In Their Own Words: George Foreman

George Edward Foreman was an American professional boxer, businessman, minister, and author who passed away on March 21. Born in Marshall, Texas, and raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward community, Foreman went on to become a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Below are books that he’s written in the TBP collection.

BY GEORGE: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE FOREMAN (DB 40645)
GEORGE FOREMAN’S GUIDE TO LIFE: HOW TO GET UP OFF THE CANVAS WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU DOWN (DB 57421)
GEORGE FOREMAN’S KNOCK-OUT-THE-FAT BARBECUE AND GRILLING COOKBOOK (BRE 00001)

2025 British Book Awards Book of the Year Shortlist

The British Book Awards, aka The Nibbies, is a celebration of books: it affirms, connects, and energizes the world of reading by showcasing those who create stories and everyone who plays a role in bringing those stories to life.

The Books of the Year spotlight the titles that have stirred imaginations, started conversations, and been part of book clubs and bestseller lists. The winners will be chosen on May 12.

For more information check out the British Book Awards Website.

Here are the Book of the Year Shortlisted books for 2025 that are in the TBP collection.

Book of the Year Fiction

INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney (DB 124516, en español DB 125537, BR 25681
IN PROCESS)
JAMES by Percival Everett (DB 120063, BR 25513 IN PROCESS, LB 0000436)
LONG ISLAND by Colm Tóibín (DB 121434, en español DB 123317)
YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls (DB 122159)

Book of the Year – Pageturner

DAYDREAM by Hannah Grace (DB 124185)
HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW by Sarah J. Maas (DB 120413)
SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES by Jojo Moyes (DB 112338, BR 25197, LB 14576)
CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore (DB 125088)

Book of the Year – Crime and Thriller

ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker (DB 122210, LB 0000688)
HAS ANYONE SEEN CHARLOTTE SALTER by Nicci French (LB 0000437)
HUNTED by Abir Mukherjee (DB 120968)
WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman (DB 124180, LB 0001031)

Book of the Year – Début Fiction

BUTTER by Asako Yuzuki and translated by Polly Barton (DB 121229)
GLORIOUS EXPLOITS by Ferdia Lennon (DB 125459)
MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley (DB 121556, BR 25559 IN PROCESS)
WHEN THE MOON HATCHED by Sarah A. Parker (IN PROCESS)

Book of the Year – Non-Fiction: Narrative

PATRIOT: A MEMOIR by Alekseĭ Navalʹnyĭ and translated by Arch Tait and Stephen Dalziel (DB 125530)
UNLEASHED by Boris Johnson (DB 126270)

Book of the Year – Non-Fiction: Lifestyle & Illustrated

WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR by Stanley Tucci (DB 125284)

Book of the Year Discover

AN AFRICAN HISTORY OF AFRICA by Zeinab Badawi (IN PROCESS)
OUT ON A LIMB by Hannah Bonam-Young (DB 123689)

Book of the Year – Children’s Fiction

TEMPEST OF TEA by Hafsah Faizal (DB 119619)
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: HOT MESS by Jeff Kinney (DB 127010 IN PROCESS, LB 0001145)
RECKLESS by Lauren Roberts (DB 123147, en español DB 123437)
REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE by Holly Jackson (DB 120240)

Book of the Year – Audiobook Non-Fiction

NEXUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFORMATION NETWORKS FROM THE STONE AGE TO AI by Yuval N. Harari and narrated by Vidish Athavale (DB 123839, LB 0001427,en español DB 124345)
SOCIOPATH: A MEMOIR written and narrated by Patric Gagne (DB 120977, LB 0001397)
UNLEASHED written and narrated by Boris Johnson (DB 126270)

Book of the Year – Audiobook Fiction

LIFE IMPOSSIBLE by Matt Haig and narrated by Joanna Lumley (DB 123847, LB 0001349)
YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls and narrated by Lee Ingleby and Lydia Leonard (DB 122159)

2025 Texas Topaz Adult Nonfiction Reading List

The Texas Library Association has created a list that highlights outstanding nonfiction published during the past three years that stimulates reading for pleasure and personal learning. This list is the Texas Topaz Reading List. Here are the items from the 2025 list that are in the TBP collection.

