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Featured Author Event: Melvin I. Urofsky (Washington, D.C.)
14 February 2020

Colleagues who will be in the vicinity of our nation’s capital this weekend take note: author Melvin I. Urofsky is discussing his new Knopf book, THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PUZZLE, on Saturday, February 15, at Politics & Prose Bookstore (5015 Connecticut Ave. NW) in Washington, D.C. This free event begins at 6:00 p.m.

All Penguin Random House employees are invited to hear Simone St. James discuss her new Berkley thriller, THE SUN DOWN MOTEL , in conversation with fellow Berkley author Rachel Harrison. Abby Endler, creator of Crime by the Book, will be the moderator. The event takes place on Wednesday, February 19 at Barnes & Noble Upper West Side (2289 Broadway) from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and includes a book signing with the authors.

On Monday, February 17, we honor Presidents’ Day. Established in 1885, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government. As we reflect on American Presidents, past and present, the 2020 Presidential primary season is in full gear. We are of the opinion that your holiday weekend reading would be well-served by the following distinctive and notable collection of presidential literature.

Next month’s London Book Fair 2020 is unwavering in its admiration for the performance of Penguin Random House Audio U.S. In 2018, our Audio Group, under the leadership of Amanda D’Acierno, won the inaugural Audiobook Publisher of the Year prize, bestowed that spring at the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards. Two years later, PRH Audio is one of the two finalists for the 2020 Audiobook Publisher of the Year crown.

The yearly, nationally televised NAACP Image Awards are considered by many to be our country’s preeminent recognition celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the popular arts. We are particularly proud of the numerous Penguin Random House authors who are past “Image” finalists and winners, among them: Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Maya Angelou, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jacqueline Woodson, Marlon James, Terry McMillan, Walter Mosley, Bryan Stevenson, Daymond John, and Eric Jerome Dickey. In this year’s competition, we carry that tradition of excellence forward with our 11 finalists for “Outstanding Literary Works.”

HAIR LOVE Wins Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
10 February 2020

HAIR LOVE, Matthew A. Cherry’s bestselling children’s book for Kokila that was conceived as an animated short film, won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at last night’s 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. A tender and empowering ode to loving your natural hair, and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere – HAIR LOVE was transformed into a bestselling children’s book, written by Cherry, a former NFL wide receiver, and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, published in May 2019 by Penguin Young Readers’ Kokila Books imprint.

Roll out the red carpet ...The 92nd Academy Awards show is this Sunday, with an exciting range of presenters, including Penguin Random House authors Diane Keaton, Steve Martin, Mindy Kaling, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Oscar buzz has been in the air for months. As is often the case, many of the nominees are films based on books or have book tie-ins, and many have already won awards this season. Movie fans, we invite you to complement your viewing with some cinematic reading.

Fresh from the thrilling Best Spoken Word Album Grammy win for BECOMING, Penguin Random House Audio has earned four of the six nominations for “Audiobook of the Year Audie.” The coveted annual peer awards are sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association trade group. In all, Penguin Random House Audio publishes 19 of the Audie finalists across multiple categories. Winners will be announced at the Audies Gala on March 2 in Manhattan.

Riverhead’s Sarah McGrath Talks About Liz Moore’s “Riveting and Moving” NYT Bestselling Novel
4 February 2020

LONG BRIGHT RIVER by Liz Moore, published by Riverhead Books last month, was an instant New York Times bestseller and has received rave reviews that called the book “powerful” (Wall Street Journal), “outstanding” (Associated Press), “electrifying” (O, The Oprah Magazine), and “genre-defying” (People).

Colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. take note: Rick Wilson is discussing his new Crown Forum book, RUNNING AGAINST THE DEVIL, on Tuesday, February 4, at Politics and Prose at The Wharf (70 District Square SW). This free event begins at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude with a book signing.

Featured Author Event: Jill Santopolo (Manhattan)
3 February 2020

Penguin Random House colleagues are invited to meet and hear Jill Santopolo discuss her latest Putnam novel, MORE THAN WORDS, in conversation with Berkley author Laura Hankin (Happy and You Know It) on Tuesday, February 4, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side (2289 Broadway). Following a Q&A, there will be a book signing.

Hogarth author Claire Adam has won the 2019 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize for her debut novel GOLDEN CHILD. The prize has been awarded annually by the book retailer since 1990, and honors outstanding works from authors at the start of their careers.

With the recent popularity of Crazy Rich Asians ,The Farewell , and Parasite , talk of Hollywood and Asian-American representation is peaking. And this week, Pantheon published INTERIOR CHINATOWN by Charles Yu about which The Washington Post writes: ‘Interior Chinatown’ brilliantly skewers Hollywood typecasting.” The United States is home to nearly 20 million Asian Americans, according to Pew Research center. Along with Yu’s novel, the following acclaimed books are said to reflect aspects of their experience, fictionally:

Skip Dye, Senior V.P., Library Sales and Digital Strategy, led the Penguin Random House contingent attending the ALA meeting, and offers his overview: “We had a very productive and enjoyable ALA Midwinter meeting in Philadelphia, engaging with librarians from large and small communities across the country. It was a terrific opportunity for us to share our pride in and enthusiasm for our lists, and to reiterate to them how grateful we are for all they do to grow our authors’ readership through circulating their print, audio, and e-books to their patrons. As you have been reading in Igloo, dozens of our recently published children’s and adult titles have been bestowed 2020 prizes and honors by ALA-affiliated organizations. These recognitions are as exciting as the purchase orders pouring in for them from our library partners.”

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is C.J. Tudor’s THE OTHER PEOPLE, published by Ballantine Books. The author shares that the novel “is a story about a man searching for his daughter, a woman running to save her child and a mysterious group who want others to know the pain and loss that they do. They’re people seeking justice for their loved ones when they feel it has been denied. But that sort of justice comes at a price."

PRH 2020 ALA Midwinter Prizes Two: Youth Media Awards
28 January 2020

In addition to our Caldecott, Odyssey, Carnegie, and Printz recognized titles, some fifteen books published by Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children’s Books imprints have been selected by the ALA for Youth Media Awards bestowed to “books that matter” for younger readers.

New Year, new Penguin Random House books prizes. The 2020 literary awards calendar gets underway this week at the annual American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting, the occasion for bestowal of multiple coveted recognitions for admired children’s and adult books and audios, mostly published in the previous year.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s recording of her multi-million-copy #1 bestselling memoir BECOMING has won the 2020 Best Spoken Word Album GRAMMY Award^®. Read in its entirety by its author, her audiobook, published in November 2018 by Penguin Random House Audio simultaneously with its Crown print and e-book editions, has spent fourteen consecutive months on the New York Times Audio Bestseller List—seven at #1. The 19-hour recording is produced by PRH Audio’s Senior Vice President, Content Production—and multi- GRAMMY Award® winner and nominee--Dan Zitt. Zitt also is a producer of this year’s Penguin Random House Audio GRAMMY® finalist BEASTIE BOYS BOOK. This GRAMMY® is also a triumph for Penguin Random House Audio, whose imprints’ productions have been awarded the Best Spoken Word Album GRAMMY^®three times in the last four years.

Random House announces the next Jack Reacher novel, the 25th in the multimillion-copy selling series from Lee Child, will be written by him and his brother, the writer, Andrew Grant.

What could be more compelling than the story of a sole survivor? Think Tom Hanks in Castaway, or the true story of Ruben Van Assouw, the 9-year-old Dutch boy who was the only survivor of a 2010 plane crash in Libya. Ruben’s life inspired Ann Napolitano to write her novel DEAR EDWARD, published this month by The Dial Press. To accompany it, we offer some other standout fiction with sole survivor characters, beginning with a classic:

William Gibson Unravels the Creation of His New Novel AGENCY
22 January 2020

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is William Gibson’s AGENCY, published by Berkley. Gibson has trained his eye on the future for decades, ever since coining the term “cyberspace” and then popularizing it in his classic speculative novel Neuromancer in the early 1980s. His new science fiction thriller is heavily influenced by our most current events. Gibson recently spoke to The Guardian about the evolution of the book’s plot:

This week, the Jewish Book Council announced the winners of the 2019 National Jewish Book Awards, now in its sixty-ninth year. Congratulations to all the winners – 7 books published by Penguin Random House imprints among them! Founded in 1944, The Jewish Book Council is the longest-running organization devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature. The winners will be honored on March 17 at an awards dinner and ceremony at the Bohemian National Hall in Manhattan. Below are Penguin Random House’s award winners in adult and young reader categories:

On Monday, January 20, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. The holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. It’s a time to commemorate the timeless values he exemplified – courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service – as well as the forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his leadership. It’s especially important for the young to learn about Dr. King’s character and contributions and the power of words. We recommend the following books for education and inspiration for all ages.

Our first Igloo Book Buzz selection of 2020 is Ann Napolitano’s DEAR EDWARD, published by The Dial Press. The #ReadWithJenna Book Club January Pick, as featured on the Today show, this impactful page-turner takes on the question: What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live? DEAR EDWARD is a transcendent coming-of-age story, a multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters, and an illustration of all the ways a broken heart learns to love again.

JUST MERCY Film Based on Bryan Stevenson’s Random House Book Opens Nationwide Today
10 January 2020

JUST MERCY, Bryan Stevenson’s award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Random House book, adapted into a major motion picture starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, opens in theaters nationwide today.

Friday Reads: Birds
10 January 2020

National Bird Day - on January 5^th- just flew by! Yet, it’s never too late to honor our beautiful, feathered cohabitants. Avian Welfare Coalition created National Bird Day to raise awareness of the plights of these important animals. Birds are often key species in an ecosystem, indicative of its health and vitality. Thus, we turn our figurative binoculars to books that help us learn and appreciate all that birds mean to our planet:

Putnam’s Sally Kim on How SUCH A FUN AGE Will “Make You Cringe in Recognition and Squeeze Your Heart”
8 January 2020

Kiley Reid’s SUCH A FUN AGE, published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, is a #1 Indie Next Pick, a LibraryReads Top Pick and Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine January Pick, announced last week by Reese Witherspoon, who commented, “This story is a beautiful conversation starter about race, privilege, work dynamics … I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!” Set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both, this searing, big-hearted debut novel for our times has generated high praise from many media outlets, including The New York Times Book Review, NPR, People, and Entertainment Weekly, which called it “the most provocative page-turner of the year.” In our Three Questions for an Editor interview, Sally Kim, Vice President, Editor in Chief, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, shares how she discovered the author, what drew her to Reid’s writing style and thematic choices, the nature of the editorial process during the creation of this novel, and what aspects of SUCH A FUN AGE she thinks will resonate most strongly with readers.

Winners of the 2019 Costa Book Awards, one of the UK’s most prestigious and popular literary prizes, have been announced. The award in the Novel category went to Jonathan Coe, author of MIDDLE ENGLAND, published by Alfred A. Knopf in the US and Canada, and by Penguin in the UK. The Costa First Novel award was won by Sara Collins for The Confessions of Frannie Langton, published by Penguin in the UK.

CNN posits that “a decade is in part defined by its books.” Looking back at the 2010s, the cable news network picked 10 of the time-period’s most influential titles, noting, “These books are sexy, courageous, vulnerable and venerated. Many have been adapted into films, merchandise or Netflix specials. These are the printed works that most left their mark on the 2010s.”

Friday Reads: New Decade, New You!
3 January 2020

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. - Helen Keller Welcome 2020! As we begin a new decade, and reflect on the past 10 years, doesn’t it feel as if we have tenfold the possibilities? Striking while motivation is at its peak, we’ve surveyed the most popular New Year’s resolutions and offer a book apiece to help readers reach these 5 popular goals. Remember… progress, not perfection!

Westminster’s Bev Hood Shares Her Sabbatical Story: “Life Threw Me a Curve Ball”
20 December 2019

Bev Hood works in the Customer Service department at our Westminster distribution center and reached her 10-year anniversary in 2019. Her remarkable “Sabbatical Story” shows the importance of family and a supportive company such as Penguin Random House when a life challenge arises. Thank you for sharing, Bev.

With less than a week before Hanukkah and Christmas, perhaps you are feeling stumped about what to get someone on your list? Bookstores make the best one-stop shops. Before you go, check out these recommendations: One book each in 15 categories sure to please their recipients:

Bertelsmann Acquires Full Ownership of Penguin Random House
18 December 2019

Gütersloh, New York, London, December 18, 2019 – Bertelsmann is acquiring the remaining 25-percent stake in Penguin Random House from the British media company Pearson, making it the sole owner of the book publishing group.

Bertelsmann to become sole owner of the world's biggest trade publishing group
Acquisition of 25-percent stake from co-shareholder Pearson for US$ 675 million
Closing expected in the second quarter of 2020
Verlagsgruppe Random House becomes part of Penguin Random House
Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe: “A milestone for Bertelsmann”

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” or so the song says. Indeed, merriment abounds in December as we gather for holiday parties and exchange gifts with friends, family, teachers and colleagues. Christmas trees, decorations and lights are beautifying city and town squares, lobbies and homes. There’s cookie baking, Latke-making and shipping galore! Menorah candles will be lit on the first night of Hanukkah, December 22^nd and for eight days until December 30^th. The excitement of children is infectious as stories and traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah are shared. To add to the holiday spirit, we offer the following festive titles for adults and kids:

This year, Riverhead Books’ annual holiday party raised a total of $3,300 for One Moore Book, a nonprofit that publishes children’s books and promotes literacy in underrepresented cultures, founded by author Wayétu Moore. Guests from the media and publishing industry poured into Littlefield to enjoy a Riverhead Rumdeer, dance to holiday music, and enter a raffle to win an Alamo Drafthouse gift card, a challah baking class at Breads Bakery, products from skincare brand Skyn Iceland, wine from Le Grand Courtâge, and many other prizes generously donated by the party’s sponsors.

Our Longlisters for the 2020 PEN America Literary Awards
17 December 2019

PEN America has announced the longlists for its 2020 Literary Awards in the categories of debut novel, debut short story collection, diversity, essay, biography, science writing, and translation. Among the longlisted books are 20 titles published by Penguin Random House imprints and Penguin Random House Publisher Services publisher clients.

Our special Happy Holidays Igloo Book Buzz selection is MARTHA STEWART’S COOKIE PERFECTION, published by Clarkson Potter. The editors of Martha Stewart Living present a new, fun source for anyone looking to make their go-to cookies even better and bolder. These recipes make ordinary cookies absolutely extraordinary – all the familiar favorites you love, but taken up a notch in variety, flavor, and creativity. Two of the book’s most popular holiday-themed recipes – Glazed Spiced Snowflakes and Honey-Spice Gingerbread Townhouses – are featured below for easy access.

Did you hear? The word of the year is “They.” Merriam-Webster announced this week that it has chosen “they” as the 2019 word of the year. The singular “they” is a pronoun commonly used by someone who identifies their gender as nonbinary, a word that itself was added to the Merriam-Webster.com dictionary in September of this year. To celebrate this recognition we’ve put together fiction and nonfiction by and about those who defy the gender binary:

This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is Jimmy Kimmel’s THE SERIOUS GOOSE (Random House Books for Young Readers), #1 on The New York Times Children's Picture Books bestseller list. The late-night host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! wrote, illustrated and lettered his delightfully original, fun and funny picture book, challenging young readers to bring the silly out of a very Serious Goose, reminding us all to be silly in a very serious way.

Enter the fandom! 2019 has been another genre-defying year for the graphic novel/memoir. As works of art, literature, and pop-culture the following bestselling titles satisfy a broad realm of readers and interests:

Penguin Press Author Greta Thunberg Named TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year
11 December 2019

Greta Thunberg is TIME magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year. This is the first time the publication has bestowed the highly regarded honor on a teenager, making the 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist its youngest ever Person of the Year. TIME notes: “Thunberg is not a leader of any political party or advocacy group. She is neither the first to sound the alarm about the climate crisis nor the most qualified to fix it. She is not a scientist or a politician. She has no access to traditional levers of influence: she’s not a billionaire or a princess, a pop star or even an adult. She is an ordinary teenage girl who, in summoning the courage to speak truth to power, became the icon of a generation. By clarifying an abstract danger with piercing outrage, Thunberg became the most compelling voice on the most important issue facing the planet.” To read TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year cover story, click here.

Penguin Random House employees are invited to meet author Mikki Kendall and hear her talk about her new Ten Speed Press book, AMAZONS, ABOLITIONISTS, AND ACTIVISTS: A Graphic History of Women's Fight for Their Rights, illustrated by A. D'Amico, Wednesday, December 11, at the Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway) in Manhattan. Kendall will be in conversation with N. K. Jemisin, author of speculative fiction short stories and novels. This event, which includes a book signing, will be in the Rare Book Room and begins at 7:00 pm.

Penguin Random House Canada has been recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2020. The accolade, given annually for the past fourteen years through Canada's Top 100 Employers to companies that set the standard for workplace best practices and forward-thinking policies, is awarded based on a rigorous evaluation of criteria ranging from employee benefits, vacation, and time off to work atmosphere to community involvement. Now in its 20th year, Canada's Top 100 Employers project is the nation's largest competition of its kind.

Dutton has announced the addition of two new bestselling authors to the Dutton list: Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of contemporary women’s fiction, most notably The Shoemaker’s Wife and the Big Stone Gap series, and Denise Kiernan, author of critically acclaimed bestsellers The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City. The Associated Press ran an exclusive on the Trigiani announcement and her desire to be re-united with Executive Editor Maya Ziv, and CNN’s Reliable Sources ran a separate exclusive on the Kiernan acquisition, which Editor in Chief John Parsley will be editing, with CNN’s Brian Stelter saying, “Whatever Denise Kiernan writes, I want to read.”

Friday Reads: Mister Rogers
6 December 2019

Our society is much more interested in information than wonder, in noise rather than silence...And I feel that we need a lot more wonder and a lot more silence in our lives – Fred Rogers What the world needs now is Mister Rogers! Fred Rogers was a musician, puppeteer, writer, producer, and Presbyterian minister. He was also the creator, showrunner and host of the preschool television series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which ran from 1968 to 2001. Although he passed away in 2003, Fred Rogers’ legacy is thriving as is evident by the popularity of last year’s documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor? and this Fall’s hit movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers. Mister Rogers’ kindness, wisdom and respect for children’s feelings transcend time and generations. Here are some books that celebrate life and help us cope during difficult times:

RH Group News
5 December 2019

Broadway Books Trade Paperback, an imprint of the Random House Group, will publish THE IMPEACHMENT REPORT: The House Intelligence Committee’s Report on its Investigation into Donald Trump and Ukraine, with a foreword by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, on Tuesday, December 17^th, with the E-book edition available on Friday, December 13th. A Penguin Random House Audiobook, featuring Mr. Meacham recording his foreword and additional narrators, will be available for download on Tuesday, December 10^th.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We’ve survived Black Friday crowds and the frenzy of Cyber Monday emails. Perhaps you shopped local on Small Business Saturday and gave on Giving Tuesday. What does Wednesday hold in store? We’ve decided to get a jump on New Year, New You as we marvel at stories of those who live to be 100 and older. What is their secret to longevity? The following books investigate that query and will help you take the long view, too – often in delicious fashion!

#BookstoresAreHolidays: PRH Partners with Binc Foundation to Give Back to Indies
4 December 2019

Penguin Random House is committed to supporting bookstores, which provide a source of community, information, and imagination. This year, we are partnering with the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) on their year-end fundraising campaign, which launched on Small Business Saturday, November 30. To double the power and impact of individual donations, Penguin Random House is matching all donations made to Binc through December 31, 2019.

Few childhood events evoke as much nostalgia as the elementary school book fair. Decades beyond student-hood, many adults still pine for the days when their school libraries, auditoriums, and gyms transformed into pop-up shops filled with books, pencils, Gelly Roll pens, erasers, and more. Penguin Random House captured that unmistakable, magical feeling at our first-ever Book Fair for Grownups on Saturday, November 23, at Lightbox in New York City.

Here are the five Penguin Random House titles selected by the editors of the New York Times Book Review for “The 25 Best Children’s Books of 2019.” Now online, the complete list is published in the TBR’s December 8 print edition.

Penguin Random House Adds 300,000 to the One Million Books Donated to First Book in Obama Family Name
3 December 2019

Today, Penguin Random House joins with Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to announce that the company will donate an additional 300,000 children’s books to First Book, building upon its previously announced donation of one million of its children’s books to First Book in the Obama family’s name. Plans for the one million donation were originally announced in 2017 when Penguin Random House acquired world publication rights to publish books by President and Mrs. Obama.

Colleagues with children, who live in or near Nassau County, New York, looking for a special Thanksgiving weekend activity, you’re invited to experience New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Jan Brett at Barnes & Noble, Country Glen Center (91 Old Country Road) in Carle Place, on Saturday, November 30. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., Jan will be reading from her latest illustrated children's book, THE TALE OF THE TIGER SLIPPERS, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving – a time when many will be gathering with family and friends for a feast. The original American holiday, Thanksgiving is also a time for connecting with, and serving, our communities as we reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. With this in mind, we give thanks for this harvest of books for children and adults:

Reversing its customary order of presentation, following the previous unveiling of this year’s “10 Best Books,” the New York Times Book Review has posted its list of “100 Notable Books of 2019” selected by its editors across the Adult Fiction & Poetry and Nonfiction categories. Nearly half the list---45 titles---are ours, our highest collective total ever.

This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is TOM BROWN’S GUIDE TO HEALING THE EARTH, published by Berkley on November 26. Tom Brown, Jr., acclaimed outdoorsman, tracker, teacher, and bestselling author, learned to respect nature as a child. When he was eight, Brown met Stalking Wolf, an Apache elder he called Grandfather, who taught the young man how to survive in the wild, and more importantly, how to value our place in the natural order. For more than three decades, Brown has shared these insights through teaching, writing, and film. In his new book, he has detailed actions that each of us can take to help heal our ailing planet.

Our 2019 PRH Teacher Awards for Literacy Winners Celebrated at NCTE Convention
25 November 2019

Penguin Random House and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) have announced the recipients of the 2019 National Teacher Award for Lifelong Readers and 2019 Maya Angelou Teacher Award for Poetry. These awards recognize the nation’s most dynamic and resourceful teachers who use their creativity to inspire and successfully instill a lifelong love of reading and poetry in students. The Penguin Random House Teacher Awards for Literacy began in 2012 and have awarded more than $170,000 teacher grants to date. This is the first year the awards have been administered by both organizations.

The New York Times Book Review has just announced its "10 Best Books of 2019": Five of them are by our authors. The complete list is published online, and will appear in the publication's print edition next month.

Friday Reads: Pie!
22 November 2019

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” - Carl Sagan It’s about to be your lucky pie-day! While Carl Sagan rightly connects the universe with pie, making a tasty pie isn’t as cosmically weighty as all that – though there is a science to it for sure! If you are on deck for bringing pie to Thanksgiving you may want to test out some recipes this weekend. Below you’ll find beautiful books full of sweet and savory pies that will make everyone grateful and slicing seconds for themselves:

"Who but Obama could narrate the story of her life? With impeccable pacing, the former First Lady's warm reading immediately pulls listeners close for what feels like an intimate chat with a friend..." -- Booklist.

With Ukraine in the news on a daily basis, we thought it apt to turn our curatorial eye to the tumultuous country – the second largest in Europe – to provide context in history, memoir, poetry and fiction:

Obama Administration White House Photographer Opens Windows Into His “Front Row Seat to History”
20 November 2019

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is YES WE DID: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President by Lawrence Jackson and published by TarcherPerigee. When Mr. Jackson took the job as White House photographer in early 2009, he knew he’d have a front row seat to history. What he didn’t expect was the deep personal connection he would feel, as a fellow African American, with the President of the United States. YES WE DID is a celebration of the most inclusive and representative White House in history – where in between momentous and pivotal decisions, the President and First Lady opened the doors of the People’s House to schoolkids, athletes, senior citizens, hip-hop artists, and more.

Michelle Obama’s BECOMING: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice On Sale Today from Clarkson Potter
19 November 2019

BECOMING: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice, a companion to former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama‘s critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling memoir, BECOMING, is being published on November 19 by Clarkson Potter in the U.S. and Canada. A Spanish language edition titled BECOMING: Un Diario Guiado is being published by Plaza & Janes/Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial.

The holiday festivities started early on Thursday, November 14, when Random House Special Events hosted an evening where bookworms, foodies, and spirited beverage enthusiasts united at The New School in New York City. Hundreds of audience members gathered at “Holiday House” to hear directly from our authors for recipes, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations, to make this year’s holiday season the best one yet.

Penguin Random House, in partnership with Special Olympics and the American Library Association, is participating in a pilot program that supports Special Olympics Young Athletes through a donation of 1,000 children’s books: 500 copies each of WE’RE ALL WONDERS by R.J. Palacio and THE SNEETCHES by Dr. Seuss. These titles will contribute to efforts that bring inclusive learning and play to communities across the country through local libraries.

November is National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit organization that, according to a New York Times piece earlier this month, enlists professional writers like Jasmine Guillory (whose debut novel THE WEDDING DATE came out of the creative challenge), Anne Lamott, and Rainbow Rowell to write pep talks for participants. NaNoWriMo’s executive director, Grant Faulkner, describes it as “one part writing boot camp, one part rollicking party.” Writing a novel is a brave, imaginative endeavor and National Novel Writing Month is all the more reason to celebrate first-time novelists published this year. The following debut novels span genres and settings, and each has received widespread praise from reviewers, librarians, booksellers and readers:

PRH Titles Lead TIME’s Best Fiction and Nonfiction Books of the Decade Lists
15 November 2019

TIME Magazine editors have selected the ten best fiction books and ten best nonfiction books published during the years from 2010 through 2019, with 6 of the fiction titles and 8 of the nonfiction titles published by Penguin Random House imprints.

Atwood’s THE TESTAMENTS Named Amazon’s Best Book of 2019
15 November 2019

Margaret Atwood’s THE TESTAMENTS (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday), winner of this year’s Booker Prize, has been named Best Book of 2019 by Amazon. Ms. Atwood commented, “I’m Canadian, where modesty is a requirement. So I’m mildly embarrassed, though absolutely delighted, to hear that the Amazon editorial team has chosen THE TESTAMENTS as their book of the year. While I'm no prophet, we seem doomed to live in stressful times. A tale of hope and courage narrated by three strong female voices appears to have connected to this crucial 2019 moment."

In the spirit of the coming holiday season, our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is THE LAST COURSE, published by Random House on November 12. Hailed as “the greatest dessert book in the history of the world” by Bon Appétit, a beautiful new edition features 175 timeless recipes from Claudia Fleming, a renowned name in the pastry world, acclaimed for having set an industrywide standard at New York City’s Gramercy Tavern with her James Beard Award–winning desserts. Beautifully illustrated with more than eighty color photographs throughout, THE LAST COURSE is a timeless collection filled with original recipes that will inspire dessert enthusiasts everywhere.

There's a Book for That: Always Learning
13 November 2019

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin Avid readers are life-long learners by nature and this week we are focused on “learning” in myriad ways, geared toward personal and professional growth. Be it self-discovery, building empathy or understanding the actual process of learning from scientific research, the following books have much to offer the inquiring, receptive mind:

Friday Reads: Harriet Tubman and The Underground Railroad
8 November 2019

Harriet, the new movie based on the inspirational life of the iconic freedom fighter Harriet Tubman, is in theaters nationwide and has been receiving a lot of attention. It offers a new generation the chance to honor the abolitionist who led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad. To satisfy current interest in Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad we have curated the following books for adults and young readers alike.

New GREEN EGGS AND HAM Netflix Series Debuts Today
8 November 2019

A new Netflix series based on Dr. Seuss’s timeless, beloved book, GREEN EGGS AND HAM, debuts today, Friday, November 8. The 13-episode animated series features an all-star voice cast, including Adam Devine, Daveed Diggs, Michael Douglas, Ilana Glazer, Eddie Izzard, Diane Keaton, Tracy Morgan, John Turturro, and Jeffrey Wright.

Oprah Winfrey has announced that her latest Oprah’s Book Club pick is Elizabeth Strout’s OLIVE, AGAIN, published by Random House. The selection was revealed on CBS This Morning. To watch the segment, click here.

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is Erin Morgenstern’s THE STARLESS SEA, published by Doubleday on November 5. The New York Times bestselling author of THE NIGHT CIRCUS tells a timeless love story set in a secret underground world—a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

November is National American Indian Heritage Month designated as such by President George W. Bush in 1990. The Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and other cultural centers join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. In commemoration of the people that were the original settlers of this land, we present the following books that celebrate native culture and offer fresh perspectives in fiction and nonfiction, including art and cooking, for all ages.

DK Eyewitness Travel has released a brand new edition of WHERE TO GO WHEN: Unforgettable Trips for Every Month, the ultimate vacation planner, showcasing the most amazing places in the world and the best time of year to see them. This book combines a detailed narrative with sumptuous photography to bring to life over 100 destinations across the globe – discover when and where to explore Costa Rica’s rainforests, journey into the clouds in Nepal, sail between Croatia’s cypress-clad islands, or gaze at the saw-toothed crags of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. To help you choose your destination, the clear layout features an array of exciting places and experiences for every month, and suggests an alternative time to visit if you’re unable to make that month. So whether you’re looking for rest and relaxation or active adventures, WHERE TO GO WHEN makes finding special spots around the globe easier than ever.

Coates, Luiselli, Popova, Treuer Finalists for 2020 Carnegie Medals for Excellence
5 November 2019

The 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction six-title shortlist has been announced and includes 4 books published by Penguin Random House imprints. Established by the American Library Association in 2012, the Carnegie Medals for Excellence serve as an ALA guide to help adults select quality reading material.

“At the Heyday Lounge the horsemen think they are the only gamblers. They file in each morning, their shoes dusty and their pockets jangling with coins, like parishioners.” So begins Shannon Pufahl’s powerful and moving, beautifully written debut novel, ON SWIFT HORSES, published by Riverhead Books today, Tuesday, November 5. Set in the burgeoning 1950s post-World War II West, shifting between San Diego, Las Vegas, and Tijuana, inside desert casinos, suburban racetracks, and transient dives, this is a story of love and luck, of two outsiders torn between the constraints of convention and the demands of their private selves, as they try to find their place in a country that is coming apart even as it promises them everything. In this “Meet Our Author” interview, Pufahl reveals the origins behind the primary characters and main themes of her novel, shares insights into her approach to writing, and talks about what aspects of ON SWIFT HORSES she hopes will resonate with readers.

Reese Witherspoon has selected Jojo Moyes’ THE GIVER OF STARS, published by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, as her November pick for Reese’s Book Club. Witherspoon offered high praise on her Hello Sunshine website:

To kick off the season of giving while also celebrating National Family Literacy Month, Penguin Random House is once again teaming up with zulily, the online retailer dedicated to bringing special finds to its customers every day, to help provide books to children in need across the U.S.

Dear Humans… the subject today is the body. Taking our cue from Bill Bryson’s lauded new book, THE BODY: A GUIDE FOR OCCUPANTS, we invite you to get to know your corporeal self a bit better with the following titles:

There's a Book for That: Witch Lit
31 October 2019

Happy Halloween! It’s the witching hour, hence we are marking the occasion with a batch of spellbinding tales. Enter a world of witches and their craft - goes great with Halloween treats!

Tonight: Join Knopf Author Christopher McDougall for WORD to The Wythe 5K: RUNNING WITH SHERMAN
30 October 2019

Christoper McDougall, author of RUNNING WITH SHERMAN: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero, published by Knopf earlier this month, is participating in a 5K run and special event tonight, Wednesday, October 30. The run will begin at WORD bookstore in Brooklyn (126 Franklin St.), with runners free to arrive any time between 5:00 and 6:00 pm, when the run starts. The course winds through Williamsburg to the Wythe Hotel @ 80 Wythe Ave., where there will be a post-run author conversation with Knox Robinson, a book signing, prize giveaway, and a party.

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is THE BEAUTIFUL ONES by Prince, published today, Tuesday, October 29, by Spiegel & Grau/Random House. This highly-anticipated release is a brilliant coming-of-age-and-into-superstardom story of one of the greatest artists of all time, in his own words—featuring never-before-seen photos, original scrapbooks and lyric sheets, and the exquisite memoir Prince began writing before his tragic death. Much more than a tribute to an icon, this book is an original and energizing literary work in its own right, full of Prince’s ideas and vision, his voice and image—his undying gift to the world.

You’re invited to a special evening with Pantheon author David Heatley for a discussion of this new book, QUALIFICATION: A Graphic Memoir in 12 Steps, on Wednesday, October 30, at PowerHouse Arena (28 Adams Street) in Brooklyn. Heatley will be in conversation with fellow Penguin Random House author and graphic artist Liana Finck. This free access event, first come, first seated, begins at 7:00 p.m.

Featured Author Event: Sasha Sagan (Boulder, Colorado)
28 October 2019

Calling all PRH colleagues based in Colorado: if you are a person fascinated by the wonders of planet Earth, you will have the opportunity to learn about the new Putnam book, FOR SMALL CREATURES SUCH AS WE: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World, from author Sasha Sagan. She will be in conversation with writer and TV host Saralyn Ward at the Boulder Book Store on Tuesday, October 29. This event begins at 7:30 PM, with a book signing following a Q&A with attendees.

Whitehead’s THE NICKEL BOYS Wins 2019 Kirkus Prize for Fiction
28 October 2019

Colson Whitehead's novel, THE NICKEL BOYS, published by Doubleday this summer, has won the 2019 Kirkus Prize for Fiction, it was announced by the trade publication Kirkus Reviews at a ceremony in Austin, Texas on Thursday, October 24.

Colleagues with children looking for a daytime weekend activity in Brooklyn take note: Dial Books for Young Readers author Abdul-Razak Zachariah will be discussing and reading from his book, THE NIGHT IS YOURS, on Saturday, October 26, for Storytime at Books Are Magic (225 Smith Street), beginning at 11:00 AM, and on Sunday, October 27, for Storytime at Greenlight Books (Prospect Lefferts Gardens location, 632 Flatbush Avenue), beginning at 11:30 AM, and for Storytime at Greenlight Books (Fort Greene location, 686 Fulton Street), beginning at 1:30 PM.

