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From Paperback to the Big Screen
reetings from the Wizarding World! I am one of Beaufort’s new interns, DumBEAUledore, here to make sure that your summer...
I am a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in English/Comparative Literature and American Studies. I am also minoring in Creative Writing, so interning at Beaufort is right up my (Diagon) alley! When I’m not in Chapel Hill, I’m at my family farm in the middle-of-nowhere-North-Carolina, where we raise cattle and grow watermelons. I have a meticulously organized bookshelf and a dog that drives me crazy. And, of course, the fun fact that everyone is on the edge of their seats waiting for: I am a Slytherin. I know. Apologies in advance.
Now, I’m sure that you all have heard about the new Harry Potter TV series. And, based on my name, you can probably tell that I have quite a few opinions on it. Alas, that will have to be saved for another blog post. However, in honor of this new series, today I will be going through a few books that I think deserve to have movie or TV adaptations.
I just finished reading this book and think that the main character, Charlie Raede, and his loveable dog, Radar, are the perfect coming-of-age duo that everyone expects from King’s novels. With a spellbinding and dark twist on the fairy tales we all grew up with, Fairy Tale’s fantastical scenery and enchanting characters would glow on the big screen.
As a UNC student, I can’t help but be drawn to books that are set there, and Legendborn is no exception. A UNC alumnus herself, Deonn uses both the lore and layout of the campus in a way that grabs readers’ attention and refuses to let go. If you love Authurian legend and magic, I think that you can agree this modern-day twist on a well-loved classic would make an amazing TV series.
Now, I know, this book technically already has a TV show based on it. Don’t get me wrong, Shadow and Bone is an amazing series (I have personally binge-watched all of it). But, I think that the Crows deserve their own TV show! With two books— Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom— to work with, I think that there is plenty of material for at least two seasons of a TV series.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
A friend gave me a copy of this book back in December, and it quickly became one of my favorites. With a charming cast of side characters and an adorable love story, this book is fuzzy all the way around. My personal favorite character is a young boy named Lucy (short for Lucifer, of course). If this ever gets turned into a movie (fingers crossed), I will be first in line at the theater.
Illusions of Camelot by Peter Boal
I must admit, I am always a sucker for a movie about ballet, and I know that this book would make an amazing one. Boal’s journey from Bedford, New York to principal dancer for the New York City Ballet is the exact type of coming-of-age memoir that would shine on the big screen. By exploring topics such as sexuality, alcoholism, morality, and race, Boal doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of life.
This book is, in my opinion, a quintessential piece of Persian literature. Set in Iran during World War II, Daneshvar captures the day-to-day life of a young mother trying to protect her family. With a scalding critique on the occupation of Iran, this book combines history, folk tradition, and feminism in a way that demands for readers to pay attention. Additionally, the ending of this book is one of the best I have ever read.
If you haven’t read these books yet, I highly recommend it. You never know, they may be the next big thing.
Until next time,
DumBEAUledore
Why You Should Intern at Beaufort
By Beau Henry
As my time as an intern comes to a close, I have begun to reflect on what I’ve gained from my time at Beaufort and how future interns might benefit from the program. While publishing internships can be hard to come by, they are foundational to a career in this beguiling industry, and I have found that my time as a Beaufort intern has really clarified some of the more confusing aspects of the industry as a whole. Whether it’s keeping up with the ever-changing publicity strategies or ensuring the publication timeline remains intact, publishing is a curious industry where everyone is always short on time. Interning at Beaufort has given me a solid understanding of how the dedicated people in publishing keep this whole thing afloat.
I have had the opportunity to work for two people who have shown me how this is accomplished, and Emma and Megan have both shown me incredible kindness. They are both talented, hardworking, and creative, and their “health first” approach to publishing was a really refreshing change from the way many companies are run. They encourage interns to tackle new challenges and make it clear that they wouldn’t ask an intern to do something that they wouldn’t do themselves. I have acquired skills in publicity and title management that I otherwise would never have the chance to learn, and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity. In addition to the staff, forming a connection with my fellow intern, Judith Beaumann, has been a gratifying experience as well, and we both have learned a lot from each other that will help us in our careers.
Second only to the people I’ve met are the projects I’ve had the chance to work on, and Beaufort has an incredibly diverse list of titles to choose from. Within Beaufort, there are two other imprints that publish vastly different material from Beaufort’s material, and a wide variety of perspectives are represented in Beaufort’s line. Getting to evaluate manuscript submissions, proofread ARCs, and write reader’s reports has given me a broad set of skills that will help me in my future editorial endeavors. In addition to these skills, I have, by extension, learned to understand how a list is compiled and how the market functions. Though a publisher’s list may have titles that explore a wide variety of themes, getting to see how all the titles function together has been enlightening and has helped me identify potential in manuscript submissions. Seeing the inner workings of the editorial department has helped me understand how writing may be brought to a publishable standard in a wide variety of styles.