For more information check out the Texas Library Association’s Website.

AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING: NOTES ON MODERN IRRATIONALITY by Amanda Montell (DB 123290)
AMERICAN GIRLS: ONE WOMAN’S JOURNEY INTO THE ISLAMIC STATE AND HER SISTER’S FIGHT TO BRING HER HOME by Jessica Roy (DB 119214)
BIRDGIRL: A YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST LOOKS TO THE SKIES IN SEARCH OF A BETTER FUTURE by Mya-Rose Craig (DB 118312)
CHAMBER DIVERS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE D-DAY SCIENTISTS WHO CHANGED SPECIAL OPERATIONS FOREVER by Rachel Lance (DB 120888)
EYELINER: A CULTURAL HISTORY by Zahra Hankir (DB 119371)
FOUR THOUSAND PAWS: CARING FOR THE DOGS OF THE IDITAROD: A VETERINARIAN’S STORY by Lee Morgan (DB 122275)
HIDDEN POTENTIAL: THE SCIENCE OF ACHIEVING GREATER THINGS by Adam Grant (DB 117392, LB 0000582)
HIS MAJESTY’S AIRSHIP: THE LIFE AND TRAGIC DEATH OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST FLYING MACHINE by S. C. Gwynne (DB 123529)
HOW TO BE PERFECT: THE CORRECT ANSWER TO EVERY MORAL QUESTION by Michael Schur (DB 106773)
HOW TO SURVIVE HISTORY: HOW TO OUTRUN A TYRANNOSAURUS, ESCAPE POMPEII, GET OFF THE TITANIC, AND SURVIVE THE REST OF HISTORY’S DEADLIEST CATASTROPHES by Cody Cassidy (DB 118800)
MAKING IT SO by Patrick Stewart (DB 116785)
MAN OF TWO FACES: A MEMOIR, A HISTORY, A MEMORIAL by Viet Thanh Nguyen (DB 122406, BR 25523 IN PROCESS)
ONE IN A MILLENNIAL: ON FRIENDSHIP, FEELINGS, FANGIRLS, AND FITTING IN by Kate Kennedy (DB 118984)
ROGUES: TRUE STORIES OF GRIFTERS, KILLERS, REBELS AND CROOKS by Patrick Radden Keefe (DB 108725, LB 14056)
SAYS WHO?: A KINDER, FUNNER USAGE GUIDE FOR EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT WORDS by Anne Curzan (DB 120286)
SWANS OF HARLEM: FIVE BLACK BALLERINAS, FIFTY YEARS OF SISTERHOOD, AND THEIR RECLAMATION OF A GROUNDBREAKING HISTORY by Karen Valby
(DB 120913, LB 0000347)
TWELVE TREES: THE DEEP ROOTS OF OUR FUTURE by Daniel Lewis (DB 120510)
UNCLAIMED: ABANDONMENT AND HOPE IN THE CITY OF ANGELS by Pamela Prickett (DB 120500)
WAGER: A TALE OF SHIPWRECK, MUTINY, AND MURDER by David Grann
(DB 113965, BR 25435 IN PROCESS, LB 14399)
WALK IN THE PARK: THE TRUE STORY OF A SPECTACULAR MISADVENTURE IN THE GRAND CANYON by Kevin Fedarko (DB 122177)
WALKING WITH SAM: A FATHER, A SON, AND FIVE HUNDRED MILES ACROSS SPAIN by Andrew McCarthy (DB 114419)
YOU NEVER KNOW: A MEMOIR by Tom Selleck (DB 125747, LB 0000518)

National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists 2024

The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) honors outstanding writing and fosters a national conversation about reading, criticism, and literature. Each March, the National Book Critics Circle presents awards for the finest books published in English the previous calendar year. These are the only national literary awards chosen by critics themselves. The finalists were announced January 19, and the winners were announced on March 20.

