Entertainment News #58: S.W.A.T. and Authors Against Book Bans

- Actor Niko Pepaj's character Miguel Alfaro will become a main character for the eighth season of S.W.A.T. And according to reports, actress Annie Ilonzeh will have a recurring role as character Devin Gamble. With quite a few of the main characters gone, it will be interesting to see how the new changes will work on the show. I have to say that it took a while but Alfaro totally grew on me. He's arrogant but interesting. I wonder what Devin Gamble's story is going to be? Will she be a good addition to the team or not? I guess I'll find out once the eighth season of S.W.A.T. premieres on Friday, October 18th on CBS.

- Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) is a newly launched organization that's committed to defending the freedom to read. According to reports, the group which consist of writers, illustrators and creators in both the children’s and adult sectors will work to “organize authors on the national and local levels" to support "grassroots groups already fighting book bans and challenges" around the country.

According to author David Levithan, a member of the AABB national leadership team, he said "Authors know the power of books. We know that the freedom to read and to choose books for ourselves and our families is essential to ensuring that our communities thrive." He also said, “The time has come for authors to come together and stand in solidarity on this issue, and the work of our growing membership is clear: we support authors whose work is challenged, and we support the teachers, librarians, families, and students who are on the front lines defending our books. They are not alone; authors stand with them.”

According to the AABB's press release, the group’s 1,500 members which spans all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will look to provide “support and encouragement for the educators, librarians, parents, and students who are the first line of defense against censorship, and for the authors whose books are under attack,” which also includes legislative advocacy.

For more information on Authors Against Book Bans and to get involved please click here.

Entertainment News #49: Cancelled Shows, S.W.A.T. and Book Adaptation

- It's disappointing to hear that CBS has cancelled So Help Me Todd and CSI: Vegas. I love watching So Help Me Todd it's just a fun and quirky mystery series. Although, I haven't been posting my What's On Tonight for Sunday (I will), I have been really enjoying watching CSI: Vegas. I don't understand why both of these shows are simply cancelled instead of just moving them over to Paramount Plus.

Both shows have fans and viewers that love these shows so why just outright cancel them. Instead of just relocating them which would continue to give the shows more time to gain more viewers. These are two good shows that I'm sad to see cancelled. Unrelated (or is it?) but I feel like with so many shows constantly being cancelled, this is one of the reasons so many viewers have been watching and rewatching old shows. Why get invested in new shows if these networks and streaming services won't allow them time to grow.

Entertainment News #48: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Autobiography, 9-1-1 100th Episode and The Karate Kid

- Some good news for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans, Netflix has renewed the live action TV series for a second and third season. The series will end with the third season, which follows the same format as the animated version. According to Netflix, the show had 41.1 million views in the first 11 days of its premiere as well as being the #1 show in 76 countries.

The first season of the live action series followed Avatar Aang and his friends Katara and Sokka on their journey in order for Aang to learn the last three elements (Water, Earth and Fire) so he can fully become The Avatar. I really enjoyed the first season, there's not much I would change except for finding a way to bring Momo back. I'm looking forward to seeing how they will adapt the last two seasons.

Entertainment News #40: Station 19, André Braugher, Abbott Elementary Teaser Trailer and Author Loses Book Deal

Happy Wednesday! Here are a few news bites:

- Update on the Station 19 petition as of now it has over 32,000 signatures and counting. The fans have really been rallying around trying to save the show. They also plan on having a Watch Party to rewatch and promote the show. I'll write more about it in another post.

Entertainment News #36: Cancelled Shows, 9-1-1 and Goodreads Choice Awards

- The list for cancelled shows keeps growing. You can now add these five Netflix series to the list: Shadow and Bone, Glamorous, Agent Elvis, Farzar and Captain Fall. I really don't know why these networks and streaming services won't give shows time to find an audience. Because with so many shows airing on numerous channels and streaming services, not everyone watches everything at the same time. Which is why these executives shouldn't be so quick to cancel shows.

Edit to add: Bounce recently cancelled the TV series Act Your Age after one season. It starred Kym Whitley, Tisha Campbell and Yvette Nicole Brown. The creator of show is hoping the show will be picked up on another network or streaming service. Also the first season will be on Netflix sometime next year.

