TopShelf Magazine - May 2017

2016 Sales Catalog - 1

MAY2017 ™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

magazine

TopShelf Authors & Books!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS R. L. Stine Matthew Betley K. J. Howe Mark Sullivan Page 17

Page 13

Page 15

Page 19

THE INSIDE LOOK: Get Them While They’re Young Page 9

Plus Marketing Tips, Book Reviews, and more!

TopShelf Reviews the latest addition to the FEAR STREET series by America’s #1 Bestselling Author, R. L. STINE. Page 23

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

And the authors of ITW’s new anthology MATCH UP, including:

Full Page Ad Welcome to ThrillerFestThrillerFest XII Lara Adrian •XII We’re excited to present a blockbuster line-up featuring: • • • •

2017 ThrillerMaster Lee Child 2017 Silver Bullet Award recipient Lisa Gardner 2016 ThrillerMaster Heather Graham 2016 Silver Bullet recipient John Lescroart

• • • • • • •

Steve Berry C.J. Box Sandra Brown Nelson DeMille Diana Gabaldon Andrew Gross Charlaine Harris

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Lisa Jackson Peter James J.A. Jance Michael Koryta Eric Van Lustbader Gayle Lynds Val McDermid David Morrell Kathy Reichs John Sandford Lisa Scottoline Karin Slaughter

Join us for the FBI workshop, Master CraftFest, CraftFest, PitchFest, ThrillerFest, and more.

ThrillerFest is not just for writers! We encourage all thriller enthusiasts to join the family.

www.ThrillerFest.com Any questions about ThrillerFest, please feel free to contact Executive Director Kimberley Howe at: kimberleyhowe@thrillerwriters.org

PLATINUM SPONSORS

TITANIUM SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

TOPShelf

MAY2017

magazine

™

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to

TopShelf Authors & Books!

table of contents

masthead

spotlights

CEO, President, & Publisher

6, 20

Noteworthy Books

columns 7 9 11

FORGOTTEN TOMES: Knowing Your Classics THE INSIDE LOOK: Get Them While They’re Young TOPSHELF MARKETING: Store Decor & Selection Matthew Betley K. J. Howe R. L. Stine Mark Sullivan

reviews 21 21 23 23 25 25 27 27

keith@topshelfmagazine.net

E.V.P. & Director of Marketing Rebecca Katsikas

becky@topshelfmagazine.net

Lead Editor Rosemary Fifield

editor@topshelfmagazine.net

interviews 13 15 17 19

Keith A. Katsikas Jr.

Assistant Editor Kris Miller

editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Creative Director Beneath a Scarlet Sky The Fix The Freedom Broker Give Me A K-I-L-L Grimoire Maximum Harm Oath of Honor The Outsider

directories 29, 30

Bookseller Resources

Keith Katsikas

creative@topshelfmagazine.net

Contributors & Reviewers J. H. Bográn Rosemary Fifield Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Sarah Noffke Kris Miller Tim Sunderland

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused buyers’ guide packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

subscriptions TopShelf Magazine is offered to bookstores and public libraries across the United States free of charge, and to any bookseller and library in the English speaking world for a nominal fee to cover the cost of shipping.

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TopShelf Magazine is also available for free to anyone able to view the online digital version at TopShelfMagazine.net

advertising To advertise in print, online, and in our email marketing campaigns, please visit TopShelfMagazine.net or call 603.785.0560.

Our overall reach is currently in the millions and we always strive to go well above and beyond in promoting our valued clients.

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 3

“Compelling psychological thriller...”

- Booklist

Full Page

.

Ad

“Fans of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl will devour this fast-paced story.” - InStyle www.MindyMejia.com ISBN: 978-1501123429

“Tantalizing... Ms. Mejia displays the enviable ability of such contemporaries as Megan Abbott and Laura Lippman in convincingly charting intergenerational passion and angst.” - The Wall Street Journal

“Engaging... Readers will look forward to further work from this talented author.” - Publishers Weekly

SHOT DOWN ISBN: 978-0986076008

Full Page Ad

For the first time, the full and complete Award Winners story of the B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth is shared in unbelievable detail.

Author Steve Snyder’s story of his father, Lieutenant Howard Snyder, and the Susan Ruth crew, provides in-depth details about many aspects of World War II few understand or know about.

Written with immense detail, Steve Snyder has procured a fantastic piece of historical literature. No detail is left out as it follows the timeline both before the start of the war and after.

The book is further brought to life by the plethora of pictures, documents, letters, and illustrations. The stories of ordinary citizens going to extraordinary measures, risking their lives to save others, are a beautiful testament to human nature. This book is a must read for anyone who loves books on history or WWII.

Each month, the editors of TopShelf Magazine nominate up to six books from our current Book Spotlights to be considered for our coveted Editor’s Choice Award. A panel of judges (typically consisting of our CEO & Publisher, Keith A. Katsikas Jr., the EVP, Rebecca Katsikas, and our Lead Editor, Rosemary Fifield), carefully deliberate over the nominees and ultimately award the winning book the title of TopShelf Editor’s Choice.

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

spotlights

Steve Snyder

Sea Breeze Publishing $27.95 - 376 Pages Nonfiction, Military ISBN: 978-0986076008

For the first time, the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth is shared in unbelievable detail. Author Steve Snyder’s story of his father, Lieutenant Howard Snyder, and the Susan Ruth crew, provides in-depth details about many aspects of World War II few understand or know about.

stevesnyderauthor.com

by Rafael Amadeus Hines Rafael Hines $15.99 - 452 Pages Thriller, Suspense, Military ISBN: 978-0997091915

by Paul Hollis Dog Ear Publishing $16.95 - 302 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1457520419

by J.A. Gerber & Carole P. Roman CreateSpace $12.99 - 146 Pages Nonfiction, Writing Skills ISBN: 978-1537228068

by J. H. Bográn Rebel ePublishers $12.99 - 242 Pages Suspense Thriller ISBN: 978-1944077198

by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne Avid Readers Publishing Group $9.95 - 82 Pages Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1612861821

by Armand Rosamilia CreateSpace $12.99 - 206 Pages Crime Thriller ISBN: 978-1523692149

by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne CreateSpace $8.00 - 62 Pages Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1523248025

by Heather Graham & Jon Land TOR Books $25.99 - Hardcover - 400 Pages Thriller, Suspense, Romance ISBN: 978-0765337917

by Jack Mayer Long Trail Press $19.95 - 530 Pages Historical, Holocaust ISBN: 978-0984111343

by Paige Dearth CreateSpace $19.95 - 504 Pages Horror ISBN: 978-1544212654

6

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

columns

KNOWING YOUR CLASSICS

by J. H. Bográn

As a native Spanish speaker growing up in Honduras, my list of required reading classics included some names you may be familiar with, like The Hunchback of NotreDame, or Homer’s The Iliad. Of course, Don Quixote de la Mancha is a given. Beyond that, the list comprised some local writers, like Ramón Amaya Amador’s The Wizards of Ilamatepeque or Green Prison.

When I started reading English books, I fell in love with thrillers from the works of Clive Cussler, Ken Follett, Robert Ludlum, Frederic Forsyth, and Tom Clancy. Later on, as I cultivated like-minded friends, e.g. other aspiring writers, they mentioned books that I either never heard of, much less read. Several times I had found myself at a loss when people made references to The Great Gatsby and its green light, or almighty spyingon-its-people governments like in Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Soon I realized that what most people consider to be modern classics could vary from one country to another, or one culture to another, even in countries with a shared heritage like in Latin America. For example, it’s a tradition in Mexico to present the play Don Juan Tenorio around Day of the Dead every November, yet I only read it during a brief stint as an aspiring theater actor—I wanted to play the antagonist Luis Mejía.

