . I’ll send the zoom link out on Thursday.
August: Independent reading month. We’ll gather at the end of August to share what we’re reading and loving!
Read With Me Series: We will be reading Caoilinn Hughes’s The Alternatives in September / October. I can’t wait to read this smart, witty, romp about four Irish sisters.
I’m pausing my sharing of writing, reading and art events for now. Refocusing on books for this newsletter. It may not be forever, but my bandwidth is currently low.
Here is my reimagined book cover of Katya Apekina’s Mother Doll, a wonderful and really funny novel!
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week! Share what you’ve been reading below!
You can learn more about me by visiting my introductory post here. Please consider purchasing recommended books through my Bookshop.org affiliate links. It’s a great way to support the show and an ethical way to support your local bookstore. (You can even buy books I don’t link in my shop!)
Like what you read? You can buy me a coffee!
Books Are My People: A Podcast Companion Newsletter
(click here to listen to the most recent episode of my book recommendation podcast.)
The best way you can support this show is to click on the books below and purchase them through my Bookshop.org affiliate store. A portion of your spending goes to independent bookstores! A win-win-win! (You win, I win, indie bookstores win!)
And, if you haven't yet, the greatest gift would be to rate my show, wherever you listen!
Your chat and draw was fun and chill, can’t wait for the next one! Thanks for sharing my book cover 🤗💖✨
Loved your meetup Zoom! And I’m 3/4 of the way through The Guest, and am anxious to move onto another book so that I can draw the cover in my sketchbook. It’s a great motivator to read more.