My Top 10 Pre-Orders Worth Buying
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My Top 10 Pre-Orders Worth Buying
'Tis the season to buy books!
It wasn’t till I added to my wishlist the 10th pre-order book that I realized, “it must be that time of year.” It seems this is the time when pockets must be emptied or when a family member asks “what do you want for Christmas?” and I promptly offer up the link to my Fiction Wishlist on Amazon.
Here is my list, in order of release, for books I’m really excited to finally add to my ever-expanding library:
Let me start by saying, I already pre-ordered this book before realizing I should’ve waited for someone else to buy it for me. Also, it’s a Stephen King book, and while I find his writing to be all too real for me, I can’t help but buy every single book he’s released in the last decade. This one I’m actually most sure I’ll end up reading of all that are on this list, just because I’ll have it when it comes out and it’s right now that I’m attempting to work in some dedicated reading time in my day.
Some of the names on this list I recognize. It seems Agatha Christie has been showing up in various ways in my day-to-day life and so I was not surprised when this appeared in my searches. And as fascinated as I am to read these short stories starring Miss Marple, I’m equally fascinated by the scandal involving Val McDermid, one of the 12 writers, who is being described as the “queen of mystery” a title that is apparently owned by the Agatha Christie estate. She is being threatened with a lawsuit if her publishers do not cease using that phrase when promoting the author or the fact that she is included as one of the 12 in the book. I’m fully expecting the books to stop production, be yanked from the shelves and website and her story removed. That is how series the estate of Agatha Christie, and her living great-great grandson are about this whole thing.
This would be my first time looking at this book or even hearing about it. I’m intrigued because for the same reason I like to get “The Best American” series of books, this book apparently has an entire section dedicated to magazines and places that are accepting submissions.
This addition is purely based on the cover art. Every now and then the cover of a book will catch my eye. Then I read the description and usually, I will be intrigued. This one reminds me of Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire which has a witch from Russian folklore, Baba Yaga who lives in a house perched on chicken legs. Will it be just as gripping? I sure hope so cause I’d love to get my hands on this book and give it a read someday.
I know Richard Osman from Taskmaster fame. He’s a comedian by night but by day, he’s a writer of A Thursday Murder Club Mystery series. This is the 3rd book released later this year. I came across this book when I was looking for mystery series worth reading and when I recognized the name of the author I knew I had to pick it up. It is actually the book I keep on my desk beside me and find myself picking up to read a few pages when I have some downtime. Definitely, a good study if I want to write a mystery series with several people as the main cast of characters, coming together to solve a murder. As it’s a new release, it’s a hardcover, and I have the first two in paperback. So, I’m in no rush to get the third book. I am one of those people who is OCD about getting all the books in a series in the same format. As I wait for the paperback release I look forward to reading the first two books.
Unfortunately, I have not yet read all 6 of the Miss Peregrine series. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to absolutely require this book to add to my collection. And yes, I also own the two graphic novels of the first two books. I hope they continue to release those so there is a complete 6. If you haven’t caught on by now, I am a collector of books. Series that look pretty in particular. Do I read them? Occasionally. But it’s mostly about ownership and seeing them on my shelves which I love.
I’m getting this one out of the way just cause I know how people feel about JK at the moment. However, the Harry Potter series is near and dear to me. It was the last series my mother ever read out loud to me. Yes, I was in high school at the time, and yes, I remember it clearly as if it was yesterday. There are too many fond memories attached to the series for me NOT to be obsessed with buying any special edition series that comes out. And I look forward to when my son will be old enough for me to read them all to him. I’m actually torn between the MinaLima books (only the first 2 are out so far) and the Jim Kay books (of which 5 have been released). All I can say is, that I currently own about 7 different sets of the HP series, and should another come out in any form or fashion? Just take my money!
Yes, I realize these are YA books. So what? This is a series where I actually have read all 6 books so I’m happy to see they are being turned into an illustrated edition similar to the Harry Potter books I’m also collecting. Fingers crossed that they all get converted. I know if they don’t sell well they won’t do them all and that would suck. I also have his A Tale of Magic trilogy of books but I have not gotten around to reading those.
The title of this series isn’t exactly the most catching but it’s Gregory Maguire and, believe it or not, it’s a sequel to his Wicked series, aptly named “Another Day”! I honestly had no idea he was even working on a sequel and discovered it one day while scanning the shelves in a Barnes & Noble. There is no mistaking the green-colored skin of the main character on the cover. I read the first two books of the Wicked series and just never got around to reading the other two. But with this sequel, I feel almost obligated to go back. Now, where’s my Wicked soundtrack…
Many of you may know the name from Watchmen and V for Vendetta fame. This is his first-ever collection of short stories and I’m really excited about it. I know they won’t disappoint. Besides that, I’m trying to immerse myself fully in the world of short fiction. Specifically, anthologies and collections of short stories. I hope to one day release my own and as I always prefer to do before I jump off a cliff, I like to do my research. You will see with the next set of books just how invested I am in my desire to release my own short fiction on a more regular basis.
I have the 2020 edition. Not sure why I have not purchased the 2021 edition, but there’s always time, right? I love this as a resource for more than just the stories it’s a great way to know where to submit your work in the future that is reputable and at least gets recognized. Of course, you can always do a Google search, but why when you can just grab this book, read some awesome short stories, find new places to submit your own work to, and find out what they like all in one?
This is the fourth Hawthorne and Horowitz novel and I gotta say these books are amazing. If you like mystery and Sherlock Holmes, then this is right up your alley. With a modern take on the classic, Anthony Horowitz is the Watson to Hawthorne who is not your typical Holmes. I’m intrigued by the fact that the author has written himself into the story as the narrator who finds himself reluctantly working with Hawthorne, a washed-up detective who sees his second act in literature. And who better to tell his story than Anthony Horowitz? I can’t think of someone better if hard-pressed. It reads very humorously but is a murder mystery that requires solving. I love these kinds of series and when I finally sit down to write my murder mystery series, this is the kind of refreshing take on the classics I hope mine will take.