Entertainment News #13: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Spider-Man, Cancelled Show and Indiana Jones

- In some unexpected news, 9-1-1: Lone Star will be moving from Monday at 9:00 PM EST to Tuesday night at 8:00 PM EST when the show returns for the upcoming fourth season on January 17, 2023. I like the idea of Lone Star moving to 8:00 PM on another night because the show actually did really well when it was at that time slot for the beginning of the third season. And since the original 9-1-1 is the current place holder for that time on Monday, it makes sense to move Lone Star to another night.

Entertainment News #11: Nancy Drew Cancelled, Superman & Lois, Percy Jackson and more

For anyone new to Book Girl, for this post, I like to highlight various entertainment news from books to movies and shows.

- According to reports, the Nancy Drew TV series on The CW has been cancelled, the upcoming fourth season will be the final one. Although it deviated from the books by adding a supernatural element to the show along with changing various things about the characters, it quickly found a fan base. The premiere date for the fourth season hasn't been announced yet but it's been stated that the show will air sometime next year.

Entertainment News: Kelly Marie Tran in a New Movie, Netflix book series Bookmarks and the LEGO Star Wars game trailer

If like myself you're a big fan of animated movies, actress Kelly Marie Tran will be voicing the main character Raya in the upcoming Disney animated movie Raya and the Last Dragon. The movie, which is tentatively scheduled to be released March 21, 2021, will also feature the actress and comedian Awkwafina who will be voicing the character Sisu.

Book News: Star Wars: The High Republic and J.K. Rowling's New Story

- According to Lucasfilms, the release dates for Star Wars book event The High Republic has been moved. Originally, the books, Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule and Star Wars: The High Republic: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland were supposed to be released in August and September. However, they have been scheduled to be released on January 5, 2021.

A third book, Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray will now be released on February 2, 2021. It was originally scheduled to be released in October. So far, there has been no information about the new release dates for the two comic books: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures by Daniel José Older (published by IDW) and Star Wars: The High Republic by Cavan Scott (published by Marvel).

- J.K. Rowling to release new stories online. According to reports, starting today the author is releasing the first two chapters of an online story of a fairy tale that she wrote more than 10 years ago called The Ickabog. The first installments was released online at 10:00 AM EST on the site The Ickabog (theickabog.com). Rowling will post at least one chapter (possibly three ) every weekday from today through July 10. The completed story will also be available in print and digital in November and the author will donate all her royalties from the sales of the book to assist people affected by the Coronavirus.

Book News: Lucasfilm to publish new Star Wars: The High Republic books

On Monday (Feb. 24th), Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled its next ambitious publishing project, Star Wars: The High Republic. The new stories will explore the galaxy 200 years before the Skywalker Saga and will focus on the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order which were at peace. However, there is something that will of course ruin that era of peace which I'm sure it will be explored in The High Republic.

With this not being connected to any of the current or legacy characters I wonder if The High Republic will be an easy or hard sale to get Star Wars fans (casual and die hard) interested in this project. Speaking of legacy characters, I wonder if Jedi Master Yoda will be featured at least in some small part because he was 900 years old before he died in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. I really can't see not including him.

"The Reincarnationist Papers" is Being Adapted into a Movie

The novel The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz is being adapted into a movie titled Infinite. It will star Mark Wahlberg, Sophie Cookson and Dylan O'Brien and will be directed by Antoine Fuqua. It's scheduled to be released in theatres on August 7, 2020.

I had never heard of this book but the description makes it seem like an interesting read. It feels like a cross between sci-fi and historical fiction and I wonder if it will answer the question of whether Evan Michaels' reincarnation experiences are real or something created by his imagination.

I wouldn't mind reading this for book club, would anyone else be interested in reading it as well?


Book

Book: The Reincarnationist Papers: A Memoir of Past Lives: The Account of Evan Michaels by D. Eric Maikranz

Description:

The electrifying book that introduces readers to the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. "Haunted by memories of two past lives, a troubled young man stumbles upon a centuries-old secret society of similar individuals and dares to join their ranks." Evan Michaels' now public account takes us into this organization whose members have been agents of change throughout history.

