Join us and the hundreds of bookstores across the country who are celebrating the day, by browsing the shelves, walking the aisles and finding a new treasure or an old favorite to add to your collection.  Visit our brick and mortar locations:

Better World Books Goshen
118 E. Washington Street
Goshen, IN 46528
Phone: 574-534-1984

Better World Books Outlet Store
55740 Currant Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Phone: 574-968-9701

Or get a great deal online with this National Bookstore Day Coupon Code.  Just enter BOOKSTOREDAY09 at checkout for 15% off 3 books or more.  Offer is good now through Sunday!

If it wasn’t for his faith and the people who “stepped out on nothing” for him, Byron doesn’t believe he would have made it to the place he is today.  When his mother was told he was “stupid” she wouldn’t accept it.  When his best friend in college noticed his limited vocabulary he stepped in to help.  And a when a professor he had never met before found him dejected an about to drop out, she believed in him.

I met Byron at the Atlanta Press Club luncheon several weeks ago as he came through town on his book tour and had the chance to chat with him about the book, his journey and his new role with our partner, the National Center for Family Literacy.

Take a minute to listen to my interview with Byron – and get your copy here on BetterWorldBooks.com where we are giving all of the proceeds from the sale of the book directly to NCFL.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

On October 2nd and 3rd I had the opportunity to represent Better World Books (BWB) in Minneapolis/St. Paul at several events put on by our partner Books For Africa (BFA). Those two days were jammed packed with events that made me find my way around the twin cities, but were well worth the trip. My biggest take away is that BFA is a great partner for BWB. Everything about the trip reaffirmed how reputable an organization it is and made abundantly clear the important role it plays in the great task of confronting the obstacles to literacy and education in Africa.

The events ranged from breakfast with Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga, the Tanzanian Permanent Representative to the United Nations; lunch with Johnnie Carson, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; a conference on Literacy and Education in 21st Century Africa co-hosted by the University of Minnesota and BFA; a recognition ceremony attended by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of Somalia; to a South African Braai at the BFA warehouse attended by South African Vice Consul General Gillian Motlhamme. Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Congressman Keith Ellison also participated in the events. At all of these events BFA was recognized for its work as the largest shipper of books to Africa. The presence of such distinguished guests attests to the importance of this endeavor.

But in addition to respect for BFA and the incredible outward facing mentality of the Minneapolis/St. Paul community, I think what brought all of these people together these two days is a deep passion about the issues facing the African continent particularly with respect to literacy and education. In his remarks at the conference, Secretary Carson stressed the important link between education and development stating that Africa’s greatest resource is its people. This theme was echoed throughout the weekend. There are many problems the 53 countries in Africa are facing but also enormous potential. The potential resides in its people and only through literacy and education can this potential be unleashed.

At the recognition event on Saturday I had the honor of accepting an award from BFA on behalf of BWB in recognition of our partnership with them. BFA’s executive director, Pat Plonski, told the story of how he received a phone call 6 years ago from this kid (BWB co-founder, Xavier Helgesen) who said he wanted to run a book drive and support BFA. Pat said sure and a few months later received a check for $1000. The kid called him back and said he wanted to continue to support them and the next check Pat got was for $20,000. And now Pat receives a $20,000 check every month from the organization that this kid started 6 years ago.

At BWB we harness the power of capitalism to provide crucial funding that allows organizations like BFA to do what they do. We have been essential to their growth. But, BFA has also been essential to the growth of BWB. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, a win-win. So let’s remember why we support organizations like BFA who are directly addressing literacy and education in the world, and let’s continue to push forward in this endeavor.

That’s how I felt when I finished reading OUTCASTS UNITED and knew that I would have the opportunity to meet and interview author Warren St. John and help get the word out about this great book.

The book tells the story of coach Luma Mufleh the soccer team of refugee boys she founded and the town of Clarkston, Georgia that wasn’t sure they wanted them… or their families.

Once I finished reading the book, I knew it would be a perfect fit for The Better World Book Club.  And once again that perfect day stuff starting happening.  I think they call it serendipity.  When I called Warren to let him know his book had been chosen for the December 2009 read for The Better World Book Club – now going live at Whole Foods Markets in Atlanta, he let me know how perfect that was, as he had written a good bit of the book IN the Whole Foods Market at Ponce.  I think I actually got chills.

