Chris Bohjalian
In Chris Bohjalian's newest book, Before You Know Kindness, he brings us a family saga that is timely in its examination of some of the most important issues of our era, and timeless in its exploration of the strange and unexpected places where we find love. A hunting rifle with a single cartridge left in the chamber wound up in the wrong hands at the wrong time, and leads to a nightmarish accident that puts to the test the values that unite the family. A winner of the New England Book Award, Chris Bohjalian is the author of nine novels, and a collection of essays. His novel, Midwives, was a number one New York Times bestseller, a selection of Oprah's Book Club and a Publishers Weekly "Best Book." He lives in Vermont.

Herb Boyd
Hailed by Muhammad Ali as "the king, the master, my idol," Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest boxer America had seen since Joe Louis and is considered by many today to be, pound for pound, the best boxer the sport has ever known. At a time still characterized by discrimination, his victories represented victories for all black America. And they were all the more symbolic because of the place he chose to call home -- Harlem. Pound for Pound was co-written with Robinson's son and thoroughly researched by Amsterdam News reporter Herb Boyd. A recipient of the American Book Award, Herb Boyd is an activist, journalist, author, and teacher. He lives in New York City.

Lorenzo Carcaterra
The most exciting achievement to date from Lorenzo Carcaterra, the acclaimed author of Sleepers and Gangster, Paradise City is a riveting thriller of two cops and two countries, a stunning crime novel about the roots of revenge, honor, and evil. From the sunstruck villages of Italy to the darkest drug dens of New York City, Paradise City delves into the tense relationships between detectives and the mob. Number one New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra's highly successful career spans more than twenty years of writing for the diverse fields of fiction, non-fiction, television, and film. He has worked as a writer and producer for Law & Order. Carcaterra is a born and bred New Yorker.

Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch returns in Michael Connelly's newest work, The Narrows. The Narrows places Harry Bosch both with and at odds with the FBI and squarely in the path of the most ruthless and ingenious serial killer in Los Angeles's history. What follows is a taut and tantalizing mystery that has Harry Bosch racing from the hostile vistas of the Nevada desert to the glittering Las Vegas strip to the dark corners of Los Angeles. Michael Connelly's books have won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and Nero awards. While working for the Sun-Sentinel, he wrote about police and crime during the height of the 1980's cocaine wars in South Florida. A native of Fort Lauderdale, he currently resides in Sarasota.

Tim Dorsey
In Torpedo Juice, Serge A. Storm, the psychopathic Florida serial killer, returns -- and so does Tim Dorsey -- for another hilarious tour of the wacky side of Florida, with all of its decadence, corruption, and bizarre violence. This time the lovable but maniacal hero is on a mission: Stay off police radar and reinvent himself. Naturally Serge makes a beeline to the Florida Keys, where nobody is who they seem to be. Critics and colleagues alike have praised Dorsey's previous novels as wonderfully satirical adventures that highlight the dark underside of the Sunshine State. Tim Dorsey was a reporter and editor for the Tampa Tribune from 1987 to 1999 and is the author of six previous novels. He lives in Tampa with his wife and children.

Dan Fesperman
In his electrifying new thriller, The Warlord's Son, Dan Fesperman takes us to present-day Afghanistan, where the fates of an American journalist and a Pakistani translator become intertwined with the fortunes of warlords, spies, and dubious corporate interests. Skelly, a burned-out war correspondent hoping for a last hurrah, arrives on the Afghan border just as American bombs begin falling on the ruling Taliban. There, he links up with an exiled warlord's quixotic expedition guided by Najeeb, a tribal Pakistani with his own objective - U.S. visas for his girlfriend and himself, promised by Pakistani intelligence if he acts as an informant. Dan Fesperman, who lives in Baltimore, is the author of two previous novels.

Jilliane Hoffman
When an elite prosecutor faces the most lethal predator she's ever encountered, it all comes down to a choice between justice…and retribution. Prosecutor C.J. Townsend is a talented Assistant State Attorney in Miami, well-known for her ability to handle even the most horrific cases. But C.J. has personal demons that she's never shown the world. Jilliane Hoffman's debut novel, Retribution, was inspired by her experience as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting felonies in Florida from 1992 to 1996. Until 2001, Hoffman was the regional legal advisor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, advising special agents on criminal and civil matters including organized crime. She lives in Fort Lauderdale.

Stephanie Kallos
Broken for You is a debut novel that explores the risks and rewards of human connection, and the hidden strength behind things that only seem fragile. It is the story of two women in self-imposed exile whose worlds are transformed when their paths intersect. Funny, heartbreaking, and alive with a potpourri of eccentric and irresistible characters, Broken for You is a testament to the saving graces of surrogate families, and shows how far the tiniest repair jobs can go in righting the world's wrongs. Stephanie Kallos spent twenty years in the theater as an actress and teacher. Her short fiction has been nominated for both a Raymond Carver Award and a Pushcart Prize. She resides in Seattle.

Dave King
Dave King's debut novel, The Ha-Ha, is about silence, family and the imperative of love. Howard has not spoken in thirty years. Ever since a severe blow to the head during his days in the Army, words unravel in his mouth and letters on the page make no sense at all. No one understands that Howard is still the same man he was before enlisting, still awed by the beauty of a landscape, still pining for his high school sweetheart. Dave King holds a BFA in painting and film from Cooper Union and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. He has been published in The Paris Review and Big City Lit, and he has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He lives in New York.

