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A Q&A with Author Jeff Alt
In honor of the upcoming release of The Adventures of Bubba Jones #4, we spoke with Jeff Alt about his...
BB: Among many other things, you’re hailed as a hiking and camping expert. What first sparked your love of hiking?
JA: My parents helped plant the seed for my love of the outdoors. As a child, they took us kids camping, hiking, and fishing routinely. On one family adventure to the Great Smoky Mountains, my brothers and I packed provisions and hiked up the highest mountain along the Appalachian Trail for the night leaving behind our parents and a cooler full of food. That hike was the toughest hike I had ever done and I still felt it in my muscles a week later. I was so happy to be back with my parents and a cooler full of food the next day, but a feeling of accomplishment remained. My love for hiking grew from there, which led to my Appalachian Trail expedition and many other long-distance hikes.
BB: The first book in The Adventures of Bubba Jones series was released in 2015, and tells the story of two siblings who travel back in time to our nation’s national parks to solve a family mystery. Can you tell us more about what first inspired this idea?
JA: For me, national parks have been part of my life experience, but many children have never stepped foot in a national park. I also realized that there weren’t a lot of middle-grade books about our national parks. I created this book series to entice kids with cool park facts and exciting adventures so that they would want to go visit each park they read about. This book series is a fun way to fill the children with facts that they can share with their parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. The books are loaded with facts to also fill adults with information as they read the series to children as young as five-years-old.
BB: How have events and characters from your own life influenced The Adventures of Bubba Jones series?
JA: My own childhood national park adventures have influenced many of the stories in the series as well as the parks I’ve chosen. The characters in my book series are a loose mix of all the positive family members and friends that have been involved in my own personal outdoor adventures. A very fun aspect of creating fiction is that you can make your characters bigger than life and mold the character to fit your story.
BB: In each book in The Adventures of Bubba Jones series, you go into detail about the wide variety of plants and animals found in the national parks, as well as recount stories of each park’s first inhabitants. How much research goes into each story?
JA: The Adventures of Bubba Jones books involve several layers of research. Even though we have fictional characters and time travel, all the park facts are accurate. To make the story authentic, I explore each park I write about so I can get a genuine feel for what a family would enjoy (my favorite research step). This particular book was especially enjoyable because my publisher and his son joined me for a Grand Canyon adventure. While in each park, I interview NPS staff, local experts, and historians. I comb through the park museums and attend presentations. I photograph important aspects of the park for later recall. I fact check using websites, books, and articles. Then, my manuscript is edited by park staff and other experts (geologists, historians, etc.) for accuracy. This assures that the reader is getting the most current and up-to-date facts about each park that I visit.
BB: As the setting for Book Four, the Grand Canyon plays an essential role in the story. What made you decide to set book four in the Grand Canyon National Park?
JA: There are 62 National Parks in the U.S. and each one has its own unique attraction. I chose Grand Canyon National Park as book four in my Adventure of Bubba Jones series for several reasons.
I have fond memories of hiking down to Bright Angel Campground from the South Rim when I was a young...
Grand Canyon is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world with stunning views which is also why it’s...
I wanted the challenge of writing a Grand Canyon adventure that would resonate with kids and families.
BB: If you could be asked any question about the book, what would it be and what is your answer?
JA: Can these books help us plan our Grand Canyon family adventure? Yes!!! All the adventures in the book are family-friendly and considered the best activities to do by park experts. As a matter of fact, the book includes a map and list of all the activities to help you plan your own adventure. The book is a great read-aloud to build excitement for your Grand Canyon adventure.
BB: Why is now the perfect time for children and their parents to start reading The Adventures of Bubba Jones series?
JA: With all the uncertainties due to COVID-19, The Adventures of Bubba Jones series allows you to explore our National Parks through literature and, if you ever travel to any of the parks in the series, it can help you plan your trip because you’ll be loaded with facts and what to do for fun.
Thank you to Jeff Alt for joining us for this Q&A in anticipation of his upcoming book! The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Time Traveling Through Grand Canyon National Park hits bookstore shelves on August 3rd. Pre-order your family’s copy today from Barnes & Noble or IndieBound to start exploring the Grand Canyon with Bubba Jones and his sister Hug-a-Bug!
Hiking Tips for Families
We’re joined by Jeff Alt, author of The Adventures of Bubba Jones series, in anticipation of his latest book, The...
Scientific evidence has proven that time spent in nature increases your creativity, helps prevent depression, improves your overall health, and is a great way to spend time together. But, a large segment of children have replaced time in nature with tablets, smartphones, and video games. Excessive screen time is being associated with increased childhood obesity, mental health issues, and even social skill problems. If spending time in nature is key to our children’s health and success, how do we get them into the woods?
Here’s how!
Start’em Young: Ergonomically designed baby carriers make it easy and fun to carry your infant and toddler with you wherever you hike. Walk to your favorite park or beach. Bring a friend. Stop often and let your little one explore. Make your hike a routine your kids will look forward to.
Let the Kids Lead!: Follow the leader! Hike at your child’s pace and distance. Whatever your child takes interest in, stop and explore that bug, leaf, or rock with them. Tell them about the animals, rocks, trees, and flowers. Getting to the destination is less important than making sure your kids have so much fun, they will want to go again and again.
Count Down to the Adventure: Psych the kids up with pictures, videos, and highlights of the places they will go and the things they will see. Use books, magazines, maps, and the Internet, especially park websites and videos showing the spectacular wildlife and locations they will see.
Bring Water and Food Kids Love: Hand out needed extra energy and water as needed on the trail. Pack their favorite snacks and bring plenty of water. Stop often for a drink and a snack.
Pack Fun Items: Let young children fill their adventure pack with a bug catcher, magnifying glass, binoculars, a camera, a map and compass, whistle, or flashlight. Let your little adventurer take ownership and pack a few items of his own; even if it’s not hiking-related.
Play Games and Bring a Friend: Play I Spy using your surroundings as you walk along. Create your own scavenger hunt in search of animals, plants, and views along the way. Make up rhymes and sing songs as you walk. Pack a plant and animal identification guide for your older child. Let your social butterfly bring a friend, with parental permission. Intrigue your computer-savvy child with the high-tech hiking gadgets like a GPS, headlamp, flashlights, and pedometers. Use your GPS and take your kids on a geocaching adventure.
Take Advantage of Park Activities and Guided Nature Experiences: Utilize and enjoy the amazing services and resources offered by our parks, trail and recreational system and associations. This will help ensure that the experience is enjoyable, memorable, and even life-changing.
