Alright, so I’m no Edgar Allan Poe…but guess what? You were wrong! No errors here, just a list of delectable Halloween decor inspired by classic tales of terror. You don’t have to share the Count’s taste for blood or the Weird Sisters’ penchant for newt’s eyes in order to drool over the literary-inspired eye candy on this list. As the nights grow longer and summer’s warmth fades like the setting sun, why not spice up your home with some bookish Halloween decor?...

One thing that I found helps a lot is watching TED Talks, specifically bookish ones. I always feel a bit more motivated and calmer after watching them. I feel like my mind is awake and focused even if only for a little while, because they give me new ideas and make me feel productive. Plus, they are free and don’t give me productivity anxiety when I don’t continue them like online classes....

Before we actually get into these books I want to say that this list is by no means definite or comprehensive. There are tons of books that fictionalize real historical figures from different countries and time periods out there that are absolutely worth reading. I also want to add that some of these people are more well-known than others. Plus, a couple of them are not the main characters of the story....

Why is my head full of Charlie Lastra and not Gus Everett? Is it because Book Lovers edges out Beach Read for my favorite Emily Henry novel, or is there something more to it? And what about Alex Nilsen, for whom I pined along with Poppy for all 364 pages of People We Meet On Vacation? Where is he in all this? Why does Eve Brown occasionally show up unbidden in my thoughts, but I haven’t heard a peep from either of her sisters?...

Note: While I started out with a fluffometer of 0–5, it was impossible to go in the reverse direction at such a closed scale. Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny by Rebekah Weatherspoon (Fluffometer: 5) Surgeon Sloan needs a new childcare professional, and she needs one now. Her precocious young twins are skilled at intimidating nannies, and she doesn’t have time to look after them. Rafe is an amazing nanny, and gets along well with the kids…and even better with Sloan....

That’s right, I’m writing an article about comic bookish pet names and yet I did not give my own dog such a name. Rest assured I did consider them — we almost went with the name Rhododendron, which would have allowed me to nickname her Rhodey, like War Machine — but in the end, she just seemed like more of a Poppy. Still, I did quite a bit of thinking on this topic while auditioning dog names, and I came up with five categories of pet names for you to consider as you think about what to call your own new fur-ever friend....

Take a journey through the lives of fifty revolutionary queer figures who made history in this groundbreaking illustrated biography collection from the author of Queer, There, and Everywhere. Did you ever wonder who invented the computer? Or who advised Martin Luther King Jr. on his nonviolent activism? Author Sarah Prager and illustrator Sarah Papworth bring to life the vibrant histories of fifty pioneering LGBTQ+ people our history books forgot to mention....

Cyberpunk has its roots in the science fiction genre, though sometimes it does foray into the fantasy genre. The very first time the term was ever used was as a title of a short story by Bruce Bethke, written in 1980. Bethke had created the term by creating lists of words for both technology and troublemakers and started combining words together to try and create something that conveyed high tech and punk attitudes....

“If you haven’t seen or heard of a book nook before, it’s a little shelf insert that goes between books and looks like a tiny door leading to an incredible place, or depicting unique sights. Here are some of the most creative, impressive ones, starting with this cozy-looking bookstore resting on a bookcase.” I have so many books that I don’t even have enough space for books let alone inserts buuuuuuut these are fantastic and I want them!...

The concept of the movie montage is not new, but a recent uptick in science fiction and fantasy films has expanded ideas of the training montage. Sure, Rocky running up those steps to get his stamina up to fight was cool, but not sci-fi/fantasy epic. Now we have an extensive catalog of superheroes learning how to walk up walls or fly or control their potentially world-destroying powers. I am taking a bit of inspiration from both 1980s and modern science fiction and fantasy films in my “design a training montage” endeavor....

Unfortunately, it did not like you. via GIPHY It did not like how literally you took the part about the dog and his master. You thought that the dog “was a dog,” as you told your friend Brian when you were describing the book to him. The dog was not really a dog. The dog and his master were symbols of dominance. Why else do you think the master was referred to as “The Master?...

These bookish DIY kits are perfect for exploring a new hobby without putting in a huge investment. Learn how to do some book-making, some screen printing, paper marbling, and more with kits that offer everything you need to try your hand at a new skill. Do It Yourself With Craft Kits for Book Lovers Curious about the art of bookbinding? There’s a kit to get you started. $52 will get you started with options for the color of journal you can make, as well as the type of paper included....

I am fairly certain that you could read a 2022 celebrity memoir every day this year and not run out. I would have been writing this for weeks if I tried to include them all! Some of the biggest, easily recognizable names with memoirs coming out that I couldn’t squeeze in include Jennifer Lewis, Selma Blair, Jennifer Grey, Minnie Driver, and Paul Newman. (I can’t wait to read what Grey says about filming Dirty Dancing!...

I’m in the first camp. My dreams are always incredibly detailed and I usually remember them. I used to keep a dream journal. My therapist friends are especially interested in them, which, what does that say about me? (If you’re in the second camp, my apologies, though I assume you probably didn’t click the post in the first place…) Because I’m a promiscuous reader, I frequently dream about books and authors....

These stories are full of ghosts and love, princes and goddesses, mermaids, magicians, and all manner of magic. Some of the stories take place in our world where a hint of the supernatural resides, while others depict magical worlds plucked straight from our wildest imaginations. From urban fantasy romance to high fantasy romance, these stories have it all. Even with all these possibilities, one thing you can be sure of is the combination of magic and romance you’ll find inside....

Now is the time to discover crime fiction writer Catherine Ryan Howard! Her latest book The Liar’s Girl is a 2019 Edgar Nominee for Best Novel – Meet her at the Edgar Awards on April 25, or at BookCon June 1-2. And check out The Liar’s Girl right now. “Readers of Paula Hawkins, Tana French, and Ruth Ware will love this exceptionally well-crafted thriller,” according to the starred review in Library Journal....

For anyone who, like me, craves more of that same enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from epistolary novels, I’ve got great news. Those types of stories don’t just come in book form, but they can be found in podcasts too! The found footage format is actually a fairly common trope in audio drama, but I always feel like I’ve struck gold when I find the ones that take it a step beyond just a character’s narrated audio recordings a la any investigative nonfiction podcast....

First up, Black Girls Create (@weblackandnerds) is hosting the #BlackWizardHistory challenge. Yes, the Harry Potter fandom is LIT in February! — Black Girls Create (@blkgirlscreate) February 1, 2019 One of my favorites happening again this month is #28DaysOfBlackCosplay, where we highlight Black cosplayers and all their talent. If you’re not Black, here are some tips: 💗 — ✨YFN Spider-Belle @ Home✨ 🇳🇬 (@CluelessxBelle) January 31, 2019 Make sure you follow the hashtag, because there are some fantastic cosplays such as:...

It seems like each week, there’s another show everyone is raving about. Our to-be-watched lists just keep growing and growing. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m not immune to peer pressure when it comes to TV. I want to be in the know, all the time. I’m even falling asleep with a show still playing in the background. It’s no surprise authors have turned to the TV-writing business too....