Jennifer Murphy received her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. She is the recipient of the 2015 Nancy Pearl Award for best fiction/mainstream novel, the 2013 Loren D. Milliman Scholarship, and was a general contributor at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference from 2008 through 2012, Tin House in 2008 and 2010, and Wildacres in 2007 and 2009. She holds a BFA, MA, and MFA in visual arts. She has lived and studied in North Carolina, Colorado, Michigan, and Washington, and she currently resides in Houston, TX. She is the author of I Love You More and the forthcoming novel Scarlet in Blue.

“Tarot cards! The 1970s! Witches! And an island boarding school! How could I resist such irresistible elements, especially when they’re in the brilliant hands of Jennifer Murphy? A rising body count at an exclusive school jumpstarts a tantalizing not-your-ordinary-by-a-mile mystery with deep roots in the spiritual and the practical, in dangerous lies and an increasingly threatening truth. Magical. Mysterious. Sublime.” —Caroline Leavitt, The New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Days of Wonder

"Witchcraft, secrets, art, love, jealousy and murder, what’s not to like? Jennifer Murphy’s The Ghost Women has all that and more. In a tale of fifteenth-century deadly games passed down through generations, Murphy explores good, evil and the possibility of the supernatural with a deft hand. A real page-turner.” —B.A. Shapiro, bestselling author of The Art Forger and of The Lost Masterpiece

“Moody, atmospheric, and relentless… Amidst ancient rituals, long-lost tarot cards, and mist-swathed forests, Murphy’s tale of art and murder reveals that the most potent magic of all is the friendship between women. Perfect for fans of Donna Tartt and Rachel Gillig, this is dark academia at its finest.” —Leigh Esposito, author of The Tarocco Saga 

Jennifer Murphy

Huda Al-Marashi is the author of the forthcoming middle grade novel Hail Mariam (Kokila/Penguin, 2026) and a coauthor of the middle grade novel Grounded (Abrams, 2023), which won the Walter Dean Myers Honor award. She also wrote the memoir First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story (Prometheus, 2018), which was longlisted for the Chautauqua Prize and a finalist for the Southern California Independent Booksellers’ Award. Her other writing has appeared in various anthologies and news outlets, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, and al Jazeera. She is a fellow and mentor with the Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers Program and a TEDx speaker. For more information, visit  www.hudaalamarashi.com.

Huda Al-Marashi

Adeline Kon is an illustrator and designer who previously worked at Industry Dive as a visual designer for the B2B market. They're an artist who loves bold colors and textures. Their debut YA graphic novel, Just Between Us, is forthcoming from Dial Books for Young Readers in 2025. They have a passion for writing queer stories and watching figure skating.

Adeline Kon

Esquire included Shannon Sanders's THE GREAT WHEREVER in their list of the 22 Most Anticipated books of 2026, saying: "I loved Company, Shannon Sanders’s 2023 short story collection, so I’m excited to read her debut novel, The Great Wherever. The cover is gorgeous, and it’s about a Washington, D.C. gig worker who inherits her father’s stake in a Tennessee farm that’s home to the ghosts of four of her ancestors."

Esquire Names THE GREAT WHEREVER a Most Anticipated Book of 2026

Simran Jeet Singh received a picture book honor from Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) for A VAISAKHI TO REMEMBER (illustrated by Japneet Kaur) at the 2026 Youth Media Awards.

Simran Jeet Singh Receives Picture Book Honor from APALA

"Marilyn emerges as a highly relatable character with high levels of inquisitiveness and courage, offering young readers a kindred spirit and a role model of perseverance...[She] embodies the soul of a reporter who will stop at nothing to get the scoop of a lifetime...This kind of historical fiction is essential for providing easier connections to knowledge; this title is recommended for all library shelves."

School Library Journal Reviews I WITNESSED: THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY OF 1963

"Jackson’s mystery is tight and breathless, but it’s the characters who shine... A finely wrought, character-driven thriller with a propulsive and satisfying climax."

Kirkus Gives MISSING SISTER a Starred Review

"Jackson’s distinctive voice and signature flawed characters make this novel a sure bet, with a fast pace and plenty of twists to hook readers from page one... Stock multiple copies; this book will fly off the shelves. Perfect for fans of Jackson’s previous work and anyone who loves psychological thrillers full of heart-pounding suspense."

