Joy! A Great Publishers Weekly Review
Another piece of good news I have to share. Every author waits on pins and needles to see what Publishers Weekly, the trade magazine targeted at booksellers, libarians and others in the industry, has to say about his or her book. PW reviewers–who don’t have to sign their reviews–can be brutal, but they can also be kind. BEFORE THE STORM was just reviewed and I can tell the reviewer really enjoyed and appreciated the story. Whew! I can get off those pins and needles now.
Before the Storm DIANE CHAMBERLAIN. Mira, $13.95 Paper (480p) ISBN 978-0-7783-2541-3
Chamberlain lays out her latest piece of romantic suspense in a shattered chronology that’s as graceful as it is perfectly paced. Most of the adults in the tightly knit coastal community of Topsail Island, N.C., accept the widowed Laurel Lockwood’s 15-year-old mentally disabled son, Andy. But when Andy saves many of the town’s youth during a tragic fire, he becomes a local hero who garners national attention. Laurel, caught up with making sure Andy is okay, thinks daughter Maggie, a high school senior, can handle herself. What Maggie hides from everyone are her slipping grades, a taboo affair and a terrible secret, and when the fire’s origins are investigated and Andy is a person of interest, events turn progressively darker for the family. Long, juicy flashbacks cover the mysteries of Laurel’s husband’s death, of Andy’s condition and of Laurel’s preoccupation with him. Chamberlain offers no easy solutions, but her engrossing prose leads the way to redemption. (June)
Yayyyy for a great review from such a good source! As you said, booksellers and librarians (including me) read PW to help gauge quantities and interest from customers. I love to find new authors and learn about new books by favorites by checking it out regularly. I was thrilled to see this review in the latest issue 🙂
Thanks, Anne! And thanks for helping readers find good books to read. Is it my wishful thinking, or is reading having a resurgence?
I am so excited. I am in the freezing cold of Indy (hard decision–Miami Beach with son or Indy with daughter and granddaughters at S. Break) and get this warm exciting news about the book-I can’t wait…
I am reading a few books-not a lot–hard to keep up with this schedule with three little ones-two in school and NOT on spring break…whew…how my daughter does it I will never know… I am hoping she decides to home school…
The little one and I enjoyed story hour at the library today–so much fun.
Diane-I do believe more are reading…libraries are having more and more check out books-I think that is also a sign of the economy…staying home more…
Whatever-it’s good news…
Congrats!!!!!!! I suggested your book to many today and before…
That review is great!! Now I am even more anxious to read “Before the Storm”.
That is wonderful! I have seen some of those not so positive reviews on books I thought were really great, even, so big kudos to you.
And such a vivid, eye-catching cover, too.
Woo Hoo!!!! So happy for you Diane! I’m so ready for another book of yours. I’ve enjoyed all the others. Congrats on the awesome review. It’s great news!
I think there’s a divide between the readers and the not-readers. It scares me, to be honest, that so many only read a few books a year, if that, since I know I’ve learned so much and devour books myself. Plus my whole professional life has been in libraries. How can they not love books?? But things like Oprah’s book club have awakened interest in people who might not have picked up something on their own.
Anne, I think the e-books are reaching a whole new audience of readers. I know that some of us “of a certain age” don’t really understand the whole concept of e-books, but they exist and the market for them is growing. CEECEE is available in a Kindle edition, for example. Technology is changing everything so quickly, my head spins when I think about it.
I have to give my 2 cents about e-books. I don’t like that idea at all. To me, the joy of reading is holding the book in my hands, smelling it (LOL!) and turning the pages myself. Going into a bookstore is like heaven for me.
e-books? Blech!
Ooopps….sorry, forgot to post my name above.
LOL, Gina. I thought you didn’t want to be associated with that post. 🙂 I can’t imagine reading an e-book either, but you and I are not the market for them. There are plenty of people who read them, and if e-books will get young people reading again, I’m all for them. Just don’t force me to read one of them.
I heard a woman the other day say that she reads at least one or two books a year…good grief…I would go nuts. I have students who detest reading-good students too. I think one reason is that they are required to read certain books they hate. I let them choose their books-approved by me and the parents…that helps some.
As to E books-I still think the Kindle would be great on the plane and when traveling…However, when I visit my kids, I use their libraries too…
On the other hand, for home, etc., I prefer the real thing.
Have a good day. It is cold in Indy…I am heading home on Friday after a slumber party tonight and Chuckie Cheese on Friday…
One or two … a YEAR? Wow. That is scary. But probably more common than you’d think. Yeah, I go crazy without one or two a week!! (Often more!) Of course, keeping house suffers, but gosh, where are your priorities. 😉
I noticed on Publishers Lunch this morning that Adam Shepard, the young man you paneled with who had the self-published book, got a publishers deal for it now. Pretty cool!
Good for him, Julie! He worked his butt off doing his own promotion, so that’s great.
Brenda, it’s hard to imagine reading a book a year. Have fun with those grandkids. I think I’m the only person in the world who’s never been to Chuckie Cheese.
I am anxiously waiting for Before The Storm …I have already put in an order at the book store & they will get it as soon as it come out…I’ll definitely pass the information on to all my reader friends… I live in theTopsail Island area. …we are just a few miles up the coast @ Swansboro & Emerald Isle. Topsail Island has worked real hard to rebuild after the “real” hurricane that about destroyed them several years ago …The new Richard Geer movie, Nights In Rodanthe, was partly filmed there recently in one of the old original housing sections …there isn’t many of the old houses left now , most of them have been rebuilt due to that hurricane. Thanks for all the hard work you do to keep these wonderful novels coming out for us to read…
Susan Manning
Susan, I love the area where you live, too! May write about it one of these days. Thanks for being such a faithful fan, and I hope you enjoy Before the Storm. I’ll be signing books at Quarter Moon, but not until July 3rd.
Diane, I love the bright book cover. Along with your added exposure (Target and Publishers Weekly), this should garner a lot of new fans for you! Especially after they READ your book. I can hardly wait.
Hi Hope. Thanks for the kind words!