Working with a publisher of this scale has really shown me how books are shepherded through the publication process, and the size of a publisher is an often overlooked consideration in a career in publishing. Beaufort is an independent publisher, and Emma and Megan function in many different capacities—which they were generous enough to explain to me. As an intern, I was introduced to a wide variety of roles and duties within a publishing company, and I have a better understanding of how a publishing company works than someone who has only interned in one department. It has helped me evaluate where in the industry I would like to work and what kind of publisher I would like to work for, which is not something I had previously considered. Having a broader understanding of how publishers work has shown me how all departments work together to produce a book, which is the most I could hope for in an internship.
So as I say goodbye and make room for the next group of interns, I would like to thank Emma and Megan for their generosity. They truly care about interns and are incredibly generous with their time. I enjoyed my time at Beaufort and appreciate all that Emma and Megan have done for me. I have learned a lot, and if you are lucky enough to score an internship at Beaufort, you will too.
Spring Cleaning MEGA SALE!
Happy Spring, readers! For the entire months of April AND May, we have the biggest sale happening to put the...
We love a good series… here are a few of ours that are on sale!
Click through to see the rest of our MEGA sale happening now until the end of May!
And yes, this ebook sale is happening just about EVERYWHERE! From Amazon to Barnes and Noble, we’ve got you covered.
Five Postmodern Books to Read
As a reader, my favorite period of literary history is postmodernism. I’ve always been fascinated by writers who play with...
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
Generally considered to be the entry point to postmodernism for many undergrads, and it’s easy to see why. Pynchon writes in a highly specific, idiosyncratic style that is as enticing as it is bewildering. Though this is much shorter than all of his other books, it provides a good glimpse into his style and his thematic concerns. It tells the story of Oedipa Maas and her efforts to uncover a secret society.
White Noise by Don Delillo
Delillo also has a highly specific style that is both eerie and familiar. There is a rhythmic quality to his writing that lends the story weight in an almost subconscious way. White Noise deals with consumerism and mortality in a very stark and dramatic way. It tells the story of Jack Gladney and his wife Babette’s fear of death. It was recently adapted into a Netflix film starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig that is just as confusing as the book.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
This technically falls outside of what most scholars refer to as postmodernism, but stylistically it is cut from the same cloth. It might be called post postmodernism or hysterical realism, but the same themes of absurdity run throughout the book. Smith is a titan of modern literature, and her voice is eloquent and moving. White Teeth deals with postcolonialism in London and features a diverse cast of characters.
Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme
Equal parts experimentation and compelling characters, Sixty Stories is a masterclass on the art of short story writing. Barthelme approaches short fiction with humor and wit and crafts off-kilter narratives that draw you in just as they push you away. He foregoes traditional structures and neat resolution to give you a much murkier, anecdotal form of short story, and Sixty Stories shows you just how far you can take a joke.
Lost in the Funhouse by John Barth
Barth is another writer who loves to play games with readers, and Lost in the Funhouse does exactly that. Confusing perspectives, stories within stories, parallels with Greek mythology, and a bit of humor make this book a fascinating read. Barth’s stories are often representative of metafiction as a form, and they focus less on character and more on the story as artifice, which yields exciting results. For many Barth is the representative postmodern writer, and Lost in the Funhouse is his greatest work.
I hope these recommendations appeal to some of you and pique your interest in this fascinating period in literary history. Sometimes the way the story is told is as important as the story.
Until next time!
Beau Henry
My Experience at an Antiquarian Book Fair
By Beau Henry
This past February, I found myself at the 55th Annual California Antiquarian Book Fair (https://www.abaa.org/cabookfair) in Pasadena, CA. Rare booksellers from all over the world gathered at the Pasadena Convention Center to sell unpublished manuscripts, ephemera, and rare first editions that spanned six centuries and several continents. The event was well attended but not overly crowded, and it was a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Among the incredible books at the fair were signed first editions of James Joyce’s Ulysses, signed Harry Potter first editions, and a partial first draft manuscript of Infinite Jest By David Foster Wallace. Prices for these artifacts ranged from what you might pay for a decent car to a significant down payment on a house, and I contemplated selling everything I owned for a rare book and switching careers entirely. Luckily, my partner pushed me along the path between displays, and I did not have a chance to start bartering.
In addition to all of the books, there were a number of displays that demonstrated how antique printing presses worked, and some that even offered to print things for you on the spot. Several attendees received custom printings and many stood around watching the process. On the outside edges of the convention center, there were a number of sellers who specialized in rare comic books and prints from the 1900s that represented various social and political movements. Some of them were scary, and some of them were inspiring. Other sellers specialized in pulp fiction and genre writing like science fiction and fantasy, and had a number of books with unique covers.
As an inexperienced visitor, I found the history of literature to be fascinating. I found myself enamored with everything from gruesome medical literature to authors as modern as George Saunders, and it felt like there was a real literary continuity, despite the differences in content. There was a sense that this was a community, and that books mattered to the sellers. Despite the lucrative nature of antiquarian bookselling, this was a collection of people who believed that books should be preserved.
My hope is that in the future, we’ll still have this community.
