Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe

Books & Cozy Drinks that’ll Bring you Good Cheer for the End of the Year

December 10, 2020May 2, 2024admin

By Ariana Carpentieri

Everyone knows that when the holidays are upon us, it also means a whole new layer of stress gets added on top of our everyday, regular busyness (and, not to mention, the extra stress of the ongoing Pandemic). But along with all the holiday madness comes something we all know and love: holiday treats and drinks! There’s nothing quite like curling up under a soft blanket near the warmth of a crackling fire with a good book in one hand and a festive drink in the other.

Get into the festive holiday spirit by pairing of our deliciously captivating books with some drinks that’ll pack a punch and warm your heart!

opens in a new windowA Dog’s Perfect Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron

opens in a new windowA Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a book about the Goss family; a family that has a hard time communicating with one another, and therefore always seem to be at odds. But they must learn how to get past their differences and bond together—and in the spirit of Christmas, no less. Since it’s a family-oriented book, This Creamy Crock Pot Hot Chocolate is perfect for serving your whole fam and drinking it together while gathered around the tree. It wouldn’t be the whole family without your faithful dog, so you can whip them up this Safe Hot Chocolate Alternative for Dogs so that they can be part of the festivities, too!

opens in a new windowThe Nemesis Manifesto by Eric Van Lustbader

opens in a new windowThe Nemesis Manifesto an epic and harrowing adventure of predatory forces that are threatening the very fabric of democracy. This book is thick with intrigue, adventure, and action, which we think calls for it to be paired with an equally as thick, rich drink like spiked eggnog! This Holiday Spiked Eggnog recipe suggests to mix Amaretto liqueur with some white rum and then add a dash of nutmeg to the top to really give it that holiday cheer.

opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber

opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café is a captivating blend of magic, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm. A book like this calls for some liquid magic! And liquid magic always has a touch of caffeine, right? Also, cafés are known for serving coffee! Try an Eggnog Coffee Latte / Eggnog Chai Latte (for the tea lovers out there), which will give you that touch of magic you’re looking for this holiday season.

opens in a new windowStay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

opens in a new windowStay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered is Karen and Georgia’s irreverent recount of their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the nation today. There’s no better drink to pair with this book than Canned Wine, which we all know is Georgia’s choice of drink when taping My Favorite Murder. But if canned wine isn’t your thing, then we suggest trying a bottle of 19 Crimes Red Blend (because the name literally speaks for itself). And honestly: what would the holidays be without a little wine to liven up the night?

opens in a new windowLionhearts by Nathan Makaryk

opens in a new windowLionhearts is a heroically riveting story of vengeance, redemption, war, and has some Game of Throne vibes. No drinks quite capture the essence of the Renaissance era quite like mead and beer, so those are necessities to pair with this book! Between this Holiday Mead Cocktail recipe or this Stout Hot Chocolate, you’ll definitely feel great tidings of comfort and joy.

opens in a new windowAn Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

opens in a new windowAn Irish Country Christmas is a cozy tale that takes place in the village of Ballybucklebo. While snow is rare in Ulster—and so are miracles—that doesn’t mean they never happen! We feel this delightful story would go great with a drink that’s timeless and classic, like a nice Guinness and Pear Cocktail. Everything about this drink and book will warm you up from head to toe!

opens in a new windowA Resolution at Midnight by Shelley Noble

opens in a new windowRoasted chestnuts from vendor’s carts, fresh cut spruce trees lining the sidewalks, extravagant gifts, opulent dinners, carols at St Patrick’s Cathedral, a warm meal and a few minutes shelter from the cold at one of the charitable food lines . . .It’s the holidays in Gilded Age Manhattan! Set on New Year’s Eve, A Resolution at Midnight is a perfect, cozy mystery read for the holiday season. For a book this lavish, we suggest a drink that’s equally as fancy. This Holiday Spiced Mulled Wine is the perfect pair for a story as dazzling as this one!

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoy treating yourself to these incredible reads and drinks during the upcoming holidays!

Author Features / On Writing

How Heather Webber Finds Inspiration in Southern Charm

June 20, 2020April 8, 2024admin

Author Heather Webber has a knack for writing magical and heart-warming stories, and a lot of the magic comes from their charming Southern setting in Alabama. To prepare for her upcoming book opens in a new windowSouth of the Buttonwood Tree, hear how Heather draws inspiration from the South!

