Ten Penguin Group (USA) Titles are Nominated for the Inaugural ABA Indies Choice Book Awards

Booksellers in ABA member bookstores are now voting for their favorite handsell in each of seven categories highlighting the type of books that indie booksellers champion best, and Penguin Group (USA) has ten nominees.

Here's a look at the nominated Penguin Group (USA) titles:

• City of Thieves by David Benioff (Viking) and People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (Viking) in the Best Indie Buzz Book (fiction) category.
• The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (Riverhead) in the Best Conversation Starter (nonfiction) category.
• Viking Children’s author Jon Scieszka was nominated in the “Most Engaging Author” category, the author who is an in-store star with a strong sense of the importance of indie booksellers to the community.
• And in the Picture Book Hall Of Fame category, Corduroy by Don Freeman (Viking); Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann (Putnam); The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, illustrated by Loren Long (Grosset & Dunlap/Philomel); Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (Viking); Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (Viking); and The Story of Ferdinand the Bull by Munro Leaf & Robert Lawson (Viking) have all been nominated. The top vote getters in this category will be the first inductees into the Indies Choice Book Awards Picture Book Hall of Fame.

Winners will be announced in late April and the awards ceremony will be held at ABA’s Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon at BEA. To view a complete list of categories and nominees, click here.

Explore the reading group guide and listen to this podcast interview with David Benioff, author of City of Thieves.

Read a Q&A and listen to a podcast with Sarah Vowell, author of The Wordy Shipmates.

Want to learn more about children’s author Jon Scieszka? Read his life story.
 

The New York Times Features Breakout Success of Debut Novel Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why, Razorbill’s breakout novel about teen suicide by debut novelist Jay Asher, has appeared on The New York Times bestseller list for the past nineteen weeks. Since the book was published in October 2007 it has steadily grown in popularity, spurring thousands of reader comments online and gaining huge word-of-mouth buzz. On Tuesday, Motoko Rich of The New York Times recognized the book’s quiet success in a feature article, writing: “Among the vampires, dragons and dystopian futuristic societies that dominate young adult reading lists, a debut novel about teenage suicide has become a stealthy hit with surprising staying power.” You can read the full article here.

WIth ever-increasing sales, the book remains in hardcover a year and a half after it was originally published. It is currently #3 on the New York Times children’s chapter book bestseller list, the highest it has ever been.

Thirteen Reasons Why is about a girl named Hannah Baker who takes her own life. But before she does, she creates cassette tapes and sends them to the thirteen people she blames for her suicide. Last October, Penguin launched a groundbreaking online campaign on YouTube by posting anonymous clips from Hannah Baker’s suicide tapes. The tapes spurred increased interest in the book and have now received almost 200,000 views. You can view them here.

There has also been incredible reader response for Thirteen Reasons Why. Since a comment tool on the official website was launched in October 2008, over 3,000 readers have posted comments raving about the book and how it has changed their lives.

Listen to an audio excerpt from Thirteen Reasons Why, read by author Jay Asher and his wife.
 

Penguin Young Readers Group Scores Seven Titles On the New York Times Bestseller Lists

For the week of March 22nd, the Penguin Young Readers Group landed seven titles on The New York Times bestseller lists. Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial) debuts at #6 on the children's picture books list. Greg Mortenson’s young readers publishing sensations Listen to the Wind (Dial); Three Cups of Tea (Dial); and Three Cups of Tea: Young Readers Edition (Puffin) remain the children's picture books, chapter books, and paperback books bestseller lists, respectively. Also on the children's chapter books list, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Razorbill) is #3 in its 20th week, while Savvy by Ingrid Law (Dial) is #10 in its third week. And finally, Slam by Nick Hornby (Riverhead) returns to the children's paperback books list at #9 in its nineteenth week.

Congratulations to the Young Readers Group!
 

