February is an interesting month. If you often emphasize historical or contemporary fiction during Black History Month, try something a little different this year in your library. Think genre favorites featuring African-American teen protagonists! Deborah Taylor's article, Building Worlds and Solving Puzzles discusses several excellent titles in science fiction, fantasy, and mystery titles that would be perfect for a quick display or bookmark.
And of course February means Valentine's Day -- prime time to spotlight your Romance collection. Check out NoveList's "Looking for Love?" webinar to snag ideas for a scavenger hunt for your romance readers. Take a few minutes to set up a program that won't take up a lot of staff time but will snag some programming statistics. Be sure to check out Romance for Non-Romance Readers by Jessica Zellers and Urban Fantasy for Paranormal Romance Readers by Molly Wetta's for more great perspectives on Romance reads.
In This Issue:
Meet the Author: Len Vlahos
Building Worlds & Solving Puzzles
Around the Web
Urban Fantasy for Paranormal Romance Readers
Romance for Non-Romance Readers
Webinar: The Year of the
RA Makeover
Can your library benefit from a fresh look at readers’ advisory service? Join NoveList and Library Journal
for an engaging and informative discussion as three libraries reveal why their attention is now on helping readers find the perfect read.
I’m one of those annoying, overly reflective people who need to mark every anniversary and milestone. So naturally, as The Scar Boys celebrates its first birthday (January 21, 2015), I find myself thinking about the past year and how much it has changed my life...Continue Reading
Building Worlds & Solving Puzzles: Teen Genre Fiction for Black History Month
by Deborah Taylor
Traditionally, novels highlighted during Black History Month focus attention on historical fiction that explores the past and contemporary fiction that examines current culture and society. However many creative writers opt for a different direction. Some of these writers examine Black History through the lens of…Continue Reading
Around the Web with Jessica Zellers
This article was written prior to the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in France. I dedicate it to the memories of those who died, and I salute everyone who defends intellectual freedom.
At the time of this writing, the headline news involves Sony, North Korea, and a movie called The Interview, a comedy about two journalists trying to assassinate Kim Jong Un. Sony had planned to release the movie on Christmas Day but then cancelled those plans after terrorist threats against the film prompted a majority of theaters…Continue Reading
Urban Fantasy for Paranormal Romance Readers
by Molly Wetta
Defining genres can be tricky, particularly when a reader delves into subgenres with similar qualities. This is certainly true of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. While many readers move back and forth between the two with ease and enjoyment, some readers feel duped when they pick up one expecting the other. And if a librarian doesn’t read one or both, it can be difficult to help a reader navigate…Continue Reading
Romance for Non-Romance Readers
by Jessica Zellers
All genres have a contingent of loyal fans, but the romance genre has a following that is extraordinarily dedicated: according to Romance Writers of America (RWA), 64% of fans read more than one romance per month, and romance novels comprise 13% of adult fiction sales. Historical or contemporary, spicy or chaste, romance novels appeal to a broad, devoted base of readers.