For more information check out the National Book Critics Circle Awards.

Here are the NBCC Award Finalists for the 2024 publishing year that are in the TBP collection.

Fiction

ANTHROPOLOGISTS by Ayşegül Savaş (DB 123838)
BEAUTYLAND by Marie-Helene Bertino (DB 119680)
GODWIN by Joseph O’Neill (DB 121915)
GREAT EXPECTIONS by Vinson Cunningham (DB 121347)
JAMES by Percival Everett (DB 120063, BR 25513 IN PROCESS, LB 0000436)
MY FRIENDS by Hisham Matar (DB 124799)

Autobiography

LAST FIRE SEASON: A PERSONAL AND PYRONATURAL HISTORY by Manjula Martin (DB 119115)
PATRIOT: A MEMOIR by Alekseĭ Navalʹnyĭ (DB 125530)

Biography

JOHN LEWIS: A LIFE by David Greenberg (DB 125436, BR 25696 IN PROCESS)
MONET: THE RESTLESS VISION by Jackie Wullschläger (DB 124423 IN PROCESS)
REAGAN: HIS LIFE AND LEGEND by Max Boot (DB 125355)
TRUE BELIEVER: HUBERT HUMPHREY’S QUEST FOR A MORE JUST AMERICA by James Traub (DB 120753)

Nonfiction

ACHILLES TRAP: SADDAM HUSSEIN, THE C.I.A., AND THE ORIGINS OF AMERICA’S INVASION OF IRAQ by Steve Coll (DB 119811)
CHALLENGER: A TRUE STORY OF HEROISM AND DISASTER ON THE EDGE OF SPACE by Adam Higginbotham (DB 122096, LB 0000857)
KENT STATE: AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY by Brian VanDeMark (DB 124654)
LIGHT EATERS: HOW THE UNSEEN WORLD OF PLANT INTELLIGENCE OFFERS A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE ON EARTH by Zoë Schlanger (DB 121476)
THERE’S ALWAYS THIS YEAR: ON BASKETBALL AND ASCENSION by Hanif Abdurraqib (DB 120391)

Translation

HERSCHT 07769: Florian Herscht’s Bach novel by László Krasznahorkai and translated from the Hungarian by Ottilie Mulzet (DB 125872 IN PROCESS)
V13: CHRONICLE OF A TRIAL by Emmanuel Carrère and translated from the French by John Lambert (DB 127283 IN PROCESS, en español DB 121177)

2025 Texas Topaz Youth Nonfiction Reading List

The Texas Library Association has created a list that highlights outstanding nonfiction published during the past three years that stimulates reading for pleasure and personal learning. This list is the Texas Topaz Youth Reading List. Here are the items from the 2025 list that are in the TBP collection.

For more information, check out the Texas Library Association’s website.

GRADES K-2

FEW BEAUTIFUL MINUTES: EXPERIENCING A SOLAR ECLIPSE by Kate Allen Fox
(BR 25059)
MARCEL’S MASTERPIECE: HOW A TOILET SHAPED THE HISTORY OF ART by Jeff Mack (DB 111802)
YOSHI, SEA TURTLE GENIUS: A TRUE STORY ABOUT AN AMAZING SWIMMER by Lynne Cox (DB 115907)

GRADES 3-5

MY LOST FREEDOM: A JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II STORY by George Takei (DB 122066)
SWEET JUSTICE: GEORGIA GILMORE AND THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT by Mara Rockliff (DB 107576, BR 24874)

GRADES 6-8

ABSURD WORDS: A KIDS’ FUN AND HILARIOUS VOCABULARY BUILDER FOR FUTURE WORD NERDS by Tara Lazar (DB 107111, BR 24261)
TOTAL GARBAGE: A MESSY DIVE INTO TRASH, WASTE, AND OUR WORLD by Rebecca Donnelly (DB 113913)

