10/12/2021 Today's Wonder Women

 

About Today's Wonder Women

• Publisher: Ixia Press (March 18, 2020) • Hardcover: 272 pages Meet the women and female-identifying heroes who have defied death, flouted cultural norms, and risen above poverty to become CEOs, entrepreneurs, activists, role models, media moguls, and movement creators. This collection of stories, essays, and interviews celebrates their superpowers: love, determination, vision, and grit. These 50 women share their wisdom and advice in ways that will inspire you to discover your own superpower. Each story will transport you into the life and perspective of one who dares to challenge the status quo, dismantle barriers, and empower those around her: Alexa Carlin, a CEO at the age of 17, overcame a 1% chance of surviving sepsis and started the Women Empowerment Expo; Mariah Hanson launched "the Dinah," the world's largest party and music festival for lesbians; activist and gun control advocate Shira Tarantino founded the ENOUGH Campaign; Laverne Delgado is program director of Fashion & Freedom, which rescues victims of sex trafficking and helps them learn skills to enter the fashion industry; plus dozens of other women who refused to accept societal limitations and whose achievements offer inspiring lessons for us all. 

Purchase Links

IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Asha Dahya

Meet Asha Dahya - author, TEDx speaker and founder of GirlTalkHQ.com Asha was born in the UK, raised in Australia, and now resides in Los Angeles, California. She has spent the last 16 years creating, producing and hosting content for networks such as MTV, MSN.com, Disney, ABC, Nickelodeon, Fox, Nine Network Australia and more.

Considered a voice of authority in the feminist media space, she has delivered keynote addresses for Accenture’s International Women’s Day event, UCLA’s Bruin Belles annual conference, and the 2018 Los Angeles March for Moms event where she shared her expertise on Maternal Mortality and Paid Family Leave. Asha has also moderated panels for UN Women, Mount Saint Mary’s University, and EmpowHer Institute.

Through her work, Asha focuses on reproductive rights, gender equality, and the representation of women in media. She is passionate about empowering women and girls to take up space, raise their voice and share their story with the world.

Find out more about Asha on her website, Instagram, and Twitter.

LITERATI BOOK CLUB REVIEW By Nursebookie

 

Hello lovely bookish friends! 

Today in the Nursebookie Blog, I am going to be talking and sharing about an amazing book club I absolutely LOVE, called Literati. You may have seen the Literati ads pop up everywhere on billboards and in social media, and may have wondered what this Literati is all about. There is no need to get FOMO because by the time you read about what Literati is all about, you will want to be a part of the book club too!

I am here to tell you all about Literati, and why I am so excited for you to try it. 

WHAT IS LITERATI ALL ABOUT?

I have had the Literati subscription for over six months now, and I have to say I am quite impressed with their program, the choices, the app and the Luminaries. 

Their book club is made not only for the book lovers, but for those looking to read more, or need the recommendations based on their favorite genres. 

When you Discover a book club that inspires you, and you can choose from 13 book clubs, which are lead by exceptional "Luminaries" who are your book club leaders - they are a mix of authors, activists, and adventurers who all share the love of stories. 

HOW DOES THE MONTHLY BOOK CLUB WORK?

Each month, the book clubs choose a new book to read. Which are then announced on the 15th of each month. Choose the book you want to read, and it will be delivered in a beautiful package for you. 

There is something about Literati - the choices on a monthly basis are truly incredible and great for people who would normally not pick up a book or just need that recommendation from someone they feel they have a connection with.

WHAT IS INSIDE THE BOX?

Now that you have finally chosen your book club, receiving your box in the mail is the most exciting part. I mean, who doesn’t love a great #bookmail and Literati makes it all so special.

When you receive your beautiful and sturdy Literati box, you will find…

-         Your special Literati edition of the book you have chosen with a sticker of the book club you have chosen.

-         You will receive a special note card from your Luminary introducing you to your book, and some special tidbits surrounding your chosen read.