By Heather Webber

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“This is the South after all, where there’s always a touch of magic in the air.”

South of the Buttonwood Tree

There was magic in the air on a sundrenched February day in 2007 as I drove a rental car southbound through Alabama, from Birmingham to Wetumpka. Two book events had brought me to the state for the first time, and it was during that ninety minute drive from one event to the other through land rich with tradition, with nature, with community, that something took root in me, a powerful sense of belonging. Of home.

Unfortunately, packing up my family and moving south was impossible, so I settled for the next best thing. I decided to write books set there. During subsequent trips to Alabama, I took copious notes, trying to capture the small details that make a story come alive.

I traveled from county to county, absorbing the heart of the land, its magic. I found it among the tilled fields, the rusted-out school buses laid to rest next to dairy barns. Neighbors chatting over low wooden fences. Smiles at farm stands and art fairs. The ma’ams and sirs. The food. Have mercy, the food. The endless kudzu that winds through the land like history itself. The multitude of church steeples. The humidity. The dusty country roads. The slow pace that allows you to take a look around. A good, long look that lets you catch your breath and appreciate the life around you. Appreciate your life.

I highly recommend visiting Alabama in person if given the chance, but if that isn’t possible, you can always take a quick trip from the comfort of your home through all the great books that use Alabama as a setting or are written by Alabamian authors. Some of my favorites include books by Fannie Flagg, Anne George, Rick Bragg, Joshilyn Jackson, Sean Deitrich, and of course, Harper Lee.

Whichever way you choose to visit Alabama, I hope you find a little magic in the journey. After all, the South is where there’s always a touch of magic in the air—and on the page.

Pre-Order Your Copy:

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Lists / What's New

5 Great Book Club Picks

April 9, 2020January 23, 2024admin

By Jennifer McClelland-Smith

There’s never a bad time for book club. Whether your book club is more of a wine club or a snacks club or a fun and friendship club, the camaraderie that comes with a group of people reading the same book and talking it out is unmatched. We’ve rounded up some of our Forge book club favorites that all have reading group guides. They’re perfect for getting the conversation going and offering ways to go deeper into these meaty books.

opens in a new window opens in a new windowRemembrance by Rita Woods
Remembrance is one of those books it’s impossible NOT to talk about. It takes you on a journey throughout the country and the ages telling the story of an elderly woman in the present, a slave in 1791 Haiti and an escaped slave in New Orleans in 1857. There are elements of magic that make this a rich book experience like no other. opens in a new windowFind the reading group guide here!

opens in a new windowFather of Lions by Louise Callaghan
Animal lovers and people interested in Middle East politics will be equally captivated by Father of Lions. Louise Callaghan is Middle East Correspondent for the Sunday Times and her take on this incredible story of a zookeeper and the measures he takes to save his animals in the wake of the Iraq War is a truly thrilling read. opens in a new windowFind the reading group guide here!

opens in a new window opens in a new windowThe Devil’s Half Mile by Paddy Hirsch
Fans of thrillers and historical fiction should look no further than this book, set in 1799 New York City. Dealing with the fallout of a financial crisis, racial tensions and corrupt financiers, The Devil’s Half Mile feels almost contemporary. Young lawyer Justy Flanagan is on the hunt for his father’s killer and the twists and turns he faces will keep you on the edge of your seat. opens in a new windowFind the reading group guide here!

opens in a new window opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber
If your book club loves nothing more than a cozy read, Midnight at the Blackbird Café is the perfect choice. It’s a sweet Southern story about a girl who returns to the small town where her mother grew up with a magical twist. There are quirky characters, heartwarming romance and enough pie recipes to make your mouth water. Do NOT read this on an empty stomach! opens in a new windowFind the reading group guide here!

opens in a new window opens in a new windowA Dog’s Promise by W. Bruce Cameron
Dog lovers and book lovers alike know Bruce Cameron is the best choice for an uplifting canine read. This third book in the Dog’s Purpose series continues the story of Bailey and introduces us to Lacey, another very good dog. No one can write the soul of a dog quite like Bruce. And the way these two pups unite a fractured family gives readers plenty to howl about. opens in a new windowFind the reading group guide here!

