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Why You Should Intern With Beaufort Books

Thursday, November 30th, 2023

Hi everyone, Beauba Fett back one last time.

A lot has happened between now and my first blog post, but it really does feel like just last week I was typing up my introduction blog. I moved to a new state, my car battery only died twice, the old Fortnite map came back, and oh yeah, I learned a thing or two about publishing.

Wrapping up an internship at a publishing company isn’t where I expected to be at the end of this year, but I truly am grateful for deciding to take this leap. I graduated in May with a Marketing degree and Screenwriting minor, so I’ve always felt like I’ve had one foot in the business world and one in creative storytelling, but I had no idea how to merge the two while in school. I’ve had an amazing past couple of months discovering that publishing is exactly the industry where these two coexist, and I encourage anyone with interest to apply for this internship. You don’t have to be someone who always knew publishing was their passion to benefit from this position, so here’s three types of people that should try this out:

Young Aspiring Writers

Coming up with an idea and expanding into a complete manuscript is only half the battle for the writer. The other, and much more attritious, half involves getting someone interested in your work enough to get it out there for people to read. What better way of getting your work into the right hands than learning how the publishing industry works from the inside? The internship with Beaufort Books provides no shortage of hands-on experience in all aspects of publishing, starting from submitted manuscript to published book.

Denied From the Big 5

It’s human nature to be attracted to the shiny things in life, right? Those big name publishing houses that you see on most of the books on your shelf might seem like the obvious fit at first glance, but in reality, it’s the independent publishers that might be the best fit for those starting out. If you’re someone who’s been trying to get into the big five with no luck, you’ve come to the right place. The smaller size of Beaufort Books will allow interns to have a hand in various different responsibilities and tasks across the publishing process, which can help narrow down which area of specialization interns enjoy the most to pursue in their careers. The smaller size of the company makes everything feel more personal as well, ensuring that you won’t be lost in the shuffle that a larger house might have.

Those Chasing Their Passions

It’s a rare thing in today’s world to chase a career that aligns with your passions. Many people either follow the money or wrongly assume that work is work and passions and hobbies are for their free time, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’ve loved to read your whole life and aren’t excited about the major you chose or a career path you’re secretly dreading, why not take a chance to see if you could turn a lifelong passion into your job? Books don’t just magically appear on shelves, there’s an entire industry dedicated to this process, and this is a perfect place to start to learn that process. If you love reading and are curious about how to turn it into a career, this internship is for you. Life is short, and you owe it to yourself to do things that excite you.

Get in the (adult) Halloween Spirit with 5 Spooky Books and Paired Wines

Tuesday, October 31st, 2023

Happy Halloween everyone!

Kim Beaussible reporting in on the spookiest day of the year! Wherever you are, I hope that your candy bowl is full for tonight and that your costume will keep you warm and toasty this evening. Here on the west coast, costumes are covered with coats or bolstered by several layers underneath, making my four-year-old nephew’s Spiderman costume look suspiciously buff this year. But this time of year is my favorite. As the summer burns away and the ghosts come out to play, I sink into my books, my spooky movies, and my wine that will eventually spill onto the page when I jump out of my skin. Even spies get scared sometimes.

This Halloween I’ve chosen a few books, paired with a bottle of wine, with something for every reader, from those who like a cozy mystery or a whimsical witchy tale to those who want to be looking over their shoulder after they put the book down. 

 The Thursday Murder Club

This season is the one for book clubs if you ask me. My mother and her friends always seemed to revamp their club in the fall, each leaf on the ground like another page they would burn through. The Thursday Murder Club, from British TV personality Richard Osman, would be my pick for them this spooky season. Set in a retirement home with a diverse cast of characters, this cozy follows a group of retirees who have created a club to solve mysteries in their remaining free time, only to be embroiled a murder case on their doorstep. With humor and mystery, this offbeat cozy is perfect for anyone who’s looking for a spooky read that will make you think but won’t give you nightmares. 

  • I’ve paired this cozy mystery with the Phantom Chardonnay. White wines scream cozy to me, they’re easy to sip and not too heavy, and Phantom wine bottles always catch my eye.

Witch of Wild Things

Now, readers, what would Halloween look like without witches, or books about them for that matter? Practical Magic will always be on my spooky season watchlist or TBR list, with its romantic, whimsical interpretation of witches. Looking for something that fit into my obsession with the Owens witches’ greenhouse, I chose a Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, a romantic fantasy about Sage and her sisters that are figuring out their own unique magical powers. With family, romance, and a little bit of a Poison Ivy killer botany desires mixed in, this book will take you on an emotional, magical rollercoaster. 

  • If it’s romance, it’s got to be rosé. Our Halloween inspired pick, Banshee Rose, had to make the list. With notes of berry, light baking spice and dried herbs, this wine would be any witch’s pick.  

