Today's Books Pulse
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J.M. Coetzee declines Jerusalem literary festival over Gaza conflict
Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee refused an invitation to the 14th International Writers Festival in Jerusalem, citing Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide that implicates the entire society, including its intellectual community. In his letter to festival director Julia Fermentto‑Tzaisler, he argued that collective guilt cannot be ignored and warned that Israel’s reputation will suffer.
New Book Offers Parents Evidence‑Based Strategies for Secure Attachments
Parenting author Kishore Das has launched 'The Good-Enough Parent: Embracing the Science and Joy of Raising Secure Kids,' a guide that translates attachment theory into everyday practices. The book stresses three pillars—safety, emotional regulation, and a secure base—to help caregivers foster resilient, emotionally healthy children.
Rebecca Yarros Announces New Romance 'Peculiar Stars' And Surprise Empyrean Novella
Rebecca Yarros disclosed two major releases: the contemporary romance 'Peculiar Stars' slated for Nov. 17, 2026, and a surprise 176‑page Empyrean novella arriving Sep. 29, 2026. The announcements underscore her deliberate alternation between high‑fantasy and romance, a pattern that has kept readers engaged across...
Before You Try to Fix It (Chapter Two)
The author is drafting a new book, *The Practice of Being Alive*, and is publishing each chapter as a live, working draft to solicit reader feedback. Chapter 2, “Before You Try to Fix It,” examines the instinct to correct perceived problems...
AI-Generated Manuscripts Spark Publishing Crisis as Hachette Cancels Book
Hachette has cancelled the U.S. release of Mia Ballard’s horror novel “Shy Girl” after a New York Times investigation found extensive AI involvement. The move adds to a string of recent allegations—from Sarah Hall’s “human‑written” sticker to agents warning of AI‑laden submissions—fueling a...
The Rushford Times - A Weekly Newsletter From Jodi Taylor
Jodi Taylor’s "The Rushford Times" newsletter continues its weekly cadence, delivering content to paid subscribers on Wednesdays and to free readers on Fridays. This edition features Taylor’s current reading list, a Q&A about the original inspiration for her "Chronicles of...
The Productive Writing Routines of Haruki Murakami, Stephen King, and Virginia Woolf, Explained
Haruki Murakami’s sixteenth novel, *The Tale of KAHO*, will debut this summer, underscoring the 77‑year‑old author’s relentless output. Murakami’s regimen—four‑hour writing blocks beginning at 4 a.m. followed by a 10 km run—mirrors the disciplined habits of Stephen King and Virginia Woolf, who...
Your Sous Vide Wand. Your Car. Your Search Results. All Enshittified, All on Purpose, All at Once. Cory Doctorow Explains
Cory Doctorow’s new book *Enshittification* coins a blunt term for the rapid decay of digital products as platforms prioritize profit over user experience, while Stephen Monteiro’s *Needy Media* explores the emotional bonds users form with smart devices. The review highlights...
Seamus Heaney Took Dante, Not Yeats, as His Model — and Transformed Northern Ireland's Troubles Into Purgatory
The new anthology of Seamus Heaney’s poems highlights his rare reliance on Dante rather than the expected Yeats, casting the Northern Ireland Troubles as a modern purgatory. By weaving medieval cosmology with agrarian imagery, Heaney transforms personal and collective trauma...
Devotions by Lucy Caldwell Review – Short Stories that Are Frightening, Passionate and Comforting Too
Lucy Caldwell’s fourth short‑story collection, *Devotions*, arrives from Faber with a price of about $19. The ten stories weave music, family, memory and duty, moving from a Dublin‑based divorcee’s reluctant return home to a Scottish ghost‑house haunted by IVF trauma....
10 Posts From the Book Blogosphere You May Have Missed in April 2026
The April 2026 "Missed Posts" roundup spotlights ten diverse literary blog entries, ranging from the Orangutan Librarian’s AI‑slop commentary to Cuppa Clo’s 2025 statistics transparency report. It also highlights Pages Unbound’s own discussions on library design, fantasy subgenres, and character...
Changing a Book’s Release Date Creates Logistical and Marketing Chaos
Moving a pub date means a logistics nightmare. It happens but not generally as in "let's pull this from October and move it to April." Not only are distributors and bookstores going to be irritated if you change your dates,...
Promote Your Books in Crises: Offer Readers Joy
Never feel bad about promoting your books, even and especially in moments of crisis. One, the people creating the crisis want you demoralized and on your back foot. Deny them. Two, people caugh in crisis need their moments of joy...
Was Bryan Kohberger Framed?
In this episode, host interviews independent investigative journalist Seagirl about the controversial Bryan Kohberger case, arguing that Kohberger was framed and highlighting numerous procedural irregularities, including withheld evidence, a judge blocking alternative-perpetrator defenses, and questionable forensic practices. Seagirl details red...