Boo! Who goes there? With Halloween around the corner, the mood is right for ghost stories and have we got a slew of spine-tingling tales for you this weekend…

Join Knopf Author Christopher McDougall for WORD to The Wythe 5K: RUNNING WITH SHERMAN
24 October 2019

Christoper McDougall, author of RUNNING WITH SHERMAN: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero, published by Knopf earlier this month, is participating in a 5K run and special event on Wednesday, October 30. The run will begin at WORD bookstore in Brooklyn (126 Franklin St.), with runners free to arrive any time between 5:00 and 6:00 pm, when the run starts. The course winds through Williamsburg to the Wythe Hotel @ 80 Wythe Ave., where there will be a post-run author conversation with Knox Robinson, a book signing, prize giveaway, and a party.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month - established in 2006 by Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center which “actively leads social change, so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage.” National Bullying Prevention Month recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students. For ideas, events and resources visit: www.stopbullying.gov. To help parents and children avoid and overcome bullying, we offer the following fiction and nonfiction for parents, educators, children and teens:

Clarkson Potter’s Doris Cooper Helps Alison Roman Create NOTHING FANCY: Unfussy Food for Having People Over
22 October 2019

Alison Roman’s NOTHING FANCY: Unfussy Food for Having People Over, published by Clarkson Potter today, Tuesday, October 22, is the book you want to have on hand for an unexpected weeknight meal with a neighbor or a weekend dinner party with fifteen of your closest friends—either way and everywhere in between; having people over is supposed to be fun, not stressful. This abundant collection of all-new recipes—heavy on the easy-to-execute vegetables and versatile grains, paying lots of close attention to crunchy, salty snacks, and with love for all the meats—is for gatherings big and small, any day of the week. In this Three Questions for an Editor Igloo interview, Doris Cooper, SVP & Editor in Chief, Clarkson Potter, talks about how this book came to be, the nature of their editor-author process, and the ways in which she thinks NOTHING FANCY will resonate with readers.

Furthering its mission to inspire teachers and learners with outstanding books, Penguin Random House Education announces the launch of a new website specifically designed and built for elementary educators.

Penguin Random House Education and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) hosted a National Day on Writing Event on Monday, October 14 at 1745 Broadway. It was an informative, interactive afternoon that brought together teachers from across the country with PRH Education’s Kaiulani Williams, Alan Walker and Travis Temple, NCTE Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick, and special guests Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi, authors of TELL ME WHO YOU ARE: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture & Identity, published by TarcherPerigee.

Featured Author Event: Hannah Hart Launches MY DRUNK KITCHEN HOLIDAYS! (Brooklyn)
18 October 2019

Hannah Hart, YouTuber, entertainer and New York Times bestselling author, will celebrate her new book MY DRUNK KITCHEN HOLIDAYS! (on sale from Plume on October 22) at an event at Murmrr Ballroom (17 East Parkway, Brooklyn) with Community Bookstore on Tuesday, October 22, beginning at 7:30 PM. Hart will be in conversation with fellow entertainers Mamrie Hart & Grace Helbig. General admission tickets (without a book) are $15 each and book-bundled tickets (includes copy of the book) are $38 each. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Today, Friday, October 18, is Alaska Day - a legal holiday in the U.S. state of Alaska celebrating the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States, which occurred on Friday, October 18, 1867. To honor the majestic 49^th state, we’ve surveyed our catalog for the best fiction and nonfiction (for all ages) set in Alaska. We invite you to take a reading tour through Alaska’s history, culture and singular landscape along with the fiction it has inspired:

There's a Book for That: TeenTober!
16 October 2019

Have you heard? It’s TeenTober! YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) has just launched this new, nationwide celebration hosted by libraries every October that “aims to celebrate teens… and fuel their passions in and outside the library.” TeenTober replaces YALSA’s previous Teen Read Week™ and Teen Tech Week™. Visit YALSA for more information and your library for special programs. Here are Penguin Random House’s “Top 12 Teen Titles” for October - bestselling Young Adult fiction and nonfiction for teens and adults who enjoy reading about them:

Goddard Riverside has announced its Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice six-title shortlist, which includes AN AMERICAN SUMMER: Love and Death in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz, published in May 2019 by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday. This award, now in its third year, is named after Stephan Russo, who served as executive director of Goddard Riverside from 1998 to 2017. and celebrates the power of the written word to create change in the name of justice for all.

As her fiftieth birthday approached, Rachael Ray, the woman who taught America how to get dinner on the table, fast, started thinking not just about what to cook that night, but how her passion for food and feeding people had developed over her first fifty years. In RACHAEL RAY 50: Memories and Meals From a Sweet and Savory Life, published by Ballantine Books on October 15, Ray opens up about the most memorable moments of her life in this candid memoir-inspired cookbook featuring 125 all-new recipes. The book’s pages are also filled with gorgeous food photography, personal photos, and Rachael’s own hand-drawn illustrations, offering a revealing and intimate glimpse into her world and her every day inspiration. In this “Three Questions for an Editor” interview, Ballantine Executive Editor Pamela Cannon opens a window into the genesis of this book, the editor/author process involved in working with Ms. Ray, and what about RACHAEL RAY 50 she thinks will resonate most strongly with readers.

Great joy out of London: For the first time since 1992, the Booker Prize has been awarded jointly, and its 2019 winners are both Penguin Random House authors: Margaret Atwood's THE TESTAMENTS and Bernardine Evaristo's GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER.

The brand-new CRAFTED x Riverhead event series debuted last week with Sip & Stitch! A room of 40+ booklovers embroidered custom patterns, talked books, and enjoyed delicious drinks and food courtesy of Le Grand Courtage and City Bakery. Sip & Stitch guests received an embroidery starter kit, featuring one of three designed stitching patterns inspired by the iconic Riverhead Tote, CITY OF GIRLS by Elizabeth Gilbert, and RED AT THE BONE by Jacqueline Woodson. After mingling in the gorgeous lululemon SoHo community space, guests sat down for a quick tutorial on a few stitches and were encouraged to get creative with their designs. A major highlight of the night was hanging out with beloved author Elizabeth Gilbert, pictured below with some of the participants.

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Sue Monk Kidd to Publish New Novel with Viking
14 October 2019

Viking has announced the publication date of April 28, 2020 for Sue Monk Kidd’s next novel, THE BOOK OF LONGINGS. “I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.” So begins the new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and THE INVENTION OF WINGS, an extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny in a time of great despair and great hope.

Girls Write Now honored Christine Ball, SVP, Publisher of Dutton, Putnam, and Berkley, with their “Agent of Change” award for directly impacting GWN's mission to empower and amplify and young women's voices. Iconic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg hosted an October 10 celebration at her DVF studio. Guests included actor/advocates Cicely Tyson, Marlo Thomas, and Phil Donahue, as well as PRH colleagues Madeline McIntosh, Allison Dobson, Barbara Marcus, and Ivan Held. Additional honorees included Judith Curr, President & Publisher of the HarperOne Group; Alina Roytberg, Co-founder of Fresh; and Robin Thede, Executive Producer, Writer & Star of HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show.

Celebrating Olga Tokarczuk’s Nobel Prize
11 October 2019

Olga Tokarczuk is the newest Nobel Prize winner to join the more than 80 previous laureates, most recently Kazuo Ishiguro, Alice Munro, Orhan Pamuk, and Toni Morrison, published by current and predecessor Penguin Random House imprints.

Friday Reads: International Day of The Girl
11 October 2019

"We need to uphold the equal rights, voices and influence of girls in our families, communities and nations. Girls can be powerful agents of change, and nothing should keep them from participating fully in all areas of life." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres Every year on October 11, the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF works with girls to amplify their voices and stand up for their rights. This year, under the theme, “GirlForce: Unscripted and unstoppable”, we celebrate achievements by, with and for girls!

TASTE Editors Talk LASAGNA, Share Favorite Recipes
9 October 2019

LASAGNA: A Baked Pasta Cookbook was named Bon Appetit’s “Cookbook of the Month” for October 2019. By Anna Hezel and the editors of TASTE, “the online magazine for people who love to cook,” this Clarkson Potter title has something for everyone: whether you’re craving a meatball lasagna, keeping it simple with a slow cooker spinach lasagna, or hosting brunch with an eggy carbonara lasagna that shouts “Hello!” from the center of the table.

There's a Book for That: Yom Kippur
9 October 2019

This year, Yom Kippur commenced on October 8, at sundown and will end on October 9, at sundown. Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith and is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. Yom Kippur is the culmination of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.” In honor of the holiday, we invite you to explore the following titles:

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce the promotion of SKIP DYE to Senior Vice President, Library Sales and Digital Strategy, Penguin Random House, effective immediately, continuing to report to me. He also retains his current dual responsibilities as Senior Vice President, Director, Sales Operations.

“BECOMING: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice,” a Companion to Michelle Obama’s Bestselling Memoir, to be Published November 19, 2019
7 October 2019

BECOMING: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice, a companion to former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama’s critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling memoir, BECOMING, will be published in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House. A Spanish language edition titled BECOMING: Un Diario Guiado will be published by Plaza & Janes/Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. The BECOMING journal will have a first printing of 500,000 copies.

Autumn is finally here, which means falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and most importantly, a whole new crop of fantastic books. Our US CEO, Madeline McIntosh, has shared some of her recommendations for the season’s greatest reads.

Have you noticed the seasonal shift as we enter into Fall? The crisp morning air, the leaves beginning to turn and the changing light? High school football season is turning on the Friday night lights, but our play this week is Friday Reads “Light” because of all the literary luminaries falling into sight!

Doubleday to Publish Bill Gates Book About Climate Change in June 2020
3 October 2019

Bill Gates is writing a book about energy and climate change that will be published by Doubleday in June 2020. With this new book, HOW TO AVOID A CLIMATE DISASTER: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, Gates seeks to share what he’s learned in over a decade of studying climate change and investing in innovations to address the problems. He will set out a vision for how the world can work to build the tools it needs to get to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Anthony Chirico, President of the Knopf Doubleday Group, acquired world rights to the book from Michael I. Rudell of Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo.

Celebrating Today’s Publication of Philip Pullman’s THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH
3 October 2019

Philip Pullman fans everywhere are celebrating the arrival of THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH, the second volume of Pullman’s new bestselling trilogy The Book of Dust, on sale today from Alfred A. Knopf BFYR. This book marks the return to the parallel world of Pullman’s masterwork The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1).

Jim Carrey to Publish Novel with Knopf
2 October 2019

Jim Carrey has written a novel, MEMOIRS AND MISINFORMATION, that will be published by Alfred A. Knopf in May 2020. Carrey wrote the book in collaboration with novelist Dana Vachon. Knopf acquired world rights from David Kuhn at Aevitas Creative Management. The novel will be published by Knopf in hardcover and eBook, and by Penguin Random House Audio, on May 5, 2020.

All Penguin Random House employees are invited to see and hear Zadie Smith discuss her new collection of short stories, GRAND UNION—on sale from Penguin Press on October 8—at Barnes & Noble at Union Square on October 8. The event begins at 7:00 PM. Tickets include a copy of GRAND UNION and may be purchased here. Zadie will be joined in conversation with Vinson Cunningham of The New Yorker. After the program, she will sign books.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign, symbolized by pink ribbons, to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. Please find below a selection of some of the best books Penguin Random House publishes to educate and support those confronting breast cancer.

NYT Bestselling Writer R.J. Palacio Reteams with Lionsgate and Mandeville Films Producers for WHITE BIRD: A Wonder Story
1 October 2019

After nurturing the New York Times bestselling novel, WONDER, into a sleeper hit and box office phenomenon that grossed more than $305 million worldwide, global content leader Lionsgate is developing bestselling author R.J. Palacio's forthcoming graphic novel WHITE BIRD: A Wonder Story into a feature film. Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman produced WONDER alongside Palacio, and the three are joining forces again to produce the new feature film. The acquisition was announced today by Nathan Kahane, President of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Penguin Random House publishes four titles, from four different imprints, of the six books on the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize shortlist, Canada’s most prestigious literary award for fiction:

The most popular, provocative, and unforgettable essays from the past fifteen years of Daniel Jones’s New York Times “Modern Love” column are featured in the revised and updated, media tie-in edition of MODERN LOVE: True Stories of Love, Loss and Redemption, on sale from Broadway Books on October 1 (also available as a trade paperback). There are contributions from Andrew Rannells, Ayelet Waldman, Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Veronica Chambers, among others, with stories from the upcoming anthology series – which starts streaming via Amazon Prime beginning on October 15 – starring Tina Fey, Andy Garcia, Anne Hathaway, Catherine Keener, Dev Patel, and John Slattery.

Colleagues in the Washington, D.C. area take note: Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant will be discussing their new book THE GIFT INSIDE THE BOX (Dial Books for Young Readers) in conversation with Daniel H. Pink on Wednesday, October 2, at a Politics & Prose event at Sidwell Friends Meeting House (3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW). The evening is themed “On Generosity” and begins at 7:00 pm. For ticket information, click here.

Two Penguin Random House authors, Valeria Luiselli and Ocean Vuong, have been named 2019 MacArthur Fellows. This prestigious fellowship (often referred to as the “Genuis Grant”) from the MacArthur Foundation honors “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits” and comes with a no-strings-attached grant of $625,000.

Friday Reads: For the Love of Plants
27 September 2019

"It's been proven by quite a few studies that plants are good for our psychological development. If you green an area, the rate of crime goes down. Torture victims begin to recover when they spend time outside in a garden with flowers. So we need them, in some deep psychological sense.... " - Jane Goodall

Celebrating Photographer Bill Cunningham’s Street Style: "Find a Bit of Yourself in This Book"
27 September 2019

BILL CUNNINGHAM: On the Street, published by Clarkson Potter, debuted as a New York Times bestseller earlier this month and represents the first published collection of photographs by the icon of street style, bringing together favorites published in The New York Times alongside never-before-seen work across five decades.

In writing her new book, FASHIONOPOLIS: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, Penguin Press author Dana Thomas delved into how the apparel trade has exploited labor, the environment, and intellectual property, with the simultaneous unfurling of fast fashion, globalization, and the tech revolution. She also traveled the world to discover the visionary designers and companies who are propelling the industry toward a more positive future by reclaiming traditional craft and launching cutting-edge sustainable technologies to produce better fashion.

This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is Patti Smith’s YEAR OF THE MONKEY, published by Knopf on September 24. A profound, beautifully realized memoir in which dreams and reality are vividly woven into a tapestry of one transformative year, Patti Smith says, “YEAR OF THE MONKEY traces my personal experience of 2016, the lunar year of the monkey, through the lenses of travel, dream and imagination. I decided on New Year’s Day to write consistently as I traveled, and it expanded into a somewhat experimental narrative, merging my life concerns with waking dream and fiction.”

Last week millions took part in a global strike focused on climate change and this week the United Nations has convened in New York for its second Climate Action Summit — five years after the first in 2014. The event coincides with the U.N General Assembly as well as the start of Climate Week NYC. In support of this important week-long initiative, our PRH Sustainability Subcommittee (part of our Social Impact Committee) has been hosting a variety of internal events for employees. Climate activist Greta Thunberg told thousands of school strikers in Manhattan: “We are not just some young people skipping school…We are a wave of change.” Thunberg’s impassioned speech to the United Nations General Assembly is being shared widely. In support of addressing the realities and myriad issues of climate change, we offer the following important books. You are encouraged to take a Mindful Green Moment and explore this selection.

Viking Publishes Chanel Miller’s KNOW MY NAME, “60 Minutes” Leads Major Media Coverage
24 September 2019

With the publication of KNOW MY NAME by Viking, “Emily Doe,” the victim of sexual assault behind a Stanford fraternity dumpster in January 2015, emerges under her real name, Chanel Miller, to share the full story of her trauma and recovery. Emotionally honest, unwavering, powerful, and eloquent, Ms. Miller’s memoir is a testament to the power of words to heal and effect change.

In conjunction with the upcoming National Book Awards under its auspices, the National Book Foundation has announced its annual 5 Under 35 honorees, a selection of a handful of fiction writers under the age of 35 “whose debut work promises to leave a lasting impression on the literary landscape.” Among this year’s honorees is Riverhead author Bryan Washington. His debut novel LOT, published in 2019, was called “a profound exploration of the true meaning of borders” by The New York Times Book Review.

Major media, including Good Morning America, The New York Post and USA Today, has covered the “internship” of two real-life penguins at Penguin Random House’s distribution center in Westminster, Maryland. The New York Post article began: “They’re dipping their flippers into publishing. Two African penguins from the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore recently scored dream gigs: summer internships at Penguin Random House, despite never having read a single book between them.” The USA Today coverage was headlined: “A Penguin Interned at Penguin Random House, and it's the best thing we've seen all day.” The national media outlet had further fun: “A real-life penguin waddled its way into in an ‘internship’ at Penguin Random House for a day, and we don't want to jinx it, but we think the penguin is getting hired.”

Are you ready for Batman Day? Saturday, September 21st is the annual celebration of the Dark Knight! This fan-favorite event includes comic book retailers, bookstores, schools and libraries across the world to bring fans exciting festivities.

This past Tuesday saw a unique launch concert for Jacqueline Woodson’s new adult novel, RED AT THE BONE, published by Riverhead on September 17, at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan. The evening began with a private party at The Library at the Public, where Jacqueline hosted guests such as Marlon James, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Cynthia Nixon, and Brit Bennett. Attendees enjoyed a themed cake and stacks of custom-designed RED AT THE BONE broadsides.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by Giving Back!
20 September 2019

Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off on September 15th and we’re excited that our celebration is underway. This month’s goal is to reach new audiences by honoring Hispanic culture and giving back to the community. We want our Hispanic audience to feel heard, seen, and appreciated.

Penguin Young Readers announced today the launch of Penguin Teen’s “We Are YA,” the first Young Adult podcast of its kind from a major publisher that gives creators a platform to speak their minds, dig into sensitive topics, and reflect on the social media zeitgeist. Hosted by Anna Borges, a mental health journalist formerly at Buzzfeed, senior editor at Self Magazine, and author of The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care, “We Are YA” creates a safe space where authors can have honest, thoughtful conversations about sensitive topics. The show launches on September 19^th with “Finding Joy” with Gabby Rivera (Juliet Takes a Breath). A new episode of “We Are YA” will premiere weekly through October and will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor. Upcoming guests include Laurie Halse Anderson, Renée Ahdieh, and Nina LaCour.

This summer, our distribution center in Westminster, MD had the pleasure of welcoming two real-life penguins and filming their (safely monitored) adventures as part of a video project spearheaded by the Consumer Marketing Video team. The concept: A penguin’s internship at Penguin Random House.

Graeme Gibson, celebrated Canadian author and spouse of Margaret Atwood, has died. Nan A. Talese, President & Publisher, Nan A. Talese/Doubleday said: “I was lucky enough to publish two of Graeme’s books – THE BEDSIDE BOOK OF BIRDS and THE BEDSIDE BOOK OF BEASTS, both glorious – and of course all of Peggy’s books for forty years now. They were so happy to be in one another’s lives, and we were so happy to be in theirs. Graeme was a brilliant, gentle soul and will be deeply missed.”

There's a Book for That: Hispanic Heritage Month
18 September 2019

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15, during which time we honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) is October 12 (observed this year in the U.S. on Monday, October 14th). Enjoy the following array of titles for all ages – biography, memoir, cooking, history and fiction – to mark the occasion.

Jen Loja, President & Publisher, Penguin Young Readers, Named a 2019 Save the Children “Changemaker for Children”
16 September 2019

In recognition of her commitment to making children’s books available for children in need, Save the Children, a global humanitarian organization celebrating its 100th year, has named Jen Loja, President & Publisher, Penguin Young Readers, a 2019 “Changemaker for Children.”

Colleagues who are going to be in the vicinity of Washington, DC this weekend, take note: Daniel Markovits, Yale Law professor and Penguin Press author, will be discussing his new book, THE MERITOCRACY TRAP: How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Cllass, and Devours the Elite, on Sunday, September 15, at the Politics & Prose Bookstore (5015 Connecticut Ave NW). This free event begins at 5:00 p.m. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

Friday Reads: Roald Dahl Day
13 September 2019

“If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.” - Roald Dahl Happy Roald Dahl Day! The author was born this day in Wales, thus September 13^th is internationally known as “Roald Dahl Day.” Roald Dahl wrote some of the most beloved books of all time for children, and his darkly comic themes also carried into his adult fiction. In celebration, we invite you on a reading journey into the world of his imagination:

Alfred A. Knopf has acquired world rights to a new novel by Tayari Jones, the bestselling author of An American Marriage, her critically acclaimed fourth book. The new novel, OLD FOURTH WARD, will be published simultaneously in hardcover and ebook by Alfred A. Knopf, and as an audiobook by Penguin Random House Audio. Jordan Pavlin, Vice President and Executive Editor at Knopf, acquired the book from Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. The terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

Margaret Anastas to Launch New Imprint at Viking Children’s Books
12 September 2019

Jen Loja, President, Penguin Young Readers, and Ken Wright, President and Publisher, Viking Children’s Books and Philomel Books, imprints at Penguin Young Readers, announced today that MARGARET ANASTAS will join Viking Children’s Books, where she will launch a to-be-named imprint dedicated to publishing commercial picture books and picture-book franchises. Ms. Anastas was most recently an editorial director at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Ms. Anastas will report to Ken Wright. Her appointment is effective next month.

PRH 2019 Indie 2-Day Transit Shipment Program Now Live
12 September 2019

The 2019 Pre-Holiday Season Officially Begins: Penguin Random House Annual 2-Day Transit Program Now Underway. For many independent booksellers across the U.S., the earliest sign of the coming year-end holidays is not The Nutcracker over the sound system—but the announcement that the annual Penguin Random House 2-Day transit program has begun. The 2019-20 initiative, announced by Jaci Updike, President, U.S. Sales, Penguin Random House, extends through March 2, 2020.

Shall we say a collective “om” for National Yoga Month? September was designated as National Yoga Month through the Department of Health and Human Services in 2008. Although it’s an ancient practice, yoga is well-integrated into contemporary culture and universally acknowledged for its overall health benefits beyond the physical attributes of flexibility and balance. Studies show yoga does everything from fighting anxiety and depression, to reducing inflammation in the body. To help you in your practice we offer the following books for all levels and ages:

Delia Owens’s International Bestseller 'CRAWDADS' to be Published in Spanish by Vintage Español in October
10 September 2019

Delia Owens’s blockbuster bestseller, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, will be published in Spanish by Vintage Español in October, marking the first time the book will be available in a Spanish language edition in the U.S. The Spanish language edition, titled LA CHICA SALVAJE, will be published simultaneously in trade paperback and ebook from Vintage Español, and as an audiobook by Penguin Random House Audio, on October 29. All three editions have been adapted to Latin American Spanish. Vintage Español Publishing Director Cristóbal Pera acquired U.S. and Canadian rights from El Ático de los Libros in Barcelona.

The Mendenhall Valley Public Library in Juneau, Alaska has won a visit from Randall Munroe, #1 New York Times bestselling author of HOW TO: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. The library was selected as the winner of a contest Riverhead launched in June to give millions of xkcd fans a say in which city the former NASA roboticist and creator of the wildly popular stick-figure webcomic should add to his book tour for HOW TO. Washington Post critic Ron Charles covered the contest and winner in his books newsletter.

Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, announced today that Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will team up to celebrate the connections families have across generations with GRANDMA’S GARDENS, a children’s picture book that highlights the special bonds between mothers, grandmothers and the children they love. Illustrated by Carme Lemniscates and inspired by Secretary Clinton’s mother Dorothy, this heartwarming mother-daughter book shares the way gardens can be wonderful places to learn, to discover, to share stories, and to spend time with people you cherish. The book is scheduled for publication on March 31, 2020.

Celebrating Margaret Atwood and Her New Novel THE TESTAMENTS
9 September 2019

The author of the moment is unquestionably Margaret Atwood, whose new novel, THE TESTAMENTS, the sequel to THE HANDMAID’S TALE, is being published by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday in the US and by McClelland & Stewart in Canada on Tuesday, September 10. This worldwide literary event will be celebrated with an exclusive live broadcast of MARGARET ATWOOD: LIVE IN CINEMAS in the UK, US and Canada. Filmed live from the stage of the National Theatre in London, Atwood will be interviewed by broadcaster and author Samira Ahmed in a conversation spanning the length of Atwood’s remarkable career, her diverse range of works, and why she has returned to her seminal handmaid story, 34 years later.

Dear Colleagues, With a breaking heart, I am writing to let you know you that our vibrant, beloved Susan Kamil passed away yesterday from a sudden illness.

As part of our company’s ongoing social impact efforts and in support of Amazon Day on September 5 in Brazil, Penguin Random House and Companhia das Letras announced yesterday a joint donation to the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA).

Taking the lead from this week’s publishing event – DR. SEUSS’S HORSE MUSEUM – we’ve reined in “museum” titles for all ages and interests. Here is fiction and nonfiction worthy of exhibiting!

Penguin Random House and Random House Children’s Books have partnered with First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise committed to equal access to quality education, for a campaign that places diversity, acceptance, and inclusion at the center of First Book’s back-to-school efforts, in response to educator feedback that developing empathy and respect is a priority in increasingly multicultural classrooms.

Erik Larson Reveals Jacket for His Upcoming Book THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE
5 September 2019

Erik Larson has revealed the jacket for his next book, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE: A Saga Of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, scheduled to be published by Crown on March 3, 2020.

Today, Random House Books for Young Readers is publishing the picture book debut from the inimitable Paul McCartney: HEY GRANDUDE! – an action-packed roller-coaster ride that introduces a charming grandfather—the eponymous Grandude—and his four grandchildren. HEY GRANDUDE! is a heartwarming tale of adventure with a twist of magic, inspired by Paul’s own experience as a grandfather.

Did you know September is Classical Music Month? The commemoration was first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1994 to celebrate this “unifying force in our world.” Having conducted a search for the best titles on classical composers and musicians, we invite you to discover an excellent ensemble for your reading and listening pleasure! (You can read Clinton’s entire, rhapsodic, proclamation here).

Atwood Among 5 Penguin Random House Canada Scotiabank Giller Prize 2019 Longlisters
4 September 2019

Margaret Atwood’s THE TESTAMENTS is a semi-finalist for the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize, Canada’s premier annual fiction award, marking her novel’s second international literary-prize recognition this week, following her Booker Prize short listing. It will be published September 10 by McClelland & Stewart in Canada. and by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday in the U.S.

We celebrate the respective publications today and September 10 of Salman Rushdie’s QUICHOTTE and THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood with the happy news that both novels make the shortlist for the 2019 Booker Prize. In all, 4 fiction works from our U.S., Canada, and U.K. imprints have been selected as finalists by the London-based judges for this coveted English-language fiction annual award.

Friday Reads: "How To..."
30 August 2019

“Don't mistake activity for achievement.” ― John Wooden Labor Day weekend is upon us! Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the achievements of American workers. In honor of work, both professional and personal, check out our most popular, provocative and motivating “How To” books:

Penguin Random House had a big presence at this past weekend’s AFROPUNK , August 24-25, at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn. As an AFROPUNK sponsor for the first time and the festival’s sole book publisher, Penguin Random House spent two full days engaging with a vibrant audience excited to learn about our books, buy as many as they could, and also hear about the different kinds of career opportunities at our company.

The fires raging across the Amazon rainforests have caused an international outcry. Tropical forests are home to many species of plants and animals found nowhere else. They are also important refuges for indigenous people, and contain enormous stores of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. Breaking news this week reports that the special communications office for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told CNN that the country would turn down the $20 million in international aid for the fires that was pledged at the G7 summit in France on Monday. According to the Rainforest Action Network, concerned individuals have raised millions of dollars in aid via social media fundraisers. To further illuminate the importance of Amazon’s Rainforest, we present the following titles for adult and younger readers:

All Penguin Random House colleagues are invited to meet and hear Caitlin Moscatello, author of SEE JANE WIN: The Inspiring Story of the Women Changing American Politics, at her free launch event tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 27, at The Strand in Manhattan, beginning at 7:30 pm. Moscatello will be in conversation with Amanda Litman, co-founder and executive director of Run for Something (a PAC that recruits and supports young, diverse progressives running for down-ballot office), so it’s guaranteed to be an interesting and inspiring conversation. C-SPAN-TV will be there to film the event for broadcast.

Riverhead Books returned with another exciting curated reading room at Brooklyn Bridge Park earlier this month. This time, inspired by beloved four-legged companions both fictional and real, Riverhead hosted a special "pup-up" in which readers were invited to bring their furry friends along to join in the fun for the first time!

Téa Obreht Reimagines Myths of the American West with Her "Magical, Otherwordly Storytelling"
26 August 2019

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is Téa Obreht’s INLAND, published by Random House and debuting at #12 on The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list for the week of September 1. Mythical, lyrical, and sweeping in scope, INLAND is grounded in true but little-known history. It showcases all of Obreht’s talents as a writer, as she subverts and reimagines myths of the American West, making them entirely—and unforgettably—her own.

Penguin Random House is a sponsor of AFROPUNK for the first time and will be the sole book publisher at this weekend’s festival, August 24-25, at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn. AFROPUNK represents an influential community of gifted creatives from all backgrounds who express themselves through music, art, film, books, comedy, fashion and more. Originating with the 2003 documentary that highlighted a Black presence in the American punk scene, AFROPUNK is actively redefining the urban experience by centering the unwritten, unwelcome, and unheard-of.

We love Fridays! Are you looking forward to some downtime this weekend? A spot of solitude for reading one of the books everyone’s been talking about? To jog your memory, look no further than this list of independent bookstore bestsellers. We’ve culled the titles that appear on all 9 regional lists this month - 15 superbly written stories, both fiction and nonfiction, with particular affection for Toni Morrison:

As part of their ongoing work to expand and diversify their influencer network, earlier this month Penguin Teen’s digital marketing team put together an exciting influencer mailing celebrating Black voices. The mailing, dubbed “Black Excellence in YA”, featured four YA titles by Black authors and starring Black protagonists, and was sent to some 60 micro- and nano- book influencers who identify as Black, with a combined reach of 334k followers.

Colleagues with middle-grade-aged children looking for a fun weekend family outing are invited to meet and hear author Ibi Zoboi talk about and read from her new Dutton Books for Young Readers title, MY LIFE AS AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, at Books of Wonder in Manhattan (18 W. 18th St.) This is a joint launch event with fellow children's book author Mariama J. Lockington (For Black Girls Like Me).

PRH Library Marketing’s “Borrow.Read.Repeat” Attracts 43K+ Subscribers
21 August 2019

Over the past three years, the Penguin Random House Library Marketing Department has embraced the company’s reader-centric mission, and has devoted itself to reaching out directly to library patrons, in addition to librarians themselves. They softly launched their Borrow.Read.Repeat patron-facing platform in 2016 to keep patrons in the know about the hottest upcoming titles, and began cultivating a following for the BRR blog, e-newsletter, and social platforms with grassroots marketing efforts, including in-person book buzzes at library systems around the country. Since that time, their numerous online campaigns; advertising efforts with library systems, BookPage, and BookRiot; and creative sweepstakes have grown the platform into a powerful book discovery vehicle, with an e-newsletter that is now over 43k subscribers strong.

It’s that time of year… hot, but not too dusty to see a trail of standout fiction set in the American West. Tea Obreht’s just-released novel, INLAND, is rounding up a ton of praise, not the least of which is inclusion on President Obama’s recently posted summer reading list. As The New Yorker’s review said, “With Inland, Obreht makes a renewed case for the sustained, international appeal of the American West.” Allow us to showcase more stories that support the case beautifully:

Penguin Random House colleagues are invited to meet and hear author Karen Abbott talk about her New York Times-bestselling book, THE GHOSTS OF EDEN PARK: The Bootleg King, The Women That Pursued Him, and Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America (Crown Archetype) on Friday, August 23 at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. This free event takes place from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., when Abbott will converse with fellow writers Susannah Cahalan and Ada Calhoun. Following an audience Q&A, Abbott will sign copies of her book.

Rachel Maddow Going on Tour to Discuss Her New Crown Book BLOWOUT
19 August 2019

Rachel Maddow’s BLOWOUT: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth goes on sale from Crown on Tuesday, October 1, and on Thursday, October 3, she kicks off a national tour to discuss her new book, beginning with an event that night at the Streicker Center in New York City. To view her full tour schedule, see the poster below. For ticket information, click here.

Dutton Launches THE MOSQUITO with Lots of Buzzzzzz
16 August 2019

This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is Timothy C. Winegard's THE MOSQUITO: A Human History of our Deadliest Predator, published by Dutton on August 6 and debuting at #9 on The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list for the week of August 25. It’s the definitive book on the deadly pest that has steered the course of human history, killing an estimated half of the total human population and devastating armies, kings, and leaders from the earliest days of human existence.

Friday Reads: Bookstore Romance Day
15 August 2019

Did you know tomorrow, Saturday August 17 is the first annual Bookstore Romance Day? According to the Romance Writers of America-sponsored website: “Bookstore Romance Day is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community.” To join the embrace this weekend, here are some bookseller favorites:

It’s a special week in our cultural history – Woodstock turns 50! The legendary music festival was held August 15–18, 1969. Billed as "an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music" it was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York and attracted an audience of more than 400,000 to hear Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, The Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young and The Who, to name a handful. As Joni Mitchell said, “Woodstock was a spark of beauty” where half-a-million kids “saw that they were part of a greater organism.” If you were there, then you have your own story to tell and relive! If you are curious about what all the lore is about… we’ve got some stage-worthy titles you’ll want to read. Then let the music play!

Penguin Random House, in partnership with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), a national grassroots organization that advocates for diversity in children’s literature, hosted a day-long celebration and awards ceremony on Thursday, August 8, at 1745 Broadway, for the five winners of the 2019 Creative Writing Awards.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. today announced that INLAND by Téa Obreht is the August 2019 selection for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, a monthly book club designed to bring readers in communities across the country together to discuss the most compelling books. Barnes & Noble is selling a special, exclusive Book Club edition of INLAND as well as hosting a free Book Club night for customers to discuss the novel in stores across the country on Tuesday, September 10, beginning at 7:00 pm (local time), about one month after the book goes on sale today Random House. Customers can buy the book now and sign up for the Book Club in their local store or online at BN.com/bnbookclub.