Beaufort Titles I Will Read in 2023
Hello, readers! My name is Beau Henry, and I am one of Beafort’s newest interns. As a new intern, I’m...
The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way by Raymond Benson
On top of an excellent title, the plot’s labyrinthine twists and turns look fascinating, and the sardonic humor in the narrative voice is endearing. The layers to the relationships within the novel and the warped Americana at the center of the novel are very much in line with my interests.
The tragedy of the plot is deeply layered, and the criminal conspiracy that pushes the narrative forward is appealing. I love when books have the capability to draw you in with carefully crafted narrative turns, and Hidden Falls certainly does that. The austerity of the main character’s voice adds additional weight to the themes in the novel.
A Few Words About Words by Joe Diorio
As a huge grammar nerd, I am always on the lookout for new books about grammar and language. Grammar is fascinating because it allows you to view language as equations where there are right answers and wrong answers. While art is subjective, grammar is not, and I find that to be very reassuring.
Whereabouts Unknown by Richard Probert
As someone who finds expansive, maximalist novels to be very exciting, this historical fiction novel is intriguing. The parallels between family connections and lives marred by tragedy across decades is incredible, and I’m hoping to find out how Probert pulls off a narrative with such a vast scope.
While these four are at the top of my list, I’m looking forward to seeing the new titles that Beaufort has in store for this year!
Until next time,
Beau Henry
Reading on the Road
Hi, everyone. I am one of Beaufort Books Spring Interns.
I am so excited to be working at Beaufort Books this spring. I grew up in upstate New York, although my mom and I were constantly moving around. We spent so much time in the car traveling from one adventure to the next, and we would always pack a big bag of books to read while driving.
In December 2022, I graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a B.S. in Psychology. For so long I thought my passion for stories would always just be relinquished to staying up too late to read just one more chapter. New Orleans, though, held so many opportunities, amazing mentors, and my passion for publishing became my main focus.
Discovering new novels that will take readers through a whirlwind of emotions is something I am looking forward to during my internship. Some of my favorite books are The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith; Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert; and my newest favorite How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie. Don’t worry, I promise my mom is safe and sound.
I can’t wait to see what my adventure at Beaufort Books holds!
Best Wishes,
Judith Beaumann
On to the Next
Dear Readers,
One thing to always remember is that when opportunity comes, it never goes away. My time as a Beaufort Books intern may have reached its time, but I know that I have made a valuable connection with four amazing individuals throughout these three months and will continue to apply what I have been taught to whatever opportunity approaches next.
I came across the internship out of the blue. I discovered a callout for submissions through a sponsored Spencer Hill Press Instagram story. I followed them with the hope that when I finally write a manuscript that I could possibly pitch it to SHP or work with them in some way. After a few days, I saw the job posting for Fall Editorial Interns. I applied with the hope that securing this position would truly make me an equal, if not a standout candidate for a future publishing career.
By the end of the summer, I was offered the position and I felt so proud of myself for shooting my shot and feeling like I was worthy enough to pursue this career that I have worked towards for what feels like only a short time. They tell you that a career in publishing is competitive and that is certainly true for many aspects of it. However, I find that when you look hard enough for chance opportunities (or sometimes even stumble upon them), the rewards will be so valuable and beneficial.
I learned that I have an ability to design graphics which I had never properly known how to do before. Outside of taking and editing pictures, I never thought that I had the eye to put an image together from scratch that would be appealing and marketable. I designed many graphics that I look forward to seeing on Amazon some day.
Beyond that, I read a manuscript that I felt very strongly about, and got a glimpse at what it felt like to fall in love with an unpublished piece of writing. I learned about contracts and how authors get paid. I even had the chance to assist in publicity research which further enforced how much I cherish that field of work.
This internship has given me more passion and knowledge for the publishing industry, and fostered a new level of confidence because of the experience and the people who helped me along the way. I am so grateful and excited for all that is ahead of me. I am even more excited to apply what I learned throughout this experience onto others because I only have one semester left before I am able to navigate true adult life. I am scared about so much beyond graduation, but one thing I am definitely confident in now is the career field I will be in.
Thank you to Beaufort Books for granting me a place here and for being such a bright spot as I get ready for everything that’s ahead of me.
Sincerely,
Kaliisha of Woods BEAUyond
My Experience Meeting Author, Veronica Roth
My Experience Meeting Author, Veronica Roth
Previously on The BEAUpire Diaries…
My last blog post featured some of my favorite books in a variety of genres. This blog will be about one genre in particular and my favorite author, Veronica Roth. She is the author of Chosen Ones, the Carve the Mark sequel, and the Divergent series, also one of the first book series that I ever read. Fast forward six or seven years later, Veronica Roth is coming to my city to promote her new Dystopia/Mystery/Thriller, Poster Girl. To quickly summarize her latest novel: it takes place between the cities of Seattle and Portland after the main character, Sonya searches for a missing girl as a favor to free herself from imprisonment after their “perfect” society falls apart.
