Stairway to Heaven

By Tina LoTufo

June 23, 2011

June 23, 2011 Sixteen-year-old apprentice priestess Melaia sings the myths and legends of the kingdom of Camrithia, including the “Tale of the Wisdom Tree,” never suspecting that the song contains a startling and bitter truth that will deeply affect her own destiny. In Breath of Angel, Karyn Henley deftly weaves together the elements of Melaia’s journey of self-discovery in a way that should speak to young-adult readers. Karyn Henley will launch Breath of Angel, the first novel of her “Angeleon Circle” trilogy, at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Brentwood on June 24 at 7 p.m.

Once Upon a Time in South Beach

By Tina LoTufo

May 2, 2011

May 2, 2011 Cloaked, Alex Flinn’s latest recipe for fairy-tale mashup, calls for a ditsy princess and an enchanted prince, a hapless shoe repairman and a level-headed waitress, a handful of talking animals, at least one witch, and two very stupid giants. Add a heaping tablespoon of magic, mix well, and bake in the Florida heat until all is “uncloaked.” Alex Flinn will read from and discuss Cloaked at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Brentwood on May 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Baseball Through the Looking Glass

By Tina LoTufo

April 26, 2011

April 26, 2011 A breathtakingly diverse assortment of characters culled from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, mythology, folktales, children’s literature, and even Manga inhabits Fantasy Baseball by Knoxville children’s author Alan Gratz. It’s a fast-paced adventure, a thrilling come-from-behind sports story, an artistic tour de force, and a heck of a fun read.

A Taste for Murder

By Tina LoTufo

April 19, 2011

April 19, 2011 Set in and around Charleston’s historic district, Michael Lee West’s Gone with a Handsomer Man mixes candy-colored row houses, crab cakes, and high humidity with betrayal, greed, and long-lost love. The result is a bittersweet confection that’s lighter than a praline and smoother than a peach martini. West will discuss Gone with a Handsomer Man at Books-A-Million in Nashville on April 21 at 7 p.m.

The End

By Tina LoTufo

April 6, 2011

April 6, 2011 This month Jean Auel finally brings to a close the series she began thirty-one years ago with The Clan of the Cave Bear. In The Land of Painted Caves, Auel concludes the saga of Ayla, her Ice Age protagonist, and Ayla’s adopted people as they struggle to survive in an often hostile environment while learning to define and maintain bonds of family and community. On April 13 at 6:15 p.m., Auel will read from her new book at a reception hosted by the Nashville Public Library as part of the Salon at 615 series.

Marlboro Woman

By Tina LoTufo

February 24, 2011

February 24, 2011 Ree Drummond’s new book, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story, is both a memoir and the backstory to The Pioneer Woman, one of the most popular blogs on the web. Today Drummond talks with Chapter 16 about the book, which Columbia Pictures is developing as a star vehicle for Nashville native Reese Witherspoon.

“This book presents a well-thought-out argument explaining why Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have earned and deserve the moral and financial support of every American citizen for their contributions to establishing American democracy, providing the foundation of the American economy, and enriching American culture.”

~ the publisher