The Lost Apothecary 

If witches and magic haven’t always struck a chord for you because of the fantastical elements, The Lost Apothecary is a great alternative, as a female driven, historical fantasy. A haunted woman runs an apothecary for women in late 1700s London, doling out remedies and poisons for the ladies of the city, when she’s caught up in a scheme from one such lady and her maid. 200 years later, a woman facing the crossroads of her failing marriage finds a vial that once belonged to the apothecary, taking her on a wild goose chase to find out where it came from and to find what she’s been missing in her life. Light and dark all at the same time, this book balances apothecary magic with the real world feminine experience, where a woman’s magic might just set her free. 

  • With the misty fog of London as the backdrop and the ghosts following each character, Ghost Pines Pinot Noir seemed a fitting pair for this book. The label itself reminded me of the apothecary, Nella, making her trips across the Thames to collect supplies for her potions, and the mixture of blackberry and black pepper are perfect for the fall weather.

Ladies of the Lake

If you’re looking for a thriller that sounds like a soap opera drama to drink up with your wine, look no further than Ladies of the Lake from Beaufort Books. After a fight and then a horrific accident in an affluent neighborhood leaves a man dead, his second wife lives her life as if she can finally breathe but other wives start getting jealous and then other husbands start dying and the LAPD and their children turn suspicious. Filled with mystery, suspense, drama, and a little romance this book is the perfect mix for those who like reality TV this Halloween. This is another lighter read for those who aren’t looking to be too scared but rather spookily entertained. 

  • A wine that looks sweet and light but is much darker than it seems, just like this book, my pairing is the Willamette Valley Vineyards White Pinot Noir. While this wine looks like a rosé, it expresses both red and white wine characteristics — creaminess, rich mid-palate, bright aromas and flavors with balanced acidity. 

 A Flicker in the Dark 

This end of the spooky spectrum is where I like to read and live. Thrillers and Horror books are some of my favorites, purely because of their ability to surprise me. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham is one of my favorite thrillers I’ve read this year; I couldn’t get to the end fast enough, reading the last 100 pages in one sitting. Chloe is afraid of the dark, and rightfully so after learning at 12 that her father was a serial killer. Now 20 years later, she downs her wine with a Xanax just to sleep at night, and when someone appears to become a copycat of her father’s crimes, she takes it upon herself to find the killer despite her fears. 

  • A dark red wine for a dark book, the Prayers of Sinners Red Blend is my favorite on this list as well, with the title sounding just like Chloe’s attempt at atonement for the sins of her father. With notes of coffee, fruit, and gunsmoke, the wine has a bold, elegant finish just like Chloe. 

Running Out of Shelf Space

Tuesday, October 24th, 2023

So, I have a lot of books…

Duh!

Book lover and all, I think it’s essential to own more books than I can possibly read. Unleash me in a bookstore and I’m a force to be reckoned with. Seriously, I’m, like, feral. Try and interrupt me when I’m reading the back of a book and I just might hiss at you…or growl [I’m more of a dog person]. And I can guarantee once I pick up a book, I’m not putting it back down–unless it’s in my shopping basket. It’s my toxic trait. My family hates it. My boyfriend hates it. My wallet especially hates it. 

Don’t get me wrong, the people in my life love that I love reading, but I think they’re more concerned with the fact that the hobby has slowly transformed into book collecting rather than actually reading said books. The introduction of BookTok and Bookstagram has only made it even worse. I see a book and I’m instantly running to the store to get it…and I might get five more, you know, since I’m there. And don’t get me started on Fairyloot and Owlcrate and Bookish Box and all those other special editions. Those I easily justify to myself since I may not get another chance to own that edition. 

The point I’m getting at is I’m running out of room for my addiction. No, I don’t have a library in my house, though I wish I did. I’m actually quite limited on space. My single bookshelf is filled to the brim, I have a TBR cart overflowing with books, and bins under my bed that hold the books that just don’t fit anywhere else. This is not including the pile of my current reads that are sitting at my bedside. 

I guess what my question to you guys is, what are you doing with your books? Are you just super lucky to have unlimited space to display them all? Do you have self-control and only buy books as you’re ready to read them? Do you donate books? Sell them? Prefer an eReader? Just borrow books from the library?

Please, I need to know before I’m forced to start substituting my furniture for furniture built out of books!

Beau Swan <3

Beaufort Titles You May Have Missed

Thursday, October 12th, 2023

Hi everyone, Beauba Fett back with another blog post.

Are you caught up on all of Beaufort’s newest releases and are looking for more? While Beaufort has put out some really great titles recently with even more on the way, there’s still an impressive selection of titles on our backlist that deserve some attention too! 

Here are five books that you may have missed.

Looking to gain some insight on the current climate of the trillion dollar industry of marketing? Whether you’re already in the industry, wanting to build your own business, or just want to learn more, Agency Mania will show you how to build successful, long-term relationships with your clients.

