Tag: Small Mercies | CatalystPress

Another Honor for Small Mercies

Congratulations to author Bridget Krone and illustrator Karen Vermeulen! The Skipping Stones Awards honor books that “promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and/or encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology, and diversity.” The Skipping Stones award is yet another wonderful honor for this thoughtful and heartwarming middle-grade novel. The book has also been named a Best Middle-Grade Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews and an Outstanding International Books by the United States Board on Books for Young People. We’re so proud to publish Small Mercies.

Many thanks to Skipping Stones Magazine, Karen, Bridget, and all of the readers who have read, loved, and supported this book!

Continue reading “Another Honor for Small Mercies”

Reading Naturally

It’s Earth Day! We’ve only got the one planet, and today (and every day) is a good day to reflect on the ways we can make it better— today and tomorrow. We have a few books, for readers of all ages, that tackle some of our biggest environmental issues from a variety of perspectives. And if you keep reading, you’ll also get a peek at some forthcoming titles that also explore our connection to the natural world.

This Week in Literary News: Week of January 24

In Catalyst news, Bridget Krone’s Small Mercies was just named an Outstanding International Book by the U.S. Board of Books for Young People (USBBY)! This is the second time a Catalyst Press book has won this prize, starting with Futhi Ntshingila’s We Kiss Them with Rain. And a new translation from Ivanka Hahnenberger, the translator for our upcoming graphic novel Madame Livingstone, was just awarded the prestigious Batchelder Award! The Batchelder Award celebrates outstanding children’s books from outside of the United States that have been translated into English. The winning book, Catherine’s War (HarperCollins), was originally published in France in 2017 and tells the story of a Jewish girl named Catherine who is forced to change her identity during World War II. Madame Livingstone, our newest graphic novel about an unlikely friendship in the Congo during World War I, is available from Catalyst Press in June. Congratulations to Bridget and Ivanka!

In celebrity book news, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade wrote a children’s book, Shady Baby, inspired by their daughter and scheduled for release in May. Also in May, Big Short author Michael Lewis is releasing a new book, this time about the group that anticipated the global pandemic. Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is starting a book club, and so is Jeffrey Sachs. Maria Shriver is starting up an imprint at Penguin called The Open Field. Quentin Tarantino signed a two-book deal with Wiedenfeld & Nicolson, the first of which will be the director’s first work of fiction, based on his film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Speaking of the film, its co-star Margaret Qualley will be starring alongside Sigourney Weaver for the movie treatment of the breakout 2014 memoir My Salinger Year, out March 5^th.

Continue reading “This Week in Literary News: Week of January 24”

This Week in Literary News, Week of November 29

First up, some big news in the Catalyst world this week: Kirkus Reviews named Bridget Krone’s Small Mercies as one of the best middle grade books of 2020, and Booker shortlisted This Mournable Body author Tsitsi Dangarembga listed two upcoming Catalyst titles, Sifiso Mzobe’s Young Blood and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu’s The Theory of Flight, on her top 10 favorite books! Congratulations to our amazing authors – you are the reason we love what we do! [Ed note: We’re having a sale on all of our books all month long! You can pick up any of our books for 20% off this month, and find out exactly why we love these authors so very much!]

Our dear friend Izak DeVries interviewed the Catalyst team for LitNet this week, where we talked about South African and American publishing, exciting things coming up on our list, and our fourth #ReadingAfrica week, which starts this Sunday and goes until December 12! Along with our annual social media campaign, where we encourage readers, authors, and book-lovers of all kinds to post about what African authors they’re reading, we’re also hosting two virtual #ReadingAfrica events for the first time ever. This Sunday, December 6 at 12:00 EST and 19:00 South Africa time, join us for our kick-off event co-hosted with LitNet and featuring a number of authors and publishers from around the world, and on Wednesday, December 9 at 12:00 EST and 19:00 South Africa time, crime columnist Michael Sears will be moderating an African crime novel panel. Find out more and register here for both events. We hope to see you there! Continue reading “This Week in Literary News, Week of November 29”

This Week in Literary News, Week of March 1

Our weekly round-up of literary news here at Catalyst and beyond, is brought to you by our intern Naomi Valenzuela. Naomi is from Phoenix, Arizona and El Paso, Texas, and is majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in English & American Literature at the University of Texas, El Paso, with plans of working in the publishing business after graduation.

