Author: Emily Martin

Netflix Announces Animated Musical Adaptation of Lupita Nyong’o’s Sulwe

Netflix has announced its adaptation of Lupita Nyong’o’s #1 New York Times bestselling book Sulwe. The film version of the children’s book will be an animated musical. Lupita Nyong’o, who will be a producer on the project, said, “Sulwe is a mirror for dark-skinned children to see themselves, a window for those who may not be familiar with colorism, to have understanding and empathy, and an invitation for all who feel different and unseen to recognize their innate beauty and value. I am thrilled that the book is being adapted into an animated musical that we hope inspires children all around the world to celebrate their uniqueness.”

Aspen Words Chooses 5 Finalists for 2021’s Literary Prize

Aspen Words has chosen three novels and two story collections—from a longlist of fifteen books—as finalists for this year’s Aspen Words Literary Prize. The $35,000 prize is awarded to honor fiction that “illuminates vital contemporary issues.” The finalists this year are: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa, The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans, Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, and If I Had Two Wings by the late Randall Kenan. The winner will be announced at a virtual ceremony on April 21.

Tennessee Librarian Fired for Allegedly Burning Books by Donald Trump and Ann Coulter

Cameron Dequintez Williams, a librarian from the Chattanooga public library in Tennessee, was fired after allegedly burning books written by Donald Trump and Ann Coulter. Williams argues that he was unfairly terminated, and that he was following library instructions to remove any “old, damaged or untruthful books.” The library argues that Williams’ alleged behavior constituted is an act of censorship.

Dark Academia Fans: Check Out this Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Auction

Love dark academia stories? Missing the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series? Now you have a chance to bring a piece of Sabrina home!

Author Brit Bennett Makes The Cover of Time 100 Next

Time has announced their 2021 Time100 Next List, highlighting 100 of the most influential people who are currently shaping the future. Brit Bennett, author of The Vanishing Half and The Mothers, is among the influential politicians, activists, philanthropists, medical heroes, artists, and others honored this year in the issue. You can check out Brit Bennett’s Time cover and Tayari Jones’ words about the author on the Time website.

Mindy Kaling Adapting Sanjena Sathian’s Novel Gold Diggers

Sanjena Sathian’s novel Gold Diggers is being adapted for television. Mindy Kaling is set to executive produce the project through her production company Kaling International. Sathian will co-write the adaptation. Production is currently looking for potential showrunners and co-writers.

We Need Diverse Books Launches Black Creatives Fund

As part of an initiative to bring more diverse voices to the publishing industry, We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) has launched the Black Creatives Fund. In partnership with Penguin Random House, the Black Creatives Fund will support a series of programs designed to get more Black voices published.

Annotation: How to Get the Most Out of Your Books

Looking to step up your reading game? Annotating might be the answer. Find out more about how annotations can help you get the most out of your book.

New THREE MUSKETEERS Movie Stars Vincent Cassel, Eva Green and Oliver Jackson-Cohen

Alexandre Dumas’ beloved 1844 novel The Three Musketeers is getting a fresh film adaptation, starring Vincent Cassel, Eva Green, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière wrote the two-part film adaptation, and Martin Bourboulon will direct both. The two movies are expected to be released back-to-back.

Get a First Look at the Artwork for V.E. Schwab’s Upcoming Super Hero Comic ExtraOrdinary

Author V.E. Schwab is publishing a new comic set in the period between her novels Vicious and Vengeful. The super hero comic is entitled ExtraOrdinary, and now you can get an exclusive look at the artwork from the first issue. ExtraOrdinary is launching in May with special issue No. 0, and a four-part series will follow.

McBride Sisters Collection Launches New Black Girl Magic Wine & Book Club

McBride Sisters Collection, the largest Black-owned wine business in the country, is teaming up with Simon & Schuster to launch the Black Girl Magic Wine and Book Club, which aims to celebrate Black women authors. For the first Black Girl Magic Wine and Book Club, the book will be The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton. Membership in the book club gets you two bottles of wine, an advanced copy of the book, and access to an exclusive Q&A session with the author.

AudioFile SYNC Brings More Free Audiobooks to Teens This Summer

Starting April 29, AudioFile is launching its twelfth summer of SYNC, a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+. Each week, two thematically-paired audiobooks will be made available for teens. The audiobooks given away during this program are free for the listeners to keep, forever.

Simone Ashley Announced as Female Lead of Bridgerton Season 2

Big news for Bridgerton fans: Season 2 has found its Kate. Actress Simone Ashley (Sex Education, Because the Night) has been cast as the female lead of the second season of the popular Netflix show. This season will follow the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), as he searches for a suitable wife. Season 2 will be based on the second book of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, The Viscount Who Loved Me.

