I took last Friday off for a long weekend. The resident West Coaster in the Library Marketing department, I had previously never been to Washington D.C. So when the opportunity arose, I took it. I spent Friday afternoon wandering around alone while my roommate attended a conference. Here is my attempt at taking my own photo in front of the Capitol building. Hi Mom!

After touring the Capitol building I saw signs pointing to a passageway that would take me to the Library of Congress… Of course, I followed them. The interior was gorgeous and so intricately painted.

and I was thrilled to see this exhibit…

I had to check out the Library of Congress Gift Shop and Bookstore where I was not at all surprised to come across…

I just had to snap a couple of photos when I saw…

Ms. Pearl, I’d say when you have your own “action figure” and are shelved next to  Bach and Mozart at the Library of Congress, you have arrived!

And with that, I was off to the Smithsonian where I oogled over Dorothy’s ruby slippers and Julia Child’s kitchen. But I think we’ll save those photos for another day…

-Marie

The Random House, Inc. Book Buzz @ ALA Annual

Sunday, July 12th

12:00pm – 1:00pm

McCormick Place West, Room W473

Join Marcia and Jen as they share the titles from our Fall 2009 season you won’t want to miss!  The hottest galleys will be yours and refreshments will be served!  If you can’t attend, send us an email at library@randomhouse.com and we’ll send you a copy of our handout.

Our bags are packed (almost) and our books have been shipped (fingers crossed). We have an exciting line-up of authors joining us for the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Stop by Booth #1834 to see our latest releases, receive free galleys, hear about what we’re reading and what we’re excited about!  We can’t wait to see you there!

James Ellroy (Blood’s a Rover, Knopf)

Saturday July 11th – 10:30am to 11:30am
ALA Auditorium Speaker Series, followed by a free galley signing in the Random House Inc. booth, #1834.

Ben Greenman (Please Step Back, Melville House)

Saturday July 11th – 1:30pm to 2:00pm
LIVE! Stage Reading, Aisle 3200, followed by a signing in the Random House Inc. booth, #1834.

Michael Greenberg (Beg, Borrow, Steal, Other Press)

Saturday July 11th – 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Free galley signing in the Random House Inc. booth, #1834.

Nick Taylor (American-Made, Bantam)

Sunday July 12th – 8:00am to 10:30am
RUSA Literary Tastes Breakfast at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel’s Red Lacquer Room. Signing to follow on site.

Stephen G. Bloom (The Oxford Project, Welcome)

Sunday July 12th – 8:30am to 10:00am
YA Author Coffee Klatch at the Mariott Chicago. 10:00am – 12:00pm The Alex Awards at McCormick Place West, W-179 followed by a signing in the Random House booth, #1834

Carleen Brice (Children of the Waters, One World)

Sunday July 12th – 8:00am to 10:30am
ALTAFF Diversity in Literature at McCormick Place West W-476. Signing to follow on site.

Monday July 13th – 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Black Caucus Literary Awards and Reception at the Intercontinental Seville East Signing to follow on site.

Charlie Huston (My Dead Body, Del Rey)

Sunday July 12th – 10:30am to 12:00am
Things That Go Bump in the Stacks at McCormick Place West, W-190a. Free galley signing to follow on site.

Margot Berwin (Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire, Pantheon)

Sunday July 12th – 1:30pm to 3:30pm
ALTAFF First Author, First Book at Hyatt Regency Chicago – Columbus Hall E/F. Signing to follow on site.

Carlotta Walls Lanier (A Mighty Long Way, One World)

Monday July 13th – 10:30am to 12:00pm
ALTAFF: Reflecting on the Past at McCormick Place West, W-194a. Free galley signing to follow on site.

Gillian Flynn (Dark Places, Shaye Areheart)

Monday July 13th – 2:00pm – 4:00pm
ALTAFF Author Gala Tea at the Fairmont Hotel’s Gold Room. Signing to follow on site.

Tracy Kidder (Strength in What Remains, Random House)

Monday July 13th – 3:00pm – 4:00pm
ALA Auditorium Speaker Series Free galley signing to follow at the Random House, Inc. booth, #1834.