GRADES 9-12

AMERICA REDUX: VISUAL STORIES FROM OUR DYNAMIC HISTORY by Ariel Aberg-Riger (DB 117993)
DISAPPEARING ACT: A TRUE STORY by Jiordan Castle (DB 116145, BR 25250 IN PROCESS)
ENIGMA GIRLS: HOW TEN TEENAGERS BROKE CIPHERS, KEPT SECRETS, AND HELPED WIN WORLD WAR II by Candace Fleming (DB 119821)
IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE: A TRUE STORY OF SURVIVAL AND HEROISM IN NAZI EUROPE by Steve Sheinkin (DB 116406)
MARKED MAN: FRANK SERPICO’S INSIDE BATTLE AGAINST POLICE CORRUPTION by John Florio (DB 120346)
SPIRIT SLEUTHS: HOW MAGICIANS AND DETECTIVES EXPOSED THE GHOST HOAXES by Gail Jarrow (DB 126167)

Audie Awards Finalists 2025

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced the finalists for the 2025 Audie Awards, “recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.” Winners were announced at the Audie Awards Gala at The Avalon in Los Angeles on March 4, 2025.

For more information check out the Audie Awards website.

Here are the finalists for 2025 that are in the TBP collection.

Audiobook of the Year

MY NAME IS BARBRA by Barbra Streisand and narrated by the author (DB 116687)
PLAYGROUND: A NOVEL by Richard Powers and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandhu, Krys Janae, and Kevin R. Free (DB 124700)
POOR DEER by Claire Oshetsky and narrated by Sophie Amoss (DB 122755)
SING SING FILES: ONE JOURNALIST, SIX INNOCENT MEN, AND A TWENTY-YEAR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE by Dan Slepian and narrated by the author (DB 126173)

Autobiography/Memoir

IN MY TIME OF DYING: HOW I CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE IDEA OF AN AFTERLIFE by Sebastian Junger and narrated by the author (DB 123521)
KNIFE: MEDITATIONS AFTER AN ATTEMPTED MURDER by Salman Rushdie and narrated by the author (DB 120670)
MY NAME IS BARBRA by Barbra Streisand and narrated by the author (DB 116687)
THIRD GILMORE GIRL: A MEMOIR by Kelly Bishop and narrated by the author
(DB 124981)

Best Fiction Narrator

Elle Fanning for MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES by Rufi Thorpe (DB 122178)
Dominic Hoffman for JAMES by Percival Everett (DB 120063)
Saskia Maarleveld for BRIAR CLUB by Kate Quinn (DB 122866)
Julia Whelan for WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (DB 118896)

Best Nonfiction Narrator

Peter Noble for WIDE WIDE SEA: IMPERIAL AMBITION, FIRST CONTACT AND THE FATEFUL FINAL VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN JAMES COOK by Hampton Sides (DB 120831)
Malcolm Gladwell for REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT: OVERSTORIES, SUPERSPREADERS, AND THE RISE OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING by Malcolm Gladwell (DB 124574)

Business/Personal Development

AND THEN WE RISE: A GUIDE TO LOVING AND TAKING CARE OF SELF by Common and narrated by the author (DB 118989)
FLUKE: CHANCE, CHAOS, AND WHY EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS by Brian Klaas and narrated by the author (DB 120430)

Español – Spanish Language

ISLA OCULTA por Abraham Jiménez Enoa narrated by Ernesto Rumbaut and Javier Lacroix (DB 121746)

Faith-Based Fiction or Nonfiction

AMERICAN QUEEN by Vanessa Miller and narrated by Angel Pean
(DB 125706 IN PROCESS)
DO THE NEW YOU by Steven Furtick and narrated by the author (DB 120437)
MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES: REFLECTIONS ON SEEKING AND FINDING HIS LOVE EVERYWHERE by Savannah Guthrie and narrated by the author (DB 120654)

Fantasy

BLACK SHIELD MAIDEN by Willow Smith and Jess Hendel and narrated by Willow Smith (DB 126966 IN PROCESS)
BRIGHT SWORD: A NOVEL OF KING ARTHUR by Lev Grossman and narrated by the author and Nicholas Guy Smith (DB 122990)
GODDESS OF THE RIVER by Vaishnavi Patel and narrated by Sneha Mathan
(DB 125631)

