On the eleventh day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me …

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten, and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow.” – “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin

Between this week’s unseasonal warmth in the New York metro area and an unfavorable outlook for snow over the holiday weekend, it seems unlikely that any NYC-based Overlookers will be enjoying a white Christmas this year. After last December’s onslaught of extreme winter weather we’ll be grateful to skip the endless shoveling and travel delays, but as the days slowly begin to grow longer after last night’s winter solstice, we’re all secretly craving Central Park sledding and snowball fights.

Whatever the weather may bring this weekend, the 12 Days of Overlook Christmas must go on. With only two days of literary gift-giving remaining, we’ve already handed out ten prize packs containing sets of books by Charles Portis, Milton Glaser, Eva Zeisel, Kate Colquhoun, Carrie Hagen, Peter Quinn, John Avlon, Jesse Angelo, Errol Louis, Juan Luis Cebrián, Alan Cowell, Robert Forbes, Walter Brooks, Paul Lichter, King Adz, Allan Tannenbaum, Mervyn Peake, Maeve Gilmore, Charles Dickens, David Bercuson, Holger Herwig, P.G. Wodehouse, Eoin Colfer, Jim Nisbet, and Charles McCarry (whew). Today we add to that esteemed list one of our most cherished writers of crime fiction and noir, R.J. Ellory, whose three previous Overlook novels A Quiet Belief in Angels, The Anniversary Man, and A Simple Act of Violence, as well as his forthcoming A Quiet Vendetta will all be given away to one lucky winner. Congratulations to Petite, who nabbed yesterday’s suspense and comic noir compilation, and remember to continue sending comments and tweets to enter today’s contest.

What do a kidnapped governor’s daughter, a secret government cover-up, a serial killer from New Jersey, and a group of adolescent vigilante guardians have in common? They’re all subjects found between the pages of R.J. Ellory’s award winning mysteries and thrillers. Of Ellory’s work, commercial heavyweight James Patterson said, “There aren’t nearly enough beautifully written novels that are also great mysteries. Like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Smilla’s Sense of Snow, A Quiet Belief in Angels is one of them.” If you’re looking for something to do this weekend besides open gifts, skip the Fincher flick and cozy up to one of Ellory’s psychological page turners.

A Quiet Vendetta (coming in 2012) begins with a seemingly straightforward crime: the New Orleans kidnapping of Catherine Ducane. The police quickly react, expecting the usual demands of a ransom for her recovery, but when the mutilated remains of her bodyguard are discovered and her kidnapper finally calls, it’s not money he’s asking for, but instead a private audience to tell the shocking story of his own dark past. Ringing with truth and containing an epic history of the Italian mafia in America, it’s a must have for mystery fans.

A Simple Act of Violence is a panoramic novel about the covert activities of the CIA during the war in Nicaragua, the illegal trafficking of cocaine from Managua to Miami in CIA-chartered aircrafts, and the activities of known criminals given carte blanche and exemption from prosecution by the US intelligence community—all set against the backdrop of contemporary Washington. Perfect for the conspiracy theory enthusiast.

A riveting thriller set in New York City, The Anniversary Man may well be the ultimate serial killer novel, chronicling the case of a deranged but highly intelligent murderer who kills on the anniversary dates of famous crimes from the past. A mesmerizing mystery and an ideal gift for fans of the serial killer thriller.

Set in the small, rural community of Augusta Falls, Georgia A Quiet Belief in Angels tells the story of twelve-year-old Joseph Vaughan as he learns of the brutal assault and murder of a young girl—a classmate he knew better than anyone else and quietly loved. The murder is the first in a series of killings that plague his community over the next decade. Compelled by fear and duty, Joesph gather a group of friends to form “The Guardians,” who vow to watch over the young girls of Augusta Falls. But the murderer evades them and they watch helplessly as one child after another is taken.

Don't forget, there are three ways to enter. Good luck and happy holidays!

1. Comment on this post

2. Tweet at us using the hashtag #OverlookChristmas

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page

You can enter once in each area until 8 AM tomorrow morning, and we will be announcing a winner in Monday’s post. After all entries are received, we choose a winner using random.org. Please leave an email address when entering so we can contact you if you’ve won.