On October 26th, at Powell’s Books in Oregon, I met Veronica Roth on her book tour. The event was after hours in the store, so it was quiet and all attendees were just as anxiously waiting for her as I was. I went to the event alone, so I didn’t have a friend to get out all of my excited feelings to before she walked out — that would have definitely helped me with all of the tears I was fighting back when she did step out with her husband. I had expected there to be a whole team of people assisting her, but it was just Veronica and her husband, which was so nice and made things more intimate.
The audience had the opportunity to write down questions for her when we got closer to the event’s end, and this is the one thing that I wish I had spent more time on in advance. I asked three questions, and the best one I had asked was answered before it was time for audience questions. The question was whether or not she was working on trying to get away from being known as the author of the Divergent series by not further promoting the book on her social media. The short answer to this question was yes. Roth had written Divergent when she was 24 years old and for a debut novel to take off as Divergent did completes all of the goals an author often has before having to really work for them. She summarizes this question by stating that she was left with a goal void and wasn’t sure where to go after that, which raised the question for her, “What is next after your first book does all the things you’ve ever dreamed of as an author?”
All that being said Veronica did talk a little bit about what it was like being on the set of all three Divergent movies which I was happy to get some inside on. It was obvious in the conversation that both Veronica and her husband had some mixed feelings about how things went for the films. They both joked about how the movies were true to the spirit of her books, but as they continued filming they got further away from what she had originally written. When she was on set for the third film she remembered walking around the filming location and having no idea where she was and why the actors were wearing the outfits they had on. Her husband answered with a little more hostility stating that Roth was only able to be so patient during the process. She wraps up this segment by expressing her gratitude for the films and how she wouldn’t be so far into her career without them.
On the topic of her newly published title, Poster Girl, Veronica stated that she had intended on writing the sequel to her book Chosen Ones, she joked “I can’t be relied on,” after having instead found herself writing another dystopian novel. She talked about her love for her new main character Sonya and the joy she has in writing heroic figures with an attitude problem, which I happen to love reading because same. This led to a conversation about how a lot of the time women writers are accused of self-inserting themselves into their characters. Roth’s grandfather had constantly accused her of being her character Tris Prior from Divergent which she absolutely hated hearing.
The event is concluded with one last question from an audience member who asked for Veronica’s advice on how to get more teens to read and she joked that writers should keep getting their books adapted and make movies, but then defends teens, claiming it can be “hard for teens to read and let someone else’s words in,” so to give them some slack. The book signing portion is what wrapped everything up and I was practically shaking from nerves when I got up to the table trying to find something clever or funny to say. I first handed her my copy of Divergent and told her it is my old copy from 2012 which I don’t actually know to be true, but she was kind anyway and wrote “Be Brave” on the inside and then took my copy of Poster Girl to sign. All in all, a great night, and I am thrilled to say I can check meeting my favorite author off of my bucket list.
What Makes Author Events So Appealing?
Dear Readers,
One of my favorite pastimes is to attend author events. I have gone to more events this year than ever before. The last time I attended a bookish event was when I attended the Boston Book Festival back in 2019. It was the first time I ever covered an event for my university’s newspaper and my first experience with journalism.
When COVID hit, bookstores had to figure something out. If these events could not continue in-person, what were the alternatives? I am sure that many of the questions asked were in line with how to bring together many people in one setting in order to hear an author speak. Then, online events came in full swing. It allowed for people with busy schedules or long commute times to be able to see an author from the comfort of wherever they were.
At the beginning of 2022, author events began to return to in-person, with an added bonus of hybrid events. Being able to meet authors face-to-face again and hear them discuss their works that they have spent time on, often in the hopes of giving an audience something to love or learn from, is utterly inspiring to me.
It has made me wonder what makes author events so appealing? On the one hand, author events are like celebrity meet-and-greets for readers. If one loves an author’s book, one may hope that they can meet the author in-person and pick their brains. On the other hand, readers just love to hear about books, but this is a step above a simple recommendation.
Another thing that I personally love about author discussions is that they are super inspiring and motivating. I never leave an author event without immediately yearning for my laptop to continue writing my own manuscript.
For introverts, author events can either be a completely solo experience or it can be a great opportunity to make bookish friends that may be hard to come by in a different environment.
For go-getters, these events are great ways to branch out and connect with people in various industries related to books. Sometimes author’s friends, publicists, editors, and/or agents tag along. If you can find a way to put yourself out there, author events are a great avenue for your career.
I love the excitement that author discussions bring. It feels so amazing to know that an author is just a regular person who found the time to put their imagination on a page and sought out the right people in order to give people a story to love. Since the majority of events I go to feature Young Adult writers, it reminds me that no matter how old I get, I was a teenager once who fell in love with reading, and I want nothing more than to share that same feeling with teens in the future.
What do you love about author events?
Sincerely,
Kaliisha of Woods BEAUyond
Social Media for Books
When it comes to books, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can serve as a marketing tool....
Books That Should be Trending
ew blogger coming at you under the pen name, The BEAUpire Diaries. I am one of three interns at Beaufort...
