by Gonzalinho da Costa A theory works until you try it out. A theory corrected by experience is no longer a theory. Wisdom is life experience applied to well-considered judgment. Darkness arises from the absence or deficiency of light, obscurity from its excess. Religion…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Ryan Graudin, a young adult fiction author, just wrapped up her weeklong tour celebrating the Sept. 26 publication of her latest novel, “Invictus.” The tale, which garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, follows Far, the son of a time-traveler. Far fails his time-traveling exam, crushing his…
Rebecca LeBoeuf When a young woman returns home to find her father talking to dead relatives, she realizes there are secrets that have been haunting her family, stemming from a trip to India that was cut short 20 years prior. Mira Jacob’s debut novel, “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing,” was…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Anton DiSclafani has continued to grow her roots in the historical fiction genre after her debut novel, “The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls,” hit the New York Times Best Seller List in 2013. Her latest novel, “The After Party” (2016), takes place in Texas during the 1950s,…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf The paperback edition of “The Red Car,” a New York Times Editor’s Choice Pick written by author Marcy Dermansky, was released on Sept. 12. After the sudden death of a friend, Leah, the novel’s main character, inherits a red sports car. Getting away from her unhappy life…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Author Julie Schumacher draws from her own experiences as a professor to produce hilarious pieces about working in higher education. Schumacher’s most recent contribution was “Doodling for Academics,” where she joined illustrator Lauren Nassef to create a coloring and activity book. The 96 pages are “designed to…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Kevin Wilson’s third book, “Perfect Little World,” hit stores this year and has since been commended by the Washington Post, NPR, GQ and Entertainment Weekly, among others, and earned stared reviews from Booklist and Kirkus. “Perfect Little World” follows a young, single mother and her son who…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Irish author Ethel Rohan’s debut novel, “The Weight of Him,” follows the journey of an obese man attempting to turn his life around and finding support in his community after a loved one’s suicide. Rohan’s Irish roots shine through in the landscape for this book and in…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Since the last time The Penmen Review caught up with Joe Giordano in 2015, the author has been hard at work on his latest novel, “Appointment with ISIL: An Anthony Provati Thriller,” which was released in June. Shifting away from the historical fiction genre, Provati tried his…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Author and photographer Rachel Hulin started using social media to garner interest in her novel, “Hey Harry, Hey Matilda,” long before it published this year. She created a blog that introduced the characters and an Instagram account that allowed them come alive in a different medium, creating…
by Rebecca LeBoeuf Rowan Hisayo Buchanan’s debut novel, “Harmless Like You,” was shortlisted for several awards this year, including the Desmond Elliott Prize, the Betty Trask Prize and the Authors’ Club First Novel Award. The novel follows a young Japanese artist, struggling to make it in the industry, and the…