One of the enduring mysteries of popular culture is why certain mediocre works become wildly successful, even inescapable. In addition to the occasional masterpiece, book publishing produces hundreds of thousands of middling titles every year, and every so often one of them catches on, becoming the blockbuster that funds all the rest. But why that particular book? Take Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, a psychological thriller of very modest accomplishment that has sold upward of 11 million copies, putting Hawkins on Forbes’ list of the highest-paid authors in the world, one slot above Game of Thrones’ George R.R. Martin. Most best-sellers aren’t any better than the drably written and predictably twist-ridden The Girl on the Train, of course, and some are much worse. But the typical successful commercial novelist—from James Patterson to Mary Higgins Clark—succeeds not by coming out of nowhere with a remarkable book but because she has hammered out a formula more or less her own, promising her readers a reassuringly familiar experience. Can Hawkins? Her new novel, Into the Water, will tell. Continue reading at 'Slate'
[ Slate | 2017-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
Unless you’re a disgraced politician, trying to get a book published can be difficult, nerve-wracking, soul-denting work. If you’re anything like me, though, it really helps to hear that rejection is the rule in the publishing industry, rather than the exception. When my novel was out on... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-10 17:04:17 UTC ]
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This January, crime will pay — for publishers at least. It’s a strong month for nefarious tales of all hues but the best psychological thriller in ages comes from a brand new name, Ellery Lloyd, a pseudonym for husband-and-wife writing team Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos. Their first book... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-04 10:27:16 UTC ]
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HQ has signed the new psychological thriller from Diane Jeffrey, The Silent Friend. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-14 09:09:43 UTC ]
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James Patterson certainly isn’t a stranger to surprising collaborations. His The President is Missing, a political thriller that credits Patterson and Bill Clinton as co-authors (Co-parents? Idea generators?), was one of 2018’s bestselling books and Showtime will be adapting it for TV. If you’ve... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-05-07 18:22:48 UTC ]
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James Patterson has a long history of helping independent bookstores. In in 2014, he donated $1 million to indie bookstores, and staring in 2015, his Holiday Bonus program has given payments between $500 and $5,000 to bookstore employees each year. Now, as bookstores struggle to keep afloat... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-03 14:23:07 UTC ]
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Among the big deals this week are a middle grade “biographical novel” about Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander and a YA novel by one of the Central Park Five. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson has two new books on our list, one centered on staple character Alex Cross and the other starring Ali Cross, the detectives son. Plus the Trump White House and WWII remain fertile ground for authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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One of the first originals you'll be able to stream on Apple TV+ is M. Night Shyamalan's Servant, a psychological thriller that'll likely feature a few twists and turns in true M. Night fashion. Apple has revealed at New York Comic Con that the serie... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-10-04 08:15:00 UTC ]
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A psychological thriller about the money-driven contemporary art world, David Hockney in focus, and a searing graphic novel about Jean-Michel Basquiat. The post Three Must-Read Novels About Artists appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2019-09-11 16:00:57 UTC ]
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Arrow will publish playwright Trish Harnetiaux's debut novel, a psychological thriller about a Christmas party that turns deadly, later this year. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-14 21:21:49 UTC ]
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Listen to an exclusive audiobook excerpt of Ruth Ware's new psychological thriller, THE TURN OF THE KEY, narrated by Imogen Church! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-08-06 10:33:59 UTC ]
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The most prolific man in letters, James Patterson, has bestowed upon 20 UK booksellers the Young Bookseller Special Achievement Award in recognition of their “talent and extraordinary contribution to the bookselling industry.” Bestselling author/philanthropist Patterson (whose has sold somewhere... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-11 16:06:23 UTC ]
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James Patterson has awarded 20 booksellers the Young Bookseller Special Achievement Award, in recognition of their "outstanding" work. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-10 19:15:12 UTC ]
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Bill Clinton, James Patterson and Stephen King are on the CrimeFest Awards shortlist, which this year features a mix of established names and new talent. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In its fifth week on sale, ‘Maid’ by Stephanie Land debuts at #19 in hardcover nonfiction. Plus Darria Long Gillespie’s ‘Mom Hacks’ enjoys some southern hospitality, and James Patterson’s ‘The Chef,’ first released in an interactive, condensed format, pubs in print. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author James Patterson and Scholastic UK Book Clubs, part of Scholastic UK, have announced the list of 100 schools which are the winners of this year’s Big Book Giveaway. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Teasing its forthcoming print release, an interactive edition of James Patterson's 'The Chef,' featuring between 85 and 100 digital assets such as photos and film clips, is now available for fee via Facebook Messenger. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson, the best-selling book factory in human form, is letting readers interact with the characters from his upcoming novel The Chef by speaking to them through Facebook Messenger. Starting October 30th, you'll be able to receive video and... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2018-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orion has acquired Only a Mother, a book promising "a new twist on the psychological thriller", in a three-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After two weeks at the top of Apple's iBooks store, Bill Clinton and James Patterson have been dethroned. 'The Perfect Couple' by Elin Hildebrand took the top slot, while 'The President Is Missing' dropped to #2 on the list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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