New Essay and Novel from Soho Press Author Alex Shakar

In Alex Shakar’s essay for The Millions, “The Year of Wonders,” he talks about his experiences ten years ago surrounding his first novel, The Savage Girl, which got him a huge advance and respect from important figures in the publishing world. Then everything fell apart in a mess of spectacularly bad timing when the memorial service for his editor and friend Robert Jones fell on the day before September 11, 2001, a week before the long-anticipated release of Shakar’s book.  Suddenly his story’s once timely ideas on consumerism and a post-ironic society were deemed irrelevant. The essay has been garnering attention all over; so far, it’s been mentioned in The New York Observer, The Awl, The Rumpus, and the Bookforum “Daily Review.” 

Now Shakar’s back with a new novel entitled Luminarium, set to debut this August from Soho Press. Kirkus Reviews praised his latest work: “Virtual and “real” reality intertwine in unpredictable ways in this ingenious novel; to his credit, Shakar’s approach is more philosophical than sci-fi…Shakar succeeds in a delicate balancing act here, securing the novel simultaneously (and paradoxically) in real, virtual and supernatural worlds.” It sounds like this time Shakar might finally get the success and acclaim that his writing deserves. 

New Reviews for Wyatt from Soho Press

We’ve written about Garry Disher’s Wyatt here before, but as the novel gets closer to its release date from Soho Press this August, it’s getting more and more critical acclaim. Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, saying “A jewel heist that appears straightforward proves anything but in Australian author Disher's outstanding seventh thriller featuring Melbourne bank robber Wyatt Wareen, last seen in 1997's The Fallout… The spare, economical prose perfectly suits this tale of mad love and crimes gone wrong, which will remind many of Westlake's better Parker novels--and should boost the reputation of Disher, winner of Australia's Ned Kelly Award, in the U.S.”

Other reviews have been very positive as well:

“Wyatt Wareen has been away for a while, but he’s back in Melbourne and looking for a score… Disher also writes the excellent Inspector Hal Challis procedurals (Chain of Evidence, 2007), but a new Wyatt novel—we’ve described the series as “criminal procedurals” (Kick Back, 1993)—is cause for celebration. Though the ensemble cast is sharply drawn, the heart of the story is Wyatt, a cool-headed, taciturn, unsentimental thief with a code…Wyatt may be a man out of time, but crime fiction like this is timeless.” -Booklist

“Disher’s depiction of Melbourne’s underworld is a revelation—undeniably lurid and harsh yet humming with a vibrancy that lends a soulful note to the story. In his first Wyatt thriller in 13 years, Disher, author of the Hal Challis police procedurals (The Dragon Man; Blood Moon) excels at capturing the complexity and tension of life on the run, and his characters exude a visceral energy as they compete to survive. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven crime thrillers.” -Library Journal

“Garry Disher’s “Wyatt” is a tightly plotted, entertaining heist-gone-wrong. A nice mix of characters—smart, ruthless, not so smart, trying to get by, and just plain crazy—helps build tension throughout various double crosses…Right up to the final pages there’s a sense of surprise as events develop, and Disher resists tying too neat a bow on a zigzagging story. Wyatt may be distant, but his story is a satisfying, brisk read.” -Suspense Magazine

Fantastic Women: 18 Tales of the Surreal and the Sublime from Tin House

When your book is getting praise from the likes of Ursula K. Leguin and the writing within conjures up the ghost of Angela Carter’s writing, you know you have something really good on your hands.  Tin House is due to release Fantastic Women August 1^st of this year, and I can say for certain that this blogger will be eagerly awaiting her copy. The book features 18 short stories that have an aura of the fantastic and surreal and an introduction by esteemed writer, Joy Williams.

Last week, Publisher’s Weekly wrote a mixed review of the book, but cited such highlights as:  “Karen Russell's "The Seagull Army Descends on Strong Beach," Julia Elliott's "The Wilds," Gina Ochsner's "Song of the Selkie," and Stacey Richter's "The Doll Awakens,” saying these stories “Create compellingly weird and weirdly compelling narratives by forcing believable, specific characters to grapple with the unexplainable.”

Tin House also put up an interview  in their blog with contributing writer, Lucy Corin, asking her about her writing style and her inspiration for her story, “The Entire Predicament.”  It looks like this is only the first interview of many with the contributors to Fantastic Women, so check back on their blog every now and then if you want to see these fantastic women writers get their brains picked.

If you aren’t familiar with the writings of these authors and want to get a feel for their writing, Tin House has also put up an excerpt from Aimee Bender’s story “Americca” on their site.

Ed Hardy Memoir Deal for the Literary Group

Agent Frank Weimann at the Literary Group International just sold the world rights to Rob Kirkpatrick of Thomas Dunne Books for an Ed Hardy memoir, to be co-written with Joel Selvin (co-author of Sammy Hagar’s autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock). Hardy is now the head of his own international clothing brand that makes more than $700 million in annual sales, but he first rose to fame in 1960s California as the tattoo artist of choice for a variety of celebrities and Hells Angels members.

Jassy Mackenzie Book Review and Interview

Author Jassy Mackenzie has recently gotten some good publicity. Her book Stolen Lives (Soho Crime) was reviewed in Crimespree Magazine, which called the novel “action packed and a bit violent, and extremely well plotted…In a monthly meal of mysteries, this is a main course and shouldn’t be missed.” Stolen Lives is the exciting follow-up to Mackenzie’s acclaimed debut, Random Violence, again following PI Jade de Jong through Johannesburg as a straightforward bodyguard job turns out to be a lot more complicated than she first thought.

Mackenzie was also recently featured in an article on WOW! Women on Writing, in which she and several other female authors (including Cara Black, who wrote Murder in Passy, also from Soho Crime) talk about their rules of mystery writing. Among other things, Mackenzie discusses the importance of developing a story’s setting by including social issues unique to that particular place instead of just “the ugly underbelly and all the pretty little areas where the tourists like to go.” Her own characters are shaped by the dangerous environment of Johannesburg—for instance, everyone owns a gun out of necessity. Mackenzie also suggests that a good mystery starts with a hook right off the bat: “While there doesn’t have to be a body sprawled on the floor, there must be something to get your pulse racing.”

Soho Author Peter Lovesey Praised in WSJ

Tom Nolan of the Wall Street Journal gave an intriguing review for Peter Lovesey’s new book Stagestruck (SOHO press). This is the 11^th book in the series about Chief Superintendent Peter Diamond-- a curmudgeonly but likeable police detective.  While the rest of the world has moved on and adapted to modernity, Diamond is a character that clings to the ways of the past (i.e. choosing to have no patience or understanding of forensics’ role in an investigation).

Nolan elaborates on Lovesey’s evolving literary career over the years from his first book published in 1970 as a winner of a fiction writing contest to his latest book, noting the transition from period fiction to contemporary police investigation. Diamond seems to be a man of the past coping with the intricacies of an ever changing contemporary world. Can he keep up? 

Read the full review by Tom Nolan in the Wall Street Journal

To buy Stagestruck from SOHO or read an excerpt from the book, please visit their website.

Cookbook Deal for The Literary Group

Congratulations to The Literary Group’s Katherine Latshaw for brokering a deal with BJ Berti at St. Martin’s for a new cookbook.  The cookbook, yet to be titled, will feature reinterpretations of traditional Jewish fare from five-time James Beard Award nominee Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff-Gray, the owners of Equinox Restaurant in Washington, DC (President Obama is a fan!). This book will offer some interesting recipes for people looking to experiment with fresh and seasonal ingredients in their own kitchens.