ZOVA Books Signs Young Adult Debut Author Jessica Therrien

ZOVA Books announces the signing of young adult novelist Jessica Therrien for her debut novel The Descendants.

Los Angeles, CA, March 21, 2011 - ZOVA Books announces the signing of young adult author Jessica Therrien for the release of her debut novel, The Descendants. ZOVA Books is a boutique publishing firm representing such acclaimed authors as Dances With Wolves novelist and Academy Award winning screenplay writer, Michael Blake, as well as the Pulitzer Prize nominated bestselling author of Sacajawea, Anna Lee Waldo. Their partnership with Jessica Therrien marks a significant expansion of their catalog into the young adult readership.

Jessica Therrien's work was first noticed by ZOVA Books at the Southern California Writer's Conference held in San Diego, where she discussed her manuscript with ZOVA author, Michele Scott, during one of the conference's critical feedback programs. Mrs. Scott, who is currently releasing her novel Happy Hour with ZOVA Books, brought the debut author to her publishers' attention.

Mrs. Therrien's young adult title, The Descendants, tells the story of a young woman who discovers that she belongs to a secret society of individuals with extraordinarily long life spans and unusual abilities. Fearful of prophecies about their only daughter, her parents kept her hidden from the world – and the society – for as long as they could. But when their own untimely deaths leave her to fend for herself, the truth of her origins and the fateful prophecy find her at last. Joining the ranks of such widely popular works as the Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, and the Mortal Instruments series, Mrs. Therrien's paranormal romance/adventure promises to be the next fan-favorite in its genre.

ZOVA Books Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Silva, says, “We are incredibly excited to launch Jessica Therrien's young adult novel, not only because The Descendants is such compelling work, but because Jessica herself is such a dynamic author. Her energy and enthusiasm is a tremendous addition to our catalog of authors.”

About ZOVA Books:

ZOVA Books is an independent publisher of genre and literary fiction based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 2010, they are one of the fastest growing small publishers in the nation, representing such notable authors as #1 New York Times Bestseller Michael Blake, author of Dances With Wolves, #1 New York Times Bestseller Anna Lee Waldo, author of Sacajawea, and acclaimed bestseller Michele Scott.

ZOVA Books has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Hollywood production and management company Circle of Confusion to represent its catalog for film, television and foreign rights.

Established as a creative organization focused on the success of individual authors and the development of multi-platform creative projects, ZOVA has developed the next generation publishing company that reconciles the best practices of traditional publishing firms with the innovations of small and specialized firms, embracing the opportunities of both print and digital distribution in its commitment to providing the best possible literary works to readers around the world.

# # #

ZOVA Books Releases the first must read of the summer season

ZOVA Books announces the release of Happy Hour, by acclaimed author Michele Scott.

Los Angeles, CA, March 21, 2011 - ZOVA Books announces the release of Happy Hour, a new novel by Michele Scott. ZOVA Books is a boutique publishing firm representing such acclaimed authors as Dances With Wolves novelist and Academy Award winning screenplay writer, Michael Blake, as well as the Pulitzer Prize nominated bestselling author of Sacajawea, Anna Lee Waldo. Their partnership with Michele Scott brings them a wide body of previously published and wholly new material.

Michele Scott's Wine Lovers mystery series, released through Berkeley Press, achieved wide acclaim upon its release. Scott has since established herself as one of the preeminent writers of the mystery genre, following her original series with the Michaela Bancroft mysteries and a number of other works. The release of Happy Hour with ZOVA Books continues her notable history of developing heartfelt literature with strong female characters that resonate with readers across the nation and around the world.

Already heralded as the first beach read of the summer season, Happy Hour follows the intertwining stories of four women experiencing heartache and loss in the beautiful California wine country. Each woman's story is uniquely compelling. Kat, a sommelier at her husband's five star restaurant, struggles to balance divorce, remarriage, and all the baggage in between. Alyssa, an artist and gallery owner, struggles with a secret from her past that threatens everything she holds dear. Danielle is a vintner on the edge of success, dealing with rebellious teenagers and a careless ex-husband. Jamie is editor-in-chief of a widely read wine magazine, still grieving the loss of her husband several years before while juggling mounting bills and caring for her senile mother-in-law. Together, these women find strength to deal with the hardships of daily life in the power of their friendship.