Suit Up in Comfort, Style, and the Latest Technology: Take this checklist with you shopping so you get the bases covered:
Footwear: Until your kids are walking consistently on their own (birth-3), fit them with a comfortable pair of water-resistant shoes....
Clothing: Dress for the weather! Wear non-cotton synthetic, wool & fleece clothes and dress in layers. Wear multipurpose clothes like...
Packs: Get age- and size-appropriate backpacks that fit each hiker comfortably with hydration hose capability.
Trekking Poles: Get a pair of adjustable, collapsible poles with an ergonomically designed handle for each person.
Fresh, Clean Water: You can get a hydration hose system for your pack or just use bottles. Disinfect wild water...
Communication: Bring a smartphone so you can take lots of pictures and if there’s connectivity, email to family or upload...
Other Must Haves: Pediatrician recommended suntan lotion and bug repellent containing Deet or Picaridin; First aid kit that accommodates the...
The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Time Traveling Through Grand Canyon National Park arrives in bookstores on August 3rd, 2020. Visit Barnes & Noble or Indiebound to pre-order your copy today.
Get to Know A SMALL EARNEST QUESTION
Hello, readers!
The first month of summer has officially come to a close, which means we’re that much closer to getting our hands on Book Four in the North of the Tension Line series by J.F. Riordan. A Small Earnest Question–which hits shelves on August 3rd–follows Washington Island’s beloved cast of characters as they prepare for another busy season on the island. Not without its share of small-town politics, unsolved mysteries, and, of course, goat yoga, A Small Earnest Question is another delightful addition to J.F. Riordan’s award-winning series.
Continue reading to learn more about A Small Earnest Question, read an excerpt from Chapter One, and pre-order your copy to start reading on August 3rd.
More About the Book:
It’s spring on Washington Island. Despite her concerns about Roger’s desire to bartend, Elisabeth is eager to plan a grand opening for their newly remodeled hotel, but she quickly realizes that she may also need to make accommodations for Roger’s proposed goat yoga classes.
Bored and lonely, Oliver Robert joins bartender Eddie in forming a great books club at Nelsen’s, and Emily Martin, determined to make her mark on the community, forms a new Committee of the Concerned. When Emily decides that the Island needs a literary festival, complete with a famous author, she imprudently seeks out a notorious celebrity, hoping, as always, to enhance her own prestige.
Real estate agent Marcie Landmeier confides that an unknown someone is buying up the Island’s shoreline, newly-appointed Fire Chief Jim Freeberg contends with a string of suspicious fires, and Pali and Ben have a spiritual encounter that will change them both. Meanwhile, drawn once more into local controversy, and awash in suspicion herself, Fiona Campbell must determine the answers to questions that will affect her future, and the future of the entire Island.
A Small Earnest Question is Book Four in the award-winning North of the Tension Line series, set on a remote island in the Great Lakes. Called a modern-day Jane Austen, author J.F. Riordan creates wry, engaging tales and vivid characters that celebrate the beauty and mysteries of everyday life.
An Excerpt from Chapter One of A Small Earnest Question:
It was early spring on Washington Island, which, as any Islander could attest, is frequently an exercise in disappointment. The...
Fiona Campbell was sitting with her friend, Elisabeth, on the hotel porch, drinking coffee and watching a noisy group of gulls fighting over something on the pier across the road. Elisabeth’s big dog, Rocco, lay nearby, mostly dozing, but with one eye open to keep watch on things. Fiona wrapped her sweater more tightly around herself in the chilly spring air and held her mug in both hands for warmth.
Elisabeth’s and Roger’s plans to re-open the hotel had not gone precisely as intended. News of the long vacant property’s purchase and subsequent renovations were quickly the buzz of the Island. Even after the construction and decorating work had been completed, Elisabeth had wanted to wait for the right moment—just in time for the beginning of the new tourist season—to celebrate with a grand opening.
But news spread quickly beyond the Island, and months before the building was ready, the calls had begun, asking to reserve the space for a wedding, an anniversary, or a reunion of a group of friends. Before long, Elisabeth had had to concede to demand. Without advertising of any kind, the hotel already had bookings far in advance, and rather than the fanfare of a grand occasion, it had opened with Elisabeth quietly unlocking the front door to admit a group of well-heeled car enthusiasts.
“It doesn’t feel right,” she said to Fiona, as one of the bigger gulls attempted to fly off with the object of the flock’s attentions. “A place like this needs a celebration, and an invitation to the Islanders, and…a party.”
Fiona smiled into her coffee. They had had this conversation before.
“So, have a party. It’s your hotel. Do what you like.”
“I’m afraid it will be disruptive to the guests.”
“The guests will love it. It will be part of their experience.” Elisabeth played with a strand of wavy hair as she stared at the screaming birds. After a long silence she spoke. “Roger wants to bartend.”
Fiona, whose thoughts had already drifted elsewhere, shifted her gaze to Elisabeth. Suddenly the obstacle was clear.
“Ah,” she said.
Click here to read the rest of the excerpt.
Click here to pre-order A Small Earnest Question.
Click here to check out the rest of the North of the Tension Line series.
A Father’s Day Q&A with Author Kevin Myers
Need a last-minute gift for Father’s Day? Consider gifting a copy of Hidden Falls, the new, debut novel from author...
In honor of Father’s Day, we spoke with Myers to discuss the book, his writing process, and how his own relationship with his father inspired the novel.
BB: Hidden Falls is your first book (though certainly not your last). What was the process like of writing the first book?
KM: Hidden Falls was actually my second novel manuscript. My first manuscript was never published; I read it recently and understand why. It felt like an imitation of an old British man’s writing. It was stiff and formal. I made all the obvious choices. With Hidden Falls, I just listened to my own voice, stayed true to the characters, and gave them room to explore. I don’t follow an outline when I write, I chart a course for the characters’ development. Not to get deep into the weeds, but that process brought the book to places I didn’t predict. It makes writing an act of discovery and I think it made the book far more interesting and fun to read.
Publishing, however, was a fascinating trip! When I was a standup comic, I’d write a joke and tell it to an audience within a period of days. If it didn’t work, I’d change it or toss it out. It takes so long to write a novel and very few people provide feedback while it’s in process, but then it’s just done. You send the publisher all these words that you’ve been rearranging for years, and they send you back something that looks like a book. It’s a surreal moment when time stops, or at least time stops for your manuscript. It’s no longer a living idea; it’s a tangible thing that’s become set in time. There’s no more rearranging the words. It’s very exciting but a little bit scary.
BB: Among other themes, Hidden Falls is about the complexities of father-son relationships. How do you think both fathers and sons will be able to relate to the main character, Michael Quinn, and the relationship he has with his father?