Every few years, the book community seems to change what genre/theme of books is trending amongst readers. There is no predicting what those books will be, but once they’re trending they are suddenly everywhere until we’re all sick of them and onto the next “new” thing. In the early 2000s, vampire/supernatural books were the thing with Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, The Vampire Academy, Vampire Kisses, Eighth Grade Bites, and so many more. It then trends moved on to dystopian novels for a bit with some iconic movies following like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. As much as we would love to bring all those books back for the sake of nostalgia, they are (for now) meant to be left in the past.
What I am really seeing as a trend in books nowadays is the cheesy rom-com with bright and colorful cartoon covers that all kind of look the same. However, I like others have yet again fallen for the trends and am loving and buying all the romance.
Below you’ll find all books that I have loved reading, featuring a little bit of all the trendiest genres/themes — a few have done pretty well in the market, and there are some that deserve to do even better, but enjoy.
Lacie’s Secrets by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist
In no way am I biased by adding this book to what I’m loving, but one of our books, Lacie’s Secrets is one of the best spooky fall time reads to have on hand during these upcoming months of gloom. For readers and fans of Big Little Lies and The Haunting of Hill House, Lacie’s Secrets is a psychological thriller that takes place on the coast of Maine, when Kate’s sister disappears 18 years ago, and in the present time, her mother suddenly dies inheriting their estate motivating Kate’s return and the unraveling of secrets begins.
Alienated by Melissa Landers
Somewhere after the boom of dystopian titles, the sci-fi genre attempted to be the next big trend. The 5th Wave did well, but the others that followed lagged behind. Alienated by Melissa Landers was a book that I loved years ago romanticizing life living alongside aliens when Cara Sweeney falls for the first alien exchange student, Aelyx.
Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven
With all of the swoon-worthy, new adult romance going around, I am surprised that this book hasn’t received its moment in the spotlight yet. This was the first adult romance book that I had read back when I was a senior in high school (six years ago) and I was so obsessed with it that I had my own fan cast. Bad Romeo follows the good girl meets bad boy trope when Cassie Taylor meets Ethan Holt while in acting school and they are cast to play Romeo and Juliet together.
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
One of the most recently published and trending books that I wanted to feature is Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood. This is also an example of one of those iconic cartoon romance covers, but I guess they beat the romance covers that have shirtless, hairy men. Ali Hazelwood is well-known for her book, The Love Hypothesis, and a few others. I have yet to read this book, but I did buy it when it came out to add to my neverending TBR stack. Love on the Brain follows the enemies-to-lovers trope when Bee is offered her dream position with NASA the only setback being she is partnered with Levi Ward who has made it clear in grad school his feelings toward Bee.
I am looking forward to continuing to work with Beaufort Books for the Fall 2022 term and writing more wildly interesting and creative blogs. The romance genre has always been a favorite of mine, so the blogs may lean heavier that way, but nevertheless.
Sincerely,
The BEAUpire Diaries
Why Developmental Editing?
Hello! My name is Beau Vader and I will be writing blog posts about the literary community. Let me first...
At Beaufort Books, I am most excited to learn about the different departments in the book publishing industry and gain experience. What thrills me most about this internship is seeing the stories authors have created and shared. I am currently writing a psychological thriller myself to highlight mental illnesses and what they can do to a person. My goal in life is to continue to work in the literary community and write all the stories that live inside my head.
I have worked in different departments in publishing but so far I have been most interested in developmental editing. I enjoy assisting authors with big picture themes such as finding plot holes, developing characters and scenes, assisting with dialogue, and developing the setting. Developmental editing is made to assist authors with the story’s development but never change their writer’s voice. When I perform a developmental edit, I make sure not to change what the author wants to write about but instead assist them. Edits are simply suggestions and it is our job as editors to have good communication with authors. Performing a developmental edit can assist authors with their stories in a professional manner and get them to see the reader’s point of view. When it comes to developmental editing, pointing out what authors do not always see in their first draft is important in assisting them in a story’s development. Since empathy is important, showing empathy toward authors is crucial. As editors, we have to remember that stories are a work of art and we should communicate our suggestions with empathy. My goals as an editor is to assist authors and build relationships.
Sincerely,
Beau Vader
Greetings From Woods Beyond
Hello to you all! My name is Kaliisha. I have just begun my senior year of college. My school journey...
I thought that for my first post I would recommend some titles that are fairly similar to my favorite series!
Almost Magic by Kathleen Bullock (Spencer Hill Press)
Ever since she turned twelve, Apple Bramblewood’s life has been plagued by visits from weird creatures from the magical realms.
It seems she is a rare Attractor, a Wizard whose sole talent is solving the clamorous demands of very odd beings, usually in the most unorthodox, haphazard, and klutzy ways. Apple doesn’t want to be an Attractor; her most passionate goal is to attend the ordinary high school with ordinary kids where her perfect older sister, Cornelia, is allowed to go. Her parents have no doubts about Cornelia’s magical prowess, but Apple seems destined to be home-schooled forever if she can’t pass the entrance exam and perfect at least one magical enchantment.