So – if you’re in the Atlanta area, you can meet Warren and get a signed copy of the book on Saturday October 17th as we kick off the book club with a celebration that will actually move between 3 of the Atlanta area Whole Foods Markets.  And if you’re not in the Atlanta area, you can still check out the interview with Warren and grab a copy of the book right here at BetterWorldBooks.com.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

Just last week we had a visit from Shaun Skelton, Executive Director of Visions In Action and Pat Plonski, Executive Director of Books For Africa where we  discussed ongoing collaborative opportunities.

Visions In Action is shipping seven containers of books to South Africa, Uganda, and Tanzania, with Books For Africa providing the books and Better World Books and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) providing funding.

“Better World Books is our number one funder, our number one source for college textbooks, and our number one source of visibility on some 800 college campuses across North America,” Plonski noted. “Their support has been critical to our success, and it was great to tour their facilities and meet their staff.”

–Always a pleasure Pat!  We’re so glad you do what you do.  Thanks for stopping by!

Since then I’ve gotten to know Mary Kay through various events and saw her again at the Decatur Book Festival earlier this month where I had the pleasure of introducing her and Haywood Smith at their very well attended talk.  This time Mary Kay (whose real name is Kathy) had her daughter and adorable first grand-baby in tow and was proudly introducing them around.  I guess my point is Mary Kay knows who she is and is comfortable sharing that in her work and with her fans.

In this interview about her latest novel, THE FIXER UPPER,  she openly says “I am not writing for Oprah,” but instead says she is writing to give people a laugh and some good old fashioned escapism in this crazy and often stressful world.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

The beginning of the month found CEO David Murphy, Co-founder Xavier Helgesen and myself at the SOCAP09 Conference in San Francisco.  David spoke on a panel called SELLING WITHOUT SELLING OUT with Terry Mollner from Calvert Social Investment Fund and Sunny Vanderbeck from Satori Capital while Xavier took in as many of the talks as he could and soaked up some great information to bring back to the job.

I was there to run the SOCAP / Better World Books bookstore where we had a great selection of the best books on social enterprise along with the latest and greatest titles in the business world. Check out our list and let me know if you have any recommendations for business must reads!

I also got to meet some great people like David Erickson from the Federal Reserve who was signing his new book The Housing Policy Revolution and Steve Goldberg, author of Billions of Drops in Millions of Buckets.  I also got to work with some wonderful volunteers like Anne Peskoe, Saunders Moore, Morgan Springer and Purabi Thakre who really helped keep the store running smoothly.  (Thanks guys…and great to meet each of you!!)

Those of us who can read and write sometimes take that ability for granted, but think of all the things you couldn’t do without those skills, from navigating your way in a new area to knowing what medication to take to being able to understand and communicate with the world around you.

Being literate is not just about the ability to read a story and enjoy good books, it is about being empowered.  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said it best:  “Literacy is not just about reading and writing; it is about respect, opportunity and development”.

There is a correlation between literacy and poverty. This is why empowerment through literacy is so important. Literacy presents new opportunities and brings the marginalized onto equal footing enabling them to lift themselves out of poverty. Literacy is foundational to education which in turn is foundational to development.

To celebrate International Literacy Day, we’re discounting all used books in our warehouse 15%.  As always, you’ll be helping one of our amazing non-profit literacy partners with every purchase.   (Note — that means used books from our warehouse, not from the Marketplace.)

Just use this code at checkout:    4LITERACY
One Day Only – Good on Sept. 8, 2009!

Complete with a shopping guide, recipes for cleaning products and expert opinions, this is a great resource for parents and parents to be (and would make a great baby shower gift…I’m just sayin’).

The best part about the book to me was the celebrity “Parentblog” entries that gave some great insight into how different people (we sort of feel like we already know) have been able to adopt some of these practices.  Celebs in the book include Meryl Streep, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Michelle Obama and more!

I chatted with Chris by phone and I think when you listen you’ll not only get a sense of his passion for creating a healthy world for kids, but also that he is in touch with the real world and the time and economic challenges most parents face.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Our Latest Pick

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

If your book club has ever read a book where you struggled to find something to talk about, you will really appreciate THE SHADOW OF THE WIND.  There is so much to talk about with this book, I barely know where to begin.

From its Russian doll  – book within a book style to its use of religious imagery to the often parallel lives of two seemingly unconnected characters you will not run out of conversation.  I promise.

Our book, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND is about a book that Daniel Sempere finds in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books which is also called THE SHADOW OF THE WIND.  Uncovering the mystery surrounding the life and death of that book’s author Julian Carax becomes Daniel’s quest and is what our book is all about.

