Category: Newsletter

Hello Book Friends,

Independent Bookstore Day, celebrated nationally in April with an in-store party, giveaways, and exclusive merchandise, will be held this year on Saturday, August 29. Okay, we’ll take any kind of celebration we can get, right? And on this Indie Bookstore Day we want to celebrate you, our customers – to thank you for your loyalty and support over a difficult time for all of us. You’ve kept us going. You’ve shopped online, by phone, and in person wearing masks and gloves. You’ve ordered books for yourselves, your families, and your friends. You’ve ordered Starter Libraries for newborns and as birthday gifts for toddlers. You’ve ordered books you’ve read about, both new and old, you’ve had bookish conversations with our staff – and a better staff doesn’t exist – that’s how we feel anyway. So let’s celebrate them too. Hey, Emily, Gianelle, Robin and Lori, we’re talking about you!

This year you can celebrate Indie Bookstore Day at the store, wearing your favorite mask. Or join us online, just follow us on social media and we’ll try and make sure you feel the booklove from afar. How I wish George and I could be there in person. We miss being at the store more than we can say. It’s what our grown children call the vulnerability thing. Something we don’t readily admit to, or even feel. But we’ll be back, that’s a promise. For now, we continue to work from home. Right now we’re in Massachusetts for a month, in a house right across the street from my daughter’s. Our morning walks have grown longer and more vigorous (running the bases at the ball field a few blocks away) since my daughter has been baking and making us delicious dinners.

I’m signing books and George has set up a mailroom on the dining room table so we can get books to you promptly. I’ve promised myself I’ll spend the first hour after breakfast every day working on my family memoir – something I’ve been thinking about for years. It will be from the point of view of the child I was and cover my first thirteen years, the ones that really count. I’m at the notebook stage and have been doing some very rough pieces. I never know exactly what might happen once I start writing. I envision charming illustrations a la Maira Kalman. And who knows, maybe this will help explain what makes a person write. Or maybe it will fizzle and no one will ever see it.

Keep in touch. Let us know what’s new with you. Hope you’re all staying well – glad our Key West friends who have had the dreaded virus are recovering. And whatever you do, keep reading and listening. George just finished reading Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. He enjoyed it. Now he’s listening to Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and says it’s so smart – an eye opening book that might change the way you think about the U.S. Good for George! When I’m trying to write I’m not reading as much though I’m enjoying The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel. To be honest, I’m addicted to reading everything I can about the virus, and, as if that’s not depressing enough, throw in politics. By the time I finish I’m exhausted. But I’ve just ordered Sue Miller’s new novel, Monogamy. I’ve been a fan of hers since her first book and I’m excited for this new one. Also looking forward to so many books coming out next month.

For now, Happy Indie Bookstore Day to you, our readers! You are loved and appreciated.

KEY LIME CRIME, tenth in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, by Lucy Burdette comes out August 11. Readers love this fun series because it is like having a local guide — one who just happens to stumble over a murder or two. We had a quick chat with Lucy, who some of you probably know as Roberta, about writing about food, Key West as a setting, and the new addition to her family.

You’ll have the opportunity to ask Lucy other questions during our virtual event with her in conversation with author Deborah Crombie (A Bitter Feast) on Tuesday, Aug 18 at 6PM EDT. Register for the event: Live with Lucy Burdette.

And if you need to catch up on installments 1-9 of the Key West Food Critic Mysteries before jumping into KEY LIME CRIME, we can help with that.

Q: Okay, first things first: You adopted a new puppy recently? Please tell us about her. Have you settled on a name?

A: Yes we did! She’s a nine week old Havanese and after four nights of being in charge of puppy duty, I am wondering if I lost my mind deciding I need a puppy. She is super cute and joyful, which I could use in these grim times, and she’s going to be a great friend. Havanese are the national dog of Cuba, so John suggested the name Carlotta a.k.a. Lottie to honor her heritage. I was leaning toward Miss Jane Marple or Vera to honor women mystery writers, but happy to have John invested LOL.

Q: Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Key West? How did you go from clinical psychologist to mystery writer?

A: I grew up in New Jersey, wandered around for a few years, and then got my PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Florida. I’ve lived in Connecticut since then, which is where I met John. When he retired from his business in 2007, we took a trip around Florida looking for places to retire for his Top Retirements blog/website. I suggested a week in Key West since he had never been. We both fell in love and have not looked back. As for moving from clinical psychologist to mystery writer, oddly enough, it was a pretty natural transition. In both cases, my job is to look at the presenting problem (either a crime or unhappiness), and follow the clues to find the solution.