From the Page to the Stage: Greg Mortenson

Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson continues to delight and inspire audiences. He recently received Austin College’s $100,000 Leadership Award. In an event set up by the Penguin Speaker’s Bureau, Mortenson spoke to students during the day on the campus in Sherman, Texas as well as to a packed house of over 850 attendees in Dallas later the same evening. The event organizers have already asked him to return in February 2010 for two events with venue capacities totaling over 4,000 in the Dallas area. Michael Strysick of Austin College said: “In a word, Greg’s time with us was…PHENOMENAL!!! He touched all of us, and he was extremely generous with his time.” The award was covered in both an article and Op-Ed piece in the Dallas Morning News.

Prior to his sold-out event of almost 2,000 attendees at the Marin Center in San Rafael, CA, Jim Farley, the Marin Center’s Director was already eager to book him again for 2010. Following the event, Jim said “Greg was extraordinary at the reception, talk and book-signing. He has quiet confidence, a spell-binding story, timely opinions about the region’s political situation, and spends time listening to everyone…I have been presenting performances for 22 seasons, over 500 dates, and this was one magical evening – connection between the speaker and audience!” The event was covered in the Marin Independent Journal.

Ellen Brown, event coordinator at Phoenix Country Day School in Phoenix, AZ, also had wonderful things to say following Greg’s event at PCDS “…it provided our school with a unique community building event at which we gathered students (pre-K through 12), parents, faculty, staff, alumni, parents of alumni, and outside community members. Many approached me prior to the event and said that reading the book had changed their life, while others approached me afterwards and said that hearing Greg speak in person was the highlight of their time as a member of our school community.”

Greg also recently spoke at the Retail Industry Leader’s Association Forum in Naples, FL, to an event that brought together 100 CEOs from the top retail and product manufacturing companies in the world. Mercer Fannon, Director of Events for RILA said, “We loved Greg…his presentation resonated with our audience. I am hopeful several of the attendees will get involved with his mission.”

View our Three Cups of Tea feature page here.
 

Major TV Coverage for DK’s WWE Encyclopedia

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and DK Publishing filmed a 30-second promo spot for the new WWE Encyclopedia that will air on “Monday Night RAW” on the USA Network between 9pm and 11pm on March 16th. Roughly 6 million rabid WWE fans will be watching! “Monday Night RAW” is the most-watched regularly scheduled program on ad-supported cable television in the U.S.

Other upcoming events and promotions include a one-page ad in both WWE Magazine and WWE Kids Magazine’s WrestleMania 25th anniversary issues, a feature in the June issue of WWE Kids Magazine, inclusion in GameStop.com and ESPN.com’s prizes for the WWE Legends of WrestleMania Sweepstakes, and inclusion in press gift bags for the Superstar Challenge event at WrestleMania Axxess - Center Stage at Reliant Stadium on April 2nd -5th.

Upcoming appearances and signings include:CM Punk at Borders in Oak Park, IL (3/19); WWE Divas Candice and Maria at Borders in Torrance, CA (3/19); and Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase and Ted DiBiase Jr. at Books-a-Million in Houston, TX (4/4)

Visit DK’s new WWE Encyclopedia Facebook Fan Page, and be our fan!

To win a copy of the WWE Encyclopedia and a DVD/Action Figure/T-Shirt Prize Pack, be one of the first to email publicity@dk.com with the correct answer to the following question: “Name two of the three WWE weekly television programs.”
 

Penguin Authors Partner with Carolee Lux Jewelry to Raise Money for Literacy Partners

Penguin authors Elizabeth Gilbert and Marisha Pessl are two of several authors to partner with Carolee Lux jewelry in a campaign described by Page Six in yesterday’s New York Post as sharing some “bons mots on a bangle.” For the campaign, “words to live by” by favorite authors are engraved on sterling silver bangle bracelets. Elizabeth Gilbert's phrase "Attraversiamo. Let's cross over" was noted as New York Post’s favorite. The bracelets sell for $100 at Lord & Taylor, with proceeds benefitting the Literacy Partners organization. Wednesday night, Penguin’s Marisha Pessl, who’s motto is “Live Your Wonder,” appeared with fellow author Anisha Lakhani to sign books at the Manhattan store from 6 to 8pm.
 