This one has been on my list for several years now, so I’m glad it finally made it to the top.   If you haven’t read it yet, give it a go for your book club.  If you have, feel free to leave a comment, and let me know what you thought.

Be sure to check our our Book Club Page for the synopsis, some interesting discussion questions and a delicious recipe for Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce from Whole Foods!

I had the opportunity to speak to Lisa on the phone recently about her latest book, why you should consider it for book club and what the genre of literary suspense actually is.  We also tackled some of the big questions in the book like “Was love really real if it didn’t last?”, and “Does someone have to know all your secrets in order to truly know you?”.

Though this was the first Lisa Unger book I had read, it will definitely not be the last.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

In his new biography, The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the Making of Modern Advertising, author Ken Roman details the life and times of one of the most interesting, eccentric, and brilliant minds of the 20^th century.

Roman, a former colleague of Ogilvy’s and one-time CEO of the firm Ogilvy & Mather, gives readers an inside look at David Ogilvy, advertising genius and creator of some of the most well known advertising campaigns in history. The Rolls Royce tagline Ogilvy wrote in 1958 is still considered by many advertising experts to be the greatest tagline of all time: “At 60 miles an hour, the loudest noise comes from the electric clock.” Roman details this and many more of Ogilvy’s advertising exploits, but these stories are only a prelude to the heart of this book, which is all business.

Cleverly disguised as a riveting biography, Roman’s book is actually a tome on business management. Regardless of your interest in advertising, marketing, or public relations, this book has much to offer every business executive about management and what it takes to build a successful business.

For example, readers learn how Ogilvy was able to take a small, London-based advertising firm with virtually no U.S. clients and turn it into one of the most powerful communications companies in the world? He achieved this feat by drawing from his sundry experiences as a salesman, chef, college dropout, spy, farmer, and researcher to build a company and culture that attracted, fostered, and retained some of the best minds and best clients in the world.  One example of Ogilvy’s unique leadership and management style comes from his use of Russian Matryoshka dolls. Ogilvy would periodically send these dolls to each of his company’s directors. Inside the largest doll was a smaller doll. Inside the smaller doll was an even smaller doll, and so on. Inside the very smallest doll was a note from Ogilvy that read: “If we hire people who are smaller than we are, we will become a company of dwarfs. If we hire people who are larger than we are, we’ll become a company of giants.”

Ogilvy, in stark contrast to many modern day business executives, constantly communicated his philosophies, thoughts, concerns, successes, and ideas via notes, letters, memos, drop-in visits, books, speeches, Russian Dolls, and “Magic Lanterns” (slide and film presentations given by Ogilvy to new hires). When you went to work for Ogilvy & Mather, you weren’t just going to work for any company. You were going to work for the company with the red carpet in the hallways and the high ideals. Ogilvy used to compare his firm to a great hospital. Ogilvy said, “Great hospitals do two things: They look after patients, and they teach young doctors. Ogilvy & Mather does two things: We look after clients, and we touch young advertising people.”

At times, Roman gets mired down in tedious details about the history of advertising and those who shaped it. Those readers who have a true interest in the field of advertising will appreciate the detail, but the average reader will find himself wanting to skip ahead to the timeless business lessons. Roman, an advertising man through-and-through, can’t be faulted for his devotion to his craft.  But don’t let these sections deter you from soaking in the aspects of this book that will alter the way you run your business.

In parting, let me leave you with a few of my favorite Ogilvy management maxims:

“There is nothing so demoralizing as a boss who tolerates second-rate work.”

“If you ever find a man who is better than you are, hire him. If necessary, pay him more than you pay yourself.”

“Only first-class business and that in a first-class way.”

“First, make yourself a reputation for being a creative genius. Second, surround yourself with partners who are better than you are. Third, leave them to go get on with it.”

“The most effective leader is the one who satisfies the psychological needs of his followers.”

“When people aren’t having fun, they seldom produce good advertising. Get rid of sad dogs who spread gloom.”

- R. Stephen Prather, Guest Reviewer

Once I got my foot out of my mouth, and the startstruck look off my face, we sat down for a great interview where we talked about Mike’s activism, his childhood, his book tour road trip – and yes, just a teensy bit about M*A*S*H.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

The way the schedule worked out at the recent Chicago Green Festival, I was able to sit in on Greg’s lecture before I interviewed him.  It’s always great when I can do that as it gives me whole new level of understanding about an author that I don’t always get by just reading their books.  Listening to Greg Palast talk, I sort of wished I could grow up to be him.  He is fearless in both where he goes and what he says.  He takes chances many of us would never dare to – and he says what he thinks whether you like it or not.