In publishing news, ViacomCBS has put Simon & Schuster up for sale. The multinational media conglomerate says that the company no longer fits into their business plans. Read more on The New York Times.

On Brittle Paper, there’s a gathered series of humorous tweets showing readers how different writers have a different interpretation of Nigeria in their fiction.

Also on Brittle Paper, an article on The Life and Struggles of Our Mother Walatta Petros. Originally written in 1672, it has been translated into English and details the life of Walatta Petros, an important figure within Ethiopia’s Tawahedo Church tradition.

The Washington Post has an article on how the coronavirus has led to an increasing amount of “survival guides” for the virus on Amazon and underlines how unreliable information may be spread through self-publishing.

Continuing on the topic of the coronavirus, it persists to harm the literary industry as The Guardian reports on the cancellation of the London book fair due to fears and involuntary financial strains on publishers.

The Guardian also has an opinion piece discussing World Book Day and the tradition of dressing up to celebrate the day.

Electric Lit has a neat selection of adult novels accompanied by illustrations. From thrillers to biographies, there is something for everyone in these books with graphic elements.

Last but certainly not least, Bridget Krone author of Small Mercies, one of our latest releases, has an interview for Intralingo’s Spotlight series. Take a look at it over on Intralingo’s podcast or their YouTube channel.

February New Releases

Another great month of releases here at Catalyst! This month, we’ve got something for the science-lover and for young readers. Both books are available now at your favorite booksellers and right here at our website!

Cat Among the Pigeons by David Muirhead. This collection of short, humorous essays is the first release from our science-focused Powers Squared imprint and a must-have for the animal-lover in your life. Ever wonder why vervet monkeys enjoy an after-dinner drink? (Vervet monkeys. They’re just like us!) Or what Shakespeare thought of hedgehogs (Spoiler: not much)? Or why rain frogs need a rainy day to get, um, romantic? (Hope you had a very rainy Valentine’s Day, rain frogs!) You’ll find out in David’s collection that blends the science, history, and myth of an assortment of African animals. The book also features illustrations by Patricia de Villiers. Cat Among the Pigeons is out now. Learn more about David in this Q&A.

And Small Mercies, the debut middle-grade novel from Bridget Krone. Bridget’s novel about finding your voice and standing up for what’s right has been earning her a lot of praise. She’s earned a starred review from Kirkus who called the book “sensitive, funny, and tender”; School Library Journal praised the book as “a heartfelt, human, and wise addition to middle grade shelves”; and author Kathi Appelt writes, “You will not leave the pages of this book without feeling somehow smarter and wiser and kinder.” The book is also out now in the UK! Learn more about Bridget in this Q&A, and to keep up with her writing, events, news, and more, check out her website: www.bridgetkrone.com

Q&A with Bridget Krone

This Q&A comes to us from SarahBelle Selig. SarahBelle is our representative for all things Catalyst/Story Press Africa in South Africa. If you’re following us on any of our social media accounts, look for the hashtag #CatalystSA, for news about our books in South Africa.

We are so thrilled to announce our February release, Small Mercies, a middle-grade novel by South African author Bridget Krone! Dubbed by Kirkus Reviews in a starred review as “sensitive, funny, and tender,” Small Mercies, which also features illustrations by Karen Vermeulen, tells the story of a Mercy, a shy girl from Pietermaritzburg with two eccentric foster aunts, a chicken named Lemon, and one big problem. When Mercy is faced with snooty school bullies and ruthless real estate developers, she learns that telling the truth – no matter how messy it is – may be the perfect remedy for life’s tricky situations. As put by New York Times bestseller Kathi Appelt, “You will not leave the pages of this book without feeling somehow smarter and wiser and kinder.”

A former English teacher, Bridget Krone has written many English language textbooks and short novels for use in South African schools. Bridget has spent most of her life in and near Pietermaritzburg, a town whose quirky residents and complicated history make it a microcosm of life in South Africa. We caught up with Bridget to chat all things Small Mercies – from bees, to bullying, to Gandhi. Check out an excerpt below, and read the rest at our site. And don’t forget to grab your copy online on IndieBound or in your favorite local bookstore! Continue reading “Q&A with Bridget Krone”