Actress Evanna Lynch Coming Out With a Memoir in September

This week, actress Evanna Lynch announced on Instagram that she would be coming out with a memoir on September 14. The cover and title of the book have yet to be announced, but Lynch said that information would be forthcoming in the next couple of months. On Instagram, Lynch wrote, “In one way, this book is a memoir about my struggle with an eating disorder. However, it’s not really a book about thinness and eating, it’s about rebuilding yourself after, literally recovering yourself.”

Cypress Hill Tells Their Story in a Graphic Novel

It’s been 30 years since Cypress Hill released their self-titled debut album, and the hip hop group is commemorating the anniversary by releasing a graphic novel about their story, entitled Cypress Hill: Tres Equis, in partnership with Z2 Comics. The book is co-written by Noah Callahan-Bever and Gabriel Alvarez, and co-illustrated by Felix Ruiz, Jefte Palo, Juan Gedeon, Damion Scott, Angel Hernandez and Paris Alleyne. Cypress Hill: Tres Equis is expected to be released in August of this year.

The 2021 Summer Scares Horror Winners Are Here

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Booklist, is delighted to announce the third annual Summer Scares Reading List. The full list of adult, young adult, and middle grade titles can be found here.

Librarians Name Their Top LGBTQIA+ Books of the Year

Every year, the American Library Association’s Rainbow Roundtable chooses their top 10 books of the year featuring LGBTQIA+ stories. This year, the roundtable considered 312 books, both fiction and nonfiction. Their top 10 selections, entitled the Over the Rainbow Book List, have been announced.

Comedian and Writer Quinta Brunson Announces the Title of Her Debut Book

Quinta Brunson, a comedian and writer who has worked on shows such as A Black Lady Sketch Show, Lazor Wulf, Netflix’s Big Mouth, has announced the title of her upcoming debut book: She Memes Well. On Instagram, Brunson wrote, “I’ve been a meme so many times it was worth writing a book about it (and so many other things). Excited to reveal the cover of my book: She Memes Well! Out June 15th.” She Memes Well is now available for preorder.

Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club Launches Digital Cooking Series Hosted by Christina Milian

Reese’s Book Club, in partnership with KitchenAid, is set to launch a new four-episode digital series hosted by Christina Milian. The series, Eat the Book, will feature authors of popular Reese’s Book Club books along with female chefs who will bring a favorite moment from the books to life through a delicious recipe. The featured authors will be Tembi Locke (From Scratch), Jasmine Guillory (The Proposal), Delia Owens (Where the Crawdads Sing), and Amanda Eyre Ward (The Jetsetters). The series debuts on Thursday, February 18.

Second Annual Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction Announced

The Ripped Bodice Bookstore in Culver City, California has announced the 12 Ripped Bodice Award winners for Excellence in Romantic Fiction. Each recipient receives a prize of $1,000, with an additional $100 donated to the charity of each winner’s choice.

Milestone Media Relaunches With New Black Comics Series

Milestone Media, the African American–owned publishing company that created the celebrated Black superhero comics universe, is relaunching its publishing program on February 23 with the release of new original series. Milestone Media is a Black-owned publisher, focused on publishing comics featuring Black superheroes by Black comics artists.

Game of Thrones Showrunners Announce Netflix Adaptation of The Overstory with Hugh Jackman

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creators and showrunners of HBO’s Game of Thrones, have a new project for Netflix: an adaptation of Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Overstory. Hugh Jackman, who is reportedly a big fan of the novel, will be executive producer of the series.

Oona Out of Order Adaptation in the Works at Amazon

Amazon Studios is adapting the novel Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore. The novel, a story about a woman experiences her life out of order, will be made into a series, with Australian screenwriter Alice Bell attached to adapt and executive produce. Patrick Moran is also listed as an executive producer on the project.

Find Your Valentine’s Book Date

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Still looking for a date? Take this this quiz to Find Your Valentine’s Book Date.

Romance Author Rebekah Weatherspoon Moves to YA Fiction With Her New Novel

Romance author Rebekah Weatherspoon is ready to make her move into YA romance with her new novel Her Good Side. Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, acquired the publishing rights of the novel, which follows the story of a young girl who agrees to go on a fake homecoming date to help her friend. Her Good Side is being described as perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Dumplin‘.

Namina Forna’s New Novel The Gilded Ones is Already Being Adapted Into a Film

Namina Forna’s new YA fantasy novel The Gilded Ones just came out this week, but already a film version of this bestselling novel is in the works. Forna is going to write the script for the first film in what is set to be a trilogy. Additionally, Lovecraft Country showrunner Misha Green is one of the producers for the film.

Jessica Au Wins Inaugural Novel Prize

Melbourne-based author Jessica Au has been announced as the inaugural winner of the Novel Prize for her book Cold Enough for Snow. Au’s novel was selected from an international field of nearly 1,500 submissions and a shortlist of six. Cold Enough for Snow will be published internationally at the beginning of 2022.