Library Journal Gives MISSING SISTER a Starred Review

The Los Angeles Times featured Paul Leonardi’s DIGITAL EXHAUSTION (Riverhead), saying: “Digital Exhaustion focuses on reshaping our relationship with technology in the long-term, helping readers develop healthier tech use habits so that breaking up with your phone isn’t necessary in the first place.”

DIGITAL EXHAUSTION Featured in the LA Times

"Through the Telescope, both a celebration of wonder and a tribute to perseverance, invites readers to look up at the night sky, dream big, and remember that exploration begins with imagination."

Shelf Awareness Reviews THROUGH THE TELESCOPE

Behavioral Scientist has selected Mary-Frances O’Connor’s THE GRIEVING BODY (HarperOne) as a Notable Book of 2025. From the magazine: "We select books that expand our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world; that deepen our knowledge of the events shaping our lives; that sharpen the way we do behavioral science and design; that help us navigate life more effectively.” 

Behavioral Scientist Selects THE GRIEVING BODY 

Morning Brew featured Cal Newport’s DEEP WORK (Grand Central) as one of their “best resources for creating the distraction-free environment.” 

DEEP WORK Featured on Morning Brew

The New York Times featured Cal Newport’s DEEP WORK (Grand Central) in their piece, “Want to Accomplish More This Year? These Books Can Help. The four featured books “provide evidence-based tools you can use on your path to healthy productivity.” 

DEEP WORK Featured in The New York Times 

Director Steven Soderbergh released his “Seen, Read 2025” list, and it features Anika Burgess’s FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE (W.W. Norton). 

FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE Makes Steven Soderberg’s Seen, Read 2025 List

Literary Hub included Shannon Sanders's THE GREAT WHEREVER in their list of most anticipated books of 2026, saying: "This book circles one of my favorite riddles for fiction: how do we carry ancestral expectations? When Audrey Lamb, an underpaid gig worker in D.C., inherits family farmland in Tennessee, she goes to claim her birthright—only to discover the property is ruled by four familial ghosts. An epic with supernatural and epigenetic overtones, this debut novel looks like a feast of a story."

Literary Hub Names THE GREAT WHEREVER a Most Anticipated Book of 2026

Debutiful included Shannon Sanders's THE GREAT WHEREVER in their list of most anticipated books of 2026, saying: "Sanders’s debut story collection, Company, was one of my absolute favorites. The moment the galley for her debut novel was available I made sure it was on its way to me. The Great Wherever is an ambitious multigenerational novel where the past (ghosts) is ever present. Sanders is an sublime writer with unparalleled talent. I could read her writing all day, every day."

Debutiful Names THE GREAT WHEREVER a Most Anticipated Book of 2026

BookPage included Shannon Sanders's THE GREAT WHEREVER in their list of most anticipated fiction books of the year.

BookPage Names THE GREAT WHEREVER as a Most Anticipated Fiction of 2026

BookPage included Shannon Sanders's THE GREAT WHEREVER in their list of the 21 most anticipated books of the year, saying: "It’s not often that a debut novel has our attention this far out, but for Shannon Sanders, author of the critically acclaimed short story collection Company, our interest is piqued. It helps that The Great Wherever has such an intriguing premise: a family saga narrated in part by a chorus of ghosts, in which the dead and the living are bound not only by blood but also by shared stakes in a family homestead in Tennessee, purchased by their patriarch, Thomas, who was one of the first Black landowners in the area."

BookPage Names THE GREAT WHEREVER a Most Anticipated Book of 2026

“Exemplary, tension-filled...The hallmarks of this absorbing novel are embedded in two literary achievements—an unerring examination of terrorism at home and abroad and a gripping exploration of the damage done by unhealed trauma. Laskar, a former reporter, thrusts us into scenes of horrific violence and suffering while expertly capturing the lives of seasoned journalists committed to bringing truth to their readers and listeners. [Midnight, at the War is] a dynamic novel about one woman’s struggle to understand the world and her own emotional chaos.”

MIDNIGHT, AT THE WAR Reviewed in Kirkus

Literary Hub included Benjamin Hale's CAVE MOUNTAIN in their list of the "Most Anticipated Books of 2026."

Lit Hub Names CAVE MOUNTAIN a Most Anticipated Book of 2026

The New York Times included Benjamin Hale's CAVE MOUNTAIN in their list of "The Nonfiction Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026."

NYT Names CAVE MOUNTAIN a "Nonfiction Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026"

"While Traister describes the unrelenting rage that continues to shape the political climate, she also encourages readers to steer their own anger toward hopeful change for all women."