KM: The father-son relationships are really at the heart of the book. Michael struggles to be closer to his teenage son while lamenting the distance in his relationship with his father. There are three generations of Quinn men who all grew-up with different societal expectations and pressures, who are trying to understand where they fit in the world but also where they fit into each other’s lives. There are universal themes of identity and family dynamics, but where Michael’s exploration takes him is anything but universal. I think ultimately, Hidden Falls is a funny, very relatable book about relationships that is wrapped inside a thriller. I think it’s a book everyone will have a lot of fun reading.
BB: How much of your own relationship with your father/son inspired the book?
KM: I have a closer relationship with my children than Michael has with his son, but a much more distant relationship with my father. For most of my life, I was much closer to my stepfather. He was a great role model for me growing-up, very caring and generous, and engaged in a way my birth father was not. After my parents divorced, my father’s interest in his kids waxed and waned quite a bit, mostly waned. Michael has a pretty steady relationship with his dad, but their emotional connection is limited to their feelings about Boston sports teams. That was certainly inspired by my relationship with my father. I can’t think of more than five conversations I’ve had with him in my lifetime that didn’t involve some connection to sports. I’m glad we had that because it gave us something.
The relationships in the book certainly draw from my own experience, but Michael’s relationship with his father is inspired more by the one I wish I had with my father.
BB: Taking place in Boston, the Red Sox play an important role in the lives of the characters in Hidden Falls, which is apparent from the iconic Citgo sign featured on the front cover. What did the Red Sox (and coincidentally, the Citgo sign) symbolize to you growing up in Boston?
KM: Fenway Park is one of the great cathedrals of baseball. Its defining feature is the Green Monster, a giant wall behind left field and beyond the wall is the Citgo sign. Every time a home run sails over the Monst’ah, you see the Citgo sign. It’s so strongly associated with the Red Sox that it’s like a second logo. When we’d go to the games, we’d usually take the T to Kenmore Square station. As soon as we got to the street level—there it was illuminating the skyline. The only thing I can compare it to is seeing the Hollywood sign. It’s iconic, kitschy, and magical. Maybe it’s because I watched most of the games on a 12” black & white TV as a kid, but I was always struck by its enormity and the brilliant red triangle. The sign is animated so the background lights come on and off, and then the red triangle collapses into the middle and expands back out, and then the whole thing blinks. When you see it, there’s no mistaking you’re in Boston. It conjures so many great, but also heartbreaking, moments.
In the book, the story hinges on the Red Sox 2004 World Series victory. That was the year that the Sox reversed the Curse of the Bambino. They hadn’t won a championship in 86 years, since they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. For decades, they were perennially stealing defeat from the jaws of victory in ways that made it easy to think the team was truly cursed. The fact that they were always so close to the ring without ever getting one, made them even more endearing. Honestly, to let the world in on a little secret, Sox fans reveled in those collapses. It gave us epic stories of defeat. Being a Sox fan felt like something you’d earned from years of hardship. There are a lot of Irish Catholics in Boston and we love our misery.
As a kid, to say sports were important to me is like saying water is important to a fish. Without a strong male role model in my early life, I can’t overstate the pivotal role Boston sports figures played in my childhood development. Players like Luis Tiant, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, and Bill Lee, in my mind, existed somewhere between mythological figures and superheroes. That they could have been born of human parents and have lives outside of the ballfield seemed entirely improbable. The Celtics and Red Sox were my whole world.
BB: If you could be asked any question about the book, what would it be, and what is your answer?
KM: Q: Where shall we park the dump truck filled with your royalties?
A: The backyard is fine.
Kidding. I don’t want to give away too much, but it has to do with the significance of Hidden Falls—the place(s) in the book. Hidden Falls is introduced as a tourist trap that catches ten-year-old Michael’s attention. It starts off as a place described in a brochure; then a place in Michael’s imagination; and then a destination for Michael and his father. Then it becomes a place he passes when he’s lost in the woods; then the actual place from the brochure; then it becomes the setting for a story that he and his father both repeat often; then it becomes a destination for Michael and his son, and then a place where he and his father eventually meet near the climax of the book. But it’s never the same place. It is only after it is stripped of the weight of expectations and desire that it becomes the thing Michael had been seeking.
BB: From your perspective, what makes Hidden Falls a great gift for dads this Father’s Day?
KM: First off, books are always a thoughtful gift. Secondly, dads are impossible to shop for. I’m a dad and I know this to be true. I have no idea what I want for Father’s Day. Pro Tip: if you’re thinking of getting your dad a gadget for his hobby, I promise you that if he doesn’t have it — it’s because he doesn’t want it. So, by process of elimination, Hidden Falls is the only gift to get your dad this year, or maybe every year… But seriously, when you strip away the thriller, and the humor, it’s about a man looking for a deeper connection to his father and son. Hidden Falls is about love, and what better gift to give your dad than a book that’s going to guilt him into wanting to show you how much he loves you. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
While the hardcover version of Hidden Falls doesn’t come out until July 15th, the e-book is available now from Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple Books. Choose the gift option to have the e-book sent directly to your dad’s device, just in time for Father’s Day.
Goodbye For Now…
Well Readers, the time has come as last.
I am approaching my final days here at Beaufort, and it’s quite bittersweet. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn so much about an industry I’ve dreamed about working in for years. The knowledge and experience I’ve gained from this semester has been invaluable, and I’m only more confident that this industry is something I can see myself working in and loving for years. It’s hard to believe I’ve only been doing this for four months.
But it’s been quite the whirlwind ride during these four months. I started the internship helping move Beaufort into its new office, and I’m ending after learning to work remotely because of Coronavirus. I’ve learned how many little things go into making the books I’ve looked at on shelves for my entire life. I was a bookworm before, but now my appreciation for books runs even deeper. I’ve read submissions, I’ve tracked down contact information for authors, and I’ve spent days (literally) converting 10-digit ISBNs to 13-digit ISBNs.
I miss New York like a limb, but I’ll be back soon enough to continue my journey in the publishing world. I cannot thank Beaufort enough for giving me a chance.
Thank you readers,
David Beauie
B&N 500 Under $5 Sale!
Give your eyes a break from binging Netflix (trust me, I get it), and dive into a new book instead....