Q: What’s the most fun/interesting thing about writing a series set in Key West?

A: Everything’s fun about writing Key West! There are so many unusual characters on our island, both full-time and visitors. And all the conflict between the different factions means that I can find plot ideas every time I read the Key West Citizen or the Keys Weekly or Konk Life. I love including real places and people as part of the book. Many of my readers are serious Key West fans and love reading about the island while they are not visiting. In the new book, chef/entrepreneur/writer David Sloan becomes a big character. He was fun to write because there was so much material! And he’s a very good sport.

Q: How do you come up with the recipes showcased in the books? What’s been your go-to recipe while sheltering-at-home?

A: Since Hayley Snow, the main character of the series, is a food critic, the recipes are connected to what she’s eating and reviewing. Some of them are my versions of what I’ve actually eaten in Key West restaurants, such as Baby’s House Salad from Clemente’s Pizza, or the strawberry cream pie with chocolate crust from Seven Fish. And I’ve been making a lot of Scottish dishes for the book I’m writing now. My favorite recipe this spring was a tomato cheese pie with cornmeal crust. I can hardly wait to try that again.

5) What are you reading and recommending these days?

Oh this is hard because my attention span is shot. I’m struggling through STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING for a book group talking about racism in our country. And three of my blog sisters from Jungle Red Writers have books out this summer that I’m really looking forward to: PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA by Jenn Mckinlay, THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS by Rhys Bowen, and  THE FIRST TO LIE by Hank Ryan. I have a big stack beside my bed and hope my reading gets back to normal soon.

 

Bestselling author and Key West local Meg Cabot is this year’s Bookstore Romance Day Ambassador and she has put together this snazzy video recommending some great romance picks. Bookstore Romance Day is August 15 and we will be celebrating in store and virtually.

For easy reference, here is a listing of the books she showcases in the video that we have in stock in the store or can get from our warehouse:

Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries #11), by Meg Cabot

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia’s gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn’t need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

Princess Diaries, by Meg Cabot

Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there’s nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra. Is she ever in for a surprise. First Mom announces that she’s dating Mia’s Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn’t have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?

A Princess in Theory, by Alyssa Cole

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Her Royal Highness, by Rachel Hawkins

Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. Heartbroken and ready for a change of pace, Millie decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better. Soon, Millie is accepted into one of the world’s most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Here, the country is dreamy and green; the school is covered in ivy, and the students think her American-ness is adorable. The only problem: Mille’s roommate Flora is a total princess. She’s also an actual princess. Of Scotland.

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics, by Olivia Waite

As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, by Jenny Han

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

You Had Me at Hola, by Alexis Daria

After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new “Leading Lady Plan” should be easy enough to follow—until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown, by Talia Hibbert

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown is also our current virtual book club pick. Read what assistant manager Gianelle has to say about it: https://booksandbookskw.com/virtual-book-club-pick-take-a-hint-dani-brown/

Pride, by Ibi Zoboi

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, by Sonali Dev

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules:

· Never trust an outsider

· Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations

· And never, ever, defy your family

Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes.

Cinderella Is Dead, by Kalynn Bayron

It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .

The Rakess, by Scarlett Peckham

She’s a Rakess on a quest for women’s rights…

Seraphina Arden’s passions include equality, amorous affairs, and wild, wine-soaked nights. To raise funds for her cause, she’s set to publish explosive memoirs exposing the powerful man who ruined her. Her ideals are her purpose, her friends are her family, and her paramours are forbidden to linger in the morning.

He’s not looking for a summer lover…

Adam Anderson is a wholesome, handsome, widowed Scottish architect, with two young children, a business to protect, and an aversion to scandal. He could never, ever afford to fall for Seraphina. But her indecent proposal—one month, no strings, no future—proves too tempting for a man who strains to keep his passions buried with the losses of his past.

But one night changes everything…

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Two Rogues Make a Right, by Cat Sebastian

Will Sedgwick can’t believe that after months of searching for his oldest friend, Martin Easterbrook is found hiding in an attic like a gothic nightmare. Intent on nursing Martin back to health, Will kindly kidnaps him and takes him to the countryside to recover, well away from the world. Martin doesn’t much care where he is or even how he got there. He’s much more concerned that the man he’s loved his entire life is currently waiting on him hand and foot, feeding him soup and making him tea. Martin knows he’s a lost cause, one he doesn’t want Will to waste his life on.

