Author: Emily Martin

Morgan Jerkins Starts Her Own Newsletter

Author Morgan Jerkins has announced that she’s starting her own newsletter entitled Lorain, in honor of Toni Morrison’s birthplace. In a post on Twitter, Jerkins details the reasons behind starting the newsletter: “I have been disenchanted with the way the media treats those who look like me and those who have even less structural privileges than I do…The community I hope to have here is one that seeks to understand the broader implications and connectedness of everything from large, societal events down to the minutiae in our everyday lives.”

You can subscribe to Jerkins’ newsletter via Substack for free, and you will receive a new post every Tuesday. For paid subscribers ($6 a month), you will get: weekly posts on Tuesdays; Friday link round-ups or community threads on current events; access to monthly video uploads where Jerkins will talk career and money with industry folx; and a rolling advice column. Founding members ($200 a year) will receive all of the above as well as the opportunity to work 1:1 with Jerkins personally. Jerkins’ first story drops today, so if you’re interested, you can subscribe now!

Zazie Beetz in Talks to Return for Joker: Folie à Deux

Zazie Beetz is in talks to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond Warner Bros/DC sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, directed by Todd Phillips. The film, which is rumored to be a musical, will also star Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn and Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as Arthur Fleck. Joker: Folie à Deux is set to start shooting in December and will hit theaters on October 4th, 2024.

Charles Dickens Exhibition in London Explores the Author’s Lifelong Fascination with the Paranormal

Starting in October, Victorian author Charles Dickens’ fascination with the paranormal will be the subject of an exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum in central London. Among the exhibits is a never-before-displayed letter from the author to William Howitt. Dickens asks whether the spiritualist and fellow writer has suggestions for “any haunted house whatsoever within the limits of the United Kingdom where nobody can live, eat, drink, stand, lie or sleep without sleep-molestation.” The exhibition will also include Dickens’s own, annotated copy of The Haunted Man that the author read from during public performances. To Be Read At Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts and the Supernatural opens on October 5th.

The Bennett House from the 1995 Pride and Prejudice is for Sale!

The property that was used as the Bennet family’s home in the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice series is for sale for £6,000,000.

First Kill Showrunner Blames Show Cancellation on Marketing That Never Went Beyond Teen Vampire Element

Last week, showrunner Felicia D. Henderson went public with her thoughts about why the Netflix show First Kill wasn’t renewed for a new season. Henderson argued that the marketing for the show did not encompass everything that the show had going for it. She said in her statement, “The art for the initial marketing was beautiful. I think I expected that to be the beginning and that the other equally compelling and important elements of the show — monsters vs. monster hunters, the battle between two powerful matriarchs, etc. — would eventually be promoted, and that didn’t happen.” Released June 10, First Kill made it to Netflix’s weekly Top 10 for English-language TV series in its first three days. It peaked at No. 3 in its first full week of release with 48.8M hours viewed, trailing only Stranger Things Season 4 and Peaky Blinders Season 6. But according to Deadline’s reporting, the series did not have the staying power of most Netflix hits and did not meet thresholds for viewing and completion of episodes.

Hogarth Book Reveals Cover of Han Kang’s Greek Lessons

Hogarth Books has revealed the cover for the latest book from Han Kang, author of the International Booker Prize winner The Vegetarian. For Kang’s Greek Lessons, Anna Kochman, the designer of the book jacket, explains that she used the “idea of a kaleidoscope pattern as a jumping off point, because I just feel like those patterns are so beautiful and strange and that fit my experience of the book.” The upcoming novel is translated by Deborah Smith, who shared the International Booker Prize with Han for her translation of The Vegetarian, and Emily Yae Won. Greek Lessons comes out April 18th.

Read an Excerpt from Jennette McCurdy’s Forthcoming Memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died

Former iCarly star Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died hits shelves tomorrow, August 9th. Ahead of the book’s release,Vanity Fair is sharing an excerpt from the memoir that details the inappropriate behavior McCurdy experienced working with a man she refers to only as “The Creator.” She also alleges that she was offered $300,000 to stay silent. Vanity Fair has reached out to Nickelodeon for comment.

PRH WTF: The Weirdest Quotes from the Penguin Random House Trial

“Everything is random in publishing. Success is random. Bestsellers are random. So that is why we are the Random House!”

Nic Stone Reveals Cover of Upcoming Novel Chaos Theory

Author Nic Stone has shared the cover of her upcoming novel Chaos Theory on her Instagram. The author confesses that the book, which was the second novel she ever wrote, is a very personal one for her. “As a Black person who is living with — and has been medicated for — a couple of mental illness diagnoses, creating accurate and well-vetted representation of Black kids with ‘abnormal brain chemistry’ (Pffffft!) is of paramount importance to me,” she wrote. “And BLACK is important here. Because yes: while mental health experiences are SUPER individualized in general, our racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds absolutely impact the way we experience the world and therefore how our brains function within it. And stigma sucks.” Chaos Theory is on sale January 28th, 2023.

