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Bianca Vandenbos, Editor of Book Notions, recently interviewed our very own Rachel Tarlow Gul about her impressive and expansive career as a book publicist. Rachel is the genius behind the publicity campaigns for Simon Tolkien, J.T. Ellison, T. Kingfisher, Paulette Kennedy, and Jerome Charyn, to name a few! Learn all about her start in the biz, how she knows if she and an author are a good fit, and much more.
“As he did in The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, Charyn here reimagines the life of a complex and talented woman, this time the diva of divas, Maria Callas…A bravura performance that hits all the right notes and is sure to delight opera devotees and fans of strong women characters.” – Library Journal, starred review
“In the spirited biographical novel MARIA LA DIVINA, the allure of an opera legend is rendered with humanizing grit.” – Foreword Reviews
“Everyone in Callas’ world is drawn in depth, while this vivid portrait of the diva is compelling and dramatic without being idealistically flattering. An excellent choice for biographical fiction and opera fans.” – Booklist
“Charyn elicits sympathy for his complex lead through nuanced character work, and he manages to channel the excitement of Callas’s performances. This is a marvel.” – Publishers Weekly
“A deftly crafted work of historical biographical fiction, MARIA LA DIVINA once again showcases author Jerome Charyn as a novelist of extraordinary literary ability.” –Midwest Book Review
“Charyn impressively covers events, places, and people (even an older Winston Churchill) with a solid pace that never stalls…The complex genius of the Divine Diva will stay with any reader of this work.” – Historical Novels Review
Maria Callas, called La Divina, is widely recognized as the greatest diva who ever lived. In his new novel, MARIA LA DIVINA (Bellevue Literary Press; September 16, 2025), Jerome Charyn’s Callas springs to life as the headstrong, mercurial, and charismatic artist who captivated generations of fans, thrilling audiences with her brilliant performances and defiant personality.
Callas was one of the first divas to come from an impoverished background. As an outsider, she was shunned by the Italian opera houses, but through sheer force of will and the power and range of her voice, she broke through the invisible wall to sing at La Scala and headline at the Metropolitan Opera, forging an unforgettable career. Adored by celebrities and statesmen, the notable and notorious alike, her every movement was shadowed by both music critics and gossip columnists—until, having lost her voice, she died alone in an opulent, mausoleum-like Paris apartment.
In Charyn’s inimitable style, MARIA LA DIVINA humanizes the celebrated diva, revealing the mythical artist as a woman who survived hunger, war, and loneliness to reach the heights of acclaim.
To celebrate the release of MARIA LA DIVINA, we are hosting a pub week virtual book tour from September 14 – 22 featuring this stellar list of book influencers. Follow along for features, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS:
Sunday, September 14 Suzy Approved Book Reviews
Sunday, September 14 Lexijava
Monday, September 15 We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie
Monday, September 15 Books and Coffee MX
Tuesday, September 16 Nurse Bookie
Tuesday, September 16 What Is That Book About
Wednesday, September 17 Cassie’s Book Reviews
Wednesday, September 17 Nissa The Bookworm
Thursday, September 18 Sarah’s Bookish Reviews
Thursday, September 18 We Break For Books
Friday, September 19 Rozier Reads And Wine
Friday, September 19 Karen’s Library
Saturday, September 20 Kim Reads and Reads
Saturday, September 20 Red Reviews 4 You
Monday, September 22 The Maddie Hatter
Monday, September 22 Storeybook Reviews
A young child’s fate is at stake in a deadly battle between his deceased parents in this gripping and profoundly original psychological thriller, perfect for fans of What Have You Done and Middle of the Night.