-         Literati Book Guide

-         Bookmark – has a beautiful quote from the book and even a character list to refer to

-         Suggested Reading Pace

-         And some extra help on how to get started with the reading and using the APP

 

HOW DO YOU DISCUSS AS A BOOK CLUB?

To get in on the conversations with your book club, you have a Literati app that will connect you with your Luminary and members of the book club who are reading alongside with you. When I read a book, I love talking to people about what I had just read - most especially to people who have either read the book or are reading alongside me. 

There is a reading guide, but you can read at your own pace and get in on the discussion whenever or wherever you may be, or just lurk and read the comments of other readers. 

Literati is literally a literary social network that elevates your reading experience. You are free to share your thoughts before you start the book, during the reading divided into chapters, and what your final thoughts are about the book. You can ask questions, share your personal thoughts and opinions, all in a space among book lovers. 

Every month there are exclusive events like Ask the Author to even enhance the book reading experience. 

 

WHO ARE THE LUMINARIES?

I am highlighting some of my favorite Luminaries here, but please be sure to check out the unique perspective each of the thirteen Luminaries bring to the book club. 

Megan Rapinoe – an American professional soccer player and activist. She’s led Team USA to three victories on the world stage, all while advocating for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights. Megan’s book selections capture stories that ignite our collective momentum to move forward, and ask the hard questions, to shift the future for good. In her book club THE CALL IN, readers will expand their perspective beyond what is familiar. Rapinoe’s book picks are human stories, inspirational, and moves the reader to action and asks hard questions. I am currently in this book club and looking forward to reading MINOR FEELINGS by Cathy Park Hong.

 

Elin Hilderbrand – dubbed the “Queen of Beach Reads” thanks to her wildly successful collection of sun-soaked page-turners. Her book selections through her book club aptly names THE BEACH & BEYOND show diversity and takes the idea of a beach book to new heights. Her book selections will definitely become the ones you will be recommending to a friend time and time again.This book club will be reading THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz for their October pick.

 

I joined Literati originally for Malala’s Book Club called FEARLESS. Malala’s stories introduce books that are emotional and educational with characters who will capture your heart. Malala’s book selections are those filled with empathy, optimism, and joy. Reading Malala’s recommendations have exposed my reading palate to world views and new cultural lenses with strong women and courageous protagonists.

Susan Orleans Book Club is called Private Collection and having read a few books through this book club, I can certainly report to all of you how impressed I was with reading books I would not have otherwise been on my radar to pick up and read. The Private collection book club showcases an array of books from Orlean’s personal library where you read stories about identity, historical fiction, and creative nonfiction as well. Th stories have all been extraordinary, exquisite, and with unforgettable narratives that impressed an avid reader as myself. The last book I enjoyed with this book club was IN THE DREAM HOUSE by Carmen Maria Machado and it was exceptional.

I was so happy to have picked Stephen Curry’s book club called UNDERRATED where we read THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forna as a past book club pick. Just as Curry once was overlooked as an undersized high school basketball player, he ascended to the top of the NBA to become a three-time champion, his book club picks characters who defy the odds and change the game. Curry picks stories that are both real and imagined and highlight diverse protagonists and social justice issues to inspire the readers to break boundaries and reach new heights. I love that this book club amplifies underrepresented authors, women authors, people of color, and other underrated authors and voices. Pick this club for inspirational reads that highlight fierce women, diverse perspectives and the black experience.

 

So this is just highlighting some of the Luminaries – and there are thirteen of them to choose from and each one will give such a wonderful experience to add to your reading life.

I hope you take a look at the Literati book Club and enjoy the experience this special book club brings to your reading life and beyond.