Geekerella, by Ashley Poston

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

Spoiler Alert, by Olivia Dade (publishes 10/6/20, available for preorder)

Marcus Caster-Rupp has a secret. While the world knows him as Aeneas, the star of the biggest show on TV, Gods of the Gates, he’s known to fanfiction readers as Book!AeneasWouldNever, an anonymous and popular poster. Marcus is able to get out his own frustrations with his character through his stories, especially the ones that feature the internet’s favorite couple to ship, Aeneas and Lavinia. But if anyone ever found out about his online persona, he’d be fired. Immediately. April Whittier has secrets of her own. A hardcore Lavinia fan, she’s hidden her fanfiction and cosplay hobby from her “real life” for years—but not anymore. When she decides to post her latest Lavinia creation on Twitter, her photo goes viral. Trolls and supporters alike are commenting on her plus-size take, but when Marcus, one half of her OTP, sees her pic and asks her out on a date to spite her critics, she realizes life is really stranger than fanfiction.

No Judgments, by Meg Cabot

When a massive hurricane severs all power and cell service to Little Bridge Island—as well as its connection to the mainland—twenty-five-year-old Bree Beckham isn’t worried . . . at first. She’s already escaped one storm—her emotionally abusive ex—so a hurricane seems like it will be a piece of cake. But animal-loving Bree does become alarmed when she realizes how many islanders have been cut off from their beloved pets. Now it’s up to her to save as many of Little Bridge’s cats and dogs as she can . . . but to do so, she’s going to need help—help she has no choice but to accept from her boss’s sexy nephew, Drew Hartwell, the Mermaid Café’s most notorious heartbreaker.

No Offense, by Meg Cabot

Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys, home to sandy white beaches, salt-rimmed margaritas, and stunning sunsets—a place where nothing goes under the radar and love has a way of sneaking up when least expected…

A broken engagement only gave Molly Montgomery additional incentive to follow her dream job from the Colorado Rockies to the Florida Keys. Now, as Little Bridge Island Public Library’s head of children’s services, Molly hopes the messiest thing in her life will be her sticky-note covered desk. But fate—in the form of a newborn left in the restroom—has other ideas. So does the sheriff who comes to investigate the “abandonment”. When John Hartwell folds all six-feet-three of himself into a tiny chair and insists that whoever left the baby is a criminal, Molly begs to differ and asks what he’s doing about the Island’s real crime wave (if thefts of items from homes that have been left unlocked could be called that). Not the best of starts, but the man’s arrogance is almost as distracting as his blue eyes. Almost…

Meg Cabot’s newest book, the second in the Little Bridge Island series, No Offense, will be available August 11. Books & Books is hosting a virtual evening with Meg and Emily Henry, author of Beach Read on the 11^th at 7pm. (Details and registration at https://booksandbookskw.com/cabot-no-offense/)

Special thanks to Bookstore Romance Day, Meg Cabot, and Avon Books.

 

If you think fake dating in paradise sounds like fun, you’re going to love Priscilla Oliveras’ ISLAND AFFAIR. We always enjoy featuring books that showcase our quirky island; this one is perfect for the beach. We had the opportunity to ask Priscilla a few questions about her Key West inspiration, what’s coming in book 2 and what she’s reading these days.

Q: Where did you grow up and where’s home these days? Why did you decide to set ISLAND AFFAIR in Key West?

A: My dad was in the Navy, so our family lived in multiple places, from Panama to Texas to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Florida. We moved to Key West the summer before my 7th grade year, and I lived there until I graduated high school and left for college. These days, home is in north central Florida, but I’ve always wanted to take readers to the island I’ve thought of as “home” since my adolescence. With the KEYS TO LOVE series, I finally get a chance to do that.

Q: As Key West opens back up after closing to tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic, what’s one place, thing or experience that visitors shouldn’t miss in Key West?

A: Wow, it’s hard to only pick one. To pack as much as possible in one evening, I’d say head to Mallory Square’s Sunset Celebration. That way they can be awed by nature’s nightly watercolor painting across the horizon, entertained by a bevy of street performers, and then wander over to El Mesón de Pepe for a tasty meal and dancing.