Almost Magic is Apple’s first-person account of that magic summer between childhood and adolescence and, in Apple’s case, one filled with the most amazing, hilarious, and often dangerous events.
2. Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas (Abrams Books)
Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how to get her parents back together. What she does NOT expect is that an emotional outburst will spark a latent magical ability in her. Or that the magic will be strong enough to attract the attention of witches. Or that before she can say #BlackGirlMagic, she’ll be shipped off on a scholarship to a fancy finishing school for talented young ladies.
Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet.
While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. “Wildseed” may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.
3. Kingston and The Magician’s Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi (Penguin Random House)
Twelve-year-old Kingston has just moved from the suburbs back to Echo City, Brooklyn—the last place his father was seen alive. Kingston’s father was King Preston, one of the world’s greatest magicians. Until one trick went wrong and he disappeared. Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, he’s determined to find his father.
Somehow, though, when his father disappeared, he took all of Echo City’s magic with him. Now Echo City—a ghost of its past—is living up to its name. With no magic left, the magicians have packed up and left town and those who’ve stayed behind don’t look too kindly on any who reminds them of what they once had.
When Kingston finds a magic box his father left behind as a clue, Kingston knows there’s more to his father’s disappearance than meets the eye. He’ll have to keep it a secret—that is, until he can restore magic to Echo City. With his cousin Veronica and childhood friend Too Tall Eddie, Kingston works to solve the clues, but one wrong move and his father might not be the only one who goes missing.
Buy Kingston and The Magician’s Lost and Found Now!
I am so excited to be able to work with Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press for this fall season. I love books, but I also just love talking about them, too!
Sincerely,
Kaliisha of Woods BEAUyond
Books and Wisdom
As the end of August approaches and school begins, my time as an editorial intern at Beaufort Books has drawn...
I wouldn’t have been able to learn all of the intricate workings of the industry if it wasn’t for Megan, our editorial director, and Emma, our publicity and editorial associate. When you are working for two people who are so willing to give you both the hands-on experience you wanted and the hands-on experience you didn’t know you needed, it is easy to grow into a well-rounded intern with more knowledge about book publishing than you thought possible.
While there are many valuable lessons and insights I have acquired during my time working for Beaufort, I thought for my final blog post I would share my top five takeaways from participating in this internship program. Of course, it wouldn’t be a bookish blog post without books, so I’ve decided to attach a Beaufort or Spencer Hill Press title that I think fits with the takeaway I am sharing.
Copyediting is a superpower. A Few Words about Words by Joe Diorio
If there is one thing I have done more than anything else during my time as an intern, it was read, read, and reread copy. Whether I was checking out the latest submission or reading a book description that was going to be posted online, I had to make sure that there wasn’t one grammatical error. Searching for a misplaced comma or a misused word became second nature to me, and I even found myself looking for errors everywhere I could in the world around me. Being able to spot mistakes in copy quickly truly is a super power, and it is one that I definitely strengthened throughout my time as an intern.
But, everyone isn’t perfect, and sometimes mistakes can easily slip through the cracks. However, you don’t have to be a master to learn how to identify common grammatical mistakes. In the book A Few Words About Words, Joe Diorio stresses that it isn’t about mastering English grammar, but rather writing carefully. Diorio teaches his readers through quick-witted anecdotes about the most common and uncommon mistakes most people make when it comes to writing. He lends a hand to those who panic when it’s time to decide between “your” and “you’re” or those who don’t truly understand the significance of the Oxford comma. This grammar guide is not only informative but humorous, making a book about learning about English grammar one that is almost impossible to put down.
Submissions are full of surprises. Bone Deep by Kim O’Brien
That old cliche saying that everyone has a story does not ring more true than in the submissions box of a publishing company. I have read at least 20 to 35 submissions during my time at Beaufort and not one of them was like another. Reading submissions feels like a gift to me. I get to read something that someone has spent years crafting and perfecting and be one of the first people to listen to the story they have been dying to tell. After a while of looking at submissions, you think you would be able to get the hang of what a book is going to be about just by the title, but that is not the case. Every time I clicked a submission, it was like opening a wrapped present and there was always a surprise inside, but that was the best part. I loved getting to experience the unexpected and always be on my toes while reading. This is the exact reason why reading a submission never gets old, and every now and again you find a real treasure of a story.
While going through submissions can be like digging for gold, Paige Patterson’s father’s job is to literally dig for bones. In the novel Bone Deep by Kim O’Brien, Paige goes to visit her father who works as an archaeologist in Arizona. However, things quickly go wrong when her new friend Emily goes missing and no one has any answers. Paige takes it upon herself to try and solve the mystery of her friend’s disappearance, but no one is helpful, not even her father. While Paige races against the clock to search for the clues to help her solve the mystery, she learns she isn’t the only one who is good at hiding things.