Are you a fan of Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy character in the Anchorman movies? Read the story of the real-life anchorman who inspired the character!

The inspiring true story of a 218 mile hike on the John Muir Trail that author Jeff Alt and his wife embark on after tragedy strikes. Nature lovers will appreciate this thrilling story of hope and resilience.

With insights drawn from her own transformation from depressed medical doctor to a fulfilled dancer, writer, speaker, and life coach, Dr. Susan Biali provides useful science-backed steps on how to reclaim your dreams and live your life passionately. 

A touching love letter to the city of New York, The Outdoor Museum forgoes the usual sights of the city, instead highlighting the beauty in the little things such as puddle reflections, subway tiles, public sculptures, and much more.

How to Make Reading Part of a Busy Lifestyle

Thursday, September 21st, 2023

Hi everyone, Beauba Fett back for another blog post. 

Are you someone that has a nightstand stacked high with books that you’ve been meaning to get to, but just haven’t found the time? Is your schedule booked from dawn to dusk? Do you have some time in the day to pick up that book, but just aren’t able to get yourself to start? Do not fear, here are 3 tips that will help you maximize your time so that you can move titles from “Want to Read” to “Read.”

Schedule Reading Time

We all have 24 hours everyday, and it’s up to us how to spend that time. Getting ready for work, commuting, working, commuting again, making dinner, family obligations, etc. take up a large chunk of said time, so much so that it can feel like we have no time for anything else before it’s time for bed to start the process over again tomorrow. This is where the power of scheduling can be your best friend. If you’re someone who doesn’t write down their schedules everyday, I can’t recommend it enough. I noticed such a boost in my productivity, focus, and prioritization once I started blocking out specific times in the day for my obligations and goals. If you already plan out your days, I challenge you to go through your schedule and analyze each block of time you have so that you can find time to pencil in even just thirty minutes of reading time. By setting a time each day to read, you’ll create a new habit and start to look forward to it. 

Double Up

“What if I went through my schedule and genuinely found no time to spare?” “I have other hobbies and interests that take up my free time, but I still want to read.” No worries, that’s where my second tip comes in. Reading is the best form of entertainment because you are able to pick up a book anywhere you want. No WiFi? No problem. Books don’t need to be charged, and they take up a relatively small amount of space. What’s stopping you from reading on your subway commutes instead of scrolling through Instagram? What about your hour lunch break? You might even be able to steal a couple pages in between assignments at work. If you drive to work, why not listen to the audio book of that title you’ve been wanting to read for years? How about when you’re taking the dog for a walk? Plain and simply, by poking holes into your obligations, you can find the time to double up and create more reading time. 

Pick Books That Interest You

This one might sound obvious, but I think this is the single most important factor that will differentiate you from finding the time or not. Why read something if it doesn’t make you want to turn the pages? I think a lot of people get caught up in what they feel like they “should” be reading, or just grab popular titles without considering whether it’s about something that will interest them. Forget about top charts and conventional picks, think about topics and/or themes that interest you and go find a book that will deliver that for you! Reading is supposed to be fun, never forget that!

Best of luck on your reading journey! 

-Beauba Fett

Book Villians Beware, the New Intern is Here

Friday, September 8th, 2023

Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me, it’s Kim Beaussible reporting for duty as one of your new Beaufort Books Interns for Fall of 2023 (somehow it’s that year). Allow me to introduce myself.

I’m a freelance editor from Oregon with a Master’s degree in Book Publishing from Portland State University and a former member of Ooligan Press. Before then, I graduated from the University of Denver Publishing Institute and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon where I majored in English with a minor in Writing, Public Speaking, and Critical Reasoning. Books and great writing have always been my passion, but growing up somewhere that cable TV can’t reach may have influenced that (I didn’t actually get to watch Kim Possible unless I was at a friend’s house or until we got satellite when I was in high school). Now that I’m here at Beaufort, I’m excited to continue to learn and share my knowledge with authors and audiences who love the world of books just as much as I do.

Personally, I read far and wide across the bookstore from literary fiction, fantasy, general/contemporary fiction, thrillers, mythological retellings, and many more. Much like the rest of the Beaufort staff, I mainly just enjoy a well-written book, but the genre varies. Now that we know each other a little better, let’s talk about BOOKS because I don’t know about you but I’ve read some interesting ones in the past few years that I can’t stop thinking about and I have to tell someone else about this one.