Q: Island Affair is book 1 in your KEYS TO LOVE series, what can you tell us about book 2? Will it follow characters we’ve already met, travel up the Keys?

A: In Book 2, we’ll definitely see more of the Navarros and another Navarro familia dinner. ANCHORED HEARTS is Anamaría’s second-chance romance with her high school sweetheart, Alejandro Miranda, who left Key West right after graduation and is now an award-winning adventure-commercial photographer. Their story takes place in Key West, with a few different local spots highlighted. Readers will get to touch base with Luis and Sara, spend a little more time with Enrique (who’s good friends with Alejandro), and even meet Enrique’s potential love interest.

Q: We often get asked for light or funny reads. What might you recommend for someone who is looking for a bit of escape?

A: For readers who enjoy rom-coms, a few of my definite recommends are Mia Sosa’s THE WORST BEST MAN, Farrah Rochon’s THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT, Lyssa Kay Adams’ UNDERCOVER BROMANCE (book 2 in the fabulous BROMANCE BOOK CLUB series), and debut author Yaffa S. Santos’ A TASTE OF SAGE. Three other June releases I’m excited about are Vanessa Riley’s A DUKE, THE LADY AND A BABY, Kristan Higgins’ ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW, and Jasmine Guillory’s PARTY OF TWO.

Q: At what point in your career did you get your MFA (had you already published a novel)? What advice would you give writers considering an MFA?

A: My MFA thesis manuscript actually became my first published novel, HIS PERFECT PARTNER. I’d been writing off and on for about twenty years before I started my MFA program at Seton Hill University (SHU). By then, I had reached a time where my kids were grown (two off to college,) and I could really focus on my writing, professionally. SHU’s program proved to be a turning point for me, definitely in a positive way.

For those considering an MFA, my first advice is to do your research; find out what type of creative writing the program encourages. Not all, in fact not too many, encourage genre fiction. SHU’s Writing Popular Fiction (WPF) program is all genre focused, that was important to me as a romance author. Plus, it’s a low-residency program, which allowed me to enroll and take classes while living outside of the Greensburg, PA, area, and around my day job schedule. Finally, I’d also consider your post-graduation goals. Meaning, do you want to teach, publish, edit, all three? Will the MFA program(s) you’re considering help you achieve your goal(s)? For me, SHU’s WPF program helped me hone my craft, learn about the business, and practice juggling author life responsibilities like deadlines, while also providing a credential to teach at the college/university level.

Hi Bookfriends,

Hope you’re all well and staying that way. George and I are still isolating though I’m longing to get back to the store, now open with business picking up. Emily, Gianelle and Lori are doing a fabulous job. Like many indie bookstores we’ve been inundated with calls and online orders for books about Black lives and antiracism resulting in backorders for some popular titles, but we are taking orders and happy to help you find something to read while you wait. Personally, I’m on the store’s waitlist for HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi.

I just finished Brit Bennett’s new novel, THE VANISHING HALF, a different kind of story about racism. It focuses on identical twins, “their skin the color of sand barely wet,” whose lives could not go in more different directions – and the daughters they raise, one black, one white. It explores racism from within, and it gave me a real jolt. Never preachy – just a good story, well told, that moves like the wind, and leaves you thinking.

When your husband/partner/roommate starts reading a book he can’t/won’t put down you have to know more about it. Especially since this book is all he wants to talk about. That happened at our house this week. George says: LEARNING FROM THE GERMANS: RACE AND THE MEMORY OF EVIL by Susan Neiman is a prescient book for the current time. Though the title may at first seem incredible, the author, a Southern-raised American Jew who now runs a research center in Germany, convincingly shows us why and how that country has acknowledged its WWII racist history and done much to overcome it. And she goes on to share the steps that are being taken in places like Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama that give hope that we might be able to do the same.

Lately, I’ve been Zooming in to virtual events sponsored by the Miami Book Fair and Books & Books.  Also, the SIBA sponsored series, Reader Meet Writer. It’s fast, fun, and you don’t have to get dressed or leave the house. We have copies of the books that are being discussed. Just give us a call or drop in. I’ll be introducing an event very soon. And this time I’ve got AirPods for better sound, and a new computer for a clear picture. Stay tuned for more info.

Be well. Stay safe.