Michael Sheen Returns to Narrate Philip Pullman's THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH Audiobook
12 August 2019

Penguin Random House Audio has announced that award-winning Welsh actor Michael Sheen (Passengers, Frost/Nixon, The Twilight Saga, Good Omens) is narrating the US and UK audiobook edition of Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth (Listening Library; on sale October 3, 2019).

Friday Reads: Walden
9 August 2019

Today marks the 165th anniversary of the publication of Henry David Thoreau’s seminal memoir WALDEN, OR A LIFE IN THE WOODS. Published by Ticknor and Fields in 1854, WALDEN details Thoreau's experiences over the course of two years, two months, and two days in a cabin he built near Walden Pond amidst woodland owned by his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, near Concord, Massachusetts. It’s been noted that Thoreau spent almost four times as long on the WALDEN manuscript as he spent at the cabin. This summer is a fine time to find yourself some solitude to read, or revisit, this classic treatise on living off the grid as well as others inspired by it and the transcendental life of Henry David Thoreau:

This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER, a debut novel by Hazel Prior, published on August 6 by Berkley. Prior is a harpist based in Exmoor, England. Originally from Oxford, she fell in love with the harp as a student and now performs regularly. After placing some of her short stories in literary magazines, Prior says, "I knew I’d only manage to write a whole novel if I wrote about what I loved, what would keep me passionately inspired and involved. So I wrote about harps. I wrote about the countryside. I wrote about characters who don't quite fit in, who long for fulfillment and expression; who battle with all sorts of problems but, in the end, find the freedom to be themselves."

When my plane touched down in New York City two months ago, the only thing that calmed my beating heart was the reminder that I was on my way to the internship of a lifetime. Within 24 restive hours, I had my first flight, first cab ride, first subway ride, first real slice of NYC pizza, and first truly professional experience. With trepidation, I entered 1745 Broadway doe-eyed, revering the literary world and wanting desperately to break into it. I never expected such a warm reception from every person here at PRH and feel honored to have been privy to such a vast source of knowledge.

On Wednesday, July 24, Penguin Random House and Kellogg’s launched the 2019 Feeding Reading program. To kick off the nationwide initiative, beloved New York Times bestselling authors Mary Pope Osborne and Vanessa Williams joined students from New York P.S. 130 at Kellogg’s NYC Café for a snack-time story hour. With Penguin Random House characters, corporate branding, and book covers to be featured on over 80,000,000 Kellogg’s breakfast and snack packages, this is by far the largest direct-to-consumer program Penguin Random House has ever executed.

Attention New York City colleagues: celebrated Knopf author Richard Russo will be appearing at the Strand Bookstore in Manhattan on Thursday, August 8, to discuss his new novel CHANCES ARE …. This free event begins at 7:00 pm.

There's a Book for That: Marshlands
7 August 2019

Have you read or listened to WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING yet? The phenomenal bestseller has struck a chord and many fans are citing the beautiful natural descriptions as one reason this coming-of-age mystery set on the coastline of North Carolina is so appealing. Author Delia Owens is a biologist who was awarded the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing. Marshes make evocative settings in many other Penguin Random House titles and we’ve gathered some of the best:

We are profoundly sad to report that Toni Morrison has died at the age of eighty-eight. She died last night at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. The Bluest Eye, Morrison’s first novel, was published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston in 1970. Morrison followed with Sula in 1973, and nine subsequent novels, all of them published with Alfred A. Knopf.

Colleagues in the vicinity of Pasadena, California are invited to attend a free event on Wednesday, August 7, at Vroman’s Bookstore, where #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais will be discussing his new crime novel A DANGEROUS MAN (G.P. Putnam’s Sons). There will be a reading, Q&A, and book signing in addition to his talk, which begins at 7:00 pm.

Friday Reads: Friendship
2 August 2019

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” — Oprah Winfrey With the proliferation of social media “friendship” has taken on broader meaning. Still, we all know what a good friend is and Sunday, August 4^th is World Friendship Day – as proclaimed by U.S. Congress in 1935. So hug a friend! Research shows that friendship and longevity are linked. To honor the bond, here are some special books – for adults and children – perfect for sharing with your friends…

Vintage Anchor Vice President, Executive Director of Publicity and Social Media has died. Russell Perreault passed away at his Connecticut home on Saturday, July 27. He was fifty-two years old.

Elda Rotor Promotes and Presents Penguin Classics in the Philippines
1 August 2019

The dynamic international reach of Penguin Classics was on full display when Elda Rotor, Vice President, Publisher, Penguin Classics, presented all aspects of the brand and its books at a two-day series of events in the Philippines. She worked closely with Penguin Random House International sales reps Honey De Peralta and Jenny Javier, who helped shape a wonderfully diverse schedule of events and media interviews, including an article, “Philippine Titles Now Penguin Classics,” by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Traveling to Japan? Interested in the culture? BE MORE JAPAN: The Art of Japanese Living, published on July 30 by DK Eyewitness Travel, is a celebration of all things Japanese – from the country’s time-honored ancient traditions to its unique and influential modern culture. Blending both travel information and cultural insights into a single book, BE MORE JAPAN helps readers understand and experience the best of Japan, both at home and abroad.

As July closes, we are taking stock of trending fiction and the girls have it! Pick up one of these new and popular books whose titles have “girls” in common and be prepared to be provoked, moved and entertained to the hilt!

Colleagues spending time in the Hamptons are invited to meet Lauren Gershell, co-author of THAT’S WHAT FRENEMIES ARE FOR (Ballantine). Gershell will be in conversation with Libby Owens and Eva Haber Fisher about Women's Friendships at Book Hampton in East Hampton, NY on Wednesday, July 31. This free event begins at 5:00 p.m.

Ten Speed Press Authors Take Home Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards
29 July 2019

Ten Speed Press authors Robert Simonson, Alex Day, David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald and Ivy Mix are winners of 2019 Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Spirited Awards. Considered to be “the Oscars of the spirits/beverage industry,” the 13th Annual Spirited Awards were presented on July 20 at the Tales of the Cocktail Festival in New Orleans.

How Jim Zub and TSP Launched the New Dungeons & Dragons “Young Adventurer’s Guide” Series
26 July 2019

When Dungeons & Dragons was introduced in 1974, it marked the beginning of a new era of role-playing games, with an inventive mix of adventure, strategy, multi-dimensional characters, and epic tales. Here in 2019, Ten Speed Press has responded to the ever-growing enthusiasm for Dungeons & Dragons, across all age groups, with a new “Young Adventurer’s Guide” series by Jim Zub. These illustrated primers, including WARRIORS & WEAPONS and MONSTERS & CREATURES, offer insights into the many characters you can play in D&D, along with their essential weapons and adventuring tools, as well as beasts and monsters. These books are the perfect entry points for young fans of fantasy eager to become D&D adventurers.

Friday Reads: National Parents Day
26 July 2019

Children should have enough freedom to be themselves - once they've learned the rules. - Anna Quindlen Parents unite! Sunday, July 28^th is the 25^th anniversary of National Parents Day. In the United States, Parents Day is held on the fourth Sunday of July. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the Congressional Resolution into law for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children." As most would agree, parenting is perhaps the most challenging and rewarding of all of life’s endeavors. Whether you are a new or seasoned parent, tackling teething, sleeping, toddlerhood or the teens, we’ve got your back with the following books:

"Madeline’s Picks" for Summer 2019
25 July 2019

“Madeline’s Picks” — a prh.com feature presenting personally curated book selections by Madeline McIntosh, debuted in April. “Madeline’s Picks” builds on the popularity of prh.com’s “Staff Picks,” which are e-mailed to consumers on a regular basis.

Penguin Random House celebrated the 50th anniversary of San Diego Comic-Con with record-breaking sales, over 40 in-booth signings, and countless face-to-face interactions with fans. Featured sales and promotional items included Timothy Zahn‘s THRAWN: TREASON Con Edition, which could be purchased as a hardcover or an audiobook edition; Dungeons & Dragons character creation kits; “Be More RBG” pins from DK; a DUNE series box; early on-sale copies of Pierce Brown’s DARK AGE; plus the latest Fight Evil, Read Books t-shirts, designed by Leela Coleman and in collaboration with Pantheon, received an enthusiastic response. Out of Print exhibited once again this year in an adjacent booth, boasting strong sales for their Star Wars collection and Little Golden Books.

Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, and eight more Penguin Random House authors are among the thirteen longlisted for this year's Booker Prize published by our U.S., Canada, and U.K. imprints. These semi-finalists for this coveted international English-language literary honor were selected by a British judging panel from 151 submitted books published in the U.K. and Ireland between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019:

There's a Book for That: Beer
24 July 2019

Looking for the perfect refreshment to beat the heat and warm the heart? J. Ryan Stradal’s THE LAGER QUEEN OF MINNESOTA - published this week – is sure to quench! As the author traverses the country giving readings and spreading good cheer, here’s an accompanying batch of books on the subject of beer:

DreamWorks is producing a new Netflix Original series based on Random House Children’s Books’ GO, DOG. GO! by P.D. Eastman, edited by Dr. Seuss. The CG-animated series is being created with DHX Media and will premiere in 2020. Executive produced by Adam Peltzman (Odd Squad, WallyKazam), who is also serving as showrunner, the series follows a young pup and her adventures in Pawtson.

Featured Author Event: Owen Matthews (NYC)
22 July 2019

Colleagues in and around New York City are invited to enjoy a reading and signing by Owen Matthews, author of BLACK SUN (Doubleday). This free event takes place on Tuesday, July 23, at Rizzoli Bookstore, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Make that a double scoop… July is National Ice Cream Month! Is there a more favorite summer treat? We think not! Artisanal ice cream is all the rage, but the round-the-block lines are daunting. Skip the line this weekend! With the books we are serving up, now you can wow friends and family with homemade ice cream, gelato, sorbets and the like. What’s more, you’ll learn about flavors to savor, as well as the business, science and culture of ice cream.

RHCB’s Random House Graphic Imprint Announces Inaugural Publishing List
18 July 2019

Random House Graphic (RHG), a new imprint dedicated to publishing graphic novels for kids and teens of every age and interest, fiction and nonfiction, will launch its first list in Spring 2020, it was announced by Gina Gagliano, Publishing Director, Random House Graphic. The list includes four titles of varied genres that span from young chapter books to YA, reflecting the rapidly growing popularity of the format among young readers. This inaugural list announcement was made in coordination with the launch of the Random House Graphic website, now live at rhkidsgraphic.com.

Featured Author Event: Jasmine Guillory (Denver)
17 July 2019

Colorado colleagues are cordially invited to a Romance Readings event, with novelist Jasmine Guillory, who will discuss and read from her new Berkley book, THE WEDDING PARTY. Fellow Berkley author Alexa Martin, whose novels were inspired by the eight years she spent as an NFL wife, will also appear and read an excerpt her latest title, FUMBLED. Both authors will sign their books at this free event , which will take place beginning at 2;00 p.m. on Sunday, July 21 at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver.

Colleagues in and around the Bay Area are invited to join Penguin Press author Margaret O’Mara for a lunchtime discussion of her new book, THE CODE: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America. The event , which also includes a book signing, begins at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at Book Passage's Ferry Building location in San Francisco.

Before Andy Weir became recognized internationally as the #1 New York Times-bestselling, award-winning author of THE MARTIAN (Crown/Broadway), he spent his free time writing fanfiction and web comics. With the help of illustrator Sarah Andersen, one of his early web comics has been adapted into a lushly illustrated new graphic novel, CHESHIRE CROSSING, published by Ten Speed Press on July 9.

Written, illustrated, and hand-lettered by Jimmy Kimmel himself, THE SERIOUS GOOSE is an interactive picture book that challenges readers of all ages to turn a very Serious Goose into a very Silly Goose, and will be published on December 3, 2019, it was announced today by Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher, Random House Children’s Books. North American rights were negotiated with Suzanne Gluck, William Morris Entertainment. The book will release with a first printing of 500,000 copies.

Sandford, THE CHALK MAN 2019 ThrillerFest Honorees
16 July 2019

John Sandford, the beloved #1 bestselling Putnam author of more than thirty novels in the respective series featuring relentless law-enforcement officials Lucas Davenport (Prey) and Virgil Flowers, was honored as the 2019 ThrillerMaster at the International Thriller Writers (ITW) July 13 closing ceremony, concluding the 14th annual five-day ThrillerFest Convention in Manhattan. Earlier that Saturday, Sandford sat for a rare and revealing interview, conducted by his long-time editor, now-retired Putnam Associate Publisher and Editor in Chief Neil Nyren.

Our Three Finalists for the 2019 George Washington Prize
15 July 2019

Finalists have been announced for the 2019 George Washington Prize, which recognizes the "best written works on the nation's founding era, especially those that have the potential to advance broad public understanding of early American history."

We know you love reading, but…what’s your favorite podcast? It’s hard to keep up with what to listen to with new series’ launching at such a rapid pace. Did you know many of the most informative and entertaining podcast hosts are also authors? We think if you like their take on things - their smarts and style - you’ll surely enjoy their books!

As we continue to support diversity and inclusion, Penguin Random House is piloting a Diversity Library program with ten Title One high schools from across New York City’s five boroughs. Each institution selected to be part of the program will receive a total of 20 titles by diverse authors geared towards high-school-aged students, published by Random House Children’s Books and Penguin Young Readers imprints. The books will become a part of the schools’ libraries.

Basketball and book clubs? Not a common combination, but an important one to Ekpe Udoh. A professional player for the National Basketball Association’s Utah Jazz, Mr. Udoh is a voracious reader and has his own book club, which attracted the interest of Michelle Obama earlier this year. “Do I get a vote?” Mrs. Obama tweeted to Mr. Udoh’s request for help choosing his next book. “Of course, no voter suppression here! We will read BECOMING next,” he replied. “At #EkpesBookClub we encourage the thoughts of individuals from all walks of life. It would be an honor if you could stop by for a discussion or join our Twitter discussion.”

Are your kids languishing on the couch this summer? Glued to their screens while you try to place books in their hands or tout the wonders of the out-of-doors or even getting together with friends? We hear talk of the “summer slide” each season and most schools have summer reading requirements. Possibly, the young ones in your life are bookworms rejoicing that they finally have more time for non-assigned reading. Whatever the case, the following hot new releases are sure to satisfy readers of all ages, levels and tastes and great to take on trips!

PRH Partners with Drag Queen Story Hour to Produce Literary Drag Show at NYPL
9 July 2019

Last month, Penguin Random House partnered with Drag Queen Story Hour to produce an exciting Literary Drag Show as part of The Library After Hours: Pride edition. Hosted by the New York Public Library with support from the Penguin Random House LGBTQ Network, the June 21 show featured performances by Harmonica Sunbeam, Miz Jade, Witti Repartee, Lee VaLone, Ash Blight, and Cétait BonTemps.

Berkley author Kali Wallace has had a lifelong passion for science and storytelling, both shining through brilliantly in her new novel, SALVATION DAY, released on Tuesday, July 9. Robert J. Sawyer, a Hugo Award Winner and fellow Berkley author, praised her book as “one of the major science-fiction debuts of 2019.” In this incredibly fast-paced, claustrophobic thriller, a lethal virus is awoken on an abandoned spaceship set in a universe where humanity has been forced to rebuild after near extinction.

Colleagues in and around NYC are invited to join Optimism Press for a special event featuring the new imprint’s very first author, Summer Rayne Oakes. She will be in conversation with imprint founder, Chief Optimist and New York Times bestselling author Simon Sinek at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Edible Academy Amphitheater (2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx ) on Wednesday, July 10, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., to celebrate the much-anticipated publication of HOW TO MAKE A PLANT LOVE YOU: Cultivating Green Space in Your Home and Heart. As part of Wellness Wednesdays at the NYBG, Oakes will be talking all-things plants and the importance of bringing nature indoors, making for a dynamic conversation between her and Sinek. To RSVP for this event, click here.

Are you ready for the long holiday weekend? Looking for something relevant to read? The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. To honor the occasion, this week we turn to no lesser topic than America itself with something for everyone. So here’s to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

Christopher Myers Accepts the 2019 Children's Literature Legacy Award for his Father, Walter Dean Myers
2 July 2019

Walter Dean Myers is the posthumous recipient of the 2019 Children’s Literature Legacy Award honoring an author or illustrator, published in the United States, whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. His numerous and award-winning works include “Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff” (Viking, 1975) and “On a Clear Day” (Ember, 2015).

Meacham and McGraw Explore the Power of Song to Unite and Shape Our Nation
1 July 2019

As we near the 4^th of July holiday, this week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is, appropriately, the New York Times bestselling Random House title SONGS OF AMERICA: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nation by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw. From “The Star-Spangled Banner” to “Born in the U.S.A.,” this creative partnership between a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and a chart-topping country music superstar takes readers on a moving and insightful journey through eras in American history and the songs and performers that inspired us. Meacham chronicles our history, exploring the stories behind the songs, and McGraw reflects on them as an artist and performer. Their perspectives combine to create a unique view of the role music has played in uniting and shaping a nation.

PRH and WNDB Announce 2019 Creative Writing Awards Winners
1 July 2019

The winners of the 2019 Creative Writing Awards have been announced by Penguin Random House, in partnership with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), a national grassroots organization that advocates for diversity in children’s literature. Now in its twenty-sixth year, the competition for the first time was expanded beyond greater New York to become a nationwide search, awarding scholarships and other resources that will recognize and encourage the next generation of talented writers.

Colleagues planning to head to the Hamptons over the July 4th weekend are invited to meet author Cristina Alger, who will be signing copies of her new Putnam book, GIRLS LIKE US, on Saturday, July 6, at Berry & Co. in Sag Harbor, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Through the lenses of protest, power, and pride, WE ARE EVERYWHERE by Matthew Reimer and Leighton Brown, published by Ten Speed Press, is a rich, sweeping and empowering photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement. The creators and curators of the popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, Reimer and Brown combine exhaustively researched narrative with meticulously curated photographs. The resulting coffee-table-sized volume traces queer activism from its roots in late-nineteenth-century Europe–long before the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969–to the gender warriors leading the charge today.

On Monday, June 24, at the Tishman Auditorium in New York, Random House brought together four leading voices in cultural journalism to celebrate their highly anticipated summer books and discuss the ways in which pop culture — everything from binge-worthy TV to ubiquitous celebrities to the rise of athleisure — influences how we behave as a society. Co-hosted by the New School's Creative Writing Program and Lang Literary Studies Program, the event welcomed some of the most sought-after journalists and emerging authors for an engaging discussion.

There's a Book for That: Chernobyl
26 June 2019

HBO’s acclaimed “Chernobyl” miniseries has just been reported by Forbes Magazine as the highest audience-scored show in history on IMDB (International Movie Database). With talk and interest in the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster seeing such a resurgence, we present the following books on the topic:

Australia is a long way from New York, but when Stephen Morrow, Vice President, Executive Editor, Dutton, recently participated in the Australia Council for the Arts’ Visiting International Publishers 2019 program, it felt like a homecoming. Stephen is originally from the continent Down Under and was selected to be among the 12 visiting international publishing representatives contingent, which also included Kokila Editor Joanna Cárdenas.

Don’t miss out, Bay Area colleagues. Jamil Zaki will discuss his Crown book, THE WAR FOR KINDNESS: Building Empathy in a Fractured World, on Wednesday, June 26, at the Commonwealth Club. His talk begins at 7:00 pm, followed by a book signing at 8:00 pm.

UNDER ONE ROOF Brings Storytellers Together in Celebration of World Pride
25 June 2019

Penguin Random House hosted UNDER ONE ROOF, a live storytelling event in celebration of World Pride, on Thursday, June 13, at The Ace Hotel in New York City. The evening featured a wide spectrum of queer literature and the storytellers who reinforce the importance of publishing a diversity of voices. Filled with ebbing moments of reflection and jubilance, audience members heard from some of our leading authors in queer literature.

Ballantine's Sara Weiss Tells Why Linda Holmes’s RomCom Novel is Your Next Summer Read
25 June 2019

Linda Holmes, the host of NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour” podcast, has written a sparkling debut novel, EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER, published by Ballantine, set in a sleepy seaside town in Maine, about an unlikely relationship between a young woman who’s lost her husband and a major league baseball pitcher who’s lost his game. Meet recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake, who rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash, and Dean Tenney, a former major league baseball pitcher, who can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. Evvie and Dean must reckon with their current realities and their murky pasts—the friendships they’ve damaged, the secrets they’ve kept—but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance—up until the last out.

Featured Author Event: Lauren Mechling (NYC)
21 June 2019

Mark your calendars New York-based colleagues. Author/journalist/editor Lauren Mechling is presenting her debut adult novel, HOW COULD SHE, published by Viking, on Thursday, July 27, at McNally Jackson Booksellers on Prince Street in NYC. Mechling will be in conversation with author/journalist Rumaan Alam at this free event, which begins at 7:00 pm.

SJP for Hogarth Author Claire Adam Wins Desmond Elliott Prize for GOLDEN CHILD
21 June 2019

Claire Adam has won the 12th annual Desmond Elliott Prize for her debut novel, GOLDEN CHILD, published in the U.S. by SJP for Hogarth. Adam takes home the £10,000 (about $12,700) prize, which the Daily Telegraph calls the “UK’s most prestigious award for first-time novelists.”

Colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., take note: Knopf author Bren Smith will be discussing his new book EAT LIKE A FISH: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer at Politics & Prose Bookstore at the Wharf on Monday, June 24. Smith will be in conversation with Miriam Goldstein, managing director for Energy and Environmental Policy and the director for Ocean Policy at American Progress. This free event is from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Poet Ocean Vuong’s just-published novel, ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS (Penguin Press), is being praised far and wide - as is the audiobook edition, which is read by the author. Currently on tour, Ocean Vuong’s bookstore audiences are standing-room only. He speaks eloquently about the power of language, about the craft and writers he admires. In that spirit, we turn this week to the acknowledgment section of the novel where Ocean Vuong gives “a deep bow to the following artists and musicians whom I leaned on, repeatedly, while writing this book.” The poets and writers he names there, and elsewhere, provide a master class to their readers. Among them…

Sally Rooney Wins Encore Award for NORMAL PEOPLE
20 June 2019

Sally Rooney has won the Royal Society of Literature's £10,000 (about $12,590) Encore Award for best second novel of the year for NORMAL PEOPLE (Hogarth). The Royal Society of Literature, founded in 1820, is a UK charity dedicated to the advancement of literature. The 2019 judges are RSL Fellows Edmund Gordon, Nikita Lalwani and Eley Williams.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s CITY OF GIRLS is #1 Pick on Amazon’s “Best Books of the Year So Far” List
19 June 2019

Elizabeth Gilbert’s CITY OF GIRLS, published by Riverhead, was named the #1 pick, topping Amazon’s selections for its Best Books of the Year So Far. Sarah Gelman, Editorial Director, Amazon Books, said of the novel, “It has so many elements that make reading fun – the sparkle of youth, indiscretions, sassy characters, and freedom in a city that doesn’t sleep – perfect summer reading in our book.”

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ) has launched their #goPurple campaign. According to ALZ, 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The more people know about Alzheimer's, the more action can be taken. In support of all who struggle with dementia, we present the following books: memoirs from beloved authors, groundbreaking health and science titles and stories for younger readers in order to educate as well as offer hope for the future:

Colorado colleagues in the vicinity of Denver are in for a treat. Celebrated author James Ellroy will be presenting his latest novel, THIS STORM, published by Alfred A Knopf, at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver on Colfax Street on Friday, June 21. This free event begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Bertelsmann Foundation and Humanity in Action have teamed up with Andrew Keen – host, author and Silicon Valley entrepreneur – to present “How to Fix Democracy,” a video and podcast series that features interviews on democracy’s past, present and future. Launched in January 2019, this series explores why democracy is not delivering in Europe and North America and how it can be reinvigorated.

Knopf’s THE LONG TAKE by Robin Robertson Wins Walter Scott Prize
18 June 2019

Robin Robertson’s THE LONG TAKE, published by Alfred A. Knopf, has won the £25,000 (about $31,470) 2019 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which "celebrates quality, and innovation of writing in the English language, and is open to books published in the previous year in the U.K., Ireland or the Commonwealth... the majority of the storyline must have taken place at least 60 years ago." Robertson is the first Scot and first poet to win the prize in its 10-year history.

Featured Author Event: Mona Awad (Denver)
17 June 2019

Attention colleagues in Colorado: Mona Awad, author of BUNNY, published by Viking, is appearing at Tattered Cover Book Store on Colfax Avenue in Denver on Wednesday, June 19. Awad’s talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

Random House Author Emily Ruskovich Wins International Dublin Literary Award for IDAHO
17 June 2019

IDAHO by Emily Ruskovich (Random House) has won the 2019 International Dublin Literary Award, which "aims to promote excellence in world literature" by honoring a novel written in English or translated into English. The €100,000 (about $112,890) award represents one the world’s largest literary prizes. Sponsored by Dublin City Council and managed by Dublin City Libraries, the competition featured a total of 141 titles, nominated by libraries in 115 cities across 41 countries. Ruskovich is only the fourth American to win the award in its 24-year history.

Bill Loverd, who, as the Director of Publicity at Knopf Publishers for nearly forty years, championed the work of some of the most distinguished writers of the last half of the twentieth century, died yesterday at his home in New Jersey. He was 78. The cause was cancer.

Friday Reads: Walking
14 June 2019

Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. —Søren Kierkegaard

Come out on Monday, June 17, to Books Are Magic in Brooklyn to see New York Times bestselling author Esi Edugyan discuss her latest book, WASHINGTON BLACK, published by Knopf/Vintage. This free, one-hour event begins at 7:30 p.m., and Edugyan will be signing copies of her book after her talk.

Featured Author Event: Ocean Vuong (San Francisco)
14 June 2019

Colleagues based in the Bay Area are invited to join poet/author Ocean Vuong for a discussion of his new Penguin Press book, ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS, with Penguin author Rebecca Solnit, on Tuesday, June 18, at Green Apple Books on the Park in San Francisco. The event begins at 7:30 pm.

Following the success of the inaugural Writing Business Bootcamp in Philadelphia last fall, the Authors Guild Foundation and Penguin Random House continued their partnership, bringing the bootcamp series to underserved communities across the country, including Cincinnati, OH, Decatur, GA, New Orleans, LA, Seattle, WA, and Santa Fe, NM earlier this year. As the initiative’s exclusive publishing partner, Penguin Random House sponsored two employees per city to share their publishing expertise and work experience with diverse groups of aspiring authors.

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is HOW TO SKIMM YOUR LIFE, published by Ballantine on June 11. Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisburg, founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm, reveal, “This book’s journey really began four years ago. We didn’t know what to read over Memorial Day weekend, and we decided that our Skimm’rs could probably relate. So we started a section in the Daily Skimm e-mail newsletter called ‘Skimm Reads,’ where we recommended a book we thought our audience might want to have for the long weekend. Our audience liked it, so we recommended another one the next week. Fast-forward to today, and we’re humbled to say that theSkimm is a leader in recommendations, the biggest one being books. HOW TO SKIMM YOUR LIFE is the embodiment of our mission, and covers it all: personal finance, career, stress management, global politics, civic engagement, and more. We hope that you use it as a reference tool as you navigate the big moments in your life. We hope that you share it with a friend. You never know when you’ll end up starting a business together.”

There's a Book for That: Father's Day
12 June 2019

I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom. - Umberto Eco Sunday, June 16, is Father’s Day. Like all profound relationships, the one between father and child is complex. To honor the fathers in our lives, we’ve assembled some of the best books that dad may like on a wide range of subjects, with even some fiction thrown in for good measure. Whether dad’s a birder, history buff, chef, armchair scientist, runner, film and/or jazz connoisseur we’ve got books for those interests and more!

In the ongoing spirit of giving back to our communities, Penguin Random House has been a longtime supporter of Shakespeare in the Park, one of the cornerstones of the Public Theater’s mission to bring performing arts to the people of New York City. Since 1962, over five million have experienced more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals.

Featured Author Event: Ryan Jacobs (Boulder, CO)
11 June 2019

Colorado colleagues in the vicinity of Boulder, take note: Author, writer, and editor Ryan Jacobs will be discussing his book THE TRUFFLE UNDERGROUND: A Tale of Mystery, Mayhem and Manipulation in the Shadowy Market of the World's Most Expensive Fungus, published by Clarkson Potter, on Friday, June 14. This free event will be taking place at Boulder Book Store, and Jacobs will sign copies of his book following his talk.

Did you know that June is Audiobook Month? As the recent Audio Publishers Association survey revealed, 50% of Americans have now listened to an audiobook. Readers who love print books love audiobooks, too, and book clubs often supplement their reading with audio. The advent of podcasts has revived the oral tradition for a new generation and the stigma is off… audiobook listening is not cheating! Here are some of the best new releases for your weekend and summer road trip listening:

Lambda Literary, the nation’s leading organization advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) literature, has announced the winners of its 31st Annual Lambda Literary Awards (the “Lammys”), with Riverhead author Masha Gessen receiving the Visionary Award, and Beacon Press author Imani Perry winning the LGBTQ Nonfiction Prize.

Attention colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, DC: Knopf author Martin Walker will be discussing his new book THE BODY IN THE CASTLE WELL during a special event at the Politics & Prose Bookstore in DC on Monday, June 10. This stop on Walker’s author tour kicks off at 7:00 p.m.

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. First, President Bill Clinton declared June "Gay & Lesbian Pride Month" on June 2, 2000. In 2009, President Barack Obama declared June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. To honor the occasion, we’ve selected some of the best nonfiction on the topic, including new releases, historical perspectives and young readers titles:

Meryl Streep to Narrate New Audiobook Recording of E.B. White’s Classic CHARLOTTE’S WEB
5 June 2019

Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep headlines a new full-cast audiobook recording of E. B. White’s classic children’s book CHARLOTTE’S WEB, on sale October 29, from Listening Library.

With the 2019 major league baseball season in full swing, our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is PLAY HUNGRY: The Making of a Baseball Player, published by Penguin Press on June 4. Pete Rose tells the personal, inside story of how he became one of the greatest and most controversial players in the history of baseball. He shattered records that were thought to be unbreakable. During the 1970s, he was the leader of the Big Red Machine, the Cincinnati Reds team that dominated the game. But he’s also the greatest player who may never enter the Hall of Fame because of his lifetime ban from the sport. Perhaps no other ballplayer’s story is so representative of the triumphs and tragedies of our national pastime.

Our Igloo Volunteer Spotlight features Penguin Random House colleagues who lend their support, time, and compassion to charitable and/or not-for-profit organizations in communities near and far. These interviews provide insights into employees’ experiences, as well as their passion and commitment to helping others in need. Today, we present Kimberly “KAZ” Woods, Director of Sales, Higher Education, Penguin Random House. She recently returned from a volunteer service project in Ethiopia.

Chautauqua Institution announced that Anjali Sachdeva’s ALL THE NAMES THEY USED FOR GOD: Stories (Spiegel & Grau/Random House) is the 2019 winner of The Chautauqua Prize, an annual award that celebrates a book of fiction or literary/narrative nonfiction that provides a richly rewarding reading experience and honors the author for a significant contribution to the literary arts.

The Binc Foundation and Penguin Random House announced that the Blue Manatee Literacy Project and Bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio has been awarded the inaugural Indies with Impact prize. Through this award, Penguin Random House recognizes, supports, and strengthens the connections bookstores have with their neighbors by providing funding for the winner’s community-based initiative.

Friday Reads: Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
31 May 2019

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Penguin Random House has a wealth of related novels for you to discover. We recommend you immerse yourself in the characters, settings and cultural themes of the following new and noteworthy titles, including several for young adults:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, observed at this time each year since 1949, when it was established by Mental Health America. To show support, we urge you to pick up a book and learn about the people who deal with mental illness daily, as sufferers or caretakers, and to consider the signs.

In January 2020, Viking, Penguin Books, and Pamela Dorman Books will debut a new publishing program that will live across all three imprints and focus on inspiration, personal development, lifestyle, and healthy living—Viking Life, Penguin Life, Pamela Dorman Books Life.

It is with great sadness that Penguin Press shares the news that Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and bestselling author Tony Horwitz died suddenly on May 27 in Washington, D.C. of an apparent cardiac arrest. He was 60 years old.

On Monday, May 27^th, we pay tribute to the American men and women who have died in service to our country. To honor the occasion we have curated a list of nonfiction titles – for adults and young readers - that honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military.

Our Winners of 2019 IACP Awards
23 May 2019

The International Association of Culinary Professionals announced the winners of its prestigious IACP awards, recognizing the very best food writing and publishing of the year, from cookbooks and journalism to photography and digital media, at the annual IACP conference on May 18 in Manhattan. Our imprints Ten Speed Press and Lorena Jones Books, America’s Test Kitchen, a PRHPS client, as well as our online food and cooking magazine, TASTE, took home awards.

Penguin Random House colleagues based at our Westminster distribution center had 4 teams participate in the Literacy Council of Carroll County’s 20th Annual Spelling Bee last month.

Riverhead Sets Fundraising Record: $10,000 Raised for NYC Anti-Violence Project
23 May 2019

Team Riverhead Books ran in the Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 18 to support the New York City Anti-Violence Project. In less than two weeks, the team was able to raise over $10,000 for the nonprofit, breaking their own fundraising record.

On Saturday, May 18, groundbreaking speculative fiction author William Gibson was named the 35th Damon Knight Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). The award was presented by SFWA President Cat Rambo at the 54th Annual Nebula Conference and Awards Ceremony in Woodland Hills, California.

Penguin Random House Invests In Growth Of Leading Independent Publisher Sourcebooks
22 May 2019

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE INVESTS IN GROWTH OF LEADING INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER SOURCEBOOKS Companies To Forge Unique & Collaborative Partnership (Naperville, Illinois and New York, May 22, 2019)—Sourcebooks, one of the country’s fastest-growing independent publishers, has sold a significant minority-ownership stake to Penguin Random House. The transaction, which was announced today by Dominique Raccah, Sourcebooks’ CEO and Founder, and Madeline McIntosh, Penguin Random House U.S. CEO, will create a performance- and growth-oriented partnership between the two companies. Sourcebooks retains its majority ownership of 55%, with no changes in its leadership, management, publishing autonomy, or entrepreneurial culture. Penguin Random House now owns 45%, as a collaborative investor in the Illinois-based company. Terms were not disclosed.