Fiction

MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley and narrated by George Weightman and Katie Leung (DB 121556)
WOMEN by Kristin Hannah and narrated by Julia Whelan (DB 118896)

History/Biography

CHALLENGER: A TRUE STORY OF HEROISM AND DISASTER ON THE EDGE OF SPACE by Adam Higginbotham and narrated by Jacques Roy (DB 122096)
CODENAME NEMO: THE HUNT FOR A NAZI U-BOAT AND THE ELUSIVE ENIGMA MACHINE by Charles Lachman and narrated by Qarie Marshall (DB 123531)
DEMON OF UNREST: A SAGA OF HUBRIS, HEARTBREAK, AND HEROISM AT THE DAWN OF THE CIVIL WAR by Erik Larson and narrated by the author and Will Patton (DB 120675)
LOVES OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT: THE WOMEN WHO CREATED A PRESIDENT by Edward F. O’Keefe and narrated by the author (DB 123403)
SHOWMAN: INSIDE THE INVASION THAT SHOOK THE WORLD AND MADE A LEADER OF VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY by Simon Shuster and narrated by Daniel Gamburg (DB 119252)

Humor

GLORY DAYS: STORIES by Simon Rich and narrated by John Mulaney (DB 124328)

Judges Category- Horror

ANGEL OF INDIAN LAKE by Stephen Graham Jones and narrated by the author and Isabella Star LaBlanc, Barbara Crampton, Angela Goethals, Andrew J. Robinson, with Stephen King (DB 120300)
I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER by Stephen Graham Jones narrated by the author and Michael Crouch (DB 123048)
SWARM by Jennifer D. Lyle and narrated by Krystal Hammond (DB 117572)

Literary Fiction and Classics

JAMES by Percival Everett and narrated by Dominic Hoffman (DB 120063)
MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich and narrated by Marin Ireland (DB 124843)

Multi-Voiced Performance

BUTCHER: FATHER OF MODERN GYNO-PSYCHIATRY by Joyce Carol Oates and narrated by Amy Shiels, Edoardo Ballerini, Cassandra Campbell, Robert Fass, Tavia Gilbert, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Danny Campbell, and Max Meyers (DB 121699)
FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN: A MEMOIR by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough and narrated by Julia Roberts and Riley Keough (DB 124764)
WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF D-DAY by Garrett M. Graff and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Garrett M. Graff, Arthur Bishop, Nicholas Boulton, Holter Graham, Imogen Church, Raphael Corkhill, Kevin R. Free, Billie Fulford-Brown, Gary Furlong, Adam Grupper, Graham Halstead, Simon Jones, Elizabeth Lagelée, James Langton, Matthew Lloyd Davies, Saskia Maarleveld, Ron May, Leon Nixon, Jacques Roy, Rob Shapiro, and Eunice Wong (DB 122991)

Mystery

LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera and narrated by Will Damron and January LaVoy (DB 119654)
MIDNIGHT FEAST by Lucy Foley and narrated by Joe Eyre, Sarah Slimani, Roly Botha, Laurence Dobiesz, and Tuppence Middleton (DB 122574)
STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE by Lisa Gardner and narrated by Hillary Huber
(DB 119891)
THIS IS WHY WE LIED by Karin Slaughter and narrated by Kathleen Early (DB 124323)

Narration by Author

BITS AND PIECES: MY MOTHER, MY BROTHER, AND ME written and narrated by Whoopi Goldberg (DB 121637)
KNIFE: MEDITATIONS AFTER AN ATTEMPTED MURDER written and narrated by Salman Rushdie (DB 120670)

Nonfiction

SITUATION ROOM: THE INSIDE STORY OF PRESIDENTS IN CRISIS by George Stephanopoulos with Lisa Dickey and narrated by George Stephanopoulos, Peter Ganim, and Elisabeth Rodgers (DB 121216)
WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: GLAMOUR AND POWER AT THE DAWN OF AMERICAN FASHION by Julie Satow and narrated by Karen Murray (DB 122466)