ZOVA Books has looked forward to releasing Michele Scott's Happy Hour since signing her in the fall of 2010. “We are thrilled to be working with Michele Scott on this release,” ZOVA's publisher, Molly Lewis, says. “Michele brings authenticity and passion to everything she writes, but this book in particular is evidence of her commitment to honoring the power of friendship in the written word.”

The release of Happy Hour follows a number of public appearances for Michele Scott, whose articles, essays, and interviews have been featured in the New York Times, on Fox News, and over a wide number of national book review blogs.

Happy Hour is released on March 22, 2011 and is available in book retailers across the country, on all digital platforms and distributed by Baker & Taylor Distributors.

About ZOVA Books:

ZOVA Books is an independent publisher of genre and literary fiction based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 2010, they are one of the fastest growing small publishers in the nation, representing such notable authors as #1 New York Times Bestseller Michael Blake, author of Dances With Wolves, #1 New York Times Bestseller Anna Lee Waldo, author of Sacajawea, and acclaimed bestseller Michele Scott.

ZOVA Books has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Hollywood production and management company Circle of Confusion to represent its catalog for film, television and foreign rights.

Established as a creative organization focused on the success of individual authors and the development of multi-platform creative projects, ZOVA has developed the next generation publishing company that reconciles the best practices of traditional publishing firms with the innovations of small and specialized firms, embracing the opportunities of both print and digital distribution in its commitment to providing the best possible literary works to readers around the world.

# # #

A Whole New Website

ZOVA fans have been bugging us for quite a while now (I won't mention just how long) to finish updating our website over at www.zovabooks.com. Well, the day has finally come. If it is possible for a publisher's website to look posher than ours, I'll eat my books. Big thanks go out to Daniel Pearson and most especially Matthew Pizzo for designing such a snazzy home for our web presence. I've enjoyed using the ZOVA blog as our main source of information and book delight for the past few weeks (months) during renovation, but the time has now come to pass the torch.

Fear not, faithful followers! We'll still be updating this with as much frequency as ever - however frequently that is - but I'm sure you'll agree with me when you click through and take a look, that the new website is simply perfect. And now, without further ado, make the jump.

The Authors We Meet

This weekend has seen the third of four ZOVA author events at the Ovitt Family Community Library in Ontario, CA. Each Saturday during the month of March, we're joining one of our favorite authors to discuss writing, reading, and the place of women in the book industry. The first weekend featured publisher Molly Lewis alongside veteran mystery novelist Jeff Sherratt, for a rousing discussion on the development of the writing craft and the changes in the book industry. Teresa Burrell followed the week after, discussing legal suspense and the integration of life experience and fiction. Both weeks were fun and informative, providing a helpful introduction to both the industry as a whole and the day-to-day work of a writer.

This past Saturday was given to our celebrated children's novelist, Jenny Bellington. For nearly two hours, writers from all walks of life threw out their questions, asking everything from "how do you build your fantasy world?" to "how do you motivate yourself to write everyday?" It was educational, inspirational, and occasionally even a bit funny. Bellington's debut novel, East to Adonia, is a perfect introduction to the art of fantasy, as her young mapmaking protagonist, Mercator, finds himself as lost and confused in the strange "other" world of Threa as the reader does.

We're just as excited about this coming Saturday as we have been about the past three, although this one is particularly exciting. Michele Scott, the well-loved (and frequently imitated) author of the Wine Lovers' Mystery Series, will be discussing the art of writing everything from mysteries to children's fiction to general literary fiction in one of her first appearances following the release of Happy Hour this coming week.

Happy Hour follows the loosely intertwined stories of four women in Napa Valley who, despite the rich, restful beauty of their surroundings, struggle with everything from divorce to illness, bankruptcy, rebellious children, and a host of things in between. It's a story for every woman - and the men who love them. Already hailed as the first beach read of the season, we expect Scott's newest novel to be gracing the laps of book club readers across America before the summer's well underway. Next week promises to be a rare but special opportunity to hound the author with all the questions you've always wanted to ask a successful writer. Be there.

Women's History Month

ZOVA is excited about March for a dozen different reasons, but in large measure because it's Women's History Month. Every Saturday during the month of March, we're partnering with the Ovitt Family Community Library in Ontario, California, to give a series of presentations and workshops on writing for the community. You can find the full schedule of events on their website, but we'll break it down for you a bit right here and give you updates throughout the month.