“Rosch has artfully flipped the story of every parent’s worst fear. With tension that burns like sudden fire, What the Dead Can Do is a heart-wrenchingly turbulent thriller that asks us to confront our deepest fears about love and loyalty.” – Elle Nash, author of Deliver Me
“An instant favorite. What the Dead Can Do is a bold novel that mines genuine emotion and thoughtfulness from a multilevel nightmare.” – Johnny Compton, author of Devils Kill Devils
“How do you heal from the loss of your child, of your family, of your own life? Peter Rosch tackles these questions in a compellingly original and beautiful way. But what starts as a brilliant spin grows into a vortex of grief and love that will pull you into its depths. His characters are messy and real, his take on the afterlife haunting and heartfelt and at times horrifying. I got mad, I cheered, I held my breath and white-knuckled through the end. What the Dead Can Do will possess you from its first page and not let go until it’s good and ready…” – KC Jones, author of Black Tide and White Line Fever
A decade ago, the pure power of parental love hit award-winning NYC advertising creative director Peter Rosch in ways he couldn’t have imagined—and as a former alcoholic/addict, he’d seen and lived through so much. The adoration for his son juxtaposed with his demons birthed a wildly original psychological horror debut, WHAT THE DEAD CAN DO (Crooked Lane Books; August 26, 2025).
When a commercial flight crashes, all 184 people on board perish—with the singular exception of a two-year-old boy named Ethan, who’s entrusted to family friends Matthew and Nicole per his late parents’ wishes. From the afterlife, Ethan’s parents, Tag and Amanda, watch helplessly as Nicole’s secret addictions, the family’s financial struggles, and the public’s fascination with their story ignite events that threaten their son’s welfare. Soon, Amanda’s grief turns into an insidious obsession: Ethan belongs with herand no one else, and she sets out to reunite with her son by any means possible—including killing Ethan herself. After Amanda learns how to possess the living, only Tag stands in her way. He must protect his child, even if the consequences of his actions mean he may never see his wife or son again.
To celebrate the release of this dark, psychological, speculative thriller tinged with horror, we have gathered the best of the best book influencers to share reviews, excerpts, and features — AND book giveaways! — beginning in August and continuing throughout September. We hope you will follow along!
Tuesday, August 26: STACY 40 PAGES
Tuesday, August 26: ALYMA VERINO READS
Wednesday, August 27: BOOKS AND BIEWERS
Wednesday, August 27: BOOK GIRL BROWN REVIEWS
Thursday, August 28: FULL OF LIT
Thursday, August 28: WE BREAK FOR BOOKS
Friday, August 29: PAGES AND PUPS
Monday, September 1: KIM READS AND READS
Tuesday, September 2: SARAH’S BOOKISH REVIEWS
Tuesday, September 2: KERA’S ALWAYS READING
Wednesday, September 3: DIVE INTO A GOOD BOOK
Wednesday, September 3: SPEEDREADSTAGRAM
Thursday, September 4: BOOKED WITH JULIA
Friday, September 5: BRIANA’S BEST READS
Monday, September 8: LOVE MY BOOKS 2020
Tuesday, September 9: ELSIE LOVES LIT
Wednesday, September 10: GYM GIRL READS
Thursday, September 11: DANISH MUSTARD READS
Friday, September 12: NURSE BOOKIE
Saturday, September 13: MEOWSKINS BOOKSKINS
Monday, September 15: FISH GIRL LOVES BOOKS
Monday, September 15: JUST ANOTHER MOTHER WITH BOOKS
Tuesday, September 16: SHELLEY’S BOOK CORNER
Wednesday, September 17: LEXIJAVA
Wednesday, September 17: ATHENA NO ONE ASKED YOU
Thursday, September 18: DREAMING IN PAGES
Thursday, September 18: GRAYCIOUSLY GREY READER
Friday, September 19: CHAI TEA AND BOOKS ARE ALL I NEED
Monday, September 22: BOOKS AND COFFEE MX
Tuesday, September 23: ENJOYING BOOKS AGAIN
Wednesday, September 24: SUSPENSE IS THRILLING ME
Thursday, September 25: NISSA THE BOOKWORM
Friday, September 26: CANDICE READS
“In epic fashion worthy of his namesake, Tolkien crafts a remarkable novel of an American boy swept up by love and circumstance and cast into the crucible of the Spanish Civil War. Intense, vivid, and moving.” ―Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and All the Glimmering Stars
“Tolkien includes real-life events and people to anchor the story. Through detailed descriptions of place and of Theo’s evolving perspective, Tolkien crystallizes the horrors of war, the toll it takes on those in the middle of it, and the importance of finding a place that feels like home.” ―Booklist
An American boy with impossible dreams is thrust into the cauldron of the Spanish Civil War in this arresting and thrilling historical coming-of-age epic and sequel to The Palace at the End of the Sea.
