It may be widely accepted that the movie is never as good as the book but I’m excited for this one!  Author David Ebershoff recently visited the Calgary, Canada set of the forthcoming Lifetime TV original movie based on his novel, The 19th Wife. The book and film center around Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Mormon Church leader Brigham Young. From left to right in the photo are the film’s cast, Matt Czuchry, Chyler Leigh and Jeff Hepner. Mr. Ebershoff is pictured on the far right. We don’t have to wait too long for the movie. It will premeire on Lifetime on September 20th.

If you haven’t yet read The 19th Wife, you’d better get on it. Historical fiction fans will especially love it! Read my review of the book in a past issue of our Random Revelations newsletter here.

-Marie

This is great news for Radical Pubishing. California is the place to be for these guys. It seems like all their comics are getting optioned for movies! Here’s the press release:

August 5th, 2010, Los Angeles, CA – Radical Publishing is proud to announce that Disney has acquired the film adaptation of OBLIVION, based on Radical Publishing’s illustrated novel created by Tron: Legacy director, Joseph Kosinski, written by Rex Mundi creator, Arvid Nelson, and with illustrations by Andrée Wallin. OBLIVION will be directed by Joseph Kosinki and will be produced by Radical’s President and Publisher, Barry Levine, and Kosinski. Radical Studios’ Executive Vice President Jesse Berger is signed on as Executive Producer. Kosinki is repped by Verve and Anonymous Content while Radical is repped by CAA and David Schiff.

In a future where the Earth’s surface has been irradiated beyond recognition, the remnants of humanity live above the clouds, safe from the brutal alien Scavengers that stalk the ruins. But when surface drone repairman Jak discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod, it sets off an unstoppable chain of events that will force him to question everything he knows.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Joe Kosinski on OBLIVION,” said Barry Levine, president of Radical Pictures.  “Joe is one of the most creative forces in filmmaking today.  From the moment he teamed with Radical to produce the book and film, he had such a clear vision of the OBLIVION landscape and universe.  Add to that Joe’s successful partnership with Disney on Tron: Legacy, and you have all the ingredients for a phenomenal action/adventure film.”

OBLIVION, the 128-page illustrated novel, will be released in Summer 2011 and will feature prose, combined with over 40 fully painted landscape renderings. OBLIVION will be distributed worldwide through Random House.

Last night, Dennis Johnson, publisher of Melville House, got to read an amazing piece of feedback for one of his recently published books from a librarian in Minneapolis, MN. The book, Every Man Dies Alone has already received rave reviews in the newsmedia, but there’s something to be said for this personal, from-the-heart feedback from Jon, a Readers Advisory man by trade. Here’s an excerpt from the letter Dennis received. (The background you might need is that Melville is starting a cool little “postcard” marketing campaign for the book, echoing the characters’ own clandestine publicity efforts in the novel.)

Hi there,

I sat down and read Every Man Dies Alone shortly after it first appeared on the book scene, and within the first hundred pages I knew I had something outstanding.  Since finishing the book it very comfortably ranks as one of my all time favorites, and as a book I would unhesitatingly recommend to anyone.  Being a librarian by trade, I immediately recognized the accessible nature of the book, and I’ve added this title to the top of my “Books for Non-readers” list–a truly high compliment considering the inherent gamble in putting your faith in one book to transform a non-reader into a reader.

So, I’m navigating toward my point, I swear.  I recently read on your blog about the genius idea to market Every Man Dies Alone with postcards, which could then be left anywhere/everywhere.  I would love to get my hands on a stack of these postcards, and I could engage in quite a campaign of postcard dropping here in Minneapolis , MN .  Metro-transit, coffee shops, libraries, community bulletin-boards, and any random windowsill or stairwell I can manage to find. 

Oh, and before I forget, I should like to give a little shout out to Micawber’s Books in Saint Paul for turning me onto Every Man in the first place.  What a great independent bookshop.