Lists

5 Audiobooks to Add to your Reading Life

April 3, 2020January 23, 2024admin

By Sarah Pannenberg

Audiobooks are a great way of getting more reading time out of your day! Whether you’re cooking, taking a walk, crafting, or just relaxing on your couch, you can have an audiobook on in the background to keep you company. Here are some Forge audiobooks that we love, as well as an audio excerpt of each for your listening enjoyment!

opens in a new windowStay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, read by the authors

Karen

Georgia

opens in a new windowYou’ve listened to the podcast, fell in love with the book, now it’s time to listen again! The audiobook is narrated by Karen and Georgia themselves, and it brings all the familiar personality and humor that you’re used to hearing in the My Favorite Murder podcast. The audiobook also has special features that you won’t get from the book, including guest appearances from Paul Giamatti and sections recorded in front of a live audience.

opens in a new windowNottingham by Nathan Makaryk, read by Raphael Corkhill and Marisa Calin

opens in a new windowIf you’re looking for a long, immersive audiobook to keep you busy at home, look no further than Nottingham! This historical epic is 25 hours long, and it will keep you entertained for every second. It’s a spin on the myth of Robin Hood, and narrators Raphael Corkhill and Marisa Calin give life to all the merry men and other characters in Nottingham Castle. If you want a Game of Thrones type of saga with less magic and dragons, you’ll love this story.

opens in a new windowA Dog’s Promise by W. Bruce Cameron, read by William Dufris

opens in a new windowFor all the dog lovers out there who need a heart-warming listen, dive into another adventure with Bailey the dog! Ever wondered what your dog was thinking? Narrator William Dufris gives voice to Bailey and makes you feel like you’re in the head of your furry friend. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll definitely want to keep your tissues nearby!

opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber, read by Stephanie Willis, Bethany Lind & Nicholas Techosky

opens in a new windowThe multicast performance of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe brings this mystical Southern novel to life. The group paints a beautiful audio picture that you will feel like you’re transported to the small town of Wicklow. There are a lot of mentions of delicious food, so this would be the perfect audiobook to listen to while baking or cooking!

opens in a new windowThe Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan, read by Angela Dawe

opens in a new windowFor those who need something more thrilling to keep them busy, listen to an audiobook from the master of the legal thriller, Hank Phillippi Ryan! The Murder List is a standalone novel that follows law student Rachel North, who is committed to justice and doing the right thing but is faced with lies, manipulation, and a harrowing legal triangle. This book has twists and turns that will keep you guessing, and Angela Dawe’s narration adds the perfect element of suspense to the story!

Lists

8 Books to Read for Galentine’s Day

February 13, 2020May 3, 2024admin1 Comment

By Alison Bunis

Happy Galentine’s Day! What’s Galentine’s Day, you ask? Essentially, for those of you not in the know, what started as a made-up holiday on the tv-show Parks and Recreation has become a real holiday. The day before Valentine’s Day, the most couple-y of holidays, gal pals everywhere put aside their partners and say to each other, “I appreciate your friendship and I love you.” How you celebrate is up to you, of course. Leslie Knope of Parks and Rec obviously goes for breakfast food, because that’s her love language. But for us here at Forge, our love language is obviously books. So to celebrate Galentine’s Day this year, we’ve put together a list of books celebrating women!

These books are by women or about women. Some of these women kick ass. Some of these women bake magic pies. Some of them tell you about their parents’ divorce and how not to join a cult, and some of them write about ISIS occupations. It’s a wide range, because there’s no predetermined way to be a woman, or to be a gal-pal. So grab your BFF, grab a couple of books, and get reading. Ladies celebrating ladies by reading about awesome ladies. What could be more Galentine’s Day than that??

For the Non-fiction Gal

opens in a new window opens in a new windowStay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Pick up this book if you’re into Karen & Georgia’s podcast, My Favorite Murder! But even if you’re not a podcast person, don’t worry, this book is an excellent read for anyone looking for an honest, open, hilarious memoir about the struggles of dealing with mental health issues, addiction, and being a True Crime fan.

opens in a new window opens in a new windowFather of Lions by Louise Callaghan
This one is a touching story of humanity in the midst of war, told by award-winning journalist Louise Callaghan. Callaghan is one of the youngest Middle East Correspondents ever hired by the Sunday Times (UK), and she has had pieces published in The Sunday Times Magazine, Vogue, and the Times Literary Supplement. Talk about an impressive lady. Father of Lions is a must-read if you’re interested in a story that will make you view war and conflict in a new light, or if you want a good book about brave animals.