 

10/5/2021 PAYBACK’S A WITCH by Lana Harper EXCERPT (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; October 5, 2021)

 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (October 5, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593336062

“Payback’s a Witch is the book I’ve been waiting for all my life. A sexy, funny, charming romp of novel that scratches that witchy, autumnal itch just right. I read this story in one breathless, giggling sitting, and at the first fall nip in the air, I know I’ll be reading it again. One of my favorite reads in years.”—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read

“Payback's a Witch is like the first Halloween wind through the corn: brisk, breezy, and altogether refreshing. This is a sweet, charming read, absolutely designed to be enjoyed on a crisp fall evening. I want to go to Thistle Grove. My greatest regret about this book is that it isn't a five-season TV show that I can already sit down and just binge.”—Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author

"A sexy, charming, and completely magical romance full of sparkling dialogue and loveable characters. Emmy’s quest to find out where she belongs is so relatable, with some spells and supernatural elements included to spice things up. And Emmy’s hometown, Thistle Grove, is so enchanting that I found myself wishing I could plan a visit! Reading Payback's a Witch is like curling up with a big mug of cider on a perfect autumn day."—Kerry Winfrey, author of Very Sincerely Yours

"No tricks, all treat! Lana Harper’s debut Payback's a Witch is a compulsively fun read.”—Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy series

"Harper makes her adult debut with a queer rom-com that bewitches from the very first page...This magical joyride manages to feel both vibrantly current and timelessly mystical while avoiding the typical queer rom-com stereotypes. Combining John Tucker Must Die with a helping of an adult Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and a dash of Charmed, this addictive concoction begs for adaptation."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Harper’s adult debut is gorgeous in every way. It’s hilariously funny, deeply moving, powerfully uplifting and so glue-you-to-the-page engrossing that this reviewer literally did not put it down for the final hundred pages. The love story between Talia and Emmy develops beautifully, but the true romance is with the town and the community. The bonds of both family and friendship shine from start to finish, and Harper balances the different clans and captures how, together, they make Thistle Grove the magical place that it is."—BookPage, starred review

EXCERPT 

PAYBACK’S A WITCH by Lana Harper

Berkley Trade Paperback Original | On Sale October 5, 2021

As soon as I crossed the town line, I could feel Thistle Grove on my skin.



That I was in my shitty beater Toyota made no difference; maybe the town could sense one of its daughters coming home, even after almost five years away. A swell of raw magic coursed into the car, until the air around me nearly shimmered with potential, bright and buzzy and headier than a champagne cocktail. As if Thistle Grove's own magical heart was pulsing eagerly toward me, welcoming me back. No hard feelings about my long absence, apparently.



Made one of us, I guess.



The onslaught of magic after my dry spell was so intoxicating that I hunched over the steering wheel, taking shallow breaths and wondering a little wildly whether you could overdose on magic after having gone cold turkey for so long. From the passenger seat, Jasper cast me a glinting, concerned glance from beneath his silvery fringe and shoved a clumsy paw onto my thigh.



"I'm okay, bud," I murmured to him through a thick throat, reaching over to stroke his warm neck. "It's just . . . a whole lot, you know?"



That was the thing about growing up with magic. Until you left it behind for good, you had no idea how incredible it felt just to be around it.



And it wasn't only the air that seemed different. Through my spattered windshield, the night sky had changed, snapping into Ÿber-focus like a calibrated telescope. Above Hallows Hill, the unlikely little mountain the town huddled up against, a crescent moon hung like a freshly whetted sickle. Waning crescent, my witch brain whispered, already churning up the spells best cast in this phase. Its silhouette looked like it could carve glass, impossibly perfect and precise, the kind of moon you'd see in a dream. The constellations that surrounded it like a milky spill of jewels were arranged the same as on the other side of the town line but better somehow, more intentional, clear-cut and brilliant as a mosaic set with precious gems. So enticing, they made me want to pull the car over and tumble out, head hinged back and jaw agape, just to watch them glitter.



This fucking town. Always so damn extra.



With an effort, I resisted the temptation. But when the orchards that belonged to the Thorns appeared on my left, I gave in just enough to roll down my window.



The night air gusted against my face, smelling like an absolute of fall; woodsmoke and dying leaves and the faintest bracing hint of future snow. And right below that was the scent of Thistle Grove magic, which I've never come across anywhere else. Spicy and earthy, as if the lingering ghost of all the incense burned by three hundred years of witches had never quite blown away. A perpetual Halloween smell, the kind that gave you the good-creepy sort of tingles.



