THE IMAGE News!

Wednesday, August 11th, 2021

Willa Cather meets Cormac McCarthy in the Iconoclastic Controversy

Like many reverts to the faith, my second conversion, as it were, was prompted in no small part by an intense study of the Church Fathers and encounters with Beauty. Not one to have given much of a second glance to sacred art before that time, I remember quite clearly my immediate reaction to finishing The Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great: I commissioned an icon.

What’s the link or relationship there? Though I didn’t have it explicitly worked out at the time, it seems obvious to me now: I had (to paraphrase a line from Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series) forgotten the face of my father. Reading the Fathers had brought me back into the territory of my Father’s Kingdom, but who could reveal His face? Intuitively, I reached for an icon—and a store-bought one, no matter how impressive the provenance, would not do.

The process of commissioning an icon was more involved than I at first supposed. The icon writer, who was Orthodox, had a two-year waiting list, which I took to be a good sign, if not one that would help me grow in patience. He asked me to agree to a set of conditions ahead of time, including where the icon would reside, what might happen to it in the future, under what circumstances it should be covered or revealed, what my intentions were for it, and the like. He made sure I understood that he undertook the writing of an icon within the disciplines of prayer and fasting, and he encouraged me to do the same.

Clearly, the writing of an icon was spiritually serious business. And that holy fear—the wonder and awe of what goes into asking to cooperate with our Lord in the creation of an image through which He gazes upon us—was exactly the recovery and rejuvenation my soul was craving.

Something of this awesome sense of divine gravity permeates Steven Faulkner’s short novel The Image.

Click here to read the rest of the article from Catholic World Register.

Click here to learn more about The Image.

Click here to learn more about Steven Faulkner.

A Virtual Farewell

Tuesday, August 10th, 2021

Summer is coming to an end, and so is my internship with Beaufort Books. Though my internship was entirely virtual and I never made it up to New York, I discovered the positive side to working from home. I was able to go to my local coffee shop when I needed a change of scenery, and traveling was basically a non-issue, as long as I had access to Wi-Fi. I even got the chance to visit some friends in Boston for a few weeks!

I also learned a great deal about the publishing world. A lot goes on behind the scenes of book-creation, and most of it has nothing to do with actually writing the book. Still, every step in the process is equally important, and if one step is ignored, that entire process will fail. I think what I found to be most surprising about publishing is how crucial editors are to the writing process—I’d always assumed that editing was one of the last steps in publishing a novel, when in reality an editor will sometimes advise the author to completely rewrite a draft long before the book’s publication.

Despite the positives of working virtually, I am sad that I never got to meet everyone in person or visit the Beaufort office in the city. I hope that one day I’ll be able to travel to New York without hearing any Covid-19 news, and that I will be able to meet the wonderful people at Beaufort without having to wear a mask or practice social distancing. Until that day comes, I will really miss chatting with my coworkers about all things book-related!

Lamor-BEAU

New Books for a New School Year

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021

The new school year is just around the corner! Here are some great back-to-school reads for parents, students, and teachers alike!

For Teachers

A Few Words About Words

A perfect refresher for English teachers getting ready to go back to the classroom, A Few Words About Words offers a solid overview of English grammar in the form of witty anecdotes, turning a notoriously boring subject into an entertaining classroom resource.

Paperback: $16.95 (ISBN: 9780825309472)

E-book: $9.99 (ISBN: 9780825308512)

Signposts

For teachers who are also members of the Christian faith themselves, Signposts by Eric Kampmann provides a personalized journey through the Old and New Testaments with excellent spiritual guidance for anyone currently struggling with their faith.

Hardcover: $16.95 (ISBN: 9780825309366)

E-book: $9.99 (ISBN: 9780825308185)

The Big Ten of Grammar

From punctuation to pronouns, The Big Ten of Grammar is a quick but informative guide to fixing the ten most-common grammatical errors in English.

Paperback: $12.95 (ISBN: 9780825306778)

E-book: $12.99 (ISBN: 9780825306143)

For Parents

A Small Earnest Question

J. F. Riordan explores the colorful lives of the characters living on Washington Island, including their literary endeavors with forming book clubs and seeking out famously elusive authors. This is a charming read for book lovers and academics alike!

Hardcover: $24.95 (ISBN: 9780825308925)

E-book: $16.99 (ISBN: 9780825308024)

The School Choice Roadmap

Finding the right school for your child is no easy task. Fortunately, The School Choice Roadmap is a straightforward guide to the educational options available in America, avoiding political biases in favor of clear, easy-to-understand explanations of K-12 education.

Paperback: $14.95 (ISBN: 9780825309328)

E-Book: $9.99 (ISBN: 9780825308154)

School Choice: A Legacy to Keep

In her new memoir, school choice advocate Virginia Walden Ford revisits her experience of growing up amid the desegregation of education, as well as the impact it had on both her family and her future career fighting for equal opportunities.

Paperback: $14.95 (ISBN: 9780825309397)

E-Book: $5.99 (ISBN: 9780825308215)

For Students

The Adventures of Bubba Jones #4

Join Bubba Jones and his sister Jenny on a mystery-solving escapade through the Grand Canyon National Park. This book is perfect for young readers with a love for science and nature!