On the ninth day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me …

With only four installments in the ongoing 12 Days of Overlook Christmas giveaway remaining, you may be asking yourselves what tricks we could possibly still have up our sleeves for these final days of literary gift-giving. With eight days of previous giveaways under our belts, we have already handed out a portable Portis paperback collection, a trio of illustrated designer tomes, a set of hair-raising historical mysteries, three scoops for journalism junkies, classic and contemporary kid-lit, visual volumes for the holidays, a menagerie of Mervyn Peake stories, and a Dickens-inspired Christmas compendium, but we have saved one of our perennial favorite stocking-stuffers for today’s lucky winner. Congratulations to Elisabeth Hilverda, who took home yesterday’s tinsel-themed prize pack, and make sure to continue sending us Facebook comments and tweets if you want to cash in on today’s special gift!

Although this holiday giveaway has been focused on the 12 Days of Overlook Christmas, December brings a bevy of holiday celebrations that we would be remiss to ignore. Tonight at sundown begins Hanukkah, AKA the festival of lights. During the eight days of Hanukkah, menorahs the world over will be lit to commemorate the ancient miracle in which one day’s supply of oil burned for eight nights. Dreidels will be spun, latkes will be consumed, and Adam Sandler songs and movies will be looped on repeat. To celebrate the first night of Hanukkah (as well as the ninth day of our Overlook Christmas), today we are giving away two of the most recent additions to our Collector’s Wodehouse series, as well as two forthcoming sneak peeks to be released in 2012: Mike at Wrykyn, The Adventures of Sally, The Gold Bat, and Love Among the Chickens.

The late Christopher Hitchens called P.G. Wodehouse “the gold standard of English wit,” and shared a deep love and passion for PGW with writers including Stephen Fry and Evelyn Waugh. At Overlook, we publish more than eighty books in our Collector’s Wodehouse series (at one book per day, that’s more than eight Hanukkah’s worth) and share in their deep respect and admiration for Wodehouse’s brand of bubbling British humor.

In Mike at Wrykyn (coming April 2012), Wodehouse evokes the peaceful, prosperous world of middle-class England before the Great War, a place where rich men hire private cricket professionals to coach their sons at home, and little seems to matter at school except the publishing of team lists and the taking of tea. The Adventures of Sally (2012) is a transatlantic comedy set in worlds Wodehouse knew well: American theaters, English country houses, and the theatrical boardinghouses where young men and women dream of finding fame and fortune. These two advance releases make the perfect gift for the Wodehouse novice, or for those who only know him through Blandings and Picadilly.

Love Among the Chickens is the tale of Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge, one of Wodehouse’s favorite protagonists, and his fraught attempt to establish a business farming chickens on the coast of Dorset. Set in English public school in the years before World War I, The Gold Bat tells the story of O’Hara and Moriarty, two boys at Wrykyn School, who tar and feather the statue of a pompous local politician, and mislay at the scene of their crime a tiny god bat. A gentle early comedy, which should delight Wodehouse diehards and new readers alike.

As always, there are three ways to enter:

1. Comment on this post

2. Tweet at us using the hashtag #OverlookChristmas

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page

You can enter once in each area until 8 AM tomorrow morning, and we will be announcing a winner in Monday’s post. After all entries are received, we choose a winner using random.org. Please leave an email address when entering so we can contact you if you’ve won.

On the fifth day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me …

Welcome back book lovers! You’ve probably already heard by now, but Overlook is ringing in the holiday season this year with twelve days of literary gift giving. We’re putting on our Santa caps every Monday through Friday until December 23^rd, carefully selecting themed book sets to give away to our dedicated fans and readers. Perfect gifts for the oncoming snowy days of winter and the inevitable hours of holiday travel, this week’s giveaways have included books by Charles Portis, designers Milton Glaser and Eva Zeisel, a collection of white knuckle historical mysteries and true crime thrillers, and newsy reads for the journalism buff. Naughty or nice, everyone is eligible to win. Thanks to all who have helped spread the word through comments and tweets, and congratulations to yesterday’s lucky winner, @wrikent3500.

