A New Sherlockian anthology
Just in time for Christmas!
Chock-full of Sherlockian goodies, “A Study in Sherlock” is edited by Laurie R. King and Leslie Klinger.
“A Trick of the Light” – A new Louise Penny novel.
Flavia’s followers will know that I’m a huge fan of Louise Penny, who has now won – among many other awards – an astonishing four consecutive Agatha Awards for her Armand Gamache series.
A new book from Louise is like Christmas in summer – a treat to be eked out and made to last. Interested?
Well, fetch the fireworks! Send up the skyrockets! – today is publication day for “A Trick of the Light”, the seventh in the series, and I, for one, can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Since Louise is, in many ways, the Godmother of the Flavia books, it’s always a special treat to return again in her company to the Quebec village of Three Pines, whose characters live and breathe as you and I.
If you haven’t already discovered these marvelous mysteries, there’s no better time to begin.
I’m sure you’re going to be hearing much, much more about “A Trick of the Light”. Grab a copy today!
Louise’s website (one of my favourites) is at:
http://www.louisepenny.com/
See you there!
Alan
Attention Flavia Fans in Canada
Flavia Fans in Canada!
Here’s your chance to vote for “A Red Herring Without Mustard”.
Readers’ Choice Contest (Aug. 2 to Aug. 28)
CBC Books is asking Canadian fiction fans to help choose a book for the Scotiabank Giller Prize 2011 longlist. Explore this year’s eligible books and submit your nomination – let us know why you think this book deserves to be considered for Canada’s richest literary prize!
Just three days to go, and yes! “A Red Herring Without Mustard” is eligible.
Tell your mom! Tell your dad! Tell everyone you know!
Vote here:
http://www.cbc.ca/books/scotiabankgillerprize/readerschoice/index.html
And to those readers who have already voted, a hearty “thank you!”
Alan
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most frequently asked questions I am asked about Flavia de Luce are these:
1. How are the names “Flavia” and “de Luce” pronounced?
2. What are the titles of the Flavia books, and in what order should they be read?
3. Are the Flavia books suitable for children?
Here are the answers:
1. The pronunciation of Flavia’s name is FLAY’-vee-ah duh-LOOSE.
2. Although the books can be read in any order, it might help with the overall picture if they were read in the order in which they were published: “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie”, “The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag”, “A Red Herring Without Mustard”, and the forthcoming (November) “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows”.
3. Although written for adults, the Flavia books can be read by anyone who enjoys them. I’ve heard from readers ranging in age from 8 to 95.
Hope this clears things up a bit. More light will be shed on other topics in future books.
Happy reading!
Alan
“I Am Half-Sick of Shadows” – important announcement
Because the next book in the Flavia de Luce series (#4) “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows” is set at Christmas, Random House has wisely moved publication forward from January, 2012, to November 1st, 2011.
That’s right! The new Flavia book will be in bookstores in Canada, the US, and the UK in time for Christmas!
And better yet: you can pre-order today!
Flavia in Italy
Especially for Flavia’s fans in Italy, here’s the cover for book two of the series, “The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag”, entitled in Italian “La Morte non e cosa per ragazzine.”
Which, translated, means roughly “Death is Not a Matter For Young Girls”.
What do you think?
On sale, in Italy, May 24th (which, incidentally, is Queen Victoria’s birthday – still celebrated in Canada, after all these years, with fireworks)
The book is published by Mondadori in its “Strade Blu” series. Mondadori is also the Italian publisher of the incomparable Agatha Christie.
Alan
Important announcement
I have some exciting news to share with you.
One of the comments I hear most from Flavia’s fans is that they have to wait so long for the next book. “Write faster!” they often say.
Well, I haven’t written faster, but I’ve written for longer hours, and I’m delighted to share the news that the fourth Flavia de Luce book, “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows”, originally scheduled for publication in January of 2012, has now been moved forward to an earlier date: November 1st, in Canada and the US, and November 3rd, in the UK. – just in time for Christmas!
Yes, that’s right: November, 2011. Which is just around the corner.
It makes a lot of sense, really. Since the story is set at Christmas, we thought it would be nice to share it with Flavia’s fans in time for Christmas.
So mark those dates on your calendar!
I hope you’re as excited as I am!
Alan
Title of Fourth Flavia de Luce Mystery Announced
Remember … you heard it here first.
The title of the fourth Flavia de Luce Mystery has been announced by Random House.
It is … (drum roll, please) … “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows”.
“I Am Half-Sick of Shadows” is, of course, from Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott”.
Is there a clue there? Well maybe … there are definitely shadows in the book.
This title supercedes the previously-announced “Death In Camera”.
Publication (according to Books On Tape) is tentatively slated for January 31st, 2012
http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385665865
Alan
“A Red Herring Without Mustard” a bestseller!
Thanks to Flavia’s fans everywhere, “A Red Herring Without Mustard” has made its debut at #9 on the New York Times bestseller list, and on Maclean’s (Canada) best seller list at #1. It has also appeared on the (US) Indie List, and on others.
“Yaroo!”
Alan
Flavia nominated for Goodreads “Favorite Hero of the Year” Award
I’m happy to announce that Flavia, and “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” have been nominated for a second Goodreads Award: “Favorite Hero of the Year”.
Readers may vote at:
|
|
|
)