Check out this new trailer for Hot House Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire. Also keep in mind that author, Margot Berwin, will be a featured author at ALA next month. She is participating in the ALTAFF “First Author / First Book” discussion panel on Sunday 7/12 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. A signing will follow on-site.

Marcia, Jen, and I had a wonderful time at BEA this year.  It was great to see so many of our librarian friends and attend all the programs sponsored for librarians only!  I tried to be vigilant in my photo taking.  Here are my snapshots and highlights!

-Erica

A road trip with fellow Library Marketers from HarperCollins and Macmillan + the librarians assembled for the 2009 MLA Conference + Laurie R. King = a fabulous trip for Erica!

Virginia, Talia, and I presented top picks from our respective Fall 2009 lists for the Publisher Round-Up and Book Buzz (if you would like a copy of my powerpoint leave a comment with your address and I’ll send it along). 

Laurie R. King participated in the Conference Co-Chair’s Favorite Authors program.  My synopsis and praise cannot even begin to compare with the MLA conference blog’s.  My favorite moment, though, was when the conference co-chair who had chosen Laurie to appear on this program was able to correctly answer a question regarding a character of Laurie’s, while Laurie had been unsure of the answer.  Laurie took it in stride and with humor and we all had a good laugh!

And look at who I ran into on the exhibit hall floor.  Robin Brenner, our very own Random House, Inc. Graphic Novel Catalog Contributor!  Robin shares all her best tips for beginning and cultivating your library’s graphic novel collection.

-Erica

Marcia, Dave, and I headed down to Houston for TLA’s 2009 conference earlier this month.  We always have fun in Texas – thanks to all the wonderful librarians who stopped by our booth!

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni appeared on the AAP “Adult Books – Not Just for Grown-Ups Anymore” panel, where she spoke insightfully and with humor about her novels and how she came to be a writer.  She was kept very busy at TLA this year, and her books remained a popular draw in our booth throughout the conference.

First novelist, John Pipkin, appeared at the “Evening with the Authors” dinner event.  It was John’s first event in support of his first novel, Woodsburner.  He was personable and well-spoken, receiving a warm welcome from the Texas librarians.  We were also very excited to share with everyone the news of his Kirkus starred review, which called it “Pulitzer Prize material!”

-Erica

Last weekend was filled with Julia Roberts, my long-time favorite actress.  I saw her new movie, Duplicity, with Clive Owen.  And I read Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire, a first novel being published by Pantheon in June.  Julia Roberts and Columbia Pictures have already optioned the film rights for Ms. Roberts to produce and star in.  Wow! 

While Duplicity was set in New York City, and Hothouse Flower also starts out in NYC’s Union Square, you are soon transported to the jungles of the Yukatan Peninsula with not one, but two steamy romances.  The plantology included with each chapter and throughout the book is also very informative and fascinating.  Who knew the mandrake could be so deadly?!  This is a well researched page-turner!

ALA Alert!  Margot Berwin, author of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is joining us at ALA Annual in Chicago on July 12th.  Don’t miss her on the FOLUSA First Author panel from 1:30pm – 3:00pm.

-Erica

While attending ALA Midwinter in Denver last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Yarnell, author of GLORIOUS ONE-POT MEALS.  This new title from Broadway Books features Elizabeth’s patented approach to easy cooking with a Dutch Oven.  Ever since chatting with this charismatic and personable author, I am excited to try out my new Dutch Oven.  It won’t collect dust any longer!

To learn more about Elizabeth Yarnell and her innovative cooking method visit her website.

-Erica

With the wonderful news that attendance for this year’s Midwinter conference in Denver is on track, don’t miss what the Random House, Inc. booth #1220 has to offer!

Francine Mathews (aka Stephanie Barron) – A FLAW IN THE BLOOD

Abraham Verghese – CUTTING FOR STONE

Elizabeth Yarnell – GLORIOUS ONE-POT MEALS

Shana Abé – THE TREASURE KEEPER

Random House, Inc. Booth #1220 is your destination at Midwinter for Authors, Giveaways, and MORE! 

Safe Travels! – Erica