RHCB to Publish Marie Kondo’s Debut Children’s Picture Book in Fall 2019
22 May 2019

International tidying superstar and New York Times bestselling author Marie Kondo will bring her unique method to young readers in KIKI & JAX: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship, a charming picture book about how tidying up creates space for joy in all parts of your life, co-written and illustrated by beloved children’s book veteran Salina Yoon, it was announced today by Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher, Random House Children’s Books. North American rights were negotiated with Neil Gudovitz, Gudovitz & Company Literary Agency (for Marie Kondo) and Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency (for Salina Yoon). The book will release with a 250,000-copy first printing on November 5, 2019 and be published by the Crown Books for Young Readers imprint.

Riverhead Celebrates Jacqueline Woodson’s RED AT THE BONE at Weeksville Heritage Center
22 May 2019

Riverhead Books hosted a magical evening in Brooklyn earlier this month to celebrate National Book Award-Winning author Jacqueline Woodson’s stunning new adult novel, RED AT THE BONE, which will be published by Riverhead on September 17. The festivities were held at Weeksville Heritage Center, a historic house museum in Crown Heights dedicated to preserving the history of the 19th century African American community of what was known a century ago as Weeksville, Brooklyn—one of America’s many free black communities. Four wood-frame homes from the 1860s still exist, and have been restored to reflect the different eras of Weeksville’s history.

Last Sunday night’s “Game of Thrones” series finale on HBO drew a staggering 19.3 million viewers. The conclusion to the cultural phenomenon that began 8 years ago had mixed reviews. So mixed, in fact, that a petition demanding a rewrite of the last season has garnered more than 1 million signatures as of this post. The show is unique in that it ended before the book series has. The Winds of Winter, the sixth book in what Martin hopes will be a seven-book series, still has yet to be published. Thus, interest in the SONG OF FIRE AND ICE series is piqued and viewers and readers may enter the realm where it all began via the books below:

Random House’s Modern Library has launched a new trade paperback series, Modern Library Torchbearers, to "honor a more inclusive vision of classic books" by "recognizing women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance."

Crown to Publish New Rachel Maddow Book, BLOWOUT, in October
21 May 2019

Rachel Maddow unveiled the title, cover and publication date of her upcoming book last night on her MSNBC TV program, The Rachel Maddow Show. BLOWOUT: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth, will be published by Crown on October 1.

RHCB and Dr. Seuss Enterprises Launch 2nd Annual #SeussWordChallenge
21 May 2019

With the success of last year’s first-ever Dr. Seuss’s Word Challenge (#SeussWordChallenge), which resulted in over 20 million Dr. Seuss words being read by young readers over the summer, Random House Children’s Books (RHCB) and Dr. Seuss Enterprises (DSE) are upping the ante this year and challenging readers to read even more than they did in 2018. This year’s goal is reading 250 million Dr. Seuss words nationwide. Consumers can enter the challenge via Seussville.com and track their progress from May 21 to July 15.

Penguin Young Readers hosted a celebration for the launch of Kokila, a new imprint dedicated to centering stories from the margins, on Monday, May 13, at Housing Works Bookstore Café in New York City. The imprint’s debut list includes works from Newbery Honor winner Veera Hiranandani, Pablo Cartaya, Matthew A. Cherry, Vashti Harrison, Zeke Peña, Randy Ribay, and Isabel Quintero.

We’ve got the music in us this week! With the attention Ani Di Franco is getting for her new memoir, NO WALLS AND THE RECURRING DREAM, it’s a good time to share the stage for some encores. The following memoirs, from some of the most iconic musicians, have extraordinary tales to tell (often with lyrics) and will surely move readers to listen to their music with enhanced appreciation:

Vintage Español will publish the Spanish-language edition of Michael Wolff’s upcoming book, SIEGE: Trump Under Fire (ASEDIO: Trump en el punto de mira), releasing the Spanish-language eBook edition on June 4, and the Spanish-language trade paperback original as well as the audio edition in Spanish on June 11.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month – officially proclaimed in 2006 by President George W. Bush to honor the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. News outlets have been covering the rise in anti-Semitic violent attacks in the US after two deadly synagogue attacks within months of each other. The following books pay tribute to Jewish Americans across a range of subjects and genres for adult and young readers:

Ani DiFranco Shares Her Passion and Hard-Won Wisdom on the Page
10 May 2019

When celebrated singer-songwriter and social activist Ani DiFranco was conceiving her memoir, NO WALLS AND THE RECURRING DREAM, she admitted, “Writing songs is not really about discipline. There’s work, yes, but also to really get it right the clouds must part and a shaft of light come down, in a living moment things must align. Writing prose has already presented itself differently to me. It feels like sitting in front of a huge slab of timeless stone and staring unfocused until a figure appears, and then chipping … and chipping, and then again un-focusing the eyes. A much more Zen exercise in its ritual and manual labor. I am very excited about exploring this new kind of writing and making a book.”

Take time to the smell the roses… and to appreciate mothers this Sunday. We happen to like the smell of a book’s pages as they turn. Our bouquet of one dozen “rosy” reads includes memoir, romance, crime, history, poetry and literary fiction. Each book as unique as mom and her tastes:

Penguin Random House hosted students from the City University of New York (CUNY) for a day-long seminar on the publishing industry, professional development, and creative expression, entitled DREAMing Out Loud, on May 3. The career symposium was organized in collaboration with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and PEN America, and part of the DREAMing Out Loud Writing Workshop, a program aimed at students of diverse immigration statuses enrolled at such CUNY schools as Lehman College, Queens College, and Medgar Evers College. In addition to guidance from Teaching Artists and notable authors, the participants in the program receive one-on-one editorial mentoring from professional writers.

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2019 Restaurant and Chef Awards on Monday, May 6, in Chicago. We are thrilled to share that among the winners are culinary artists with published books or who have forthcoming books from Penguin Random House imprints Alfred A Knopf, Ten Speed Press and Lorena Jones Books.

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection, FURIOUS HOURS: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep, published by Alfred A. Knopf on May 7, has two intertwined mysteries at its heart – a shocking true-crime story, and the mystery of why, despite her fascination with the case, copious research, and years of effort, Harper Lee was never able to write a book about it.

There's a Book for That: Biodiversity
8 May 2019

“It is not too late to make a difference” is a motivating note of hopefulness in the United Nations report, Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’, which finds that up to 1 million animal and plant species are on the verge of extinction, and that the rate of extinction is accelerating. Biodiversity is the key to a healthy planet and we’ve known about the damage humans have done for decades. Bees, bats, Emperor Penguins, porpoises are some of the endangered species and coral reefs are in dire straits. Citizens of the world need to be informed and work together to maintain our biodiversity. To that end, we offer the following array of excellent titles on the topic:

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded Netflix’s The Who Was? Show, a live-action sketch comedy series for children adapted from Penguin Young Readers’ #1 New York Times bestselling biography series, Who Was?, a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Live Action Program, on Sunday, May 5. The show received nominations in several other categories, including: Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series; Outstanding Writing for a Children’s, Preschool Children’s, Family Viewing; Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design for a Live Action Program; and Outstanding Single Camera Editing.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights announced the 2019 recipients of its 2019 Book & Journalism Awards, and the RFK Book Award went to Penguin Press author Shane Bauer for AMERICAN PRISON: A Reporter’s Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights President Kerry Kennedy said, “Shane Bauer’s riveting expose of the criminal legal system exemplifies my fathers’ moral imagination. This year’s journalists serve our country with undaunted bravery at a time when those who speak truth to power are dismissed as dissidents rather than lauded as the patriots they are.”

Colleagues in and around NYC are invited to attend a special appearance by New York Times bestselling author Chris Pavone, on Wednesday, May 8, at Barnes & Noble Tribeca (97 Warren St.). Beginning at 7:00 p.m., Pavone will talk about his new novel, THE PARIS DIVERSION, published by Crown, with a Q&A to be followed by a book signing. For more details about this event, click here.

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial colleagues in Florida take note: Dutton author Brian Jay Jones will be discussing his new book, BECOMING DR. SEUSS: Theodor Geisel and the Making of the American Imagination, on Tuesday, May 7 at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. The event starts at 8:00 p.m.

DOOKU: Jedi Lost Random House Audio Exclusive On Sale Now: Watch Trailer
3 May 2019

Set in a galaxy far, far away, DOOKU: Jedi Lost (Star Wars) delves into the history of the sinister Count Dooku in this Random House Audio exclusive, released on Tuesday, April 30. Caught between the world of the Jedi, the ancient responsibilities of his lost home, and the alluring power of the relics, Dooku struggles to stay in the light—even as the darkness begins to fall.

“Before Breakfast” Podcast Hosted by Author Laura Vanderkam Crosses 1 Million Downloads
3 May 2019

Before Breakfast, a podcast hosted by Portfolio author Laura Vanderkam and developed in partnership with How Stuff Works and PRH’s Author Platforms team, has reached more than 1 million downloads just one month after its release.

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Acquires Ediciones Salamandra
3 May 2019

The global trade books publishing group reinforces its leadership in the Spanish-language market, both in Spain and Latin America Ediciones Salamandra’s author catalog includes J.K. Rowling, Andrea Camilleri and Zadie Smith Barcelona, 3 May 2019—Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, the global Spanish-language division of Penguin Random House, has signed an agreement to acquire leading independent publisher Ediciones Salamandra, established in October 2000 in Barcelona by Sigrid Kraus and Pedro del Carril.

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Compra Ediciones Salamandra
3 May 2019

El grupo mundial de ediciones generales consolida su liderazgo en lengua española en todo el mundo. El catálogo de Ediciones Salamandra incluye autores como J.K. Rowling, Margaret Atwood o Zadie Smith Barcelona, 3 de mayo de 2019 - Penguin Random House, editorial de publicaciones generales de ámbito mundial, ha firmado la adquisición de Ediciones Salamandra, creada en octubre del año 2000 por Pedro del Carril y Sigrid Kraus.

Would you like a little whoof! In your weekend reading? We’ve got some doggedly good fiction for you then. Meet canine narrators, protectors, detectives, and saviours in classic and contemporary fiction from some of our best authors who explore the intense bond between humans and dogs in their books. Take one on a walk - no leash necessary!

Craig County Public Library, New Castle, Virginia, Wins ALA’s First PRH Award for Innovation Through Adversity Award
2 May 2019

The Craig County Public Library, New Castle, Virginia, has been named the 2019 winner of the ALA’s first Penguin Random House Award for Innovation Through Adversity Award. The award, supported by the Penguin Random House Foundation, recognizes U.S. libraries and staff who overcome adversity and create lasting innovative community service programs that successfully inspire and connect with new readers.

The American Ballet Theater (ABT) is adapting the Charlotte Brontë novel JANE EYRE—published by Penguin Classics—for New York City’s Metropolitan Opera main stage. The limited run, June 4-10, features three different Janes performing on alternating nights: principal dancers Misty Copeland, Isabella Boylston (she has a ballerina bookclub), and Devon Teuscher will all inhabit the role. JANE EYRE is the first full-length ballet brought to the Metropolitan Opera House stage by a female choreographer since 1980. On Friday, May 3, the JANE EYRE ballerinas will be joined at the 92nd Street Y by the ballet’s choreographer Cathy Marston for a panel discussion moderated by Elda Rotor, Vice President & Publisher of Penguin Classics.

The American Booksellers Association (ABA) has announced the winners of the 2019 Indies Choice, E.B. White Read Aloud, and Indie Champion Awards. Our authors received two Indies Choice Awards, determined by independent booksellers from ABA member stores, selecting their favorite titles published last year, and casting their votes via online balloting. These booksellers also chose an Indie Champion Award and three new inductees into the Picture Book Hall of Fame, including two of our classic young readers titles. All prizes and honors will be presented and celebrated on Thursday, May 30, at the ABA Indies Choice Awards ceremony at BookExpo 2019 at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Publication of Amélie Wen Zhao’s BLOOD HEIR Set for This Fall
1 May 2019

Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, will publish BLOOD HEIR, the first volume in Amélie Wen Zhao’s debut young adult fantasy trilogy, on November 19, 2019 with a hardcover first printing of 150,000 copies, it was announced by Delacorte Press SVP & Publisher Beverly Horowitz. The audiobook edition of BLOOD HEIR will be simultaneously released by Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio.

This week’s headlines regarding the U.S. measles outbreak are alarming: U.S. officials say measles cases hit 25-year record high (The Washington Post). The controversy and consequences surrounding vaccination are of concern and lead us to feature the following books about vaccines throughout history and in current parenting guides:

Featured Author Event: Dustin Lance Black (Washington, D.C.)
30 April 2019

Colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. take note: Dustin Lance Black will be discussing his new book, MAMA'S BOY: A Story from Our Americas (Alfred A. Knopf) on Thursday, May 2, at Politics & Prose Bookstore (5015 Connecticut Ave NW). This free event begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Debut of "Madeline’s Picks"
29 April 2019

“Madeline’s Picks” — a new penguinrandomhouse.com feature presenting personally curated book selections by Madeline McIntosh, debuted on Saturday, April 27. “Madeline’s Picks” builds on the popularity of prh.com’s “Staff Picks,” which are e-mailed to consumers on a regular basis.

The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its prestigious Cookbook, Broadcast Media, and Journalism awards for 2019 on April 26, at a dinner in Manhattan. Books and authors published by Penguin Random House imprints Avery, Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press were among those who took home prizes.

Friday Reads: Comedian Memoirs
26 April 2019

Comedy is tragedy plus time. – Carol Burnett Do you need some comic relief in your weekend? We thought so! Culling through the comedian memoirs published by Penguin Random House one thing is apparent: humor is often born out of pain and vulnerability. The following books aren’t just funny, they are poignant reflections told by beloved celebrities who make us laugh until we cry:

DK Unveils Anthony Daniels’ Memoir, I AM C-3PO: The Inside Story at Star Wars Celebration
25 April 2019

Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels (best known as the golden droid, C-3PO) revealed the title and jacket of his upcoming memoir, I AM C-3PO: The Inside Story in the DK booth at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago on Saturday, April 13. With help from Penguin Random House colleagues, an in-booth photo op with 100 eager fans, and many more on-lookers, followed the reveal. Daniels had previously teased the reveal in the highly anticipated Episode IX panel, as well as during an appearance on The Star Wars Show Live!

Give Back for World Book Day
23 April 2019

At Penguin Random House, as a global community of book lovers, today and every day is World Book Day. We believe in the power of books to transform lives and are passionate about making a positive difference in the world with our publishing and by giving back to local communities around the world.

Random House to Publish THE BEAUTIFUL ONES by Prince This Fall
23 April 2019

Random House is thrilled to announce the publication on October 29, 2019, of THE BEAUTIFUL ONES by Prince, the American artistic visionary—singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor, and filmmaker. Originally acquired from Prince in 2016, this newly envisioned memoir will feature never-before-seen photos, original scrapbooks and lyric sheets written in Prince’s own hand, and the early pages of the memoir Prince began writing before his death, framed by an introduction from Dan Piepenbring, the writer handpicked by Prince to collaborate on this project. World rights were acquired by Chris Jackson from Esther Newberg and Dan Kirschen at ICM Partners. The memoir is being published in an exclusive partnership and in collaboration with the Prince Estate.

Five authors published by Penguin Random House are on the 16^th annual TIME 100 Most Influential People List: Michelle Obama, among the Icons, as well as Marlon James, Samin Nosrat , Chrissy Teigen and Tara Westover, among the Pioneers. The 2019 honorees were revealed late last week and are featured in TIME magazine’s April 29 – May 6 double-issue print edition. The TIME 100 gala takes place on Tuesday, April 23, in New York City.

In celebration of yesterday’s National High Five Day and the release of HIGH FIVE (Dial Books for Young Readers; on sale Tuesday, April 16), the highly anticipated new picture book from the creators of DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, members of the Penguin Young Readers team spent Thursday morning in the 1745 Broadway lobby greeting everyone with a high five.

On April 12^th, Library of America (LOA), a Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) client, was honored at The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes ceremony with Los Angeles Times’ Innovator’s Award for bringing cultural heritage “into the future.” Since 1980, the Los Angeles Times has awarded a set of annual Book Prizes that include the Innovator’s Award, which recognizes the people and institutions that bring books, publishing, journalism, ideas and storytelling into the future. LOA joins such recent recipients as Margaret Atwood, John Green, Dave Eggers, LeVar Burton, Powell’s Bookstore, and Glory Edim of Well-Read Black Girl, among others. (Library of America)

Doubleday’s Bill Thomas and "K" Author Tyler Kepner Capture the Craft of MLB's Strikeout Artists
18 April 2019

From New York Times baseball columnist Tyler Kepner, K: The History of Baseball in Ten Pitches, published by Doubleday, is an enthralling look at the national pastime as told through the craft of pitching. Kepner traces the colorful stories and fascinating folklore behind baseball’s ten major pitches. Each chapter highlights a different pitch, from the fastball, curve and slider, to the knuckleball, cutter and spitball. Each pitch has its own history, evolving through the decades as the masters pass it down to the next generation.

There is still time to vote for Fatima Farheen Mirza’s A PLACE FOR US (SJP for Hogarth), our Penguin Random House finalist for the 2019 “One Book, One New York” campaign, the citywide initiative that brings book-loving New Yorkers together to read the same book at the same time. Throughout the month of April (deadline is April 30), you can cast your vote here to help determine the one book NYC will read together. To view all five of this year’s “One Book, One New York” finalists, click here.

Cantú, Makkai, Braithwaite Win L.A. Times Book Prizes, PRHPS Client Receives Innovator’s Award
17 April 2019

The Los Angeles Times announced the winners its 39th annual Book Prizes, including three titles published by Penguin Random House imprints, on Friday, April 12, at the University of Southern California, preceding last weekend’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Library of America, a Penguin Random House Publisher Services client, was honored with the Innovator’s Award, which spotlights efforts to bring books, publishing and storytelling into the future.

Protect our Planet! Earth Day, Monday, April 22, marks nearly 50 years since millions of people took to the streets to protest industrial pollution on April 22, 1970. In July of that year, the Environmental Protection Agency was created and now Earth Day is a global event with 192 countries participating. Coordinated by The Earth Day Network, it is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world. To support greener living as as well as global and local conservation efforts (inspired by our PRH Social Impact Committee), Penguin Random House is launching PRH Green Week on Earth Day. As the countdown continues, check out the following classics that inspire a deeper appreciation of our beautiful, fragile planet:

Vintage Publishes New E L James Novel THE MISTER Today
16 April 2019

E L James’s new novel, THE MISTER, on sale from Vintage today, April 16, launches with a million-copy first printing. The first novel from Ms. James following the record-breaking success of her #1 bestselling FIFTY SHADES trilogy (150 million copies sold worldwide), THE MISTER is a contemporary romance set in London, Cornwall, and Eastern Europe that introduces readers to the privileged and aristocratic young Englishman Maxim Trevelyan and the mysterious, talented, and beautiful Alessia Demachi, who’s recently arrived in London owning little more than a dangerous and troublesome past. THE MISTER is also available in Spanish and as an audiobook.

Hogarth’s Alexis Washam on What Makes Sally Rooney’s NORMAL PEOPLE Contemporary and Timeless
16 April 2019

Sally Rooney’s NORMAL PEOPLE, published by Hogarth, winner of the Costa Novel Award, a finalist for the Man Booker Prize, and acclaimed by reviewers and readers alike, explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship. “Arguably the buzziest novel of the season, Sally Rooney’s elegant sophomore effort . . . is a worthy successor to Conversations with Friends. Here, again, she unflinchingly explores class dynamics and young love with wit and nuance.”—The Wall Street Journal, “12 Best Books of Spring” “Remarkably precise — she captures meticulously the way a generation raised on social data thinks and talks.”—New York Review of Books In this “Three Questions for an Editor” Igloo interview, Hogarth Editorial Director Alexis Washam shares insights into what initially drew her to Rooney’s writing, the process of working with the author on NORMAL PEOPLE, and why this novel is resonating with so many readers.

Penguin Random House has partnered with STORY at Macy’s, the narrative-driven retail concept shop, bringing to life an editorial approach to retail in 36 Macy’s stores nationwide. Opening with “Color” as its inaugural theme, STORY at Macy’s invites customers to explore and experience color through a rainbow of curated, giftable products, including a wide range of books from across Penguin Random House’s imprints.

The International Association of Culinary Professionals announced the finalists of its prestigious IACP awards, recognizing the very best food writing and publishing of the year, from cookbooks and journalism to photography and digital media. We received 23 nominations for books, authors and editors from Alfred A. Knopf, Ten Speed Press, Clarkson Potter, Lorena Jones Books and Rodale as well as America’s Test Kitchen, a Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) client. Winners will be announced at the annual IACP conference on May 18 in Manhattan.

Have you seen it? Astronomers have captured an image of a black hole: a cosmic abyss so deep and dense that not even light can escape it. The first breathtaking image, in a galaxy about 55 million light-years from Earth, was unveiled on Wednesday, April 9 – the result of an international collaboration involving 200 members and nine telescopes. According to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, in a black hole matter, space and time come to an end. As far as the team of astronomers can tell, the shape of the shadow is circular, as Einstein’s theory predicts. We have our own prediction … a gravitational pull toward the science and scientists related to this revelation!

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection, Stewart O’Nan’s HENRY, HIMSELF, published by Viking on April 9, is a wry, warmhearted portrait of an American original -- a man who believes he’s reached a dead end only to discover life is full of surprises.

Tokarczuk and Vásquez Finalists for 2019 Man Booker International Prize
10 April 2019

Riverhead Books publishes two of the six books on the Man Booker International Prize 2019 shortlist: acclaimed Polish author Olga Tokarczuk’s DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD and renowned Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez’s THE SHAPE OF RUINS. Tokarczuk won the 2018 Man Booker International Prize for her “non-traditional” narrative fiction, FLIGHTS.

Launched nearly a quarter of a century ago, the Autism Society declared April National Autism Awareness Month as an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness, autism acceptance and to draw attention to the tens of thousands facing an autism diagnosis each year. Through our publishing, Penguin Random House is part of the effort to educate and broaden perspectives about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Below are a range of titles that serve to expand our understanding:

The International Thriller Writers (ITW) revealed the 2019 ITW Thriller Awards finalists, which include 7 titles published by Penguin Random House imprints. ITW will announce the winners at ThrillerFest XIV on July 13 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.

The Cleveland Foundation has shared the winners of its 84th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores diversity. This year’s award recipients including Knopf author Tommy Orange (Fiction) and Penguin Press author Andrew Delbanco (Nonfiction), with a Lifetime Achievement award going to Sonia Sanchez, published by Beacon Press, a Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) client. Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. chaired the Anisfield-Wolf Awards jury, which also included poet Rita Dove, novelist Joyce Carol Oates, psychologist/Penguin Random House author Steven Pinker, and historian Simon Schama.

Vote for PRH Instagram and “The Cat in the Hat Builds That” App, Our Webby Nominees
8 April 2019

Penguin Random House has two Webby Award and Webby People's Voice Award nominees: Penguin Random House Instagram in the “Corporate Communications” portion of the Social Media category and The Cat in the Hat Builds That Random House Children's Books book series and PBS Kids show app, produced by Traci Lawson (RHCB Digital Marketing), Lynn Kestin Sessler, and Alison Folino (RHCB Digital Marketing) for "Best Family & Kids app," in the Apps, Mobile & Voice category, it was announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS).

Our Finalists for 2019 Indies Choice, E.B. White Read-Aloud, Indie Champion, and Picture Book Hall of Fame
8 April 2019

The American Booksellers Association has announced the finalists for the 2019 Indies Choice Awards, the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards, as well as nominees for the Indie Champion Award and Picture Book Fall of Fame honors — and Penguin Random House adult and children’s titles across our divisions are prominently represented. Through “Indies Choice,” independent booksellers from ABA member stores have the opportunity to select their favorite titles published last year, voting for them through April 24 via online balloting. Winners will be announced on May 1 and celebrated, along with the honor book recipients, on Thursday, May 30 at BookExpo 2019 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Finalists for the 2019 Hugo Awards have been announced and include four books published by Penguin Random House imprints. The Hugos are the most prestigious prizes in the science fiction genre, honoring literature and media as well as fan activities. The awards, voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and sponsored by the World Science Fiction Society, were first presented in 1953, and have been presented every year since 1955. Winners of the 2019 Hugos will be announced at Worldcon 77 in Dublin, Ireland on August 18.

Random House Graphic Imprint Now on Twitter and Instagram
5 April 2019

Random House Children’s Books graphic novel imprint Random House Graphic has launched dedicated social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram. These accounts will feature RHG graphic novels, as well as content from other RHCB graphic novels.

For National Poetry Month, how about novels in verse? The young adult genre is rife with popular novels told in poems … and they appeal to adults as well. Add to those classic and contemporary tales written for adults and included in our round-up of acclaimed and prize-winning novels in verse:

The Academy of American Poets designated April as the official month to focus attention on poetry, beginning in 1996. This annual celebration highlights the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets while marking poetry’s important place in our culture and everyday lives. You are invited to celebrate National Poetry Month by signing up for Knopf’s Poem-A-Day program. Each day throughout April, Knopf e-mails out a free poem by a new or established poet drawn from the extensive list of books published by our family of imprints.

There's a Book for That: National Poetry Month
3 April 2019

Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before. - Audre Lorde Viva Poetry! It’s National Poetry Month, a time when the love of poetry is celebrated the world over. Whether it’s spoken word, poems on the page, from “the academy” or the poets of Instagram that move you most, poetry as an art form is experiencing a renaissance.

The 50th NAACP Image Awards were revealed on Saturday, March 30, in Los Angeles, with books by Penguin Random House authors Michelle Obama, Jacqueline Woodson and Daymond John among the winners. The NAACP Image Awards are considered the preeminent multicultural awards show celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

It’s been over two and a half years since Amor Towles’ sophomore novel A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW was released in hardcover by Viking, with over 1.5 million copies sold in all formats. It was a New York Times hardcover bestseller for 59 weeks and on the National Indie Bestseller list virtually every week since it was published, through the end of 2018.

Beloved entertainer and dedicated philanthropist John Cena has created a new picture-book series all about perseverance and believing in yourself, featuring a little monster truck named ELBOW GREASE, published by Random House Books for Young Readers. John will be appearing for a “meet & greet, book signing and photo opportunity” at The Strand bookstore in New York City on Friday, April 5, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Featured Author Event: Matthew Gray Gubler (Brooklyn)
29 March 2019

Criminal Minds actor/director Matthew Gray Gubler is also the author and illustrator of a charming and inspiring new book, RUMPLE BUTTERCUP: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself, published by Random House Books for Young Readers on Tuesday, April 2. That night, beginning at 7:00 p.m., Gubler will appear for a special “meet & greet” at WORD bookstore in Brooklyn.

Riverhead Table Serves BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF-Inspired Dishes, Author Marlon James Chats with Chef Evan Hanczor
29 March 2019

Riverhead Table took a dramatic turn last week, when award-winning chef Evan Hanczor created a 10-course meal inspired by Marlon James’s New York Times-bestselling novel, BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF. Tickets to the event at Egg Restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn were sold out, with an extensive waiting list. Appetizers included dates and spiced nuts in medieval pouches, followed by increasingly outlandish dishes: raw goat,

alligator, antelope, and more. A few guests assumed Chef Evan’s menu descriptions were just metaphorical – this turned out to be wishful thinking.

Penguin Random House Audio has announced that playwright Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize‒winning ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes will be available as an audiobook for the first time, narrated by the full cast of the National Theatre’s 2018 Tony Award®‒winning Broadway revival. The audiobook will be released on CD and as a digital download from Random House Audio on May 14.

Hope springs eternal! Major League Baseball’s 2019 season has just begun with the traditional Opening Day. Anything is still possible for your favorite team. Baseball is also setting two age-related firsts this season: at 19, Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Elvis Luciano is the first player in MLB history born in the 21st century. In addition to that milestone, there are officially no more major-leaguers who played in the 1990s, which means there are no more active players from the 20^th century. For the love of the game, dip into some of these fan favorites:

Given the popularity of the current HBO documentary, “Inventor” - about the rise and fall of Theranos, the one-time multibillion-dollar healthcare company founded by Elizabeth Holmes - Silicon Valley’s darker side continues to be a fascinating topic. As we contemplate privacy and social mores in a brave new world, the following books are here to keep readers savvy about the power of Silicon Valley:

Family Secrets Podcast Hosted by Author Dani Shapiro Crosses 1 Million Downloads
28 March 2019

Family Secrets, a podcast hosted by Knopf and Vintage author Dani Shapiro, developed in partnership with How Stuff Works and PRH’s Author Platforms team, has reached 1.1 million downloads just six weeks after its release. On the podcast, Shapiro shares stories of guests who have discovered long-hidden secrets in their families. “It is a program,” says Shapiro, “about secrets that are kept from us, secrets we keep from each other, and the secrets we keep from ourselves.”

Penguin Random House Acquires UK-Based Children’s Publisher Little Tiger Group
27 March 2019

Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is expanding its international leading position in the children’s book market with its purchase of Little Tiger Group (LTG), the London-based publisher and packager of acclaimed and bestselling children’s books, from birth to young adults. The acquisition was announced today by Markus Dohle, CEO, Penguin Random House, and Monty Bhatia, CEO and Cofounder, Little Tiger Group. Terms of the transaction, which closes on April 1, were not disclosed.

Penguin Random House Acquires UK-Based Children’s Publisher Little Tiger Group
27 March 2019

Contacts: Claire von Schilling: PRH, (212)782-9876; cvonschilling@penguinrandomhouse.com

Dominique Cimina: RHCB, (212)782-9314; dcimina@penguinrandomhouse.com

Lauren Ace, LTG: +44 (0) 20 7386 6723; lace@littletiger.co.uk

Now that spring is here, got the travel bug? Then you may want to check out Emily Nathan’s MY TINY ATLAS: Our World Through Your Eyes, newly published by Ten Speed Press. This book is a stunning visual feast of creative photography and inventive design, with a wanderlust-inspiring and transporting collection of images showing some of the world’s most astounding places. As tour guide, the founder of Tiny Atlas Quarterly—one of the most trusted sources for authentic and inspiring travel photography— takes readers to all corners of the world, from Paris, San Francisco, London, and Buenos Aires to the Arctic Circle, Tanzania, Tahiti, and Mongolia. MY TINY ATLAS visually explores new destinations with an intimate, insider’s view—not of the usual monuments and tourist attractions, but of real people, verdant flora, wild animals, architectural gems, and other details that make you feel what it’s like to truly be in another place.

Individuals can take many different paths to careers in book publishing. The route taken by Hilary Redmon, Vice President & Executive Editor, Random House, was particularly circuitous.. Among Redmon’s career highlights: she edited Tara Westover’s acclaimed #1 New York Times bestseller EDUCATED – an unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. The book has been on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year (57 weeks and counting). To watch Westover’s recent appearance on The Ellen Show, click here. In this “Three Questions for an Editor” interview, Redmon tells us about her pre-Random House life, her first editorial experiences, why EDUCATED resonates with so many readers, and the process of working with Westover on her book.

Special Markets' Lisa Dolin Takes a Sabbatical for the Birds
22 March 2019

Lisa Dolin, Director of Sales for Special Markets Product Management, Penguin Random House, journeyed to the Amazon Rainforest in Peru to volunteer at the Tambopata Macaw Project last summer. In this “On Sabbatical” feature, Lisa presents bird’s-eye glimpses into her amazing adventure – with stories, photos, and even an audio clip of an actual macaw call. To learn why Lisa describes her sabbatical as “by far one of the greatest experiences of my lifetime,” read on.

Celebrating Our Readerlink Children's Publisher Award
22 March 2019

Members of our home-office-based Mass Merchandise Sales team were together in Chicago the night of March 20 to celebrate PRH winning the 2018 Children's Publisher Award bestowed by Readerlink, our valued distribution partner, and North America's largest full-service trade-book distributor.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced yesterday that Netflix’s The Who Was? Show, a live-action sketch comedy series for children adapted from Penguin Young Readers’ #1 New York Times bestselling biography series, Who Was?, has been nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards in the following categories: Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series; Outstanding Writing for a Children’s, Preschool Children’s, Family Viewing; Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design for a Live Action Program; Outstanding Single Camera Editing; and Outstanding Sound Editing For A Live Action Program.

Last week in Seattle, readers attending Emerald City Comic Con had a special opportunity. In partnership with ReedPOP and the Emerald City Comic Con Writer’s Block Program, Del Rey and Penguin Publishing Group hosted exclusive book club events during the show. Penguin Publishing Group selected SALVATION DAY by Kali Wallace (Berkley, on sale July 9) as the featured title for the science fiction book club. Del Rey selected GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (on sale August 6) as the featured title for the fantasy book club.

Happy Spring! And happy birthday to Reese Witherspoon on Friday, March 22^nd. Reese’s Hello Sunshine Book Club is nearly two years old – it began with ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE and the current selection is DAISY JONES & THE SIX. Reese’s Hello Sunshine company is described on its site as “a media brand anchored in storytelling, creating and discovering content that celebrates women and puts them at the center of the story. We tell stories big and small, funny stories, complex stories, those that shine a light on where women are at right now and those that help chart a new path forward.” Is this the book club for you? Try one of these Hello Sunshine selections, thus far, from Penguin Random House (with Reese’s comments in quotes):

Readerlink, North America's largest full-service book distributor, has honored Penguin Random House as its 2018 Children's Publisher of the Year.

Three of Our Authors Win 2019 Lukas Prizes
21 March 2019

The Columbia Journalism School and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard have announced the winners of the 2019 J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project Awards, with three of the five prizes going to one Crown and two Penguin Press authors. They will receive their awards at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 7, at the Nieman Foundation in Cambridge, MA. Established in 1998, the Lukas Prizes recognize excellence in American nonfiction writing from both published books and works in progress on history and topics of American political or social concern.

