Rebecca talks Reader's Advisory, blogging, and Women's Fiction on the Circulating Ideas podcast

While this is on the long side, you might be interested to hear me talk about RA, blogging, working for Booklist, and how I came to write my books on Women's Fiction - along with why I am such a champion for the genre. Feel free to skip to about 20:30, which is where I start talking about WF.
(I'll admit it. I'm vain, so I greatly enjoyed listening to myself talk for 40 minutes, hahaha.)

http://circulatingideas.com/2014/11/25/episode-55-rebecca-vnuk/

In Defense of Banned Books: There's No Such Thing as a Bad Book

This summer, I had the chance to participate in the ALA Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out. I chose to read a selection from Fifty Shades of Grey, because I believe that no one should have to defend their reading tastes, and while there may poorly written books, there is no such thing as a bad book as long as someone out there enjoys reading it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW2TWkZDx1A

BOL Review: All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner

Allison Weiss is having trouble keeping it all together. Her husband, Dave, resents that she makes more money as a lead writer on a “mommy blog” than he does as a newspaper reporter. They live in a house they can’t afford, with Dave sleeping in the guest bedroom more and more often. Between juggling writing assignments with the antics of their highly sensitive five-year-old, Ellie, Allison also tries to help her mother manage the fact that her father is falling further into dementia. So how does a stressed-out mom catch a break? Pills. Lots and lots of lovely little pain-killing pills. When she runs out of legitimate prescriptions, Allison turns to buying them illegally online, spending thousands of dollars a month on her growing addiction. Things look great on the outside... Read the full review at Booklist Online!

Thorndike presents new Women's Fiction Large Print line

So on my trail of self-promotion, let me direct you to another project I'm working on. Thorndike Press is  well-known in library land as the world's leading large print publisher, and last year they asked me to team up with them on a new Women's Fiction line.

I'm so pleased to report that the line launched in January 2014 to great success!  Basically, I hand-select 2 titles per month that will have broad appeal to women's fiction readers, Thorndike acquires the rights for large print, and boom, there you go!

Check out their current digital catalogs here, and flip through the interactive catalogs 'till you see my shining face (usually p. 4-5)

Here comes my shameless self-promotion!

So back in February I lamented that I hadn't had much time to update this blog, much less tell you all about my newest book on Women's Fiction.

Well, good things come to those who wait, because Booklist's Brad Hooper has taken care of that for me, and will tell you all about it.


"Books by Booklist Authors: Rebecca Vnuk and Nanette Donohue’s Women’s Fiction: A Guide to Popular Reading Interests."  By Brad Hooper.  First published March 15, 2014.

Highlights:
"Women’s fiction is a popular reading interest that continues to grow in appeal and scope but is sometimes difficult to define. Those in need of clarity on this issue should turn to Booklist’s Reference and Collection Management Editor Rebecca Vnuk’s new book, Women’s Fiction: A Guide to Popular Reading Interests (coauthored with public librarian Nanette Donohue, herself a women’s fiction expert). Vnuk’s book is part of the estimable Libraries Unlimited Genreflecting Advisory series, and it not only follows the series format but also lives up to the series’ high standards of information presentation and readers’-advisory guidance."

"When asked if the audience for her book is librarians or public library readers, she answers—just as we expected, having taken in all that the book presents—both!"

"Anyone interested in reading, or charged with recommending, women’s fiction should consult this book. It’s expertly done."

Click here to read the full article.

Booklist Magazine's Top 10 Women’s Fiction: 2014.

The top 10 women’s fiction from the last 12 months (reviewed in Booklist between March 15, 2013, and March 1, 2014) cover the spectrum: chick lit to tearjerkers, heavy issues to lighthearted comedy. One of the main appeal factors of this category is that sense of recognition the target audience—yes, women—gets from identifying with the heroines, and these novels deliver something for just about anyone.

To read the full article and annotations, see http://www.booklistonline.com/Top-10-Women-s-Fiction-2014-Rebecca-Vnuk/pid=6670138.

The Apple Orchard, by Susan Wiggs. 

The Bookstore, by Deborah Meyler. 

A Fall of Marigolds, by Susan Meissner

Golden State, by Michelle Richmond.

Ladies’ Night, by Mary Kay Andrews.

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe, by Jenny Colgan. 

Sweet Salt Air, by Barbara Delinsky. 

Time Flies, by Claire Cook.

Who Asked You?by Terry McMillan. 

The Whole Golden World, by Kristina Riggle.

I may be the worst self-promoter EVAH.

Yes, the new book is out and I am terribly bad at promoting it! Women's Fiction: A Guide to Popular Reading Interests, co-authored with Nanette Donohue, came out in November 2013 and we couldn't be more pleased!  But more on that, coming soon, I promise.

Right now, I am working on the March 15 issue of Booklist, where we will once again be doing a Women's Fiction spotlight. Yay!  And as I'm choosing the selections for the year's "Top 10"  it occurred to me.. I never posted last year's Top 10 list!  Ack!

So here it is - and look for the 2014 list next month!  And some promo for the new book!  And some promo for the new Women's Fiction Large Print list I'm working on for Thorndike!  

Booklist Magazine's Top 10 Women’s Fiction: 2013.

The top 10 women’s fiction from the last 12 months (reviewed in Booklist between March 15, 2012, and March 1, 2013) cover the spectrum: chick lit to tearjerkers, heavy issues to lighthearted comedy. One of the main appeal factors of this category is that sense of recognition the target audience—yes, women—gets from identifying with the heroines, and these novels deliver something for just about anyone.

To read the full article and annotations, see http://www.booklistonline.com/Top-10-Women-s-Fiction-2013-Rebecca-Vnuk/pid=5981778

Arranged, by Catherine McKenzie.

The Cottage at Glass Beach, by Heather Barbieri.

The Girl on the Cliff, by Lucinda Riley.

Here I Go Again, by Jen Lancaster.

Keepsake, by Kristina Riggle.

The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service, by Beth Kendrick.

The Next Best Thing, by Jennifer Weiner.

So Far Away, by Meg Mitchell Moore.

Tapestry of Fortunes, by Elizabeth Berg.

You Are the Love of My Life, by Susan Richards Shreve.