Feeling like an ignorant despite all the www.TopShelfMagazine.net

A Confederacy of Dunces, among others.

I firmly believe it’s important to read classics, and libraries and bookstores play an instrumental role for the new generations to discover beautiful stories that still have an impact in today’s world—Bram Stocker’s Dracula for example.

A suggestion would be to tailor a list according to genre and style and entice readers, one book at a time, until they have acquired the taste. Had I read Pride and Prejudice when I first started, I would have thrown that book across the living-room.

writing. Several times I tried reading Huckleberry Finn, but its “delicious” phonetic dialogues made it unreadable to me. I have Elijah Wood, and his audio reading of the book, to thank for allowing me to finish it.

After a few years I still haven’t gone around to read all of the classics; how could I with all of the new books coming out every year? Still, the effort has paid off, and I’ve read so far: Gone with the Wind, The Great Gatsby, Steppenwolf, Fahrenheit 451,

J. H. Bográn, born and raised in Honduras, is the son of a journalist; however, he ironically prefers to write fiction. José’s genre of choice is thrillers, but he enjoys to throw in a twist of romance on occasion. He has published three acclaimed novels and is a member of The Crime Writers Association, the Short Fiction Writers Guild, and the International Thriller Writers where he also serves as the Thriller Roundtable Coordinator and contributor editor for their official e-zine The Big Thrill.

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017

(TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @JHBogran | jhbogran@gmail.com

books that I had read was a new feeling for me, so I studied, and pretty much like Santa Claus I made a list of naughty and nice. Except I named books rather than children. During my quest, I received a lot of input from the local library, along with the opportunity to borrow a copy instead of having to buy all of them.

Like me, many people who started to read late are afraid to take a classic.

I’ve known people scared of James Joyce’s Ulysses for both its content and hefty volume. The same with Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. My personal whale was not about length but

magazine

FORGOTTEN TOMES:

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

MAY2017 7

5)& 6-5*."5& 7".1*3& 74 8&3&80-' 5)3*--&3 -"$&% 8*5) 4641&/4& 30."/$& "/% "%7&/563&

Full Page Ad

Pre-order Today!

ISBN: 978-1946865014

$PQZSJHIU ª 5PQ4IFMG 1VCMJTIJOH

TWILIGHT.

&YQMPSF UIF EBSLFTU SFBDIFT PG BVUIPS .JDBI 3JDIBSETh NJOE XIFSF XFSFXPMGT BOE WBNQJSFT SVMF TVQSFNF JO UIJT öSTU CPPL PG UIF 5PVDIFE #Z %BSLOFTT USJMPHZ Touched by Darkness

-FBSO NPSF BOE XBUDI UIF

USBJMFS BU 5PVDIFE#Z%BSLOFTT DPN

columns

GET THEM WHILE THEY’RE YOUNG Twitter @RealSarahNoffke | SarahNoffke.com

Scroll the feed on Instagram, and you’ll come to a few conclusions. They might be: she definitely shouldn’t be wearing that, is that dude out of his mind, and holy batman young adults love their books. I follow more than a few book addicts on Instagram, and they all happen to be ones who are obsessed with taking pictures of their bookshelves, rather than their freckled faces. When was the last time that you saw Helen, the retired widow, arranging her books in the garden so she could take a pretty picture to post on social media? So what’s my point? It’s that we need to be catering to this hungry market. Young adults crave the actual pages of books. They use the hashtag for cover love more than anyone else. Young adult fantasy is especially hot right now, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. And if we know this knowledge, then we should be using it.

When I was a young adult, I didn’t think I liked to read. Stop gasping and listen to me. It’s because the books I was forced to read were Heart of Darkness and Frankenstein. Now before you forever loathe me for complaining about being exposed to classic literature, please hear me out. While those novels are amazing in their own way, they aren’t something relatable for a young adult. I know, you’re shocked, I’ve never, not once, sailed down the Congo. It wasn’t until later that I accidentally picked up a young www.TopShelfMagazine.net

doesn’t know who they are, what they want or who they love. The key to good young adult fiction is exploring these potentials. And the key to happy readers is to find the stories that they can relate to, while also creating characters with extraordinary potential. Finally, because I like sets of three, the key to success for authors, libraries, and retailers is tapping into this hungry market.

Hooking the young and young at heart readers is a great strategy.

From my experience, there aren’t more loyal followers than those who post their TBR lists on social media.

Having written five young adult and new adult series, I’ll claim to know a little bit about the genre. New adult is this relatively recent category that is just starting to emerge. It has fewer rules than young adult and is relatable to a larger audience. However, I will disclose that most of the readers of my young adult series are thirty-something-year-old women. I’ve polled readers and found that there is an irresistible draw to young adult characters, due to their abounding potential. It’s fun when a character is still developing and

I keep hearing a rumor that the book market is over saturated. Honestly, I can’t find relevant data to support that. If my Instagram feed serves as antidotal evidence, then young adults actually don’t have enough books. If I see another picture in my feed of the Harry Potter series with a newly released cover, I’m chunking my phone across the room. #coverlove

MAY2017

by Sarah Noffke (TopShelf Columnist)

adult novel that I fell in love with books. I remember the exact moment. It was like Prince Charming walked into the room and I was instantly in love. That passion for young adult literature then grew, and now I read books of all genres. However, too often I think we force the classics before we’ve hooked the young reader. I believe we cater to the adult readers, not realizing that it’s the teens of the world that are going to break down doors to get at fresh paperbacks. They are obsessed with covers. Obsessed with collecting spicy fantasy novels. And most importantly, they are consumers who have decades of reading ahead of them.

magazine

THE INSIDE LOOK:

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

More Articles at: TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 9

WHO C AN YOU TRUS T ?

A riveting novel about the unexpected, shattering, and lethal consequences of a one-night stand on a seemingly happily married couple.

“A terrific thriller…with plenty of suspense and action, it should appeal to Harlan Coben or Gillian Flynn fans.”

—Booklist (starred review)

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

Pick up your copy today at JohnLescroartBooks.com

columns

STORE DECOR & SELECTION

by Keith Katsikas (CEO & Publisher, TopShelf)

Twitter/Facebook @TopShelfPub | TopShelfMagazine.net

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE Whether it's a big or small space, try to make your store memorable. First impressions matter.

Don’t bombard your guests with too much, too soon. You want them to browse the entire store. A simple display––three to seven books of a similar subject, displayed in a triangle or pyramid, keeping the biggest books in the middle and then “pyramid” out with the smaller books––on the end-caps and small tables can be very effective. Make sure the titles are visible from many angles to ensure that your patrons can see the title while approaching from a variety of angles.

This space is also perfect for DVDs, children’s books, audiobooks, and so much more. Keep a few permanent displays, like “Staff Picks” or “New This Week,” near the checkout counter. Smaller patrons are attracted to bright colors so put those books on the lower shelves. Always make it so that patrons can shop from the stacks. You don’t want a customer to feel guilty for purchasing a book from the pyramid.

THE RIGHT SHELVING Five-foot tall bookshelves might make your space look bigger; however, taller bookshelves will allow for more books in the same footprint. Many bookstores are designed for short people. If you are using five-foot tall bookshelves, the actual top shelve is around four feet, forcing your patrons to look down for books constantly. Taller bookshelves will bring books to eye-level, making it easier for customers to find what they are looking for.

THE POWER OF LIGHTING Store lighting is strategically important, more than you know. Different styles of lighting create a unique shopping experience for your www.TopShelfMagazine.net

AMBIANCE People come to your establishment to explore and purchase new books. It is your responsibility to the customer to make an environment that supports this experience. Many bookstores are becoming creative on how they cater to customers. For example, many bookstores are adding coffee shops within their store so customers can have a cup of coffee or tea while perusing the shelves. Any bookworm will tell you that coffee or tea is the perfect accompaniment to a great book.