As a reader and editor, I’ve been thinking about expectations lately. Years ago when I had creative writing classes, the issue I ran into was that my plots always felt somewhat predictable or lacked the creativity other writers had. However, being an editor is rather different. You’re presented with someone else’s story, fact or fiction, and are asked to help package it. Packaging can mean different things (editing, cover design, etc.) but it’s largely about meeting the audience’s expectations, whether that’s for genre, form, or other book-loving criteria. And there’s nothing worse than reading a book that doesn’t meet them, and I expect a lot from my authors. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is one book I went into with somewhat high expectations. As a story about a platonic male-female, two-decade friendship I expected to be moved by the ups and downs of having friends for that long, especially one of the other sex and who you work with. Sam, the male protagonist, had characterizations and mannerisms as a shy, too-smart-for-his-own-good nerd that reminded me of my older brother. He has a unique worldview, finding comfort in the world of video game development, and Zevin’s writing allowed me to connect him with someone in my own life. That’s all to say, she had already started to meet my expectations. What I hadn’t anticipated was the gut wrenching chapter entitled NPC: The Nonplayable Character. If you’ve read the book, you’ll remember it as the one where you’re sobbing so hard you actually have to put the book down. That chapter exceeded any expectations I had. It was one of those moments as an editor that I knew this was the reason the book had made it out of the slush pile, I had never read anything like it. Zevin had shifted her writing style entirely for the chapter, giving us an unexpected perspective and changing the entire dynamic of the book. The defiance of my expectations is why I still talk about this book more than a year after completing it.

In writing, much like in life, things don’t always turn out the way we expect, which can be the best part of reading. The mark of a good writer or editor is to know what expectations to uphold and when to deliver the unexpected, managing and balancing them in perfect harmony.

You can expect (wink) to hear more from me in the coming months with my thoughts on books and maybe even a spooky treat for Spooky Season. 

Signing off, your basic average girl, here to save the world of books,

Kim Beaussible

Five Postmodern Books to Read

Saturday, April 1st, 2023

As a reader, my favorite period of literary history is postmodernism. I’ve always been fascinated by writers who play with form and voice, and postmodernism is rich with this kind of experimentation. I love the idea of form reflecting content and the idea of subjective truth in literature, and the postmodern era more than any other reflects these concerns. The following is a list of postmodern books you should pick up if you’re interested in the period.

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Generally considered to be the entry point to postmodernism for many undergrads, and it’s easy to see why. Pynchon writes in a highly specific, idiosyncratic style that is as enticing as it is bewildering. Though this is much shorter than all of his other books, it provides a good glimpse into his style and his thematic concerns. It tells the story of Oedipa Maas and her efforts to uncover a secret society.

White Noise by Don Delillo

Delillo also has a highly specific style that is both eerie and familiar. There is a rhythmic quality to his writing that lends the story weight in an almost subconscious way. White Noise deals with consumerism and mortality in a very stark and dramatic way. It tells the story of Jack Gladney and his wife Babette’s fear of death. It was recently adapted into a Netflix film starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig that is just as confusing as the book.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

This technically falls outside of what most scholars refer to as postmodernism, but stylistically it is cut from the same cloth. It might be called post postmodernism or hysterical realism, but the same themes of absurdity run throughout the book. Smith is a titan of modern literature, and her voice is eloquent and moving. White Teeth deals with postcolonialism in London and features a diverse cast of characters. 

Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme

Equal parts experimentation and compelling characters, Sixty Stories is a masterclass on the art of short story writing. Barthelme approaches short fiction with humor and wit and crafts off-kilter narratives that draw you in just as they push you away. He foregoes traditional structures and neat resolution to give you a much murkier, anecdotal form of short story, and Sixty Stories shows you just how far you can take a joke.

Lost in the Funhouse by John Barth

Barth is another writer who loves to play games with readers, and Lost in the Funhouse does exactly that. Confusing perspectives, stories within stories, parallels with Greek mythology, and a bit of humor make this book a fascinating read. Barth’s stories are often representative of metafiction as a form, and they focus less on character and more on the story as artifice, which yields exciting results. For many Barth is the representative postmodern writer, and Lost in the Funhouse is his greatest work.

I hope these recommendations appeal to some of you and pique your interest in this fascinating period in literary history. Sometimes the way the story is told is as important as the story. 

Until next time!

Beau Henry

My Experience at an Antiquarian Book Fair

Monday, March 13th, 2023

By Beau Henry

This past February, I found myself at the 55th Annual California Antiquarian Book Fair (https://www.abaa.org/cabookfair) in Pasadena, CA. Rare booksellers from all over the world gathered at the Pasadena Convention Center to sell unpublished manuscripts, ephemera, and rare first editions that spanned six centuries and several continents. The event was well attended but not overly crowded, and it was a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 

Among the incredible books at the fair were signed first editions of James Joyce’s Ulysses, signed Harry Potter first editions, and a partial first draft manuscript of Infinite Jest By David Foster Wallace. Prices for these artifacts ranged from what you might pay for a decent car to a significant down payment on a house, and I contemplated selling everything I owned for a rare book and switching careers entirely. Luckily, my partner pushed me along the path between displays, and I did not have a chance to start bartering.