When we sat down for the interview, we talked (and laughed) not only about some of the details of the book ARMED MADHOUSE, but also about some of Greg’s current work which you can see on the Palast Investigates DVDs.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

A quick glimpse of the market revealed a value for these volumes at around $100-200 a piece.  Not bad, but given their present state, and the collective need for some TLC from a sympathetic binder, these tomes were destined to be sold for scrap at auction.  After plowing through a few of these, I came across American Archives; Fifth Series, Volume I.  A cursory glance of this item suggested it would fare the same fate as its siblings.  Since I literally couldn’t judge this book by its cover as it didn’t have one, I dug right in.  And to my surprise,  the latter half of the book revealed a true diamond in the rough.

There in the back, just waiting to be discovered was a pristine facsimile copy of the Declaration of Independence encapsulated within the textblock.  It took a few moments for me to wrap my mind exactly what I was dealing with.  I mean wow.  With some additional  research I found that this particular copy of the Declaration of Independence has a conservative market value of between $17,000-24,000, with a high of $38,000.  Other copies that have sold for the lower amounts are typically ones that have been removed from the book and consequently experienced a good degree of wear and tear due to their exposure to the elements.

But this copy of ours by comparison is nothing short of phenomenal.  If any copy merits the premium value based on condition, ours is the one.  What a day — this was like finding a sizable diamond in an unassuming lump of coal.  And the moral of the story is — sometimes you have to look past an unassuming appearance to find something truly beautiful and amazing inside.

See more about our Declaration of Indpendence on Ebay!

–Ryan

(Update 8-11-2009: Congratulations to @rotemu, our first place winner! Enjoy your Year of Books!)
(Update 8-12-2009: Congratulations to our 2nd place winners: @whendrinksmix, @gabbytmb, @45thParallelism, @Calig_Kela, @fartsyarts, @TsarLeo, @Nimue23, @kinfolknews, and @ygor!)

The Year of Books contest begins today!  Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @BWBooks on Twitter.
2. Tweet this (Click here or copy & paste the following into Twitter):

I just entered the @BWBooks “Year of Books” Contest. I can win a year’s supply of books (and more)! (http://bit.ly/yearofbooks) #bwbcontest

The randomly-selected Winner will receive:

• Free Books for a Year!
  This will be in the form of one $20 gift certificate code emailed once a month.  You can use this toward anything we sell on the website, including the Bargain Bin (Since the Bin allows you to get 5 books for $15, you could get 80 Bargain Bin books over the course of the year!).
• Tote Bag
  This is how you carry your plethora of books.  It’s sturdy, structurally sound, and reduces arm-strain.
• Better World Books T-shirt
  Your choice of our “Please Read Responsibly” or “Well Read” shirts in mens or ladies.  This covers your body while you read your plethora of books, and protects you from drafts of cold air.
  

2nd through 10th place Winners will receive:

• One $10 Gift Certificate
• Tote Bag
• Better World Books T-shirt

Don’t forget to Follow @BWBooks on Twitter once you’ve tweeted the message so that we can Direct Message you and get your info.  Otherwise we’re, um,  contractually obligated to use your prizes ourselves… yeah.

The contest ends Friday, August 7th, at 11:59:59 PM, Pacific Time.

If you have any other questions about the contest, email us at yearofbooks@betterworldbooks.com.

**UPDATE**
Here are some answers to questions people have been asking about the Year of Books drawing.

Q: Can I participate if I’m not in the U.S.?
A: Absolutely.  We ship to anywhere in the world.  Just remember that shipping is free in the U.S., and $3.97 per book outside the U.S.  The gift certificates the winner will receive are for $20 each month, so be sure to take that into account when ordering.

Q: Can I tweet more than once?
A: You can tweet the message up to once per day through August 7th.  Since we’re selecting a winner randomly, two tweets gives you better chances than one tweet.  But don’t go over your once-a-day limit, or your friends will throw tomatoes at you.

Q: How can I enter if I don’t use Twitter?
A: Twitterphobia is a common affliction that affects many internet users.  Symptoms include headaches, heavy sighs, shaking your fist in the air, and not knowing when your friends are eating lunch / walking their dogs / watching TV.  A known cure for this malady is to go to http://www.twitter.com and spend 2 minutes creating an account, then referring to the instructions at the top of this blog post.  However, those diagnosed with Terminal Twitterphobia should keep watching www.BetterWorldBooks.com for upcoming promotions in the near future! (*Cough-cough*-earlyseptember-*cough*)

Q: How will I know if I win?
A: If you’ve been randomly picked as the winner, we’ll send you a Direct Message via Twitter.  (Make sure you’ve Followed @BWBooks so we can message you.)