Critically acclaimed author Simon Tolkien, grandson of literary legend J.R.R. Tolkien, continues the beautifully written historical saga and coming of age story of Theo Sterling he began with The Palace At The End Of The Sea (Lake Union | June 1, 2025) with the second installment in this two-part series, THE ROOM OF LOST STEPS (Lake Union | September 16, 2025).
About this duology, Simon explains: “The kernel of the idea for Theo Sterling’s story came to me a long time ago when I read an article about the Abraham Lincoln Brigade – Americans who volunteered in the last years of the 1930s to fight for the democratically elected Spanish Republic, that was under attack from the Spanish army supported by Hitler and Mussolini. Thousands of them from many different walks of life – university graduates and mill hands, teachers and truck drivers, even a governor’s son – crossed the sea without any previous experience of soldiering and risked their lives to fight for their ideals; many never came back. I was astonished by their courage and sacrifice, and I thought that their story would make a wonderful subject for a novel.”
THE ROOM OF LOST STEPS is a remarkable story of belief and disillusionment, of hope and loss, and what is left of a man when his ideals are stripped away; it’s historical fiction at its best.
Barcelona 1936. Theo helps the Anarchist workers defeat the army that is trying to overthrow the democratically elected government, and he is reunited with his true love, Maria. But all too soon, his joy turns to terror as the Anarchists turn on him, led by a rival for Maria’s affection.
Lucky to escape with his life, Theo returns to England to study at Oxford. But his heart is in Spain, now torn apart by a bloody civil war, and he is quick to abandon his new life when his old schoolmate Esmond offers him the chance to fight the Fascists. He is unprepared for the nightmare of war that crushes his spirit and his hope until, back in Barcelona, Theo is confronted with a final terrible choice that will define his life forever.
As Theo’s tumultuous coming-of-age journey reaches its end, can his dream to change the world―so far from home―still hold true?
With a careful eye for historical detail and masterful storytelling, Tolkien completes the stunning and immersive coming of age story of Theo Sterling with THE ROOM OF LOST STEPS.
To celebrate the release of THE ROOM OF LOST STEPS, we are hosting a virtual book tour starting in September through the beginning of October featuring this outstanding list of book influencers. Follow along for features, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS!
Tuesday, September 2 Books and Coffee MX
Wednesday, September 3 Dive Into A Good Book
Thursday, September 4 Love My Books 2020
Friday, September 5 Nissa The Bookworm
Monday, September 8 Cassie’s Book Reviews
Monday, September 8 What Is That Book About
Tuesday, September 9 The Maddie Hatter
Wednesday, September 10 Lexijava
Thursday, September 11 Gwnedalyn Books
Friday, September 12 Book Girl Brown Reviews
Sunday, September 14 Subakka Bookstuff
Monday, September 15 Armed With A Book
Tuesday, September 16 Enjoying Books Again
Wednesday, September 17 Sarah’s Bookish Reviews
Thursday, September 18 Suzy Approved Book Reviews
Friday, September 19 Linda’s Book Obsession
Monday, September 22 Athena Noone Asked You
Tuesday, September 23 Gloriana Wong
Wednesday, September 24 Danish Mustard Reads
Thursday, September 25 WBTB Book Reviews
Friday, September 26 Karen’s Library
Monday, September 29 Rebekah Dolmat
Tuesday, September 30 Kim Reads And Reads
Wednesday, October 1 Books and Biewers
Thursday, October 2 Book Notions
“Why does childhood sweethearts to estranged friends to lovers have to go SO HARD? I loved all the history between Ophelia and Beau in Mara Williams’ The Truth Is in the Detours, and I loved watching them fall for each other as adults with all the complications that come with having more life experience. By the time they finally hooked up, when I tell you I was dying for it to happen — these two were always meant for each other! Mara Williams is definitely a romance writer to watch.” —Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped
“Clever, funny, and wonderfully romantic, The Truth Is in the Detours tells the story of a woman who finally gets to know herself. It delivers all the best story elements: delicious banter, tension, a road trip, gorgeous California settings, and hot romance. I devoured this sharp story. Mara Williams is a talent.” —Sierra Godfrey, author of A Very Typical Family and The Second Chance Hotel
“A rare gem of a book that captures the beauty and pain of grief, love, and finding yourself, while still feeling like a hug. With sentences that sing and settings that feel like characters, The Truth Is in The Detours is the perfect blend of frenemies-to-lovers road trip romance that will steal your heart and set it racing, and a woman’s journey to finding herself as she searches for the truth about her family. An outstanding debut.” —Holly James, author of The Big Fix
In this sharp-witted and poignant novel, two former friends with a complicated history are thrown together on an unexpected road trip, where old lies unravel and new truths emerge with every mile marker.