Love,

In this bewitching debut novel, a sensitive teen, newly arrived in Alabama, falls in love, questions his faith, and navigates a strange power. While his German parents don’t know what to make of a South pining for the past, shy Max thrives in the thick heat. Taken in by the football team, he learns how to catch a spiraling ball, how to point a gun, and how to hide his innermost secrets.

Author Michelle Tea calls Genevieve Hudson’s debut novel BOYS OF ALABAMA, “a gripping, uncanny, and queer exploration of being a boy in America, told with detail that dazzles and disturbs.” We had the pleasure of getting to “meet” Hudson when they did a recent Reader Meet Writer virtual event — and immediately wanted to chat with a bit more. Hudson graciously answered a few questions for us to share with you.

Enjoy this Q&A, check out the Reader Meet Writer replay (find that here) and let us know what you think about BOYS OF ALABAMA. And then plan to keep an eye out on what comes next from Genevieve Hudson.

Q: Some writers love the idea of residencies, while others find the long stretches of wide-open time paralyzing. What has your experience of residencies been like? Can you say a little about pros/cons, and tell us about where you’ve been?

A: I absolutely adore residencies. The handful I have attended (MacDowell Colony, Caldera Arts, Vermont Studio Center, Dickinson House) have been transformative in terms of process and what I can get done. I’m really grateful for the chance to step outside of “normal” life and focus on writing for an extended period of time. In terms of writing, I think time is the most precious resource. I need time to sit with my thoughts, read, let my imagination wander, go on long walks, and play with words. To think. To reread. To scrap pages. All of that is part of the writing process. My process is about unfolding into my work and letting myself feel spaciousness and pleasure. I understand how large swaths of time can feel paralyzing, but in my experience, if I relax into the process and release my expectations, I will find big hunks of unstructured time to be expansive and regenerative and soothing. It is an opportunity to be bored, which is a big gift to creativity. But every writer is different and whatever feels good in terms of writing and process for them is probably the best way forward. I will say, I wrote the first scene for what would later become BOYS OF ALABAMA at Caldera Arts, worked on a major revision of it at Vermont Studio Center and did my final editorial revision at MacDowell Colony. I owe those places so much.

Q: You recently published an essay in Elle magazine about your early boyfriends and how your relationships with them intersected with your own gender identity. In what ways, if any, was the BOYS OF ALABAMA another way of reckoning with the same questions and issues?

A: I see the article in Elle as a companion piece to the book. It’s a way of giving context to my novel-length exploration of boyhood in the American South. I was fascinated with boy culture when I was young, and I immersed myself in it. I skated and played sports and was seen as a “tomboy” and most of my close friends were boys. It took me until puberty to fully understand that me and the boys I surrounded myself with were expected to follow different trajectories. It makes sense to me that my first novel would explore issues of masculinity and how it intersects with Southern culture, queerness, and violence. Through BOYS OF ALABAMA, I wanted to investigate what it meant to be an outsider and a queer youth trying to integrate into boy culture in the Deep South and the toxicity and harm and appeal and comradery that comes with it. I was asking: what does white masculinity do to a culture, a place, a group of people? Those are questions I wrestled with as a young person trying to understand my gender. They are questions I still wrestle with today.

Q: Can you talk a bit about the magic in BOYS OF ALABAMA? Do you see the novel claiming a spot in the tradition of Southern Gothic?

A: In some ways I do see my novel following in the footsteps of the Southern Gothic tradition. Like the books that made up the genre in the past, BOYS OF ALABAMA elevates the absurdist aspects of the Deep South by exploring ways poverty, religion, and racism have worked to pollute and warp communities. The humor is dark and there is a focus on the outcast, the weirdo, and people on the margins. Of course, with its touches of magic realism, there is a centering and exalting of the supernatural. Max’s magical power can be read as a manifestation of his hidden queerness. He has the power to heal within himself (quite literally) but his fear of revealing it, of what people will think, has caused him to hide his power. So instead of showing his true nature, he turns inward and his strength and his gift get warped and end up being the source of harm and pain.

Q: During your Reader Meet Writer virtual event, you gave a great reading list. What is one book that you think deserves more attention?

A: Godshot by Chelsea Bieker is an outstanding novel that came out earlier this year. It focuses on a young girl who is dealing with the loss of her mother and navigating her place in a strange Christian cult in California’s Central Valley that believes they can bring back the rain and free the farmers from a devastating drought. It is all things a novel should be. It’ll break your heart.

Q: What are you working on now, if you don’t mind saying?