Tommy Orange Wins 2019 PEN/Hemingway Award—His 3rd Prestigious First-Novel Prize—for THERE THERE
20 March 2019

PEN America announces that Knopf author Tommy Orange’s acclaimed debut, THERE THERE, has won the 2019 PEN/Hemingway Award, which honors a distinguished first novel. Mr. Orange will receive $25,000 underwritten by the Hemingway Family and the Hemingway Foundation, as well as a month-long Residency Fellowship at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, a retreat for artists and writers, valued at $10,000.

As high school seniors are finding out which colleges have accepted them, the largest prosecuted college admissions scandal in U.S. history has dominated the news and public conversation. High profile celebrities, CEOs, college coaches and many others have been accused of "cheating the system." Going beyond the headlines, we present the following books:

Penguin Press authors Steve Coll and Zadie Smith, and Alfred A. Knopf first-time novelist Tommy Orange were among the winners of 2018 National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Awards conferred last night, March 14, during a ceremony at Manhattan’s New School.

Friday Reads: Irish Lit
15 March 2019

“I read hungrily and delightedly, and have realized since that you can’t write unless you read.” ― William Trevor Once again, we turn to the fertile literary ground of Ireland in honor of St. Patrick’s Day this Sunday. Here is some of the most compelling recent fiction and nonfiction hailing from Eire this year:

Riverhead Publishes 3 of 13 Man Booker International Prize Longlisted Titles
15 March 2019

Last year, Riverhead Books published the winner of the Man Booker International Prize, FLIGHTS by Polish author Olga Tokarczuk. The Penguin Random House imprint may have another prize winner on its hands this year. The 2019 The Man Booker International Prize longlist has been announced, and of the 13 titles, three are currently published or forthcoming from Riverhead. Tokarczuk is back on the longlist with her new novel, DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD, forthcoming from Riverhead this August. Also on the longlist are two current Riverhead titles: MOUTHFUL OF BIRDS by rising Argentinian star Samanta Schweblin, and THE SHAPE OF RUINS by renowned Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez.

Random House author Danielle McLaughlin, Penguin Books author Rebecca Solnit, along with Penguin Random House Canada / McClelland & Stewart author David Chariandy, were among the eight winners of the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prizes for 2019, announced on March 12 in London. Each of the winners will receive a $165,000 cash award to support their creative works.

Calling all music fans! Daisy Jones & The Six just released to an already dedicated following … destined to top the charts! The novel’s milieu of '70s rock 'n’ roll and the triumphs and travails of a band and its beautiful singer caused us to riff on the theme. So here’s your backstage pass to hang with the bands … in books:

Fantasy fiction fans in Colorado take note: New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop will be discussing her new Ace novel, WILD COUNTRY, on Thursday night at the Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver. This free event begins at 7:00 p.m. and Bishop will sign copies of her book following her talk and an audience Q&A.

The 2019 shortlists for the prestigious J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project Awards, sponsored by the Columbia Journalism School and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, include five of our authors. Established in 1998, these awards recognize excellence in American nonfiction writing from both published books and works in progress on history and topics of American political or social concern.

Lauren Groff’s FLORIDA Wins The Story Prize
8 March 2019

Lauren Groff's FLORIDA, published by Riverhead Books, has won the 15th annual Story Prize for short fiction, it was announced on Wednesday, March 6, at an awards ceremony at the New School in Manhattan. Groff received $20,000 and an engraved silver bowl. Judges praised Groff's book as an "immersive experience" into the "beauty and awfulness" of the state of Florida. Her story collection was previously named a 2018 National Book Award Fiction finalist. Among the many fans of FLORIDA is former President Barack Obama, who listed the title among his favorite books of 2018.

Madeline McIntosh was the Benefit Chair of last night’s Poets & Writers gala in Manhattan. This annual event, celebrating America’s largest nonprofit service organization dedicated to fostering the professional development of poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, brought together people from across the book industry, and raised a record $750,000.

Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace. This year, The International Women's Day 2019 campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is “a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.” Forward the cause by reading one, or all, of our featured titles including Nobel Prize winners, graphic memoirs, diaries and oral histories from war zones as well as bestselling biographies of women who have left an indelible mark on our world:

Pamela Dorman Books/Viking is pleased to announce the publication of Jojo Moyes’s new stand-alone novel, THE GIVER OF STARS. Publisher Pamela Dorman acquired North American rights from Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown, Ltd. The book will be published in the United States in hardcover, e-book, and audio formats on October 8, 2019.

Today, Live Nation and Crown Publishing announced all remaining moderators for the final tour dates of “BECOMING: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.” Produced by Live Nation, the tour continues next Wednesday, March 13, in St. Paul, MN, with Michele Norris joining as moderator. Before the highly successful tour wraps, Mrs. Obama will bring out an incredible array of moderators to join her on the final dates of her journey, including comedian and television show host Conan O’Brien, chef and television personality Carla Hall, former Let's Move! executive director Sam Kass, broadcaster Robin Roberts, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, television host Rachael Ray, comedian Phoebe Robinson, actress and comedian Jessica Williams, late-night host Stephen Colbert, journalist Isha Sesay, former senior adviser to President Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett, and television personality Gayle King.

Random House Acquires New Samin Nosrat Cookbook
6 March 2019

Random House has acquired a new cookbook by Samin Nosrat, the James Beard Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author of SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT. World rights, excluding UK, were preempted and negotiated by Gina Centrello, President of Random House, from Kari Stuart at ICM. Random House Editor In Chief Andy Ward will edit the book, to be titled WHAT TO COOK, for Ten Speed Press, an industry-leading publisher of food, lifestyle, and design books based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Penguin Random House South East Asia Unveils Debut Publishing Program
6 March 2019

Penguin Random House South East Asia has unveiled its first publishing catalog and plans to publish more than 90 titles from various genres this year, beginning in April. The announcement of the program marks a key milestone in the history of this Penguin Random House subsidiary, which was founded in October 2018.

Welcome Women’s History Month! In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the month of March “Women’s History Month.” While women’s rights and issues have continued to see progress since then, there is more to do. The Equal Rights Amendment has yet to become part of the United States Constitution and many young people don’t know what it is. Women's History Month allows for reflection and education - where we've been and where we need to go. It's also a time to honor all the activists, leaders, creators, pioneers, athletes, artists that have furthered, and continue to strengthen, the role and visibility of women in the world. Here are some of the more recent, excellent books about inspiring women and their achievements that do so:

This time of year, parents with teens bound for college are grappling with how to best help their children make a smooth transition to this all-important next life chapter of their lives. Dr. Monique Rinere’s COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE: The Essential Steps to Your Child’s Successful Launch (Ballantine) presents a unique month-by-month road map to a college experience that is rich, rewarding, and successful for teens and parents alike. Dr. Rinere, a three-time Ivy League dean, distills lessons and shares stories (some cautionary, some entertaining, all helpful) from her long college advisory career.

Penguin Random House Audio won five prizes, including two for Tara Westover’s #1 New York Times bestseller EDUCATED, last night, March 4, at the 24th annual Audie Awards® ceremony in New York. The Audio Publishers Association (APA) annually presents the premier awards program for audiobooks in the United States, recognizing excellence in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.

Penguin Random House Supports the NYPL by Tripling Donation Amounts
5 March 2019

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting a culture of reading and building the widest possible audience for our authors, Penguin Random House is proud to once again partner with the New York Public Library via a program to triple gift amounts donated to NYPL. Together, PRH and NYPL are providing people with essential benefits that go beyond the access to free books. Donations received from the campaign will ensure that New Yorkers continue to have access to critical free resources such as computers, early literacy workshops, job training classes, and more.

The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has announced the finalists for the 2019 “One Book, One New York” campaign, the exciting citywide initiative that brings book-loving New Yorkers together to read the same book at the same time. Now in its third year, in partnership with BuzzFeed Book Club, and coinciding with Women’s History Month, “One Book, One New York” features five acclaimed books, all written by women, including Fatima Farheen Mirza’s A PLACE FOR US (SJP for Hogarth, paperback edition on sale now). To view all of this year’s finalists, click here.

Penguin Random House and the National Council of Teachers of English announce a new partnership to recognize the nation’s most dynamic and resourceful teachers who use their creativity to inspire and successfully instill a lifelong love of reading in students. Two teachers will be awarded $10,000 grants to help make their innovative reading programs possible. In addition, honorable mentions will receive book donations for their classrooms from Penguin Random House.

The fascinating tale of a fictional ‘70s rock band is chronicled in DAISY JONES & THE SIX, Taylor Jenkins Reid‘s riveting new novel written as an oral history – a literary roller-coaster ride marked by sex, drugs and rock & roll, with fly-on-the-wall glimpses of life in the recording studio, on the road and backstage. #1 on the March Indie Next list and the Penguin Random House Spring Title Wave pick, this Ballantine book has already earned many fans, including actress Reese Witherspoon, who raved, “I devoured DAISY JONES & THE SIX in a day, falling head over heels for it. Taylor Jenkins Reid transported me into the magic of the ’70s music scene in a way I’ll never forget. The characters are beautifully layered and complex. Daisy and the band captured my heart, and they’re sure to capture yours, too.”

Featured Author Event: Amber Tamblyn (NYC)
4 March 2019

Amber Tamblyn, author, actor and director, is discussing her new Crown Archetype book, ERA OF IGNITION: Coming of Age in a Time of Rage and Revolution, at The Strand bookstore in Manhattan on Tuesday, March 5, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tamblyn will be in conversation with Cecile Richards, a national leader for women’s rights and social and economic justice. For more information about this Featured Author Event, click here.

Friday Reads: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
1 March 2019

“Remember me and smile, for it's better to forget than to remember me and cry.” ― Dr. Seuss Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! 28 years after the beloved author's death we continue to honor the life and work of Dr. Seuss who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2^nd, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Reading parties are taking place in libraries, schools and bookstores across the country in celebration. Through its Seussville site, Penguin Random House offers parents, children, librarians and teachers resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year! The following hilarious, silly, wise, colorful, eccentric titles are among Dr. Seuss’ lesser known books - well worth discovering! And be sure to read to the bottom for exciting new releases!

The Binc Foundation and Penguin Random House have announced INDIES WITH IMPACT, a new grant opportunity open to independent bookstores. Two grants will be awarded to two bookstores that work in tandem with a community nonprofit or organization of their choice for a program that strengthens their local communities and encourages a passion for reading. Applications will be accepted March 1 – May 1, 2019 and again during this period in 2020. A total of $3,000 will be awarded over the two years.

A new Dr. Seuss children’s book about creating and experiencing art will be published by Random House Children’s Books on September 3, 2019, with a first printing of 250,000 copies, it was announced today by Mallory Loehr, SVP, Publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers, and Susan Brandt, President, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. The original manuscript for DR. SEUSS’S HORSE MUSEUM was discovered in the late author’s La Jolla home 21 years after his death, alongside the manuscript for the 2015 #1 New York Times bestseller What Pet Should I Get?

PEN America, the U.S. chapter of the world’s leading international literary-human rights organization, celebrated the winners of its 2019 Literary Awards last night, February 26, at a Manhattan ceremony. Will Mackin’s short story collection, published by Random House, and three titles published by Penguin Random House Publisher Services publisher clients, took home prizes. Vintage author Sandra Cisneros was presented with the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature.

There's a Book For That: Grand Canyon National Park Turns 100!
27 February 2019

You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted, but to see it, you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths. - John Wesley Powell Happy 100^th birthday Grand Canyon! The national park opened to the public on February 26, 1919 Colorful graphic of Grand Canyon

and centennial events will be ongoing throughout this year. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, “Grand Canyon welcomes approximately six million domestic and international visitors each year. After 100 years, whether it’s hiking a corridor trail, taking a stroll on the rim or enjoying the landscape from an overlook, Grand Canyon continues to provide a space for all visitors to connect with the outdoors.” (NPS.gov) To honor the centennial, we are featuring the following natural history titles that continue to educate and inspire readers of all ages:

Our 5 Finalists for 2019 Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards
26 February 2019

The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader have announced the finalists for the 12th annual Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards voted on entirely by children and teens. Five of the nominated titles are published by Penguin Random House imprints or Penguin Random House Publisher Services clients. The three categories of children’s finalists were chosen in pre-voting by kids in different regions of the U.S., with supervision by the International Literacy Association. The finalists in the teen category were nominated by young readers at TeenReads.com.

Thirty-five years ago, Sue Grafton launched one of the most acclaimed and celebrated mystery series of all time with A IS FOR ALIBI, and with it created the model of the modern female detective with Kinsey Millhone, a feisty, whip-smart woman who is not above breaking the rules to solve a case or save a life. Like her fictional alter ego, Grafton was a true original, a model for every woman who has ever struck out on her own independent way.

Colleagues in and around Los Angeles take note: Chris Cander, author of THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO, published by Knopf, is appearing at Skylight Books in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 27. Cander will be in conversation with Helga Kasimoff, who operates a Pasadena piano dealership, well known for restoring and placing Blüthner pianos (a key element in Cander’s novel) in homes, colleges and universities.

Lights, camera, action! The 91st Academy Awards show is this Sunday, February 24, at The Dolby Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. This puts us in the mood for novels about Hollywood and its stars, past and present. Over the weekend, roll out the red blanket and get cozy with these tales of tinsel town, both new and classic:

The Aspen Words Literary Prize has announced this year's five finalists, including two books published by Penguin Random House imprints: Jennifer Clement’s GUN LOVE (Hogarth) and Tommy Orange’s THERE THERE (Alfred A. Knopf). The Aspen Institute's annual prize was established in 2018 to recognize “an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.”

Our 16 L.A. Times Book Prize Finalists, and Our Innovator’s Award Honoree
21 February 2019

The Los Angeles Times announced the finalists for its 39th annual Book Prizes, 16 of which are published by Penguin Random House imprints. Library of America, a Penguin Random House Publishers Services client, is being honored with the Innovator’s Award, which spotlights efforts to bring books, publishing and storytelling into the future.

There's a Book for That: Black History Month
20 February 2019

Exhaust the little moment. Soon it dies. And be it gash or gold it will not come again in this identical guise. -Gwendolyn Brooks In honor of Black History Month we present classics and contemporary biographies, memoirs, essays, history, even poetry, from a broad spectrum of voices. Speaking to slavery, civil rights, the arts and current events, these books will educate and engage readers of all ages. For more excellent resources visit https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov.

Climbing the highest mountain in Africa requires rigorous training, a long-range plan, strong drive, courage and commitment; Jessica Wells, Director, Customer Operations, Penguin Random House, exhibited all of these as she successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro last month. In this special Igloo Interview, Jessica talks about what inspired her to take on this personal challenge, offers colorful insights into her remarkable journey and trek (accompanied by some amazing photos), and shares what accomplishing this feat meant to her.

On Monday, February 18, we celebrate Presidents’ Day. Established in 1885, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government. As we reflect on our American Presidents past and present, 2020 presidential hopefuls are beginning to declare their candidacy for the office and a number of them have books that are published by Penguin Random House. Kids and adults can get to know these potential presidential candidates better in the following titles:

It is with sadness that we share that prolific military fiction author William E. Butterworth III, known the world over as W.E.B. Griffin, died on Tuesday, February 12. He was 89.

HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE Wins 2019 Goldsmith Book Prize
14 February 2019

HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, published by Crown, Broadway, and Random House Audio, has been selected as the trade category winner of the 2019 Goldsmith Book Prize, awarded to the trade and academic books published in the United States in the last 24 months that best fulfill the objective of improving democratic governance through an examination of the intersection between the media, politics and public policy. The prize is judged by faculty members affiliated with Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.

Vintage Author Sandra Cisneros Wins PEN/Nabokov Award
14 February 2019

Sandra Cisneros, a celebrated Mexican American novelist, poet and short story writer whose Vintage books include THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET, WOMAN HOLLERING CREEK and MY WICKED WICKED WAYS, has won the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. PEN America Literary Awards program director Nadxieli Nieto credited Cisneros with "inspiring a new era of Latinx writers we see emerging today," and noted, "A focus on cross-cultural dialogue, translation and international literature has long been at the heart of PEN America's Literary Awards program, and it is especially fitting that a binational writer with such an impressive and lyrical body of work is the PEN/Nabokov honoree this year. We are immensely honored to present this award to Sandra Cisneros.” She will receive her award on February 26 at the 2019 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony in New York City.

Putnam author Randy Wayne White has won the 2019 Florida Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing, this year’s honor shared with historian Raymond O. Arsenault. The Florida Humanities Council sponsors the award to “recognize divergent writers who have introduced Florida culture and history to a wide audience.” A five-person panel of judges praised White and Arsenault as “giants in their respective fields.”

There’s a Book For That: Love Poems
13 February 2019

“Love shook my heart Like the wind on the mountain rushing over the oak trees.” ― Sappho Whether or not you’ve been struck with cupid’s arrow, Valentine’s Day is THE auspicious occasion for love poetry. And we’ve got beautiful volumes to captivate the smitten and non-smitten alike: From lyrical to haiku to prose poems, Instagram to humorous verse. Reflecting various periods and cultures, these classic and contemporary poets, including our recently passed Mary Oliver, speak to the passions of the newly entangled, the long-married, the happily single, the hopeful, and heartbroken lovers amongst us. Happy Valentine's Day!

Anyone who has ever been swept up in the magical Land of Oz will enjoy reading Elizabeth Letts’ FINDING DOROTHY, our new Igloo Book Buzz selection. Published by Ballantine, this richly imagined novel tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum’s wife, Maud.

Featured Author Event: Jill Santopolo (Denver)
11 February 2019

Attention colleagues in Colorado: Jill Santopolo, Philomel Associate Publisher and bestselling author, will present her new book, MORE THAN WORDS (Putnam) on Wednesday, February 13, at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. This free event begins at 9:00 p.m., Santopolo’s reading and talk to be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

As a young mother facing a terminal diagnosis, Julie Yip-Williams began to write her story, a story like no other. What started out as the chronicle of an imminent and early death became something much more—a powerful exhortation to the living. With humor, bracing honesty, and the cleansing power of well-deployed anger, Julie set the stage for her lasting legacy and one final miracle: the story of her life, which became her newly published Random House book, THE UNWINDING OF THE MIRACLE: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After.

Chris Jackson One of TIME’s “12 Leaders Who Are Shaping the Next Generation of Artists”
8 February 2019

The Art of Optimism, a TIME Magazine special issue edited by Ava Duvernay, on newsstands for two weeks beginning February 8, features an article, “12 Leaders Who Are Shaping the Next Generation of Artists,” in which Chris Jackson, Publisher and Editor in Chief, One World, is one of the dozen individuals recognized.

The Audio Publishers Association has announced its 2019 Audie Awards finalists, including 17 Penguin Random House Audio titles. These awards recognize excellence in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on March 4 in Manhattan.

Chinese New Year and its culminating celebration, The Lantern Festival on February 19^th, incorporate ancient Taoist traditions. Taoism (or “The Way”) is a Chinese philosophy attributed to Lao Tzu and is popular in the West through martial arts, mindfulness, yoga and other practices. “The Tao” advocates a life of complete simplicity in harmony with nature and is a metaphor for one’s essence, or philosophy of living. This week, we are anchoring our otherwise pop-cultural approach with the acclaimed new translation of the essential Taoist text, the Tao Te Ching:

How Delia Owens Created Her Breakout Debut Novel, Starring Kya “The Marsh Girl”
7 February 2019

Legions of readers continue to flock to WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (G. P. Putnam’s Sons), the mesmerizing first novel by Delia Owens, propelling the title to #1 on The New York Times hardcover fiction and combined print & eBook fiction bestseller lists. One of the book’s most enthusiastic fans is actress Reese Witherspoon, who made it a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick, is producing a feature film adaptation, and said, “I can’t even express how much I love this book! I didn’t want this story to end!” Throughout the narrative, Kya Clark, “The Marsh Girl,” emerges as a literary character for the ages.

Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press took home awards at the 2018 André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards, the most prestigious food and drink book honors in the U.K., essentially the equivalent of the James Beard Awards in the U.S., at a ceremony in London on Tuesday, February 5. The Ten Speed Press title, THE SOMMELIER’S ATLAS OF TASTE: A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe by Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay, won the André Simon Drink Award. This marks the second year in a row that a TSP book has won this prize. The Clarkson Potter title, TOGETHER: Our Community Cookbook by the HUBB Community Kitchen, with a foreword by HRH The Duchess of Sussex, received an André Simon Special Commendation Award.

Soon to be a major motion picture: THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, the #1 New York Times bestseller and National Book Award Finalist from Delacorte Press author Nicola Yoon, also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR hits theaters nationwide on May 17. Warner Brothers Pictures released the film’s first trailer this week. The paperback movie tie-in edition of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR goes on sale April 16, and will feature key movie cover art as well as a photo insert.

“Gripping, action-packed … The literary equivalent of a Marvel Comics universe — filled with dizzying, magpie references to old movies and recent TV, ancient myths and classic comic books, and fused into something new and startling by his gifts for language and sheer inventiveness.” That is how book reviewer Michiko Kakutani describes Marlon James’ BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF, published on February 5 by Riverhead, in The New York Times Book Review.

There's a Book for That: The Year of the Pig
6 February 2019

I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it. - George Bernard Shaw Welcome to the Year of the Pig! Chinese New Year was celebrated on February 5^th and according to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2019 is the year of the pig/boar. Publisher North Atlantic Books tells us: “Legend has it that when the Lord Buddha summoned all of the animals to bid him farewell before he departed the Earth, only 12 showed up. And to show his appreciation, he named a year for each animal in the order of its arrival. The animal that rules the year of your birth is said to have a profound influence over your life. Hence, the Chinese have coined the saying, “This is the animal that hides in your heart.” The Smithsonian Channel is airing “Amazing Pigs” this month showcasing pigs’ remarkable senses, intelligence, and adaptability. Seems like a fine time to learn more about them. Pig tales both true and fictional await readers of all ages:

First Set of Moderators Announced for “BECOMING: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama” 2019 Tour Dates
5 February 2019

Today, Crown Publishing and Live Nation announced the first set of moderators for the 2019 tour dates of “BECOMING: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.” Produced by Live Nation, the extension of the highly successful tour kicks off in Tacoma, WA, this Friday, February 8, at the Tacoma Dome with late-night TV show host Jimmy Kimmel. Additionally, Phoebe Robinson will join Mrs. Obama on stage once again as moderator at the Moda Center in Portland, OR, on February 9, with Valerie Jarrett moderating the February 12 event at the Comerica Theater in Phoenix, AZ.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has released its annual Notable Children’s Recordings list, which recognizes recordings for children 14 years of age and younger of especially commendable quality that demonstrate respect for young people’s intelligence and imagination. The 2019 Notable Children’s Recordings list includes 7 audiobook titles published by Penguin Random House Audio’s Listening Library:

You are invited to hear author Sigrid Nunez talk about THE FRIEND, winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction, in conversation with Lisa Lucas, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, on Friday, February 8, at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. This free event begins at 7:30 p.m.

The Rainbow Book List Committee has announced its 2019 Rainbow Book List, recognizing books with significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning content, for young readers and teens 18 and under, with 13 titles published by Penguin Random House imprints, and 4 by Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) clients:

Four of the six finalists for Barnes & Noble’s 2018 Discover Great New Writers Awards are published by Penguin Random House imprints. The finalists share a cash prize totaling $105,000. The winners, who will each receive $30,000, will be announced on Wednesday, March 6, at an awards ceremony in New York City.

Featured Author Event: Joseph Finder (NYC)
1 February 2019

You are invited to join New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder, who will be discussing his new Dutton book, JUDGMENT, with his brother, Henry Finder, New Yorker Editorial Director, on Monday, February 4 at Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center (1 E 65^th St.) in NYC.

This week marks the 45^th anniversary of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, which launched the great tradition of role-playing games in 1974 with an unprecedented mix of adventure and strategy, dice-rolling, and storytelling. It became a phenomenon by tapping into the innate human need to gather with friends and tell an exciting story together. In honor of the occasion, we are highlighting the most popular and forthcoming D&D tie-in titles to escape into…

THE CUT OUT GIRL Wins Costa Book of the Year Award
31 January 2019

Bart van Es' THE CUT OUT GIRL: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found, published by Penguin Press in the U.S. and Canada, has won the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year Award, after winning a Costa Book Award in the Biography category earlier this year. Telling the extraordinary true story of Lien de Jong, the narrative chronicles how a young Jewish girl survived in Holland during World War II, hiding from the Nazis in the homes of an underground network of foster families, one of them the author’s grandparents. Mr. van Es accepted the prize at the Costa Awards ceremony in London on Tuesday, January 28, with Ms. de Jong at his side.

Rounding out our coverage of this week’s American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter meeting, a DK book and multiple Penguin Random House Audio titles were the recipients of awards and honors:

The American Library Association (ALA) announced more prize winners and honorees at their Midwinter Meeting. Our titles recognized for the following awards and honors:

RH Copy Chief Benjamin Dreyer on His Second Career As An Author + Some Grammatical Tips
30 January 2019

“Can a book about grammar be fun? Yes! Random House’s longtime copy chief offers friendly guidance on everything from when to use the dreaded 'whom,' to words you should dump immediately …” So begins a rave People Magazine Pick for DREYER’S ENGLISH: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer, published by Random House on January 29. Publishers Weekly bestowed a starred review, saying: “This work is that rare writing handbook that writers might actually want to read straight through, rather than simply consult.”

Colleagues in the vicinity of the San Francisco Bay Area take note: Howard Schultz, the longtime CEO and chairman of Starbucks, will be discussing his new Random House book, FROM THE GROUND UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America, on Friday, February 1, at the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco.

Happy publication week to Claire Adams and her debut novel from SJP for Hogarth, GOLDEN CHILD. Set in the author’s native Trinidad, the novel’s compelling narrative and setting brought to mind other Caribbean fiction. Given the news, and warnings, about this week’s arctic blast hitting many states in the U.S., we figure an immersive journey to warmer climes would be welcomed.

The American Library Association (ALA) continues to announce a cavalcade of award winners and honorees at their Midwinter Meeting, underway. Among our recognized titles:

The annual American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting is the occasion for an array of coveted prizes and honors bestowed upon distinguished children’s and adult books and audios, published (mostly) in the past year. The first group of awards were announced last night, Sunday, January 27, led by the Andrew Carnegie Medals.

Penguin Random House Launches New Award with the ALA: Innovation Through Adversity
28 January 2019

This past weekend, the American Library Association (ALA) Council announced the debut of the Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation Through Adversity, an exciting new partnership created to support the librarians and staff at libraries nationwide. Through this program, a principal awardee will receive $10,000 in cash and four runners-up will receive $1,000 each. The criteria for the winners is to have overcome adversity to create lasting innovative community service programs that inspire and connect with readers.

MAKE ME A WORLD, New RHCB Imprint Led by Christopher Myers, to Launch First List This Fall
25 January 2019

MAKE ME A WORLD, a new Random House Children’s Books imprint led by Christopher Myers, award-winning author and artist and son of the late acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers, will launch its first list in Fall 2019, it was announced by Michelle Frey, Executive Editor, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

The Mystery Writers of America (MWA) has announced the nominees for the 2019 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction as well as television teleplays published or produced in 2018. Seven books published by Penguin Random House imprints and Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) publisher clients earned nominations in the following categories:

Last Friday, the Riverhead Pop-Up Reading Room took over lunch hour at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a creative hub for over 400 businesses and 9,000 employees. The Pop-Up series, which in the past has centered around Caribbean Heritage Month and Banned Books Week, selected “Read to Reinvent” as the theme of this pop-up, with the goal of celebrating new ideas and playful creativity in the spirit of reinvention this New Year.

Friday Reads: James Baldwin
25 January 2019

“You read a book, and everything is activated. You watch a movie, and it's a very passive experience. In a book, the author describes the smell. Through synesthesia, you intellectually smell this thing in your head.” – Barry Jenkins, Director of If Beale Street Could Talk If Beale Street Could Talk, the first feature film adaptation in English of a James Baldwin novel, is nominated for three Academy Awards, including best supporting actress and best adapted screenplay. As its director, Barry Jenkins, said in a PBS NewsHour interview about the process: “Baldwin's stock and trade was the interior voice, the interior life.” Penguin Random House is the proud publisher of James Baldwin’s oevre which we invite you to discover (or rediscover):

Our Finalists for the 2019 PEN America Literary Awards
24 January 2019

PEN America has announced the shortlists for its 2019 Literary Awards in the categories of debut novel, debut short story collection, nonfiction, essay, biography, literary sports writing, literary science writing, and translation as well as the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. The 13 finalists published by Penguin Random House imprints and Penguin Random House Publisher Services publisher clients are below:

As the U.S. federal government shutdown continues in its fifth week, more than 800,000 workers across the country are experiencing unexpected and sudden income loss. To help support these furloughed federal employees during this difficult time, Penguin Random House has donated to #ChefsForFeds, which is providing free meals to them through World Central Kitchen, a network of restaurants and food trucks established by Jose Andrés. Andrés is a chef, philanthropist, and author of Penguin Random House titles MADE IN SPAIN (Clarkson Potter, 2008) and TAPAS (Clarkson Potter, 2005).

New E L James Novel THE MISTER to Be Published by Vintage in April 2019
24 January 2019

E L James to publish her first novel following the blockbuster global phenomenon and #1 worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades of Grey series. Vintage Books sets publication of James’s THE MISTER in April 2019.

Housing and homelessness are critical issues in America. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the current government shutdown is negatively affecting vulnerable populations, including the homeless, who are living without a safety net. And a growing share of the nation’s renters cannot afford to live in the cities where they work. Penguin Random House publishes a number of books about the topic – from sociological studies to memoirs and even young readers’ fiction. These are titles that examine varied roots and causes while creating empathy and inspiring action:

WINNERS TAKE ALL Named 800-CEO-READ Business Book of the Year
22 January 2019

Anand Giridharadas’s WINNERS TAKE ALL: The Elite Charade of Changing the World (Alfred A. Knopf) has received the 800-CEO-READ Business Book of the Year Award for 2018. The award was presented last week at the company’s annual industry gathering in New York City.

Our 8 NBCC Award Finalists
22 January 2019

Congratulations to our 8 National Book Critics Circle finalists for their 2018 Awards. Founded in 1974, the NBCC now comprises more than 1,000 working critics and book-review editors throughout the country, who annually vote and bestow its awards in six categories, honoring the best books published in the past year in the United States.

This week The Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature was announced. Named for prolific children’s and young adult author Walter Dean Myers (1937-2014), “The Walter” awards honor Myers’ memory and literary legacy. A two-time Newbery Award winner, Walter Dean Myers was the third National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, appointed in 2012 by the Library of Congress. He was a champion of diversity in children’s books.

Colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, DC take note: New York Times bestselling author Dani Shapiro will be discussing her new book, INHERITANCE: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity and Love, published by Alfred A. Knopf, on Monday, January 21, at Politics & Prose. Shapiro will be in conversation with journalist Jennifer Mendelsohn, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Slate. This free, one-hour event begins at 7:00 p.m.

There's a Book for That: Diversity at Work
16 January 2019

"The more conversations you have … the more awareness and empathy there will be for the unique challenges people of color face at work." – Porter Braswell, author of LET THEM SEE YOU As we talk about diversity in the workplace, and actively listen to one another, books can enlighten and assist the conversation. To that end, we are highlighting the following titles that inspire discussion and growth:

LET THEM SEE YOU Author Porter Braswell Tackles Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
15 January 2019

Porter Braswell, the CEO and co-founder of Jopwell, the leading career advancement platform for Black, Latinx, and Native American students and professionals, shares straight-talking advice and mentorship for diverse careerists, from college students to mid-level professionals, in LET THEM SEE YOU: The Guide for Leveraging Your Diversity at Work, published by Lorena Jones Books/Ten Speed Press on Tuesday, January 15.

Thank you, Claudio, and farewell!
14 January 2019

Dear all,

All of us are deeply shocked and greatly saddened over the events of the last 24 hours. I am still struggling to come to grips with the idea that Claudio has left us and will not be coming back. Claudio was, is and will be a great editor, a truly outstanding one, who devoted his whole life to his passion, which was no other than texts, books and authors. He felt that passion so keenly that he turned it into a craft, to which he dedicated all his energy and his wisdom. With his passing, we have lost an icon and one of the most influential figures of Spanish language publishing. We have also lost a great friend and colleague.

Join Karen Thompson Walker, the New York Times bestselling author of THE AGE OF MIRACLES, for a discussion of her new novel, THE DREAMERS, with fellow Penguin Random House author Emily St. John Mandel (STATION ELEVEN), on Tuesday night, January 15, at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. The hour-long free event begins at 7:30 p.m.

“The wall” is a dominant image and concept of the moment. Throughout history, walls have gone up and come down. Many books about walls are often really about building bridges, metaphorically speaking. This weekend, you can bridge a gap in your reading life and consider the following fiction and memoir set in lands near and far for adults and kids, each with a wall as the central construct:

Virginia Governor Ralph R. Northam proclaimed that February 10-16, 2019 will be recognized as “Random Acts of Kindness Week” for the commonwealth of Virginia, and referenced the works of Crown author Jamil Zaki, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University: Studies show that “people imitate not only the particulars of positive actions, but also the spirit underlying them … this implies that kindness in itself is contagious and that it can cascade across people, taking on new forms along the way.” -- Jamil Zaki

Penguin Random House has partnered with lululemon, the pioneering technical athletic apparel company, to launch a cozy pop-up library in lululemon’s HUB Seventeen community space in NYC’s Flatiron building. The pop-up library is an opportunity to connect Penguin Random House books and authors with wellness-focused readers, yoga enthusiasts and other mindful consumers.

Featured Author Event: Chris Bohjalian (Westminster)
9 January 2019

New York Times-bestselling author Chris Bohjalian will be discussing his novel, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, on Thursday, January 10, in Westminster, Maryland at “A Likely Story Bookstore” event at Carroll County Community College’s Scotts Center Theater, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

In this month of resolutions, most of us want sustainable solutions for our health and happiness rather than the quick fix. When you sort through the overwhelming spate of diet and nutrition information – from Ayurvedic to Keto to Vegan to Zone diets – plant-based eating rises to the top of healthy recommendations. And, although January 10^th is Houseplant Appreciation Day – we do not recommend nibbling on your spider plant! Here are some of the most popular books in the category:

”DK Life Stories” Launches with Six New Biographies for Young Readers
8 January 2019

Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Gandhi, Helen Keller, Katherine Johnson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. are the subjects of the first six titles featured in DK Life Stories, a new biography series for children. Published on Tuesday, January 8, each book goes beyond the basic facts to tell true life stories of some of history's most interesting people.