Jane Smiley's 'Lidie' Expands Saga, Debuts at Wisconsin Book Festival
Pulitzer‑winning author Jane Smiley has released "Lidie," a Knopf sequel to her 2022 novel about the frontier heroine Lidie Newton. The book launches at the Wisconsin Book Festival on May 6, where Smiley will speak about the character’s journey from pre‑Civil...
ARRIVALS INCOMING
Comic publisher Mythic Powered announced the launch of ARRIVALS, the next installment in its 3 Worlds / 3 Moons series, on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The 120‑page story is written by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer and features artwork from six notable illustrators. ARRIVALS...
The Perfect Book Reignites My Romantasy Passion
Started The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray this week and I'm actually really into it. It's a Little Mermaid-inspired Romantasy with some magic woven in and honestly I'd fallen out of the genre for a while because everything started feeling...
Half‑Read Kindle Deal Sparks Renewed Interest
US Kindle customers, great deal I read about half the book and liked it, need to pick it back up https://t.co/1fRjspeMAQ
How to Sell a Genocide: Adam Johnson Exposes Media Complicity
The Citations Needed podcast is releasing a special episode with Adam Johnson, co‑host and author of “How to Sell a Genocide,” which examines how U.S. mainstream media has framed Israel’s war in Gaza. Johnson argues that outlets such as MSNBC...
Discover Why My New Social Selling Book Matters
Why Purchase My New Social Selling Book? by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/1wHgdbMARE @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Marketing #Leadership #MarketingStrategy #MarketingTips #SalesEnablement https://t.co/NVqeibypNl
Prioritize God's Voice Over Others' Opinions
We spend far too much time worrying about what others think… and not nearly enough time focused on what God thinks. I’ve read Whisper by @MarkBatterson over 20 times, and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. Every time I pick...
James Ciano’s Book Notes Music Playlist for His Poetry Collection The Committee of Men
James Ciano’s debut poetry collection, The Committee of Men, examines toxic masculinity and masculine identity through stark, personal verse. The Largehearted Boy “Book Notes” series lets authors pair their work with a curated music playlist, and Ciano selected nine songs...
Books Fail From Invisibility, Not Poor Quality
Author insight—many books don’t fail because they’re bad—they fail because not enough readers ever saw them. Visibility is often the real problem, not quality.
Thrilled to Co‑author Cindy Pon’s Upcoming SHEEN (Viking 2028)
Oh my heart, I’m so thrilled about this news. I’ve been a @cindyponauthor fan for ages, and getting to work on her books now? A wild honor. SHEEN by Cindy Pon. Viking 2028. ❤️
The Night She Arrived
AR Shaw’s Substack post titled “The Night She Arrived” provides only a brief teaser and an image before prompting readers to continue for free or subscribe for full access. The article itself is locked behind a paywall, with the only...
Stolen Kate Chopin Bust Recovered After Two‑Month Hunt in St. Louis
A bronze bust of 19th‑century author Kate Chopin, stolen from St. Louis’s Writers’ Corner on Feb. 14, 2026, was recovered on April 20 after a scrapyard employee turned it over to Left Bank Books. The find underscores growing worries about...
4 Pro Review Services to Get Your Book Noticed
IngramSpark has teamed up with four established professional review services—BookLife, IndieReader, BlueInk, and Kirkus—to give self‑published authors a streamlined path to credible third‑party reviews. The partnership offers exclusive discounts, lowering fees by $25‑$100 compared with standard rates. These reviews provide...
Bookloom Publishing Launches Integrated Digital Book Marketing Platform for Authors
Bookloom Publishing introduced a new SaaS platform that bundles author branding, social media promotion, SEO, and targeted advertising into a single service. The Colorado‑based firm says the solution is designed to give writers measurable visibility in a market where thousands...
Clarion West Announces Partnership for Residency Program
Clarion West announced a partnership with Seattle‑based nonprofit Common AREA Maintenance (CAM) to transform the 30,000‑square‑foot El Rey Building into its new home for the six‑week workshop and year‑round artist residencies. CAM purchased the abandoned Belltown property for a symbolic...
Self‑funded Debut: My First Paid Publisherswkly Issue
Big moment for me: My first issue of publisherswkly paid for with my own money.
A New BookTok Bestseller List
Media Control and TikTok have introduced the United Kingdom’s first official BookTok bestseller list, merging NielsenIQ BookData sales figures with TikTok engagement metrics. The inaugural March 2026 ranking is topped by Rachel Reid’s *Heated Rivalry*, while Irish romance writer Chloe...
'All Carry' Proves to Be a Long, Enjoyable Tale
All Carry is a new golf novel by veteran sports journalist Gene Wojciechowski, known for his work at ESPN, the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. The story follows TV broadcaster Joe Riley, who discovers a set of antique clubs...
This Land Belongs to All of Us
Molly Crabapple’s new book *Here Where We Live Is Our Country* revives the story of the Jewish Bund, a socialist, secular movement that flourished in interwar Poland. Drawing on years of archival research and personal family ties, she portrays the...
