News

Chicago Tribune — June 5, 2005 — MAKING IT UP AS I GO ALONG by Maria T. Lennon featured in column “Books ready to be discovered and devoured” — Best Novels to Contemplate Next to the Beach Bonfire (smart novels).

SAINTS AT THE RIVER by Ron Rash has been selected Best Novel Of The Year for 2005 by SEBA (South Eastern Bookseller Association)

June 2005 — The Literary Awards Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association selected THE TURTLE WARRIOR by Mary Relindes Ellis as the Best Book by a Wisconsin author published in 2005.

Major Media Coverage for THE GIFT OF VALOR by Michael Phillips, on Memorial Day and beyond…

Minnesota Humanities Commission gives Marly Rusoff Kay Sexton Award…

Congratulations to Pat Conroy for his recent induction into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame…

ONE FOOT IN EDEN by Ron Rash has been selected required reading at The University of South Carolina, Spartanburg’s department of Languages and recommended reading at various other colleges and schools…

SAINTS AT THE RIVER by Ron Rash receives Weatherford Award — March 18-20, 2005…

Ron Rash receives the 2005 Thomas and Lillie B. Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing — March 2005…

READING DAVID by Lissa Weinstein has been chosen to receive the 2005 Margot Marek Book Award. The award honors the author of an outstanding book written for parents or children on the subject of dyslexia or related learning disabilities.

Elif Shafak’s novel THE FLEA PALACE makes the shortlist for this year’s Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in the UK (see the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble)

STALKING THE DIVINE by Kristin Ohlson, out in paperback is a Top Ten List at Powell.com in both Religious and Philosophy categories for the week of March 1, 2005

THE SAME SWEET GIRLS by Cassandra King is mentioned as Required Reading in the column with the same name of New York Post, Sunday February 20, 2005

THE SAME SWEET GIRLS by Cassandra King is number twelve on hard cover Booksense bestseller list for the week of February 17, 2005

THE SAME SWEET GIRLS by Cassandra King has been chosen a Booksense #1 pick for February 2005…

THE SAME SWEET GIRLS by Cassandra King is number two on the bestseller list of Southeastern Bookseller Association for the week of January 23, 2005

January 15, 2005 — Library Journal, which gave THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Masha Hamilton a Starred review, names it “one of the best books of 2004”.

Here is what Library Journal says about its selection: “Interestingly, LJ departs completely from both the NBA [National Book Award] and the Times in its fiction choices and shares only one nonfiction pick with the latter, which shows you just how subjective awards can be. We’re not trying to stir up controversy, just a passion for reading, and we believe that our list includes the most persuasive books published this year—regardless of hype.”
January 2005 — The Fellowship of Southern Writers chooses Ron Rash for “2005 James Still Award for Writing of the Appalachian South”

THE PAT CONROY COOKBOOK was selected on the Best Books of 2004 in Lifestyle category by Publishers Weekly (December 2004)

THE EGYPTOLOGIST by Arthur Phillips was selected on various Best Sellers List for 2004:
>> Los Angeles Times
>> San Francisco Chronicle –
>> Washington Post
>> Christian Science Monitor
>> Detroit Free Press
>> People Magazine
>> San Jose Mercury News
>> St. Louis Post-Dispatch
>> Salt Lake Tribune
>> Barnes & Noble
>> Borders Books

WHY DO THEY ACT THAT WAY by David Walsh makes Best Books of 2004 list, Top 10 Editors’ Picks: Parenting & Families by Amazon.com

CROSSING CALIFORNIA by Adam Langer was selected on various Best Books of 2004 Lists:
>> Chicago Tribune
>> St. Louis Post-Dispatch
>> Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
>> Publishers Weekly
>> The Journal News

CROSSING CALIFORNIA (in 2004) is also:
>> Finalist for Koret Young Writer on Jewish Themes Award
>> Finalist for Borders Original Voices award
>> Top Ten List for Amazon Literature and Fiction
>> Top Ten list for Amazon debuts.

BEAUTIFUL INEZ by Bart Schneider receives a Starred Review in Booklist, January 2005…

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Masha Hamilton was selected for the Library Journal’s List of Best Books of 2004
SAINTS AT THE RIVER by Ron Rash optioned for TV by Hallmark Hall Of Fame…

November 23, 2004 Tuesday — David Walsh the author of WHY DO THEY ACT THAT WAY is a guest on Good Morning America with Charles Gibson and talks about teenage violence.

October 7, 2004 — David Walsh the author of WHY DO THEY ACT THAT WAY is a guest on “The Jane Pauley Show” discussing children and binge drinking.

FUMBLING by Kerry Egan on sale in September 2004 has been selected for the Holiday 2004 Discovery Program at Barnes and Noble stores.

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Masha Hamilton receives a Starred Review in Publishers Weekly, October 25, 2004…

October 2004 — Ron Rash’s SPECKLED TROUT story won a 2004 O’HENRY award and he also wins The James Still Award for writing of the Appalachian South given by The Fellowship of the Southern Writers

THE WASP EATER by William Lychack receives:
A Starred Review in Library Journal, June 15 2004…
A Starred Review in Kirkus, July 15 2004…

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) Presents 2004 Book Awards — New York, April 23, 2004 –Kristin Ohlson of Cleveland Heights, Ohio won ASJA’s award for general non-fiction books for Stalking the Divine, published by Hyperion Press in 2003. For years, Kristin Ohlson had three resolutions: to read Proust, lift weights, and renew her faith. But after exclaiming, “Oh no, I forgot to believe in God!” she visited an inner city church where the Poor Clares, a group of cloistered nuns, practiced perpetual prayer. Curiosity about these intensely private women sparked a spiritual quest – and a beautifully written book about the mysteries of faith. Stalking the Divine is never preachy, but brings to life the fire of prayer and its power to uplift and inspire even those who don’t feel they need it.

SAINTS AT THE RIVER by Ron Rash receives a Starred Review in Kirkus…

One Foot In Eden by Ron Rash wins Forward Magazine’s first prize — the Gold Award- for Best Literary Fiction of 2002 — June 1, 2003 — Established in 1998, ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards program has become one of the most prestigious honors for independent presses and their authors…

Crossing California highlights:
June 7, 2004 — Four Star Critic’s Choice Review in People Magazine…
June 18, 2004 — Editor’s Choice in Entertainment Weekly…
Book Sense 76 pick for June 2004…
Wall Street Journal top pick for summer 2004 reading…

Pat Conroy has been selected for induction into the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the University of Rhode Island and administered by the Institute for International Sport…

Los Angeles Times 2002 Book Awards, April 27, 2003 — The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction went to Arthur Phillips for “Prague” (Random House). The panel said “Prague,” which is set in Eastern Europe in 1990, is “a story of youth making its way in an uncertain age, distilled back into urgent relevance. The prose is swift and lyrical, rich in landscape detail, rich with shifting clouds of emotion — a great ride and a resonant record of the zeitgeist.”

In March 2003 THE KITCHEN BOY: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander became a national bestseller…

Barnes & Noble – Discover Great New Writers – The 2002 Discover Awards –Honorable Mention : Fiction – Sons Of Heaven by Terrence Cheng — “Terrence Cheng enters history in such a profound and provocative way — his retelling of the events…

Publishers Weekly on Christmas Book Sales:
Black Friday Cheers Some Booksellers — by Edward Nawotka, Kevin Howell, and John Mutter, PW Daily for Booksellers — 12/2/2002 — In a more downbeat assessment of business, Fara Driver, co-owner of the 26-year-old Clemson Newstand in Clemson, S.C., said, “We’re quite worried about the holiday season…