Romance

LOVE YOU A LATKE by Amanda Elliot and narrated by Kelli Tager (DB 124977)
ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center and narrated by Patti Murin (DB 122047)

Science Fiction

BOOK OF DOORS: A NOVEL by Gareth Brown and narrated by Miranda Raison
(DB 119678)
LAKE OF SOULS: THE COLLECTED SHORT FICTION by Ann Leckie and narrated by Adjoa Andoh (DB 120243)
MAL GOES TO WAR by Edward Ashton and narrated by John Pirhalla and Katharine Chin (DB 121330)
SYSTEM COLLAPSE by Martha Wells and narrated by Kevin R. Free (DB 117861)

Thriller/Suspense

FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston and narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (DB 118733)
FOREST OF LOST SOULS by Dean R. Koontz and narrated by January LaVoy
(DB 125187 IN PROCESS)
LONE WOLF by Gregg Hurwitz and narrated by Scott Brick (DB 119099)
RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK by Emiko Jean and narrated by Mizuo Peck, Tessa Albertson, Nicole Lewis, Rebecca Lowman, Joy Osmanski, Angel Pean, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Erin Ruth Walker, and CJ Wilson (DB 121780)

Young Adult

HEIR by Sabaa Tahir and narrated by Vidish Athavale, Esme Lonsdale, Joe Pitts, Marco Young, and Rachel Petladwala (DB 124830)

Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List 2025

Since 2009, the Texas Library Association has created a list that highlights outstanding fiction published during the year that merits special attention from adult readers. This list is the Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List. Here are the items from the 2025 list that are in the TBP collection.

For more information: https://txla.org/tools-resources/reading-lists/lariat/current-list/

BOOK OF DOORS by Gareth Brown (DB 119678)
BORROWED LIFE OF FREDERICK FIFE by Anna Johnston (DB 124326)
BY ANY OTHER NAME by Jodi Picoult (DB 123719)
EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle (DB 120246, BR 25514, LB 0000623)
EXTINCTION by Douglas Preston (DB 120861)
FAMILY FAMILY by Laurie Frankel (DB 119034)
FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon (DB 117781, LB 0000144)
FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry (DB 120998, BR 25494, LB 0000348)
GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore (DB 122747, LB 0000606)
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Joyce Maynard (LB 0000605)
HOW TO READ A BOOK by Monica Wood (DB 121701)
JAMES by Percival Everett (DB 120063, BR 25513 In Process, LB 0000436)
LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera (DB 119654)
MALAS by Marcela Fuentes (DB 122759, LB 0000549)
SPELLSHOP by Sarah Beth Durst (DB 123077)
WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman (DB 124180, LB 0001031)
WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach (DB 123160)
WHERE THEY LAST SAW HER by Marcie Rendon (DB 123805)
WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (DB 118896, LB 0000104)
WORST CASE SCENARIO by T. J. Newman (DB 123285)
WREN IN THE HOLLY LIBRARY by K. A. Linde (DB 122207)

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Preston Lewis

Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with award-winning western author, Preston Lewis.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean, will discuss his life and his Memoirs of H. H. Lomax series, starting with DEMISE OF BILLY THE KID (DBC 26457). Following the talk, there will be a Q&A session.

Our Author Talks are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone!

Participating is easy:

  • Use your landline to dial in via phone.
  • Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
  • Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.

To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.

We invite you to ask Preston Lewis questions about his book series. Please submit your questions by April 15. We will select questions based on the responses, and they may be asked during the event! Fill out the form here: Author Questions

To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: Register Here

Or if you prefer, reply to this email or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with his book or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

DEMISE OF BILLY THE KID (DBC 26457) by Preston Lewis.