In the Company of Legends by Joan Kramer and David Heeley
Sale Price: $2.99
In The Company Of Legends is an insider’s view of Hollywood’s famous and powerful: behind-the-scenes stories of Katharine Hepburn, Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Lew Wasserman, Richard Dreyfuss, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, James Stewart, and Bette Davis, among others. Starting with their award-winning profiles of Fred Astaire in 1980, Joan Kramer and David Heeley produced film portraits of the lives and careers of many Hollywood legends, establishing a reputation for finding the un-findable, persuading the reluctant, and maintaining unique relationships long after the end credits rolled. Their stories of the productions and the personalities involved are often amusing, sometimes moving, always revealing, and most of all have never been told before. The book also features more than two dozen raw and never before seen photos!
As I Saw It by Marvin Scott
Sale Price: $2.99
In As I Saw It: A Reporter’s Intrepid Journey, veteren journalist Marvin Scott reflects on the stories that have stuck with him personally over the years, and the people who gave them life. Alongside marches with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and tense meetings with Yasser Arafat, Scott brings us Burt and Linda Pugach, the couple whose lifelong marriage was forged in deadly obsession; Abraham Zapruder, who shot history’s most infamous piece of film; Charlie Walsh, the everyman hero who gave the banks a run for their money; and Stephanie Collado, the eleven-year-old girl who needed a heart and touched his. From political scandals to hauntings at Amityville, local tragedies, triumphs and absurdities find their place alongside accounts of crime and redemption, war and celebrity on a national scale, all told with Scott’s signature passion and candor.
The Audacity of Goats by J.F. Riordan
Sale Price: $1.99
All is not well north of the tension line. A series of unsettling nighttime incidents have left the islanders alternating between nervousness and annoyance. Are these incidents simply an elaborate teenage prank, or is there a malevolent stranger lurking on the island?
Meanwhile, the out-of-state owners of a new goat farm seem to consider themselves the self-proclaimed leaders of the island, Pali the ferry captain is troubled by his own unique version of writer’s block, and Ben, the captain’s ten year-old son, appears to be hiding something. But it is only when the imperturbable Lars Olufsen announces his retirement from office, and Stella subsequently declares her intention to run, that the islanders realize that life as they know is about to change for the worse. Fiona must decide whether it is time to leave the island for good or to make another reckless gamble.
The Squad Room by Robert Nivakoff and John Cutter
Sale Price: $2.99
A serial killer is terrorizing New York City, targeting young, helpless women. Detective William “Bill” Morrison and his team are racing against time to identify and bring justice to the murderer. Meanwhile, the task force runs up against villains inside the system: a Chief and a Captain who got where they are by political maneuvering, rather than skill and merit.
Here, the men and women of the badge form tight bonds that can never be understood by outsiders. This is their story, born from the true life experience of two actual police chiefs. The Squad Room gives a genuine insider’s view of a detective squad room in the NYPD.
Ginger Snaps by Webb Hubbell
Sale Price: $1.99
Jack is back! Attorney Jack Patterson returns to Little Rock, Arkansas after an old acquaintance, Dr. Douglas Stewart, is arrested for marijuana cultivation, possession, and distribution. Jack is no expert on drug cases, but meets with Stewart to fulfill a promise to his late wife, Angie, who was close to Stewart. Expecting to wrap up his involvement in an hour and enjoy the rest of the weekend golfing, Jack hears from Stewart that his arrest isn’t about the marijuana. Teaming up with his bodyguard, Clovis, and defense attorney Micki Lawrence, Jack begins to investigate why this highly-respected scientist was growing marijuana. He learns that Stewart had alerted the government about the existence of his marijuana garden years ago. Why the arrest now? Why are the Feds claiming terrorist involvement? Stewart’s wife, Liz, claims it has to be about her ginger snaps which are laced with marijuana to help ease the pain of cancer patients. As Jack delves deeper into the case, he discovers that both Stewarts and the federal government are hiding secrets; secrets that connect to a past Jack and all involved would rather forget.
You Look Like That Girl by Lisa Jakub
Sale Price: $2.99
At the age of twenty-two, Lisa Jakub had what she was supposed to want: she was a working actor in Los Angeles. She had more than forty movies and TV shows to her name, she had been in blockbusters like Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day, she walked the red carpet and lived in the house she bought when she was fifteen.
Lisa had been working since the age of four, after a man approached her parents at a farmer’s market and asked her to audition for a commercial. That chance encounter dictated the next eighteen years of her unusual— and frequently awkward—life. She met Princess Diana… and almost fell on her while attempting to curtsy. She filmed in exciting locations… and her high school asked her not to come back. She went to fancy parties… and got kind of kidnapped that one time. Success was complicated.
Making movies, traveling the world, and meeting intriguing people was fun for a while, but Lisa eventually realized she was living a life based on momentum and definitions of success that were not her own. She battled severe anxiety and panic attacks while feeling like she was living someone else’s dream. Not wanting to become a child actor stereotype, Lisa retired from acting and left L.A. in search of a path that felt more authentic to her.
In this funny and insightful book, Lisa chronicles the adventures of growing up in the film industry and her difficult decision to leave behind the only life she had ever known, to examine her priorities, and write the script for her own life. She explores the universal question we all ask ourselves: what do I want to be when I grow up?
“Every Ending is a New Beginning”
My four months at Beaufort Books have been anything but normal. From assisting with a full office move to learning...
I have learned a lot in these short four months. I was taught how long it takes to publish a book from start to finish, as well as how most books have a multiple of sixteen pages (grab your closest book and check—it’s true!). I tried my hand at designing Instagram and Amazon advertisements for our social media and online pages and realized how much time and energy goes into the creative process. I helped edit the back copy for an upcoming title and recognized how difficult it is to capture the reader’s attention without spoiling the plot. I transcribed notes into manuscripts and noticed how truly detail-oriented editors have to be.
But above all else, I learned one very important thing: Beaufort is a place where people care. This is an office where “How are you?” is a true question, not an obligatory daily greeting. But most importantly, Beaufort is a place where each and every book is treated like it is the only book in the world. The editors at Beaufort give their all to every title, from start to finish, to ensure that the final product is something to be proud of. They check each page, each comma, each word in order to publish the best book possible.
As much as publishing is a business, this is an industry about people. It is an industry built around stories, relationships, experiences, and connections. Publishing shines the brightest when we remember the real people behind every book and the journey that they’ve taken with every title. As I move forward to my college graduation and the next step in my publishing career, I will be sure to take this lesson with me. I will remember all the things that the Beaufort editors have taught me as well as the relationships that we have built.
So thank you, Beaufort, for everything, and I’m sure that I will see you soon!
Goodbye for now,
Charlotte Beaurontё
B&N Under $2.99 Sale!
The only thing better than a good book? A good book that you don’t have to spend a lot of...