Anyway, if it would be possible to obtain a stack of postcards, or any posters, bulletins, or other materials you could spare, I’d love to contribute with a citizen’s campaign of my own.

If this won’t work out I understand, and I’ll just have to keep marketing by word-of-mouth.  You all do great work, and I’m happy to know of you and your books. 

Your friend in Minneapolis ,

Jon Allinder

One of the great pleasures of working in book publishing is getting to witness and be a part of the advance buzz that crops up pre-publication. Even more exciting is when this buzz lands on our doorstep here in Library Marketing. I’m talking about the “You have to read this book! You’ll love it!” exchanges between my co-workers, the passing back and forth of galleys and morning conversations about last night’s reading.

It happened with The Passage and Cutting for Stone and now with Richard Harvell’s debut novel, The Bells. A few weeks ago Erica began raving about it so I decided to give it a go. Last week, I parked myself in her office every morning to discuss the pages I’d read the night before. Lest you overlook this great book, here are some comments from both of us!

This book is unlike any piece of historical fiction I’ve read before. Gone are the queens and other royal figures, the courtiers and painters. Moses, the son of a deaf-mute, grew up in a belfry before being cast out, found by two  monks and taken to live in the Abbey of St. Gall where he sings in the choir. He is the one that no one wants with a operetic voice so in demand it becomes his curse. Gothic in tone with gorgeous language that has an ear for sound this book will pull you into the landscape of the Swiss Alps, Mozart’s Vienna, and Moses’ world.  -Marie

 “A surprising love story of the unlikely places family is to be found, with a cast of endearing characters.  Just imagine – a romantic, love-drunk monk!  

I also found myself reacting in much the same way as when I read Sarah Dunant’s SACRED HEARTS.  Her novel sparked a brief obsession with nuns. I sought more information on young aristocratic girls forced into convents in Italy.  And with THE BELLS, I wanted to learn more about the castrati; those young boys in Italy physically assaulted and altered in order to preserve their voices.”  -Erica

-Marie

So far, according to The Daily Beast, the top movie critics have been highly approving of “Green Zone,” an adaptation of bestselling book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. We’re very excited to have a re-titled movie-tie-in edition! If the good reviews keep coming, look for holds in your library.

-David

The big news from Steerforth Press last week was that they will be distributing an excellent (and useful!) line of graphic novels called Campfire. The first batch of books is mostly graphic adaptations of classic novels like Robinson Crusoe, Moby Dick, Frankenstein, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, etc. with some Biography and Mythology mixed in. Eventually, Campfire’s line will move into 4 distinctive categories: Classics, Mythology, Biography and, coming in 2011, Originals.

In the meeting, I got to flip through the graphic novel version of H.G. Wells’ Invisible Man and was genuinely impressed with the quality of the artwork and the book itself, with a glossy finish and a highly respectable paper quality. They seem to work very well as adaptations, maintaining a fidelity to the original language while smartly condensing it so that it reads at a fast pace like a regular graphic novel. What impressed me further was their price: a budget-friendly $9.99(US). Look for them this summer!

If you have any questions about the series, email library@randomhouse.com and we will try our best.

-David

Curious about what we’ve all been reading these days? Here’s a department-wide update:

Jen – Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
A charming, heart-warming story of two widowers with very different backgrounds, but a shared love of Kipling. One of those books that just makes you smile as you read it. Perfect for Book Groups.

Erica - The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald
I picked this up in preparation for meeting Lisa Grunwald at the PLA conference in March. It is the unconventional coming of age story of Henry, who was raised by six mothers as part a college home economics course in the 1950s. It follows him through the conformist ‘50s and the psychedelic ‘60s, with cameos by Benjamin Spock, Walt Disney, Julie Andrews, and The Beatles.

 Marcia - The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell
A twisty thriller the author of the Kurt Wallander mysteries that crosses two centuries and two continents and thoroughly explores the notion of revenge.

David – Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip With David Foster Wallace by David Lipsky
I am of the opinion that David Foster Wallace was a genius and sort of my soul twin (minus the whole clinical depression thing). So I will read anything written by or about him. He somehow articulates the thoughts that I never even thought about thinking.

 Marie: Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
So much to talk about in just under 200 pages. Wow! A taxidermist and a novelist working together on a play about a howler monkey and a donkey? I will definitely be talking about this one for a while so stay tuned!

Be sure to check our Staff Picks page for more of our recent favorites.

If you didn’t get the chance to go to ALA Midwinter this year and catch the Random House Inc. “Book Buzz,” here are the slides from the show. We presented our personal favorites and the ones we have high hopes for this Spring and Summer for a crowd of around 50 note-taking librarians.

Click here to scroll through our PowerPoint!

Publishing just around the corner is STAYING TRUE, a memoir by Jenny Sanford, now separated from her affair-having husband, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. But before its publication date, Jenny Sanford will be participating in a publicity tour that would make most folks’ heads spin. So be sure to check your advance orders; the demand is likely to skyrocket for this book when it’s spotlighted for the nation’s collective eyeballs. Here’s the highlights from the tour:

NATIONAL TELEVISION
20/20 Special: A Barbara Walters Interview: February 5th on ABC

In the days leading up to the interview, Barbara Walters will promote it on the following TV outlets:
-Good Morning America
-The View
-Entertainment Tonight
-Extra
-Access Hollywood
(With more to be announced!)

ABC will also run a full-page ad in USA TODAY on Feb. 5th promoting Walters interview.

Good Morning America: Two-part Interview
February 8th on ABC
The View
February 8th on ABC
Larry King Live
February 8th on CNN
The Jon Stewart Show
February 8th on Comedy Central
The 700 Club
February 11th on the Christian Broadcasting Network

NATIONAL RADIO
NPR’s “Morning Edition” —Feb. 8th
ABC Radio satellite—week of Feb. 8th
CBS Radio News satellite—week of Feb. 8th

NATIONAL PRINT

People Magazine: 1st serial excerpt with photos
On stands February 5th.

Washington Post/ Newsweek’s religion interview series, Divine Impulses—available on the (printed) religion section of the Washington Post, the home page of washingtonpost.com, and at “On Faith,” the joint project of the Washington Post and Newsweek—week of February 8th

USA Today: inclusion in Book Buzz column on upcoming political memoirs—January 7th

Sorry! For all of you who are dashing to your mail daily in hopes of a special advance mailing of ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” — it appears that there will be very few ARCs, largely because those are printed to spark interest, and I think we’d all agree the burning interest is ALREADY there! And no, I haven’t heard anything about moving the U.S. printing up from May. I know there’s been some stories in the mail about bookstores ordering copies from Amazon UK, but there are copyright issues, so don’t go into those murky waters. Of course you could always take a trip to the UK or a lovely Scandinavian country and bring a copy back, but that seems a bit extreme to me, and I’m a huge fan of the series.

Just to keep your interest at fever pitch, there appear to be “dueling [film] versions of Dragon Tattoo on the horizon”. Sony Pictures has taken the English-language screen rights. The script is being held up by a rights squabble between Stieg Larsson’s folks and his longtime partner, Eva Gabrielsson. Stay tuned. There is already a Swedish-language film version released last February. It’s grossed millions and millions across Europe and has been picked up for the U.S. by Music Box Films. It is scheduled to be released in March.

In the meantime…..go back and re-read the first two volumes. They stand up to re-examination. Those characters have a lot of depth and the plots are SO twisty! What?! Some of you haven’t read them AT ALL! No excuses about too many holds and not being able to get your hands on a copy. Either order more at once—or here’s a thought, rush out, buy copies, read them, and then give them as a gift!!

— Marcia

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
$14.95 | 978-0-307-45454-6 | Vintage

The Girl Who Played with Fire
$15.95 | 978-0-307-45455-3 | Vintage

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
$26.95 | 978-0-307-26999-7 | Knopf | May