Q: Can I buy your sweet T-shirts from the site?
A: Not yet.  But stay tuned, we’re working on that.

Q: I was already following you on Twitter.  I still qualify for this contest, right?
A: Of course!

Q: Do I have to use my BetterWorldBooks.com info on Twitter so you know who I am?
A: Nope!  We’ll Direct Message the winner via Twitter to get their info.

Q: Can I Tweet whatever I want and still qualify for the drawing?
A: No, you’ll have to post the exact message at the top of this post to be entered into the drawing.

]]> http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/07/29/win-free-books-for-a-year/feed/ 114 http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/07/24/better-world-books-podcast-michael-malone/ http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/07/24/better-world-books-podcast-michael-malone/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:24:20 +0000 admin http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/?p=4172 Michael Malone is the best award winning, New York Times bestselling author you’ve never heard of. His latest novel, THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SKY, is a rare combination of page turning adventure and deeply complex writing. And it should be — he spent 10 years writing it. You get the feeling when you talk to Michael that he doesn’t write for the money or the fame but because he genuinely loves to write.

This is a guy who has won an Edgar, an O. Henry, and even an Emmy for his television writing and he is as unassuming and easy to talk to as you could ever imagine. In addition to his writing, Michael is also a professor at Duke University and as I interviewed him I found myself jealous of his students. This is a guy you could really learn from.

But I digress. The book is the story of Navy pilot Annie Peregrine-Goode and her quest to find her father, the identity of her mother, and most of all herself. Built on a subtle Wizard of Oz base, the story is about love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families.

One of the things I loved most about THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SKY is the detail that went into creating the lives and back stories of even the smallest characters. It’s a large cast and not one character is a cardboard cut out. Quite a feat.

So, if you’d already heard of Michael Malone — you know what I’m talking about. If you hadn’t…well, you have now. Grab a copy of the book and he’ll soon be one your favorite authors.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Ann came to our office on the last stop of her book tour for her latest book 3 WILLOWS, which is the beginning of a new series for her.  For fans of The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series, have no fear, you’ll see a couple of your favs making an appearance in the Willow series and rumor has it she may come back to the Pants girls again before it’s all said and done.

Of course we talked about the new book, but we also chatted about the Sisterhood movies and her intruiging next project which sounds like it will be a bit of a departure for her.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

You can also catch the selections AND discuss the book here on the blog and on the new book club page.

Our Latest Pick

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein

I don’t mind a little crying over a good book if then end justifies the tears.  In this case, the ending and much of went on in the middle was predictable, but the book was ultimately worth the tears.

The story is told by Enzo the dog – who is nearly a human trapped in a dog’s body.  Frustrated by his lack of opposable thumbs and his inability to speak, he makes an interesting observer and sometimes participant to the life of race car driver Denny Swift.

I found his loyalty and love for his family to be both doglike and manlike at the same time.  The books deeper messages, couched in racing terms and dog thoughts were a bit like reading a novelization of The Secret.  But who couldn’t use a reminder not to give up and to believe “that which you manifest is before you’?

For some book club discussion questions and a tasty summer recipe, check out the new book club page and feel free to leave some comments and let me know what you thought of the book!

– Dana

The Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award is three $10,000 grants that will be given to three different library recipients each year to help enhance family programming already under way in library settings. The award will connect more families to their local libraries and expand their literacy efforts in new and innovative ways.

We work with over 1,800 libraries across the country, so we know how passionate they are about literacy. We also know how tough this economy is and how hard it is to get funding for much needed programs. That is why we are so proud to be partnering with NCFL on this award.

For more details, check out our press release – or just go to www.famlit.org where libraries can also submit their contact information and be notified when the application is available.

In addition to being an author, Laura Flanders hosts GRITtv – a daily talk show which airs online as well as on satellite, cable and public tv.  The show also airs weekly on radio and focuses on both news and arts.

We talked primarly about the book BLUE GRIT which focuses on the Democratic party and Laura’s belief that the party has to stop pandering the middle and focus on it’s liberal base.  The Blue Gritters as she calls them.  The book cites examples from the 2004 and 2006 election cycles, but in the interview we talked about what differed in 2008 and how the Democrats were able to succeed.