Batgirl Star Leslie Grace Responds After Film is Shelved

Batgirl star Leslie Grace took to Instagram to share her thoughts after the announcement that Warner Bros. Discovery is shelving the $90 million film. “I am proud of the love, hard work and intention all of our incredible cast and tireless crew put into this film over 7 months in Scotland,” Grace wrote. “I feel blessed to have worked among absolute greats and forged relationships for a lifetime in the process! To every Batgirl fan — THANK YOU for the love and belief, allowing me to take on the cape and become, as Babs said best, ‘my own damn hero!’ Batgirl for life!” The decision to shelve Batgirl follows a change of corporate ownership for the studio, with CEO David Zazlav seeking $3 billion in cost savings and opting for a tax write-down on the movie. Sources say the studio is looking to prioritize theatrical releases over streaming ones and that company leadership also had concerns about whether Batgirl would live up to the level of spectacle of other DC films.

Oscar Isaac TikTok Suggests Moon Knight Will Be Back for a 2nd Season

If a recent TikTok is to be believed, it looks like the Disney+ series Moon Knight will be back for a second season. The TikTok video in question shows Moon Knight executive producer and the MCU show’s star Oscar Isaac being asked, “The question on everyone’s mind — is there a season two?” Isaac, who plays main characters Steven Grant/Marc Spector, responds by saying, “Why else would we be in Cairo?” Disney+ and Marvel Studios have yet to officially announce a second season.

A Template for Talking with School and Library Boards About Book Bans

How to talk at a school or library board meeting, with sample script and shareable graphics. That + this week’s book censorship news.

Marvel Casts Drag Race Winner Shea Couleé in Ironheart

RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Shea Couleé is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a series regular in the Disney+ series Ironheart. Details about Couleé’s role in the series are under wraps, but she’ll be the first drag queen performer to join the MCU. In response to this casting announcement, Coulee wrote on Twitter, “Words cannot express how excited I am to be a part of this amazing project! Acting was my first love, and I’m thrilled to be doing it again in such a big way!” Ironheart debuts on Disney+ in fall 2023.

Heartstopper Novella Nick and Charlie Hits Shelves in January

Earlier this week, Publishers Weekly revealed the cover of Alice Oseman’s upcoming Heartstopper novella Nick and Charlie. The novella picks up the story of Heartstopper main characters Nick and Charlie as Nick is getting ready to leave for college. Charlie is a year younger, so the two grappling with their upcoming separation and how it will affect their relationship. “Nick and Charlie have existed as characters for a whole decade, and, like me, many of my readers have grown up along with them,” Oseman told PW. “I adored exploring their lives now that they’re a little older and I hope readers will enjoy reading this new chapter of Nick and Charlie’s love story.” Nick and Charlie hits shelves on January 3, 2023.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism Movie Streaming in September

The film adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s horror novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism is coming to Amazon Prime Video! The story is described on Hendrix’s website as “Beaches meets The Exorcist with all the E.T. love, Phil Collins, wine coolers, United Colours of Benetton perfume, and demons from Hell that personified the 80s.” Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Cathy Ang, and Rachel Ogechi Kanu star in the film, which premieres on Amazon’s streaming platform on September 30th.

12 Must-Read August Children’s Book Releases

August children’s book releases are hot, and include super sweet grandma picture books, lots of disability representation, and Ride On for horse kids.

Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford to Host Culture Podcast on Stitcher

Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford are hosting a new weekly podcast for SiriusXM’s Stitcher called Vibe Check. The podcast, which debuts on August 17, will focus on news and culture from a Black and queer perspective. Sanders is a former NPR host who has since joined New York magazine. He also host a podcast for Vulture, called Into It. Jones is a poet and author of the Kirkus Prize-winning memoir How We Fight for Our Lives. Stafford is a co-producer of the Tony Award–winning musical A Strange Loop and a contributor at MSNBC. “We couldn’t be more excited to invite people into our funny, thoughtful, and supportive sister circle on Vibe Check,” the hosts said in a joint statement. “This show is the culmination of years of friendship, and we look forward to helping you keep your vibe right!”

