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Hugo Award Finalists for 2017

The Hugo Award Finalists for 2017 have been announced celebrating the best of science fiction. This year 2464 valid nominating ballots were received and counted from members of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 World Science Fiction Conventions.

The final round of voting will open shortly and close on 15 July 2017. The  2017 Hugo Awards will be presented on Friday, August 11, 2017 at a ceremony at Worldcon 75, the 75th World Science Fiction Convention.

See the list of finalists below!

Hugo Award Finalists for 2017


Best Novel


Best Novella


Best Novelette


Best Short Story


Best Related Work


Best Series


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Books To Read If You Like Sawyer Bennett

There are many types of love stories. Some are sweet, some are steamy and there's a whole lot in between. One author that jumps between the line of all different romance sub-genres is New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett. With over 30 books, she really does have something for everyone. From the steamy Carolina Cold Fury Hockey Series to the Sugar Bowl Series and even her new release, The Hard Truth about Sunshine offers something on the sweeter side. If you're looking for a new romance novel to fall in love with, check out these books to read if you like Sawyer Bennett!

Books To Read If You Like Sawyer Bennett


 

All You Need

Lorelei James

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Annika Lund the PR agent has a knack for spinning any disaster into a win.  But repairing the reputation of notorious Swedish hockey player, Axl Hammerquist, will require every trick in her arsenal. In order to convince everyone he's no longer a playboy, he needs to be in a relationship. And Annika is just the person to play the part of his loving girlfriend. Axl couldn't care less about fixing his image, but plays along. But the more time he spends with Annika, the more he starts to think that being Mr Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl.

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More Than Want You

Shayla Black

Release Date: April 11, 2017

I'm Maxon Reed the real estate mogul and shark. I only go after the most high profile and big money deals. Just as I find the perfect property, there's someone standing in my way - my brother Griff. I'll need one hell of a devious ply to distract him. Sassy college senior Keeley Kent is exactly Griff's type and she agrees to my challenge of becoming his perfect girlfriend. The only problem is that now I'm having trouble resisting her. The quirky dreamer is everything I usually try to avoid, but I desperately want to make her mine.

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Whatever You Need

Barbara Longley

Release Date: April 11, 2017

Wyatt Haney the electrician is great at his job, but when it comes to women, his shyness stops him making a connection. He wishes he had the courage to talk to his beautiful neighbor Kayla, but he can't stop hiding behind his hoodie. When an electrical fire breaks out in Kayla's apartment, Wyatt comes to the rescue, sparking an attraction neither of them expected. After losing her husband in war, Kayla doesn't want to risk another heartbreak. But can she resist the electricity between them?

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Dancing in the Rain

Kelly Jamieson

Release Date: April 11, 2017

Hockey was everything to Drew Sellers but a bum knee turned him from a superstar into a has-been. To make things worse, he learns that thanks a one night stand back in college, he's now a father to a preteen girl with major issues. At another point in her life, Peyton Watt would have been all over a guy like Drew. But now that she has to take care of her niece, she has no time for a cocky alpha male that pushes her buttons. But after she gets a glimpse of the genuine man behind the tough-guy facade, she is hooked.

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Breaking Beast

Izzy Sweet

Release Date: March 31, 2017

Life has been pretty good to Alex. As the reigning middleweight champion, he has money, power, and fame. Plus, any woman he wants. And then Christy falls into his lap. Broke and homeless, Alex takes her into his home at her darkest hour. Despite there being more than a decade between them, Alex can't stop himself from wanting her and thinks she's the most beautiful woman he's laid eyes on.

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Forbidden Kisses

Annie Rains

Release Date: April 11, 2017

Grace hasn't seen her former stepbrothers since their parent's messy divorce. But she never forgot them, especially Jack. When a manager position opens up at their upscale seafood business, she jumps at the chance. Especially since it means being close to Jack again. She can't ignore his irresistibly kissable lips or the searing way he looks at her. If the Sawyers can forgive and forget the past, maybe anything is possible.

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Interview with Shayla Black, author of More Than Want You

What can you tell us about your new release, More Than Want You?

Set in Maui, it’s the first of a sexy new contemporary romance series about a dysfunctional group of siblings and how love leads them to their significant others and better selves.

I first had the idea for this book on a family vacation last summer to the island. It was totally inspiring. Then events in my life later that fall made me realize that while there are infinite ways to tell someone you love them, some of the most powerful don’t require words at all. I wanted to write about love so complete that mere letters strung together to make sentences weren’t an adequate communicator of those feelings.

Who or what inspired you to become an author?

It wasn’t any one particular person or event. Rather, I had a gradual understanding. From the time I was a pre-teen, I had stories spinning in my head. I wasn’t, however, a reader until college. That’s when I first found books that spoke to me and I realized I’d stumbled upon the perfect outlet for the characters in my head, shouting at me that they had a story I needed to tell. When I honed in on reading romances, was in my early twenties. I finally thought… Someone gets to write all these awesome tales of love, danger, sacrifice, joy, sorrow, and forever. Why not me?