To Get Your Pulse Racing

opens in a new window opens in a new windowThe Retreat by Sherri Smith
We’ve all got that one friend who’s way too into the latest wellness craze. Maybe we are that friend, and no one’s told us yet. Doesn’t matter, this is just the book to break the spell: four friends go for a weekend getaway at a wellness retreat. By the end, only one of them is left standing…

opens in a new window opens in a new windowTrust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Hank Phillippi Ryan is an award-winning investigative journalist, so when she sits down to write a book about a journalist looking for the truth in an unbearably brutal story, you can bet she delivers. Trust Me is full of all the psychological suspense and manipulation that any thriller reader could ever desire.

A Hint of Magic

opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
For your friend who believes in magic, for your friend who believes in love, for your friend who loves to bake, for your friend from a small town, for your friend with a close family, for your friend with serious family issues: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe checks all the boxes. But have baked goods on hand: you’ll definitely want a snack while reading.

opens in a new window opens in a new windowRemembrance by Rita Woods
Do you want to spark a discussion with your friends? Want to dive into the deeper issues surrounding the Haitian Revolution and the Underground Railroad? Or do you just want to sink into an enthralling read about four women, connected across different times and places, struggling to make their way in a world that doesn’t have a place for them? (Hint: If you liked The Underground Railroad or The Orphan Train, this is definitely the book for you.)

Historically Accurate Friendships

opens in a new window opens in a new windowAsk Me No Questions by Shelley Noble
Okay, this one’s for the gal pal groups who watched Downton Abbey together. The movie helped, sure, but it was just one movie. So if you’re suffering from Downton Abbey withdrawal, Shelley Noble is here to help you out with her delightful mystery set in Gilded Age Manhattan, where horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And our plucky heroine Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

opens in a new window opens in a new windowOf Irish Blood by Mary Pat Kelly
This vivid, compelling epic is a great read for anyone interested in Irish heritage or family history, because author Mary Pat Kelly based the story on her own great-aunt’s life. Following heroine Nora Kelly as she travels through Europe in 1903, readers will meet all kinds of exciting real-life characters such as Gertrude Stein, William Butler Yeats, and James Joyce!

Lists

Holiday Gifts for Every Reader

December 9, 2019May 3, 2024admin

Happy New Release Day! Here’s what went on sale today.

opens in a new windowBy His Own Hand by Neal Griffin

opens in a new window The body of a young man has been found in the woods outside Newberg, dead from a close-range shotgun blast. The gun—his own—lies beside the body.

Certain things don’t add up for Detective Tia Suarez. Where did the fat envelope of cash in his pocket come from? Who called the police to report the body, then disappeared before the cops arrived?

opens in a new windowHead On by John Scalzi

opens in a new window Hilketa is a frenetic and violent pastime where players attack each other with swords and hammers. The main goal of the game: obtain your opponent’s head and carry it through the goalposts. With flesh and bone bodies, a sport like this would be impossible. But all the players are “threeps,” robot-like bodies controlled by people with Haden’s Syndrome, so anything goes. No one gets hurt, but the brutality is real and the crowds love it.

Until a star athlete drops dead on the playing field.

NEW IN PAPERBACK

opens in a new windowAvengers of the Moon by Allen Steele

opens in a new window Curt Newton has spent most of his life hidden from the rest of humankind, being raised by a robot, an android, and the disembodied brain of a renowned scientist. Curt’s innate curiosity and nose for trouble inadvertently lead him into a plot to destabilize the Solar Coalition and assassinate the president. There’s only one way to uncover the evil mastermind—Curt must become Captain Future.

opens in a new windowThe Guns Above by Robyn Bennis

opens in a new window They say it’s not the fall that kills you.

For Josette Dupre, the Corps’ first female airship captain, it might just be a bullet in the back.

On top of patrolling the front lines, she must also contend with a crew who doubts her expertise, a new airship that is an untested deathtrap, and the foppish aristocrat Lord Bernat, a gambler and shameless flirt with the military know-how of a thimble.

opens in a new windowNight Magic by Jenna Black

opens in a new window Philadelphia is locked in the grip of an evil magic that transforms its streets into a nightmare landscape the minute the sun sets each night. While most of the city hunkers down and hopes to survive the long winter nights, Becket Walker is roaming the darkened streets having the time of her life.

