Connect with us! @ReadForeverPub #ReadForever Read-Forever.com FindYourForeverTrope.com Hello Librarians! Welcome and thank you for joining Forever at ALA Annual! Your tireless dedication and commitment to getting books into the hands of readers is always a thing of wonder, but no more so than now, when getting books to readers is one of our greatest challenges. We are so appreciative of the hard work that’s gone into keeping all of us both safe and surrounded by the books we love! I’m thrilled to introduce you to Forever’s Digital Sampler of our upcoming titles, which includes books that will make you laugh, make you cry—and will always deliver an HEA to make you smile. In the much-anticipated The Paris Secret, New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester will transport you to WWII-Paris, with an unforgettable story of love, sacrifice, and the hardships faced by the first female pilots. Across the English Channel, award-winning author Manda Collins speaks truth to power in A Lady’s Guide to Mischief & Mayhem, a fresh and flirty Victorian London-set rom-com about an intrepid lady reporter and the tall, dark, and serious detective with whom she matches wits! Fast-forwarding to the present-day, we simply cannot stop texting, tweeting, and chatting over Farrah Rochon’s heartwarming and hysterical trade paperback debut The Boyfriend Project! Fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory will love Farrah’s friendship-driven romantic comedy about three women who go viral when they discover they’ve all been catfished by the same boyfriend! In Katherine Slee’s charming debut, The Book of Second Chances, the shy granddaughter of a beloved children’s author makes her own life-changing pact— to follow the clues her grandmother left behind and embark on a journey that takes her to bookstores around the globe. Last but not least, author and fellow librarian A.J. Pine absolutely enchants in her western romance Make Mine a Cowboy,where a no-strings cowboy has one summer to show this big-city girl how she’s tied him all up in knots—before she leaves Meadow Valley for good! Despite the changing world around us, one thing remains constant—the success of a book starts with just one reader, one person falling into a world they never want to leave. And you, dear librarian, are that reader. We hope you’ll find something in this sampler that speaks to your heart, that carries you away to a land you never want to leave, that introduces you to friends that will stay long after the last page is read. From Paris to California, rom-coms to cowboys, this sampler showcases just a taste of what Forever has to offer in the coming months. Please follow us on social for the most up-to-date news on our releases—and we’d love to hear from you what books are making your heart sing! All my best, Amy Amy Pierpont Editor-in-Chief, Forever _____________________________________________________________________________________________ GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING 1290 Avenue of the Americas New York NY 10104 Tel 212.364.1100 Fax 212.364.0974 Hachette Book Group A charming, uplifting novel about love, loss, and finding your way in the world, perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Keeper of Lost ​ ​ ​ Things. ​ Emily can’t remember the last time she left the house. Or spoke to anyone besides her grandmother, beloved children’s author Catriona Robinson. After Catriona’s death, Emily is at a complete loss . until she gets an unexpected letter from the woman she loved most. Catriona has revealed there might be one last, lost unpublished manuscript in her wildly popular book series. And she’s left a secret diary and trail of clues that only Emily can follow. From London to Paris to Verona, Emily traces her grandmother’s past, finding out more about her family — and herself — than she ever imagined possible. Hopeful and adventurous, The Book of Second Chances celebrates books and bookstores, the ​ ​ power of imagination, and having the courage to shape our own destinies. THE BOOK OF SECOND CHANCES Katherine Slee Forever Trade Paperback ISBN: 9781538701652 $15.99 May 5, 2020 THE SUNDAY POST MAGAZINE JULY 15, 2018 CATRIONA ROBINSON’S SWAN SONG Or does Britain’s favorite children’s author still have one last adventure to share? Interview by Suzie Johnstone Catriona Robinson was one of this generation’s most beloved and best-known authors. Her series of children’s books, about a girl in a wheelchair who discovers a magi- cal atlas that transports her all over the globe, has been read and adored by millions. She has also written several works of adult fiction, most recently Enchantment, which was shortlisted for a number of literary prizes last year. A notoriously private person, Catriona spent the major- ity of her time at her home on the Norfolk coast, but in recent years was also a guest lecturer at the University of Cambridge for their creative writing course. It was at Cambridge that I was fortunate enough to meet her. She was giving a lecture to the upcoming finalists and, from what I have heard, it was both inspiring and humble, with a sprinkle of humor thrown into the mix. The hotel in which we met was perhaps not what you would have expected from a woman who, by her own admission, was most comfortable in dungarees and Wellington boots. The establishment in question had a double-height reception hall, an industrial spiral staircase, 2 KATHERINE SLEE and contemporary lighting. There was also a mezzanine library with recessed shelving and plush velvet furniture, which is where I chatted to Catriona over a pot of tea and a slice of her favorite lemon cake. She was wearing a pleated black skirt with turquoise silk blouse, and her hair was styled in a loose chignon. She was animated, relaxed, and even asked our waiter if she could buy the tea set, which was decorated around the rim with paintings of turtledoves, from the hotel. If I hadn’t known otherwise, I would never have guessed the woman seated across from me had only months left to live. You’re about to give a lecture to the next gener- ation of writers. What is it you’ve enjoyed most about teaching here? I never had the opportunity to go to university myself, not least because it wasn’t as commonplace for women back then as it is now. But also because I never believed I was good enough, certainly never thought I would end up here. I am a strong advocate of the fact that all children, irrespective of their gender, race, socioeconomic back- ground, should be encouraged to reach for the stars, to be the very best version of themselves they can possibly be. I have no degree, no formal literary training, and yet am now teaching at one of the most renowned universities in the world. There is no one pathway to success anymore, indeed what does the word even mean? What does it mean to you? When I first began to write, it was out of a simple curiosity for the world. A way to put down onto paper all the crazy THE BOOK OF SECOND CHANCES 3 ideas and characters I kept thinking about. But I never con- sidered it to be anything more than a hobby and certainly never dreamt it would take me on the incredible journey I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy. Success should never be measured by the amount of money, or things, you have, but more the sense of achievement it gives you. How much of your own success do you put down to happenstance? One could argue that life is nothing but a series of serendipitous events, both good and bad. I try to adhere to the rule that there’s a balance to this universe, this life, and no matter how much pain and hardship we face, there is always something, or someone, to give you hope. There’s a quote from Anne of Green Gables that I have pinned up on my refrigerator at home, which pretty much says it all: “I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.” What gives you hope? My granddaughter, Emily. You’ve spoken before about how the idea for Ophelia came from her. Yes. As I’m sure everyone is aware, Emily was severely injured in a car accident fifteen years ago. I used to tell her stories while she was recovering, and she liked to draw pictures of the characters. My publisher saw something we had been working on, just for fun, and the rest, as you say, is history. 4 KATHERINE SLEE It seems to be a real collaborative effort between you and Emily. Does that come with its own challenges? (Laughs.) Of course, we’re family, which means we’re always going to have disagreements. But Emily’s real talent is knowing exactly what it is I am trying to describe to the readers and, somehow, she manages to reproduce it in her pictures. Did Emily’s own disability influence the stories you wrote? Emily doesn’t have a disability, but people will believe what they want to believe. My books are there to enter- tain, but also to educate, to inspire. So many people stay in one place for too long, become stagnated by society, by money. But there are all sorts of wonders out there, just waiting for us to find them.