Malachy McCourt
Malachy McCourt, born in Brooklyn and raised in Limerick, Ireland, is The New York Times bestselling author of his autobiographies, A Monk Swimming, Singing My Him Song, as well as the books Danny Boy, The Claddagh Ring, and now Malachy McCourt's History of Ireland. His theatrical show, A Couple of Blaguards, which he co-wrote with his brother Frank, has been produced all across the U.S.A. as well as Australia and the U.K. Malachy McCourt managed to fail every subject in school except English and recess. He had quite a tumultuous time on the radio but he has also had a successful career as an actor in feature films, television, and on stage. Happily married and living in New York City, he is a proud father and grandfather.

John Searles
Strange But True brings an unforgettable cast of characters to life. Philip Chase has moved back home with his mother, Charlene, a bitter woman who has never fully accepted the death of her younger son, Ronnie. When Ronnie's high school girlfriend shows up, Philip and Charlene must confront their past. A desperate search for answers takes them on an emotional journey that leads to murder and revenge. John Searles is the Deputy Editor of Cosmopolitan where he oversees all book coverage for the magazine. His essays, articles and reviews have appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and other national magazines and newspapers. He lives in New York City.

Mimi Sheraton
What's it like dining at some of the world's best restaurants, as well as some of the worst? What's it like to share your opinion about food and restaurants with readers around the world? Mimi Sheraton is one of the most renowned food writers and restaurant reviewers in the country and in her entertaining and candid memoir Eating My Words, the doyenne of food critics provides a poignant look at the events of her extraordinary life. Mimi Sheraton is a veteran food critic for The New York Times, Time, Vanity Fair and Condé Nast Traveler. Her books include The Bialy Eaters, The German Cookbook, The Seducer's Cookbook, Visions of Sugarplums and From My Mother's Kitchen. She lives in New York City.

Sally Bedell Smith
In Grace & Power: The Private World of The Kennedy White House, New York Times bestselling author Sally Bedell Smith takes us inside the Kennedy White House with unparalleled access and insight. Having interviewed scores of Kennedy intimates, and drawing on letters and personal papers made available for the first time, Smith paints a richly detailed picture of the personal relationships behind the high purpose and political drama of the 20th Century's most storied presidency. Author of In All His Glory, Reflected Glory and Diana In Search of Herself, Sally Bedell Smith has been a contributing editor at Vanity Fair since 1996. She previously worked at Time and The New York Times. Smith lives in Washington, D.C.

Steven Sorrentino
In his memoir, Luncheonette, Steven Sorrentino tells the story of what happened when he put his dreams of stardom on hold to return home to take care of his ailing father. Steven takes over his father's luncheonette in New Jersey, where his social circle includes a counter full of eccentrics. From this unusual post, Steven watches as his father refuses to accept defeat. Guilty and confused, Steven yearns to unlock the secret of his father's resilience. Steven Sorrentino has worked in public relations since 1987 where he began as a publicist for Harper & Row, staying with that company during several transformations and becoming Vice President and Executive Director of Publicity at HarperCollins Publishers.

Alexandra Stoddard
Things I Want My Daughter to Know shares simple, profound truths for joyful living. Alexandra Stoddard, a mother, grandmother, and noted lifestyle philosopher, helps readers cut to the heart of what's important in these brief, wise essays on essential principles worth living by. Touching on the many textures of existence, these are insights from a woman who has truly lived and learned. Author of more than twenty books, Alexandra Stoddard is a sought-after speaker on the art of living. Through her lectures and books, such as Living a Beautiful Life, Grace Notes, Open Your Eyes, and Feeling at Home, she has inspired millions to pursue more fulfilling lives. She lives in New York City and Stonington Village, Connecticut.

James Surowiecki
In The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea that has profound implications: large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant - better at solving problems, fostering innovation, even predicting the future. This seemingly counterintuitive notion has endless ramifications for how businesses operate, how knowledge is advanced, and how we live our daily lives. James Surowiecki is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he writes the popular business column, The Financial Page. His work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Artforum, Wired, and Slate. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Jacqueline Winspear
In Birds of a Feather, the second novel in a unique detective series, Maisie Dobbs, a smart and thoughtful investigator living in London in 1939, has been hired to find a wealthy grocery magnate's daughter who has fled from home. A simple case becomes complicated when Maisie learns of the recent violent deaths of three of the heiress's old friends. Is there a connection between the two? As Maisie investigates further, she discovers that the answers lie in the unforgettable agony of The Great War. Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in England and now lives in California. Her first novel, Maisie Dobbs, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2003, and a 2003 Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel.

Charles Zelden
The Battle for the Black Ballot is a richly detailed and eminently readable account of one of the first triumphs in the struggle for racial equality. Charles Zelden places the landmark Smith v. Allwright decision in historical context that deepens our comprehension of the racial politics of law. Due to various rules, laws and statutes in Texas, African-Americans were denied the right to vote until Houston dentist Lonnie Smith challenged the process. He found victory with the U.S. Supreme Court. The Smith v. Allwright decision was a major turning point for the modern civil rights movement. Charles L. Zelden is associate professor of history at Nova Southeastern University and author of Voting Rights on Trial and Justice Lies in the District: The U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1902 -1960.