Michelle Obama's BECOMING is USA TODAY's #1 Book of 2018
7 January 2019

BECOMING by Michelle Obama (Crown) has earned the top spot on USA TODAY’s 100 bestsellers of 2018 list, according to final 2018 data announced by the newspaper on Saturday, January 5. USA TODAY reporters Christopher Schnaars and Mary Cadden commented: “While the majority of the top 100 bestsellers in 2018 are fiction, it was one heartfelt memoir that topped this year's list. Former first lady Michelle Obama, a.k.a. America’s most admired woman, dominated book sales in 2018, landing the No. 1 spot on the USA TODAY’s year-end top 100 best-selling books. Pretty impressive considering BECOMING was only published this past November.”

Six books published in the past year by Penguin Random House imprints – whose “covers,” a.k.a. "jackets," were created by our talented art directors and designers – are among the 12 recognized by The New York Times Book Review for its list of “Best Book Covers of 2018,” published in the December 23 print edition. Congratulations to our colleagues, whose distinctive and wonderfully imaginative work can be viewed below:

“Let Them Read”– PRH and Legal Aid Bringing Books to Kids in Court
4 January 2019

Last week, the Legal Aid Society announced a new campaign in collaboration with Penguin Random House called “Let Them Read,” which brings books into courtrooms for young New Yorkers to read while they wait for their cases to be called. PRH donated more than 200 titles for the launch of the pilot program in Brooklyn.

“If, then, my awareness of the past and future makes me less aware of the present, I must begin to wonder whether I am actually living in the real world.” - Alan Watts Are you present in the New Year? How can we avoid living in the past, or for the future, and missing the moment? What motivates us to achieve mind/body balance and our creative potential while letting go of our fears and keeping our appetites in check? For this first Friday Reads post of 2019, let us turn for inspiration to some of our favorite writers, thinkers and spiritual leaders. So serve yourself up some joy and serenity…now rather than later:

Looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle as the year 2019 begins? Marco Borges, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of 22 Days Nutrition, introduces inclusive, practical, and revolutionary plant-based lifestyle plans in his new book, THE GREENPRINT, published by Harmony on Monday, December 31. By following its 22 proven effective guidelines, readers have the opportunity to shift their mindset, improve their health, lose weight, and impact the planet for the better.

PEN America has announced the longlists for its 2019 Literary Awards in the categories of debut fiction, diversity, nonfiction, essay, biography, sports writing, science writing, and translation. The 17 longlisted titles published by Penguin Random House imprints and Penguin Random House Publisher Services publisher clients are presented below.

Before the end of 2018, former President Barack Obama shared some of the books, movies and music he found “most inspiring, thought-provoking or just plain loved,” posting his year-end list on Facebook.

A Very Visual Year – 2018 Highlights from PRH Digital Video
20 December 2018

“This was another banner year for our video team,” says Richard Wylde, Promotions Manager, Penguin Random House Digital Video. “The final numbers are still coming in, but in the past twelve months we’ve worked with more than 400 authors, made over 900 videos, and generated over 6 million views. We worked with divisions and verticals across the company to produce, shoot, edit, distribute, promote, and stream videos, and our studio has been revamped to produce podcasts and virtual media tours. This is just a taste of some of the things we’ve been up—from ads to book trailers to ongoing series to fun social content. More to come next year!”

As we wrap up 2018, “Best of the Year” lists abound. Last week, the anticipated issue of Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” was published. For 2018, the choice was not one person, but rather a group of journalists under the heading “The Guardians and The War on Truth” honoring the dedication and life-threatening risks that journalists take. In that vein, topping our list of Penguin Random House’s annual publications are two books on politics and journalism. Care for lighter or fictional fare? We’ve also got science fiction, short story collections, as well as cooking and art titles to offer:

The spirit of giving back and helping those in need in our communities is strong throughout Penguin Random House. As this year winds to a close, we take a look back at a number of the charitable activities by colleagues who work at our distribution centers in Crawfordsville, Indiana and Westminster, Maryland.

Happy Holidays, one and all! The team here at PRH Audio is thrilled to celebrate the many traditions that make the season sparkle, and we’ve started a new tradition of our own.

At its Annual Benefit & Awards Dinner on Tuesday, December 11, the Center for Fiction presented awards to Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and to Penguin Random House authors Toni Morrison and Tommy Orange. Event co-chairs and renowned authors Lee Child and Michael Ondaatje welcomed the hundreds of guests who gathered to celebrate these talents at the benefit, which was held in New York.

Friday Reads: Christmas Lit
14 December 2018

Oh come all ye readers! We’ve got more than a stocking’s full of Christmas fiction for you to savor this season, spanning genres and settings. From contemporary family stories to classic tales, here are some of the best holiday books on our list – some with gorgeous illustrations. Take a break from the chaos and settle in for a long winter’s read:

On Tuesday evening, Riverhead Books hosted their annual holiday fundraiser with hundreds of merry-making guests. This year’s festivities raised $4600 for Community-Word Project, a New York City arts-in-education organization that inspires children in underserved communities to read, interpret and respond to their world.

With a shared mission of empowering and publishing authors from all backgrounds, the Authors Guild Foundation and Penguin Random House are partnering to produce a series of Writing Business Bootcamps across the country. Available at no charge to participants due in part to an award from the National Endowment of the Arts, from the end of 2018 through spring 2019 six bootcamps will be held in underserved communities nationwide. In addition to Authors Guild and Penguin Random House representatives, local published authors will lead each session, bringing a variety of experience and knowledge.

WaterBrook Author LaTasha Morrison Receiving Up to $1 Million for “Be the Bridge,” Joins Facebook Community Leadership Program
13 December 2018

LaTasha Morrison, author of BE THE BRIDGE: Moving Toward Racial Reconciliation, to be published by WaterBrook next fall (10/15/19), and founder of the non-profit Be the Bridge, an organization that focuses on racial reconciliation, was recently selected as a Resident in Facebook’s Community Leadership Program. LaTasha is one of five Residents worldwide, the only one from North America, in this newly-created program, which comes with up to $1 million in grant money for Be the Bridge.

Portfolio’s Seth Godin to Receive Jack Covert Award
13 December 2018

Seth Godin is the recipient of the fifth annual Jack Covert Award for Contribution to the Business Book Industry, it was announced by business book authority 800-CEO-READ. The Jack Covert Award is named for 800-CEO-READ’s now-retired founder and president. Covert played a major role in the expansion of the business book industry and the award recognizes others central to the industry’s growth and success.

Madeline McIntosh Speaks at New York Public Library
12 December 2018

On Monday, December 10, Penguin Random House U.S. CEO Madeline McIntosh joined a panel discussion with several authors as part of the “Who Owns the Word” speaker series co-presented by the Authors Guild and the New York Public Library.

At last month’s 8th annual YALLFest – one of the largest teen book festivals in the world, bringing some 70 authors and 12,500 fans to Charleston, South Carolina -- Random House Children’s Books colleagues asked attendees to pose with branded WONDER march signs for the WONDER photo wall.

2019 Dates for Final Leg of Michelle Obama’s Book Tour Announced
11 December 2018

After a highly successful 2018 12-event arena tour across 10 cities, Live Nation and Crown Publishing are pleased to announce that additional dates and cities have been added to “BECOMING: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.” Click here for a video compilation from Mrs. Obama’s tour thus far.

Business book authority 800-CEO-READ has announced the shortlist for the company’s 12th annual Business Book Awards and Penguin Random House imprints publish four of the eight titles. The shortlist spans the breadth of the business genre. 800-CEO-READ will announce the 2018 Business Book of the Year at their annual awards ceremony and business book industry celebration in New York City on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

PRH Grupo Editorial’s Verónica Cervera Earns B&N Award
10 December 2018

Verónica Cervera, Sales Manager at Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, was presented with the Barnes & Noble Rep of the Year Award for University Press, Small Press or Specialty Publishing last week. Verónica has been at Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial USA for 23 years (including 19 years with Santillana USA), giving her great expertise in the US Hispanic market. She specializes in several Spanish-language categories, including Fiction, Nonfiction, Romance, Children’s, Cooking and Motivational, among others.

Our Colleague Laurie Stark Receives Industry Connector Award from BISG
7 December 2018

Our colleague Laurie Stark, Vice President, Business Process and Support, Penguin Random House, was honored by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) a Service Award at the Committee Town Hall Celebration event on Thursday, December 6 in New York. She received the BISG’s Industry Connector Award, which recognizes "an individual whose work helps BISG serve as an information hub for the industry." Warm congratulations to Ms. Stark on this well-deserved recognition.

Nominations for the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced on Thursday morning, December 6th, from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Many of the nominees, in both television and film, are adaptations of Penguin Random House books. You can access the entire list of nominees at Variety.com. Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg will host the 2019 Golden Globes Awards on January 6th. Before then, we highly recommend reading the writing that gave rise to your favorite viewing:

As is tradition, Barnes & Noble presented publisher-achievement awards at their annual holiday party Wednesday night, December 5, and I’m pleased to share the news that three of our colleagues were recognized. These special honors are voted on by the B&N buyers, and this year’s focus was on those reps that delivered most on sales, as well as initiatives that helped differentiate Barnes & Noble in the marketplace.

Two Tana French Novels Adapted for DUBLIN MURDERS TV Series
6 December 2018

Tana French’s first two novels, IN THE WOODS and THE LIKENESS (both bestsellers published by Viking/Penguin), are being adapted into an eight-episode television crime drama series, Dublin Murders, to air on Starz in 2019. Starz acquired U.S. and Canadian broadcast rights from Freemantle. Production is underway in Belfast and Dublin. Killian Scott (C.B. Strike) and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful) lead the cast as detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox, central characters in French’s Dublin Murder Squad series.

NPR’s Selected Shorts partnered with Symphony Space to host a memorable evening honoring 25 years of Riverhead Books on Wednesday, November 28. An assortment of Broadway actors read aloud six different short stories, and some of Riverhead’s marquis authors took the stage along with them, including National Book Award winner James McBride, two-time National Book Award finalist Lauren Groff, and story writers Daniel Alarcón and Lesley Nneka Arimah.

Madeline McIntosh to Speak at New York Public Library, December 10
5 December 2018

Penguin Random House U.S. CEO Madeline McIntosh will participate in the Who Owns the Word speaker series at the New York Public Library (476 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, December 10 to share her industry-leading insights on promoting and supporting authors and championing free speech. Co-presented with the Authors Guild, Who Owns the Word is a series of discussions led by journalists, authors, and industry leaders regarding the future of published writing in our increasingly competitive and digital era. The event begins at 6:30 pm.

This year, Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, began at sundown on Sunday, December 2nd and will last until sundown on Monday, December 10th. Hanukkah is Hebrew for “dedication" and commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greek army, the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and restoring its menorah, or lamp. The “miracle” of Hanukkah is that only one vial of oil was found with just enough oil to illuminate the Temple lamp for one day, and yet it lasted for eight full days. As families gather to light the menorah, enjoy latkes, and exchange gifts, we are highlighting the following popular Hanukkah titles for young readers:

Winners of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced and feature 4 books published by Penguin Random House imprints in the Fiction, Romance, Memoir & Autobiography, and Food & Cookbooks categories. Heralded as the only major book prizes determined by readers, the Goodreads Choice Awards are a true reflection of public opinion. Congratulations to all of our award-winning authors as well as their editors and publishers.

Last month, Riverhead Executive Editor Courtney Young spent a week in Amsterdam as part of a fellowship hosted by the Dutch Foundation for Literature. The fellowship was intended to introduce English-language nonfiction editors to the publishing market in the Netherlands and build relationships between Dutch, English, and American publishers. Courtney joined nine editors from the UK – including Penguin Random House UK editors Jack Ramm from Viking, Sarah Rigby from Hutchinson, and Laura Stickney from Penguin Press – for visits to bookstores, publishers, and art galleries, where they networked and heard mini-lectures on art, philosophy, history, politics, and science.

Penguin Random House has launched a Good Vibes skill for Amazon Alexa that provides a daily dose of inspiration from PRH’s bestselling books and authors. The skill features a wide range of uplifting, motivational quotes from audiobooks narrated by many of our authors, including Mindy Kaling, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Gilbert, William Shatner, Gretchen Rubin, Nick Offerman, and Fred Rogers , among others.

Remembering George H.W. Bush: 1924 – 2018
3 December 2018

People around the world are mourning the passing of George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, who died on Friday, November 30, at the age of 94, at his home in Houston, Texas. His last words – “I love you, too” – were spoken to his son, George W. Bush, the 43rd President, author 41: A PORTRAIT OF MY FATHER, among other books. He announced the death of his “dear dad” Friday night, saying, “George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens.”

Josie Silver’s ONE DAY IN DECEMBER is the New “Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine” Book Pick
3 December 2018

Reese Witherspoon has selected Josie Silver’s captivating American debut, ONE DAY IN DECEMBER (Broadway Books), as her “Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine” book pick for December. Upon making the announcement on Saturday, December 1, Witherspoon tweeted: “Do you believe in love at first sight? We think you’ll fall head over heels for this month’s book pick: #OneDayInDecember by @JosieSilver_! When Laurie locks eyes with a stranger one day in December, she feels an instant connection—and spends the next year looking for him.”

Michelle Obama's BECOMING Is The Best Selling Book of 2018
30 November 2018

Penguin Random House announced today that former First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir BECOMING sold more than 2 million units in all formats and editions in the U.S. and Canada during the first 15 days of its publication on November 13. According to NDP BookScan data, the hardcover edition of BECOMING has sold more copies than any other book published in the United States in 2018.

Have you noticed that, in the competitive lexicon of one-word responses, “perfect!” seems to have overtaken “absolutely!” in our communiques? While we strive to be judicious with our superlatives and keep it real even in e-mail, our use of “perfect” is surely well-intentioned. In titles, the word “perfect” often tips to a story of unraveling ideals, and sometimes horror. Find out for yourselves in this selection of novels… just how perfect are they?

In their Sunday, December 2 print edition, the New York Times Book Review presents “the best” of this year’s picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction and nonfiction, in the opinion of the publication’s children’s books editor. Five of the twenty-five are published by our Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children’s Books imprints.

Netflix Partners With The Roald Dahl Story Company On New Slate Of Dahl Animated Stories
28 November 2018

Netflix has partnered with The Roald Dahl Story Company to extend the Roald Dahl universe of stories for global family audiences with an exclusive new slate of original animated event series, based on the books from the acclaimed and award-winning author’s best-selling library, including CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, MATILDA, THE BFG, THE TWITS, and many other beloved titles, published in the U.S. by Penguin Young Readers Puffin imprint.

Bay Area colleagues take note: Kirsten Gillibrand, the United States Senator from New York, is discussing her new book, BOLD & BRAVE: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers), on Friday, November 30, at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco as part of Books Inc’s City Arts & Lecture series. This special event begins at 7:30 p.m.

Today it was announced that Margaret Atwood’s forthcoming novel, THE TESTAMENTS, will be published on September 10, 2019. THE TESTAMENTS is set fifteen years after Offred’s final scene in The Handmaid’s Tale and is narrated by three female characters.

Michelle Obama’s memoir, BECOMING, is soaring as she holds audiences in rapt attention at sold-out events across the country. At least part of Michelle Obama’s popularity is the perspective she offers from the 8 years she spent as First Lady of the United States and our fascination with the role as well as the lives and accomplishments of the women who have inhabited the position. In fact, Penguin Random House has published a number of excellent biographies and memoirs of other First Ladies, a selection of which you may find here, accompanying BECOMING, for your reading or gift-giving pleasure:

As part of the annual campaign #GivingTuesday, Penguin Random House authors are supporting chosen causes as part of a donation match drive led by Facebook and PayPal. Three authors have been highlighted by Facebook to shine a light on their efforts and maximize giving. Credit goes to their marketing representatives Elina Vaysbeyn (Dutton); Jin Yu (Berkley); and Brianne Sperber and Shauna Barry (Crown) for helping to make these connections. Since launching these donation drives, the authors have already raised tens of thousands of dollars in contributions.

Hank Green, supporting Partners in Health
Laurell K. Hamilton, supporting COMTREA, a not-for-profit comprehensive health center
Shalane Flanagan, supporting New York Road Runners Team for Kids

As a reminder: all authors are encouraged to participate in #GivingTuesday and can find fundraising set up and tips here: https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/ For any questions, please reach out to Kate Rados.

Penguin Random House and Worldreader Team Up for Giving Tuesday
27 November 2018

We are proud to announce that starting today, on Giving Tuesday, November 27, all purchases made through PRH.com will include a donation to Worldreader, our long-term partner organization that champions digital reading, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. A $1 contribution for each purchase from Penguin Random House will ensure that one new eBook is made available to students in Worldreader programs. This special event will run for one week on PRH.com, from November 27 until December 4.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers to Publish R.J. Palacio’s Debut Graphic Novel
26 November 2018

R.J. Palacio, author of the blockbuster phenomenon WONDER, makes her graphic novel debut with WHITE BIRD: A Wonder Story, an unforgettable tale about the power of kindness in a time of war, it was announced by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. WHITE BIRD will be published on September 3, 2019, with a first printing of 250,000. Knopf acquired North American open market rights from Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Trident Media.

Have plans tonight? You are invited to join New York Times bestselling author and prominent sports journalist Mike Lupica for a special Monday night event at Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Lupica will discuss ROBERT B. PARKER’S BLOOD FEUD (Putnam, 11/27), then participate in an audience Q&A before signing books. Go and you will still be able make it home in time to watch Monday Night Football.

Kristin Cochrane, CEO of Penguin Random House Canada, has for the fourth time been named to Toronto Life magazine's “50 Most Influential” list.

Our Appreciation for Teachers Nationally: PRH 2018 Teacher Awards at NCTE
21 November 2018

The Penguin Random House Foundation’s 2018 Teacher Awards for Literacy winners received their well-deserved grants at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention during its opening session on November 15 in Houston, TX. These hard working educators applied to the PRH Teacher Awards for Literacy and earned the top awards by successfully engaging their students to become lifelong readers through unique reading programs like our first place recipient’s “MONSTER LITERACY NIGHT” and the Maya Angelou Teacher Award for Poetry recipient’s “DRAFGON FLY CAFÉ.” Each unique reading program connected student readers with students outside their classrooms as well as the greater local community - creating even a greater impact.

There's a Book for That: Thanksgiving
21 November 2018

Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. ― Anne Lamott Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving – a time where many will be gathering with family and friends for a feast. The original American holiday, Thanksgiving is also a time for connecting with, and serving, our communities as we reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. With this in mind, we give thanks for a varied harvest of books that help nourish us, literally and figuratively!:

Last week, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Janet Evanovich, celebrated the launch of her milestone 25th Stephanie Plum novel, LOOK ALIVE TWENTY-FIVE, published by Putnam on November 13.

The "100 Notable Books of 2018" selected by the editors of the New York Times Book Review will include 40 titles published by our U.S. imprints: 19 Fiction & Poetry and 21 Nonfiction. Their complete list is now online, and will be published in the Sunday, December 3 edition. Here are this year's Penguin Random House "Notable Books":

Edugyan’s WASHINGTON BLACK (Knopf U.S.), 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize (Canada) Winner
20 November 2018

WASHINGTON BLACK, an epic 19th-century globe-spanning adventure by Esi Edugyan, published in the U.S. by Knopf and Random House Audio, has been selected as the 2018 winner of Canada’s most prestigious award for excellence in fiction, the Scotiabank Giller Prize. The award was announced Monday, November 19 at a dinner in Toronto attended by the five judges and leading members of the national and local cultural community, including Kristin Cochrane and our colleagues at Penguin Random House Canada.

In the wake of the tragic Pittsburgh synagogue shooting last month, Kristen Keller, a librarian at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill “turned to books” for grief support. After she created a “wish list” for her library, Penguin Random House Sales and Customer Service quickly responded, setting in motion donations of multiple copies of such Random House Children’s Books titles as ALL ARE WELCOME, WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES, ELMORE, THE FOREVER TREE and I WALK WITH VANESSA: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness and such Penguin Young Readers titles as HARBOR ME, LOVE and THE RABBIT LISTENED.

Michelle Obama’s BECOMING Sells More Than 725,000 Units in U.S. and Canada on First Day of Publication
19 November 2018

Penguin Random House has announced that BECOMING, the highly anticipated memoir by Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, sold more than 725,000 units in all formats and editions in the U.S. and Canada on the first day of its publication, Tuesday, November 13.

On Thursday, November 15, while in Los Angeles for her BECOMING book tour, former First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to the Para Los Niños Tina and Rick Caruso Early Education Center, located in Skid Row, to spend time and read with a group of four-year-old children from an underserved area of L..A.

Simon Sinek Partners with Portfolio on New Imprint, OPTIMISM PRESS
15 November 2018

Simon Sinek, the New York Times bestselling author of START WITH WHY, LEADERS EAT LAST, TOGETHER IS BETTER, FIND YOUR WHY, and the forthcoming THE INFINITE GAME, is partnering with his longtime publisher, Portfolio, to launch a new imprint called Optimism Press.

Attention Colorado colleagues with middle-grade level children: Jeff Seymour, author of NADYA SKYLUNG AND THE CLOUDSHIP RESCUE (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers), is presenting his new book on Monday, November 19, at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. The event begins at 7:00 p.m., beginning with a reading, followed by a discussion and book signing.

We celebrate THE FRIEND by Sigrid Nunez, published by Riverhead, chosen by the panel of five judges from 368 submissions, as the recipient of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction, announced this evening at the annual National Book Foundation dinner in downtown Manhattan.

Vintage to Reissue 1965 Bestselling Thriller NIGHT OF CAMP DAVID About an “Unhinged President”
14 November 2018

Fletcher Knebel’s novel NIGHT OF CAMP DAVID was a radical look at the presidency in 1965, exploring what our nation’s leaders would do if they came to discover that the president was unstable and unfit to continue in office. Fifty-three years later, this prescient novel that poses the question “What would happen if the President of the USA went stark-raving mad?” still resonates in America’s discussion of national politics and problems that are all too real. On November 20, Vintage will reissue NIGHT OF CAMP DAVID in paperback and as an eBook. The novel will also be available as an audio book from Random House Audio on the same date.

PRH to Install Water Bottle Filling Stations to Help Reduce Plastic Pollution
14 November 2018

Help Penguin Random House reduce plastic pollution and protect our oceans by using our new water refilling stations. We are happy to announce that Water Bottle Filling Stations will be installed on our floors at 1745 Broadway. Responding to frequent requests from many of you at both our uptown and downtown NYC locations, and in support of our sustainability efforts, our company has acquired FW-PRO Kitchen Counter Water Purifiers. In addition to saving money, you can now also help reduce and eliminate plastic pollution as part of your daily routine.

Portfolio Acquires New Book on Justice Brett Kavanaugh from NYT Reporters Kate Kelly and Robin Pogrebin
14 November 2018

New York Times journalists Kate Kelly and Robin Pogrebin have reached a publishing agreement with Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, for a new book about the early years of the newest Associate Justice, titled THE EDUCATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH. Executive Editor Bria Sandford acquired world, audio and eBook rights from PJ Mark of Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

November is National Novel Writing Month and where would we be without our novelists? We marvel at their feats of imagination, storytelling gifts, research, craft and discipline. But the road to publication is usually a long one, rife with hills and valleys. That brave, creative journey is all the more reason to celebrate the following selection of debut novels published this year – spanning genre and region, but each having received myriad accolades from reviewers, librarians, booksellers and the reading public:

Finalists for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced and feature 72 titles published by Penguin Random House imprints as well as Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) client publishers, across such categories as Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Horror, Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir & Autobiography, History & Biography, Science & Technology, Food & Cookbooks, Graphic Novels & Comics, Poetry, Debut Author, Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, Middle Grade & Children’s Books and Picture Books. This year, there is a new category, Best of the Best, where you can choose your favorite Goodreads Choice Award winner of the past ten years. Votes for the Finalists for the Goodreads Best Books of the Year can be cast through November 26. Here are our Goodreads Choice Awards 2018 Finalists:

Featured Author Event: Blair Imani (Washington, D.C.)
13 November 2018

Colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. take note: Ten Speed Press author Blair Imani will be discussing her new book, MODERN HERSTORY: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History, during a special event @ Politics and Prose at Union Market in DC on Wednesday, November 14. Imani will be in conversation with Mia Ives-Rublee, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

THIS JUST IN: O, The Oprah Magazine and OWN announced this morning that it has chosen Michelle Obama’s BECOMING its newest Oprah’s Book Club selection. In making the announcement, Oprah Winfrey said, “This book is everything you wanted to know and so much you didn’t even know you wanted to know. I believe it’s going to spark within you the desire to think about your own becoming … It’s so well-written I can hear her voice; I can hear her expressions; I can feel her emotion. What she allows us to see is how she was able to discover, define and then refine her voice.”

This morning, Amazon.com announced its selections for the Best Books of 2018, naming Tara Westover’s EDUCATED: A Memoir(Random House) the Best Book of the Year and Kekla Magoon’s THE SEASON OF STYX MALONE (Wendy Lamb Books) #1 Children’s Book.

Election-Day Opening: THE FRONT RUNNER, the Film Adaptation of Matt Bai’s ALL THE TRUTH IS OUT
6 November 2018

THE FRONT RUNNER, the new film starring Hugh Jackman, based on Matt Bai’s Vintage book, ALL THE TRUTH IS OUT: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, opens in theaters nationwide today, November 6, Election Day. Chronicling the promising rise and rapid fall of Colorado Senator Gary Hart as a U.S. presidential candidate, the book and film present a tour de force portrait of the American way of politics at the highest level, deepening our understanding of how we elect our presidents and how the bedrock of American values has shifted under our feet.

To kick off the season of giving while also celebrating National Family Literacy Month in November, zulily, the online retailer obsessed with bringing special finds to its customers every day, is teaming up with Penguin Random House to help provide books to children in need across the U.S. There’s nothing quite like the immersive, imagination-inspiring power of books. Storytime is a treasured pastime for all, but many children may not have the opportunity to experience the magic of books.

Play New Election Mad Libs Game and Be Sure to Vote!
5 November 2018

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6. In a novel new way to help #BooktheVote and inspire more people to go to the polls, Penguin Young Readers and HeadCount , a non partisan voter engagement organization, have teamed up to create Election Mad Libs. Players can choose their own nouns, verbs and adjectives, and also fill in how and where they’ll vote. If someone doesn’t know their polling location, a link appears where they can easily access that information. The game makes it easier than ever for voters to create an Election Day plan for themselves – a practice that’s proven to increase the chances someone will vote.

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction, the most prestigious nonfiction award in the UK, has announced its six-title 2018 shortlist. Three of the finalists are published in the U.S. by Penguin Random House imprints. Formerly known as the Samuel Johnson Prize, the Baillie Gifford Prize aims to reward the best of nonfiction and is open to authors of any nationality, honoring all nonfiction in the areas of current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts.

Cheer On Our Colleagues Running in Sunday's New York City Marathon
2 November 2018

Penguin Random House will be well represented at this year’s New York City Marathon, which takes place across NYC’s five boroughs on Sunday, November 4. Among the more than 50,000 participants, there will be at least six of our colleagues – three first-timers and four veterans – running the 26.2-mile course. Whether you will be among those who observe the race live in the city or catch parts of it on television, we encourage you to join us in cheering on — in person or in spirit -- our runners. And make note of their marathon bib numbers, shown below, to help you pick them out along the course. Meet our Penguin Random House 2018 NYC Marathoners

Friday Reads: Shirley Jackson
2 November 2018

So long as you write it away regularly nothing can really hurt you. - Shirley Jackson For Dia De Los Muertos, we honor Shirley Jackson, who died at the young age of 49 in 1965, but is enjoying a renaissance: The Haunting of Hill House is a hit Netflix series and "The Lottery" is celebrating 70 years since its publication in The New Yorker. Jackson’s literary legacy has perhaps never been stronger with recent coverage in Rolling Stone, Bustle, Mental Floss, to name but a few. Certainly, a new generation is discovering her oevre – from horror to humor. You are hereby invited to enter the world of Shirley Jackson's imagination:

Time for hope? Beloved Riverhead author Anne Lamott believes so. In a major New York Times profile, Lamott is declared the “Lefty Guru of Optimism”: “Like a feminist C.S. Lewis, Anne Lamott talks about God, politics and other unmentionables, and gently exhorts her readers, as she does herself, to find joy in a bleak and chaotic world.” As Lamott shares, she came to

There’s a Book for That: Ghost Stories
31 October 2018

Happy Halloween! Whether you are in costume, trick-or-treating or on door duty, get in the spirit with this gathering of ghost stories for all ages. These storytellers sure know how to put the BOO in books!

The Stranger Things publishing program officially launched on Tuesday, October 30, with the on-sale of STRANGER THINGS: Worlds Turned Upside Down from Del Rey, shortly followed by a children’s title, HOW TO SURVIVE IN A STRANGER THINGS WORLD, on sale in two weeks (11/13). To celebrate, Del Rey and Random House Children’s Books brought a taste of Hawkins, Indiana to the 1745 Broadway lobby.

The eagerly-awaited BEASTIE BOYS BOOK goes on sale today, October 30, in hardcover and eBook editions from Spiegel & Grau and as an audiobook from Random House Audio. Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip-hop superstardom. For more than thirty years, this band has had an inescapable and indelible influence on popular culture.

Penguin Random House U.S. CEO Madeline McIntosh delivered the keynote address earlier this week at the Toronto International Festival of Authors to an audience of several hundred industry colleagues and authors in Canadian publishing.

Attention Colorado colleagues with children: young readers author Melissa Savage will talk about and read from her new Random House Children’s Books title, THE TRUTH ABOUT MARTIANS, at BookBar in Denver on Saturday, October 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Melissa will also be signing copies of her charming middle-grade novel, packed with adventure and heart, about a boy and his best friends, who set out to discover the aliens that crash-landed next to their Roswell, New Mexico farm.

Friday Reads: Witch Lit
26 October 2018

Something witchy this way comes… In the spirit of Halloween we’ve gathered a coven of books which are sure to cast a spell on you this weekend!

The 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction six-title shortlist has been announced and includes 4 books published by Penguin Random House imprints. Established by the American Library Association in 2012, the Carnegie Medals for Excellence serve as an ALA guide to help adults select quality reading material.

Attention colleagues in New York and Washington, D.C: Neil MacGregor, former head of the British Museum (and author of the bestselling A History of the World in 100 Objects, and the recent Germany: Memories of a Nation) will be discussing his beautifully illustrated new book, LIVING WITH THE GODS: On Beliefs and Peoples (Knopf, Oct. 30) at special events next week in NYC and DC. On Monday (10/29), MacGregor appears at the Morgan Library & Museum (225 Madison Avenue), with his talk to begin at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday (11/1), he will be at The Smithsonian (S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive, S.W.), doors opening at 6:15 p.m., with his presentation, audience Q&A, and book signing concluding by 8:45 p.m.

Since Book the Vote launched in early September, we have seen amazing enthusiasm and energy from our authors, readers, and employees who have spread the word about this campaign. Thanks to your great work, there have been 36 million unique web impressions for the hashtag #BooktheVote!

Behind the Pages of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ART & ARCANA
24 October 2018

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ART & ARCANA: A Visual History, published on October 23 by Ten Speed Press, is an illustrated guide to the history and evolution of the iconic role-playing game told through the paintings, sketches, illustrations, and visual ephemera behind its creation, growth, and continued popularity. The superstar author team of Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson and Sam Witwer created the most comprehensive collection of D&D imagery ever assembled. There are more than 700 pieces of artwork—from each edition of the core role-playing books, supplements, and adventures; as well as Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels; decades of Dragon and Dungeon magazines; and classic advertisements and merchandise; plus never-before-seen sketches, large-format canvases, rare photographs, one-of-a-kind drafts. In this “Behind the Pages” Igloo interview, the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS authors discuss their passion for the game and its colorful history, what was involved in putting this book together, the project’s personal rewards, and their views on why Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

There's a Book for That: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
24 October 2018

Featured Author Events: Ryder Carroll (Brooklyn, Manhattan)
23 October 2018

Ryder Carroll is the author of THE BULLET JOURNAL METHOD: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future, on sale from Portfolio today, October 23. Read on for details about this book and two special author events. Everyone is invited to hear Ryder talk about his new book in conversation with Amber Rae at a book launch tonight at Powerhouse Arena (28 Adams St.) in Brooklyn, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday night, October 24, at NYC’s NeueHouse (110 E 25th St.), Ryder will engage in a discussion and experiential event in conversation with New York mag “Science of Us” editor and fellow Portfolio author Melissa Dahl, whose book, CRINGEWORTHY: A Theory of Awkwardness, was published last February, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. RSVPs are required for the Wednesday (10/24) event. To RSVP, click here.

Can a book jacket design be so iconic and recognizable that it can have a life beyond the book itself? This was the question addressed at an art + design conference, October 19-20, in Milan, Italy by the Riverhead Art Director Helen Yentus and Riverhead Associate Publisher Jynne Dilling Martin. The Italian cultural foundation Mondadori partnered with Mimaster Illustrations to fly Helen and Jynne to Milan, where they spoke to professional illustrators, designers, editors and publishers about the unique Riverhead approach to design. They described how each jacket is created in a collaborative process with publicity and marketing, so it can be carried through a campaign and used across many platforms. The team asked if the design can become the visual “identity” for the book, even when stripped of its text. Helen (far left) and Jynne (far right) are pictured with the Mondadori and Mimaster Illustration executives.

Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest retail bookseller, has announced that Dr. Seuss’s THE GRINCH will take over its stores this holiday season, with special displays in 536 stores featuring exclusive books, holiday ornaments, puzzles, games and toys starting today, Monday, October 22. B&N’s bookstores around the country will also be hosting a free Grinch Storytime on Saturday, November 3, ahead of the November 9 release of The Grinch movie, based on Dr. Seuss’s timeless book, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! (Random House Children’s Books).