Red Hotel by Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman
Sale Price: $2.99
When a bomb rips the façade off the Kensington Hotel in Tokyo, dozens are killed and injured while one man walks calmly away from the wreckage, a coy smile playing on his lips. Former Army intelligence officer Dan Reilly, now an international hotel executive with high level access to the CIA, makes it his mission to track him down. He begins a jet-setting search for answers as the clock ticks down to a climactic event that threatens NATO and the very security of member nations. Reilly begins mining old contacts and resources in an effort to delve deeper into the motive behind these attacks, and fast. Through his connections he learns that the Tokyo bomber is not acting alone. But the organization behind the perpetrator is not who they expect.
Facilitated by the official government from a fearsome global superpower, the implications and reasons for these attacks are well beyond anything Reilly or his sources in the CIA and State Department could have imagined, and point not to random acts of terror, but calculated acts of war. RED Hotel is an incredibly timely globe-trotting thriller that’s fiction on the edge of reality.
North of the Tension Line by J.F. Riordan
Sale Price: $0.99
Fiona Campbell is a newcomer to tiny Ephraim, Wisconsin. Populated with artists and summer tourists, Ephraim has just enough going on to satisfy her city tastes. But she is fascinated and repelled by the furthest tip of Door County peninsula, Washington Island, utterly removed from the hubbub of modern life. Fiona’s visits there leave her refreshed in spirit, but convinced that only lunatics and hermits could survive a winter in its frigid isolation.
In a moment of weakness, Fiona is goaded into accepting a dare that she cannot survive the winter on the island in a decrepit, old house. Armed with some very fine single malt scotch and a copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Fiona sets out to win the dare, and discovers that small town life is not nearly as dull as she had foreseen. Abandoning the things she has always thought important, she encounters the vicious politics of small town life, a ruthless neighbor, persistent animals, a haunted ferry captain, and the peculiar spiritual renewal of life “north of the tension line.”
That Good Night by Richard Probert
Sale Price: $2.99
Condemned to spend his “Golden Years” cooped up in Sunset Nursing Home, 84-year-old Charlie Lambert refuses this ending for himself. With the help of an old sailing buddy living in Maine, Charlie plans to go AWOL permanently, buy a boat, and hit the high seas, where he will live out the remainder of his life on his own terms.
Nothing ever goes quite as planned, though, and as Charlie heads towards Maine on a 46-foot sailboat, he strikes up an unexpected romance with Abigail, a woman decades his junior. Things take a darker turn, though, when he discovers a former FBI agent-turned-insurance-investigator hot on his trail. Agent Roberts has been hired to find out what happened to Charlie: bring him back if he’s alive, or determine he’s dead so his estranged sons can collect on his life insurance policy. Roberts doesn’t expect a fight from the old man, but that’s just what he gets. Because Charlie has no intention of ever returning to Sunset, whether in handcuffs or a pine box.
Funny, heart-warming, and heart-breaking, That Good Night tells the story of a man who, rather than rail against going “gentle into that good night,” as Dylan Thomas wrote, instead wishes to simply sail into a sunset of his own choosing.
Game of Inches by Webb Hubbell
Sale Price: $1.99
Billy Hopper’s life is pretty damn good. He’s a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Lobos and he’s just been named Rookie of the Year. But he’s about to lose it all. On a frigid March morning at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., Billy wakes up to find that he’s been sleeping with a dead girl. And now he’s got her blood on his hands, literally. But he’s also got Jack Patterson: a D.C. lawyer who’s determined to get to the bottom of the murder and prove Billy’s innocence. There’s only one problem. They’re at war with a powerful, sinister man, and the people closest to Jack are in the line of fire. Can Jack and his team solve this case before his family pays the ultimate price? This latest Jack Patterson thriller exposes the underbelly of the NFL and the role of big money in shady D.C. politics. Believe it or not, murder is just the tip of the iceberg.
Floreana by Margret Wittmer
Sale Price: $2.99
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.
Wittmer and her husband left their home and family in Germany, seeking a new life in a place not yet touched by civilization. Their first home was a cave, previously abandoned by pirates. They planted their first garden, only to find it torn up continually by wild boars.
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.
Red Carpets and White Lies by Lea Black**
Sale Price: $2.99
In a city known for its never-ending parties, Miami socialite Leigh Anatole White’s annual Charity Ball, an extravagant star-studded benefit for troubled teens, is the most highly anticipated event of the season.
This year the pressure is on: At the tenth anniversary of the Ball, Leigh is going to give Miami one last blowout before relinquishing her title as hostess. With help from her committee, a few close friends, a masterful personal assistant and her supportive husband, Leigh is poised to deliver. Even the dirty secrets and entanglements of pseudo-friends, gossip girls, drag queens, and botoxed backstabbers, can’t slow her down.
When an influential art dealer shows up, offering to provide high-end artwork for the Charity Ball’s auction, Leigh is thrilled. This is just what the gala needs to set it apart from previous years, and after all of Leigh’s hard work, it looks as though the last Charity Ball may just live up to the hype. But as always in the world of Miami’s rich and shameless, a scandal is never far off, and this one hits everyone close to home.
**On sale May 1-May 17
In the Company of Legends by Joan Kramer and David Heeley**
Sale Price: $2.99
In The Company Of Legends is an insider’s view of Hollywood’s famous and powerful: behind-the-scenes stories of Katharine Hepburn, Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Lew Wasserman, Richard Dreyfuss, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, James Stewart, and Bette Davis, among others.
Starting with their award-winning profiles of Fred Astaire in 1980, Joan Kramer and David Heeley produced film portraits of the lives and careers of many Hollywood legends, establishing a reputation for finding the un-findable, persuading the reluctant, and maintaining unique relationships long after the end credits rolled. Their stories of the productions and the personalities involved are often amusing, sometimes moving, always revealing, and most of all have never been told before. The book also features more than two dozen raw and never before seen photos!
**On sale May 18-May 31
Senior Spring, COVID Edition
Monday, Monday 9, 12:31 p.m.: I receive an email from my university’s president announcing that all in-person classes are suspended...
Tuesday, March 10, 4:35 p.m.: I receive another email from school. This one demands that all students who are able to leave campus housing immediately, and I wonder if there were too many parties on campus last night or if there is actually something to worry about. Rumors start to swirl about classes being online until after Easter. The idea is frustrating, but not the worst thing that could happen.
Wednesday, March 11, 9:45 p.m.: Another email. All students studying abroad, including those at the university’s London campus, have been called home in light of developing quarantine measures and travel restrictions. All on-campus events are canceled through March 29. I receive a frantic email from a member of an on-campus organization that I lead; she tells me she is not going to be able to meet an assignment deadline because she is packing for her 6 a.m. flight. It is nearly midnight.
Thursday, March 12: No emails are sent out today. My friends and I track the decisions being made by other schools. Some have suspended in-person instruction for two or three weeks. Others have switched to online classes for the rest of the semester. I still believe that we will return to campus, at least for the last few weeks of classes and for final exams.
Friday, March 13, 8:59 p.m.: I receive the email that breaks my heart: the university has decided to finish the semester online. We will not be able to return to campus. All events for the remainder of the year, including our end-of-semester celebrations, are canceled. Decisions about graduation have yet to be made, but no promises are made. Sitting in my childhood bedroom, I cry. My friends call me and we cry together. Hours later, I tell my parents the news and cry again.
In a matter of four days, my college experience was turned upside down. Everything I had grown to love—being on my own, living within walking distance of friends from all over the country, lounging on the lawn on campus, sharing coffee with friends in the library at 2 a.m., having Manhattan a train stop away—was taken away before I could even process it. All of a sudden, I was back at home trying to find a desk to do my work at.
This is not the way I planned to end things. As a senior, this was supposed to be the best part of my college career. I was excited to hand off my positions to underclassmen. I was excited to attend awards ceremonies. I was excited to watch the sunrise from the football field the morning of graduation. I was excited to do everything one last time, knowing that it would be the last time.
Now, as I sit at home wishing I had taken more pictures of campus and of my friends, I can’t help but think about all the things I will not get to do. I have been trying to balance this sadness with the little joys of everyday life, but it is not an easy task. One thing that has helped me is making a daily list of what I am grateful for. These lists often include things like having a safe home, having a healthy and loving family, and having good WiFi and my boyfriend’s Netflix password. While it doesn’t feel like much, I know that it is far more than what others have. For each and every thing on my list, I am truly thankful.
Stay healthy and until next time,
Charlotte Beaurontё
This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.
Looking for a distraction?
Hello readers!
We are living in crazy times, but I hope I can provide some distractions in the form of books! With the seemingly endless time we have, I’ve compiled a list of dystopian books that will hopefully distract from our own dystopia we’re currently living in. (Note: I steered clear of books with illnesses for obvious reasons).
1984 by George Orwell:
If you haven’t read this since high school, now is the perfect time to pick it up again! George Orwell’s classic surveillance dystopia will make you glad Big Brother can’t really watch anyone while we’re stuck at home. Winston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth rewriting history to fit the government’s always changing versions. He buys a diary one day where he writes about his hate for the government and Big Brother which sends him on a mission to expose some sort of truth about the society he lives in. 1984 is full of craziness to hopefully make you forget about the real-life craziness we’re facing right now.
Under the Dome by Stephen King:
This book will make you glad we’re not actually trapped. Stephen King writes his own dystopian in the form of a small town trapped under a dome that no one can leave. Of course, it’s Stephen King, so this book could keep you entertained through the entire quarantine with its multitude of characters and their intense fight for power in dystopian times. Follow up your reading by bingeing the TV adaptation which is streaming on CBS All Access and Amazon Prime Video.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood:
I’m sure everyone’s binged the Hulu original, but now is the perfect time to visit Margaret Atwood’s original novel. The protagonist, Offred, is forced to conceive children for the society’s elite. She eventually learns of an underground rebel group that tries to help women escape, but of course nothing is that easy. Let the horror and disbelief of this apocalyptic society make you forget about the apocalyptic view of empty New York streets.
Stay safe,
David Beauie
This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.
Iconic Women of Literature
In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I’ve decided to reflect on some iconic female figures in...
Jo March in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women
As one of the most popular coming-of-age stories to date, Little Women offers plenty of lessons in love, charity, and compassion. Jo March, the ‘boy’ of the group, adds a fourth and equally important value to the list: independence. Despite the expectations of women at the time, Jo happily pursues her career in writing and is in no rush to find a husband. She decides to transform Plumfield into a private school on her own and is never discouraged from chasing her dreams out of fear of appearing unladylike. Although Jo ultimately settles down with Professor Bhaer, she does so on her own terms, showing readers that women can maintain their independence no matter where their lives lead them.
Denver in Toni Morrison’s Beloved
While she is not the main character in Toni Morrison’s chilling novel, Denver is nonetheless an important one. Concerned by her mother’s deteriorating health and mental state, Denver leaves her home after twelve years of confinement to search for help. With no guidance and minimal education, Denver finds her old teacher, Lady Jones, and is not only able to return home with food and supplies but also find a job for herself. Denver’s strength is no small feat. She must defy her mother’s previous orders, venture out into the world without aid, and finally admit to Beloved’s malignancy—despite the fact that Denver believes she is her sister’s spirit—in order to save her mother’s life.
Jane Eyre in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre
Brontë’s Jane Eyre describes the hardships and struggles of the title character, an orphan brought up largely by her cruel aunt and an abusive headmaster. Jane exhibits admirable bravery throughout the book. From leaving Lowood to become a governess to fleeing Thornfield to returning to profess her undying love for Rochester, Jane constantly follows her instincts, even when she does not have an exact plan. Known for her iconic line, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me,” Jane Eyre offers a depiction of personal bravery that all people can emulate.
Maya Angelou in her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings recounts the countless instances of racism, trauma, and horror that Angelou endured throughout her young life. Despite such innumerable atrocities, Angelou’s memoir is a portrait of her own perseverance. She emerges stronger every step of the way, with a new lesson learned or another harsh reality accepted. In the end, Angelou depicts herself blossoming as a confident, young mother and a strong, driven woman.
Happy Women’s History Month! Until next time,
Charlotte Beaurontё
This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.
Somewhere old, something new
Hi readers!!
I’m one of the new interns for the next few months here at Beaufort and Spencer Hill! As a lover of music and dramatics, my nom-de-plume will be David Beauie. I’m super excited to learn about publishing and to share my experiences with y’all.
I’m originally from Texas, but I go to school here in New York to work my way into the publishing business. I’ve been an avid reader for almost my whole life, progressing from picture books to YA books to, currently, poetry and classic novels. For better or worse, I was definitely the kid in English class who actually liked every book I was forced to read.
Since living in New York, I find myself wandering into every bookstore I walk past, and I’ve been introduced to so many book experiences that I had no idea even existed. My sense of direction has definitely been refined since one of my favorite things to do is get on the subway and get off at a random stop to explore a new neighborhood. I’m hoping to discover even more places in New York this semester.
Next to reading, my other love is music. I’m always on the hunt for something new to listen to, and I try to see as many live shows as my budget allows. My family and friends would be shocked if they found me without a book or headphones in my possession.
