Book News You Can Use 5/2/14

It's that time of year where I take part in the 10 books 30 days challenge. As some of you may know, I have struggled with this challenge by only reading 4-5 books during the month.  What makes this year even harder is that somehow I have lost my reading groove.  Yes I'm still reading, but for some reason I haven't been able to finish a book. Maybe Southern Charm has zapped my brain cells. And Goodreads kindly reminds me that I am seven books behind my reading goal for the year (which is part of the reason I want to do this challenge).  And did I mention that I will be out of town for a week and have three college graduations in May?  I hope to finish reading a book. Soon.

Relax in Paradise Paul Robeson Jr., Stefanie Zweig and Al Goldstein.

Congratulations to all of the Edgar Award winners!

To Kill a Mockingbird will finally be released as an e-book and a downloadable audiobook.

Almost ten years after her passing, new short stories from Octavia Butler will be released.

Short stories from F. Scott Fitzgerald that were censored years ago will now be released uncensored.

Why are people just now noticing that BookCon and BEA are lacking diversity?  That has been the problem for a while, and sadly, they are not the only book events that lack people of color.  This is one of the reasons that the #weneeddiversebooks campaign has picked up momentum.

Adding 'Til The Well Runs Dry to the growing TBR list.

Next week's releases include a book from Richard Williams, Venus and Serena's father.

Michelle Knight, one of Cleveland kidnapping victims who was rescued this time last year, will talk about her story of survival in a new book.

There will be more Princess Diaries books in 2015.

A teen almost got arrested last week for participating in World Book Night.

The other epic fail of the week was when a patron asked the Toronto Public Library to pull Hop on Pop.  Yes, a Dr. Seuss book.

Looks like the Let The Church Say Amen movie will FINALLY see the light of day.

The story about The Black Count will make it to the big screen, with a popular singer producing.

The Good Lord Bird will also become a feature film.  This is a story that somehow missed the list a few weeks ago.

Also coming to the big screen is The BFG, directed by Steven Spielberg.

The mini-movie Danger World, created by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, is now on YouTube!  And Devil's Wake has been optioned by Tanya Lee Lewis. Wonder if Spike can direct it.

Mahogany Books hosted Pearl Cleage at their bookstore this week. And still no video with her and Tayari?

The nation's oldest LGBT bookstore will soon close its doors.

This article talks about 15 Black female poets you should know. I've met two of them and seen one of them in person at another event (Maya wasn't open for book signings at the event I went to).

The Crossover has made it to Sports Illustrated Kids!

This new poll list America's favorite books.

Harlequin (of romance novels fame) is being sold to News Corp, the owner of HarperCollins.

One writer talks about the dilemma of what to do with advanced copies of books after they have been read.