All articles tagged with #books
USA Today reveals Freida McFadden’s real name is Sara Cohen, a practicing brain-disorder doctor who wore a red wig to hide her identity; she left medicine in late 2023 to write full-time (now part-time) and the piece notes that Sydney Sweeney would play Sara Cohen and Amanda Seyfried would play Freida McFadden in the adaptation.
Freida McFadden, the best-selling author of The Housemaid, reveals that her real name is Sara Cohen, a brain-disorder doctor who previously kept her writing under a pseudonym to protect her medical career. She’s since reduced her hospital hours and is ready to step into the spotlight as her books (and their film adaptations) continue to gain attention, including past connections to a Sydney Sweeney–Amanda Seyfried project. Her disclosed reason for wearing wigs was privacy, but she’s now embracing her dual life.
Paramount is launching Paramount Global Publishing this year, a new imprint within its products & experiences division that will adapt Paramount IP into books and create new original stories across print, digital, and audio. Led by Amy Jarashow, the venture will partner with a distribution ally yet to be named and will release an initial slate later; the aim is to extend beloved franchises and flesh out cinematic universes that could return to the screen.
Ben Lerner’s Transcription is a densely braided meditation on technology, memory, and storytelling, following a narrator who interviews a dying mentor, reconstructs his words, and hauls family history across Providence, Madrid, and LA. Blending historiography, media theory, and emotional depth—especially a crisis around a teenage daughter’s health—the novel argues that meaning resides in cuts and splices, not transcripts, and that fiction can extend time rather than merely reflect it.
Tracy Kidder, the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning author known for immersive narrative nonfiction such as The Soul of a New Machine and Mountains Beyond Mountains, has died at 80. Random House confirmed the loss; over decades he turned subjects from computer engineering to nursing home life into bestsellers through meticulous reporting and empathy. A Harvard and Iowa writing program alumnus who served in Vietnam, Kidder rejected labels like 'literary journalist' and believed nonfiction can use storytelling techniques without fabrication. His work reshaped readers' understanding of technology, education, and global health, and it continues to influence writers and even pop culture.
Despite many Americans dreaming of writing a book, only a small share land traditional deals each year, as industry consolidation shrinks imprints and editors and makes nurturing debuts harder. Success hinges on a sellable concept and timing rather than fame or platforms, and even strong manuscripts can miss out due to shifting markets and editorial slots. Independent publishers often offer more personalized support, but deals still follow long timelines; a real‑life example shows a debut YA novel acquired in 2024 and slated for 2027, illustrating that a book deal is possible—but far from guaranteed.
Vulture’s Emma Alpern and Jasmine Vojdani highlight eight March-2026 releases spanning fiction and memoirs, from Vigdis Hjorth’s Repetition to Liza Minnelli’s Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, with quick pitches and price points ($15–$29) that showcase a diverse lineup including Paradiso 17, Sisters in Yellow, My Lover, the Rabbi, and The Keeper.
In a Sunday Book Review interview, Sam Heughan says the Outlander finale will surprise Diana Gabaldon’s fans and that the cast had to create their own ending, while he reflects on writing five books during the series (including the Clanlands titles) and shares his reading habits: he avoids horror and audiobooks, prefers non-fiction and travel titles, and keeps positive, mindset-focused books on his nightstand. He cites favorites from Shakespeare to Val McDermid, and even jokes about hosting a literary dinner with Shakespeare, Buzz Aldrin, Brian Cox, and McDermid. He’s traveling for premieres and plan to watch the finale with castmates and fans alike.
Sarah J. Maas announced release dates for ACOTAR 6 (Oct. 27, 2026) and ACOTAR 7 (Jan. 12, 2027) on the Call Her Daddy podcast, noting the two titles will comprise the middle and end of a single three-book arc meant to be read as one massive story; ACOTAR 6 is expected to be about 400 pages, with no cover art or titles announced yet for the installments.
Book Riot highlights eight standout nonfiction releases in March 2026, spanning biographies, memoirs and essay collections—from Rebecca Solnit and Terry Tempest Williams to Judy Blume and Lindy West—showcasing a diverse slate focused on history, memory, politics, and personal narratives.
Actress Christina Applegate releases a candid, humor-filled memoir titled You with the Sad Eyes, offering a raw, probing look at her life and career with the book published by Little, Brown and Co.
Adam Weymouth reviews On the Origin of Sex by Lixing Sun, arguing that sex evolved to repair DNA and shuffle genes, helping prevent mutation buildup and fueling biodiversity; the piece surveys varied sex strategies across life—from aphids to clownfish—and cautions that human sexuality sits at the intersection of biology, culture and ethics, not biology alone.
Michael Pollan’s A World Appears surveys consciousness across animals, plants, and AI, blending neuroscience, philosophy and personal exploration; the Times reviewer praises Pollan’s readable synthesis and measured skepticism toward hype around AI, while noting gaps (dreaming and hypnosis) and inviting readers to rethink what consciousness means in nature and machines.
Journalist Michael Pollan discusses his new book A World Appears, which ties together questions about consciousness—what it is, who has it, and why—with explorations of plant sentience, psychedelic experience, and the risk that we mistake chatbots for true consciousness, all while examining how humans relate to mind, self, and technology.
The HBO Max/Crave series Heated Rivalry has boosted sales of HarperCollins’ Game Changers romance novels, driving a quarterly revenue up to a record $633 million. News Corp reported overall revenue of $2.36 billion, up 6% year over year, with CEO Robert Thomson attributing AI-aware content strategies and strong brand momentum (including Bridgerton titles) as growth drivers.