Here at Overlook, there’s something about the winter holidays that brings out our collective inner child. Maybe we’ve just watched too many animated Christmas specials, but December makes us yearn for the simple pleasures of childhood. For today’s giveaway, we’re going to indulge our juvenile sides, and celebrate some of the best children’s books and young adult literature in the Overlook library. Although they make perfect gifts for the kids on your holiday shopping list, if you’re anything like us you’ll want to save these picture books and YA reads for yourself.

Let’s Have a Bite! A Banquet of Beastly Rhymes, written by Robert Forbes and illustrated by Ronald Searle combines mischievous rhymes and delightful illustrations, making it a great gift for poetry lovers of all ages. With over thirty delicious poems and zany illustrations featuring critters large and small (plus an original poster!), this madcap menagerie is sure to satisfy readers aged seven to seventy.

Are you a friend of Freddy? Freddy the Pig is one of history’s most iconic characters in children’s literature, and Freddy the Detective is a classic example of Freddy at his best. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes, Freddy and his partner Mrs. Wiggins the Cow team up to investigate a series of disappearances on the Bean farm. Walter Brooks is the author of more than twenty-five books in the Freddy series, and teamed with Caldecott and Newbery winning illustrator Kurt Wiese, this hilarious misadventure is the perfect introduction to the classic series for a new generation of readers.

True Grit returns to the Overlook Christmas giveaway list, today as the perfect gift for the adventure-seeking YA reader. Charles Portis’s story of fourteen year old Mattie Ross’s overpowering effort to avenge the murder of her father is a contemporary classic that's sure to resonate deeply with fans of To Kill a Mockinbird and the novels of Mark Twain.

To enter, simply:

1. Comment on this post

2. Tweet at us using the hashtag #OverlookChristmas

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page

You can enter once in each area until 8 AM tomorrow morning, and we will be announcing a winner in tomorrow’s post. After all entries are received, we choose a winner using random.org. Please leave an email address when entering so we can contact you if you’ve won.

On the third day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me ...

Happy Monday, and welcome to the third installment of the ongoing Overlook holiday giveaway bonanza! Last week two lucky readers scored literary prize packs featuring the complete Charles Portis paperback backlist and a pair of beautiful design books by Milton Glaser and Eva Zeisel. Congratulations to Friday’s winner Carl Scott, and a big thanks to all those who have entered so far.

Are you a history buff who also loves thrilling stories of mystery and intrigue? Do you crave meticulously researched period pieces but also seek a thrill? For today’s giveaway we’re offering three books that combine grisly true crimes and gripping historical mysteries: Murder in the First-Class Carriage by Kate Colquhoun, a signed copy of We Is Got Him by Carrie Hagen, and The Man Who Never Returned by Peter Quinn—the perfect gift for the whodunit enthusiast who seeks historical accuracy along with their white-knuckle suspense.

Kate Colquhoun’s Murder in the First-Class Carriage tells the true story of the death of Thomas Briggs, who in 1864 became the first murder victim in the history of the British rail system. The hunt for Brigg’s killer takes readers on a transatlantic journey from Victorian London to New York and reveals a suspenseful account of the investigation and trial of Briggs’ assailant.

Carrie Hagen was kind enough sign this copy of We Is Got Him, the captivating true story of the abduction of four year old Charley Ross in 1874, the first kidnapping for ransom in the history of the United States. The Philadelphia Inquirer calls We Is Got Him, “an elegantly told, superbly accomplished history of good and bad intentions gone awry.”

Peter Quinn’s The Man Who Never Returned blends fact and fiction in its original retelling of the disappearance of New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crater on August 6^th, 1930. Judge Crater’s disappearance remains one of New York’s most famous unsolved mysteries to date, and in addition to the book, we’ll also be giving away a Man Who Never Returned t-shirt, featuring the original missing person’s poster advertising his disappearance.

To enter, simply:

1. Comment on this post

2. Tweet at us the hashtag #OverlookChristmas

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page

You can enter once in each area until 8 AM tomorrow morning, and we will be announcing a winner in tomorrow’s post. After all entries are received, we choose a winner using random.org. Please leave an email address when entering so we can contact you if you’ve won.