We also talked about GRITtv a bit – and if you’re a budding documentary filmmaker – you won’t want to miss the part where she explains how to submit your video to be aired on her show.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

CNN-U.S.
Thursday 2-Jul: 8:00a, 12:00p, 2:00p
Saturday 4-Jul: 7:00p, 10:00p, 1:00a
Sunday 5-Jul: 6:00a

CNN HLN
Thursday 2-Jul: 12:00p, 2:00p, 4:00p
Saturday 4-Jul: 6:00p
Sunday 5-Jul: 6:00p

Update 12:35pm: Watch It Now:

Between the Covers, The Book Babes’ Guide to a Woman’s Reading Pleasures, will satisfy your reading urges in a most pleasing manner, providing well researched and well written recommendations for your every mood and need. Whether you want to “Make Peace with Mom,” “Save the Planet,” or “Get Involved” you’ll find a book that feels as if it had been hand picked for you. Halfway through the book, and over half a deck of post its later, I stopped marking each must read and decided to always keep this book nearby.

– Jozi Hall, BWB Aquisitions & Guest Reviewer

What’s great about Perkins’ books is they are written for real people like you and me who are not economists and who are not focused on this stuff on a daily basis.  Each region of the world is discussed not in mind-numbing detail but with just enough information to get you up to speed.  But what really makes the books are John’s real life experiences and observations.

I met John for the second time at the Seattle Green Festival and had the opportunity to sit down with him to talk about his work.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

You can also catch the selections AND discuss the book here on the blog.

Our Latest Pick

THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER by Wendy Wax

Last month I promised you a great beach read for June…so here it is.  To me a beach read is not necessarily all lightness and fluff, but rather a page turner where you care about the characters and are left feeling upbeat or hopeful at the end.  Wendy Wax’s latest doesn’t disappoint.

The Accidental Bestseller does for (or to) publishing what The Devil Wears Prada did for fashion mags:  gives you an under the covers look into a world you wouldn’t otherwise get to see.

Wendy uses the backdrop of the publishing industry to explore friendship, marriage and career and introduces us to four unique women who struggle with all of it.

Here’s a couple of questions the book brought up for me:

Does you career define you?  What would you do if you woke up one morning and it was over?

Do your friends have to know everything about you in order for them to truly be your friends?

How much would you risk to help a friend?

And here’s some trivia for you…there’s a character named after me somewhere in the book.  The first person to comment here on the blog with the page number I appear on gets a $25 gift certificate!

For more discussion questions and a tasty summer recipe, check out the book club email and feel free to leave some comments and let me know what you thought of the book!

– Dana

Great news!  As you probably already know, promoting literacy has always been woven into the fabric of our business.  Now we’re delighted to announce we’ve given an ownership stake to our non-profit literacy partners.   Yup…we’ve granted Incentive Stock Options to these partners – as far as we know, a first for social enterprise.

The purpose of the plan, put together with the help of our primary investor, Good Capital, is to ensure that our literacy partners can have a stake in and share in our financial success.

We’ve put aside roughly 5% of the company for use in stock option grants to an initial group of five literacy partners (with potential to add others in the future):  Books for Africa, Invisible Children, Room To Read, WorldFund and the National Center for Family Literacy.

One of our fearless leaders Xavier Helgesen puts it best:  “We created Better World Books to show that it is possible to do good while at the same time run a successful company.  Our literacy partners are essential to our mission, and we want them to flourish.  Today’s announcement ensures that as our company grows, our partners will too.”

Check out the press release to get all the details. Or read more about it at Change.org.

And it has paid off.  His books are a unique combination of page turning mystery and well researched historical fiction.

As a book lover, I was especially excited to meet Matthew and chat about his latest book, THE LAST DICKENS when he was in Atlanta on tour recently.  I dug in to the book and got the details on what is fact and what is fiction, along with the acceptable nicknames for Matthew and a clue about what he is working on next.

And since Matthew is fond of sharing “extras” that weren’t in the book on his website, I’ll share a fun fact with you that’s not in the interview.  As a gift to himself when the manuscript was finished, Matthew bought and original Fields & Osgood (Osgood is the main character in the book) copy of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  He had it with him.  Super cool.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

One of my favorite things about working for Better World Books is the amazing people I get to meet from across the country who share Better World Books’ vision to keep books out of landfills and support global literacy.