In addition to all of the books, there were a number of displays that demonstrated how antique printing presses worked, and some that even offered to print things for you on the spot. Several attendees received custom printings and many stood around watching the process. On the outside edges of the convention center, there were a number of sellers who specialized in rare comic books and prints from the 1900s that represented various social and political movements.  Some of them were scary, and some of them were inspiring. Other sellers specialized in pulp fiction and genre writing like science fiction and fantasy, and had a number of books with unique covers.

As an inexperienced visitor, I found the history of literature to be fascinating. I found myself enamored with everything from gruesome medical literature to authors as modern as George Saunders, and it felt like there was a real literary continuity, despite the differences in content. There was a sense that this was a community, and that books mattered to the sellers. Despite the lucrative nature of antiquarian bookselling, this was a collection of people who believed that books should be preserved.

My hope is that in the future, we’ll still have this community. 

Books That Should be Trending

Wednesday, September 21st, 2022

New blogger coming at you under the pen name, The BEAUpire Diaries. I am one of three interns at Beaufort Books this Fall 2022 and I will be starting my first blog post off by talking about what’s trending, what I’m loving after reading what’s been trending, and what should have gotten more attention as trends have passed along. 

Every few years, the book community seems to change what genre/theme of books is trending amongst readers. There is no predicting what those books will be, but once they’re trending they are suddenly everywhere until we’re all sick of them and onto the next “new” thing. In the early 2000s, vampire/supernatural books were the thing with Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, The Vampire Academy, Vampire Kisses, Eighth Grade Bites, and so many more. It then trends moved on to dystopian novels for a bit with some iconic movies following like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. As much as we would love to bring all those books back for the sake of nostalgia, they are (for now) meant to be left in the past. 

What I am really seeing as a trend in books nowadays is the cheesy rom-com with bright and colorful cartoon covers that all kind of look the same. However, I like others have yet again fallen for the trends and am loving and buying all the romance. 

Below you’ll find all books that I have loved reading, featuring a little bit of all the trendiest genres/themes — a few have done pretty well in the market, and there are some that deserve to do even better, but enjoy.

Lacie’s Secrets by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist

In no way am I biased by adding this book to what I’m loving, but one of our books, Lacie’s Secrets is one of the best spooky fall time reads to have on hand during these upcoming months of gloom. For readers and fans of Big Little Lies and The Haunting of Hill House, Lacie’s Secrets is a psychological thriller that takes place on the coast of Maine, when Kate’s sister disappears 18 years ago, and in the present time, her mother suddenly dies inheriting their estate motivating Kate’s return and the unraveling of secrets begins.

Buy Lacie’s Secrets

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Somewhere after the boom of dystopian titles, the sci-fi genre attempted to be the next big trend. The 5th Wave did well, but the others that followed lagged behind. Alienated by Melissa Landers was a book that I loved years ago romanticizing life living alongside aliens when Cara Sweeney falls for the first alien exchange student, Aelyx.

Buy Alienated

Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven

With all of the swoon-worthy, new adult romance going around, I am surprised that this book hasn’t received its moment in the spotlight yet. This was the first adult romance book that I had read back when I was a senior in high school (six years ago) and I was so obsessed with it that I had my own fan cast. Bad Romeo follows the good girl meets bad boy trope when Cassie Taylor meets Ethan Holt while in acting school and they are cast to play Romeo and Juliet together.

Buy Bad Romeo

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

One of the most recently published and trending books that I wanted to feature is Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood. This is also an example of one of those iconic cartoon romance covers, but I guess they beat the romance covers that have shirtless, hairy men. Ali Hazelwood is well-known for her book, The Love Hypothesis, and a few others. I have yet to read this book, but I did buy it when it came out to add to my neverending TBR stack. Love on the Brain follows the enemies-to-lovers trope when Bee is offered her dream position with NASA the only setback being she is partnered with Levi Ward who has made it clear in grad school his feelings toward Bee.

Buy Love on the Brain

I am looking forward to continuing to work with Beaufort Books for the Fall 2022 term and writing more wildly interesting and creative blogs. The romance genre has always been a favorite of mine, so the blogs may lean heavier that way, but nevertheless. 

Sincerely,

The BEAUpire Diaries

Empowered Women Empower Women

Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” – Maya Angelou 

Happy March, readers! Before we get further, I wanted to acknowledge the distress in the world right now. Be strong, and safe, wherever you are. 

Beau Weasley here, encouraging you all to enjoy the spring and recognize the wonders of women this Women’s History Month. Here’s a compilation of memoirs about empowered women, written by empowering women:

After graduating from college, Jennifer isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she’s crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. With every step she takes, Jennifer transitions from an over-confident college graduate to a student of the trail, braving situations she never imagined before her thru-hike. The trail is full of unexpected kindness, generosity, and humor. And when tragedy strikes, she learns that she can depend on other people to help her in times of need.