A: I am writing a short story for a photography art book that will be published in Europe later this year. The art book explores and documents the gender transition of a Norwegian woman. My story serves as a separate piece that is in conversation with the photo project. I’ve also just started a new book. It’s a road trip novel about friendship, where two buddies reunite in their old college town in the South for a friend’s wedding. Trouble ensues.

Dear Bookfriends,

Thank you so much for your support during this difficult time for the store and our staff. We’ve been closed for browsing seven weeks. George and I have been isolating for eight. I miss the store, our staff, our customers. I miss Dan the Man, our cheerful UPS person who brings us new books. I miss having lunch in the back room where my eating space, a drop leaf shelf George attached to one of the desks, is referred to as the “cafeteria.”

I’m back to living the writing life, except I haven’t been writing (though lately I’ve been jotting down anecdotes for something I’ve had in mind for a long time). I’ve read drafts for the pilot episodes of SUMMER SISTERS, and WIFEY. And the script for the movie based on ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET. That one was set to be shot over the summer in New Jersey. The director had found a wonderful 12 year old to play Margaret. Now, that project is on hold until it’s safe to shoot again.

I don’t know where the day goes (well, laundry for sure) but before I know it, it’s time for late afternoon reading, the best time of the day. I’ve started Emma Straub’s just published novel, ALL ADULTS HERE, and I’m really enjoying it! I’ll be chatting with Emma (virtually) on Monday, May 18, at 7pm. We’ll let you know how to tune in. But mark your calendars now. (Do we still use calendars?) After that it’s dinner and then an episode or two of one of the series we’re following — THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA on HBO, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE on HULU, and coming this weekend, Wally Lamb’s I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE on HBO — all great books you can catch up with before or after watching.

Those of you with kids at home, I feel for you. I can only imagine how hard it is to supervise virtual classroom lessons, and still do everything else, including working from home. And thanks to the teachers — what a job you are doing! For the kids at home, keep them reading! Anything they want to read. Tell us what they love and we’ll try to find a book like it to send as a surprise.

Your loyalty is helping us stay afloat. We’re grateful you’re ordering books, puzzles, art supplies from us. It means we can keep our staff on salary. We’ve had orders from all over the country and we appreciate every one of them. Those of you in Key West know that Gia or Emily will deliver your books to your doorstep the same day you call. I’ve been signing books the same way. I want to give a shout out to our customers who ordered a “Starter Library” for a new baby in their lives. I wish you could have heard Gianelle and me on the phone — me shouting out titles, Gia running around the store trying to find them, then Gia reminding me of a new book that just had to be included. Gia put it all together and wrapped it beautifully. Another shoutout to our customer who ordered seven large art books, then ordered another seven, all as gifts to friends. And how about thirty copies of a forthcoming book, also for friends!

Every book makes a difference. I’m making a special donation to BINC today, an organization that helps indie bookstores in need. Some of them may not survive without help, some may not survive even with it. We’re lucky. Because of you we’ll soon be opening our doors. We haven’t set a date yet. When we do, we’ll probably be greeting you in masks and the floor may be marked off so you can keep your social distance, We need time to get ready. And we don’t want to do it too soon. We want to keep our staff and you, our loyal customers, safe. In the meantime, you can safely order online or by phone. And thank you again.

Stay well.

Love,

As we shelter-at-home and need wonderful, moving books to distract and entertain us, our current virtual book club pick is WRITERS & LOVERS by Lily King. Store co-founder Judy Blume writes, “WRITERS & LOVERS, is exactly the book we need now. Witty and heartfelt, . . . filled with memorable characters.”

We had the opportunity to ask Lily King a few questions about her new novel, hear about how the Covid-19 pandemic is changing book promotion and get some reading recommendations.

Q: What has it been like promoting a novel during this time of closed bookstores and sheltering at home? What, if anything, will you keep in your bag of tricks when we get back to being able to hold in-person events?

A: I had three in-person events before we went into isolation. Then within a few days many bookstores had figured out virtual solutions. It really is amazing how quickly you all have adapted. I’m always so happy when a bookstore that I was supposed to visit on my tour invites me to do something online. What’s great about it is that people from anywhere can come. They can pick and choose the time and the date. It’s really fun in that way, seeing who shows up. I wish I could introduce everyone to each other and we could out go out for a drink after, but that’s another lifetime. It’s easier to hold a room from a podium than from a computer screen. You feel that. There’s an energy in a real roomful of people that doesn’t get created in the same way. Everyone’s mic is off so you can’t hear people’s responses. But the in-conversation format is really suited to the virtual event and if you get a good conversation going it nearly feels real. I had one a few weeks ago and I got so absorbed I actually forgot about the virus for a full hour. That was lovely.