Ophelia Dahl has just buried her beloved father when she finds among his personal effects a blindsiding document. The mother Ophelia thought died thirty years ago isn’t dead after all—she abandoned her. But how could she, and where is she now? With some neighborly help, Ophelia’s going to find out.
Beau Augustin is an acclaimed author and Ophelia’s childhood bestie turned teenage nemesis, still chafing after all these years. As luck would have it, Beau’s current project—family deceptions—is set to take him across the West Coast. Ophelia has a brilliant idea: Beau’s book. Her life. Win-win. In a Subaru filled with baggage, they hit the road.
Despite detours, dead ends, and old grudges, Ophelia is desperate to unravel a lifetime of lies. And Beau’s research is a little more personal than he’s letting on. Mile by mile, they’re getting closer to their truths—and to each other—than they ever thought possible.
To celebrate the release of Mara Williams’ wonderfully romantic debut, THE TRUTH IS IN THE DETOURS, we are hosting a virtual book tour from mid-August through mid-September. These marvelous book influencers will be sharing exclusive reviews, excerpts, Q&A, feature spotlights, and giveaways. Follow along for lots of fun!
Tuesday, August 12 – ASHLEY HASTY and BOOKS AND BIEWERS
Wednesday, August 13 – PAGES AND PUPS
Thursday, August 14 – NIKKI H. ROSE
Friday, August 15 – THE BOOK COVER LOVER and FISH GIRL LOVES BOOKS
Saturday, August 16 – JEN’S TOWERING TBR
Monday, August 18 – MEOWSKINS BOOKSKINS
Tuesday, August 19 – WORD NERD BOOK WORM
Wednesday, August 20 – DANISH MUSTARD READS and MARY MARY LIBRARY
Thursday, August 21 – MY BURSTING BOOK BAG and MELANN ROSENTHAL
Friday, August 22 – BOOKALONG
Monday, August 25 – LOVE MY DANE DOLLY
Tuesday, August 26 – DEA’S BOOKSHELF
Wednesday, August 27 – BRIANA’S BEST READS
Thursday, August 28 – AMY’S BOOKET LIST
Friday, August 29 – ARMED WITH A BOOK and A BLUE BOX FULL OF BOOKS
Tuesday, September 2 – ANDREA C. LOWRY READS
Wednesday, September 3 – BOOKS WITH COURTNEY
Thursday, September 4 – WUTHERING VINES and MEG’S BOOK CLUB
Friday, September 5 – BOOKPHILE BELLE
Sunday, September 7 – NISSA THE BOOKWORM
Monday, September 8 – ALI BOOKS OF PLENTY and BOOKS AND COFFEE MX
Tuesday, September 9 – THE UNWINED
Tuesday, September 9 – LEXIJAVA
Wednesday, September 10 – 2 MANY BOOKS 2 LITTLE TIME
Thursday, September 11 – AUDREY OAKS READS EVERYTHING
Friday, September 12 – CAROL DOSCHER READER and BIBLIOLAU 19