This Saturday features publisher Molly Lewis as she discusses the publishing industry and what it looks like to bring a book from manuscript to print and from print into the hands of readers. Joining her is author Jeff Sherratt, past board member of Sisters in Crime, Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to achieving gender equality in the book industry. Jeff will be discussing his own works, along with the challenges that both men and women face as writers.

The following weeks will feature author Teresa Burrell, discussing legal suspense, Jenny Bellington on fantasy and science fiction, and renowned mystery novelist Michele Scott - on mystery, women's fiction, and the life of the writer. Each author comes at the industry from widely different perspectives, and each will offer something unique for both readers and writers alike. Book sales during these events will benefit the library, so be sure to bring as many eager readers as you can stuff in your car and join us every Saturday throughout the month of March to honor the written word and women writers.

Discover Jimmy O'Brien...Again

This is a big month for Jimmy O'Brien fans - and Kindle users. ZOVA Books is reintroducing the original Jimmy O'Brien series to Kindle readers everywhere, complete with new covers and fully re-edited text. Even the exclusive e-book-only edition of Expectation of Murder has been redesigned - even given a new title - to celebrate the release of the full series on the Amazon platform. Print editions will be coming soon, but for now we're just excited about the new exposure the series is getting. Here are some sneak peeks, especially for those of you who are new to the series altogether:

Guilty or Else is the first in the original Jimmy O'Brien series. O'Brien is new to the courtroom, but no stranger to the criminal underworld of 1970s Los Angeles, having worked the circuit as one of LAPD's finest for several years. When Ernesto Rodriguez, a blue collar gardener, is arrested for the brutal murder of a senator’s beautiful secretary, ex-cop turned lawyer O’Brien is brought in. But Jimmy isn’t asked to defend the man. The judge wants the man put away fast, no trial. Something doesn't smell right to Jimmy O'Brien, so he starts digging. Launching into his own investigation, Jimmy O’Brien must navigate the labyrinthine plot that has put an innocent man in jail to await trial. From Downey to Sacramento to Las Vegas, the trail runs boiling hot with greed and violence.

This is a perfect introduction to the hardened criminal attorney, Jimmy O'Brien, especially at the throw-away price of $0.99. Of course, you'll want to follow it up with the next book in the series...

The Midnight Madonna, previously titled Expectation of Murder, explores two seemingly unrelated murders - the brutal stabbing of a convict behind prison bars, and the fake suicide of a wealthy meat mogul. The first murder is quickly swept aside, because who cares about the death of one more felon? But the second is quickly pinned on the rich man's young wife - a woman with a less than reputable past. When she calls Jimmy O'Brien to help her navigate the suspicions and accusations, he can't help but wonder if there's a connection between the two events. As he explores the histories behind these two men, he begins to uncover a corrupt ring of extortion and greed.

The last of the original Jimmy O'Brien series, The Brimstone Murders will have you guessing on every digital page. After the young man O'Brien is set to defend on a murder charge escapes custody in the middle of the trial, O'Brien will go to any length to track him down again. When the clues lead to a mysterious rehabilitation center in the California desert, O'Brien begins to wonder if he might be in over his head. But there are too many questions - and the stakes are too high for O'Brien to give up altogether. With the help of his associate, Rita, and his eccentric best friend and private detective, Sol Silverman, there might be a chance to uncover the truth before anyone else winds up dead.

If you first discovered the tenacious Jimmy O'Brien with the first of his film noir series, Detour to Murder, this is the perfect opportunity to find out where he came from.

The Southern California Writers' Conference

This weekend, we headed down to the Southern California Writers' Conference to talk about the state of the publishing industry - where it is and where it's going. We met with several writers, both casually and on purpose, to discuss their projects, their hopes for their writing careers, and their experiences of the conference itself.

On Saturday afternoon, we answered a wide variety of questions on publishing, dealing with everything from the changes in big house publishing to the pros and cons of indie and self-publishing experiences. Of course we love boutique publishing best of all - because that's what we do - but the wide range of practices among small and mid-size publishers makes for an interesting discussion regardless.

Our own Mike Sirota spoke on Saturday morning about what he calls his "three writing careers," the third of which we launched just over a week ago with the release of Fire Dance. Michele Scott, soon to be releasing Happy Hour with us, did a series of probing one-on-one manuscript reviews. Overall, it was a great opportunity to meet with new and growing talent. We're excited to go back, and so thankful to Wes Albers and Michael Steven Gregory for allowing us to take part in the annual event.