Diverse Books On Hold in Utah School District

A Utah school district has suspended its Diversity Equity Council, as well as an equity books program that the Council worked on, after an incident at Horizon Elementary School in Murray, Utah, lead to parental complaints. Both the council and the books program are now under review.

Netflix Adapting Brian Jacques’ Redwall Books

Brian Jacques’ Redwall books are being adapted into a movie and television series thanks to a new rights deal between Netflix and Penguin Random House Children. Patrick McHale, creator of Cartoon Network’s “Over the Garden Wall,” is penning the movie based on the first book in the Redwall series. This is the first time a movie of any of Jacques’ works will have been made.

Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Picture Book Pinkie Promises Will Be Published This Fall

Senator Elizabeth Warren is publishing a picture book based on her favorite presidential campaign ritual. When she would meet a young girl on the campaign trail, Warren would tell her, “My name is Elizabeth, and I’m running for president because that’s what girls do,” then seal their bond with a pinkie promise. The book, entitled Pinkie Promises, will be out this fall.

Apple Highlighting “We Read Too” App in Celebration of Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Apple has been highlighting the work of Black developers, businesses, and more. Today, Apple shared the story of Kaya Thomas, the app developer behind We Read Too. The app aims to make diverse books more accessible to young readers. This includes a directory of picture, chapter, middle grade, and young adult books written by authors of color featuring authors of color.

Reducing the Environmental Toll of Paper in the Publishing Industry

What is the environmental impact of the publishing industry? And what can publishing companies do to create more sustainable practices? Find out here.

Get a Sneak Peek at Leigh Bardugo’s Rule of Wolves Before it Hits Shelves in March

On March 30, Rule of Wolves, the second part of of Leigh Bardugo’s best-selling King of Scars duology hits shelves. Can’t wait til then? You can now read the first chapter of the highly-anticipated novel exclusively at Entertainment Weekly.

School Finds New Way to Motivate Kids to Read: Vending Machines

Peterson Elementary School in North Texas has found a new way to get their students reading: vending machines. With the help of the Northwest ISD Education Foundation, educators bought a vending machine for the school, and instead of filling it with snacks, they filled it with books. Every week, teachers set reading goals for their students, and then on Friday each teacher picks one student to get a golden coin to use in the machine. Librarian Kelly Minton said, “We make such a big deal about students when they’re down here with their gold coins and we’re standing and cheering them on.”

Free Zoom Conversation with Author Jason Reynolds

Young adult author and poet Jason Reynolds will be appearing in a free Zoom conversation hosted by the Medina County District Library on February 24 at 6:30pm, Eastern. While Reynolds’ works are primarily written for middle graders and young adults, Tina Sabol, community engagement manager at the library, said Reynold’s works “are a great read for any age.” To participate in the free Zoom conversation, you can register here.

2021 PEN America Literary Awards Finalists Announced

The 2021 PEN America Literary Awards Finalists have been announced; the virtual awards ceremony will take place on April 8, 2021.

TO ALL THE BOYS Author Jenny Han Has A New Series Coming to Amazon

Amazon has ordered an eight-episode series from author Jenny Han. This new series will be an adaptation of Han’s novel The Summer I Turned Pretty. Han has written the pilot for the series and will also serve as executive producer and co-showrunner. 

BRIDGERTON Star Adjoa Andoh Reading AN ORDINARY WONDER by Buki Papillon

Can’t get enough of Lady Danbury from the hit Netflix series Bridgerton? Adjoa Andoh, the actress who plays Lady Danbury, will be back in March with her audiobook reading of An Ordinary Wonder by Nigerian author Buki Papillon. This debut novel is a coming-of-age story about “the courage needed to be yourself.” Of the choice to have Andoh narrate the novel, Papillon said, “I’d watched ‘Bridgerton’ in two days and was utterly dazzled by Adjoa Andoh’s performance…I am delighted that such a talented human and enlightened spirit is giving voice to my audiobook.”

Michele Assarasakorn & Nathan Fairburn Working On New Graphic Novel: Paws

Michele Assarasakorn and Nathan Fairburn are working together on a new middle grade graphic novel series called Paws. Assarasakorn, who is illustrating the series, has also worked on Isola, Spider-Man, Gotham Academy, and Wonder Woman. Fairburn is the colorist for Scott Pilgrim, Batman, Wonder Woman Earth One, and Spider-Man, to name a few. The first book of Paws will be published in the spring of 2022, the second in the fall of that same year, and the final installment comes out in 2023.

Books for Black History Month

Check out this list for some of the best adult nonfiction books—from graphic novels to essay collections—to read for Black History Month.