Editorial work is not the only job in the publishing industry. Souls in the Twilight by Roger Scruton
When I applied to the Beaufort Editorial Internship, all I could think about was editorial work. Of course I knew there were different elements to book publishing, but it made sense to me that the central focus of the publishing industry was editorial. While that is a major part of the job, there are a plethora of other jobs in the publishing industry that don’t focus on reading submissions or editing novels.
Throughout my internship, I was able to work alongside Emma, our publicity and editorial associate, who handles the majority of book marketing and social media management. As soon as she joined our team this summer, I was more than eager to help her create the graphics necessary to keep our social media platforms looking up to date and engaging to readers. I found myself so excited to research the next bookish holiday, discover our titles that best fit the day, and create a graphic to promote those novels. Without expanding past my obsession with the editorial side of the industry, I would have never discovered my love of the publicity side of books.
The idea of letting go of your past ideas and self in order to reach your full potential is the exact theme of the novel Souls in the Twilight by Roger Scruton. The novel follows multiple characters as they try to maneuver through life to try and end up exactly where they want to be. That challenge isn’t easy, and the characters must let go of their past lives if they even want to begin stepping in the right direction of who they hope to be one day. These short stories will encapsulate the reader within words as Scruton expresses their stories through poetic drama and direct insight into their perceptions of the world around them.
Get ready to read out of your comfort zone and learn a lot. Lacie’s Secrets by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan...
When I read in my spare time, I am a lover of young adult and romance novels. Basically if it’s gone viral on BookTok, I’ve read it. However, when working for a publishing company that has a variety of genres in its catalog, it’s impossible to not have to read or work on books that you would normally never pick up. Whether I was reading a memoir by a person I had never heard of before or learning in detail about a certain topic that I never had any interest in before, I was enjoying every minute because it allowed me to get a broader understanding of the publishing world and what it expects from a novel of a certain genre. I was able to learn so much more about a variety of genres and really understand what makes them stand out against others on the market. Not only is it a useful skill to have, but you also learn a lot about subjects that you can turn into fun trivia facts with your friends.
While I was uncovering secrets about different types of books, Kate Williams has much bigger and darker secrets to unfold. In the novel Lacie’s Secrets by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmvqist, Kate has been trying her whole life to forget about the summer that ripped her family apart. But when her estranged mother dies and the will gives Kate the family summer home, it is nearly impossible for her to ignore the secrets that have been pestering her for years. As the walls of the home and its visitors begin to torment Kate, she can barely believe it when a body appears in her pool. Kate no longer can suppress the memories of the summer that ruined her family, but rather dive into them and figure out once and for all what really happened.
Book publishing is just as magical as you’ve dreamed about. Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira
If there is one thing that working as an editorial intern didn’t do, it was ruin the magic of books. I was a little worried in the beginning of my internship about how my understanding of the business side of the book publishing industry might change my perspective of books. I feared that once I learned the secrets, these books were no longer just books, but items that I now understand every little detail about. However, I worried for no reason because the internship did the exact opposite. By learning about the entire lifespan of a book from query to shelf, I have developed an even deeper love and appreciation for the books on my own bookshelf. It is such a special feeling to read a submission and be able to write the reader’s report for it knowing that there is a chance you helped that author get published. It’s also amazing to understand how the business side of books work and the importance of sales and marketing. Without those elements of the industry, books wouldn’t even get the chance to land in the hands of so many people. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to go behind the pages of a novel and really learn what it means to read between the lines.
Just like I’m obsessed with the magic of books, so is Phoebe Martin in Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira. Phoebe’s perfect world would be to live within the confines of a book where the boys are perfect and there is always a happily ever after. However, that isn’t Phoebe’s reality, until she learns that the hottest boy in the clarinet section, Dev, just might actually have a crush on her. With the chance of her fairytale romance sitting just in front of her, Phoebe wonders if this is finally going to be the book romance she’s always dreamed of. But books are never without their conflicts, and when another girl steals him from right under her nose, Phoebe thinks it can’t get worse… Until she’s stuck as co-camp counselor with Dev when she’s still possibly in love with him. Will the happily ever after Phoebe hopes for come true, or will she never get to live the fantasy of a perfect book romance.
To the next round of interns who might be reading this, I hope you find your time at Beaufort as valuable and precious as I did. In the words of Elizabeth Bennet, “the distance is nothing when one has motive.” Let your time at Beaufort Books take you one step closer to your publishing dream.
Final Farewell,
Elizabeth BEAUnnet.
Books I’m Taking From Beaufort When I Leave
Hey everyone! It’s intern What Makes You BEAUtiful back for my final blog post. I’m so sad to be leaving...
The best part of this internship has been reading some amazing Beaufort and Spencer Hill titles (and saving them on my computer for “marketing” purposes, of course). Since it’s my last week, I like to imagine myself in the office in New York, making a mad dash to shove as many books in my bag as possible without arousing suspicion. But since all of us are working remotely reality is way less dramatic—just me staring at a screen and downloading all the epub files my laptop storage can handle.