I’m super excited to be here at Beaufort and Spencer Hill to learn everything I can about publishing, and I can’t wait to share it all with you!
See you soon,
David Beauie
This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.
“All my heart is yours,” Books
In my opinion, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers one of the prettiest views in the city.
Hello readers!
I am one of the new interns for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press for the next few months! I am very excited to share my thoughts, experiences, and, of course, good reads with you from time to time. As a lover of classic literature, I’ll be going by the nom-de-plume Charlotte Beaurontё. Jane Eyre was one of my favorite books from high school and it helped me understand why “the classics” are so everlasting.
Seeing as this is my first blog post, I find it fitting to offer a brief introduction of myself. For the past four years, I have spent most of my time in New York going to school. I truly believe that New York City is a center of all things, and I love having easy access to so many museums, libraries, parks, and neighborhoods all at once. While I live in the Bronx, my weekend travels often bring me to SoHo and Greenwich Village to relax in Washington Square Park, do a little window shopping, or scope out my new favorite coffee shop. Speaking of coffee, I would not be here without it. I am a firm believer that coffee is its own food group, and the quickest way to my heart is a La Colombe latte.
When I’m not in the city, I’m home in New Jersey spending time with my family. We are avid hockey fans (Let’s go Devils!) and love attending games together. My siblings and I all played different sports growing up, which perhaps explains my minor competitive streak (that or the fact that I’m the middle child). We also have an adorable West Highland terrier, Bella, who is the true favorite child, whether my parents will admit it or not.
While I often feel like I am running from one activity to the next, I love to make time to slow down, light some candles, and curl up with a good book. I am constantly looking for new places to read and hope to explore some new libraries this semester. My favorite thing about books is the fact that they allow you to learn about different cultures, lifestyles, time periods, and even worlds that you might not otherwise be able to. While I’m a sucker for classics, I love the increasing levels of diversity in modern publishing. I hope to see this trend continue and am interested to watch how the industry changes.
Whenever I visit The Strand Bookstore in lower Manhattan, I spent a great deal of my time (and money) in the poetry section.
I can’t wait to explore all facets of publishing at Beaufort this semester and am looking forward to sharing my experiences with you!
Until next time,
Charlotte Beaurontё
This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.
Take a Chance On Me
As I’ve started to reflect on my time here at Beaufort and Spencer Hill, I’ve been remembering just how quickly...
I was tending to my battered ego after a string of rejection letters came in (all in one day, to make matters worse) when I noticed a brand new posting for a fall internship at Beaufort Books. I applied, and within a week I was sitting on the phone with Karen, discussing Beaufort’s catalogue and the various opportunities I could take advantage of as a potential intern for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press. Karen and Megan took a chance on me, and by the next Tuesday I was sitting in Beaufort’s Flatiron District office as their newest intern.
It all still feels like a blur, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to be introduced to the publishing industry. Though I’m incredibly sad to be leaving Beaufort and its talented team of editors, I take solace in the fact that I gained an invaluable, first-hand look at what it takes to transform a rough manuscript into a polished final book, that I am never more than a quick train ride away, and that there are dozens of Beaufort and Spencer Hill titles that are still to be read.
I hate to say goodbye, but all good things must eventually come to an end. It feels fitting to wrap up with one of the most popular quotes from the character that inspired my pseudonym:
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The...
-Meg Cabot, The Princess Diaries
I am forever grateful to you, readers, for joining me on my journey at Beaufort Books!
Cheers,
Mia ThermoBEAUlis
This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.
This Is Farewell
“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” – T. S. Eliot
Four months have never passed so quickly. When I started at Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press in September, it felt like I had all the time in the world to soak up the experience of being a publishing intern. How naïve of me. New York City is so fast-paced that 14 weeks seem to go by in mere seconds. Nevertheless, in these 14 weeks, I have gained valuable experience and knowledge working with truly impressive and wonderful people. Taking a book from manuscript to publication is an arduous undertaking, but the people at Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press do it with grace and skill. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from them, and parting ways with them is bittersweet.
Leaving New York City is equally as hard. I have gained so much from this incredible city. The confidence of navigating an often confusing and delayed train system. The determination of pushing through crowds of tourists when you’re late. The list goes on. Being here during the holidays has been a dream too! Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, and being here in the City to see all the lights and decorations has only deepened this sentiment. Of one thing I am certain, I will be leaving a part of my heart in this city when I go, but I know that I will be back soon.
I figured that before I say goodbye, I should probably leave you all with my recommendations of things to do in NYC. Check them out below!
Get free tickets to Late Night with Seth Meyers or another talk show
Sign up for a 1iota account to be put on the waitlist for a plethora of shows and events happening in New York. I went in early December to Late Night with Seth Meyers and saw Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird) and Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)!
2. Take a walk around Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO
I lived in Brooklyn Heights during my stint in the City, and it was such a great place to be. The neighborhood has tons of restaurants, beautiful brownstones, and is a short walk from the Promenade where you can get million-dollar views of the city skyline. Right next door is DUMBO, another great neighborhood with tons to do and incredible views.
3. Visit Times Square. Just go early
If you want to visit this tourist attraction without the crowds, I recommend going around 9 AM and not during the holidays. I went early in the morning at the beginning of November. No massive crowds. No lines at the Disney store. It was glorious.
4. See a Broadway show
I managed to see TEN shows on Broadway during my four months. I kept the costs minimal by entering the lotteries and joining the rush lines for plays that I wanted to see. My top recommendation is Jagged Little Pill. Alanis Morisette’s iconic album inspired the musical. It was a marvelous and emotional ride.
5. Leave the City
Although I love New York, there are so many amazing places that are just a short train ride away! I went to Connecticut to visit friends and enjoyed the change in pace from New York. Mystic, CT, is a quaint little town on the coast that is a perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the City. There are also beautiful places in upstate New York that are close by.
Well, dear readers, the time has come. Goodbyes are so bittersweet, but I am excited about what’s next for me. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope all of you have a joyous holiday season and a blessed 2020! Love hard, read often!
With gratitude,
Captain Beaumerica
This is a shared post with Spencer Hill Press.
Tags:internship,New York City,Publishing,publishing industry blog,publishing intern
Holiday Gift Guide 2019!
Holiday Gift Guide 2019!
The most wonderful time of the year is here once more! It’s around this time that we all begin rushing around town, shelling out too much money for gifts that will inevitably end up re-gifted. With all the decorating, shopping, and parties, the magic of the holidays gets lost behind sky-high price tags and busy schedules. This year, Beaufort wants to make your holidays a little more magical by recommending gifts for everyone on your list! Here you’ll find books that will satisfy even the most obscure tastes and interests. Not to mention, they’ll look stellar wrapped up under the tree or displayed on the shelf. Now order these finds online and get to sippin’ that eggnog by the fire!