Last month, I had the privilege of meeting Kristin Putchinski of the Baltimore based band ellen cherry.  I met Kristin while she was traveling through Atlanta following a performance at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA.

The singer-songwriter is one of many musicians using their talent to support and spread awareness of the noble efforts of Invisible Children to end the war in Northern Uganda.  I was happy to discover Kristin was already a fan of Better World Books and was eager to spread the word of  how students can support Invisible Children through the Book Drives for Better Lives program at her upcoming benefit concert.  Better World Books’ partnership with Invisible Children has brought in over 1.7 million books to generate unrestricted funding for Invisible Children in what is being called the largest book drive in history.

Two days after ellen cherry performed an Invisible Children benefit concert at Harford college in Maryland; I was contacted by a student group that attended the concert and plans to support Invisible Children through the Book Drive for Better Lives program!

Thank you ellen cherry for creating beautiful music and using your gift to support of the awesome work of Invisible Children.

But I was determined to meet her.  I had been reading Laura’s books since long before I ever had a bookstore or began working for Better World Books.  I just had to meet her – and share her work with you.

So, I jumped in my car with all of my equipment and drove across town to meet her.  Laura was gracious enough to wait for me and also allow me to interview her in her hotel room, since we couldn’t find another spot.

I loved the Tess Monaghan series (which starts with Baltimore Blues) mostly for the plot, if I remember correctly.  But the new book not only works  from a plot standpoint, but is incredibly well thought out with characters that are incredibly human, unique and believable.

Just so you know,LIFE SENTENCES is not about the death penalty or life in prison.  Instead the title works on many levels.  You’ll have read the book and come to your own conclusions there, or listen to the interview and get it straight from the author!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

You can also catch the selections AND discuss the book here on the blog.

Our Latest Pick

ELLA MINNOW PEA by Mark Dunn

I actually read Mark Dunn’s Ella Minnow Pea several years ago for a book club I was part of and it stuck with me, so now I want to share it with you.  While clearly a literary exercise (as letters fall off a statue – they are removed from the written and spoken vocabulary of an island community by its totalitarian government), it is also a really good story and a thought provoking political statement.

I have read other books that felt like literary exercises to me.  Some work and some don’t.  The one that pops into my mind first is Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer.    The book was very highly acclaimed but I found myself distracted by some of his literary devices, and for me that took something away for the book.  I felt like it was a project for a graduate level writing class.  It would get an A for sure, but I want to feel the emotion and discover the plot rather than be cleverly deviced to death.

But back to Ella Minnow Pea.  In this book, the literary device framework does not distract.  Instead it lays a fantastical framework for character development and political observation.  Here are some of the questions the book brought up for me.

How silly are some of the things we worship or revere?

How long would you put up with rules or laws that made no sense to you?

Is there something other than language that we take for granted but couldn’t live happily without?

I could go on and on.  But I’ll let you discover the rest on your own.  If you haven’t already, check out the book club email.  It includes the discussion questions and a great recipe for Spiced Pecans from the Starwoodgal’s  Something’s Burning blog.

Let me know if you try the recipe, what you thought of the book and get ready for a great beach read next month!

– Dana

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I think the movie was better than the book.  Don’t get me wrong, I liked the book, but I think there is a reason Dan Brown didn’t really hit it big until The Da Vinci Code.  For me it was a weird and unbelievable action scene in Angels & Demons at the height of the suspense.  The movie fixed this problem and for me it worked much better.

In addition to liking the movie better than the book, I also liked the movie version of Angels & Demons better than the movie version of The Da Vinci Code.  It moved faster than Code, and thankfully Tom Hanks hair was not so weirdly distracting.  I’m just sayin’.

So – even though I liked the movie better, I’m a purist and still think you should read the book first.  Despite the strange ending, it is a page turner and does fill in some of the details on the history of the Illuminati and the mystery of the symbols.

And of course, if you’re a Dan Brown fan, you’ll want to pre-order the new Dan Brown book THE LOST SYMBOL – coming out September 15, 2009.

I mean, after all Jodi Picoult is not just any author she’s the kind of author whose books jump to #1 on the list the minute they come out.  Everyone knows who she is.  If you’ve ever walked into a bookstore or even past one in an airport, you’d recognize the cover of a Jodi Picoult book.  And now her most famous book MY SISTER’S KEEPER is about to come out as a major motion picture as well.

So yes, I was nervous because of her fame but it was more than that.  I had just finished HANDLE WITH CARE the night before at about midnight and I was fired up about the ending. Among other things, I was hoping I could politely ask why she chose to end her books  with the shocking and upsetting twists and turns she is famous for.