Booklist Gives ANGRY GIRLS WILL GET US THROUGH a Starred Review

Charles R. Smith's BLACK DIAMOND KINGS has been selected by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books as one of their Best Nonfiction Books of 2025.

BLACK DIAMOND KINGS  Named a Best Nonfiction Book of 2025 by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Debutiful has selected Freda Epum's memoir THE GLOOMY GIRL VARIETY SHOW as one of their Best Debut Books of 2025.

THE GLOOMY GIRL VARIETY SHOW Named a Best Debut Book of 2025 by Debutiful

Barnes & Noble has selected Matthew McConaughey's POEMS & PRAYERS (Crown) as one of their Best Memoirs of the Year.

POEMS & PRAYERS Is a B&N Memoir of the Year

The Next Big Idea Club selected Paul Leonardi’s DIGITAL EXHAUSTION (Riverhead) as one of its twelve best productivity books of 2025, calling it "A revelatory examination of why you’re feeling so worn out—and practical daily strategies to change your relationship with your devices."

DIGITAL EXHAUSTION Is a Next Big Idea Club Best Productivity Book

The Globe and Mail selected Paul Leonardi’s DIGITAL EXHAUSTION (Riverhead) as one of its ten best management books of 2025.

DIGITAL EXHAUSTION Is a Globe and Mail Best Management Book

The New York Public Library librarians selected their best books of 2025, and Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) is on their Best Books for Adults list. 

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS Is a NYPL Best Book of 2025

The New York Times featured five books, including Cal Newport’s DIGITAL MINIMALISM (Portfolio), that are recommended by therapists and researchers to help people disconnect from tech. “These five titles—some considered classics—have consistently proven helpful, even as technology keeps evolving.”

NYT Features DIGITAL MINIMALISM

Publishers Weekly have named their most anticipated novels for Spring/Summer 2026, and Shannon Sanders's debut novel The Great Wherever is in their Top 10!

THE GREAT WHEREVER by Shannon Sanders Named One of Publishers Weekly's 10 Most Anticipated Literary Fiction titles for Spring/Summer 2026

Barnes & Noble has selected Brandon Stanton’s DEAR NEW YORK (St. Martin's) as one of their Best Gift Books of the Year.

DEAR NEW YORK Is a B&N Gift Book of the Year

“Murphy crafts a foreboding atmosphere from the jump and makes the occult elements at the center of the story feel entirely plausible. This is a winner.”

THE GHOST WOMEN Reviewed in Publishers Weekly

“This fast-paced novel set in the South Carolina Lowcountry combines magic, mysticism, and mystery into an engrossing and entertaining story that is difficult to put down. Recommended for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Alex Michaelides”

THE GHOST WOMEN Reviewed in Library Journal Review

"The sky isn't the limit but, rather, the beginning...Radiant shooting stars streak across the dark expanse of the universe, lighting Jemison's path not only through the unknown but toward her dazzling dreams."

THROUGH THE TELESCOPE Reviewed in Booklist

Charles R. Smith's BLACK DIAMOND KINGS has been selected by School Library Journal as one of their Best Poetry Books of 2025.

BLACK DIAMOND KINGS Is a School Library Journal Book of the Year

The cover for Liana De la Rosa's contemporary romance MUTUAL DISCORD (Berkley) was revealed by People Magazine in an exclusive on November 19, 2025.

People Magazine Reveals the Cover for Liana De la Rosa's MUTUAL DISCORD

Kirkus Reviews has selected Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) as one of their Best Nonfiction Books of the Year.

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS Is a Kirkus Nonfiction Book of the Year

Kirkus Reviews has selected Anika Burgess’s FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE (W.W. Norton) as one of their Best Nonfiction Books of the Year. 

FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE Is a Kirkus Nonfiction Book of the Year

Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) has been selected by Amazon as one of their Top 20 Books of 2025.

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS Is an Amazon Book of the Year

"Shamir’s adaptation of a variety of Traister’s writings is an accessible primer on the history of women’s activism in the United States... A brilliant overview of essential history."

Kirkus Gives ANGRY GIRLS WILL GET US THROUGH a Starred Review

Texas Standard included Simran Jeet Singh's interview about FAUJA SINGH KEEPS GOING as their third best book interview in the publication's history.

Texas Standard Names Simran Jeet Singh as their 3rd Best Book Interview of All Time

Matthew McConaughey's POEMS & PRAYERS debuted at #1 on the Hardcover Nonfiction New York Times Best Sellers list on the week of October 5, 2025.