Paperback: $9.99 (ISBN: 9780825309274)

E-book: $4.99 (ISBN: 9780825308116)

My Feet Aren’t Ugly

Complete with journaling exercises and personal advice on developing confidence, My Feet Aren’t Ugly is a valuable resource for middle schoolers and high schoolers struggling with self esteem and the ups and downs of adolescence.

Paperback: $12.95 (ISBN: 9780825309373)

E-book $4.99 (ISBN: 9780825308192)

RED DECEPTION News!

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller Interviewed on WFSB Channel 3’s Better Connecticut

To watch the five-minute-long interview, click here.

To learn more about Red Deception, click here.

To learn more about Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller, click here and here, respectively.

RED DECEPTION News!

Thursday, June 24th, 2021

Red Deception, Geopolitical Thriller Released

Blending the experiences of his long career in the international tourism industry, having retired after 40 years with Marriott Lodging, the last 22 as President & Managing Director of Marriott International, and his first-hand knowledge of global politics, Ed Fuller partnered with acclaimed author, Gary Grossman to captivate readers once again as they draw a chilling portrait of the fragile fault lines in Europe and the players poised to seize power.

When terrorists bomb bridges across the country and threaten the Hoover Dam, the vulnerability of America’s infrastructure becomes a matter of national security. Once again, Dan Reilly, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, predicted the attacks in a secret State Department report written years earlier – a virtual blueprint for disaster, that was somehow leaked and is now in the hands of foreign operatives.

Washington is distracted by domestic crises as Russian President Nicolai Gorshkov sends troops to the borders of Ukraine and Latvia, ready to reclaim what he feels is Russia’s rightful territory. Tensions in Europe threaten to boil over as a besieged American president balances multiple crises that threaten to upend the geopolitical order. With the U.S. at the mercy of an egomaniacal leader, and reporters and covert agents on his tail, Reilly may be the one man who can connect the dots before an even bigger catastrophe unfolds.

To read the full review, click here.

To learn more about Red Deception, click here.

To learn more about Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman, click here and here, respectively.

Beaufort Books Newsletter | June 2021

Monday, June 21st, 2021

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Your monthly digest of everything Beaufort Books.

Hello, readers!

We hope you’re having a wonderful start to your summer! Whether you’re relaxing at the park, beach, or poolside this summer, we have some exceptional new reads for you to enjoy.

HAPPY PUB DAY TO RED DECEPTION

In one week, Red Deception, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed political thriller Red Hotel hits bookstore shelves! Publishers Weekly said of Red Deception, “The authors keep the multiple plot lines moving swiftly ahead with rapid scene shifts, and the behind-the-scenes look at the high-end international hotel world lends authenticity.” If you’d like to catch up on the series in time for Red Deception’s pub day, check out the newly released paperback version of Red Hotel!

Preorder RED DECEPTION

NEW TITLES

THE IMAGE
By Steven Faulkner
Pub Date: 7/19

Three stories. Three men. One image: a timeless work of art. The Image is a profound and compelling collection of linked short stories about faith, hope, belonging, and the search for meaning within a holy land.

Pre0rder The Image

A FEW WORDS ABOUT WORDS
By Joe Diorio
Pub Date: 8/10

Calling all writers and grammar lovers—this isn’t your parents’ Strunk & White! A Few Words About Words is Joe Diorio’s hilarious and informative grammar guide that helps relieve common grammar anxieties for writers of all ages.

Preorder A Few Words About Words

IPG’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY SALE

To celebrate their fifty years in business, our distribution company, Independent Publishers Group, is holding a sale on qualifying ebooks across all major retailers. Fortunately, more than a dozen Beaufort titles were chosen to be included in the sale!

To find out more about the titles that are included, click here. The sale ends June 30th, 2021!

WHAT WE’RE READING

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
By Casey Cep

I was browsing what true crime titles were both popular and available right away from the Brooklyn Public Library. This one caught my attention! I knew nothing about this case or Harper Lee’s involvement before I started listening; so I am learning a lot. It seems a tad complicated; but the author does a nice job at setting the scene and explaining the various factors that go into the case. For instance; life insurance plays a role and the author had a nice (brief) history of the life insurance industry which was interesting.
Current rating: 4/5

A Thousand Ships
By Natalie Haynes

I love Greek mythology, and after blowing through Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Song of Achilles, I needed another modern retelling of mythology. I’m listening to the audiobook version, which can get a little slow at times, but I love how Haynes decided to make the women of the Trojan War her focus, rather than the typical players we’ve heard so much about.

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Grapes of Wrath
By John Steinbeck

I really loved East of Eden by Steinbeck, and his depictions of Great Depression America are both brutally honest and heartbreaking to read. Steinbeck’s ability to describe natural landscapes and the lives of the people living among them is phenomenal.

Rating: 5/5 stars

OVER ON THE ‘GRAM

Beaufort Books is an independent publisher based in New York City. Beaufort publishes a mix of non-fiction and fiction titles, with about 15–20 new titles each year. Since 2007, we’ve published four New York Times bestsellers.