An Exciting Tale in a Fascinating Setting: Trouble on Titan by Alan E. Nourse
Reactor’s Alan Brown reviews Alan E. Nourse’s 1954 juvenile novel *Trouble on Titan*, a sci‑fi adventure set on Saturn’s moon. The story follows Earth youth Tucker and Titan colonist David as they navigate a mining colony’s unrest and uncover a...
Book of the Month Stuck in Middle, Fails Personal Curation
I left Book of the Month in 2018, when I was frustrated that I couldn’t curate based on my personal taste. Wild to see in this excellent piece by @gretarainbow.com that the selections are still middle of the road, while...
China Launches Nationwide Push to Revive Reading
China’s new official obsession: Getting people to read more books. In February, China passed a new regulation to build more public reading facilities and spaces. In April, China had its first-ever national reading week. State media encourages people to put down their phones...
42 Jewish Authors Accuse Jewish Book Council of Zionist Bias
Forty‑two Jewish authors have issued an open letter demanding the Jewish Book Council broaden its literary focus beyond Israeli and Zionist authors. The council’s CEO called the complaint a “difference in expectations,” setting up a public clash over the organization’s...
Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse
Murder Mindfully, a new German crime novel by lawyer‑author Karsten Dusse, follows Berlin defence attorney Björn Diemel as he navigates a volatile mob case while trying to be present for his daughter’s birthday. After his client Dragan Sergowicz is killed, Björn...
Mixing Memo, Business Wisdom, and Didion on My Nightstand
Currently on my nightstand: — The Memo (@mindaharts) — Conscious Business (Fred Kofman) — a Didion essay collection because I'm allowed to be a person who reads Didion in business attire What are you reading this week?
Need a Ghostwriter? I Can Refer One
Planning to write a book? 🤔 I have an absolutely incredible ghostwriter working with me on my book 👻 If you’re looking for a referral, DM me!
The Body that Floats by Jayne Chard
Jayne Chard’s latest cosy crime, *The Body that Floats*, continues the misadventures of sisters Julia Fortnam and Frankie Grant. Set against the breezy backdrop of Cornwall’s Portscatho, the duo uncovers the body of a disgruntled developer while navigating sibling rivalry...
New Book Inside the Box Now Available for Pre‑Order
I finally got my hands on my new book, Inside the Box. You can still pre-order it through the link in my bio. :) https://t.co/xhsbGzHUTM
Author Fills Book’s Corporate Power Gap With Empty Talk
Dunkelman’s book had absolutely zero discussion of corporate power. He’s trying to discuss it now because he actually has nothing to say.
Book Review – How To AI: Cut Through The Hype. Master The Basics. Transform Your Work.
Christopher Mims’s 2026 book *How to AI* offers a no‑fluff guide for non‑technical professionals seeking to harness artificial intelligence. Drawing on his Wall Street Journal reporting, Mims demystifies core concepts, introduces the term “simulated intelligence,” and explains why AI hallucinations...
Meet Author, Grab Book & Swag at Booth 18
Come grab your copy of Bitcoin is for Everyone and some Fix the Money swag at *Booth 18* in the Bitcoin Bazaar at Bitcoin 2026! I’ll be signing books at 1:30pm today 🧡
Stress‑Free Investing Redefined in New Book Release
I'm very pleased to announce that my new book, THE AWESOME PORTFOLIO, will be released on September 8th, 2026. It's a stress-free approach to investing, and it blows to smithereens the conventional wisdom about saving for retirement. Pre-order here: https://t.co/2ADIy8Jfh7
⭐️⭐️ PREORDER & COVER REVEAL! ⭐️⭐️
Jeanette James announced the preorder and cover reveal for "Down & Dirty: Rage," the second novel in her Dirty Angels MC: Next Gen series. Early preorder begins July 27 on the author’s Fourthwall site, with Amazon opening on August 1, the official...
Gwendolyn Brooks Hosted James Baldwin's Final Library of Congress Reading
40 years ago today, for the last event she hosted at @librarycongress as U.S. Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks chose to invite James Baldwin. It was his last appearance. He read one of his most timeless works. Her introduction is itself...
Swedish Edition of “When Everyone Knows” Arrives October
The Swedish translation of When everyone knows that everyone knows will be published by Fri Tanke ("Free thought") this October. https://t.co/doXjKpofar
AI's Future, Dwight Garner on Book Reviewing, and More
Today's post curates three thought‑provoking pieces: a New York Times essay where critic Dwight Garner laments the thinning of American intellectual life; a Hudson Review analysis of Seamus Heaney’s Dante‑inspired reimagining of the Northern Ireland Troubles; and a The Ideas Letter experiment...
Magazines Received – March
Locus’s March roundup catalogs 27 speculative‑fiction periodicals spanning print, digital and free‑online formats. The list includes established titles such as Asimov’s and Clarkesworld alongside niche newcomers like Reckoning X and Fiyah, a Black speculative‑fiction magazine. Pricing varies widely, from free web‑based...