Week 6

Week 6: Assignment 1

I've been following Urban Fiction and where I find it useful, there are some titles that will never be purchased by BCPL. With that being said, UR has a LOT of reviews, a "Most Anticipated Black Fiction" section, a preview of the month, and an excerpt of the month. These have proven super helpful in locating titles for my customers because as we all know, sometimes the customer comes in and has the title wrong, the author wrong, the plot wrong, or a combination of the three and just having a starting point in my search has been great.

Week 6: Assignment 2

I really enjoyed this prezi, but I felt that there were some notable subgenres that were left out, like Romantic Suspense. I also agree with the others who commented that a printable version would be handy or maybe even a poster-size version.

Week 6: Assignment 3
Pick 3 subgenres that you are unfamiliar with.

• Find a fan website for each subgenre and summarize the current buzz among fans. Why are they excited about this subgenre? How did you find the website?

Amish Fiction-"Fans of Amish Fiction" on GoodReads. This was my first hit when I googled "fans of Amish Fiction". It was pretty easy to find.Looking at the discussion portion of the site, they seem to be abuzz with free Amish books and downloads. They also have active feeds for Group Recommendations, Giveaways, and New Releases (just to name a few). Three Authors generally associated with this genre include: Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall. Appeal factors include close-knit communities, characters of strong faith, and romance.

Cozy Mysteries-"Cozy-Mystery.com". Again, I googled. The first hit for Cozy Mysteries was "Cozy-Mystery.com". The site was started by someone who, for the sheer joy of the genre, started a web page. Since then, it's grown and includes LOTS of useful information like New Releases by month, Cozies by theme, Cozy Mystery recommendations and lots of other great information. Three Authors generally associated with this genre include:Joanne Fluke, Susan Whittig Albert, and Nancy Atherton.Appeal factors include amateur sleuths, a crime or mystery that needs solving, and has a lack of gore, even when there's a body.

Chick-Lit-http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chick-lit. Google, my friend, helped me find this fan site, too. Though not something I would refer to often, it was entertaining and informative enough when I played around on it. They had polls like "Who's your favorite Chick Lit author?" and sections for shared articles and book recommendations. Meg Cabot (the winner of the poll), Sophie Kinsella, and Jennifer Weiner are all representative writers in the Chick Lit genre. Appeal factors include: generally light-hearted stories, issued of modern womanhood (dating, working, finding the "perfect" outfit), and love/relationships.

Mashups of Subgenres:

Shadow Game by Christine Feehan-  Paranpormal Suspense Romance/ Military Thriller. Genetically enhanced special ops agents meet genetically enhanced psychic adoptees. Life threatening situations and love ensue. Enough military/weapon action and enough paranormal romance to fulfill both subgenre requirements.

Cast Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell- Cozy Mystery/ Paranormal Romance. A witch (her real name is Lily Ivory, so you KNOW it's a cozy!) owns a vintage clothing store solves a murder and battles a supernatural baddie minus gore. Add not one but three potential men in her life for love and you have the general appeal factors for a cozy mystery and a paranormal romance mashup.

Week 5

Week 5: Assignment 1

I've been following the Daily Beast since BMB started, but I must say that I don't find it as useful as Early Word which I have been following for much longer. The DB is much busier, but they do have a wide array of information. I find myself getting easily lost in all of the ads and news articles and the Hot Reads. With that said,while there is a lot more information, the presentation and busy-ness of the page detract from its usefulness, but I feel that this is just my own personal preference and this could be a very useful tool for someone else.

Week 5: Assignment 2


I check Early Word a couple of times a week. Some of my favorite parts of the site are the New Title Radar, the Holds Alerts, and the Media Tie-ins. I find the Media Tie-Ins more helpful because sometimes, when a book is turned into a movie or a TV show, they change the title (think "True Blood" inspired by "The Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries").

Week 5, Assignment 3

"Doctor Sleep", Stephen King's follow up to "The Shining" is set to be released in September 2013. Danny, the little boy from "The Shining" is all grown up. Haunted by the events of his childhood, he drifts through life before settling in New Hampshire where his gift of "shining" helps those who are not long for this world. Then Danny meets a little girl who "shines" brighter than anyone he's met before and feels compelled to help her fight for her life when she is targeted by an immortal species that feeds off the release of the "shining" when gifted children are killed. Again, Stephen King has woven a tale of good versus evil that will surely not disappoint fans both old and new.