Rejection can hurt deeply. For an author, it can cut even deeper. After all, writers get told no one wants their pearly words of wisdom. Most probably take a rejection maturely, deciding to keep trying.
We’ve all had dinner guests who overstayed their welcome, but what if one of them refused to leave? That was the seed of an idea that eventually became Revenge Plot, my fourth novel, about an aspiring writer who takes a literary agent hostage during Christmas dinner. I’d been itching to write about the publishing industry, but I wanted to approach it from an angle I hadn’t encountered.
A gripping tale of family trauma and political intrigue in South Africa. Plus, a classic novel about a miscarriage of justice
Is there a better time of year than October to immerse yourself in a great juicy mystery or wonderfully heart-pulsing thriller? I think not. As we head into “spooky season”, plenty of excellent, new books which fit that very bill hit the shelves.
Our pick of the nest new fiction, from gripping thrillers to literary gems, out this month.
Arnie is determined to be a published author, and to do that he needs the best agent: Claudia Conley. After discovering where she’s spending Christmas, Arnie concocts an elaborate plan to crash Claudia’s remote cabin and demand she read his manuscript. It’s one he’s sure she’ll be interested in – because it’s about her.
From the neon lights of Tokyo to the glittering isle of Sicily, these novels showcase some of our favourite destinations around the world in the best way
Complicated female protagonists are a trademark of a Reese’s Book Club selection, and This Might Hurt truly fits the bill.
2024 wraps up another stellar year for crime fiction. Rich plots, diverse and fully realized characters, and vivid settings punctuated these stories. The landscapes ranged from metropolitan cities to rural areas. The emphasis on family relationships were a major part of myriad mysteries.
A fashion stylist once told me that when she asked potential clients to name their style icons, there were two clear favorites: for men, Cary Grant, and for women, Audrey Hepburn. Simplicity, class and a dash of humor: Both Grant and Hepburn embody classic elegance — the kind that looks effortless but actually requires copious amounts of time and attention.
There’s some heavy subtext in the air when five guests arrive for a weekend at THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL (Berkley, 340 pp., $29), a New England inn stuffed with movie artifacts and presided over by their former college classmate Alfred Smettle. The group has seen little of each other since graduation 16 years earlier, in part because of a terrible series of events surrounding the film studies class they took together.
An intimate reunion of former college friends at a secluded Hitchcock-themed hotel leads to a deadly weekend in The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel.
Stephanie Wrobel discovered the joy of books and storytelling at an early age but later made the decision to pursue a more practical career as an adult. After college, she worked as a copywriter, helping to pen and produce advertising spots for a variety of well-known brands in the Chicago area. Then, as a freelancer, she made the fateful decision to apply to graduate school, earning her MFA in creative writing from Boston’s Emerson College—and getting serious about her prospects as a novelist in the process.
In the mood to light some candles, snuggle up with a blanket and scare yourself senseless? Perfect. If you’re a book lover willing to lose a little sleep this fall, we’ve compiled a list of the latest and forthcoming titles that’ll pair well with the spooky season.
It seems appropriate to read about some of our greatest filmmakers during the fall. (Festival season! Prestige pics! Megalopolis mania!) Plus, a guide to cinema for kiddos from A24, a look at one of Schwarzenegger’s most fun flicks, and lots of noteworthy novels. And watch for one more roundup before the end of 2024.
This past September saw the release of Stephanie Wrobel’s latest novel, The Hitchcock Hotel. I enjoyed the book, calling it “a suspenseful love letter to the legendary director of enduring films like Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds and, of course, Psycho.”
USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers, and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week. The top 150 are published online Wednesdays at 6 a.m.
Great reads, guaranteed. We loved them. You’ll love them.
Here are the 39 best new book releases this week: September 24-30, 2024. I don’t know where you are reading this, but where I’m writing it the temperature today was 93 degrees, so it doesn’t feel like Fall!
By all accounts, director Alfred Hitchcock was odd. A brilliant filmmaker, yes. But odd and sometimes cruel, capable of inspiring actors and a following that continues today as movies such as “Rear Window,” “Vertigo” and “Psycho” still enthrall audiences.