Comfortable seating and perfect lighting add to the customer’s experience. How about adding a reading corner? For example, a fireplace, attractive wall furnishings, rugs, and giant floor cushions would make a perfect reading area. You could also use this space for books clubs and gatherings.

BARGAIN BOOKS It’s highly recommended that you put bargain books somewhere other than the front of the store. While customers appreciate bargain books, they don’t want to see them the moment they enter the store.

CHILDREN’S SECTION Don’t discount the children’s area. It’s probably one of the most important sections in your store. Parents want to read real books to their children, not books on a device. They want to create those memories with their children. Put the children’s section on the back of your store. This will make it so that parents have to walk through your store to get to that section. Along the way, put novelties and books that will interest parents. Self-help, parenting, cooking, and craft books are usually big hits with parents. Decorate the children’s area in bright colors. Have beanbags or creative seating for reading books. Have a coloring station where kids can decorate a bookmark to go with their new book.

MAY2017

Do you want to change the look and feel of your store and don’t know where to start?

Don’t fret––TopShelf Magazine is here to help with some useful store decor advice.

SHELF-TALKERS If you’re like me then you enjoy recommendations for your next read. You look at reviews, the book jacket, etc. I also enjoy it when there are self-talkers with recommendations from the staff or a loyal customer. A wellwritten shelf talker could and has inspired me to purchase a book that I wouldn’t have considered previously. Imagine the sales that could be generated with just a great shelf-talker and simple LED light highlighting the book’s cover! BOOM! No question it will sell like hotcakes on a cold winter morning! If you chose to use shelf-talkers, then it’s essential that you have the selected books in stock. It would be terrible if you ran out of stock and left the shelf barren. Get staff picks ahead of time, and make sure you add a few extra to your weekly/monthly order. Always use the staff member’s name on the shelftalker. This will allow the customer to learn employee names as well as who they can trust. The customer will most likely purchase the next book that employee recommends.

magazine

TOPSHELF MARKETING:

customers. The correct lighting will increase your bottom line. Lighting creates the ultimate atmosphere or mood that will encourage customers to examine books that they wouldn’t have usually considered before. When you consider increasing sales, your first thought is typically towards marketing, promotions, discounts, and advertising. These will be effective for the short term; however, having the proper lighting can have an incredible influence on your sales by showcasing your books and novelties to the best of their advantage.

TOPShelf

COLUMNS

DYNAMIC SELECTION Customers should see something new on a regular basis. Who wants to keep coming back to a store that always has the same stock? For this reason, I think it’s ok to discount books that aren’t selling. Just be careful not to discount the best sellers too soon. You don’t want to give your customers the impression that if they wait a few weeks, they’ll be able to purchase the book at a cheaper rate. You could also return the books that aren’t selling. Most traditionally published books should be returnable.

IN CLOSING Marketing is in my blood.

There’s not a day that goes by where I’m not thinking about how to improve commercialization of the companies I work with or patronize on a daily basis. I guess that’s just the curse of a marketing professional. Look, if anyone ever tries to sell you a magic marketing bullet for your problems, run away... fast! Truth be told, no single marketing idea will ever work for everyone. Everything we do carries with it risk. However, there is one thing I can assure you––something I can and will promise. The worst thing you can do in this life is nothing at all. Remember, do what you love, and love what you do, and the world will eventually follow.

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 11

“THRILLER WRITING OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!” –TopShelf Reviews

www.MatthewBetley.com ISBN: 978-1476799254

interviews

hope I can continue to do it every time, because like I said earlier, it’s all about you.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH

MATTHEW BETLEY, AUTHOR OF OVERWATCH & OATH OF HONOR Matthew Betley spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets. Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly eight years of sobriety.

He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message––if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.

Now, onto our discussion with Matt Betley:

Why do you think your books are so successful?

I approached writing my first book simply – as a fan of action-packed, roller-coaster-ride novels, movies, and books, I wanted to write something that I would want to read. I thought, I’m just an average guy. If I write something I like, someone else might, too. My goal with each novel is to viscerally suck the reader into the pages from the beginning, send them roaring down the literary tracks, shake them violently from side-to-side the entire way, and have them breathless at the end, begging for the next ride. And I believe readers have responded to it. I just www.TopShelfMagazine.net

How do you work with an editor without pride making a guest appearance like Jack Nicholson in The Shining?

Call me crazy (see what I did there?), but I love editing and view it as a way to make the final product better. It also helps that I’m with Emily Bestler Books, where I first had Megan Reid as my editor before she left to be an international literary scout, and now have Emily Bestler herself. Both are brilliant and know how to fine-tune a thriller into a high-throttle race-car. I also have several close friends that I use as beta readers and ask for critical feedback. This speaks to one of the larger issues and requirements for this business – you have to have thick skin to be in this game. I view it as a team sport, and my editor is a HUGE part of that team.

What is the most difficult part by far about your craft? What's the one thing about being an author you wish you did not have to do?

Easy. For me, an impatient former Marine officer and recovering alcoholic who’s trying to make up for lost time, only one thing – the waiting!!! I’m fortunate that I’m with an outstanding publisher, but we’re trying to build a brand, and it takes time – literally, several books and years – to build that kind of following. I’m confident we’ll get there, but the length of time is much longer than I’d deluded myself in anticipating.

On the flip side, what’s the best part about what you do? That one thing that makes the answer to that last question worth every minute it?

Every time I get feedback along the lines of, “Sir, you kept me up all night,” “Hey, you stole my sleep,” or “You interrupted my

MAY2017

My editing routine is very methodical now, after I heard this suggestion from Steve Berry and took it to heart. Since my novels are comprised of major action sequences I label “Parts,” usually six to seven per book, I’ll write a part, edit it, write the next part, go back and edit both parts, write the next part, edit all three parts, and so on and so on, so that by the time I reach the end, the first part has been edited six or seven times.

work and personal life,” it makes it all worth it. (I also usually directly respond to those readers with a playful, “That sounds like a you problem.”) There is only one real thing that matters to me in this business – the experience that each reader has with each of my books.

It’s my obligation to maximize that immersive experience, and I take it seriously. For me, it’s all about the readers. On another and more serious note, as a recovering alcoholic, I’m also fortunate that I can share my story in a way that people who are struggling with drinking might be able to relate to and act upon. I’ve written a blog for Joan Lunden, and I talk about it freely and openly in almost every book event I do.

Trust me – if I can get into recovery, anyone can.

magazine

Do you edit and proofread your own work or do you just write it and hand it off to an editor?

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Please explain to aspiring authors and booksellers just how much work is required, even as a traditionally published bestselling author, to maintain your level of success?

To put things in perspective, I’m at the oneyear mark of my career, I’m with a Big Five publisher (S&S), one of the best imprints in this business and genre (Emily Bestler Books) and have a great publicist, and am represented

by The Gernert Company in NYC and Creative Artists in Hollywood for a potential movie deal. But guess what? Having said all of that – and I don’t want to be discouraging, just instill realism – this is a brutal business.

There are no guarantees. Everything is based on sales and how the books are received by the readers. I tell every new author I speak to a few key things: 1) take full ownership of your trade – this is what you want to do as a profession; 2) have a business plan – most don’t think of the business side of publishing; I did, and I was fortunate to have S&S use it for my first book, Overwatch; 3) have thick skin – I’ll be blunt here; if you can’t handle rejection and criticism, stop writing now (seriously, stop) and save yourself the emotional agony; and 4) persevere – there is nothing that can make up for determination and pure gut-wrenching perseverance; even though there are no guarantees, the more you persevere, the greater you increase your chances and create opportunities for you to be one of the successful ones.