NLS Annotation: “H.H. Lomax never claimed to have won the West, but he sure made it fun through his intriguing memoirs of offbeat encounters with many of the frontier’s most enduring heroes and scoundrels. Starting with Billy the Kid, Lomax knocks some of the Old West’s biggest legends out of the saddle with both his wit and his wits, providing a hilarious romp over new trails through familiar territory. After a murky incident involving the killing of a Colorado lawyer, Lomax rides into New Mexico Territory in 1877 astride his mule Flash and soon finds himself roped into a band of rustlers until Billy the Kid drafts Lomax as the first member of his own gang. Though their trails soon part, Lomax and the Kid cross paths time and again as each in his own way navigates the corruption and violence of the Lincoln County War. Each survives until they both take a liking to the same hot-tempered señorita. At least that’s how Lomax tells the story! Whether you believe him or not, Lomax is sure to entertain anyone who takes up his trail of calamity and hilarity as he stumbles across some of the biggest names of the Old West.”–from the publisher. Violence and strong language. 2015.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, April 22!

Using BARD for Spanish Speakers

Spanish is a high priority international language. BARD has a Spanish language collection, and its interface is available in Spanish on the web version and also both iOS and Android BARD apps.

Spanish Language Books

NLS has a Spanish version of the NLS website and a robust and growing Spanish language collection.

There are three main sources for Spanish audiobooks:

  1. NLS narrates print or ebooks,
  2. NLS converts Spanish commercial audiobooks to accessible audiobooks, and
  3. NLS imports accessible audiobooks in Spanish from other countries via the Marrakesh Treaty. The vast majority of these come from Spain.

NLS collects both translations into Spanish and original-Spanish language books from as many Spanish-speaking countries as possible.

BARD

On BARD, there are currently 6,499 audiobooks and 62 braille books in Spanish (including music titles). The Spanish collection has increased by 150% over the past 3 and a half years.

Finding Spanish Language Books in BARD

You can find these Spanish language titles by changing your preferred language or filtering search results by selecting your preferred language.

BARD Website

  1. Go to Account Settings.
  2. Choose the fourth item down “Select this link to change your language preferences.”
  3. Check the checkbox next to Spanish.
  4. Click on the “update” button.

BARD Express

  1. Go to Search BARD.
  2. Select the “Filter” button.
  3. Select the checkbox next to Spanish Language.
  4. Select the “Ok” button at bottom of the screen.

BARD app for iOS

  1. Go to Settings Tab.
  2. Go to User Account Settings.
  3. The fifth item down is “Language Preferences.”
  4. Choose Spanish.

BARD App for Android

  1. In the app’s Settings, go to User Account Settings and then Language Preferences.
  2. Select up to four languages.
  3. When searching for books in the app, you will have up to four languages based on your settings. Default languages are English and Spanish if no changes are made.

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Harry Hunsicker

Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Thursday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with Texas Thriller author, Henry Hunsicker.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with him about his career as an author as well as his book, STILL RIVER: A LEE HENRY OSWALD MYSTERY. Following the talk, there will be a Q&A session.A Q&A chat will follow.

Our Author Talks are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone! Participating is easy:

  • Use your landline to dial in via phone.
  • Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
  • Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.

To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.

We invite you to ask Harry Hunsicker questions about his book. Please submit your questions by February. We will select questions based on the responses to this form, and they may be asked during the event!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ShareFormPage.aspx?id=_3tZpDifRUGgM0ohaDmaXpEw_c_Y9elOm8rvPNh2aWFUMTRTVU1VNTYzRTdRVjROOExSMjVDSjQ5US4u&sharetoken=m1dMlXIuF8rxFHdeo4fK

To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpcuigqTsiHdyEnNJPeodfE9FxQeIlb2pF

Or if you prefer, reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with his book or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

STILL RIVER: A LEE HENRY OSWALD MYSTERY by Harry Hunsicker (DBC 18169)

NLS Annotation: An appeal from a high school acquaintance to find her missing brother, whom the unfortunately named Dallas private detective, Lee Henry Oswald protected from bullies’ decades earlier, leads to a maze of real estate deals somehow involving a violent drug gang. Strong language, violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, February 20!