Beautiful Bookstores

Photo Credit: John R. Rogers

Does this image make you drool? It sure makes me drool. I would totally build this in my house if I could--there's something so comforting and romantic about seeing only books, no matter which direction you look.

But this is not in someone's home. It's actually a bookstore. (More specifically, it's a bookstore in Paris--they just don't make 'em that way here!) And it's not the only saliva-inducing one. How about this modern drool-worthy gem?

Photo Credit: Poplar

This is a bookstore in China, complete with cubbyholes built into the walls for kids to curl up in. How would your kids like a reading nook like those?

Last January Flavorwire published a photo story of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, which turned into one of their top posts of the year. Most of the featured stores are in Europe, with a few random strays in Asia. Only 2 were in the United States, both in California. There's an outdoor view in Ojai...

Photo Credit: Book Chatter

...and a sprawling pillared mansion in Los Angeles...

Photo Credit: Flavorwire

But outside the U.S. there's one with books for doors, and one with books on the ceiling...

Le sigh. Why can't we have any of this near me? Perhaps one day I'll have to just build one! At least in mini.

Check out all 20 nominees at Flavorwire: The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World. And if you're a real estate tycoon, feel free to build one in Atlanta! I promise I'll keep it in business. :)

TJ

A Teaser

This is going to be the shortest blog post ever. The week has been so crazy with writing action that I can't even focus on doing a blog! Suffice it to say that I should have some VERY exciting news on the book front soon, and I will share it here as soon as I can. (How's that for a teaser?) Meanwhile, keep your fingers crossed for me, and I'll see you back on the blog next week!

TJ

Winter 2013 YA Preview

Are you as big a fan of young adult fiction as I am? Then you're in for a treat this winter. Over the next few months, lots of great YA novels are being released, including new works by such famous names as...

• Gayle Forman, Just One Day (released 1/8): Forman follows up her moving post-life story If I Stay with a contemporary love story.
• Caroline B. Cooney, Janie Face to Face (released 1/8): Cooney has been a prolific author for nearly a quarter of a century now, with her range of works including the classic The Face on the Milk Carton (the series that this latest release concludes).
• Kiersten White, Mind Games (out 2/19): A psychological thriller from the paranormal writer of the Paranormalcy trilogy.
• Maureen Johnson, The Madness Underneath (out 2/26): Book 2 in the Shades of London ghostly crime series.
• Lauren Oliver, Requiem (out 3/5): The final book of the dystopian Delirium trilogy (I'm most excited about this one!)
• Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess (out 3/19): The last installment of the urban fantasy Infernal Devices trilogy. 

Check out the full listing of anticipated January-March releases at Y.A. to Watch For: The Winter 2013 Preview via the Atlantic Wire. What releases are you most looking forward to?

Happy reading!

TJ

Happy New Year From A Semi-Surrogate Bella

And I'm officially back! It's been an interesting year so far, with illness and injury turning my pregnancy into the Bella Swan sort, but now I'm recovering and anxious to get back to normal life!

Speaking of Bella Swan (the main character from Stephenie Meyer's YA Twilight series, if you're not familiar), I came across a great article on her today that perhaps resonated with me even more than usual since I myself am enjoying the homestretch pre-labor jitters. Bella is trashed in most literary circles for being a spineless, dependent shadow of a heroine. And I'll be honest, I prefer that my girls grow up looking up to the fierce, independent heroines I loved (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer) rather than the ones who for some 1950s throwback reason have no identity outside of their men (see Bella Swan).

But...this article gave me pause. Briefly, at least. It makes some good points about what female adolescence means today, and about the difference between depicting reality versus depicting what we wish reality could be. I'm still going to say Bella's not the best role model for my girls, but at least now I can see there may be some merit to how she is written. If you have daughters or ever plan to, read the article below:

Our Bella, Ourselves by Sarah Blackwood, via TheHairpin.com.

What kinds of role models would you like to see for your daughters?

TJ

Just Had to Share it...

Fictiffous isn't officially back in session yet, but I just had to share this great giveaway... If you love YA fiction as much as I do--and especially if you write it!--this giveaway is not to be missed. Get a huge swag pack of books, including advanced reading copies (ARCs) of huge YA series, plus a priceless agent critique! 3 more days to enter to win at YA writer Lindsay Cummings' blog. Good luck!

TJ