Sydney Park to star in the Netflix movie "There's Someone Inside Your House"

It's being reported that actress Sydney Park, who stars in the Pretty Little Liars spin-off The Perfectionist will star in the Netflix movie "There's Someone Inside Your House". The movie is based on the same titled book that's written by Stephanie Perkins and Park will star as the main character Makani Young.

I heard so many good things about this book and I can't believe I have it sitting on my shelf. I bought it two years ago and I'm going to try to read it before the movie is released which so far Netflix has not announced a release date.


Book

Book: There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Description:

It's been almost a year since Makani Young came to live with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska, and she's still adjusting to her new life. And still haunted by her past in Hawaii.

Then, one by one, the students of her small town high school begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, Makani will be forced to confront her own dark secrets.

Stephanie Perkins, bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss, returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.

"Crazy Rich Asians" Book Sequel to be Turned into a Movie

Even though I'm currently reading Crazy Rich Asians (I should have the review posted soon), the movie has done amazing at the box office. It's such a huge success that the sequel China Rich Girlfriend written Kevin Kwan will now be turned into a movie.

I don't have the sequel but I will try to get it along with the third book, Rich People Problems.

Book: China Rich Girlfriend (Crazy Rich Asians book #2) by Kevin Kwan

Description:

It’s the eve of Rachel Chu’s wedding, and she should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond, a wedding dress she loves, and a fiancé willing to thwart his meddling relatives and give up one of the biggest fortunes in Asia in order to marry her. Still, Rachel mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won’t be there to walk her down the aisle. 

Then a chance accident reveals his identity. Suddenly, Rachel is drawn into a dizzying world of Shanghai splendor, a world where people attend church in a penthouse, where exotic cars race down the boulevard, and where people aren’t just crazy rich … they’re China rich.

Sophie Kinsella's Book "Can You Keep a Secret?" is Being Adapted into a Movie

It's recently been announced that Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella will be made into a movie. Actress Alexandra Daddario, who most recently starred in the Netflix romantic comedy When We First Met, will not only star as the main character Emma Corrigan but will also be executive producing the movie. Also co-starring in the movie is Tyler Hoechlin, who most recently starred in the dystopian movie The Domestics, he will play Jack Harper.

I do hope this movie adaptation will be better than the one for Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic because that movie was so awful. And this is one time where the saying "the book was better than the movie" is a perfect fit because it really was terrible.

I have read a lot of Kinsella's books but I have not read Can You Keep a Secret?. I'm going to add this to my wishlist, hopefully I can read it before the movie is released.

Description:

Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:

Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.

Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.

Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger. . . .

But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse. Or could they?

Sarah Jessica Parker and Author Fatima Farheen Mirza at the Barnes & Noble's Author Event

Sarah Jessica Parker and author Fatima Farheen Mirza were at Barnes & Noble's Author Event at Union Square in New York City on Wednesday discussing Mirza's book A Place For Us (which was released on Tuesday). The event which was moderated by Lisa Lucas to celebrate the debut release of Mirza's book which is also the first book published under Parker's SJP Hogarth Books imprint line.

I was interested to know what this book was about, so I went to read the description. I immediately added it to my wishlist because it seems really interesting. It's always exciting when new authors get their first book published, I wish Mirza plenty of success.

Found Online: Detroit's Oldest Bookstore To Close

It always makes me sad to hear about a bookstore closing. To me bookstores are magical, I equate it be being a kid in a toy store. You take in the whole store not sure where to go first. That experience for me has not changed no matter how old I get. I love going to bookstores and it really does make me sad when one closes.

Here is a very interest article about the closing of Detroit's oldest bookstore. Let me know if you enjoyed the article, I love finding different articles to post.

Reading The Last Chapter At Detroit's Oldest Bookstore

by John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press

William Foulkes looked out the window of his store and watched the world passing by.

It was September, a new school year had begun, and college students outside walked past in twos and threes, looking down at their cell phones as they moved.

Foulkes was alone inside, standing behind the counter of the Big Bookstore, which sits on the northern edge of what’s now called Midtown, right by Wayne State University. It’s the oldest continually operating bookstore in the city. It’s one of the last independent bookstores left in the region. And after 80 years or so, it’s about to close for good.