Once, the guilt of having inadvertently let the night magic into the city—and of having killed her onetime best friend—had threatened to destroy her. But now she’s been Nightstruck, and all her grief and guilt and terror have been swept away—along with her conscience. So what if she’s lost her friends, her family, and her home? And so what if her hot new boyfriend is super-controlling and downright malevolent?

NEW FROM TOR.COM

opens in a new windowThe Atrocities by Jeremy C. Shipp

opens in a new window When Isabella died, her parents were determined to ensure her education wouldn’t suffer.

But Isabella’s parents had not informed her new governess of Isabella’s… condition, and when Ms Valdez arrives at the estate, having forced herself through a surreal nightmare maze of twisted human-like statues, she discovers that there is no girl to tutor.

Or is there…?

NEW IN MANGA

opens in a new windowMonster Girl Doctor Vol. 2 Story by Yoshino Origuchi; Art by z-ton

opens in a new windowSpirit Circle Vol. 3 Story and art by Satoshi Mizukami

By Jennifer McClelland-Smith

When you were a kid, the holidays were simple. You got a gift for you family members, and maybe a gift for you bestie. Now you’ve got to get gifts for you family, bestie(s), close friends, and do those acquaintances deserve a gift, too? Probably. If there’s a significant other in the picture, well, they definitely need a gift, plus their family and friends, and don’t even get me started on coworkers…Figuring out who you need to get gifts for is a headache. But add in the pressure of figuring out what to get for everyone? Ugh, forget about it.

Fear not! Forge is here to help. Not with figuring out who in your life you need to give a gift to, you’re still on your own there. But when it comes to deciding what to buy for everyone, we’ve got your back. Our handy list of holiday gifts for every reader will definitely save you some shopping time!

Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber

For that friend who owns the comfiest robes, softest cookies and heartiest teas, invite them into this cozy read. Anna Kate returns to small-town Alabama to settle her grandma’s estate and finds herself drawn to quirky townspeople and the magic that abounds. Have snacks close by as you read… the descriptions of the scrumptious offerings of the Blackbird Cafe will be enough to keep every reader’s mouth watering.

48 Hours by William Forstchen

Got a survivalist on your list? Look no further than 48 Hours, the latest from William R. Forstchen, the master of apocalyptic potboilers. A huge solar storm shuts down the electrical grid and threatens humanity itself. A group of ordinary Americans band together to save humanity. It’s an unputdownable page-turner that will set your mind reeling.

Darkness at Chancellorsville by Ralph Peters

For your resident Civil War enthusiast…Take a front-row seat for one of the war’s most surprising battles. Ralph Peters is one of the top historical fiction writers out there, and this extensively researched and enthralling epic shows why. Get a fresh perspective on the battle that almost ended the Civil War and trace the steps that led Confederate general Robert E. Lee to embark on the Gettsyburg Campaign.

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Sure, this is the obvious choice for your Murderino friend, but Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered is a great read for anyone looking for a fun, funny read full of advice only your older sister could give you. It’s a memoir disguised as a life manual. It’ll have you laughing until you cry. And crying while you laugh. And every combination of laughing and crying you can imagine.

Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk

Fill that Game of Thrones-sized hole in your favorite reader’s life with this fresh spin on the myth of Robin Hood. You’ll get to know his merry men and all of the characters that haunt Nottingham Castle in a whole new light. You think you know what to expect, but the twists and thrills in this study of power will keep those pages turning all the way through the thrilling conclusion.

A Dog’s Promise by W. Bruce Cameron

If you’ve got a dog-lover on your list, you’re no doubt familiar with the heartwarming works of W. Bruce Cameron. A Dog’s Promise is the follow-up to the wildly popular A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey, both major motion pictures! It’s a new tale of Bailey, a very good dog who is joined by Lacey, another very special dog. Together, they show the love and loyalty only our canine friends can offer.

Empire of Lies by Raymond Khoury

It’s a time travel book. It’s an alternate history. It’s a sweeping thriller like you’ve never read before. If you’ve got a reader on your list who loves a book that will keep them thinking, this is the one. Set in a world where the Ottoman Empire conquered Europe in 1683, it’s a race through time for a member of the Sultan’s secret police force and the mysterious tattooed stranger he encounters. It’s a race through time to save the world, or destroy it.

Events

On the Road: Tor/Forge Author Events in August

August 1, 2019May 2, 2024torforge

opens in a new windowYour favorite Tor/Forge authors are hitting the road in August! See who’s coming to a city near you this month.