City of Thieves by David Benioff Selected for “One Book, One Region ‘Amarillo Reads’” Program

City of Thieves by David Benioff (Plume, 3/31) has been chosen by Amarillo, Texas as their One Book, One Region ‘Amarillo Reads’ program. They will be promoting the book through the month of April with numerous events related to the book and author, and on May 4th, David Benioff will do a media tour in Amarillo as well as two major events. There is a tremendous amount of buzz around the release of this book including it being one of Powell’s picks for ‘March favorites,’ an Indiebound pick for the month of April, and Borders.com will be running a sit-down interview with Benioff on their website as part of their featured authors series on pub date.

For more about City of Thieves, view the reading group guide.
 

Great Media Lineup for The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan

The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan by James Mann (Viking) is off to a great start. The first serial ran in Vanity Fair online followed by an excerpt on the cover of the weekend section of The Wall Street Journal. James Mann was on NPR's "All Thing Considered" the day the book went on sale. The author was on the Rachel Maddow show this past Wednesday, with interviews also scheduled for MSNBC's "Morning Show" and MSNBC "Live with Andrea Mitchell." Still to come are reviews in The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and much more.
 

Plume Author Kym Douglas Appears On “The Early Show” This Morning

This morning, Kym Douglas, author of The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets (Plume) appeared on CBS’ “The Early Show” with Julie Chen as part of their “extreme beauty” series in the 8:00am hour. Douglas also appeared on “Ellen” last week to promote the book release.

In The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets, Kym Douglas and Cindy Perlman once again got the insider beauty secrets from A-List celebrities, asking what they did to look fantastic during pregnancy and after childbirth. With tips from Hollywood beauties Kate Hudson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Milla Jovovich, Helena Bonham Carter, and many more, The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets is the ultimate guide for moms who want to look and feel fabulous.

Author Carla Harris Featured on “The Tavis Smiley Show”

Be sure to catch Carla Harris, author of Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success From a Wall Street Vet (Hudson Street Press, on sale now), when she appears on PBS’s “Tavis Smiley Show” the week of March 23rd. Harris will appear with a managing director at Morgan Stanley to offer the lessons she learned while climbing the corporate ladder.
 
 
 

New on the Penguin Website

Check out the Health, Food & Beauty special interest page on the Penguin website featuring a Q&A with Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein, authors of Nudge.

Stuart Brown discusses his book, Play, which examines the importance of playing and how humans are designed to play throughout their lives, on this week’s Penguin Podcast. You can also read his blog posts here.

Next week, author Jedediah Berry will discuss The Manual of Detection, his debut novel about an unlikely detective who solves crimes through people’s dreams. Read the first chapter of the book here!

Sherri L. Smith, author of the YA novel, Flygirl, is our Penguin Guest Blogger this week. Check out her posts here.
 

The New York Times Bestseller Highlights for the Week of March 22nd

Penguin Group (USA) has four debuts on the mass market fiction list for the week of March 22nd: Hold Tight by Harlan Coben (Signet) is #6; Danger in a Red Dress by Christina Dodd (Signet) is #10; Small Favor by Jim Butcher (Roc) is #12; and Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (Berkley) is #19. In addition, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by David Soman and Jacky Davis (Dial) appears at #6 on the children's picture books list.

Here are more New York Times bestseller highlights:

On the hardcover fiction list, Promises in Death by J.D. Robb (G. P. Putnam's Sons) is #3 in its second week and Night and Day by Robert B. Parker (G. P. Putnam's Sons) is #7, also in its second week.

On the hardcover nonfiction list, Obama: The Historic Journey, with an introduction by Bill Keller and biographical text by Jill Abramson (Calloway, distributed by Riverhead Books) is #9 in its third week; The Gamble by Thomas E. Ricks (The Penguin Press) is #12 in its fourth week; and The Inaugural Address 2009 by Barack Obama (Penguin) is #15 in its fifth week.

On the trade paperback fiction list, People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (Penguin) is #6 in its tenth week; A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead) is #7 in its fifteenth week; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz (Riverhead) is #14 in its 27th week; and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead) is #20 in its 205th week.

On the mass market fiction list, Plague Ship by Clive Cussler (Berkley) is #7 in its second week.

On the paperback nonfiction list, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin) holds the #1 slot in its 110th week; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin) is #8 in its 111th week; The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (Penguin) is #16 in its 77th week; and Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh (Penguin) is #20 in its fourth week.

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (Plume) is #10 on the paperback advice, how-to, and miscellaneous list in its 52nd week.

In the young readers sector, Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth (Dial) is #2 on the children's picture book list in its seventh week; while on the children's chapter books list, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Razorbill) is #3 in its 20th week; Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Dial) is #9 in its third week; and Savvy by Ingrid Law (Dial) is #10 in its third week. On the children's paperback books list, Three Cups of Tea: Young Readers Edition by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Puffin) is #3 in its seventh week and Slam by Nick Hornby (Riverhead) is #9 in its nineteenth week.
 

New Next Week

Play by Dr. Stuart Brown, M.D. (Avery, on sale now)

Have you played today? It’s not a trivial question. According to an important new book, the most successful people are players (Obama has basketball, Google has legos and scooters; Oprah reads; even Einstein’s most famous portrait has him sticking out his tongue)

But as a culture, we are losing our ability to play. Adults tend to view play as a guilty pleasure—a distraction from “real work” and “real life.” When in reality, play is anything but trivial. It fuels innovation, provides the glue for social relationships, and optimizes our bodies, minds and spirits.

In this provocative new book, Play, Dr. Brown draws on his own clinical research, as well as on the latest developments in neuroscience, social science, behavioral studies to explore the power and importance of play. Apparently, it is scientifically proven that play enhances cognitive development, social skills, and problem solving. It makes us happier, healthier, ignites innovation, creativity, social interaction and raises morale.

The author Stuart Brown, MD is the founder of the National Institute for Play (his office is a treehouse!). He’s trained in general and internal medicine, psychiatry and clinical research. Dr. Brown first discovered the importance of play by noticing its absence in homicidal young males. This experience led him to create play profiles which time and again demonstrate the negative consequences of a play-deprived life.

The media is starting to pay attention to this important book. The current O Magazine features the book in the lead review: “[Stuart Brown’s] thoughtful investigation, Play, written with Christopher Vaughan, makes having fun sound like – well, fun, whether you’re dancing, flirting, risk-taking, joking, shopping, painting, or working at something you love. Read this book, then start paying back your “play deficit” – and let the good times roll.”

A major feature is coming up in the Life Section of USA Today and reviews will also appear in Body + Soul (March), Ladies Home Journal, and Discover Magazine. Tara Parker Pope has interviewed the author for a recent column on the importance of play for children, and the book will be featured on several radio shows including “Speaking of Faith,” NPR’s “The Takeaway,” WAMC’s “The Roundtable,” Martha Stewart Radio, WNYC’s “Leonard Lopate Show,” and Wisconsin Public Radio

Baseball Prospectus 2009 and College Basketball Prospectus 2008-2009 (Plume Originals, both on sale now)

March is here, and that means baseball is right around the corner. The team at BaseballProspectus.com once again shares their cutting edge predictions for the coming season with their latest annual, Baseball Prospectus 2009: The Essential Guide to the 2009 Baseball Season. This latest edition is already a USA Today and Washington Post bestseller, and media includes ESPN News, Sporting News Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Deadpin.com, Boston Globe, AM New York and a 30-city radio satellite tour. The authors are also currently on an 8-city book tour.

For sports fans, March also means it's time for March Madness, and with the coming NCAA tournaments, College Basketball Prospectus 2008-2009 authors Ken Pomeroy and John Gasaway are sharing analysis of the game and their picks for the finals. National media includes Sports Illustrated, ESPN.com, Sporting News Radio and About.com.