This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by BALLS by Chris Edwards.
Rare Harry Potter First Edition Stolen
A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, described as the “Holy Grail” for Potter collectors, and worth £40,000, was stolen from a Norfolk bookshop. (Is this the beginning of a real life version of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry except with a Rowling book rather than a Poe? P.S. Happy Birthday, Poe!). The book was one of only 500 copies with Rowling listed as Joanne Rowling, and 300 of those copies went to libraries. Police are appealing for help tracing this book, and several other valuable titles that were stolen.
Edgar Allan Poe Nominees Announced
Fittingly, on this the 209th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, the Mystery Writers of America announced the Nominees for the 2018 Edgar Allan Poe Awards. This year’s Poe Awards honor “the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2017.” Nominees include Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, Idaho by Emily Ruskovich, and Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Check out the full list and categories here.
HarperAudio Will Produce Audiobooks On Vinyl
Hey, hipsters! HarperAudio is planning to produce a series of spoken word vinyl audiobook titles this year. The series will launch in April with Wild Horses Vinyl Edition by Joe Hill, read by Nate Corddry. Other “vinyl-first” editions will include A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket and Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni. Digital editions will accompany the vinyl audiobooks.