I do think we’re learning that these events really can work, that if the author cannot travel to the store they can still support the store and the store can support them. I like the idea that after this is all over, for the price of the book you could get a Zoom invitation from the store to an online event. I think it would be a real incentive to buy the book at the store that’s hosting it. As a reader, I have loved the Zoom events I’ve attended on my couch in my slippers after a long day.

Q: Very early in the novel, Casey says, “I don’t write because I think I have something to say. I write because if I don’t, everything feels even worse.” Do you share Casey’s position on the purpose of writing?

A: Completely. Writing things down always makes me feel better. But what Casey doesn’t quite understand yet is that she does have something to say. She has a lot to say. We all do. But when you write fiction you often have no idea what you have to say until you’ve written a full draft of the thing. Then you start to get it. Then you can start to shape and highlight those things. But what you have to say in a novel cannot be summed up in a few tidy sentences or bullet points. What you have to say is an experience that usually takes a few hundred pages to evoke.

Q: WRITERS & LOVERS has such a strong sense of place, a little claustrophobic, but also filled with the familiarity of coming home. How does that sense of place interweave with the narrative themes around grief and love?

A: Claustrophobia is one of my trademarks! My first three novels were about families because a family in a house guarantees claustrophobia. I was attracted to the story of EUPHORIA for the same reason: three scientists marooned together in the jungle of Papua New Guinea. In WRITERS & LOVERS I needed Casey to be coming back to the region she grew up in, back to everything that once was familiar and now has a layer of sadness and nostalgia but also great comfort to it. She comes back to the state where she was raised with all its memories of her mother as a young woman, full of life and desires of her own. All that is swirling around in the background when Casey returns to New England.

Q:  What are you reading and recommending?

A: Right now I’m reading THE OTHER LANGUAGE, stories by Francesca Marciano which I love. I’m also reading two nonfiction books, THESE TRUTHS by Jill Lapore and EPIDEMICS AND SOCIETY by Frank Snowden, both of which I find intriguing. Recently I loved SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid, THE REVISIONERS by Margaret Sexton, and WEATHER by Jenny Offill. Next on my list are NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson and THE NIGHT WATCHMAN by Louise Erdrich and ACTRESS by Anne Enright and SPRING by Ali Smith.

Q: What are you working on now, if you don’t mind saying?

A: I’m working on a collection of short stories, which I am grateful for. I’m not sure I have the stamina right now for a novel.

*****

Read Judy Blume’s review. If you want to stay up-to-date on store news and features like this one, subscribe to our email newsletter on our website, just scroll down to “Join us” and fill our the contact form.

Every other month or so, we pick a new book for the Books & Books @ The Studios Virtual Book Club. Our virtual book club is a way for us to share what we’re reading with our friends near and far. It’s an opportunity to pick up a new read and share your thoughts (and photos) with other readers online.  Follow our book club hashtag (#bbkwbookclub) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Let us deliver authors to your living room.

Did you miss the event with Genevieve Hudson? Watch the replay here.

Genevieve Hudson – BOYS OF ALABAMA [order here]
TUESDAY MAY 26th at 5PM EDT

The next author in the Reader Meet Writer series is Genevieve Hudson. You may have read Hudson’s earlier works: ​A LITTLE IN LOVE WITH EVERYONE​ (2018), and ​PRETEND WE LIVE HERE (​2018), which was a LAMBDA Literary Award finalist and named a Best Book of 2018 by ​Entropy​.

Genevieve will be talking with us TUESDAY MAY 26th at 5PM EDT about their newest book BOYS OF ALABAMA and answering your questions. Genevieve is one of many authors we’ll be bringing into your living room.

To attend please RSVP here

You can also RSVP by emailing booksandbooks@tskw.org with the subject line “RSVP for GENEVIEVE HUDSON”

Attendance is limited.

If you elect to attend, we will email you on the morning of the event (5/26) with the link to attend this virtual event, plus the link to purchase books.  If you purchase the book through our website we will automatically send you the login information you need to join the event. If you ordered by phone please RSVP above.  

Happy Reading!