What books are currently on your nightstand?

The Lost order by Steve Berry and the partially edited manuscript for book two in this series, More Than Need You, which will release June 13.

You're hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?

Jane Austen, Kathleen Woodiwiss, and James Patterson. The first because, in so many ways, she is the creator of the romance novel as we know it today. The middle because she penned the first romance novel I ever read, which also ushered in a significant shift in fiction market in North America (in particular) and made popular the sort of books I began reading in college. The last because his journey in publishing must be fascinating. He’s likely forgotten more about publishing than most of us will ever forget.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

To know EVERYTHING. My curiosity is sometimes a terrible thing, and I find myself watching documentaries about things like the possible collision of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies or the “magic bullet” in the JFK assassination when I should be writing. It would be awesome to know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa or what the world will look like in a thousand years.

What's in your Netflix queue?

My most recent Netflix watches are The Big Short and The Crown.

What scene in More Than Want You was your favorite to write?

The go-to method I had for communicating beyond mere words between these characters was music. My heroine, Keeley, loves to sing, especially karaoke in great little island bars. So I was able to incorporate music into several scenes in the book, but my favorite is the end. The emotion of the scene dovetailed with the best music of the book, and it was a joy to write.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Two, really. First: Always be yourself. No one can do that better than you. Second: To quote “Galaxy Quest” the movie, never give up, never surrender.

 

Shayla Black is the author of the new book More Than Want You

Connect with Shayla:
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 Twitter

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Pulitzer Prize Winners for 2017

The Pulitzer Prize was established in 1917 to honor the best in fiction, journalism, arts and letters in the United States. The Pulitzer Prize winners for 2017 have just been announced and include Colson Whitehead, Hisham Matar, Tyehimba Jess, Matthew Desmond and Heather Ann Thompson. See the books that won below!

Pulitzer Prize Winners for 2017



The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead

Prize Category: Fiction

Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hell for all the slaves, but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is coming into womanhood—where even greater pain awaits. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned—Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.

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The Return

Hisham Matar

Prize Category: Biography or Autobiography

Hisham Matar's father was kidnapped when was a nineteen year old university student in England. As one of the Qaddafi regime's most prominent opponents, he was held in a secret prison in Libya. After the fall of Qaddfi, twenty-two years later, the prison cells are empty and there is no sign of Jaballa Matar. Hisham returns with his mother and wife to the homeland he never thought he'd go back to again. This is the story of what he found there.

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Olio

Tyehimba Jess

Prize Category: Poetry

Tyehimba Jess' highly anticipated second book (and first book of poetry) is part fact and part fiction. Weaving sonnet, song, and narrative, it examines the lives of unrecroded African American performers before and after the Civil War leading up to World War 1. This book is an effort to understand how they met, resisted, complicated, co-opted and sometimes defeated attempts to minstrelize them.

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Evicted

Matthew Desmond

Prize Category: General Non-Fiction

Harvard Sociologist, Matthew Desmond explores one of the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee to tell the stories of eight familes living in poverty. Even in the poorest areas of American cities, evictions used to be rare. But today, many renting familes are spending more than half their income on housing, and eviction has become a part of life for some people. Desmond dives into this urgent issue facing America today.

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Blood in the Water

Heather Ann Thompson

Prize Category: History

Historian Heather Ann Thompson draws from more than a decade of extensive research to create the first definitive history of the infamous 1971 Attica prison uprising. This tells the story of all those who took part in the 45 year fight for justice including prisoners, former hostages, families of the victoms, lawyers and judges, state officials, and members of law enforcement.

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New Book Releases Week of April 11

In between books at the moment? Looking for a new tale to dive into? This week's new book releases are bound to impress with plenty of choices across all different genres. Those wanting to fall in love can check out the latest from Barbara Longley, Shayla Black, Izzy Sweet and Sean Moriarty. New York Times Bestselling Authors James Patterson, Lisa Scottoline and Karen White all have new releases too! This is just a taste of the new book releases this week. See the whole list below!


Romance

Mystery


Literary Fiction

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Interview with Karen Katchur, author of The Sisters of Blue Mountain

What can you tell us about your new release, The Sisters of Blue Mountain?

In The Sisters of Blue Mountain, I explore the relationship between two sisters who were once as close as they could be, and how a tragic event, one bad decision, tears them apart. I wanted to find out whether or not the sisters could find their way back to each other when they’re tossed into the middle of a murder investigation.

Who or what inspired you to become an author?

Several years ago I was watching Oprah’s book club discuss the novel, While I Was Gone, by Sue Miller. The audience was divided about the actions of the main character to the point where an argument broke out. As the discussion continued, it became more and more heated, and I remember thinking, I want to do that. I want to write a story so real where readers feel so passionately about a character(s) that they’re willing to argue about it.

It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I sat down to write my first novel, but I never forgot that Oprah show or the author.

Name a book that you feel has impacted your life significantly. Why was it so impactful?

I can’t pinpoint one book in particular that impacted my life. I think I’ve taken away something from every book I’ve ever read, good or bad or somewhere in between. Reading has always been an escape for me, and it’s still my favorite form of entertainment.

What's a typical day like for you?

I’m not sure there is a typical day when you have two teenage daughters! But if all goes as planned, once they’re off to school, I spend an hour or so running, walking or weight training. During that time, I’m usually thinking about whatever I’m working on that day. After that I spend a few hours at my computer writing/working. Once school lets out, I’m back to being mom.

What's in your Netflix queue?

I just finished watching the documentary series, Killer In The Family, for research on my next project. And I’m most excited about the return of Strangers Things.

What scene in The Sisters of Blue Mountain was your favorite to write?

I love writing fight scenes! It can be either physical or verbal fighting, but I love to write that kind of tension. There’s a scene in the book where the older sister throws dead fish (winterkill) at a journalist. Although the scene is meant to be full of tension, it was fun to write.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“She believed she could, so she did.” ~author unknown

 

Karen Katchur is the author of the new book The Sisters of Blue Mountain

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Interview with Mya O'Malley, author of Naomi

What can you tell us about your new release, Naomi?

Naomi is a paranormal mystery sprinkled with a touch of romance. It is the sequel/companion novel to Maggie. Naomi could be read as a standalone novel, but I feel it’s more enjoyable to get the background story from my paranormal book, Maggie, which precedes this story.

Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?

I have such an eclectic collection of books on my shelf and on my TBR list right now.  In addition to non –fiction interests, right now I’m loving Liane Moriarty, Ruth Ware and Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.  Since I’m a teacher, I also have some of my old textbooks and literature pertaining to education.

You're hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?

Liane Moriarty- I’d love to pick her brain about some of her books, such as What Alice Forgot. I loved that book, it evoked so many emotions. I felt I could relate so well to her female characters.

I think I’d have to invite Nicholas Sparks because he writes such heartbreaking romances. I’d love to speak with him about the process of transforming his books into screenplays.

Lastly, I’d ask James Patterson because of my love for mysteries and thrillers. I’ve read almost all of his books and have followed his career for so many years. I’d love to hear about all of his experiences in the industry and how the process of writing and publishing has changed throughout the years.

I think the above guests would make for a very interesting dinner!

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I suppose my favorite thing about writing would be the fact that I get to share my ideas and all that goes on in my imagination with readers. I like the fact that anything can happen and that I’m creating something brand new that never existed before.

I also feel that writing can be therapeutic and relaxing.  Time seriously flies when I sit down to write and get lost in whatever world I’m creating.

Seeing my book go from ideas in my mind, to getting those thoughts out on paper for anyone in the world to enjoy still amazes me.

Another exciting aspect of writing novels is having a voice in designing my covers.  I’m like a kid on Christmas when it comes to seeing my book covers come alive.

Every single time.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

Ooh- I love this question.  I would love to have the power to heal others. Just think how amazing that would be. I would also love to have the ability to transport into time and space in a moment’s notice.

So many possibilities.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

That’s easy.  I would read, write, watch a favorite movie and work out on my elliptical with some of my favorite music to keep me motivated. Of course spending time with friends and family would be part of my rainy day plans as well.

What scene in Naomi was your favorite to write?

I think everything that leads up to the ending. Without giving away too much, I always love surprising my readers with twists and turns. I can’t wait to wrap things up near the end to give my readers that ah ha moment.  I’m hoping I captured that with Naomi.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

There are so many meaningful quotes out there, but one of my favorites is: “You didn’t come this far to only come this far.”

I find this quote to be so motivating and inspiring.  It’s easy to start a dream and then lose sight of it. What’s challenging is the perseverance it takes to keep reaching for your goal to make it a reality.

 

Mya O'Malley is the author of the new book Naomi

Connect with Mya:

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 Twitter

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Interview with Lorelei James, author of All You Need

What can you tell us about your new release, All You Need?

It's the third book in the Need You series featuring the lone Lund daughter. Annika loves being part of Lund Industries in the PR department, but she has a hard time saying no when it comes to "favors" for her family. That's how she ends up mixed up with Axl Hammerquist, the supposed bad boy of hockey.

What's on the top 5 list for best books you've ever read?

Gone With the Wind. Naked In Death. The Stand. Little House on the Prairie. The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew mystery)

Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?

I have a ton of cookbooks. And I tend to buy research books rather than relying on the internet so I have a pretty substantial pile of nonfiction, everything from ballroom dancing to horse training, to an odd book I picked up titled Sex With Kings.

What's a typical day like for you?

I seem to be getting up later now that I don't have kids to rouse in the morning. I also stay up later at night. Depending on the stage of writing I'm in with a book, I'll answer email etc. in the morning, walk the dog and then come home and work. Sometimes I actually shower, haha. Then if I'm under deadline I'm up late writing and I stay away from TV and the internet. I also leave my phone in the kitchen so I'm not tempted to dink around on Instagram.

Who was your childhood hero?

Nancy Drew. Man. She was so daring. And she had an awesome car and a college-aged boyfriend and she was the leader of her pack of friends.

What is the one movie you can quote the most?

Dodgeball for a comedy. ANY Disney movie from the 90's -- yes, I totally sang along when we recently went to see Beauty and the Beast

What scene in All You Need was your favorite to write?

The opening scene because it took several tries to get it right (writing cuts and additions that no one, not even my editor sees). The first chapter is always the one that changes the most in any of my books during the writing process. Sometimes I don't know what type of scene will have the most impact until I'm completely through the first rough draft.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Not really anything specific, but I do like to read sarcastic memes about inspiration...it's good to start any day out with a laugh or two.

lorelei-james-2

 

Lorelei James is the author of the new book All You Need

Connect with Lorelei:
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 Twitter

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6 Books to Read If You Like Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark is a well-known author in the mystery and suspense genre. She has been writing for over 40 years and has sold over 100 million copies of her books in the United States alone. If you are a fan of strong female protagonists that find themselves in suspenseful and thrilling situations, then don't miss out on these books!

6 Books to Read If You Like Mary Higgins Clark



The Sisters of Blue Mountain

Karen Katchur

Release Date: April 4, 2017

The last person Linnet expected to see was her estranged sister, Myna. Although they were close when growing up, a family secret broke their bond. Her return has brought back memories both sisters tried to keep buried. When a reporter arrives in town with a connection to their past, the sisters are forced to confront the event that tore them apart. To make things worse, a young professor turns up dead and their father is the prime suspect, which means their secret may not stay hidden much longer.

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The Woman Who Knew Too Much

Tom Savage

Release Date: March 28, 2017

Galina Rostova, a hot new actress in Moscow's theater scene and the mistress to a powerful Russian general, has some information vital to U.S. security. In exchange for the information, she wants asylum in America. The CIA's top pick for the mission is Nora Baron, the wife of a CIA operative and an actress herself, she is perfect to go undercover. Disguised as a TV news host, Nora heads to Venice, Italy, to stage a fake interview and aid in Rostova's escape. When the defection goes off script, they both find themselves on the run from Rssian agents.

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Naomi

Mya O'Malley

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Naomi has a knack for garnering attention from ethereal beings, whether she wants it or not. Newly engaged to her neighbor, Bryce, she finds herself with little time to celebrate and plan her upcoming wedding. Despite wrapping up a heartbreaking cold case, she finds herself right back where she started, searching for answers alongside ghostly spirits. However, this time Naomi learns that things are not what they seem when someone from her past turns into her worst nightmare.

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Never Let You Go

Chevy Stevens

Release Date: March 14, 2017

Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash started over with a new life after her ex-husband, Andrew was sent to jail. Having escaped the abusive relationship, she emerged older and wiser. Just as she feels she has left the past behind her, she gets the sense someone is watching her. Her new boyfriend is threatened, her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex, who was just released from prison. But he claims he’s changed. Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?

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Wait for Dark

Kay Hooper

Release Date: March 7, 2017

In Clarity, North Carolina, seemingly random accidents have taken the lives of several of this small mountain town's residents. Something is on the hunt in Clarity and  the only clue is a cryptic note stating "Wait for dark". Hollis templeton and her team from the Special Crimes Unit are called in to help Sheriff Mal Gordon with the investigation. But the SCU team is shaken to the core when one of their own is targeted.

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A Perfect Obsession

Heather Graham

Release Date: March 28, 2017

Beautiful young women are being murdered in the New York area and their bodies are being displayed in mausoleums and underground tombs. Forensic psychologist, Kieran Finnegan, is called upon to help Special Agent Craig Frasier from the FBI. As Craig and Kieran dig deeper into the case, it's clear they are dealing with a serial killer. One that is obsessed with female perfection and will do anything to 'preserve' that beauty by destroying the women who embody it.

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New Book Releases Week of April 4

April is upon us and we have just the thing to start your month on an exciting note...new book releases! If you are looking for a thrilling mystery, check out the latest from Karen Katchur, Mya O'Malley and Mary Higgins Clark. There's a bunch of great romance novels from authors like Lorelei James, Skye Warren and J.R. Ward. See all the new book releases for this week below!


Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Romance


Literary Fiction

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