Professor Explores Legacy of Frankenstein Author

Mary Shelley is best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein, but Salisbury University professor Lucy Morrison believes the British writer's legacy is broader.

In the 2010 collection of essays Mary Shelley: Her Circle and Her Contemporaries, Morrison rejects the characterization of Shelley as a "one-book author" and instead illustrates the full influence of the many works by the famed Romantic. In addition to being a novelist, Shelley was short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer and travel writer.

"This collection joins a conversation other scholars began in the 20th century--and leaves it with more remaining to be said in the decades to come," Morrison writes in the introduction.

The essays explore Shelley's place within the Romantic period. They illustrate her literary partnership with her husband, poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. They consider the influence that her well-known parents, political philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, had on her career. They also examine her texts alongside those of contemporaries, including Thomas Moore and John Polidori.

Co-authored and edited with Dr. L. Adam Mekler of Morgan State University, the book was printed by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in the United Kingdom. Previously, Morrison has co-authored A Mary Shelley Encyclopedia and has published articles on women writers of the Romantic period in the Keats-Shelley Journal, Philological Quarterly, Persuasions Online and Romanticism on the Net.

Morrison is an associate professor in SU's English Department and specializes in British Romantic literature. She also is associate director of SU's Bellavance Honors program.

Child Author Gets Surprise Book Deal

Earlier this summer, 9-year old Luke Copas toured the new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. with his mother and father, Sabrina and Robby Copas. The fourth grader at Northview Primary School in Kodak, Tenn. was no stranger to the world's most famous luxury liner; in fact, he had already written a book about it – but his visit to the museum would lead to a huge surprise for the young writer.

Last school year, then 8-year old Luke had been selected to participate in the "Child Authors' Conference." An avid reader who loved learning about the past, Luke wanted his book to create a passion in other children for history.

Sabrina Copas said, "Luke became a walking encyclopedia of all things Titanic. He was literally consumed by it. When it came time for him to actually write his book for the Child Authors' Conference, it took him less than one week to write it because he knew the subject matter so well."

Luke took his book to the Titanic Museum Attraction and showed it to co-owner Mary Kellogg-Joslyn. Impressed with the boy's talent and driven by his enthusiasm, Kellogg-Joslyn secretly made a few phone calls and landed the boy a book deal.

New Kindle Exclusive: David Morrell, New York Times Bestselling Author

Amazon.com announced that internationally bestselling author David Morrell is releasing a new, never-before-published, full-length thriller, "The Naked Edge," along with nine of his previously published books, in electronic book format exclusively in the Kindle Store. This is the first time any of these titles have been available electronically. These Kindle editions will offer additional content for many of the books, including new introductions and photographs that reveal insights into the making of these modern classics. All 10 of these Morrell books are available starting today for download exclusively from the Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore).

Morrell is the co-founder of the International Thriller Writers organization, a three-time Bram Stoker award- winner, and recipient of ITW's ThrillerMaster award in recognition of his legendary career and outstanding contributions to the thriller genre. His first novel "First Blood," still in print after 38 years, became the successful Rambo film franchise.

Running Press Book Publishers and Seventeen Magazine Team Up for Unique Book Project

Christopher Navratil, Publisher of Running Press Book Publishers, a member of The Perseus Books Group, has acquired world rights to Seventeen's Ultimate Style Guide by Ann Shoket and the Editors of Seventeen through Lia Ronnen at Melcher Media. Running Press will publish in July 2011; Melcher will package.

"We are excited to be working with Ann and her group in bringing this book to market. In working with the # 1 selling monthly teen magazine, our goal is to create an indispensable guide that readers will turn to for inspiration," says Navratil.

"This book represents an important part of our editorial strategy of 'Seventeen Everywhere' – we want to be everywhere teen girls are ... including bookstores!" says Seventeen Editor in Chief, Ann Shoket. "Running Press is a great fit for us because they understand how to reach the consumer through traditional and non-traditional book channels."

At its core, Seventeen's Ultimate Style Guide will teach teens and young women how to develop their own personal style and provide hundreds of ideas on how to maximize wardrobe options, stretch the dollar, and make everyday basics work in hundreds of ways. The book will be an essential and timeless guide for every girl just as the magazine is the iconic fashion and beauty bible for generations of teens.

Ron Morris, Inks Publishing Deal With CelebrityPress To Release "Counter-Attack"

Ron Morris, author, CEO, and political consultant, has joined with CelebrityPress and noted business development expert, best-selling author and speaker, Brian Tracy, to publish a new book titled, "Counter-Attack: Business Strategies for Explosive Growth in the New Economy." Celebrity Press™, founded by JW Dicks, Esq. and Nick Nanton, Esq, is a business book publisher that publishes books from thought leaders around the world.

Ron Morris is an author, CEO, and political consultant. As a founder of both SaaS (Software as a Service) and localization companies, he is a recognized expert on doing business in Asia and international outsourcing. As creator of Intelligence Guidance, a political consulting firm, Ron is also an acclaimed analyst covering Southeast Asian politics, security and business issues. He is a regular contributor and onscreen analyst for news agencies in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. and advises clients worldwide.

Random House Children's Books Publishes Its First-Ever Exclusive E-Book Original

For the first time in the publisher's history, today Random House Children's Books (www.randomhouse.com/kids) is releasing an e-book original, written by the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Michael Scott and entitled THE DEATH OF JOAN OF ARC: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers / $0.99).

The story is available exclusively in digital format and is the newest addition to Scott's series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, which has sold more than 1 million copies to date in North America. Following on the heels of the publication of The Necromancer (May, 2010), the e-book original is a short story that will fascinate fans.

"With the exception of the two teen characters, Michael Scott's series is based entirely on individuals transplanted from history, mythology, folklore, and legend," explains Beverly Horowitz, Delacorte publisher. "Michael's new e-book original is certain to entertain fans and satisfy them as they wait until the publication of the next book in the six-part series, The Warlock (2011)." For more information about Michael Scott and the series visit www.Facebook.com/SecretsofNicholasFlamel.