Attention colleagues in the San Francisco Bay Area: Jill Soloway will be discussing and signing copies of their new Crown Archetype book, SHE WANTS IT: Desire, Power, and Toppling the Patriarchy on Wednesday, October 24, at Kanbar Hall in San Francisco. Hosted by the JCC of San Francisco, the event promises to be a night of candor, humor and creative brilliance, charting Jil’s evolution from straight, married mother of two to identifying as queer and nonbinary.

Milestone Spotlight: Dave Zimmer
19 October 2018

Milestone Spotlights feature an interview with a recent recipient of a Penguin Random House Milestone Award, which is given out to employees who have reached 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and more years of service with the company. The Employee Milestone Spotlight interview allows us to celebrate our colleagues’ service by highlighting their successes within the company, and is a chance for them to share some fun and personal information about themselves. This month, we shine the spotlight on Dave Zimmer, Manager, Corporate Communications. He celebrated his 15-year milestone earlier this year. Get the scoop on Dave by checking out his interview below:

Friday Reads: Thurber Prize for American Humor
19 October 2018

Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility. - James Thurber Let’s all resolve to laugh more! Thurber House (the home of humorist, author, and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber) has unveiled the finalists for the $5,000 Thurber Prize for American Humor. The winner will be announced December 5 in Columbus, Ohio. Among this year’s finalists are two Penguin Random House titles which we’ve paired with books by James Thurber himself and previous Thurber Prize winners. It’s their world and welcome to it…

CITY OF DOGS Author & Photographer Kick Off NYC Tour In Conversation with Jacqueline Woodson
19 October 2018

Ken Foster and photographer Traer Scott kicked off their five-borough tour for CITY OF DOGS: New York Dogs, Their Neighborhoods, and the People Who Love Them, just on-sale from Avery, with a fantastic event at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn. The two were in conversation with fellow Penguin Random House author Jacqueline Woodson, who is featured in the book with her dogs, Toffee and Shadow (you can check out an excerpt of Jacqueline’s chapter on The Bark). If you missed the Brooklyn CITY OF DOGS event, you can still catch Ken & Traer at Boris & Horton Dog Cafe in the East Village on 10/23, Comic Book Jones in Staten Island and Kew & Willow Books in Kew Gardens on 11/3, or Bronx Barx on 11/4. Furry friends are welcome to attend all events! The book and canines will be featured in an upcoming edition of The New York Times. Stay tuned!

Penguin Random House Acquires Will Smith’s Autobiography
19 October 2018

World-renowned actor Will Smith is writing his autobiography for Penguin Random House, with Penguin Press to publish the book in the U.S. Penguin Press Vice President & Publisher Scott Moyers acquired North American rights. Penguin Random House UK imprint Century will publish in the UK and Commonwealth, excluding Canada.

PRH Creative Writing Awards Alumnus Elizabeth Acevedo NBA Finalist
18 October 2018

Elizabeth Acevedo, an alumnus of Penguin Random House’s Creative Writing Awards (CWA), is a finalist for a 2018 National Book Award in the Young People's Literature category for her book, POET X (Harper Teen), a New York Times bestseller. Elizabeth was the recipient of a 2^nd place scholarship award of $5,000 for her poem “Vicious Cycle” in our 2006 CWA program – then called Bertelsmann’s World of Expression Scholarship program. $2.6 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to New York City high school writers since the program’s inception in 1993.

PRH Education, NCTE and The Moth Partner for 10th Annual Event for Educators
17 October 2018

Last week, Penguin Random House Education held their Tenth Annual Event for Educators. In partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and The Moth, our Education team hosted several dozen teachers in the L’Amour Room at 1745 Broadway for a storytelling workshop.

Refinery29 recently posted How These Instagrammable Book Covers Are Tricking People Into Reading Romance by Elena Nicolaou, an article that explores the visual power of cover design on such romance novels as Jasmine Guillory’s THE WEDDING DATE, Helen Hoang’s THE KISS QUOTIENT and Alexa Martin’s INTERCEPTED. Nicolaou notes that these books (as well as several other titles mentioned) “have three crucial elements in common. First, they’re novelized takes on cinematic rom-com, in which the lovers’ banter is just as memorable as their sex scenes. Second, they’re sold as trade paperbacks, which are physically wider and more expensive than mass market romance novels. Finally, they’re published by Berkley.”

Music fan colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. take note: longtime jazz critic, columnist and author Nate Chinen will be discussing his new Pantheon book, PLAYING CHANGES: Jazz for the New Century, in conversation with Lauren Onkey, senior director of NPR Music, on Saturday, October 20, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., at Politics & Prose Bookstore in D.C.

TSP Editor-In-Chief Lorena Jones on Yotam Ottolenghi and His New “SIMPLE” Cookbook
16 October 2018

Yotam Ottolenghi, bestselling cookbook author, renowned chef and restaurant owner, has collected 130 easy, flavor-forward recipes in his new Ten Speed Press book, OTTOLENGHI SIMPLE. Featuring Ottolenghi’s signature Middle Eastern–inspired flavors, all of the recipes are simple in at least (and often more than) one way: made in 30 minutes or less, with 10 or fewer ingredients, in a single pot, using pantry staples, or prepared ahead of time for deliciously simple meals. In this special “Behind the Pages” Igloo interview, Ten Speed Press Editor-In-Chief Lorena Jones shares personal insights into Ottolenghi’s singular cooking style, his impact on the American culinary landscape, the process involved when editing his books for US readers, and several of her favorite OTTOLENGHI SIMPLE recipes.

Penguin Random House Joins Leading Renewable Energy Alliance
15 October 2018

We are excited to announce that Penguin Random House has become the first book publisher to sign onto the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, part of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), which informs utilities and other suppliers what industry-leading, multinational companies are looking for when buying renewable energy from the grid. The program, which is supported by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), launched in July of 2014 with just 12 signatories. Penguin Random House is now the 78th company to sign.

Johns Hopkins University is naming a new building after Henrietta Lacks, a Baltimore woman whose cells were the basis of research for numerous modern medical breakthroughs. The building is planned for Hopkins’ East Baltimore campus and expected to be completed in 2022.

Former President Barack Obama posted a message on his Facebook page on Friday, October 12, that began, “I wanted to share a handful of books and articles that speak to the current political moment and something I’ve been talking about around the country this fall.” Among the books that Obama has read and recommends that everyone consider reading before Election Day on November 6 are three titles published by Penguin Random House imprints:

In its first week on-sale from TarcherPerigee, BLEND: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family by Mashonda Tifrere with contributions from her co-parents—Swizz Beatz and his wife, Grammy-Award winning singer and songwriter Alicia Keys—sparked major media attention and exciting events, including a book launch celebration at Urban Zen in NYC. Pictured (left to right) Mashonda, her son Kasseem Jr., Alicia Keys, and Swizz Beatz.

With 250,000 attendees, New York Comic-Con, October 4-7, was the biggest it’s ever been and continues to grow. Penguin Random House had a successful year with strong sales and appearances by many of our talented authors and illustrators. With events taking place at the Javits Center, Shop Studios, and Hammerstein Ballroom, this year’s show was packed with exciting programming.

Markus Zusak and His BRIDGE OF CLAY Display @ 1745 Broadway
12 October 2018

This week Markus Zusak was the author of the moment at the Penguin Random House 1745 Broadway offices in NYC. Celebrating the October 9 Alfred A. Knopf publication of his extraordinary new novel, BRIDGE OF CLAY, the highly anticipated follow-up to his #1 international bestseller, THE BOOK THIEF, a dazzling display to herald the book’s release was featured in the 1745 lobby. It was a sight to behold and was graced by a visit from the author himself. Zusak is pictured with his editor, Erin Clarke, Senior Executive Editor, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Are you game? It’s that time of year again, as baseball’s magnificent Fall Classic approaches, but before you can play in the World Series, you have to get there. This weekend begins the league championship series’ in which baseball’s final four – the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros and the Milwaukee Brewers – will compete for that coveted World Series berth. To enhance your viewing, we’re pitching the following books we know to be hits…

Let’s hear it for the girls! It’s International Day of the Girl. Since its United Nation’s declaration in 2012, October 11 has been marked as the International Day of the Girl, focused on the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting their empowerment and human rights. The theme for 2018 is “With Her: A Skilled Girl Force.” From unwomen.org: “The 1.1 billion girls of today’s world are challenging the status quo. They’re redefining girlhood, and they’re doing so against the odds. Across the world, girls face adversities that hinder their education, training and entry into the workforce. They have less access to information, communication technology and resources. And yet, they persist, they succeed. They are innovating technology to solve global challenges, they are standing up for the environment, they are raising their voices against violence and they are preparing to run for office.” Penguin Random House publishes an array of relevant books on the topic of girls in the world and we begin with a Nobel Prize winner:

Devoted readers of Tana French’s award-winning, bestselling “Dublin Murder Squad” novels, including THE TRESPASSER, THE SECRET PLACE and IN THE WOODS, will be mesmerized by THE WITCH ELM, her new spellbinding standalone mystery, published by Viking on Tuesday, October 9. This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection has been called “Tana French’s best and most intricately nuanced novel yet. . . Get ready for the whiplash brought on by its final twists and turns.” –The New York Times

Presenting the five finalists for the 2018 National Book Awards published by Penguin Random House U.S. imprints:

Markus Zusak's U.S. Book Tour Includes Events This Week in NYC and Washington, DC
9 October 2018

With the October 9 Alfred A. Knopf publication of Markus Zusak’s new novel, BRIDGE OF CLAY, the international bestselling author is embarking on a 17-date national U.S. book tour, including events this week in New York City and Washington, DC. Colleagues in NYC and Westminster take note: on Wednesday, October 10, Zusak appears at Symphony Space in NYC. For Symphony Space event tickets, click here. On Friday, October 12, he will be at the Cleveland Park Public Library (presented by bookseller Politics & Prose) in DC. For Cleveland Park Public Library event tickets, click here.

Beloved international bestselling author Markus Zusak has written an extraordinary new novel, BRIDGE OF CLAY, published by Alfred A. Knopf on October 9. Began 13 years ago, Zusak’s latest brilliant tome is the story of five brothers, raised in a world run by their own rules. At the center of the family is Clay, a boy who will build a bridge—for his family, for his past, for greatness, for his sins, for a miracle. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father’s disappearance.

Netflix has secured the rights to international bestselling author Blake Crouch’s upcoming novel RECURSION for Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beer’s Shondaland and Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho for a feature film as well as a television universe. RECURSION will be published by Crown on June 11, 2019.

Random House author Kelly Link is among the MacArthur Foundation’s 25 MacArthur Fellows of 2018, “extraordinarily creative people who inspire us all.” She will receive a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant” – $625,000 paid out over five years to people who "show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future.” Link was praised by the Foundation for “pushing the boundaries of literary fiction in works that combine the surreal and fantastical with the concerns and emotional realism of contemporary life."

On the eve of the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair, the annual international celebration of the global book marketplace, Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade-book publisher, announces the extension and expansion of its commitment to local publishing in Asia, currently represented by its Penguin Random House North Asia and Penguin Random House India companies, with the launch of its Penguin Random House South East Asia publishing operation in 2019.

Crown Group, Grupo Editorial Author Nadia Murad Awarded 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
5 October 2018

Nadia Murad, a former captive of the Islamic State, was one of the two winners of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, announced today by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Her book, THE LAST GIRL, published by Crown Publishing Group imprint Tim Duggan Books, is an intimate memoir of survival, chronicling her harrowing and ultimately inspiring experiences.

The film rights for THE EDITOR, an upcoming Putnam title from Steven Rowley, have been acquired by Fox 2000. Greg Berlanti, director of Love Simon, has been set to direct and produce the film, as reported by Variety. Rowley will write the screenplay and executive produce, with Berlanti producing alongside Rob Weisbach and Sarah Schechter. Erin Siminoff and Molly Saffron will oversee for Fox 2000.

Andy Warhol was certainly prescient in 1968 when he said "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes" in a catalog for an exhibition of his work. Widespread fame has never been more available to the masses than in the 21^st century where digital cameras and the internet make “going viral” possible – for better or worse. Not surprisingly, internet fame is a tantalizing theme for novelists – for reasons of social commentary and compelling character studies. The following diverse books, for adult and young adults, all share a “video goes viral” plot point. Topping the charts, of course, is Hank Green’s debut novel:

Rose Byrne's Desert Island Books: PRH Publishes 6 of Her 10 Picks
4 October 2018

Actress Rose Byrne, most recently starring in the film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s JULIET, NAKED (Riverhead), was asked by bookseller One Grand Books to name 10 titles she would take to a desert island. Among her picks were 6 books published by Penguin Random House imprints. See these titles below, with personal thoughts about each one by Ms. Byrne:

The 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Longlist has been announced and includes 20 books published by Penguin Random House imprints. Established by the American Library Association in 2012, the Carnegie Medals for Excellence serve as an ALA guide to help adults select quality reading material.

Random House to Publish FROM THE GROUND UP by Starbucks’ Howard Schultz in February 2019
3 October 2018

The Random House Group has announced it will publish long-time CEO, Chairman, and current Chairman Emeritus of Starbucks Howard Schultz’s most revelatory and visionary book yet, FROM THE GROUND UP: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America, on February 12, 2019. North American publishing rights, including audio and first serial, were acquired by Random House President Gina Centrello from Jennifer Rudolph Walsh of WME. The book will be edited by Chris Jackson for Random House.

There's a Book for That: Hispanic Heritage Month
2 October 2018

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15, during which time we honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) is October 12 (observed this year in the U.S. on Monday, October 8). Enjoy the following array of titles for all ages – biography, cooking, history, poetry and fiction – to mark the occasion.

Two Penguin Random House Canada authors, plus one Penguin Random House U.S. author, are in the running for the 25^th-Anniversary Scotiabank Giller Prize, as finalists on the 2018 shortlist, announced on Monday.

Crown Publishing Group is thrilled to share the news that PBS and the New York Times selected Nate Blakeslee’s AMERICAN WOLF (Crown/Broadway Books) for their October Book Club. This title was an Amazon Best Science Book of the Year Selection, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, an IndieBound Bestseller, an NPR Science Friday Best Science Book of the Year Selection, and received numerous other accolades.

The Children’s Book Council's CBC Diversity Committee has announced the winners of the inaugural CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Awards. Among the award recipients are Jen Loja, President and Publisher of Penguin Young Readers, and Phoebe Yeh, VP & Co-Publisher of Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books. Jen Loja is honored for demonstrating “exemplary allyship by supporting diverse voices across PYRG’s publishing program and encouraging diversity and inclusion in hiring.” Phoebe Yeh is honored for supporting and helping launch the careers of some of today’s leading diverse voices, including Kwame Alexander, Ellen Oh, Lamar Giles, and Soman Chainani. “If it were not for Phoebe,” says the CBC, “the fight for diversity in children's books would be years or even decades behind what it is today.”

Featured Author Event: Ben Reiter (Washington, DC)
28 September 2018

Colleagues in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. take note: this is the last weekend of the MLB regular season, and with no Nationals home games on tap, consider joining Ben Reiter for a discussion of his fascinating baseball book, ASTROBALL: The New Way to Win It All (Crown Archetype) on Saturday night, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Politics & Prose Bookstore in D.C.

Throughout Banned Books Week, September 23 – 29, we will be highlighting frequently banned and challenged books to help raise awareness of how the right to freedom of expression and the protection against censorship are essential to the development of our society and cultures around the world. Keep reading for Banned Books reading list inspiration, and stay tuned all week for more recommendations.

Attention fans of Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek and David Grann: the film adaptation of Grann’s story, “The Old Man and the Gun,” opens in theaters today, September 28. Starring Redford, in what is being billed as his final screen role, The Old Man & the Gun is based on a story by Grann that was first published in The New Yorker in 2003, then included in Grann’s 2010 collection, THE DEVIL AND SHERLOCK HOLMES: Tales of Murder, Madness and Obsession (Doubleday/Vintage), and now headlines a movie tie-in edition, THE OLD MAN & THE GUN: And Other Tales of True Crime, published by Vintage earlier this month.

Let’s send September out with literary strains on music…it’s Classical Music Month and we have a concert of excellent titles on composers for your reading, and listening, pleasure. Classical Music Month was first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1994. The proclamation eloquently states: “Classical music is a celebration of artistic excellence…This month we exalt the many talented composers, conductors, and musicians who bring classical music to our ears. Whether in new American works or in the masterpieces of the great composers of old, music is a unifying force in our world, bringing people together across vast cultural and geographical divisions. Classical music speaks both to the mind and to the heart, giving us something to think about as well as to experience.”

Riverhead Pop-Up Reading Room Supports Banned Books Week
28 September 2018

Riverhead Books will host the latest installment of its Pop-Up Reading Room on Saturday, September 29, 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Brooklyn Bridge Park in support of Banned Books Week. This much anticipated event has been covered in BookRiot and Culture Trip.

Paul McCartney Pens First Picture Book, HEY GRANDUDE!, to Release Globally September 2019
27 September 2018

Random House Children’s Books and Puffin UK are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of a new picture book written by one of the world’s most famous and best loved grandfathers, Paul McCartney. HEY GRANDUDE! is Paul McCartney’s first picture book and will be published by the Random House Books for Young Readers imprint in the US and the Puffin imprint in the UK in September 2019. Penguin Random House Children’s MD Francesca Dow and Random House Children’s Books President & Publisher Barbara Marcus acquired world rights in a joint acquisition from Richard Ewbank at MPL Communications.

Throughout Banned Books Week, September 23 – 29, we will be highlighting frequently banned and challenged books to help raise awareness of how the right to freedom of expression and the protection against censorship are essential to the development of our society and cultures around the world. Keep reading for Banned Books reading list inspiration, and stay tuned all week for more recommendations.

How Francesco Sedita Transformed the “Who Was?” Bestselling Books into a Hit Netflix Series
27 September 2018

Francesco Sedita, President & Publisher of Penguin Workshop, was a featured speaker at Bertelsmann’s 2018 Venice Summit earlier this month. He wowed attendees when he talked about the creation The Who Was? Show Netflix series, based on the #1 New York Times bestselling Who Was? book series. Thirteen episodes of The Who Was? Show have aired on Netflix since the series premiered in May and helped propel the Who Was? books to the top of the New York Times children’s series bestseller list for the first time. In this “From Page to Screen” Igloo interview, Sedita provides insights into the genesis and production of The Who Was? Show Netflix series as well as the project’s most rewarding aspects and a look to the future.

Who is Michael Ovitz? The man himself says, “In twenty years I went from a complete unknown, to a comer, to being hailed as the most powerful man in Hollywood – invariably described as a gap-toothed, tightly scripted, secrecy obsessed superagent. After a few years of that, I became the most feared man in town. And once I left CAA (Creative Artists Agency, Inc.), when it was safe for everyone to vent, I became the most hated.”

Penguin Young Readers has announced the launch of World of Eric Carle, a new imprint dedicated to the works of the acclaimed and beloved author and illustrator. Under the editorial leadership of Francesco Sedita, Publisher of Penguin Workshop, World of Eric Carle will focus on publishing books that are based in core values of discovery, creativity, learning and growing—all hallmarks of Eric Carle books. The imprint will launch in Winter 2019 with three all-new titles: CALM WITH THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, ERIC CARLE’S BOOK OF MANY THINGS, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR. The launch coincides with the 50^th Anniversary of Carle’s iconic picture book, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR.

Our #BannedBooksWeek Reading List #3
26 September 2018

Yes, it’s Banned Books Week. Did you know that The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials in 2017? According to the ALA, the year 2017 saw an increase in censorship attempts and a revitalized effort to remove books from communal shelves to avoid controversy. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the following four Penguin Random House titles (here with ALA's annotation about the challenge) were on the Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged List:

Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS), a division of Penguin Random House, Inc., today announced a multi-year extension of its sales and distribution partnership with Soho Press, which began in 2011. Soho Press, an independent publisher of a wide range of literary fiction, young adult fiction, and international crime fiction, will continue to utilize the full portfolio of Penguin Random House's sales and distribution services.

If you’ve been following our posts about Book the Vote, you’ll know that today is National Voter Registration Day! Book the Vote is a Penguin Random House nonpartisan company-wide initiative dedicated to encouraging voter registration and voter turnout through employee and author engagement and to providing tools for brick and mortar stores across the country for this shared goal.

Hank Green’s Debut Novel: “A New Way to Talk About Hard Things”
25 September 2018

Prepare to be swept away by the adventures of April May in Hank Green’s AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING , an engaging, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she’s part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined. This week’s Igloo Book Buzz, published by Dutton today, September 25, grapples with big themes, including how the social internet is changing fame, rhetoric, and radicalization; how our culture deals with fear and uncertainty; and how vilification and adoration spring for the same dehumanization that follows a life in the public eye.

With its ongoing mission to invest in voices that reflect wide-ranging opinions that impact our society in meaningful ways, Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade publisher, is supporting this year’s Banned Books Week with major books and financial contributions. From September 23-29, thousands of libraries, schools, bookstores, and community centers across the nation and the world unite to celebrate the freedom to read without interference or censorship.

Friday Reads: International Peace Day
21 September 2018

“I have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh Today, September 21^st, is International Peace Day and so we are highlighting books for all ages about peace and from some revered peace workers including Thich Nhat Hanh. Celebrated each year around the world, International Peace Day was declared by The United Nations as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. For more information visit http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/.

Biographers International Organization (BIO) will present its fifth annual Editorial Excellence Award to Tim Duggan, Publisher of Tim Duggan Books, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, at a special BIO event on Wednesday, November 7, in Manhattan. There will be a celebration of Mr. Duggan’s work on behalf of his authors, with a discussion of the pleasures and challenges of editing, and of the state of the art of serious biography and nonfiction, at the Fabbri Mansion (also known as House of the Redeemer).

Bringing Books to Kids in Need: Penguin Random House Leads the Way in Partnership with PBS and First Book
20 September 2018

First Book and PBS have announced a partnership to distribute more than 350,000 brand new books to children in need through local PBS stations embedded in communities across the U.S., as part of The Great American Read. Penguin Random House was the first publisher to commit to this campaign as we continue to reinforce our leadership position in connecting our authors and books with readers everywhere. The Great American Read is a 9-hour, 8-episode PBS documentary series and public service campaign that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of 100 best-loved books (as chosen in a nationally-representative survey). Penguin Random House imprints publish 59 of the 100 titles on The Great American Read list.

Edugyan, Robertson Man Booker Finalists
20 September 2018

WASHINGTON BLACK, a novel by Esi Edugyan, published by Knopf and Random House Audio, and THE LONG TAKE by Robin Robertson, which Knopf will publish in January in the U.S., have been selected by the judges as two of six semi-finalists for the 2018 Man Booker Prize.

In an impressive display of recognition for both Penguin Random House Canada and the breadth of the company’s nonfiction publishing, three authors (out of five nominated authors) have been announced today to the shortlist for this year’s Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction:

Random House author Lynne Olson was one of the featured speakers at Carroll County Public Library’s “Day for Book Lovers” on September 17 at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Co-sponsored by Penguin Random House, the sold-out event was front-page news in the Carroll County Times, covered in the article Acclaimed Authors Enthrall Audience of 'Book Lovers' at McDaniel College by Catalina Righter. In the article’s lead photo, Olson is pictured, along with a glimpse of our Westminster Distribution Center colleague Annette Danek., who attended the event.

This year, Yom Kippur began on September 18, at sundown and will end on September 19, at sundown. Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith and is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. Yom Kippur is the culmination of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for transgressions committed during the past year. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.” In honor of the holiday, we invite you to explore the following titles:

Khaled Hosseini on the Refugee Crisis and What It Means to Be Human
18 September 2018

Today marks the much anticipated Riverhead release of new work by Khaled Hosseini, one of the most beloved and bestselling authors in the world. His short, illustrated book titled SEA PRAYER, our Igloo Book Buzz selection, has been called “essential” by the San Francisco Chronicle. It was written by Hosseini as a response to the current refugee crisis and the haunting image of young Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body was found washed up on the Turkish shore on this day three years ago. Kirkus, in a starred review, wrote, SEA PRAYER is “an emotional gut-punch” and “impossible to read without feeling intense compassion for those—and there are thousands—whose lives resemble those of the characters in the book.”

Hank Green to Launch His Debut Novel at NYC's Town Hall, with Special Guest John Green
18 September 2018

Dutton author Hank Green will launch his debut novel, AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, at Town Hall in Manhattan on the book’s publication day, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available, but going fast! Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster by clicking here. Each ticket includes a pre-signed copy of AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she’s part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined.

PRHPS And Beacon Press Renew Sales And Distribution Partnership
18 September 2018

Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS), a division of Penguin Random House, Inc., today announced a multi-year extension of its sales and distribution partnership with Beacon Press. Beacon Press, an independent, nonprofit publisher of a wide range of serious nonfiction, including sociology, history, religion, biography and memoir, and literary nonfiction, will continue to utilize the full portfolio of Penguin Random House's sales and distribution services.

Penguin Random House Canada celebrates the announcement of six authors (out of 12 nominees) on the longlist for this year’s 25^th-Anniversary Scotiabank Giller Prize:

Clarkson Potter to Publish “TOGETHER: Our Community Cookbook” on September 25
17 September 2018

TOGETHER: Our Community Cookbook will be published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, on September 25. TOGETHER celebrates the power of cooking to connect us to one another. In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire in London, a group of local women gathered together to cook fresh food for their families and neighbors.

Academy Award Nominee Rosamund Pike to Star in TV Adaptation of THE BANKER’S WIFE
17 September 2018

From Page to Screen: Cristina Alger’s THE BANKER’S WIFE, a USA Today-bestselling and critically acclaimed thriller published by Putnam, will be adapted into a television series by Homeland producers Meredith Stiehm and Lesli Linka Glatter, featuring Rosamund Pike (a 2015 Best Actress Oscar nominee for her Gone Girl performance) in the starring role. The book was optioned earlier this summer by Federation Entertainment and Marsh Productions. They are currently pitching the project to cable and streaming networks.

Join our author Esi Edugyan for a discussion of her new Knopf novel, WASHINGTON BLACK, on Wednesday, September 19 at Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Esi will be in conversation with Knopf Senior Editor Diana Miller. The event, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will be followed by a wine reception to celebrate the book’s launch.

Congratulations to our Penguin Random House authors and their publishing teams who have been chosen by the respective five category judges as “longlisted” semi-finalists–including five of the ten Fiction titles–for the 2018 National Book Awards.

Have Friday night plans? New Yorkers and everyone else have the opportunity to see, hear and meet Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl, creators of the Ten Speed Press books RAD WOMEN WORLDWIDE and, most recently, RAD GIRLS CAN, at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. The event begins at 7:30 p.m., with a booksigning to follow the author discussion and audience Q&A.

Did you know that September is National Translation Month? Founded in 2013 National Translation Month (NTM) is a celebration of translation throughout the month. From nationaltranslationmonth.org: “Language is a way to express the human experience, yet it also presents communication barriers. With the efforts of accomplished translators, however, those barriers can be overcome to foster artistic unity across linguistic boundaries.” In recognition of the art of translation, we are highlighting our most recent Pen Translation Prize nominees and winners along with this week’s announced 2018 NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS LONGLIST FOR TRANSLATED LITERATURE. Finalists will be announced on October 10th and winners will be announced on November 14th, 2018. Your weekend reading is spoken for…

Coll, Hisham and Crabapple Chosen As 2018 NBA Nonfiction Semi-Finalists
13 September 2018

Here are the Penguin Random House titles longlisted for the 2018 National Book Award in Nonfiction.

Two Penguin Books authors are among the ten longlisted by the 2018 National Book Awards judges in the Poetry category:

Today, Live Nation and the Crown Publishing Group announced the fall 2018 dates for Michelle Obama’s live U.S. book tour events in support of her highly anticipated memoir, BECOMING. Produced by Live Nation, the 10-city U.S. tour will kick off in Mrs. Obama’s home town of Chicago on Tuesday, November 13, and will feature intimate and honest conversations between Mrs. Obama and a selection of to-be-announced moderators, reflective of the extraordinary stories shared in the wide-ranging chapters of her deeply personal book.

This year, the National Book Awards is debuting a new category: Translated Literature. We have two nominees on its 2018 Longlist:

The 2018 National Book Awards season is officially underway with this week’s serial announcements of the ten titles “long-listed” in each of five categories.

James Johnston Named Chief Financial Officer of Penguin Random House
12 September 2018

Dear Colleagues, It is my great pleasure to announce that James Johnston, one of our most trusted leaders, is named global Chief Financial Officer of Penguin Random House, effective today, reporting to me.

The Great American Read “Fall Kick-Off” Premieres, Remember to Vote!
11 September 2018

PBS’ The Great American Read “Fall Kick-Off” episode premieres tonight on PBS, continuing this documentary series that celebrates America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a nationally-representative survey). You can vote online at http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/vote/, via Facebook and Twitter, and you can also cast your votes by sending a Text Message to 97979, using a specific hashtag for each title. The hashtags for the books published by Penguin Random House can be found here. More details about your voting options, plus a complete directory of title hashtags, are viewable here. All Penguin Random House colleagues are encouraged to participate. Public voting will continue until October 18 at 12:00 midnight (PT), leading up to the “Grand Finale,” airing on October 23, when America’s Best-Loved Book will be announced.

Multiple authors and their books published by Penguin Random House imprints received awards at the 2018 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in St. Petersburg, Florida this past weekend.

The shortlist for the Center for Fiction’s 2018 First Novel Prize, annually awarded to the best debut novel of the year, has been announced. Among the seven finalists are three of our authors and their books published by Penguin Random House imprints:

How THE WONDROUS WORKINGS OF PLANET EARTH Entertains, Informs and Empowers Everyone
10 September 2018

Rachel Ignotofsky’s THE WONDROUS WORKINGS OF PLANET EARTH: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems presents an expansive and beautifully illustrated tour of our planet, exploring ecosystems large and small, from reefs, deserts, and rainforests to a single drop of water. Making earth science accessible and entertaining through art, maps, and infographics, this newly published Ten Speed Press book explains how our planet works – from its diverse ecosystems and their inhabitants, to the levels of ecology, the importance of biodiversity, and the cycles of nature.

Friday Reads: International Literacy Day
7 September 2018

Saturday, September 8^th is International Literacy Day. Since 1989, the International Literacy Association’s Teachers’ Choices project has identified books that teachers, librarians, and literacy specialists consider exceptional for encouraging young people to read. Parents and families will also find these recommendations

Colleagues who will be in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. tonight take note: DeRay Mckesson, internationally recognized civil rights activist/organizer and host of the popular podcast, Save the People, will discuss his new Viking book, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF FREEDOM: The Case for Hope, in conversation with Taylor Branch, author of

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of Putnam’s perennial bestseller WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? by Spencer Johnson. The Friday edition of The Washington Post features an in-depth article by long-time book reporter Ron Charles, titled “‘Who Moved My Cheese’ Became a Monster Hit. Twenty Years Later, We’re Still Wondering Why.”

New Release Spotlight: I’M AFRAID OF MEN by Vivek Shraya
6 September 2018

Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada, is thrilled to be publishing the urgent and essential I’M AFRAID OF MEN by trans writer and artist Vivek Shraya, whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, poetry, fiction, visual art, and film.

Penguin Random House is proud to have 7 colleagues among this year’s 45 PW Star Watch honorees, recognized as “outstanding individuals who further the cultural and economic success of publishers, bookstores, and the industry at large,” as noted by Publishers Weekly, celebrating some of the “rising stars of our industry” in the fourth annual Star Watch program.

There's a Book for That: Tennis!
5 September 2018

The U.S. Open Tennis Tournament is in full swing at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York City. Some of the highlights, and upsets, so far include Australian John Millman defeating his “hero” Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova losing to Spain's Carla Suárez Navarro. With all eyes on the ball this week, we’ve decided to serve some court-side reading to fans… aces all!

The film and television rights for SUCH A FUN AGE, an upcoming Putnam title from Kiley Reid, have been acquired by Emmy-winning actress, producer, and screenwriter Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and Sight Unseen Pictures, as reported by Deadline.

The Anchor editions of Kevin Kwan’s fiction trilogy – CRAZY RICH ASIANS, CHINA RICH GIRLFRIEND and RICH PEOPLE PROBLEMS – command the top three positions, respectively, on the Sunday, September 9 New York Times Trade Paperback bestseller list — an almost unprecedented single-author-and-publisher trifecta last accomplished in 2012, by sister imprint Vintage, with E L James’s FIFTY SHADES trilogy. There are over 3.7 million copies of the “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy in print in the U.S. and Canada, across all formats. And the Crazy Rich Asians Warner Bros. film has grossed $117 million in North America after just three weekends in theaters.

Penguin Random House is proud to announce Book the Vote, a new nonpartisan company-wide initiative to begin next month, aimed toward encouraging voter registration and voter turnout through author engagement, and by providing tools for brick and mortar stores across the country to create their own displays, community nights, and initiatives toward this shared goal. The idea was born out of the excitement about the forthcoming publication of GLIMMER OF HOPE: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement (Razorbill and Dutton Adult, October 16), written by the March for Our Lives founders. These incredible students just completed their “Road to Change” tour, registering voters in 50 events across the country. Penguin Random House is excited to continue this initiative, and to inspire authors and bookstores across the country to get involved.

Featured Author Event: Gary Shteyngart (NYC)
31 August 2018

New York Times bestselling Random House author Gary Shteyngart will be launching his new novel, LAKE SUCCESS, on Tuesday, September 4, with a talk and reading at Barnes & Noble Union Square in NYC. There will also be a book signing.

Friday Reads: From Page to Screen
31 August 2018

Labor Day weekend is upon us. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is dedicated to the achievements of American workers. What better way to honor work than by relaxing with a good book? Grab the snacks because we can’t think of anything that fits the bill more perfectly than books adapted for the big and smaller screen this season. Here’s a fine selection to complement your viewing:

Penguin Random House will have a big presence at the 18th Library of Congress National Book Festival, Saturday, September 1, at the Washington Convention Center, with 34 of our authors making presentations and holding book signings throughout the day, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Colleagues in the vicinity of DC this weekend take note, and admission is free.