Book News: Rick Riordan to Publish New Mythologly-Based Middle Grade Books

Disney Announces New Rick Riordan Imprint Books

By Sue Corbett, Publishers Weekly

Rick Riordan has gotten a variation on the same question from his fans about a zillion times: When are you going to write about (fill in the blank): the Hindu gods and goddesses? Ancient Chinese mythology? Native American legends?

 

Now, he has an answer – of sorts: Disney-Hyperion is launching Rick Riordan Presents, an imprint devoted to mythology-based books for middle grade readers. The imprint, which will be led by Riordan’s editor, Stephanie Owens Lurie, hopes to launch with two books in summer 2018. The books will not be written by Riordan, whose role will be closer to curator than author.

Book News: J.K. Rowling to Release Three Harry Potter Related Books

by Latifah Muhammad, for ET Online (etonline.com)

It turns out Harry Potter and the Cursed Child won't be the last chapter of J.K. Rowling's popular book series.

 

The 51-year-old author is taking readers back into the world of wizardry with three new books, Pottermore.com, announced on Wednesday.

 

The series of e-books, which will be available through online retailers beginning Sept. 6, are described as a collection of short stories exploring a "different Hogwarts-related theme."

 

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide, will offer a deeper look into the "nooks and crannies" of the school, while Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists delves into the "darker side of wizarding world," including horror stories from Azkaban prison. An original piece from Rowling on Horace Slughorn will also be featured in the book.

 

The third book, Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, will focus on the Hogwarts staff. Potter fans will learn more about Care of Magical Creatures teacher Silvanus Kettleburn, as well as another original Rowling musing, this one on Hoggwarts' head mistress, Minerva McGonagall.

 

Nearly 20 years after Rowling released her first Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the magical tale has expanded to movies, stage productions, and even theme parks.

Lois Lane Friday: Gwenda Bond writing a third novel for the Lois Lane book series

There is some good news for Lois Lane fans, author Gwenda Bond will be releasing a third book in the Lois Lane young adult novel series. It will be titled Lois Lane: Triple Threat and like the previous two books will be published by Switch Press.

According to the press release, Beth Brezenoff, who is the Editorial Director of Capstone/Switch Press said that "the critical and fan response to Lois Lane: Fallout and Lois Lane: Double Down has exceeded our expectations and we are excited to continue the series with Triple Threat". Brezenoff also said that “book three will further Lois’s relationship with SmallvilleGuy and bring her deeper into the crime filled underbelly of Metropolis – readers will love what Gwenda Bond has come up with.”

I'm really look forward to reading the third book which will not be available until May 1, 2017 (but you can pre-order it). Lois Lane has been one of my favorite characters every since I was a kid and saw the first Superman movie on TV. I always thought Lois embodied so much strength of character and she risk her life on a daily basis to seek out the truth. She uses her words to fight crime and help those whose voices can not be heard. I always felt like Lois doesn't need to have powers to be a hero. To many fans she already is.

As of yet, no official cover art has been released except for this image below but as soon as one is released I will post it. I'm so thrilled these Lois Lane books are doing well with readers. I wish Gwenda Bond even more success with the third book. Which is why I love the response that the author gave: "I can’t overstate what an honor it is to be part of Lois Lane’s history and tell stories about her for a new audience. I’m also extremely grateful for the support of the fans of the books and the character – you’re the reason I get to keep doing this and so thank you all!"

Book News: Stephenie Meyer to Release a New Thriller

Fans of Stephenie Meyer's work, be on the look out for her upcoming book. According to reports, The Chemist "a thriller" will introduce readers to a former secret agent forced to go on the run, hiding from members of the government who fear she knows too much.

Although the descriptions reads like a generic spy thriller, I am interested to see Stephenie Meyer's take on the subject. This book which will be Meyer's second novel written for adults will be available on November 15th. It does seem interesting, I think I will add it to my wishlist.

Are you planning on reading The Chemist?

Book: The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer

Publication: November 15, 2016

Description:

In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life.

She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn’t even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.

Now she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They’ve killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.
When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it’s her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.

Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of.

In this tautly plotted novel, Meyer creates a fierce and fascinating new heroine with a very specialized skill set. And she shows once again why she’s one of the world’s bestselling authors.