The book is about Willow, a child born with brittle bone disease and her mother Charlotte’s ensuing wrongful birth lawsuit.  As with all her books, HANDLE WITH CARE will keep you turning pages, caring about the characters and asking yourself what you would do if you found yourself in this situation.

We talked about the characters, the disease, the research that went into the book and yes, the shocking ending as well.   And of course I had to ask about the upcoming movie release of MY SISTER’S KEEPER (June 2009 – starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin).

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

Trust me.  You will.  Susan is a fresh new voice in Southern Literary Fiction and her debut novel is fantastic.  The characters are rich and while you do feel the story is complete at the end, you find yourself wanting to know what happens to these characters next.

The book is the story of three Southern women — a proper Atlanta matron, her rebellious teenage daughter, and their housekeeper’s young daughter and the intersection of their lives.  While Susan tackles some complex issues like religion and gender identity, she does it with humor. 

I sat down with Susan shortly after the launch party to talk about the three main characters, the Big Weaner, and to find out what the heck buttered Saltines are all about. 

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

An untold number of used books rest on shelves, under beds and stacked in offices across the country. The Great American Book Drive is a book-by-book, click-by-click campaign to turn these books into dollars to support Brooklyn Public Library. At last year’s event, over 15,000 books were donated.

Bring your books to Central Library from 10-3 on Saturday, May 16th. In addition to the Book Drive, enjoy the music of the Library’s own Lost in the Stacks from 10-12, and crafts for kids throughout the day. In addition, the library will also revive its popular book sale with all books priced at $1.

For additional information, check out The Abbeville Manual of Style blog post about the event!

Before a recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, I was asked the same question each time I mentioned the city: “Have you read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?”  I wondered why so many people found this book to be synonymous with Savannah and decided I’d better check it out.

The author, John Berendt, explains how he came to Savannah on a whim in the 1980s and became fascinated with the city and people he met.  He recounts the decade-long murder trial of wealthy antique dealer Jim Williams, weaving the lives of his circle of friends and enemies into the storyline.  It’s easy to forget that the book is based on actual events as the eccentric characters blend with a suspenseful murder mystery and make it read like fiction.

Berendt includes interesting facts about the city’s history, giving insight into modern Savannah where the book has a noticeable presence in the city.  It is referenced at almost every tourist attraction.  Additionally Mercer House, former residence of Jim Williams, has been transformed into a museum and replicas of the “Bird Girl” statue from the book’s cover can be found throughout the city.

So now I get it.  If you’re taking a trip to Savannah…this is a must read.  And you might want to check it out even if you don’t have a trip planned!

- Kathryn Gosaynie, BWB Aquisitions & Guest Reviewer

We are so proud of what your support has been able to do for our Non-Profit partners.  So far we have:

With your help, Books for Africa, Invisible Children, Worldfund, Room to Read and the National Center for Family Literacy are doing amazing things to increase literacy around the world!

Thanks!  And please keep spreading the word!

This was the first year the festival was held in Denver and though the weather wasn’t great on Saturday it cleared up and the traffic picked up on Sunday.  Unlike Seattle, where we just had an informational booth, in Denver we were the official bookseller for the festival.

It’s a lot of fun getting to meet our customers face to face as well as both the local and national authors.  One of the highlights for me was getting to meet Mike Farrell who played Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H.  Of course in addition to his acting, he is well known for his activism and has two books out which he was signing after his talk.  I’ll actually get the chance to sit down Mike for a podcast while when we’re in Chicago for the next Green Festival, May 16 & 17.

I’m looking forward to another fun but exhausting trip out there, so if you’re in the area, come see us.

The story is about a young girl who sues her parents for emancipation because she no longer wants to be used as an organ and tissue farm for her older, sickly sister.

If you haven’t already read the book — I recommend reading it before you see the movie.  For no other reason than I rarely want to read the book after I’ve seen the movie!

As with all Jodi Picoult books the ending of this one was a shocker and if I’m being honest, one that I didn’t like.   But here’s a little insider info for you: I interviewed Jodi Picoult recently about her latest book HANDLE WITH CARE and when I asked her about the upcoming MY SISTER movie, she admitted that they had changed the ending.  I’ll be curious to see if they changed it to something that works better for me.  I’ll get back to you on that.

The movie comes out June 26, 2009 — so you still have plenty of time to read the book!  (And my interview with Jodi will be posted soon – so keep your eye on the blog).