On the first day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me…

Everyone knows that books make the best gifts, right? If you’re reading this blog you probably agree with us. Last year, Overlook got into the true spirit of the holiday season and spent twelve days in December giving away some of our favorite books that we’ve published over the past forty years. We had such a strong response that we’ve decided to continue the tradition this year, with another twelve days of literary gifting!

Beginning today, and continuing every weekday through Friday, December 23^rd, come check out the Winged Elephant, where you’ll have a chance to win free copies of classics from our backlist as well as early sneak peeks for 2012. We’ll be giving away signed copies, author collections, limited edition volumes, and genre themed book sets by our favorite Overlook authors. Neither the contest nor the books are Christmas exclusives—we just can’t resist using the song!

Today we are spreading the holiday cheer by giving away a complete set of Charles Portis paperbacks, including True Grit, Norwood, Masters of Atlantis, Gringos, and The Dog of the South. Many readers may know Portis for True Grit, the 1968 novel that was readapted for film last year by Joel and Ethan Coen, but his four other novels are all classics in their own right— cool, sympathetic, funny, and undeniably Portis. Conan O’Brien called Masters of Atlantis “one of the few laugh-out-loud novels I’ve read,” and Entertainment Weekly described Norwood as a “glimpse of how a 20^th-century Mark Twain might write.” Perfect for both the diehard Portis lover and the uninitiated novice, these books will provide hours of comic entertainment to one lucky recipient.

You can enter to win books in three different ways:

1. Comment on this post

2. Tweet at us using the hashtag #OverlookChristmas

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page

You can enter once in each area until 8 am tomorrow morning, and we will be announcing a winner in tomorrow’s post.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for even more holiday gifting and to check to see if you’ve won. Happy holidays to everyone from the Overlook Press!

Happy True Grit Day!

The new film adaptation of TRUE GRIT opens today nationwide. Have any plans to see it? If so, did you read the book? What did you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Also, our holiday giveaways are officially over (congrats to @ConMartin on Twitter for winning). Thanks for entering! We had a fantastic response and will be doing more giveaways in 2011, so make sure you're subscribed to our blog updates, follow us on Twitter, and are a fan of Overlook Press on Facebook.

We're in the office for the rest of this week and all next week, so you'll still hear our #fridayreads, get a glimpse at some of our publishing-related resolutions and updates on your favorite Overlook books--whether it's Charles Portis, P.G. Wodehouse, Katie Arnoldi or something else. And we have a fantastic 2011 publishing schedule that we know you'll want to see as well.

Thanks for a wonderful 2010 holiday season.

On the 12th day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me...

...WINNERS CHOICE! (Charles Portis, P.G. Wodehouse or Nonesuch Dickens Great Expectations!)

First, congratulations to yesterday's winners BethFishReads, Heather K and Amy for winning signed copies of Katie Arnoldi's POINT DUME!

For our last day of holiday giveaways, we're letting one lucky winner take his or her pick of True Grit and four additional titles by Charles Portis, or some of our new P.G. Wodehouse titles, or the Nonesuch Dickens edition of Great Expectations (Oprah's latest book club pick).

Now, we're a little bit biased towards the Charles Portis books right now, especially since he's getting some attention with the new Coen Brothers adaptation of his most famous novel, True Grit. But some of us like Norwood even more, and some of our Twitter friends have been particularly vocal about the superiority of The Dog of the South. We also thought Gringos and Masters of Atlantis were absolute American classics.

But in case you already read those, we thought you might prefer a Wodehouse or Dickens instead! So it's up to you.

TO WIN: Leave a blog comment, Tweet this contest, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. We'll announce the winner tomorrow morning!

Previously:
Nonesuch Dickens Christmas Books
Autographed Bliss, Remembered
Penny Vincenzi novels
Autographed Drawing is Thinking
True Grit, True Grit, TRUE GRIT! (ongoing)
The Gilded Stage: A Social History of Opera
Freddy the Pig in paperback
Street Knowledge
P.G. Wodehouse
Let's Have a Bite!
Point Dume

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me...

...A SIGNED COPY OF KATIE ARNOLDI'S POINT DUME!