Max Gladstone, opens in a new windowEmpress of Forever

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Tuesday, August 6
Housing Works
New York, NY
7:00 PM

Arkady Martine, opens in a new windowA Memory Called Empire

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Tuesday, August 6
Housing Works
New York, NY
7:00 PM

Mark Oshiro, opens in a new windowAnger Is a Gift

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Wednesday, August 7
Books of Wonder
New York, NY
6:00 PM

Nathan Makaryk, opens in a new windowNottingham

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Tuesday, August 6
opens in a new windowBarnes & Noble
Orange, CA
7:00 PM

Wednesday, August 7
opens in a new windowMysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
7:00 PM

Heather Webber, opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café

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Thursday, August 8
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Cincinnati, OH
7:00 PM

Tuesday, August 20
Lyn’s Gracious Goodness
Huntsville, AL
5:00 PM

Wednesday, August 21
Florence Lauderdale Public
Florence, AL
11:30 AM

Ward Larsen, opens in a new windowAssassin’s Revenge

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Tuesday, August 20
Barnes & Noble
Sarasota, FL
11:00 AM

Hank Phillippi Ryan, opens in a new windowThe Murder List

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Tuesday, August 20
Brookline Booksmith
Brookline, MA
7:00 PM

Wednesday, August 21
RJ Julias Booksellers
Madison, CT
7:00 PM

Saturday, August 24
The Poisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
2:00 PM

Sunday, August 25
Book Carnival
Orange, CA
3:00 PM

Monday, August 26
Anderson’s Bookshop
La Grange, IL
7:00 PM

Tuesday, August 27
FoxTale Book Shoppe
Woodstock, GA
6:30 PM

Wednesday, August 28
Vero Beach Book Center
Vero Beach, FL
6:00 PM

Thursday, August 29
Orlando Public Library
Orlando, FL
6:30 PM

Cora Carmack, Rage

Tuesday, August 27
Mysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA
7:00 PM

Thursday, August 29
The Neverending Bookshop
Edmonds, WA
6:00 PM

Extras

Start a Discussion With the Midnnight at the Blackbird Café Reading Group Guide

July 17, 2019July 15, 2019torforge

opens in a new windowHeather Webber’s opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm.

Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.

As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe RGG

Order a Copy of Midnight at the Blackbird Café

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New Releases

New Releases: 7/16

July 16, 2019May 2, 2024torforge

Happy New Releases Day! Here’s what went on sale today.

opens in a new windowEarth by Ben Bova

opens in a new windowA wave of lethal gamma radiation is expanding from the core of the Milky Way galaxy at the speed of light, killing everything in its path. The countdown to when the death wave will reach Earth and the rest of the solar system is at two thousand years.

Humans were helped by the Predecessors, who provided shielding generators that can protect the solar system. In return, the Predecessors asked humankind’s help to save other intelligent species that are in danger of being annihilated.

But what of Earth? With the Death Wave no longer a threat to humanity, humans have spread out and colonized all the worlds of the solar system. The technology of the Predecessors has made Earth a paradise, at least on the surface. But a policy of exiling discontented young people to the outer planets and asteroid mines has led to a deep divide between the new worlds and the homeworld, and those tensions are about to explode into open war.

opens in a new windowIn the Woods by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

opens in a new windowIt should have been just another quiet night on the farm when Logan witnessed the attack, but it wasn’t.

Something is in the woods.
Something unexplainable.
Something deadly.

Hundreds of miles away, Chrystal’s plans for summer in Manhattan are abruptly upended when her dad reads tabloid coverage of some kind of grisly incident in Oklahoma. When they arrive to investigate, they find a witness: a surprisingly good-looking farm boy.

As townsfolk start disappearing and the attacks get ever closer, Logan and Chrystal will have to find out the truth about whatever’s hiding in the woods…before they become targets themselves.

opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber

opens in a new windowNestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

opens in a new windowThe Redemption of Time by Baoshu

opens in a new windowIn the midst of an interstellar war, Yun Tianming found himself on the front lines. Riddled with cancer, he chose to end his life, only to find himself flash frozen and launched into space where the Trisolaran First Fleet awaited. Captured and tortured beyond endurance for decades, Yun eventually succumbed to helping the aliens subjugate humanity in order to save Earth from complete destruction.