RED DECEPTION News!

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

Fast-Paced Thriller “Red Deception” Paints Chilling Portrait of Our Times

What would happen if all the major bridges in the U.S. were bombed, all commerce came to a dead stop, and the nation’s natural resources, such as our water supply, were cut off?

The importance of protecting America’s critical infrastructure has rarely been depicted so powerfully as in Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman’s new fast-paced thriller, “Red Deception,” the follow-up to 2019’s Red Hotel.” And it’s a timely read, considering President Biden’s current emphasis on improving the nation’s infrastructure.

Fuller and Grossman’s novel posits a scenario that could potentially destroy much of it.

Blending career insight with first-hand knowledge of global politics, Fuller, a global executive and crisis management expert, and Grossman, a TV producer and author, have once again drawn a chilling portrait of the fragile fault lines in Europe and the players poised to seize power.

To read the full review, click here.

To learn more about Red Deception, click here.

To learn more about Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman, click here and here, respectively.

Beaufort Books Newsletter | May 2021

Monday, May 24th, 2021

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Your monthly digest of everything Beaufort Books.

Hello, readers!

We hope you’re having a wonderful May! Here at Beaufort, we’re gearing up for a busy summer, and we can’t wait to tell you more about the exciting projects we have in store.
We would also like to extend a warm welcome to our new summer intern! We’re thrilled to be continuing our virtual internship program (and have our technical skills put to the test!).

IPG’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY SALE

NEW TITLES

A SMALL EARNEST QUESTION
By J.F. Riordan
Official Pub Date: 6/1

A Small Earnest Question officially comes out in paperback on June 1st, but until then, the book can be exclusively bought from Bas Bleu! Even better: the specialty bookstore offers a 10% discount for readers who buy all 4 books in Riordan’s North of the Tension Line series.

Order A Small Earnest Question from Bas Bleu

RED DECEPTION
By Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller
Pub Date: 6/22

Book two in the heart-pounding Red Hotel series, Red Deception once again follows Dan Reilly, a former Army intelligence officer, as he tries to save the US after terrorists threaten national security. Intelligence experts concur: Red Deception is “A page-turner by authors who might as well sit on the National Security Council.”

Preo rder Red Deception

WHAT WE’RE READING

The Mystery of the Blue Jar: A Short Story
By Agatha Christie

I am working my way through Agatha Christie’s works; and to be honest, I am behind on my Goodreads reading goal, so I am focusing on short stories to help me catch up. It is interesting. I am not sure where the story is going, which is kind of nice. I have found her short stories to be hit or miss with me. I typically really enjoy her longer works, but some of her short stories seem more like writing exercise than a completed story.

Current rating: 3/5

The Very Nice Box
By Eve Gleichman and Laura Blackett

On a whim I requested an ARC of The Very Nice Box, which will be published in July, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. My favorite books usually have a little bit of everything, and this book fits the bill with satire, romance, tear-jerking moments, and a heart-pounding ending.

Rating: 5/5 stars

OVER ON THE ‘GRAM

Heart in the Big Apple, Head at Home

Thursday, May 20th, 2021

Hello readers!

My internship with Beaufort Publishing is a little abnormal this year for a number of reasons. As Beaufort’s first virtual intern, I’ve been whiling away the hours at home in the good old American South, rather than museum-hopping and coffeeshop-exploring in the Big Apple. While I very much wish that I could spend my summer in New York City, I know that everyone is having to make do with what they’ve got right now, and so I’m determined to make my experience with Beaufort an inspirational and meaningful one!

When I’m not shut away in my room, glued to my computer screen, I’m out and about shopping for books and making friends at my local bookshop/coffeeshop (a venue I worked at for years and still adore!). I also enjoy playing music with local musicians who are infinitely more talented than I am. We mostly stick to old Irish and American folk tunes, but we’ll occasionally bust out The Eagles or Simon and Garfunkel. I was a competitive Irish dancer for twelve years, and despite a semi-recent retirement from competition, I am avidly awaiting the day when we’ll once again be allowed to host St. Paddy’s Day festivals (it is, after all, the best holiday out of the whole year).

I am so excited to be interning with Beaufort! And hopefully I’ll make it up to the city for a week or two this summer, circumstances permitting. It’s a bucket-list dream of mine to be able to touch the Assyrian lamassu statues at the Met.

Cheers!

Lamorbeau

This is a shared blog post for Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press.

Save on New EBooks with IPG’s 50th Anniversary Sale

Friday, May 14th, 2021

To celebrate their fifty years in business, our distribution company, Independent Publishers Group, is holding a sale on qualifying ebooks across all major retailers. Below are the Beaufort titles that will be discounted until June 30, 2021 on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple Books.

46 Days by Brew Davis

46 Days chronicles the trials, successes, joys, and frustrations of Jennifer Pharr Davis’s record-winning Appalachian Trail thru-hike through the eyes of her husband, Brew Davis. Experience the trek with Jen and Brew as they battle shin splints and a stomach scare that threatens to end the attempt early, encounter wildlife at every turn, and meet the colorful cast of characters that help Jen complete her journey.