Mark Greaney’s Gray Man Faces Deadly Artificial Intelligence in “The Chaos Agent”

In The Chaos Agent, the lucky 13th book in his international bestselling Gray Man series, Greaney tackles Artificial Intelligence — imagining that the technology often touted as being progressive and “good for the economy” is instead weaponized for bad. Very bad. Learn more about his latest book and other upcoming writing projects in this interview with BookTrib contributor, Dawn Ius.

Steve Berry’s “The Atlas Maneuver” Thrills with Lost Treasure, CIA Intrigue & Weaponized Bitcoin

Forget everything you think you know about bitcoin. Steve Berry is about to enlighten — and perhaps alarm — you. In his latest international thriller, The Atlas Maneuver, book 18 in Berry’s bestselling Cotton Malone series, Cotton must not only unravel the mystery involving the lost treasure of Yamashita’s gold, but also figure out how it connects to the CIA, the oldest bank in the world, and a woman from his past who is harboring secrets centering around cryptocurrency. Learn more about the book, the flaws in the bitcoin system, and Berry’s plans for the future of Cotton Malone in BookTrib’s exclusive interview.

Romancing the Gothic

Check out the first edition of The Chill Quill, a twice-monthly Horror, Suspense and Speculative Fiction column by author Lindy Ryan.

Over the centuries, women have flocked to Gothic romance. But what is it about Gothic that is so romantic anyway? In these dark, emotional stories, love functions the same as any passion; it drives characters to extreme behaviors. In this way, love is a powerful potion. It bubbles over the story, often becoming its failure point — or its triumph. After all, what is scarier than falling in love?

LeVar Burton Signs Deal for Two New Books

LeVar Burton, beloved Roots and Star Trek actor, has been a champion of reading all his life. At a time when book bans are in the news across the country, he’s looking forward to impressing upon readers the importance of the written word in two new books. In an exclusive interview with People, Burton announced that he will release an inspirational memoir on how to be your authentic self in 2026, followed by a book on the importance of reading in 2028.

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi, has announced the winners of the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Award, as well as four honor books and four finalists. The annual EJK Award celebrates exceptional early career authors and illustrators for portraying the multicultural nature of our world. Check out the full list of honorees and finalists here.

EJK Award Winner for Writer:
Anne Wynter for Nell Plants a Tree

EJK Award Winner for Illustrator:
Sarah Gonzales for The Only Way to Make Bread

West Virginia House Passes Bill Allowing Prosecution of Librarians

Last week the West Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 4654, which would remove schools, public libraries, and museums from the list of exemptions from criminal liability relating to distribution and display to a minor of obscene matter. Opponents say the bill would result in increases in challenges to even classic books and attempts to criminally charge librarians over books not pornographic in nature, but that include descriptions of sex.

According to PEN America, this is only the latest of several states that are either removing criminal liability exemptions for public and school libraries, or expanding the definition of obscenity to capture a wider array of books that could potentially result in criminal charges for simply having them on a shelf.

New Book Releases

Check out some of the highly anticipated books coming out this week!

Visions of Flesh and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

End of Story by A.J. Finn

The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong

Remedial Magic by Melissa Marr

Adaptation News

“The Devil Wears Prada” Musical, with Music by Elton John

This new London West End stage adaptation of the hit 2006 film and bestselling 2003 novel will feature an original score by Elton John, direction and choreography by three-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, lyrics by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, and star Vanessa Williams as the queen of fashion herself, Miranda Priestly.

Reese Witherspoon to Produce Film Adaptation of Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Romantic Comedy”

New Line Cinema has acquired the rights to the film adaptation of Curtis Sittenfeld’s bestselling 2023 novel, Romantic Comedy. The book will be adapted for screen by Jordan Weiss and Dan Brier, and Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon has signed on to produce the project after the novel was chosen for Reese’s Book Club last year. The story follows a comedy writer who thinks she’s sworn off love — until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions. There’s no set release date yet, but keep an eye out!