For the Dedicated Churchgoer:
The Lord is My Strength by Eric Kampmann
In his introduction to The Lord Is My Strength, Eric Kampmann places the Psalms at the epicenter of the biblical narrative. Implicitly, the psalms weave all the way back to the creation story, forward to the advent of Jesus, and beyond to the end of times. And within this epic scope, the psalms tell the story of each one of us, our hopes, our dreams, our fears and conflicts in a way that ignites our imagination, providing a full and deep picture of who we are as we live day to day in our own time and place. The Lord Is My Strength was originally envisioned as a book of morning prayers posted on social media sites. But it quickly became more than that when Kampmann began posting a photograph and a short commentary along with the passage from the psalms. The result is a new book that will speak through words and pictures of the beauty, harmony and mystery that has been gifted to everyone who has the desire to see where they stand in God’s story.
For the Curious Middle-schooler:
The Adventures of Bubba Jones Series by Jeff Alt
The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Time Traveling Through the Great Smoky Mountains is the first book in the series.
Tommy “Bubba Jones” and his sister Jenny “Hug-a-Bug” learn more about the Great Smoky Mountain National Park than they ever thought they would when Papa Lewis lets them in on a family secret: The family has legendary time traveling skills! With these abilities, Bubba Jones and Hug-a-Bug travel back in time and meet the park’s founders, its earliest settlers, native Cherokee Indians, wild animals, extinct creatures, and what the park was like millions of years ago.
With this time traveling ability also comes a family mystery, but the only person who can help solve the mystery is a long lost relative who lives somewhere in the park. Explore the Smokies with Bubba Jones and family in a whole new way.
For the Drama Lover:
The Woman in the Park by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist
When Manhattanite Sarah Rock meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in the park, she is drawn to him. Sarah wants to get away from her daily routine, her cheating husband and his crazy mistress, her frequent sessions with her heartless therapist, and her moody children.
But nothing is as it seems. Her life begins to unravel when a woman from the park goes missing and Sarah becomes the prime suspect in the woman’s disappearance. Her lover is nowhere to be found, her husband is suspicious of her, and her therapist is talking to the police.
With no one to trust, Sarah must face her inner demons and uncover the truth to prove her innocence.
A thriller that questions what is real-with its shocking twists, secrets, and lies—The Woman in the Park will leave readers breathless.
For the Person Who Love Jane Austen:
The North of the Tension Line Series by J.F. Riordan
North of the Tension Line is the first book in the series
Fiona Campbell is a newcomer to tiny Ephraim, Wisconsin. Populated with artists and summer tourists, Ephraim has just enough going on to satisfy her city tastes. But she is fascinated and repelled by the furthest tip of Door County peninsula, Washington Island, utterly removed from the hubbub of modern life. Fiona’s visits there leave her refreshed in spirit, but convinced that only lunatics and hermits could survive a winter in its frigid isolation.
In a moment of weakness, Fiona is goaded into accepting a dare that she cannot survive the winter on the island in a decrepit, old house. Armed with some very fine single malt scotch and a copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Fiona sets out to win the dare, and discovers that small town life is not nearly as dull as she had foreseen. Abandoning the things she has always thought important, she encounters the vicious politics of small town life, a ruthless neighbor, persistent animals, a haunted ferry captain, and the peculiar spiritual renewal of life “north of the tension line.”
For the Thrill Seeker:
The Jack Patterson Series by Webb Hubbell
When Men Betray is the first book in the series.
Why would Woody Cole, a peaceful, caring man, shoot a US Senator in cold blood on live television? That’s the mystery facing attorney Jack Patterson as he returns to Little Rock, Arkansas, a town he swore he would never step foot in again.
When Men Betray is the first book of fiction from author, lecturer, and political insider Webb Hubbell. A departure from his previous book, Friends in High Places, an account of his rise and fall in Little Rock, Hubbell crafts a deft narrative of mystery and political intrigue. Set in a fictionalized version of his home town of Little Rock, Arkansas, readers will be immersed into the steamy world behind the southern BBQ and antebellum facade—a seedy underbelly of secrets and betrayals. Clever readers may recognize the colorful personalities and locales of the Arkansas political scene.
Jack is supported by a motley but able crew; loyal assistant Maggie, college-aged daughter Beth, feisty lawyer Micki, and his bodyguard Clovis. Together, Jack and his rag-tag team are in a race against time to discover Woody’s hidden motive. All he has is a series of strange clues, hired thugs gunning for him, and the one man who knows everything isn’t talking. Alliances are tested, buried tensions surface, and painful memories are relived as he tries to clear the name of his old college friend. Jack Patterson will find that even the oldest friendships can be quickly destroyed when men betray.
For the Person Who Loves True Stories:
School Choice: A Legacy to Keep by Virginia Walden Ford
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. She drew on those experiences—and the legacies handed to her by her parents and ancestors—thirty years later, when she built an army of parents to fight for school choice in our nation’s capital. 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.
For the Professional or Entrepreneur:
Success Freak by Bruno Gralpois
Are you ready to get INSANELY MORE out of life? Success is acquired, not inherited. Take control of your destiny and join the “Success Freak 7-Day Challenge”: master 7 essential skills and transform your life in only one week. Combining helpful exercises and set-by-steps activities,Success Freak is a self-help book by French-American Entrepreneur Bruno Gralpois, that will show you how to unleash the amazing potential that, yes, already lies within you. You are about to become an unstoppable force of resolve and determination. Nothing short of the Success (Freak) you were always meant to be.
For the Skeptics and History Buffs:
Occam’s Razor by T.R. Ryden
When ancient artifacts discovered in the Great Pyramid of Giza shed new light on a DNA pattern identified by a world-renowned molecular biologist, venture capitalist, James Anderson, is thrust into an action-packed road of scientific exploration and discovery. An unlikely participant in the events that begin to unfold, Anderson and his team, pursued by those who don’t want this new information out, realize they have stumbled upon the greatest and most terrifying cover-up in the history of the human race.
Occam’s Razor is a chilling speculative fiction thriller which ties together several well-known, and some not so famous controversial theories concerning alien visitation, human evolution, ancient legends, and the cosmos. The novel explains how it could be very plausible to imagine that the powers that be may already know about an impending disaster and caught between all this are the novel’s unfortunate characters as they struggle to figure out what to do in the face of unstoppable catastrophe.
Happy Holidays! May all your shopping be done early!
-Captain Beaumerica