*SA trigger warning

Known as Emily Doe to the world, Chanel Miller reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. Know My Name will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic.

The remarkable first-hand account of Margret Wittmer, who settled the island of Floreana in the Galapagos—600 miles from the mainland of Ecuador. It took Wittmer and her family weeks to travel to the island in 1932; they battled with the ties for three full days before they could land. Five months pregnant when she arrived, Wittmer found the beauty of the tropical island constantly tempered by the traumas of attempting everyday life in a wild and lonely spot. From the mysterious disappearance of a stranger linked to another recluse on the island, to a missed opportunity to meet President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 56 years recalled in this memoir are full of exotic adventures and the joys and tragedies of a lifetime.

Eighteen months before Kathryn Schulz’s beloved father died, she met the woman she would marry. In Lost & Found, she weaves the stories of those relationships into a brilliant exploration of how all our lives are shaped by loss and discovery—from the maddening disappearance of everyday objects to the sweeping devastations of war, pandemic, and natural disaster; from finding new planets to falling in love. The resulting book is part memoir, part guidebook to living in a world that is simultaneously full of wonder and joy and wretchedness and suffering—a world that always demands both our gratitude and our grief.

In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis became the overall record holder on the Appalachian Trail. By hiking 2,181 miles in 46 days – an average of 47 miles per day – she became the first female to ever set that mark. But this is not a book about records or numbers; this is a book about endurance and faith, and most of all love.  The most amazing part of this story is not found at the finish, but is discovered through the many challenges, lessons and relationships that present themselves along the trail. This is Jennifer’s story, in her own words, about how she started this journey with a love for hiking and more significantly a love for her husband Brew. By completing this extraordinary amateur feat, Jennifer rose above the culture of multi-million dollar sports contracts that is marked by shortcuts and steroids. This is the story of a real person doing something remarkable. Jennifer Pharr Davis is a modern role-model for women – and men. She is an authentic hero.

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls’ education, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.

On a cold winter night in February of 1967, a large rock shattered a bedroom window in Virginia Walden Ford’s home in Little Rock, Arkansas, landing in her baby sister’s crib. Outside, members of the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross on her family’s lawn. Faceless bigots were terrorizing Virginia, her parents, and her sisters–all because her father, Harry Fowler, dared to take a job as the assistant superintendent of personnel for the Little Rock School District. He was more than qualified, but he was Black. In her searing new memoir, legendary school choice advocate Virginia Walden Ford recounts the lessons she learned as a child in the segregated south. School Choice: A Legacy to Keep, tells the dramatic true story of how poor D.C. parents, with the support of unlikely allies, faced off against some of America’s most prominent politicians—and won a better future for children.

Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.

While these books are representative, they are not all-encompassing. I encourage you, reader, to utilize Women’s History Month and reflect–on often overlooked accomplishments, on women’s empowerment, and reflect on how you can be the change you want to see in the world.

Beau Weasley, signing off!

Books x Bastille

Friday, February 18th, 2022

Dearest Readers,

Let me set the scene: It’s 2013–the sun is shining, you’re wearing way too many layered t-shirts, and “Pompeii” by Bastille is blasting on the radio for the fourth time that hour. 

No? Just me?

Luckily for all of us, “Pompeii” did not follow in the tradition of one-hit wonders and was just the first of many great hits released by the English pop rock band. Their latest album, Give Me the Future, released a couple weeks ago and includes their most recent hit, “Shut Off the Lights.”

Now, what does any of this have to do with books?

A lot, actually! Not only does Give Me the Future explore Bastille’s own musings on technology, reality, and how the two interact, it’s also chock-full of references to some exceptional science fiction books! The books (and my musings on them) can be found below!

1984 by George Orwell

Perhaps the most famous of the referenced books, 1984 paints a dystopian future in which government is totalitarian and surveillance is omnipresent. It follows Winston Smith, a lowly worker employed to rewrite historical documents who desperately wishes to overthrow the government. Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning against propaganda, regimentation, and the erasure of history, and many terms used in the book, most notably “Big Brother,” have become a part of our regular lexicon.

Island by Aldous Huxley

Writing in direct contrast to his own novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley crafts the idea of the ultimate utopia in his book Island. In Island, Englishman Will Farnaby deliberately wrecks his ship in order to gain entry to the Kingdom of Pala, located on an island between Sumatra and the Andaman Islands. The society he finds there is utopic, with a culture that blends western science and eastern Buddhism, values multifaceted education, and believes the key to overcoming suffering and death is to live wholly in the moment. 

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, also known by its revised title Blade Runner, is an exploration of morality and what it actually means to be human. The book follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter assigned to “retire” androids who have escaped from Mars and fled to Earth. In his hunt for the androids, Deckard comes to learn that the androids are almost entirely indistinguishable from organic human beings and that both have been killed in the process.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 

In addition to Island, we have another reference to a Huxley work, this time to his work of dystopian fiction, Brave New World. This story examines a future in which humans are engineered in artificial wombs and later sorted into predetermined castes based on their intelligence and work. Natural-born humans are viewed as “savages” and live in exile on reservations around the world.