POEMS & PRAYERS Is a #1 New York Times Bestseller

Brandon Stanton's work is being featured throughout Grand Central Station.

DEAR NEW YORK Exhibit at Grand Central Station

Brandon Stanton spoke with CBS News about "Humans of New York" and his new book DEAR NEW YORK (St. Martin's Press). 

Brandon Stanton Featured on CBS News

Rebecca Boyle’s OUR MOON (Random House) is the winner of a PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, named for the late poet and professor at the University of California at Berkeley. The award was created "to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s diverse literary community.”

OUR MOON Wins a PEN Oakland Award

The Boardman Tasker Charitable Trust has announced that Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) is on the shortlist for their 2025 Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature. A panel of judges will determine the winning book as one that has “made an outstanding contribution to mountain literature."

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS Is on the Shortlist for the Boardman Tasker Award

The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) has named Emily Sohn as the recipient of the 2025 Kovler Prize for Trust in Life Science Journalism. The prize "recognizes an individual who has significantly increased the public’s awareness and understanding of life sciences through a distinguished body of journalistic work.” Sohn is the author of the forthcoming book THE NEW WILDERNESS (Sourcebooks).

Emily Sohn Wins Kovler Prize

"Debut author Karleigh Frisbie Brogan has written a remarkably assured memoir with Holding, an account of her addiction and recovery that reads like a beautiful mosaic of broken glass: sharp, painful, and filled with glints of light... The quality of Brogan's prose and her deep understanding of her addiction and her own human condition make Holding a standout among similarly themed memoirs."

Shelf Awareness Gives HOLDING a Starred Review

"The book goes beyond conversations about PTSD to focus on “post-traumatic growth”—or how survivors discover sexual agency despite and because of the violence they’ve endured. It offers survivors like myself a manual of helpful suggestions, a fascinating window into a range of survivors’ sex lives, and a deep dive into the sexual challenges Simon faced. Ultimately, though, what Tell Me What You Like offers is hope . . . It invites us to imagine sexual safety and pleasure together."

L.A. Review of Books Interviews Katie Simon about TELL ME WHAT YOU LIKE

Barbara Shapiro's THE LOST MASTERPIECE is a USA Today Bestseller for the week of September 3rd, 2025. 

THE LOST MASTERPIECE is a USA Today Bestseller

The New York Times featured Craig Malkin's RETHINKING NARCISSISM among "4 Approaches to Dealing With a Narcissist": "The book is 'particularly interesting because the author speaks to the universal need to feel special,' Dr. Tummala-Narra said, adding that the language is clear and accessible."

The NYT Highlights RETHINKING NARCISSISM

"Anyabwile and Kellman's artwork blends the vibrancy of Harlem with the comic books beloved by young Walter, nicely differentiating this newly visual exploration of the adolescence of one of the most respected youth authors of our time. An illuminating companion to the original."

BAD BOYS: A GRAPHIC MEMOIR Reviewed in Booklist

On behalf of KNAU Arizona Public Radio, Melissa L. Sevigny, author of BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) was awarded an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing in the small market radio category for her piece, “Smokey Bear Turns 80 Today. Some Celebrate Him—and Others Worry His Message Is Out of Date.”

Melissa L. Sevigny Wins Murrow Award

Jason Wilson joined Mel Robbins on her podcast to discuss THE MAN THE MOMENT DEMANDS.

Jason Wilson Featured on The Mel Robbins Podcast

Andrew Kolb’s WONDERLAND (Andrews McMeel) won a silver Ennie Award in the category of Best Layout & Design. The book was also nominated in the categories of Best Monster/Adversary and Best Cartography. 

WONDERLAND Wins an Ennie Award

“A dreamy tale of space flight to set aspiring astronauts’ minds whirling.” 

THROUGH THE TELESCOPE Reviewed by Kirkus

The Next Big Idea Club has selected Paul Leonardi’s DIGITAL EXHAUSTION (Riverhead) as a "Must-Read Book" for October 2025, saying: "A revelatory examination of why you’re feeling so worn out—and practical daily strategies to change your relationship with your devices."

DIGITAL EXHAUSTION Is a Next Big Idea Club Must Read

Emily Sohn, author of the forthcoming THE NEW WILDERNESS: How Life Endures in the Most Unexpected Places (Sourcebooks), is the winner of the 2025 Sharon Begley Award for Science Reporting. Said bioGraphic editor-in-chief Steven Bedard, “I know the book will provide compelling examples of hope and resilience at a time when the public desperately needs these types of stories.” 