Lucy Liu Narrating Audiobook of Celeste Ng’s Our Missing Hearts

Actress, producer, director and artist Lucy Liu is narrating Celeste Ng’s forthcoming novel Our Missing Hearts. Liu said in a statement: “Celeste is such a beautiful writer. When I was asked if I would narrate her new novel, I was incredibly excited. She worked on Our Missing Hearts for seven years and it is spectacularly written and absolute poetry. Narrating a book in its entirety is a big task because you delve into the process of what the author is trying to express through the characters and through the story. I hope listeners understand the impact of Celeste’s words about discrimination, racism, separating children from their families and the impact it has on humanity.” The audiobook will be available on October 4, and you can preorder it now.

Join the Feminist Press Launch Party for It Came from the Closet

In the Feminist Press’ forthcoming essay collection, queer and trans writers reflect on the horror films that shaped them, from Halloween to Hereditary. Edited by Joe Vallese, this anthology features twenty-five original essays by writers including: Carmen Maria Machado on Jennifer’s Body, Jen Corrigan on Jaws, and Samuel Autman on Get Out. If you want to back the project, you can get a ticket to the book’s launch party on Wednesday, October 5. Join the Feminist Press at the 3 Dollar Bill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for an evening of music, dancing, drinks, book signings, prizes, and a show-stopping set by the queer performance collective The Neon Coven.

$90M Batgirl Movie Canceled

The $90 M Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace, J.K. Simmons, and Michael Keaton has officially been pulled by Warner Bros. studio.

Samantha Shannon’s A Day of Fallen Night Gets A Cover Reveal

Yesterday on Instagram, fantasy author Samantha Shannon revealed the cover of her upcoming novel A Day of Fallen Night, illustrated by Ivan Belikov and designed by David Mann. The novel is a sequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree, and as with the first novel, the whole jacket (including the back and spine) of A Day of Fallen Night forms a picture, which Shannon will reveal soon. A Day of Fallen Night comes out February 28, 2023 and is available for preorder now.

First Kill Canceled at Netflix After One Season

Netflix has decided against picking the teenage vampire series First Kill for a second season. The series based on the short story by V.E. Schwab received lukewarm reviews from critics. It scored a 58% approval rating on review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. But the series found a dedicated following in the weeks following its premiere in June. In a tweet confirming the cancellation, series cast member Dominic C. Goodman expressed gratitude for the show’s fanbase: “To all the First Kill fans; I have nothing but love for every single one of you! Thank you all for taking the show in as your own, seeing you all feel seen made all the hard work and hours worth it.”

Amazon Greenlights My Lady Jane Adaptation

Amazon Studios has greenlit the historical comedy series My Lady Jane for Prime Video. The series, based on the novel My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, will star Emily Bader (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin) as Lady Jane Grey, Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve) as Grey’s husband Lord Guildford Dudley, and Jordan Peters (Blue Story) as King Edward. Gemma Burgess will be co-showrunner/executive producer alongside Meredith Glynn. Jamie Babbit (Only Murders in the Building) is directing the pilot and is producing director/executive producer. Sarah Bradshaw and Laurie MacDonald are also executive producers.

Book Banners Don’t Know What A Book Ban Is

People trying to remove books from libraries insist it’s not a book ban. Everyone wants to ban a book, but no one wants to be a book banner.

The Flash to End With Abbreviated Season 9 on The CW

The CW has announced that the ninth season of The Flash will be its last. The 13-episode final season will air in 2023 as part of the CW’s midseason roster. Production on the final season will begin next month. Executive producer/showrunner Eric Wallace said in a statement Monday, “So many amazing people have given their talents, time and love to bring this wonderful show to life each week. So, as we get ready to honor the show’s incredible legacy with our exciting final chapter, I want to say thank you to our phenomenal cast, writers, producers and crew over the years who helped make The Flash such an unforgettable experience for audiences around the world.”

A Librarian Collects All Things Left in Books

At the Oakland Public Library, librarian Sharon McKellar collects the found artifacts and posts them on the library’s website in a collection titled “Found in a Library Book.” McKellar told NPR, “I had always collected little things I’d found in library books and I knew other people did that too. So that was how it started. It was pretty simple, I was inspired by a magazine called Found Magazine.“

Stephen King to Testify in Books Merger Trial

The Justice Department is looking to convince a federal judge that the proposed merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster would be damaging to authors, and testifying for the government is Stephen King. The author of Carrie and The Shining has publicly criticized the $2.2 billion deal announced in late 2021. While King himself would likely benefit from the Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster deal, the author has a history of favoring the well-being of others over his material wealth. For instance, King has openly called for the government to raise his taxes. In response to this proposed merger, King tweeted, “The more the publishers consolidate, the harder it is for indie publishers to survive.”

Library Stormed by Proud Boys During Drag Week Story Hour Starts Year of “Every Month is Pride” Events

San Lorenzo Library’s Drag Queen Story Hour was disrupted by Proud Boys. In response, they are holding Pride events all year.