Total Recall by Piers Anthony

Based on the story, “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” by Philip K. Dick, Total Recall blurs the line between dreams and reality. When Douglas Quail, the novel’s protagonist, is having a fake memory installed, he discovers that the nightmares he’s been having of covert missions on Mars are his true memories that have been repressed by his employers. His life is completely overturned and he is left to question all that he believed to be true.

These are but a few of the incredible books that make the science fiction genre so compelling. If you’re wanting sci-fi that’s a touch more recent and/or diverse, I highly recommend checking out the works of Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, Becky Chambers, and Nnedi Okorafor, to name a few.

Happy Reading!

Judy Beaulume

Welcome to New York!

Friday, September 6th, 2019
Manhattan skyline, August 2019

Hello fellow book lovers!

I am the newest intern here at Beaufort Books & Spencer Hill Press! Over the next four months, you’ll be seeing periodic updates on the blog about my latest bookish adventures and NYC experiences. For this brief time as a blogger, I’ll be going full James Bond and using the alias of Captain Beaumerica (I am a Marvel fiend and cannot be stopped). I am so thrilled to share my thoughts, musings, and lessons learned with you all!

I think it is only appropriate that this first post serves as an introduction to myself. Below you’ll find a list of a few of my favorite things.

Favorite Book:

One thing to know about me? I will never lie to you. I have so many favorite books. I’m not a parent, but I imagine that choosing your favorite book is not unlike trying to choose your favorite child. For the sake of time and your sanity, I won’t list all my favorites, but here is my default:

Divergent by Veronica Roth – This book isn’t a groundbreaking novel with an ultra-diverse cast, nor is it an underrated gem that everyone will love, but as a lost middle schooler this book was exactly what I needed to read. It brought me comfort and guidance during that complicated time of adolescence. It was an influential book that shaped the rest of my school experience. I could talk for hours about the first book in this series and the injustice of the film adaptation, but instead I will just encourage you to read it for yourself. Come share in the heartache.

Favorite Movie:

This probably won’t come as a surprise, but I have several favorite movies… Here’s a few:

The Way Way Back – A coming-of-age story starring Steve Carrell and Toni Collette. This film is so heartwarming and emotional. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Truman Show – I love Jim Carey. He did a phenomenal job in this movie, but honestly, when does he not?

The Entire Marvel Cinematic Universe – Captain Marvel. Black Panther. Iron Man. Too many to name. I love them all with the passion of a thousand Suns.

Favorite Place:
In May of 2019, I spent two weeks in Southern Oregon and Northern California. They are easily my favorite places in the World. If I could hole up in the California Redwoods to write for the rest of my life, I absolutely would. These massive trees brought tears to my eyes and made me emotional in a way that I never thought trees could. I consider it a travesty that the Redwoods are not on the official Wonders of the World list.

Favorite Thing About NYC (so far):

The subway. I consider myself I great driver, but I highly dislike it. Not having to drive everyday is a blessing that I never want to lose. Also, the bookstores. So. Many. Bookstores.  

That’s it for now! I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me! I am so excited to be a part of the Beaufort team and interact with you via Beaufort social media. Check back soon for more updates!

Your Favorite Hero,

Captain Beaumerica

This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.

New City, New Books

Tuesday, February 5th, 2019

Photo taken at The Strand on Broadway at 12th.

Hello everyone! I’m Beaufort’s newest intern, writing under the pen name Phoebe Beauffay (Friends fans?) A little about me is that I’m an English major who loves stories in all forms and of all genres. I attend university in Nashville, TN, but I’m here for the semester. Not only am I new to Beaufort, but I am entirely new to NYC. Prior to my move here, I had never been. I’m more thrilled to be here than I can say!

I think most people who consider themselves to be avid readers would agree that sometimes we get reader’s block. My own reader’s block has been going on for far too long. I’m ready to pull out my reading list, my bookmarks, sign up for a library card, and get to work. Moving here has given me a spark to read that I haven’t felt in a while. How could it not? I’m surrounded by countless books and fellow book lovers here at Beaufort. I pass a public library to and from Beaufort each time I’m here. Readers are everywhere: on the subway, in coffee shops, in any of NYC’s abundant book stores. I’m planning an entire day to visit The Strand alone.

My reading list is ever-growing with no end in sight. It also refuses to be limited to one genre; it has a little bit of everything, which is exactly what I am looking for here in NYC. Here are a few of the books I intend to read on the subway and in coffee shops to cure my reader’s block:

Great Food Jobs 2 by Irena Chalmers

A Beaufort title I’m quite excited about! I love food and books. I love learning about the food industry and different careers. It’s full of insight on a world that I’m ready to learn all about.