Emily Sohn Wins 2025 Sharon Begley Award

"After 15 years of working through my own trauma, I wrote a book, Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault, to help others do the same. Through personal healing and research into how to better cope with trauma’s fallout, I’ve learned a lot about how to navigate trauma anniversaries."

Katie Simon's essay "How to Navigate a Trauma Anniversary" for Vogue

For years after Katie Simon was raped, "good sex" meant feeling safe, not satisfied. Through candid conversations with other survivors—and plenty of trial and error—she learned how to unlock real desire on her own terms.

TELL ME WHAT YOU LIKE Excerpted in Oprah Daily

Ahead of her new book Tell Me What You Like, author Katie Simon talks with porn director Erika Lust about how ethical porn can help women who have been sexually assaulted regain their sexual autonomy.

Katie Simon Interviews Erika Lust for Playboy Magazine

"For their book, Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault, Katie Simon wanted to understand how a person continues to heal after being assaulted. Ultimately, Katie concluded that for our sex lives to grow, we must both recognize our triggers and our turn-ons. That’s why the book covers topics that include boundaries, panic, consent, regret, kink, false beliefs, breakups, and aftercare. A nonbinary survivor themself, Katie wrote Tell Me What You Like for all survivors across the sexuality and gender spectrum."

The Queer Love Project Interviews Katie Simon About TELL ME WHAT YOU LIKE

"Simon’s treatment of this difficult subject is frank, broadly accepting of diverse reactions, and forthrightly sex-positive, asserting that survivors can and should expect to recover a gratifying sex life. Throughout, her writing is evocative, raw, and psychologically rich, as when she describes a first sexual experience after an assault...A clear-eyed and deeply humane exploration of how people may heal from sexual violence."

TELL ME WHAT YOU LIKE Gets a Starred Review from Kirkus

The New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) has selected JUST UNTIL by Joseph Moldover as a finalist for the New England Book Award.

JUST UNTIL Named a 2025 New England Book Award Finalist

Porchlight Books recommended four books for the week of July 1, including Kimberly Potts’ IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (Gallery), saying: "As thoughtful, provocative, and engaging as the show itself, this book also explores how the show has pushed the envelope and used absurdist comedy to explore major societal issues, including the #MeToo movement, LGBTQ+ rights, racism, and more.” 

Porchlight Recommends IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY

The New York Times reviewed Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS, and said: “The Beast in the Clouds is Nathalia Holt's immersive, sometimes harrowing account of the siblings’ Himalayan adventure… Absorbing.”

NYT Reviews THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS

BookBub released their July humor picks and included Kimberly Potts' IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (Gallery). 

BookBub Names IT’S (ALMOST) ALWAYS SUNNY Among Best New Humor Books

Amazon has selected Nathalia Holt’s THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS (One Signal) as a Best Book of July, and editor Lindsay Powers picked the book as her Personal Pick for the month, saying: “This heart-thumping adventure through the Himalayas alongside Teddy Roosevelt’s sons will keep your pulse elevated for all of its brisk 288 pages. It’s full of larger-than-life swagger, surprising self-awareness, and satisfying twists… a rip-roaring journey back in time through a world that no longer exists. Great narrative history.”

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS Is an Amazon Best Book of July

PLAYING THE WITCH CARD

JUST BECAUSE

THE ADDRESS BOOK: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power

HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

AND TO THINK WE STARTED AS A BOOK CLUB...

POSTSECRET: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives

DEEP WORK: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

THE MAN THE MOMENT DEMANDS

WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL: An Unexpected and Personal History of the Car

WITH MY LITTLE EYE

EAT TO LIVE: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, Revised Edition

START WHERE YOU ARE: A Journal for Self-Exploration

GABRIELA AND HIS GRACE

A HOUSE BETWEEN SEA AND SKY

Monster is now a major motion picture starring Jennifer Hudson, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Nas, and A$AP Rocky.

Named one of The 100 Best YA Books of All Time by TIME Magazine

New York Times bestseller, 2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2000 Michael L. Printz Award, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Hornbook Fanfare 2000, 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers)

This bestselling novel from acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial.

Presented as a screenplay of Steve's own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives.

Monster is a multi-award-winning, provocative coming-of-age story that was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist.