BREAKING NEWS: Books (2)

Frankfurter Buchmesse Cheers ‘Five Successful and Intense Days’

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:57:37 +0000

The 78th Frankfurter Buchmesse is set for October 7 to 11, with Czechia as guest of honor.

The post Frankfurter Buchmesse Cheers ‘Five Successful and Intense Days’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

AAP’s July StatShot Sees US Market Down 4.2 Percent

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:06:15 +0000

In adult books, net sales fell 13.6 percent in July's United States market, remaining down 5.9 percent year-to-date.

The post AAP’s July StatShot Sees US Market Down 4.2 Percent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

We always come back to the second-chance romance

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Nora Dahlia and Clare Gilmore show why this beloved trope will never die.

The Everlasting

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Brimming with soul and longing, Alix E. Harrow’s The Everlasting fluidly morphs from sci-fi adventure to fantasy romance to something akin to political thriller.

An Unlikely Coven

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In An Unlikely Coven, AM Kvita creates a lush, magical realm that thrums right beneath the surface of New York City.

Never Over

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Clare Gilmore packs an ungodly amount of yearning into each page of her second-chance romance, Never Over.

The Uncool

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Cameron Crowe’s generous, entertaining The Uncool is a rollicking account of his years traveling with and writing about some of the biggest musical acts of the 1970s.

PW Star Watch 2025 Finalist: Amina Iro

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

New Book Announcement: “The Boy with the Jade” by Charles Bush

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:00:08 +0000

The Boy with the Jade, Charles Bush (HTF Publishing, September 2025)

In 18th-century China, young aristocrat Baoyu—born with a jade pendant foretelling his fate—grapples with love, loss, and identity amid the grandeur and constraints of his powerful family. Torn between his cousin Daiyu and his devoted maid Amber, Baoyu’s privileged world unravels through tragedy, betrayal, and the crushing weight of expectation. Seeking freedom from duty and despair, he embarks on a spiritual quest shaped by Taoist and Buddhist wisdom.

Drawing inspiration from Hong Lou Meng, Bush’s novel weaves a rich narrative of love, grief, and self-discovery. The Boy with the Jade explores the intricate human quest for meaning, transcending both time and culture.

The Boy with the Jade by Charles Bush

HTF Publishing (September 2025)

A Mini-Vacay In Columbus: Part 1

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 17:42:26 +0000

I know I’ve been writing about Columbus a lot lately, but unlike me, some people who live in Ohio have never really explored it before. Such was the case for Bryant, so obviously we had to fix that and go to tons of awesome restaurants and cafes and do fun stuff! I know, my sacrifice is great, but I really felt a calling to take him to the city and expose him to some of the finer things Columbus has to offer.

The first thing we needed was a place to stay, as we needed at least a couple days to really get our fill of funtastic stuff in. We wanted to stay close to the Short North area of Columbus, which is one of my favorite areas, but hotels in the Short North are limited and quite expensive. Every hotel I was looking at started at over $200 a night for just a standard room, so we went the route of an Airbnb. We ended up finding the perfect little apartment just a five minute walk away from the main area of the Short North.

The apartment is industrial style, which is not exactly my usual flavor of interior design, but I actually liked the apartment pretty well. It was clean and comfortable and you really can’t beat the location for the price we paid, which was $115 a night, and we stayed for two nights. It served its purpose well and I have no complaints about it! It’s even pet-friendly, so that’s nice. Oh, and it comes with a parking spot. Very important.

We got into the city at around 4pm, and we had dinner reservations so we figured we’d just grab a coffee and settle in to the Airbnb. I was absolutely set on going to Qahwah House, a Yemeni coffee shop I had seen tons of videos about on Tik Tok. I didn’t realize until looking them up for this post, but they have over 25 locations. I had honestly thought that it was just in Columbus. Anyways, Qahwah House was really cool! It was very spacious and open, with tons of different Yemeni pastries that all looked great.

While I had initially really wanted to try their iced strawberry matcha, iced mango matcha, or iced lavender matcha, both Bryant and I ended up getting their iced pistachio latte:

We also got their pistachio dream cake, which wasn’t actually like a cake, more like a fruit tart, but with a crunchy pistachio base and if the fruit was replaced with pistachios. I love pistachio so this was a great afternoon treat!

We got to the Airbnb and decided we actually had plenty of time before to dinner to walk along the Short North and check out some shops and whatnot. It was a Monday, so a lot of stuff was closed, but we ended up going to a jewelry shop called Red Giraffe Designs. I’m honestly pretty picky about jewelry but they had so many cute pieces. I got a gold rose ring for my pinky:

Bryant ended up liking mine so much that we went back a second time and he got a leaf ring for himself:

I think he has pretty good taste!

Finally, we walked down the street to our dinner reservation. You might remember my post over FYR from January, where I talked about how yummy it was and how much I liked it. Well, I wanted Bryant’s first impression of fine dining in Columbus to be a good one, so I picked FYR for our first meal.

When we got there, it was actually completely dead, and stayed that way throughout our visit. I mean, I know it was a Monday, but I was very surprised just how wildly empty it stayed. Not that I’m complaining, of course. I prefer the quiet.

I was tempted to get exactly the same dishes that I had last time, as I had really enjoyed all of those so much that I didn’t want to deviate, but I also love trying new things so I made myself choose at least a couple different things. It helped that Bryant and I decided to share everything.

To start off, we both got one of their mocktails. Bryant got the Mexican-Americano, which is Mexican Coke, Martini & Rossi Vibrante (I had to look up what this was), and lime. I chose the Spritz Free, which is Giffard NA Aperitif, Leitz 0.0 Sparkling Wine, and Sicilian Lemonade.

I love that the Mexican-Americano drink is served in the actual glass Coke bottle, and comes with Tajin around the rim. I hated his drink and he hated mine, but thankfully we each really liked what we got for ourselves. My spirit-free spritz was light, refreshing, and made me think of the Aperol spritzes I had on the JoCo cruise.

For our appetizer we actually went with a side dish instead of a starter, and got the wood-oven roasted mushrooms:

Bryant and I are both big mushroom lovers, and these portobellas were packed full of flavor with a really yummy gremolata on top. Garlic, lemon, fresh herbs, what’s better than that. The toasted bread actually does not normally come with the mushrooms, but since we got it as an appetizer instead of a side, our waiter thought it would be a good idea to bring out something to serve as a vehicle for the mushrooms, which was much appreciated.

The waiter brought out an amuse bouche, which was this little fried potato in chili butter:

This little bite had a lot of kick! That chili butter was no joke, it was actually quite spicy. I always appreciate an amuse bouche though, so I wasn’t about to complain, especially since I know my spice tolerance is weak.

Even though I said I’d try some new stuff, I of course had to get the porcini risotto and roasted heirloom carrots again. But this time I also ordered the salmon. Here’s how it all looked:

Compared to last time, I think the risotto was presented even more nicely than the first time, and even looked like a bit bigger of a portion size. The carrots looked pretty much exactly the same, but they actually were more toothsome than last time, which is unfortunate because I much prefer a super soft, extra roasted carrot. They weren’t horribly undercooked or anything like that, just a little bit harder than the first time I had them.

As for the salmon, I thought it was absolutely awful. I took one small bite and it was the most fishy salmon I’ve ever had. I almost never send food back but it was honestly just inedible and it was $36. The waiter took it back and off the bill without any questions, which I appreciated because I was genuinely shocked how bad it was. Our waiter asked if we wanted to try something else instead, so we picked the roasted cauliflower.

I know a lot of people don’t care for cauliflower, but I’m usually a pretty big fan of it. I think it’s over-hated. In the case of this roasted cauliflower, I thought it was fine. It was roasted well enough that it had my preferred softer texture, and I liked the almonds and breadcrumbs for some slight crunchy texture. It mostly just tasted like cauliflower, but at least it was a sizeable portion.

Slightly disappointed by dinner, I was looking more forward to dessert. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that FYR’s new dessert menu is entirely gluten-free except for one item, which was not at all the case when I came earlier in the year with my gluten-free friend. I was glad to see they made that change, and I ended up getting the “toasted coconut,” which was coconut mousse, dark chocolate, banana ice cream, and a pineapple rum compote:

Look how flippin’ cute that is! It’s a coconut! I love it. This dessert was so up my alley as someone who adores coconut and loves pineapple. It was very delicious and full of coconutty flavor. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the banana ice cream, but it was incredible. It wasn’t artificial-banana-y at all, it actually tasted very mild and had a more delicate banana flavor while still being perfectly sweet and creamy. The pineapples were soft and sweet and the hardened chocolate coconut shell provided a fun contrast of texture. The toasted coconut shreds on the bottom of the bowl really tied it all together.

Bryant got the only non-GF dessert, the PB&C:

Brownie, chocolate baked custard, peanut cremeux, caramel, and peanut nougat. Truly a Reese’s Cup lover’s fine dining dream. Definitely a must-try if you’re a serious chocolate fanatic, but I preferred my dessert because it was less heavy.

Once it was all said and done, the bill wasn’t as much as I had anticipated, partially due to the salmon being taken off, and partially due to the fact we got mocktails instead of alcohol. I actually ended up tipping as if the salmon had still been on the bill because I appreciated how well our waiter handled the situation, and it wasn’t his fault the salmon wasn’t good. Our server was honestly pretty great, he was very friendly and attentive and was a cool guy all around. I enjoyed our service this time more than the last time I went. Plus, he boxed up our food for us and I’m always a fan of that.

All in all, we had a good time at FYR, and for the most part really liked our food and drinks.

After that, it was back to the Airbnb, as Bryant was pretty tired since he usually has a 9pm bedtime due to his work. Our first day in Columbus was pretty short but well enjoyed!

Have you been to a Qahwah House before? Which ring is more your style, mine, or Bryant’s? Are you a coconut fan? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!

-AMS

When Should An Author Hire A Publicist?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:39:00 +0000

When should an author hire a book promoter?

Notice that the question begins with “when” and not “should.” It is a given that you should utilize a book promoter, but it is a matter of when — and who — that needs to be determined.

How do I know you need a publicist?

Because every author could benefit from utilizing the services of a knowledgable pro. The publicist knows more than the author about the book landscape, has more experience, and has more contacts — as it relates to the world of book publicity and sales.

But, if you hire the wrong person for the job, bring them in at the wrong time, or overpay for their services, then, of course, you screwed up.

Still, you may be wondering, if you need a book publicist. Well, it depends on your answers to these questions:

* What are your goals for your book?

* What needs to be done that you don’t know how — or lack the skill or will — to do?

* What must be done that you don’t like to do?

* What should be done that you don’t have the time to do?

* What type of strategic advice or guidance are you in need of?

* Do you need someone with a network of contacts that you just don’t have?

Ok, so once you realize you need a publicist and you set some parameters, such as identifying specific tasks that you want to outsource and a budget, you will need to determine when to bring the promoter on board.

Here are some points of entry for a promoter:

* 6 months prior to launch. He or she can help you map out an effective game plan, set a timeline for execution, and identify which areas you will need help on.

* 5 months prior to publication you will need a web site designer hired.

* 4 months before you publish, you will need a press kit written and to send advance book review copies out to book reviewers and long-lead magazines.

* 3 months prior to your book’s release, you need to get your social media going and to start drafting blog post content.

* 2 months out and you need to develop a bestseller campaign strategy. You should start lining up bookstore and library appearances that will take place once the book is out.

* 1 month out and you need to begin contacting the news media, both locally and nationally. You may also start to map out what type of ad campaigns that you might do.

There are other flashpoints where you may need the advice or services of a savvy publicist or marketer, which might be when the book launches or it could be three or four months later, when you realize you tried your best on your own and you still need a boost. It is never too late to get help, but ideally you want it sooner than later so as to get the maximum benefit from it.

So, when should YOU hire a book publicist?

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 page views. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” Copyright 2025.

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook. It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

Georgian Publisher’s Tbilisi Detention Flagged by IPA appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

China Bestsellers: Flashes of New Titles in the Slow Season

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:49:42 +0000

Those school-driven sales of the "classics" on the mainland's reading lists have room for a couple of newer works this season.

The post China Bestsellers: Flashes of New Titles in the Slow Season appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

Silenced Voices

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:00:31 +0000

Pablo Leon’s superb narrative and artistic skills give Silenced Voices the sweep of an action-filled biopic, exploring personal relationships as well as conveying the gravity of horrific events.

Will SCOTUS Take Up Texas’s Book Banning Case?