In honor of the end of my internship, I made a list of a few of the Beaufort books I’m going to download/steal/beg Megan to send to me when they come out.
If I Did It by The Goldman Family
All author royalties from the sale of this book are awarded to the Goldman Family.
In 1994, Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were brutally murdered at her home in Brentwood, California. O.J. Simpson was tried for the crime in a case that captured the attention of the American people, but he was ultimately acquitted of criminal charges. The victims’ families brought a civil case against Simpson, which found him liable for willfully and wrongfully causing the deaths of Ron and Nicole committing battery with malice and oppression.
Twelve years later, HarperCollins announced the publication of a book in which O.J. Simpson revealed how he would have committed the murders—under the pretense that his confession was “hypothetical.” In response to public outrage that Simpson stood to profit from these crimes, HarperCollins canceled the book. Just one year later, Federal Court Judge A. Jay Cristol awarded the Goldman family the rights to If I Did It. Thus began one of the strangest odysseys in publishing history.
Originally written by O.J. Simpson, the Goldmans published a new edition of the book in the fall of 2007, which included essays written by members of the Goldman family, a member of the Goldman family legal team, and O.J.’s ghostwriter that reveal the fascinating story behind the bankruptcy case, the book’s publication, and the looming court proceedings, which would eventually lead to his conviction. The book, called “one of the most chilling things I have ever read” by Barbara Walters, skyrocketed up bestseller lists across the country in the months following publication as the national media relentlessly covered O.J. Simpson’s dramatic Las Vegas arrest for armed robbery and kidnapping.
The Goldman family views the book as his confession and has worked hard to ensure that the public will read this book and learn the truth. This is O.J. Simpson’s original manuscript with up to 14,000 words of additional key commentary from those whose lives were forever changed by the heinous crime.
The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way by Raymond Benson
For Scott Hatcher, a former television writer turned struggling novelist with a failing marriage to boot, social-distancing and mask-wearing feel like fitting additions to his already surreal life. When his wife Marie and neighbor John Bergman disappear in the middle of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Scott is naturally mystified and disturbed, but he is also about to learn that his picturesque neighborhood hides more than just the mundane routines of suburban life. When a fire claims the empty house for sale next door, the entire community is shocked when the charred remains of Marie and John are found inside. Stranger still, stockpiles of valuable Personal Protection Equipment, clearly stolen, were destroyed in the blaze alongside them. As the neighborhood reels from the loss, Scott and Bergman’s earthy and enticing widow, Rachel, not only find themselves under investigation for the crime, but also inexorably drawn to one another. As tensions reach a fever pitch, the tale—which is at once familiar and ordinary, yet bizarre and eerie— shows that, just like life in 2020’s uncertain times, dread and danger lurk below the hidden underside of everyday suburbia.
Release date: October 4, 2022
Illusions of Camelot: A Memoir by Peter Boal
Written by a former principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, Peter Boal’s memoir, Illusions of Camelot, starts in the pastoral and privileged town of Bedford, New York: a rare enclave where private schools, country clubs, and families hold their own rules and secrets. Within the town, views of race, morality, and sexuality are unspoken yet evident. Meanwhile, at home, Peter and his family are left to grapple with his father’s alcoholism and untimely death. As a young boy finding his way, Peter soon turns to ballet. Ultimately his passion becomes a beacon, leading him to work at the New York City Ballet as a teenager, living on his own while discovering the pitfalls and pleasures Manhattan has to offer. Throughout Peter’s deeply personal work, you’ll step onto the floor during ballroom dancing lessons in Bedford, into the studios of the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, and onto the stage in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker as Peter performs the title role of the Nutcracker Prince. Peter’s journey takes us to the start of a storied career as a dancer and leaves us with insights into the life of an artist shaped by environment, circumstance, and family.
Conspiracy 101 by Paul Debole
For decades, society has viewed “conspiracy theorists” as people who live in their parents’ basement, wearing baseball caps lined with aluminum to keep the Martian death rays away. But the truth is that conspiracies are not reserved for people with a tenuous grasp of reality; to some extent, we all want to know the unknowable. In Conspiracy 101, political science professor Paul DeBole delves into the why, how, and what of conspiracy theories: why humans are prone to believing—and spreading—misinformation; how the nature of our political institutions fosters distrust, paving the way for conspiracy theories to run rampant; and what we can do to filter out theories that are not based on fact, but rather hearsay, innuendo, or just a “strong feeling.” He then breaks down the most notorious conspiracy theories in American politics, including the Lincoln kidnapping plot and his subsequent assassination, the possible escape and eventual suicide of John Wilkes Booth, the JFK assassination, the RFK assassination, Watergate, the Vast Right-Wing conspiracy, as well as modern-day conspiracies based on misinformation and “fake news.”
Honestly, I would list every one of our titles here if I could—I’ll be treating our catalog as my personal library for as long as it takes me to finish them. I hope you all will join me on this journey and pick up one of these books (and maybe a few more) next time you’re at your local indie bookstore!
For the last time:
With love,
What Makes You BEAUtiful