Read more of our interview with Matt Betley:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 13

Thea Paris—she’ll do whatever it takes to get you home alive.

“The Freedom Broker combines terrific thriller writing and fascinating research aboutFull hostage Page Ad rescues. This is fact and fiction at its best.”

—James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Move over Jason Bourne, action has a new name as international kidnapping expert Thea Paris pulls out all the stops to rescue her own father in this clever and gritty debut.”

—Lisa Gardner, # 1 New York Times bestselling author “Breathless action, great characters and convincing details make Howe’s The Freedom Broker a surefire rocket to the top of the lists.”

— Linwood Barclay, #1 Internationally Bestselling Author Available everywhere books are sold.

Read the first chapter at kjhowe.com.

interviews

First off, please tell our readers a little bit about your new thriller, The Freedom Broker.

There are twenty-five elite kidnap negotiators in the world. Only one is a woman. And she’s the best in the business.

Thea Paris. She will do anything to bring hostages back home. In The Freedom Broker, Thea faces the toughest case of her career, with a very special client: her father.

What inspired you to write this dark, yet inspiring novel? www.TopShelfMagazine.net

The protagonist is fantastic, well-developed, strong-arm female heroine. What (or who) inspired you to write this character?

Thanks for your kind words about Thea Paris.

I always wanted to write an alpha-female character. We have many strong male protagonists, like Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, and James Bond—but a female hero offers something fresh and new. Thea is feminine, intelligent, and has type 1 diabetes, and she can handle herself with great skill during tactical missions. I hope readers will connect with her. When she was eight years old, she watched her brother being kidnapped. Frozen in fear, she wasn’t able to help. Her brother returned home after nine months in captivity, but was never the same. That experience shaped her dreams and goals. She wanted to become a freedom broker and spend her life bringing hostages back home.

I have to assume this won’t be the last of its kind. When can we expect to see part two?

I was fortunate to receive a two-book contract, so Skyjack is almost finished and will be coming out in early 2018. Thea is shepherding two African orphans to their new home in London when the plane they are on is

What have some of your most memorable achievements been so far in your career?

One special moment is the day I received a call from my talented agent, Victoria Sanders, telling me that we had sold in the UK and US. It took time for it to sink in. Another achievement dovetails with the news of my sale.

When I first read The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell, I wanted to become an author. If I could ever provide that delightful respite that David provided for anyone else, it would be a very special accomplishment. Years later, I pursued my Masters in Creative Writing at Seton Hill University—where David Morrell was a guest speaker. I met my hero, and he inspired me to keep working towards my dream. Fast forward to the ThrillerFest, the annual conference of the International Thriller Writers, co-founded by David Morrell and Gayle Lynds. I attended the first conference and started volunteering.

A couple of years later, I was the executive director of this wonderful conference, and now I’m proud to call David a friend and mentor. Looking back at that moment when I read his phenomenal book, I’m honored that The Freedom Broker is published.

It took time, hard work, and sacrifice, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

MAY2017

Kimberley Howe lived internationally while growing up, including years spent in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. Her father worked in telecommunications, so her family was always on the move. Adventure and travel—and books—figured prominently as she traipsed from place to place. Experiencing this eclectic education offered unique insights into some of the global hotspots in the world. Kim loved reading, especially international thrillers, and dreamed of one day becoming an author.

While she was developing her craft and storytelling skills, she also held two jobs— medical writing and the executive director of ThrillerFest. The Freedom Broker is Kimberley’s first major book release, and it is terrific! Now onto our conversation:

hijacked. The action kicks off from there.

Secret stay-behind armies from WWII, the Vatican, and the CIA figure prominently in this new adventure, spanning the globe from Libya to Bosnia to Austria—and the not-so-friendly skies.

magazine

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH K. J. HOWE, AUTHOR OF THE FREEDOM BROKER

Kidnapping fascinated me. It’s a purgatory of sorts where you’re alive, but not really living. Hostages have to rely on their captors for anything and everything, and their life is frozen in a nightmare bubble.

The day hostages come home is a tough one. Everyone expects to see the same person, but the kidnapping has forever changed the former captive. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Peter Moore, the longest-held hostage in Iraq (almost 1000 days), and his story touched me deeply. Peter was taken with four British military gentlemen, and sadly, Peter is the only person who returned home. I’ve researched kidnap and ransom intensively for the last three years, interviewing kidnap negotiators, former hostages, reintegration experts, and the Special Forces soldiers who deliver ransoms and execute rescues. I hope that people who read The Freedom Broker will learn about kidnapping while escaping into an international thriller.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Do you have advice for independent bookstores on how to organize successful in-store events?

During my recent book tour, I was very impressed with the way each bookstore had its own approach toward its events. Probably the best way to organize events is to create a group of interested readers who enjoy meeting authors and encouraging those people to bring friends to the event. Then again, cookies and wine might help!

Read more of our interview with K. J. Howe at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 15

“Packed with action, suspense, and a surprise double twist that will keep you guessing until the very end, America’s #1 bestselling author has truly brought out the in this latest installment!”

– TopShelf Reviews

R.L. Stine brings back his most beloved characters since the original series––the cheerleaders of Shadyside High––in this, the sixth installment in the relaunch of the runaway bestselling Fear Street series, which has sold more than 80 million copies around the world.

www.rlstine.com ISBN: 978-1250058966

interviews

Do you read reviews left by readers? If so, how do you deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly?

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AMERICA’S #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR, R.L. STINE In case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard of the legendary R.L. Stine, I’ll give you a very brief rundown. Robert Lawrence Stine is one of, if not the most famous author of children’s literature in the entire world. Often called America’s #1 Bestselling Author, R.L. Stine created the iconic children’s horror series Goosebumps, and hundreds of bestselling books for kids, teens, and adults alike––including the wildly successful teen series Fear Street, which has sold over 80-million copies worldwide.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s dive right into my discussion with R.L. Stine:

You’re so well known and beloved around the world. What would you like our readers to know about you that perhaps isn’t so well-known?

People think if you’re a horror writer, your whole life involves horror. I think many would be surprised to know that I have a subscription to the Metropolitan Opera and also am a big ballet and theater fan. You can’t be scary ALL the time!

Of all the series you’ve created (Goosebumps, Fear Street, The Haunting Hour, Mostly Ghostly, Nightmare Room, etc.) which has been your personal favorite to write?

Goosebumps. Because the seven-twelve-year-old audience is the best audience in the world. I get my readers the last time in their lives they will ever be enthusiastic about an author.

Do you still go on book tours? If yes, how might an independent bookstore participate in one?

I’ll be touring a lot this year because it is the 25th anniversary of Goosebumps. Do you believe it—25 years of these books? In September, I have a picture book—Mary McScary—that I did with Marc Brown of Arthur fame, and Marc and I will be touring for that. To arrange an author appearance, it’s best to contact the publicity dept. at Scholastic in NYC or the Simon & Schuster speakers bureau, also in NYC.

Do you have a favorite conference that you attend? If so, which one?

I go to ThrillerFest in NYC every summer.

I’m on the board of the International Thriller Writers, the only board I’ve ever been on in my life. I also try to do a lot of book festivals. The annual one in Tucson is a favorite of mine, and I love the Texas Book Festival in Austin.

In a January ‘16 interview with thisweeknews.com, you said, “I think anyone who opens a new independent bookstore these days is a hero.” I You have this fantastic writing program for couldn’t agree more. How do you feel about the teachers and librarians. Could you please take a moment to explain a little about the program? future of the independent bookstore industry?

I’m optimistic about the book industry altogether. Despite all the entertainment distractions, more people are reading these www.TopShelfMagazine.net

This is a 16-page writing program with all my writing tips and secrets. It can be downloaded from rlstine.com for free and

Rainy Night Theater. How cool... Can you tell us a little about this feature on your website and what inspired you to start it?

I’ve been a fan of radio drama all my life. I still listen to the great shows of the 40s and 50s. I thought it would be fun to do some short, creepy radio plays and have them dramatized by New York actors. These are for kids and adults to listen to in the dark. My son Matt is a sound designer for theater productions, and he produced the ten short scary plays at rlstine.com.

MAY2017

Here’s the best review I ever got on Amazon: A 5-star Review— “The packaging was very good. And it was very easy to open.” My favorite review!

used in classrooms or by anyone who thinks it might be useful. Some of the questions covered: How to get ideas?

How to avoid writer’s block? How to revise? There are many writing projects for students included. I hope a lot of people try it out.

magazine

days, especially young people. Trade book sales actually went up in 2016. When I started in children’s publishing, it was a tiny little business, a few desks at the back of a publishing house. Now it’s a billion-dollar industry. Someone has got to be reading all those books. I’m so happy to see new independent stores opening all the time.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Switching gears. Our readership is primarily booksellers, librarians, and authors. My next few questions are focused on how you, as an experienced author, could help them. How much work is required, even for an author as yourself, to maintain your current level of success?

I spend a lot of time on social media, mainly because I enjoy it. Twitter is a wonderful medium for keeping in touch with my original 90s readers. I hear from them all the time, and it’s very rewarding. I also do a lot of marketing on Twitter and Facebook, telling people about my new books. I think it’s smart to be where your readers are.

Are there any marketing strategies you've seen bookstores use that stand out as successful?

Bookstores who build good relationships with nearby schools have led to very successful appearances for me. So many bookstores have good mailing lists now, so they can alert their customers when an author is visiting.

What’s the most important thing a bookstore can do for an author to promote sales? Obviously, every book cannot be front and center.

I think the key is knowledgeable salespeople who can guide readers to books they will enjoy and help them make new discoveries.

Read more of our interview with R.L. Stine at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 17

“AN INCREDIBLE STORY, BEAUTIFULLYWRITTEN, AND A FINE AND NOBLE BOOK.” – James Patterson, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

“Beneath a Scarlet Sky has everything— heroism, courage, terror, true love, revenge, compassion…

It’s gripping, shocking, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring.”

–New York Times Bestselling Author Joseph Finder

“Sprawling, stirring, like the richest of stories, and played out on a canvas of heroism and tragedy, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is like one of those iconic WWII black and white photos: a face of hope and tears, the story of a small life that ended up mattering in a big way.”

–New York Times Bestselling Author Andrew Gross

“Muscular, soulful prose evincing an artist’s touch and a journalist’s eye. Beneath a Scarlet Sky conjures an era with a magician’s ease, weaving a rich tapestry of a wartime epic.”

–New York Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz

MarkSullivan.com LAKE UNION PUBLISHING ISBN: 978-1503943377 On-Sale: May 1, 2017

Based on the True Story of a Forgotten Hero of World War II

interviews

Mark Sullivan knew he wanted to be a writer at age seven when he got in a fight in parochial school that was broken up by a formidable, six-foot-plus nun named Sister Mary Joseph. She was vice-principal and holy discipline incarnate. Every kid in the school feared her. Mark was scared toward terror because she was his mother’s good friend. Sister Mary Joseph picked him up by the collar from the fight, and Mark figured hell was to pay. This was back when swatting with rulers was sanctioned by God. But instead, the nun told him that in atonement for his sins he was to enter the grade 1-8 fiction writing contest. To everyone’s amazement, except Sister Mary Joseph’s, Mark Sullivan won that contest.

Fifty-one years later Mark is still writing. He has published eighteen novels of mystery and suspense by himself and with James Patterson. His books have won the WH Smith Fresh Talent Award, been nominated for an Edgar, and appeared on New York Times Notable Book lists and the L.A. Times best of the year lists. Beneath A Scarlet Sky is his first work of historical fiction.

How do you feel about the eBook/Kindle revolution?

Well, obviously, I’m in big favor of it. When my agent and I set out to find a home for Beneath a Scarlet Sky, I wrote down that I wanted an editor who was as passionate about Pino Lella’s story as I was, and a publisher who could put the book in front of as many www.TopShelfMagazine.net

I could list five hundred tips I’ve gleaned from Patterson’s process, but two stand out.

Outline: Before Patterson, I was like a crazed sailor of moderate skill with no maps eager to be out at sea. I’d just start writing, and see what came out, an approach that demanded endless revisions. Patterson taught me to think less like a sailor and more like a house builder, or boat builder as the case may be. Like an architect, you figure out the skeleton of the story before putting down word one of the narrative. I balked at the process at first, but quickly came to understand his reasoning. If you knew the rough plot, you could set sail, writing as best you can, knowing there’s land out there.

Follow the emotion: Novels are dramas in prose. Even though we write thrillers with many actions scenes, twists, and reversals, Patterson is constantly reminding me to probe the emotions underlying any scene.

That doesn’t mean that there has to be some kind of explosive cathartic revelation going on all the time. But even if it’s unstated in the narrative, the reader should be able to sense the emotions at stake like compass bearings through the story.

What is the secret to becoming a New York Times or USA Today bestselling author?

Write a lot. Study fine writers. Believe you have something to say, and say it. Write an unforgettable character. Tell a kick-ass story, or one we’ve never heard before. Make me laugh.

Move me in ways that bring me to tears.

For the independent bookstores who may be struggling in today’s market, are there any

Become a hub, a destination, a place people want to go. Country Bookshelf does this well by virtue of its downtown location, and the ambiance of high, hammered tin ceilings and shelves of books everywhere.

What’s the most important thing a bookstore can do for an author, in your opinion and experience, to promote sales? Obviously, every book cannot be front and center.

If I’m coming to your store, help us get local coverage for the appearance.

I’m almost as coherent on camera or into a microphone as I am on the page, so I will make for a great interview, which will in turn help bring in readers. With the story of Pino Lella, I can almost guarantee that.

MAY2017

INTERVIEW WITH #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR MARK SULLIVAN

You’ve said that James Patterson “gave you a master class in commercial fiction.” What are some of the lessons you’ve learned from him?

marketing strategies you've seen booksellers use that stand out as particularly successful?

magazine

readers as possible. Thankfully, after many legacy publishers in New York passed on the draft manuscript, Danielle Marshall, an editor at Amazon’s Lake Union imprint fell in love with Pino’s story and championed it into the Kindle First program, which assured me that, at a minimum, hundreds of thousands of readers would learn about Pino. Under that program, the book immediately shot to #1 across all e-books and pre-orders for books on the Amazon site. That said, I love books, bookstores, and libraries, and hope they embrace Pino’s story as well.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Do you have advice for independent bookstores on how to effectively organize in-store events?

Make it a habit with authors of all stripes.

The more your store becomes a hub of such events, the more successful you’ll be.

Do you enjoy visiting independent bookstores?

If so, do you have a favorite you’d like to plug?

I love visiting independent bookstores.

I’ll plug my hometown store, the Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Montana. Run by passionate, friendly hand-sellers, the Country Bookshelf is everything you could want in a mountain town venue for books: cozy, western setting, great selection, and a staff that cares about writers and readers.

Have you ever been part of a writers’ workshop?

Was it helpful or a waste of time? Any advice for bookstores or writers looking to start or join one?

I have been part of two. Both were good.

It’s important early on in your career to get competent feedback. If you can learn to discard the reactions of whiners and know-it-alls, you can get excellent notes on your work as well as find camaraderie in these kinds of settings.

Read more of our interview with Mark Sullivan:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 19

spotlights

Kev Heritage Blue didn’t want to be in the future... they didn’t want him there either!

CreateSpace $12.99 - 344 Pages Science Fiction ISBN: 978-1507620526

A rip in the fabric of time, a farflung globally warmed future, the only remaining civilization on Earth––a militaristic organization living beneath “Desert Amazon.”

The more Blue learns about this flooded, futuristic wasteland and about himself––who or what he is––the more he realizes getting back home is the only solution.

www.kevheritage.com

by Carol Marrs Phipps CreateSpace $12.99 - 434 Pages Science Fiction, Dystopian ISBN: 978-1533026408

by Sarah Noffke CreateSpace $9.95 - 148 Pages Science Fiction, Fantasy ISBN: 978-1537774510

by Shellie Blum Shellie Blum, LLC $16.79 - Hardcover - 238 Pages Biographies, Memoirs ISBN: 978-0996366908

by Patrick Miskella WaveCloud Corporation $18.99 - 500 Pages Literary Fiction ISBN: 978-1535602365

by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne Avid Readers Publishing Group $9.95 - 108 Pages Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1612862446

by L. B. Johnson Xulon Press $14.99 - 145 Pages Religion, Spirituality ISBN: 978-1498490719

by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne Avid Readers Publishing Group $9.95 - 112 Pages Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1612860718

by Richard Bard CreateSpace $16.99 - 418 Pages Thriller, Suspense ISBN: 978-1533257604

by James Vincett CreateSpace $19.99 - 340 Pages Science Fiction ISBN: 978-1508768906

by Regina Puckett CreateSpace $12.99 - 290 Pages Contemporary Romance ISBN: 978-1491232118

20

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

beneath a scarlet sky

reviews

matters is the reality that it’s now part of an ongoing DIA investigation, so top secret that

“ BENEATH A SCARLET SKY IS A BOOK SURE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR MANY YEARS.”

AVAILABLE NOW At the age of seventeen, Pino Lella's world is forever changed as the bombs begin to drop around him. The year is 1943, and WWII has come knocking at the doors of the peaceful town of Milan, Italy. Pino is sent to Casa Alpina, high in the mountains Mark Sullivan near Switzerland.

With inspiring conviction, he joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape through the treacherous Alps. Fearing for his safety, his parents force him to join the German army, having set him up in a position out of harm’s way. But a simple twist of fate intervenes when General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most powerful commanders takes notice of him. As the driver of Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, Pino www.TopShelfMagazine.net

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

the fix

A TRUE MASTER OF MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, AND INTRIGUE!

MAY2017

A MASTERFULLY CRAFTED TRUE STORY OF TRIUMPH IN THE FACE OF EVIL

magazine

now can spy on the German high command. Based on true events, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is a masterfully crafted story of triumph in the face of evil. Mark Sullivan captures the spirit of Pino Lella flawlessly.

His trials and struggles are heartbreaking, while his courage and determination is nothing short of aweinspiring. A haunting look at the time period, interspersed with wondrous and poignant moments. A book sure to be remembered for many years.

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

Decker and his team can’t gain access to the files. But when the DIA uncover information that indicates there’s an attack imminent, the two teams are forced to merge an alliance. Buckle up for a staccato-paced, action-packed thrill-ride. The Fix is destined for success. Akin to Along Came a Spider, Spy Game, and The Devil’s Own, David Baldacci is a true master of mystery, suspense, and intrigue.

AVAILABLE NOW Just outside FBI Headquarters a welldress businessman shoots a woman in broad daylight, execution style, before turning the gun on himself. Special Agent Amos Decker has an extraordinary gift brought on by a near fatal accident––a photographic memory and the ability to see David Baldacci certain things in a different color. It’s a gift that will prove vital in solving the bizarre case. Further complicating

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 21

~TopShelf Reviews

“A twist on every page. Hair-raising surprises galore.”

“A mindblowing, thrilla-minute ride.”

~Sandra Brown

~Tess Gerritsen

“The Rising will blow your mind.

A great read.”

Full Page Ad The Rising

~Douglas Preston

“A Pandora's Box that promises to be a thrilling series!” ~TopShelf Reviews

“Nail biting tension, highvoltage action, heartbreak, and hope.”

“A classic in the making.” ~James Rollins

~Meg Gardiner

“Completely unique.

Completely engrossing.”

“A slambang, can’t-put-itdown thriller!” ~Lisa Scottoline

~Brenda Novak 978-0765337917

the freedom broker

reviews

coach sees a video of Gretchen’s

have you walking the wire. Howe’s

previous cheers, she orders a new

diligent research into her characters and their crafts results in

tryout. Now it’s Gretchen against

Freedom Broker is an impressive debut that will linger in your psyche for a

“ TAUT LIKE A TIGHTROPE, THIS INTRICATE STORYLINE WILL HAVE YOU WALKING THE WIRE.” Devra, one on one, to see who’s

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

DEBUT AUTHOR K. J. HOWE give me a k-i-l-l BRINGS ON THE HEAT IN THIS PACKED WITH ACTION, HIGH OCTANE THRILLER! SUSPENSE, AND A SURPRISE AVAILABLE NOW DOUBLE TWIST THAT WILL Sassy and smart, Thea Paris is KEEP YOU GUESSING UNTIL haunted by the memory of her THE VERY END! brother’s kidnapping twenty years in fear, she had

K. J. Howe

After her parents’ divorce, Gretchen and her mother move to Shadyside

place. Today Thea is one of

for a new start. Gretchen had been

only twenty-five

the co-captain and star of her previous school’s cheer team and

elite kidnap and rescue specialists

wants nothing more than to make the squad at

make it out alive. R.L. Stine has brought out the Fear in his new book, Give Me A K-I-L-L. A creative storyline packed with action, suspense, and a surprise double twist that will keep you guessing until the very end. Fans of R.L. Stine’s work will not be disappointed!

Shadyside High.

in the world, known as freedom brokers. Her guilt and grief, waiting nine agonizing

Unfortunately, there’s only one

months for her brother's return, drives her to be the best. But when her

spot open, and it's given to

father, oil tycoon Christos Paris, is abducted during the largest business

Devra Dalby––a

R. L. Stine

spoiled, rich girl, who just happens

nightmare is resurrected. Move aside Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher;

to be the daughter of one of the school’s

there's a new elite in town. Taut like a

biggest contributors. But when the

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

anything but civil. Caught up in a deadly game, Gretchen fights to

AVAILABLE NOW

watched, as they took him in her

deal of his career, her childhood

the best. The competition is

MAY2017

long time.

magazine

tightrope, this intricate storyline will

stunning portrayals of award-winning stature. The

ago––paralyzed

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 23

" (3*11*/( 461&3/"563"5)3*--&3 :06 -- #& 563/*/( 1"(&4 8&-- */50 5)& /*()5 Full Page Ad

After recovering from an explosion that took the life of his cameraman, his career, and half his face, John Hunt experiences something that has him believing he’s crazy, or high on painkillers. The vision of his dismembered cameraman is all too real and he has a message. There is something special about John Hunt, and his macabre guide will lead him to the terrifying truth.

Pre-order Today!

ISBN: 978-1946865021

.

$PQZSJHIU ÂŞ 5PQ4IFMG 1VCMJTIJOH

.

.

-FBSO NPSF BOE XBUDI UIF USBJMFS BU 24

TopShelf Magazine – www.TopShelfIndie.com

grimoire

reviews

watch list by the end of January 2012, Tamerlan was able to leave the United States for Russia, and return

“MAXIMUM HARM IS DILIGENTLY RESEARCHED, LEAVING NO STONE UNCOVERED.”

maximum harm

A SUPERNATURAL IF YOU READ NOTHING THRILLER NOT FOR ELSE ABOUT THE BOSTON THE FAINT OF HEART! BOMBINGS, READ THIS! AVAILABLE NOW

AVAILABLE NOW

Jake and Julie are 16-year-old twins living in Paskagankee, a small Maine town known for its mysterious happenings. In a forgotten barn Jake finds a leather-bound book, it’s old and covered in bizarre drawings and symbols. During his sister’s slumber party, Jake takes Allan Leverone out the old tome and attempts to perform a spell from it. Almost immediately, Julie can feel the evil, but it matters not to Jake who quickly becomes obsessed with the Grimoire. It speaks to him. When he attempts another spell from the book, he accidentally calls forth an evil entity as old as time itself. And once again Mike McMahon and Sharon Dupont find themselves facing off against a

If you think you know the story of the Boston Marathon bombing, think again.

Utilizing public facts, veteran investigative journalist Michele McPhee digs deep to unravel the complexities that led to that fateful event on April 15th, 2013. She tells the history of the Tsarnaev brothers, beginning with the immigration of their family from a small village outside the District of Dagestan, to a cramped apartment in Cambridge.

McPhee uncovers how Dzhokhar's older brother, Tamerlan was Michele R. McPhee utilized by the FBI as an informant to spy on radical separatists here and in Chechnya, with promises of citizenship.

Despite being on two separate terrorist

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

six months later without question.

McPhee tells how broken promises led to the growing radicalism and hatred towards America. Maximum Harm is diligently researched, leaving no stone uncovered. McPhee's careful examination of the events and the personal lives of the Tsarnaev brothers is chilling. Her description of the bombing, as well as the testimony she includes from the victims, is heartbreaking and haunting. If you read nothing else on the Boston Marathon bombing, read this!

MAY2017

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

magazine

supernatural being determined to bring chaos and death to the tiny village of Paskagankee, Maine. Grimoire is a supernatural thriller not for the faint of heart.

Impeccably plotted, with riveting detail and a slickpaced storyline that steamrolls to a pulsepounding climax. Easily one of the best books of its kind in years.

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 25

“A memoir that reads like a thriller, and a real-life hero who pushes through unimaginable obstacles. NO SURRENDER is not only an aptly-named book, it’s also a winner.”

– Grant Blackwood, #1 New York Times bestselling author and former Navy Operations Specialist & Pilot Rescue Swimmer

“As a former SEAL Sniper, I am humbled by this man's story and it will inspire anyone who reads it.” – Dr. Howard Wasdin

“Patrick Bisher's story of overcoming adversity as a child and then as a Navy SEAL is inspiring, riveting and informative... A must read!”

– Anthony Tata, Brigadier General U.S. Army (retired) and bestselling author

Patrick Bisher after being diagnosed with a degenerative hip condition at just age nine.

ISBN: 978-1682613009 | Hardcover | Available for Pre-Order

oath of honor

reviews

“

man. But little does he know, the Feds––and the murderer––are about to set their sights on him.

THE OUTSIDER IS A

MESMERIZING LEGAL THRILLER THAT SETS AN INCREDIBLY HIGH BAR FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW!”

AVAILABLE NOW

Matthew Betley plants his literary flag squarely in territory mined so expertly by the likes of Brad Thor, Brad Taylor and the late great Vince Flynn in the superb Oath of Honor (Atria, $26.00, 404 pages), his second thriller to feature marine Logan West. The action opens when West is dispatched to Alaska on the trail of a Russian plot to steal cutting edge Matthew Betley American technology, potentially giving them the upper hand in the next big war, or some version of it. Talk about timely, right? Except, in true thriller form, West finds pretty much everything but what he and his bosses were expecting, and ends up embarking on a wild, cross-continent trek in search of the ever elusive truth www.TopShelfMagazine.net

the outsider

LOOK OUT, GRISHAM AND TUROW. THERE’S A NEW MASTER OF LEGAL THRILLS IN TOWN!

MAY2017

THRILLER WRITING OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

magazine

that may otherwise lead to global catastrophe. Oath of Honor seems cut from the classic cloth of Alistair McClean’s Ice Station Zebra, much more than a military-themed tale even with Betley’s real life military experience. This is thriller writing of the highest order, beautifully chronicling the new Cold War and perfect to devour on a cold late winter night.

TOPShelf

REVIEWS

Anthony Franze’s background in law grants him a rare authenticity.

Add in stellar writing skills, and you have a mesmerizing legal thriller that sets an incredibly high bar for all who follow. A heart pounding train of consequences, packed with twists and turns, and a derailment that will shock you. Look out, Grisham and Turow. There’s a new master of legal thrills in town!

AVAILABLE NOW Grayson Hernandez, Gray, a recent graduate of law school––an outsider of Hispanic heritage from the rough side of DC and resented by his Ivy League peers––is offered his dream job as a Supreme Court law clerk after saving the life of a Chief Justice. Just as Gray settles into his new life, the FBI come knocking. They Anthony Franze believe there’s a serial killer connected with the Supreme Court, and they want Gray to be their inside

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 27

A SECRET SOCIET Y FR OM THE CIVIL WAR. A M AP HIDDEN IN THE SMITHSONIAN. BILLIONS IN LOST CONFEDER ATE GOLD.

THIS WAR WILL BE ANYTHING BUT CIVIL. Available April 4th

The electrifying new novel from New York Times bestselling author

STEVE BERRY “BERRY RAISES THIS GENRE’S STAKES.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Knights of the Golden Circle were the most dangerous clandestine organization in American history—amassing billions in stolen gold and hiding it in caches across the United States.

Now, one hundred and sixty years later, someone is uncovering the lost clues, threatening to ignite a modern-day rebellion.

STE VEBERRY.OR G

directories

Wizard World Comic Con New Orleans, LA January 6 - 8, 2017 310-648-8410 wizardworld.com/comiccon/ neworleans Los Angeles Comic and Science Fiction Convention Los Angeles, CA January 7 - 8, 2017 818-954-8432 www.comicbookscifi.com

YAK Fest: Young Adult Keller Book Festival Keller, TX January 28, 2017 yakfestkisd.weebly.com CODEX International Book Fair and Symposium Berkely, CA February 5 - 8, 2017 510-849-0673 www.codexfoundation.org Association of Writers & Writers Programs Washington, DC February 8 - 11, 2017 703-993-4453 www.awpwriter.org The National Writers Union’s New York Conference February 13, 2017 212-254-0279 nwu.org Savannah Book Festival Savannah, GA February 16 - 19, 2017 912-598-4040 www.savannahbookfestival.org Amelia Island Book Festival Fernandia Beach, FL February 16 - 18, 2017 904-624-1665 www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org Wizard World Comic Con Portland, OR February 17 - 19, 2017 310-648-8410 wizardworld.com/comiccon/portland

COSine Science Fiction Convention Colorado Springs, CO January 20 - 22, 2017 www.firstfridayfandom.org/cosine/

Teen Bookfest by The Bay Corpus Christi, TX February 18, 2017 www.teenbookfestbythebay.org

SDSU Writers Conference San Diego, CA January 20 - 22, 2017 619-594-5152 www.ces.sdsu.edu/wc

Search for Meaning Book Festival Seattle, WA February 25, 2017 www.seattleu.edu/ searchformeaning/

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Oxford Conference for the Book Oxford, MI March 2 - 4, 2017 662-915-3374 oxfordconferenceforthebook.com

Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival Redlands, CA March 3 - 4, 2017 909-748-8791 www.redlands.edu/study/schoolsand-centers/school-of-education/ childrens-literature-festival-2017/ Main Street Children’s Museum Suess-A-Thon Rock Hill, SC March 5, 2017 802-329-2121 www.chmuseums.org/event/2144/ Tucson Festival of Books University of Arizona March 11 - 12, 2017 tucsonfestivalofbooks.org Wizard World Comic Con Cleveland, OH March 17 - 19, 2017 310-648-8410 www.wizardworld.com/comiccon/ cleveland Southwest Florida Reading Festival Fort Myers, FL March 18, 2017 www.readfest.org Virginia Festival of the Book Charlottesville, VA March 22 - 26, 2017 434-924-3296 www.vabook.org Dahlonega Literary Festival Dahlonega, GA March 25 - 26, 2017 www.literaryfestival.org The Southern Literary Festival Fort Smith, AR March 30 April 1, 2017 www.southernliteraryfestival.org

decor & furnishings

Allen Display (N) Midlothian, VA 800-999-2373 www.AllenDisplay.com

BroDart Contract Furniture (N) McElhattan, PA 888-521-1884 www.BroDartFurniture.com Demco (N) Madison, WI 800-356-1200 www.Demco.com

MAY2017

conventions

New England Book Festival Boston, MA January 2017 323-665-8080 www.newenglandbookfestival.com

ALA Atlanta Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits Atlanta, GA January 20 - 24, 2017 866-513-0760 2017.alamidwinter.org

magazine

American Booksellers Association (N) White Plains, NY 800-637-0037 x7541 www.BookWeb.org

Christian Booksellers Association (N) Colorado Springs, CO 800-252-1950 www.CBAonline.org

Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (N) MysteryBooksellers.com

Independent Online Booksellers Association (N) Sykesville, MD 609-474-0640 www.IOBA.org

New England Independent Booksellers Association (R) Cambridge, MA 617-547-3642 www.newenglandbooks.org

TOPShelf

associations

DIRECTORIES

Displays2Go (N) Bristol, RI 800-572-2194 www.Displays2Go.com

Franklin Fixtures (N) Cookeville, TN 931-400-0300 www.FranklinFixtures.com

Modern Shelving (N) San Clemente, CA 877-477-5487 www.ModernShelving.com

Opening the Book (N) Williamport, PA 272-202-3957 www.OpeningTheBook.com/us Skyline Designs (N) Newport, NH 603-843-8965 www.SkylineDesigns.com

The Library Store (N) Tremont, IL 888-422-7204 www.TheLibraryStore.com

The Store Decor Co. (N) Rowlett, TX 800-831-3267 www.TheStoreDecor.com (N) = National Coverage (R)= Regional Coverage To have your business listed call 603-785-0560

TOPShelf magazine

MAY2017 29

MAY2017

coffee services

360OfficeCoffee (N) Austin, TX 800-598-8685 www.360officeCoffee.com Alhambra (R) Lakeland, FL 800-728-5508 www.AlhambraWater.com

aramark (N) 855-273-3835 aramarkrefreshments.com

TOPShelf

magazine

DIRECTORIES

Aroma Coffee Service (R) Fort Myers, FL 800-448-9139 www.AromaCoffee.net

Associated Coffee (N) San Leandro, CA 800-750-5282 www.AssociatedCoffee.com

Blue Tiger (N) Seattle, WA 855-258-3844 www.BlueTigerCoffee.com

Brad’s Coffee Service (R) West Fargo, ND 701-238-0591 www.BradsCoffee.com

Canteen (N) Charlotte, NC 800-226-8336 www.Canteen.com

Cardinal Coffee Systems (N) Sandusky, OH 419-624-8800 www.CardinalCoffeeSystems.com

Clearly Colorado (R) Colorado Springs, CO 719-663-6887 www.ClearlyColorado.com

Coffee Serv (R) Philadelphia, PA 800-784-8400 www.CoffeeServ.com

Coffee Service, Standard Coffee (N) Lakeland, FL 800-962-7006 www.CoffeeService.com

30

Community Coffee (N) Baton Rouge, LA 800-884-5282 CommunityCoffee.com

Corporate Coffee Systems (N) Westbury, NY 516-371-4800 www.CorpCofe.com First Choice Coffee Services (N) Oakbrook Terrace, IL 855-262-6357 FirstChoiceServices.com

Good As Gold Coffee (R) Worcester, MA 800-322-0439 www.GoodAsGold.com

H2O Technologies & Distribution (R) Pensacola, FL 850-932-8400 www.PensacolaH2o.com

Horizon Coffee & Water Service (N) Greensburg, PA 724-520-1272 www.HorizonCoffee.com Ideal Vending & Coffee (R) Brooklyn, NY 866-433-2565 www.IdealCoffee.com

Java Dave’s Coffee (N) Tulsa, OK 800-725-7315 www.JavaDavesCoffee.com Java Distribution (N) Boulder, CO 303-494-6348 www.JavaDistribution.com

Malone’s Coffee Service (R) Knoxville, TN 888-961-2606 www.MalonesCoffee.com

National Coffee (N) Coconut Creek, FL 954-775-0357 www.NationalCoffee.net

Nespresso (N) Long Island City, NY 800-562-1465 www.Nespresso.com

Office Coffee Deals (N) Chesapeake, VA www.OfficeCoffeeDeals.net OfficeCoffeePlus.com (N) Ormond Beach, FL 888-391-4646 www.OfficeCoffeePlus.com

Quality Express Coffee Service (N) Tullytown, PA 866-452-8228 www.QualityExpressCoffee.com Royal Cup Coffee and Tea (N) Birmingham, AL 800-366-5836 www.RoyalCupCoffee.com

S&D Coffee & Tea (N) Concord, NC 800-933-2210 www.SDcoffeeTea.com Standard Coffee (N) Atlanta GA 800-962-7006 www.standardcoffee.com Taher, Inc (R) Minnetonka, MN 952-945-0505 www.taher.com

The Gourmet Coffee Co (R) Hialeah, FL 305-698-0991 www.TheGourmetCoffeeCo.com

The Great American Coffee Co (R) Denver, CO 303-357-5268 www.GourmetOfficeCoffee.com The Water Guy (R) Birdsboro, PA 800-924-6841 www.WaterGuys.com Tidewater Coffee (R) Portsmouth, VA 757-399-4323 www.TideWaterCoffee.com

Treasure Valley Coffee (R) Sandy, UT 801-265-2667 TreasureValleyCoffee.net

US Coffee (N) Hicksville, NY 800-776-2866 www.UScoffee.com

Vending Solutions (N) 800-655-7564 www.VendingSolutions.com

Water Boy (R) Bradenton, FL 800-799-5684 www.WaterBoyInc.com

wholesalers

Bell-A-Roma Candles (N) South River, NJ 718-874-9194 www.ACandleCo.com Jazz Candles (N) Shreveport, LA 318-686-8583 www.JazzCandles.com/ wholesale.php The Yankee Candle Company (N) South Deerfield , MA 800-792-6180 wholesale.

YankeeCandle.com

other services Espresso Book Machine (N) P.O.D. in Your Store!

New York, NY 212-966-2222 OnDemandBooks.com Libris (N) Bookstore Insurance Greenwood Village, CO 888-694-8585 www.Libris.org

Paz & Associates (N) Bookstore Training Fernandina Beach, FL 904-277-2664 www.PazBookBiz.com (N) = National Coverage (R)= Regional Coverage To have your business listed call 603-785-0560

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

Full Page Ad

The ultimate bookseller guide to indie authors and books

31

“A terrific book! The good, the bad, and the ugly woven into a tale that leaves the reader breathless. Great fun!”

~TopShelf Reviews

~Sandra Brown

“A speeding freight train hurtling toward a destination that will change their world.” ~TopShelf Reviews

Full Page Ad

ISBN: 978-0765335135

Other Books in the Caitlin Strong Series

Learn more at:

JonLandBooks.com