Wednesday, June 13, 2012

"The world's toughest book critics" think you should not miss THE PROPHET

http://www.kirkusreviews.com/blog/fiction/bea-10-not-miss-fiction-books/

They also think you should not miss Elin Hilderbrand's "Summerland." Elin recently shared some kind words about "The Prophet."

"A delicious read, intricately woven, with characters who are impossible to forget. Michael Koryta excites and satisfies on every level."

We think you should trust her on this.

THE PROPHET makes Nicholas Sparks sad...but in a good way

http://www.pittsburghurbanmedia.com/Sparks-Ignites-Nicholas-Sparks-The-Lucky-One-Interview-/

KW:The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

NS: Prophet by Michael Koryta. It’s sad, but a really good story. [Chuckles] It’s not out yet, however. It’ll be published this fall. I got an advance copy.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Some early responses to THE PROPHET

Publishers Weekly thinks you should read it...a nice starred review.

After three supernatural thrillers, Thriller Award–finalist Koryta (The Ridge) triumphantly returns to crime fiction with this multilayered exploration of guilt and redemption. A momentary lapse has haunted bail bondsman Adam Austin all his life. Some two decades earlier, in his hometown of Chambers, Ohio, the then 18-year-old Adam chose to hang out with his latest love-interest one day rather than walk his 16-year-old sister, Marie Lynn, the five blocks home from school. A predator abducted Marie Lynn and killed her. Since then a gulf has existed between Austin and his then 15-year-old brother, Kent. Old wounds reopen after Adam unintentionally sends another teenage girl, Rachel Bond, to her death. The parallel events compel him to vow to not only catch but kill the person responsible. That Rachel’s boyfriend happens to be the star receiver for the Chambers high school football team coached by Kent forces the brothers to reconnect. Like Laura Lippman, Koryta has a gift for melding a suspenseful, twisty plot with a probing, unflinching look at his protagonists’ weaknesses.

And #1 NYT bestseller Scott Smith agrees, with an incredibly generous assessment:

"I've been an admirer of the hardworking Michael Koryta for many years.  I loved SO COLD THE RIVER's creepy gothic tone; I was enthralled by the eerie world of THE CYPRESS HOUSE.  Koryta is a fantastic writer, and a remarkable storyteller.  But his latest book, THE PROPHET, finds him at an entirely new level; I suspect it may be the novel that brings him the sort of widespread acclaim he's deserved all along.  A gridiron metaphor would seem appropriate, given the crucial role football plays in THE PROPHET.  It's as if Koryta has been wowing us with a brilliant running game for eight novels.  We'd be more than happy to see him keep driving the ball up the middle, but here, suddenly, he's gone to the air:  THE PROPHET is like a long, heart-stopping pass down the sidelines in the final seconds of a decisive game.  It's made me want to leap to my feet and cheer him on."

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Thrilled to announce sale of PROPHET film rights

To one of the best book-to-film producers in the business, Nick Wechsler.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/nick-wechsler-acquires-michael-koryta-novel-the-prophet-magic-mike-scribe-reid-carolin-to-adapt/


Among others, Nick has adapted such works as Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD, David Benioff's THE 25th HOUR, Stephanie Meyer's THE HOST, and, a personal Koryta favorite, Ron Rash's brilliant novel SERENA.

Also attached and scripting will be Reid Carolin, who recently wrote the forthcoming Channing Tatum film MAGIC MIKE, produced by Wechsler, as well as, among others, an excellent documentary, EARTH MADE OF GLASS.

Come visit at Book Expo

BEA is open to the public for the first time, or so we are told, so come on down for Coffee With Koryta (really, this is what it is called, I'm not sure what it entails, but I'm guessing coffee) at the Javitz Center in New York on Thursday. Details below.


10:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET
BOOK EXPO AMERICA 2012
Coffee with Koryta In-Booth Signing
HBG Booth 3627
Jacob K. Javits Center


And if you are one of those people who, you know, prefers to meet quality writers, you can STILL see Michael Koryta, cleverly disguised as someone who belongs with the following: Michael Connelly, Nelson DeMille, and Brad Meltzer. (Noted: I haven't told anyone I'm joining this panel, but they'll be fine with it. Trust me. They'll be fine. Nobody will call security). On Wednesday:

2:30 PM to 3:15 PM ET BOOK EXPO AMERICA 2012
Panel with Meltzer, Connelly and DeMille
Javits Center- 655 W 34th St
The Downtown Stage
New York, NY 10001
Contact: Sabrina Callahan

Nelson DeMille, Brad Meltzer, Michael Connelly and Michael Koryta on a panel moderated by Skip Prichard, President & Chief Executive Officer of Ingram

If you can't attend either of these events, fear not, I'll shame myself on a taped interview or two as well.