Mill Valley, California – Penny’s life was like a fairy tale–the terrible kind. Penny Lane was four years old when she was snatched from her home. The strange man’s foreign accent was as rough as his kisses; her beloved Aunt Charlotte introduced him as Penny’s father. As the girl and her suitcase were bundled into a car, Aunt Charlotte revealed a horrifying truth: Penny’s mother died when she was a baby, and her Hungarian father had suddenly claimed her. Her illusion of family shattered, from that moment Penny’s uprooted life became an exercise in survival.  The abuse started quickly: Her ..read more

Best friend duo works to solve baking competition puzzle in charming story The Great British Bake Off meets a tween-friendly Knives Out in this fun and propulsive middle grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry. This sweet treat early readers are calling “completely sublime” comes from author buddies and Middle Grade favorites Alechia Dow, an American Library Association notable and Indie Next Kids pick novelist, and Tracy Badua, a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ multi-award winner. Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on ..read more

Complex intergenerational mother-daughter relationship in contemporary debut KIRKWOOD, MO – Prepare to be swept away on an emotionally charged odyssey through the heartland of America in debut author Anne Shaw Heinrich’s captivating novel, God Bless the Child (Speaking Volumes, Jun 7, 2024). Heinrich delves deep into the intricate relationship between Mary Kline, her compromised best friend, Pearl and Pearl’s daughter, Elizabeth. Through alternating perspectives, we’re invited into Mary and Elizabeth’s lives spanning from childhood to adulthood in a darkly poignant exploration of family, love ..read more

Check out the latest newsletter featuring our award-winning authors and industry news. This issue features upcoming book releases, recent media coverage and much more! Read the April 2024 newsletter here! The post Booked & Busy: Books Forward March 2024 Newsletter appeared first on Books Forward ..read more

For our 2024 blog series, we’re highlighting industry professionals to find out more about their time in the book world. Follow along for insight on what catches a reviewer’s interest, things to avoid when pitching a media outlet, what librarians are searching for and more.  Today, we’re chatting with Magdalena Ball, a novelist, poet, reviewer, interviewer, vice president of Flying Island Books, and managing editor of Compulsive Reader. Her stories, editorials, poetry, reviews and interviews have appeared in a wide number of journals and anthologies, and have won local and international a ..read more

Is there any relationship quite as complicated as the one between siblings? As we celebrate National Siblings Day this April 10, we’re looking at some of the novels we love that highlight that special connection. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo Marilyn and David have four radically different daughters, each in a state of unrest. With the unexpected arrival of young Jonah Bendt — a child placed for adoption by one of the daughters fifteen years before — the Sorensons will be forced to reckon with the rich and varied tapestry of their past. As they grapple with years marred by adoles ..read more

Here at Books Forward, we’re big fans of journalists — in fact, lots of us used to work as reporters, and even met at various newspapers. So we’re celebrating Hug a Newsperson Day, officially celebrated April 4, by reading some of our favorite books featuring people in the industry. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman who works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up, Queenie careens from one questionable decision to another, and she finds herself wond ..read more

Let’s assume you’ve already written a book that’s up to industry standards — has been edited and proofread, has an attractive cover, has been priced appropriately, etc. And of course you’ve identified the target audience for your book. Let’s also assume you’ve been working on solidifying your author brand, have an engaging and updated website, and have looked into what social media platforms make the most sense for your brand. Also, have you already been promoting your book through your social media channels, website, and earned and paid publicity efforts? Have you reached out to influencers ..read more

NEW YORK CITY – In “Codename Nemo” (June 4, 2024, Diversion Books), Inside Edition’s Charles Lachman masterfully transforms a pivotal moment in history into a gripping narrative, chronicling the daring exploits of American sailors who outsmarted the Nazis by capturing a U-boat and unlocking its trove of intelligence secrets.  On June 4, 1944 — two days before D-Day — the course of World War II was forever changed. That day, a U.S. Navy task force achieved the impossible — capturing a German U-Boat, its crew, all its technology, Nazi encryption codes, and an Enigma cipher machine. Led by a ..read more

Evidence-based book, workbook give parents resource for responsive care PHOENIX — After running a private practice for forty-eight years, psychologist Dr. Ronald Ruff has created an essential resource for parents who are searching for evidence-based, best practice models to help them raise happy, kind and self-aware kids. “Raising Children to Thrive: Affect Hunger & Responsive, Sensitive Parenting” (June 11, 2024) is an evidence-based guide to help parents bring up their children to thrive socially and emotionally during all phases of life. In this world of information overload and constan ..read more