And fallen apples, of course. The Thorns' rows and rows of Galas, Honeycrisps, and Pink Ladies, sweet and cidery and indescribably like home.



It all made the part of me that used to adore this place-oh, cut the shit, Emmy, the part of you that still does, the part that will never, ever stop-throb like first-love heartache. My eyes welled hot with sudden tears, and I knuckled them clear more violently than necessary, angry with myself for sinking into nostalgia so readily.



Sensing my mood plummeting, Jasper gave an aggrieved snort, tossing his regally mustachioed snout at me.



"I know, I know," I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. "I promised not to get too in my feelings. I'm just tired, bud. From now on, it'll be all business till we can get out of here."



He huffed again, as if he knew me much too well to buy into my stoic crap. I might be back here only because Tradition Demands the Presence of the Harlow Scion, but nothing in Thistle Grove was ever that simple. Especially when it came to the heir of one of the founding families.



Ten minutes later, I pulled into my parents' oak-lined residential neighborhood, rattling onto their cobbled driveway. My chest clenched at the sight of my childhood home, fisting tight around my heart. It was a perfectly nice house, though not all that impressive as founding family demesnes go. The Blackmoores had their palatial Tintagel estate, the Thorns had Honeycake Orchards, and the Avramovs the rambling Victorian warren of a mansion they insisted on calling The Bitters, because they thrived on such old-world melodrama.



And we, the Harlows, had . . . lo, a house.



A stately three-story colonial almost as old as the town itself-though you wouldn't know it, to look at its magically weatherproofed exterior-Harlow House has never had a fancy name, thereby upholding the timeless Harlow legacy of being both the least pretentious and least relevant of the founding families. As always, a candle burned in every window; thirteen flames, for prosperity and protection. The flying owl weather vane spun idly in the night breeze, and the dreamcatcher windchimes hung by the front door clinked delicately against one another. A plume of smoke coiled from the brick chimney in a curlicued wisp before vanishing into the velvety dark above.



It looked like a storybook house belonging to your favorite no-nonsense witch-which, come to think of it, sounded like both my parents.



And it was all like I remembered, except that the thought of going inside made me feel painfully stripped of breath. There was an invisible moat of hurt surrounding my former home, years of unanswered questions. Restless water, teeming with the emotional equivalents of piranha and stinging jellyfish.



I couldn't do much about the hurt, and "because Gareth Blackmoore ruined this town for me" still seemed like a shitty answer to the question all the others boiled down to, which was: Emmy, why haven't you come home all this time?



So I turned the car off and just sat with my head bowed, listening to the ticks of the engine settling and Jasper's low-grade whine, focusing on my breath. When I'd collected myself about as much as I was going to, I lurched out of the car on travel-stiff legs and let Jas out to baptize the quiet street, then hauled my battle-scarred suitcase and gigantic duffel bag out of the trunk. By the time he came loping back, I'd managed to wrestle everything up onto the columned porch with an admirable minimum of cursing.



I still had my key, but it seemed horribly rude and presumptuous to use it after a five-year absence, so I knocked instead. When the door swung open, I managed to flinch only a little, blinking at the warm light spilling from within.

MY THOUGHTS:

A perfect witchy season to read Lana Harper's latest, Payback's a Witch.

The story is centered on Emmy Harlow who is a reluctant witch who needs to come home for the spellcasting tournament - since she has not returned home to her magical town of Thistle Grove for many years, her powers have also diminished. But never mind that, the last person she wants to see is Gareth Blackmore who broke her heart many years ago. Enter Linden and Talia - they are also victims of Gareth's charms and with the three of them together for a revenge, Emmy also has a romantic interest and i found that relationship super cute and romantic.

This is the first book in the series and cannot wait to read more about the magical families and the Thistle Grove world.

Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University and law at Boston University. She is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing program and the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, the forthcoming Poison Priestess, and the forthcoming adult rom-com, Payback's A Witch, from Berkley Books (10/5/21). Lana was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States. She lives in Chicago with her family.

You can follow Lana on Goodreads