Lerner Publishing brings Egmont USA authors into the fold
100 Egmont titles will now be published under Lerner’s imprints, including Millbrook Press, Darby Creek, Carolrhoda Books, and Carolrhoda Labs. I’m excited for these authors as their work finds a new home, and I hope the transition is as painless as possible for all parties.
Where’d You Go Bernadette film adaptation eyes Boyhood director
Richard Linklater is currently in talks to head the film, based on the 2012 novel by Maria Semple. Bernadette revolves around the titular character disappearing on her family, and the effect it has on her family, as narrated by her 15-year-old daughter. This will be Linklater’s second film with Annapurna Pictures, which has worked with him previously on That’s What I’m Talking About.
Plum Johnson becomes first woman to win $25,000 RBC Taylor Prize
Johnson’s memoir, They Left Us Everything, made her the first woman in 11 years to win the prize, awarded to the best of Canadian non-fiction.
Borderlands Books saved from closing by loyal patrons
And what a rescue it was: Borderlands was on the verge of closing up shop on February 1, until a public meeting gave rise to a paid sponsorship plan. Thanks to the overwhelming positive response, the bookstore will now remain open until at least March 31, 2016. Over 500 patrons have signed up to sponsor the store, and will receive perks on top of seeing their beloved Borderlands stay open.
Gayle Forman’s “I Was Here” optioned by New Line
…[the book] centers on Cody, an 18-year-old whose best friend Meg takes her own life. Looking for answers, Cody begins a brave and dangerous journey that takes her from her dead-end Washington town to Meg’s college dorm, to the clubs of Seattle, to the deserts of Nevada, and to the darkest parts of her own psyche.
And as she looks for the whys and hows of her friend’s death, Cody is forced to consider the meanings of love, friendship, guilt and forgiveness.
Forman’s first novel, If I Stay, was adapted into a film last year, and the same production company has taken on her newest book, released on January 27. It won’t be Forman’s only movie to be optioned in the last six months: Just One Day and Just One Year were also picked up by Universal last fall.
I’m interested in seeing the treatment for I Was Here, since I thought If I Stay was simply all right as a film adaptation. I loved the books, but wasn’t as emotionally captivated by the movie, so it would be nice to see what the approach will be this time around.
Other news:
T.K. Dalton writes about children’s books and gender intersections
BEA announces three Buzz panels for 2015
J.K. Rowling cries over BBC’s new ending for The Casual Vacancy
WWAC Staff picks March book highlights