North of the Tension Line by J.F. Riordan

Another Beaufort title, one that immediately reminded me of home. This story is set in Ephraim, Wisconsin. While I live in NYC and attend college in Nashville, Wisconsin is where I grew up. It’s rare for me to be able to read about home (New Yorkers are a lucky bunch in that department). I love that the story explores small town life.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I have so much admiration for the former first lady, and I cannot wait to hear her story in her own words. Autobiographies are newer to my list than other genres, but I believe this could be the read to get me going on them.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This one has been on my list for the last few months, and I’ve heard only good things about it. Stories about slightly awkward protagonists and friendship full of warmth and heart have a special place in mine.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

This is another one that has been on my list for a while (I blame the reader’s block). Psychological thrillers and mysteries are some of my favorites, and I’m a big fan of Gillian Flynn ever since Gone Girl. Looking forward to finally checking this one off the list.

Happy reading!

Phoebe Beauffay

This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.

Everyone Wants to be Published

Tuesday, September 13th, 2016

When you’re a publishing student, you face an annoying struggle from strangers. People think you can help them publish the book they wrote. “If I give you my manuscript, can you publish it?”

Um, no. First off, I’m still a grad student and do not work for a publisher, yet. Second off, just because I will work for a publisher one day doesn’t mean I can – or will – publish your work.

Let’s break down the acquisition process:

First you have to grab an editor’s interest, but if you simply submit your manuscript to an editor it will end up in the Slush pile, especially when it’s a big house like Simon & Schuster or HarperCollins. (If anyone’s familiar with the show Younger, you’ll know what the Slush pile means.) The only sure way to get an editor interested in your work is to get a literary agent. The literary agent will help you polish and improve your manuscript.

Younger

(Still from Younger, www.halopublishing.com/blog)

Having a literary agent is like having that cool friend who can get you into the VIP parties. The agent is connected to the editor in some way – college alums, former coworkers, BFFs, members of the same family in one way or another. So because of the agent’s connection to the editor, the editor is more willing to read a manuscript that was suggested and represented by this trustworthy source.

Next if the editor loves your manuscript and wants to publish it, he/she needs to rally support within the publishing house before the manuscript is pitched at a meeting with the publisher. The support may be from another editor or a coworker who works in the marketing or sales department. By getting backup, the manuscript has more of a fighting chance to be published by the house.

But it may not stop there. You could grab the attention of the publisher at the meeting, but they may want more people to read the manuscript and then discuss the manuscript’s possibility of life at the next meeting.

So with that said, if you know someone who works in publishing or is studying to make publishing a career, don’t say, “I have a manuscript. Can you publish it?” There are so many steps for the manuscript to be considered, and most likely the person you expect to publish your book, doesn’t possess the cosmic power to make you a published author.

–Peggy Ann, intern

Hello to All This

Thursday, June 12th, 2014

Hello there book lovers (and others as well). I’m Alex and I’m going to be an intern for the summer here at Beaufort Books. I’m a Communications and English Literature major, and as you can probably tell from my current workplace, I love books and reading. The one thing I love almost as much as books (aside from friends and family and loved ones…) are flowers. I think there’s nothing better than being in a room where there’s fresh flowers, the more colorful the better. For this reason I’ve decided to make my blogger name Simply Beautanical (I wouldn’t dare break with the ‘beau’ tradition started by past interns eons ago). Because I adore flowers and they bring a smile to my face, I’ve decided to share a photo of a different flower with every blog post. It’s my hope that this will brighten your day, dear reader, the same way it brightens mine.

However, since this is a publishing internship I can’t forego the opportunity to share some books as well. Recently I’ve found myself reading a million books at the same time, but one book that is particularly relevant to me right now is Goodbye to All That, a collection of essays written by accomplished writers about loving and leaving New York. Considering that I am a recent transplant to New York City I find this book endearing and interesting. These pages are filled with anecdotes and adventures from writers such as Dani Shapiro, Ann Hood, Sari Botton, Valerie Eagle, and many more. Reading these essays transports me back to the New York of five, ten, even fifteen years ago. One thing I’ve learned from reading this book is that New York City is a place that is constantly changing, and while you might love it today you might tire of it next week, or next month, or in twenty years. You can’t really know for sure. For now, I’m enamored by New York City and everything it has to offer; I can’t imagine spending my summer anywhere else. I can’t wait to see where this internship will take me and what it’ll teach me, which I’m sure will be a lot. I’ve already had such great experiences here at Beaufort, including working at Book Expo America and meeting various authors as well as reading manuscripts at the office. I’m excited to see what’s next!

Until next time,

Simply Beautanical

 

The Alexandra Rose (yes, that’s the flower’s name. Fitting, I know)

Goodbye to All That

Goodbye to All That