During the last sweltering days of August in Manhattan, Penguin Random House extended its 25^th Anniversary CWA program to give a select group of recipients a deeper dive into writing with the “What’s Your Story” Summer Writer’s Retreat. Over four consecutive days young local writers generated new pieces, prompted by a potent array of writing exercises. Students were encouraged to share works-in-progress as well as bits of writing that may have been abandoned along the way.

Novelist John Larison Hears “The Story of The Person, not The Story of The Labels”
30 August 2018

John Larison’s WHISKEY WHEN WE’RE DRY, published last week by Viking, is a gritty and lyrical American epic about a young woman who disguises herself as a boy and heads West. In the spring of 1885, seventeen-year-old Jessilyn Harney finds herself orphaned and alone on her family’s homestead. Desperate to fend off starvation and predatory neighbors, she cuts off her hair, binds her chest, saddles her beloved mare, and sets off across the mountains to find her outlaw brother Noah and bring him home. Told in Jess’s wholly original and unforgettable voice, the book draws readers into its expansive adventures that tangle with the myths that are entwined with our history.

Penguin Random House India has been honored at the Sammie Awards for the second year in a row. Our New Delhi colleagues won the Silver Award in the “Best Social Media Brands – Content Publisher” category. The Indian online platform Social Samosa, which presents the awards, researches trends and developments in social media marketing.

NO HARD FEELINGS Authors Blog About “The Evolution of Our Book Cover”
29 August 2018

Portfolio authors Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy were actively involved in the cover design of their upcoming book, NO HARD FEELINGS: Emotions at Work (and How They Help Us Succeed), on sale January 22, 2019. A visual exploration of how to embrace emotion at work and become more authentic and fulfilled while staying professional, this book combines practical advice and scientific research to give readers the tools they need. The authors recently created a blog that chronicled the design process: Behind the Book: The Evolution of Our Book Cover.

Students are heading back to school! Social media pages are filling up with updates and photos of the college-bound waving from car windows, standing in their dorm rooms - full of anticipation. This put us in mind of all the captivating novels set on campuses. We present a syllabus of such novels full of self-discovery, new relationships and intrigue:

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selections are HARBOR ME and THE DAY YOU BEGIN, on sale August 28, published by Nancy Paulsen Books. Both titles feature Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical writing and explore themes of building bridges and sparking empathy.

With a goal of expanding support for the higher-education market, Penguin Random House announces the launch of a new, far-reaching online platform uniquely designed to meet educators’ needs. Featuring a large collection of the publisher’s most frequently-adopted titles for hundreds of college courses, the site allows professors to more easily identify the books and resources most appropriate for a wide range of courses. Penguin Random House is the first trade publisher to provide this comprehensive and extensive a service across its front- and backlist.

People around the world are mourning the passing of Senator John McCain, who died Saturday, August 25, at the age of 81. War hero, military and political maverick, two-time presidential contender, and devoted father, McCain was also the bestselling author of seven greatly admired books, the first four of which were published by Random House: FAITH OF MY FATHERS: A Family Memoir (1999), WORTH THE FIGHTING FOR: The Education of an American Maverick, and the Heroes Who Inspired Him (2003), WHY COURAGE MATTERS: The Way to a Braver Life (2004), and CHARACTER IS DESTINY: Inspiring Stories We Should All Remember (2005). The co-author of all of McCain’s books was Mark Salter, who also served as the Senator’s speech writer and staff aide.

Featured Author Event: Vanessa Hua (San Francisco)
27 August 2018

Colleagues in the Bay Area are invited to experience a celebration of diverse new literary voices. Vanessa Hua, San Francisco Chronicle columnist and author of the debut novel, A RIVER OF STARS (Ballantine), will be featured on a “Diverse Voices in Publishing” panel at Book Passage in San Francisco on Wednesday, August 29. Other panelists include Riverhead author R. O. Kwon (THE INCINDIARIES) and Doubleday author Ingrid Rojas Contreras (FRUIT OF THE DRUNKEN TREE). Also joining for this evening event will be authors Crystal Hana Kim and Lillian Li. Beginning at 7:00 p.m., the writers will each read from their debut novels, examining identity, family, and more.

Susan Kamil on the Enduring Resonance of GUERNSEY and the Novel’s Netflix Film Adaptation
27 August 2018

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways, was originally published by The Dial Press in 2008. Structured as a series of letters, this beloved novel quickly became a #1 New York Times bestseller and a book club favorite. Fast forward to this summer, when Netflix released a film adaptation of GUERNSEY. Rave reviews have been rolling in, sparking renewed interest in the book, with Dial publishing a movie tie-in edition that has returned the title to the New York Times bestseller list. In this “From Page to Screen” Igloo interview, Susan Kamil, Executive Vice President, Publisher, Random House and The Dial Press, shares insights into the process of how GUERNSEY became a book, her impressions of the film adaptation, and why both the novel and film resonate so strongly with readers and viewers.

This week saw the publication of the much-anticipated novel, WHISKEY WHEN WE’RE DRY by John Larison. In honor of its American West setting, strong characters, family themes and gorgeous writing we’ve rounded-up others of its ilk for your weekend reading adventures:

Colleagues in Southern California take note: Random House author Joshua Cohen will be discussing his latest book, ATTENTION: Dispatches from a Land of Distraction, in conversation with his editor, Sam Nicholson, at Book Soup in West Hollywood on Sunday, August 26. This afternoon author event begins at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude with a book signing.

This year’s Worldcon, held August 16 – 20, in San Jose, California, was capped by the Hugos, the premier sci-fi and fantasy book awards. And it was a great year for DAW. Sheila E. Gilbert, DAW Co-Publisher and Vice President, won her second Hugo in the Best Editor--Long Form category. The Best Novelette Hugo went to author Suzanne Palmer (DAW is publishing her debut novel FINDER in April 2019).

There’s a Book for That: Elephants
22 August 2018

August seems to be the month of the elephant. August 12^th was World Elephant Day, an auspicious birthdate for Zuli, a healthy male African elephant born that day to his mother “Ndlula” at San Diego’s Wild Animal Park. Science has taught us that elephants are some of the most intelligent, social and empathic animals around. Elephants' captivity is controversial, but conservation is a concern. This week, Carl Zimmer (SHE HAS HER MOTHER'S LAUGH) wrote in The New York Times about research showing elephants protect themselves with a unique gene that fights cancer which may help treatment in humans. Also this week, tragedy struck when two Tanzanians were trampled to death by elephants in Kenya: Clashes between people and wild animals are a growing problem in East Africa. These powerful mammals are the subject of the following fiction and nonfiction for all ages:

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is Christina Dalcher’s VOX, on sale today from Berkley. One of the most talked about and eagerly anticipated novels of the summer, VOX tells the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter when half the U.S. population has

In the ongoing spirit of us giving back to our communities, Penguin Random House has been a longtime supporter of Shakespeare in the Park, one of the cornerstones of the Public Theater’s mission to bring performing arts to the people of New York City. Since 1962, over five million people have experienced more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other

Attention all Brooklynites and everyone else: you are invited to enjoy what promises to be an entertaining evening with Mara Altman, author of the new Putnam book, GROSS ANATOMY: Dispatches From the Front (and Back), on Wednesday, August 22, at WORD Bookstore in Brooklyn. Described as “an honest, funny, neurotic, and totally gross love child of Mindy Kaling and Mary Roach,” Altman will present a talk/reading beginning at 7:30 p.m. and then sign copies of her book following a Q&A with the audience.

Even before galleys were available, New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins’most personal novel to date, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, caused a stir, challenging readers to think about their views on weight and body image. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, a story of three lifelong friends who battle their own, very different issues with weight and body image and

Friday Reads: Aretha Franklin
16 August 2018

“Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.” – Aretha Franklin

PRH’s “Grand Central Reads” Featured in New York Times’ “New York Today”
16 August 2018

Penguin Random House’s Grand Central Reads, launched earlier this summer in partnership with the MTA Metro-North Railroad, is featured in today’s edition of The New York Times’ “New York Today” column. Written by Molly Horan and Alexandra S. Levine, the article notes, “For those who prefer books to beats during your commute, Grand Central Reads may whet your literary appetite. Until the end of August, you can download and read book excerpts about New York and by New York authors — for free — through Grand Central Reads … Similar to music playlists, you can customize your book choice based on the length of your commute.”

The World Fantasy Convention has announced that DAW Books Publisher Betsy Wollheim will be awarded the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award, for demonstrating outstanding service to the fantasy field. She is being honored alongside author Charles de Lint.

Summer movie alert! Today, August 15, Crazy Rich Asians opens in theaters nationwide. The film adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel, CRAZY RICH ASIANS has been hotly anticipated and is the first film with an all-Asian cast and director since Wayne Wang’s The Joy Luck Club 25 years ago. In its 100-point Metacritic review, Time Out writes, “Bursting with attitude and heart, Hollywood's first Asian-centric rom-com in years makes up for lost time in a big way.” The first in a trilogy, CRAZY RICH ASIANS inspired us to seek out more reading riches in the following Asian novels:

We are sad to report the passing of V.S. Naipaul, who died late Saturday at his home in London. He was 85. Naipaul’s long association with Alfred A. Knopf began in 1970, when the house published THE LOSS OF EL DORADO. Robert Gottlieb, who was head of Knopf at the time, was his editor.

David Joy’s Appalachian Noir: “There’s Not a Story that Can’t be Told Within the Shadow of These Mountains
13 August 2018

Our new Igloo Book Buzz selection is THE LINE THAT HELD US, published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons on August 14, the dazzling third novel of Appalachian noir by Edgar Award nominee David Joy, whose work has drawn comparisons to Cormac McCarthy, Flannery O’Connor, Ron Rash, Daniel Woodrell, Tom Franklin, and Wiley Cash.

The prestigious FT (Financial Times)/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Awards, which annually recognizes the book published in the U.S. and UK that “provides the most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues, including management, finance and economics,” has announced its 2018 longlist of 15 titles.

This fall Penguin Young Readers will introduce a brand new format to the American market - Penguin Minis - pocket-sized, full-length books that can easily fit in the palm of your hand. The inaugural list will debut with four titles by internationally bestselling author John Green: Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars. Additional titles will follow in 2019. Available as single titles or a complete box set, the inaugural Penguin Minis have a first print run of 500,000 copies and will be available nationwide on October 23, 2018, just in time for the holiday season.

With the 21^st century’s advent of smart phone cameras and social media sharing, we have certainly become tourists in our own lives like never before… snapping and posting photos whenever inspiration strikes. Thusly, vicarious travel is at an all-time high in the summer. Depending on the trips of your circle of “friends”, you may visit Japan, Giverny, Maine, Greenland, etcetera through their photos. In that vein, we've turned our lens to some of the best photography books for the summer – from instruction to stunning works of art to pictorial travelogues:

Colorado colleagues take note: Riverhead author R. O. Kwon will be presenting her gripping novel, THE INCENDIARIES, at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver on Saturday, August 11, at 2:00pm. The event will feature Kwon in conversation with journalist, fiction writer, and the former business editor of newyorker.com Vauhini Vara.

500 Days of Summer (Interns): A Look Back and a Farewell
8 August 2018

As the summer draws to an end, so too does our time at Penguin Random House. Interning at Penguin Random House has provided us with the incredible opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of the publishing industry, develop crucial professional skills, forge lifelong connections, and experience everything the City That Never Sleeps has to offer.

Berkley’s Danielle Perez Probes the “Addictive” OUR HOUSE and its “Twisty Suspense”
8 August 2018

Louise Candlish’s OUR HOUSE, published by Berkley on August 7, is an addictive novel of domestic suspense, where secrets kept hidden from spouses cause shocking surprises: When Fiona Lawson comes home to find strangers moving into her house, she’s sure there’s been a mistake. She and her estranged husband, Bram, have a modern co-parenting arrangement: “bird’s nest” custody, where each parent spends a few nights a week with their two sons at the prized family home to maintain stability for their children. But the system built to protect their family ends up putting them in terrible jeopardy. In a domino effect of crimes and misdemeanors, the nest comes tumbling down. In this Three Questions for an Editor interview, Berkley Executive Editor Danielle Perez discusses what drew her to author Louise Candlish and her remarkable page-turner, the process of weaving together the different threads of the story into a finished novel, and the kinds of readers that will fall under the spell of this “twisty suspense.”

The countdown continues: the film adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s CRAZY RICH ASIANS (Vintage), which is currently #1 on The New York Times bestseller list, opens in theaters nationwide on August 15. If ever a book was made for the big screen, it is CRAZY RICH ASIANS: When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor.

What is it like to work in the White House, for the President? This week, inspired by the current New York Times bestseller, FROM THE CORNER OF THE OVAL, we are featuring memoirs that help answer the question. From the perspectives of presidential speechwriters, aides and others, the following titles also give historical insight and shed light on the differences between administrations:

G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers author Jessica Blank will be sharing her stunning new novel, LEGACY, at her launch party. The launch party will take place at The Word Bookstore in Brooklyn on Wednesday, August 8, at 7:00pm.

First Look Film Preview: James Baldwin’s “IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK” Directed by Barry Jenkins
3 August 2018

In what surely is one of 2018’s most anticipated screen adaptations, the film version of James Baldwin’s classic fiction IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK will be coming to theatre screens this fall, marking the return of Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of “Moonlight,” which won Academy Awards in 2017 for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK will premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Friday Reads: Peaches!
3 August 2018

"The peach lay there still, blushing deeper in the window light. She bent to smell, and the perfume was headier than before, a scent of meadows and summers home from school." – Allegra Goodman, The Cookbook Collector

Penguin Books author Maeve Higgins will be sharing her timely memoir, MAEVE IN AMERICA: Essays by a Girl From Somewhere Else, at The Strand in the Rare Book Room on Tuesday, August 7, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television announced today that it has optioned the rights to Elaine Weiss’s critically-acclaimed Viking book, THE WOMAN’S HOUR: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, and will develop it as a long-form project for premium cable or streaming platforms. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Elaine Weiss, as well as Amblin Television’s Co-Presidents, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, will serve as executive producers. The book follows the remarkable activists who led the decades-long fight to grant women the right to vote and sheds light on how close the battle to ratify the 19^th Amendment really was. An inspiring story, THE WOMAN’S HOUR, celebrates those who changed history and laid the foundation for the civil rights movement that came decades later.

This year's San Diego Comic-Con (July 19-22) at the San Diego Convention Center drew huge waves of consumer traffic. Our Penguin Random House Digital Video team was on the scene to shoot videos of popular panels, including ones featuring Penguin Random House colleagues and authors Naomi Novik, Andy Weir, Tricia Narwani, and many more.

There's a Book for That: Thrillers!
1 August 2018

Welcome August! The hottest month of summer calls for chilling page-turners and we’ve selected some of the most popular thrillers on our list. Enter the realm of double-lives, marital secrets, trauma and survival. Read on!

Colleagues in the Bay Area take note: Doubleday author Ingrid Rojas Contreras will be presenting her mesmerizing debut novel, FRUIT OF THE DRUNKEN TREE, at a release party that will take place at The Bindery in San Francisco on Thursday, August 2, at 7:00 pm.

“At PRH, Producing a Publishing Powerhouse” reads the headline of the cover story in the newly released print edition of Publishers Weekly. In recognition of this month’s five-year anniversary of the Penguin Random House merger, PW “looks back at how two publishing giants were integrated.” The article by PW Editorial Director Jim Milliot presents detailed insights into the full scope of the merger, featuring comments from Penguin Random House Global CEO Markus Dohle.

First-Ever RIF Quiz Show on Facebook Live and Instagram Connects Readers to Exciting New Books
29 July 2018

Read It Forward (RIF), the Penguin Random House community that helps readers discover exciting new books and classic reads, has launched its first-ever quiz show on Facebook Live and Instagram. The Read It Forward Quiz Show will take place daily at 1:00 pm (EDT) from July 30 through August 3, and feature trivia-like questions related to Penguin Random House books on the Indie Next List, comprised of independent bookseller-nominated favorite handsells. Each episode will provide viewers a daily chance to win a $100 gift certificate to a sponsoring independent bookstore, which can be redeemed on each bookstore’s e-commerce site.

Dutton author Miriam Parker will be sharing her captivating debut novel, THE SHORTEST WAY HOME, at Books are Magic in Brooklyn, on Wednesday, August 1, from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The event will feature Miriam in conversation with our very own Rachel Fershleiser, Senior Director of Marketing, Alfred A. Knopf, Pantheon, Schocken Books.

Child, Tudor, Grann and Love Among Our Crime Writing Dagger Awards Finalists
27 July 2018

The Crime Writers' Association announced the shortlists for the prestigious UK-based Crime Writing Dagger Awards at Daunt Books in London on Wednesday, July 25. A number of our authors are finalists in various categories:

Vintage author Brian Catling will be presenting the stunning conclusion to his beloved Vorrh Trilogy, THE CLOVEN, at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn on Monday, July 30, beginning at 7:30 pm. The event will feature Brian in conversation with author and Vol. 1 Brooklyn editor Tobias Carroll.

Summer vacation is a popular time to read young adult novels, even for adults. It's not just the nostalgia factor: Young adult fiction tends to tackle relationships and intense social themes in a raw, though sometimes humorous, way. These novels provide windows into what young people are dealing with in our complex world - what's universal and what is unique to this time and place. And It’s no easy feat to write young characters who ring true in stories that offer fresh perspectives and insights. Below are some recently published standouts for your weekend reading:

This morning in London our minority shareholder Pearson presented its 2018 half-year results. The complete press release, which contains information about Penguin Random House, is available here.

Penguin Random House had another successful year at San Diego Comic-Con 2018. With record breaking sales and over forty in-booth author signings, the Con was a perfect opportunity for our divisions to engage face-to-face with fans. Featured items included Tim Zahn's THRAWN: Alliances Con Edition which could also be purchased as a bundle with a very special audiobook edition, plus freshly designed Fight Evil, Read Books t-shirts, designed by Pantheon author and Eisner Award winner Sonny Liew.

Penguin Random House is Highest-Rated Media Company on Forbes List of “America's Best Employers for Women”
26 July 2018

Forbes’s newly released “America's Best Employers for Women 2018” list features Penguin Random House at the highest rating in the Media & Advertising sector: #58, among the 300 companies ranked. This strong showing follows Penguin Random House’s recent #1 position on America’s Best Midsize Employers 2018 Forbes list,

Summer is sailing by! How to choose what to read? The New York Times bestseller list is but one source… and it’s interesting to compare it to regional bestseller lists. Where is there overlap and where can you discover a regional favorite? In the case of the following fiction and nonfiction, we’ve found a hot handful of new releases that have made the regional lists this week and are accruing accolades as the days go by:

Valerie Jarrett Reveals the Title and Cover of Her Upcoming Memoir on “The View”
26 July 2018

Valerie Jarrett, the longest serving senior advisor to President Obama, revealed her upcoming memoir’s cover and title, FINDING MY VOICE: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, on The View on Wednesday, July 25. The book, publishing with Viking on April 2, 2019, describes Jarrett’s circuitous journey from childhood to the White House. Her forthright, optimistic perspective on the importance of leadership and the responsibilities of citizenship in the twenty-first century will inspire readers to lift their own voices.

The longlist of thirteen semi-finalists for the 2018 Man Booker Prize, one of the most influential annual English-language international literary fiction honors, has been announced from London. They were chosen from more than 170 submitted books being published in the UK between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2018. Here are our longlisted titles published by Penguin Random House imprints in the U.S., Canada and the UK:

The students from Parkland, Florida who founded The March For Our Lives after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, are now adding a book to their movement. GLIMMER OF HOPE: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement will be the official, definitive book from the founders and will document the ongoing fight for sensible gun control legislation and their journey on the road to change. In a rare move, Razorbill, a Penguin Young Readers imprint, and Dutton, an adult imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, have teamed up to sell this single title together and jointly market the book, which will go on sale on October 16.

Two Ten Speed Press Authors Win Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards
24 July 2018

Ten Speed Press authors Jim Meehan and Thad Vogler are winners of the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in both book-related categories. The recipients of the 12th Annual Spirited Awards, considered the most prestigious accolades in the spirits world, were announced Saturday evening at the annual Tales of the Cocktail Festival in New Orleans.

Friday Reads: Steampunk!
20 July 2018

“Steam” has entered our contemporary vernacular in a big way. “STEAM” programming is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. As a popular literary genre and aesthetic, Steampunk can generally be defined as a story set in either Victorian England or America's Wild West wherein modern technologies are re-imagined. For instance, “Dr. Who” has Steampunk elements with its time-travel plots. As for the genre’s origin story, K.W. Jeter wrote to Locus magazine in 1987: “Personally, I think Victorian fantasies are going to be the next big thing, as long as we can come up with a fitting collective term for Powers, Blaylock and myself. Something based on the appropriate technology of the era; like 'steam-punks', perhaps.”

Featured Author Event: Melvin I. Urofsky (Washington, D.C.) 14 February 2020

Featured Author Event: Simone St. James (Manhattan) 14 February 2020

Friday Reads: Presidents' Day 14 February 2020

PRH Audio U.S. Again Up for LBF Excellence Prize 11 February 2020

A Grand Tradition Continues: Our 11 NAACP Image Finalists 10 February 2020

HAIR LOVE Wins Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film 10 February 2020

FRIDAY READS: The Oscars! 7 February 2020

ANGELS, BECOMING, TESTAMENTS, CHARLOTTE’S WEB PRH Audiobook of the Year Nominees 4 February 2020

Riverhead’s Sarah McGrath Talks About Liz Moore’s “Riveting and Moving” NYT Bestselling Novel 4 February 2020

Featured Author Event: Rick Wilson (Washington, D.C.) 3 February 2020

Featured Author Event: Jill Santopolo (Manhattan) 3 February 2020

Hogarth Author Claire Adam Wins the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize 31 January 2020

Friday Reads: Asian-American Stories 30 January 2020

PRH 2020 ALA Midwinter Prizes Three: Audio 30 January 2020

Two Things That Inspired C.J. Tudor to Write Her New Thriller 28 January 2020

PRH 2020 ALA Midwinter Prizes Two: Youth Media Awards 28 January 2020

Our ALA Midwinter Award Winners & Honorees: Number One 27 January 2020

BECOMING Wins Best Spoken Word Album GRAMMY Award® 27 January 2020

Lee Child’s New Jack Reacher Co-Author: His Brother Andrew Grant 22 January 2020

There's a Book for That: Sole Survivor Novels 22 January 2020

William Gibson Unravels the Creation of His New Novel AGENCY 22 January 2020

Friday Reads: Our National Jewish Book Award Winners 17 January 2020

There's a Book for That: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 15 January 2020

Driven by the Heart, DEAR EDWARD Shows a Path Forward After an Unimaginable Tragedy 13 January 2020

JUST MERCY Film Based on Bryan Stevenson’s Random House Book Opens Nationwide Today 10 January 2020

Friday Reads: Birds 10 January 2020

Putnam’s Sally Kim on How SUCH A FUN AGE Will “Make You Cringe in Recognition and Squeeze Your Heart” 8 January 2020

Knopf Author Jonathan Coe Wins Costa Novel Award for MIDDLE ENGLAND 7 January 2020

7 PRH Titles on CNN’s “10 of the Decade’s Most Influential Books” List 3 January 2020

Friday Reads: New Decade, New You! 3 January 2020

Westminster’s Bev Hood Shares Her Sabbatical Story: “Life Threw Me a Curve Ball” 20 December 2019

Friday Reads: 15 Gifts 20 December 2019

Bertelsmann Acquires Full Ownership of Penguin Random House 18 December 2019

There's a Book for That: December Holidays 18 December 2019

Riverhead Holiday Party Raises $3,300 for One Moore Book 17 December 2019

Our Longlisters for the 2020 PEN America Literary Awards 17 December 2019

Discover Martha Stewart’s Secrets to Baking Perfect Cookies 16 December 2019

Friday Reads: They 13 December 2019

Jimmy Kimmel’s Debut Children's Picture Book Reminds Us to Be Silly in a Serious Way 13 December 2019

There's a Book for That: Graphic Novels 12 December 2019

Penguin Press Author Greta Thunberg Named TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year 11 December 2019

Featured Author Event: Mikki Kendall (Manhattan) 10 December 2019

Penguin Random House Canada Recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employer for 2020 6 December 2019

Two New Bestselling Authors – Adriana Trigiani and Denise Kiernan – Make Dutton Their Home 6 December 2019

Friday Reads: Mister Rogers 6 December 2019

RH Group News 5 December 2019

There's a Book for That: Longevity 4 December 2019

#BookstoresAreHolidays: PRH Partners with Binc Foundation to Give Back to Indies 4 December 2019

Back to Grade School: PRH’s First-Ever Book Fair for Grownups 3 December 2019

Quintero, Tucker, Sepetys, Yoon, Emezi Among 2019 NYTBR Children's "BEST" 3 December 2019

Penguin Random House Adds 300,000 to the One Million Books Donated to First Book in Obama Family Name 3 December 2019

Featured Author Event: Jan Brett (Carle Place, NY) 27 November 2019

There's a Book for That: Thanksgiving 27 November 2019

Drum Roll: 45 PRH NYTBR "100 Notable Books of 2019" 26 November 2019

Tom Brown, Jr. Shares His Secrets for Nurturing and Saving Our Planet 26 November 2019

Our 2019 PRH Teacher Awards for Literacy Winners Celebrated at NCTE Convention 25 November 2019

Our 5 NYTBR "10 Best of 2019" 22 November 2019

Friday Reads: Pie! 22 November 2019

Obama, Beastie Boys PRH GRAMMY® Spoken Word Nominees 20 November 2019

There's a Book for That: Ukraine 20 November 2019

Obama Administration White House Photographer Opens Windows Into His “Front Row Seat to History” 20 November 2019

Michelle Obama’s BECOMING: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice On Sale Today from Clarkson Potter 19 November 2019

Photos and Highlights from Random House’s “Holiday House” Event 18 November 2019

Penguin Random House Participates in Special Olympics Young Athletes Pilot Program 18 November 2019

Friday Reads: Debut Novels for NaNoWriMo 15 November 2019

PRH Titles Lead TIME’s Best Fiction and Nonfiction Books of the Decade Lists 15 November 2019

Atwood’s THE TESTAMENTS Named Amazon’s Best Book of 2019 15 November 2019

Claudia Fleming’s Acclaimed Dessert Book Ushered Back Into Print by Executive Editor Pamela Cannon 14 November 2019

There's a Book for That: Always Learning 13 November 2019

Friday Reads: Harriet Tubman and The Underground Railroad 8 November 2019

New GREEN EGGS AND HAM Netflix Series Debuts Today 8 November 2019

Elizabeth Strout’s OLIVE, AGAIN is New Oprah’s Book Club Pick 8 November 2019

THE STARLESS SEA: How Erin Morgenstern’s “Book About Books” Became a “Book About Stories” 7 November 2019

There's a Book for That: National American Indian Heritage Month 6 November 2019

Project Editor Lucy Richards Goes Behind the Pages of New Edition of DK’s WHERE TO GO WHEN 5 November 2019

Coates, Luiselli, Popova, Treuer Finalists for 2020 Carnegie Medals for Excellence 5 November 2019

Riverhead Author Shannon Pufahl Takes Us Inside Her Writing and World of ON SWIFT HORSES 5 November 2019

Jojo Moyes’ THE GIVER OF STARS is Reese Witherspoon’s November Book Club Pick 4 November 2019

Penguin Random House and zulily Launch Books for Kids “Buy 1, Give 1” Campaign Today 1 November 2019

Friday Reads: The Body 1 November 2019

Featured Author Event: Melvin I. Urofsky (Washington, D.C.)
14 February 2020

Featured Author Event: Simone St. James (Manhattan)
14 February 2020

Friday Reads: Presidents' Day
14 February 2020

PRH Audio U.S. Again Up for LBF Excellence Prize
11 February 2020

A Grand Tradition Continues: Our 11 NAACP Image Finalists
10 February 2020

HAIR LOVE Wins Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
10 February 2020

FRIDAY READS: The Oscars!
7 February 2020

ANGELS, BECOMING, TESTAMENTS, CHARLOTTE’S WEB PRH Audiobook of the Year Nominees
4 February 2020

Riverhead’s Sarah McGrath Talks About Liz Moore’s “Riveting and Moving” NYT Bestselling Novel
4 February 2020

Featured Author Event: Rick Wilson (Washington, D.C.)
3 February 2020

Featured Author Event: Jill Santopolo (Manhattan)
3 February 2020

Hogarth Author Claire Adam Wins the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize
31 January 2020

Friday Reads: Asian-American Stories
30 January 2020

PRH 2020 ALA Midwinter Prizes Three: Audio
30 January 2020

Two Things That Inspired C.J. Tudor to Write Her New Thriller
28 January 2020

PRH 2020 ALA Midwinter Prizes Two: Youth Media Awards
28 January 2020

Our ALA Midwinter Award Winners & Honorees: Number One
27 January 2020

BECOMING Wins Best Spoken Word Album GRAMMY Award®
27 January 2020

Lee Child’s New Jack Reacher Co-Author: His Brother Andrew Grant
22 January 2020

There's a Book for That: Sole Survivor Novels
22 January 2020

William Gibson Unravels the Creation of His New Novel AGENCY
22 January 2020

Friday Reads: Our National Jewish Book Award Winners
17 January 2020

There's a Book for That: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
15 January 2020

Driven by the Heart, DEAR EDWARD Shows a Path Forward After an Unimaginable Tragedy
13 January 2020

JUST MERCY Film Based on Bryan Stevenson’s Random House Book Opens Nationwide Today
10 January 2020

Friday Reads: Birds
10 January 2020

Putnam’s Sally Kim on How SUCH A FUN AGE Will “Make You Cringe in Recognition and Squeeze Your Heart”
8 January 2020

Knopf Author Jonathan Coe Wins Costa Novel Award for MIDDLE ENGLAND
7 January 2020

7 PRH Titles on CNN’s “10 of the Decade’s Most Influential Books” List
3 January 2020

Friday Reads: New Decade, New You!
3 January 2020

Westminster’s Bev Hood Shares Her Sabbatical Story: “Life Threw Me a Curve Ball”
20 December 2019

Friday Reads: 15 Gifts
20 December 2019

Bertelsmann Acquires Full Ownership of Penguin Random House
18 December 2019

There's a Book for That: December Holidays
18 December 2019

Riverhead Holiday Party Raises $3,300 for One Moore Book
17 December 2019

Our Longlisters for the 2020 PEN America Literary Awards
17 December 2019

Discover Martha Stewart’s Secrets to Baking Perfect Cookies
16 December 2019

Friday Reads: They
13 December 2019

Jimmy Kimmel’s Debut Children's Picture Book Reminds Us to Be Silly in a Serious Way
13 December 2019

There's a Book for That: Graphic Novels
12 December 2019

Penguin Press Author Greta Thunberg Named TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year
11 December 2019

Featured Author Event: Mikki Kendall (Manhattan)
10 December 2019

Penguin Random House Canada Recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employer for 2020
6 December 2019

Two New Bestselling Authors – Adriana Trigiani and Denise Kiernan – Make Dutton Their Home
6 December 2019

Friday Reads: Mister Rogers
6 December 2019

RH Group News
5 December 2019

There's a Book for That: Longevity
4 December 2019

#BookstoresAreHolidays: PRH Partners with Binc Foundation to Give Back to Indies
4 December 2019

Back to Grade School: PRH’s First-Ever Book Fair for Grownups
3 December 2019

Quintero, Tucker, Sepetys, Yoon, Emezi Among 2019 NYTBR Children's "BEST"
3 December 2019

Penguin Random House Adds 300,000 to the One Million Books Donated to First Book in Obama Family Name
3 December 2019

Featured Author Event: Jan Brett (Carle Place, NY)
27 November 2019

There's a Book for That: Thanksgiving
27 November 2019

Drum Roll: 45 PRH NYTBR "100 Notable Books of 2019"
26 November 2019

Tom Brown, Jr. Shares His Secrets for Nurturing and Saving Our Planet
26 November 2019

Our 2019 PRH Teacher Awards for Literacy Winners Celebrated at NCTE Convention
25 November 2019

Our 5 NYTBR "10 Best of 2019"
22 November 2019

Friday Reads: Pie!
22 November 2019

Obama, Beastie Boys PRH GRAMMY® Spoken Word Nominees
20 November 2019

There's a Book for That: Ukraine
20 November 2019

Obama Administration White House Photographer Opens Windows Into His “Front Row Seat to History”
20 November 2019

Michelle Obama’s BECOMING: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice On Sale Today from Clarkson Potter
19 November 2019

Photos and Highlights from Random House’s “Holiday House” Event
18 November 2019

Penguin Random House Participates in Special Olympics Young Athletes Pilot Program
18 November 2019

Friday Reads: Debut Novels for NaNoWriMo
15 November 2019

PRH Titles Lead TIME’s Best Fiction and Nonfiction Books of the Decade Lists
15 November 2019

Atwood’s THE TESTAMENTS Named Amazon’s Best Book of 2019
15 November 2019

Claudia Fleming’s Acclaimed Dessert Book Ushered Back Into Print by Executive Editor Pamela Cannon
14 November 2019

There's a Book for That: Always Learning
13 November 2019

Friday Reads: Harriet Tubman and The Underground Railroad
8 November 2019

New GREEN EGGS AND HAM Netflix Series Debuts Today
8 November 2019

Elizabeth Strout’s OLIVE, AGAIN is New Oprah’s Book Club Pick
8 November 2019

THE STARLESS SEA: How Erin Morgenstern’s “Book About Books” Became a “Book About Stories”
7 November 2019

There's a Book for That: National American Indian Heritage Month
6 November 2019

Project Editor Lucy Richards Goes Behind the Pages of New Edition of DK’s WHERE TO GO WHEN
5 November 2019

Coates, Luiselli, Popova, Treuer Finalists for 2020 Carnegie Medals for Excellence
5 November 2019

Riverhead Author Shannon Pufahl Takes Us Inside Her Writing and World of ON SWIFT HORSES
5 November 2019

Jojo Moyes’ THE GIVER OF STARS is Reese Witherspoon’s November Book Club Pick
4 November 2019

Penguin Random House and zulily Launch Books for Kids “Buy 1, Give 1” Campaign Today
1 November 2019

Friday Reads: The Body
1 November 2019