Granted a healthy clone body by the Trisolarans, Yun has spent his very long life in exile as a traitor to the human race. Nearing the end of his existence at last, he suddenly receives another reprieve—and another regeneration. A consciousness calling itself The Spirit has recruited him to wage battle against an entity that threatens the existence of the entire universe. But Yun refuses to be a pawn again and makes his own plans to save humanity’s future…

NEW IN PAPERBACK

opens in a new windowThe Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

opens in a new windowIn the world of the Lux, secrets thrive, lies shatter, and love is undeniable.

Evie Dasher knows firsthand the devastating consequences of humanity’s war with the Luxen. She was just a kid when it tore her world, and family, apart. Now seventeen, Evie is thrown back into a conflict she wants no part of—and into the path of Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she assumes is a Luxen, but is in fact something much more secret—and much more dangerous.

Her growing attraction to Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, revealing secrets long buried, a life-shattering betrayal, and a romance that just might make it all worth it.

opens in a new windowLow Chicago by George R. R. Martin

opens in a new windowThe stakes were already high enough at Giovanni Galante’s poker table that night in Chicago. Poker. Dealer’s choice. Seven players. A million-dollar cash buy-in.

But after a superpowered mishap, the most high-profile criminals in the city are scattered throughout the past and their schemes across time threaten the stability of the world.

Perfect for current fans and new readers alike, Low Chicago is an all-new time travel adventure that highlights the criminal underworld of 1920s Chicago, featuring a fresh cast of characters from the Wild Cards universe.

Co-edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass (screenwriter, Star Trek), Low Chicago features the writing talents of Saladin Ahmed (author of the bestselling comic Black Bolt), Paul Cornell (screenwriter, Doctor Who), Marko Kloos (author of the bestselling Frontlines series), John Jos. Miller, Mary Anne Mohanraj (Bodies in Motion, The Stars Change), Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy and Theodore Sturgeon Award finalist Christopher Rowe, Kevin Andrew Murphy, and Melinda M. Snodgrass.

Lists

Four Books That Make Us Hungry

July 15, 2019January 23, 2024torforge

By Jennifer McClelland-Smith

Have you ever finished reading a dinner scene and been practically salivating?

We love it when an author pulls you in with sumptuous descriptions like the smell of pie that just came out of the oven or that first taste of iced tea on a hot day. From pies with protagonists to dinners with country doctors, here are just some of our favorites reads that left us hungry for more!

opens in a new windowMidnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber

opens in a new windowNow here’s a sweet Southern story that will make your mouth water. Anna Kate gets more than she bargained for when she returns to the small-town Alabama bakery that belonged to her late Granny Zee. The descriptions of Granny Zee’s pies alone will keep you coming back for more. Family suppers marked by Southern classics like baked ham, zucchini & cheddar biscuits, and creamy mashed potatoes all washed down with a glass of cool blackberry tea set the scene for a magical story about the power of family.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

For a food delight of the European variety, dip in to Chocolat, the basis for the movie starring Juliette Binoche. It’s another book that combines magical realism with serious food porn. Take a trip to the South of France where newcomer Vianne has arrived to tempt the town with her incredible chocolate creations. Passion abounds in this battle between Lenten vows and delectable indulgences.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Things get a little quirky in Robin Sloan’s delightfully fresh Sourdough. When software engineer Lois Clary’s favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant is shut down, and the two brothers who run it are deported due to visa issues, they leave Lois a surprising gift: their sourdough starter, with strict instructions to keep it alive and, most importantly, bake with it. Lois is no baker, but soon she’s living and breathing bread: eating her own homemade loaves, and providing extras to her colleagues at work. When the company chef urges her to take her bread to the farmer’s market, a whole new world opens up. The outrageously tempting descriptions of bread in this book will have you tying on an apron of your own to follow in Lois’ floury footsteps.

opens in a new windowAn Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor

opens in a new windowFood takes a central role in every book in Patrick Taylor’s joyful Irish Country series, so much so that it inspired its own opens in a new windowcookbook! Although you can start reading any one of the thirteen titles in the series, why not begin right at the beginning? Throughout the delightful stories of Dr. Barry Laverty and the colorful characters of Ballybucklebo, you’ll find descriptions of thick lamb stew, steak and kidney pie, and warm Irish soda bread, all accompanied by a pint of Guinness. And at the end of every book, you’ll find recipes from Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly’s very own housekeeper and one of the more unforgettable personalities in this charming series.

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Four Books That Make Us Hungry

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