First, congrats to our LET'S HAVE A BITE! winners--Michael (from the blog), Cindy H. (on Twitter) and April (also on Twitter). They'll receive signed copies of this mischievous menagerie in rhyme!

Next up is Overlook author and The Nervous Breakdown contributor Katie Arnoldi and her Los Angeles Times bestselling book POINT DUME. After the critically acclaimed CHEMICAL PINK and THE WENTWORTHS, Point Dume is a story of Arnoldi's passions--the death of surf culture, human trafficking, the Mexican drug cartel, illegal pot farms on public lands, environmental devastation, and obsessive love. Library Journal said that "her well-researched, well-written novel will appeal to fans of T.C. Boyle and Cormac McCarthy as well as to readers who mourn the destruction of the environment."

TO WIN: Leave a blog comment, Tweet this contest, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. You can enter once in every area and we'll announce the winners tomorrow morning as we announce what you can look forward to for the tenth day of Overlook Christmas!

Last giveaway TOMORROW!

Previously:
Nonesuch Dickens Christmas Books
Autographed Bliss, Remembered
Penny Vincenzi novels
Autographed Drawing is Thinking
True Grit, True Grit, TRUE GRIT! (ongoing)
The Gilded Stage: A Social History of Opera
Freddy the Pig in paperback
Street Knowledge
P.G. Wodehouse
Let's Have a Bite!

On the tenth day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me...

...a signed copy of LET'S HAVE A BITE!

We're excited to tell you more about this delightful Overlook title for young readers, but first, winner-winner-chicken-dinner time. We have LOTS of winners to announce today! (Disclosure: we selected our winners by listing all entrants from the blog, Twitter, and Facebook and using Random.org.)

First up, our TRUE GRIT bonanza winner, who will receive a a copy of the new movie tie-in edition of the book, a copy of our limited edition throwback version, a poster from the new TRUE GRIT movie and a pair of passes to an AMC theatre that we hope you'll use to see TRUE GRIT--is WORDLILY from the blog comments! We hope you and your father-in-law enjoy this movie as much as we did.

Our FIVE winners for copies of our new movie tie-in edition are
- PsychTLC on our blog
- Brian F. on our blog
- Hannah N. on Facebook
- @KKollef on Twitter
- @JarrettRush on Twitter

Congrats, all!

Due to the overwhelmingly great response, we have THREE P.G. Wodehouse winners. Congrats to EXILE BIBLIOPHILE on the blog, @GilionDumas on Twitter and Shayne B. on Facebook! We'll be doing more Wodehouse giveaways in the future, so make sure to follow our blog, Twitter, and Facebook!

All of the above--email kgales at overlookny dot com with your mailing addresses to claim your prizes!

And now onto today's main event...we're giving away THREE SIGNED COPIES of LET'S HAVE A BITE: A BANQUET OF BEASTLY FEASTS, by one of Overlook's favorite authors, Robert L. Forbes. It's illustrated by legendary artist Ronald Searle, and the whimsical drawings make Mr. Forbes' delightful rhymes come to life. One lucky winner will also receive a signed poster!

Here's an example of one of our favorite poems.

Flick the fly
Is no nice guy,
A huge but tiny pest.
He'll buzz my head
Until he's fed —
Never giving me a rest.

And one of our favorite illustrations (not with that poem!)

This book is geared towards children ages 4-8, but the rhymes and drawings can be appreciated by anyone young at heart!

TO WIN: Leave a blog comment, Tweet this contest, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. You can enter once in every area and we'll announce the winners tomorrow morning as we announce what you can look forward to for the tenth day of Overlook Christmas!

Two more days of giveaways to go!

Previously:
Nonesuch Dickens Christmas Books
Autographed Bliss, Remembered
Penny Vincenzi novels
Autographed Drawing is Thinking
True Grit, True Grit, TRUE GRIT! (ongoing)
The Gilded Stage: A Social History of Opera
Freddy the Pig in paperback
Street Knowledge
P.G. Wodehouse

On the ninth day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me...

...THREE NEW P.G. WODEHOUSE TITLES!

First, congratulations to yesterday's winner, Jessica M., who will receive an early copy of STREET KNOWLEDGE by King Adz. Also, a reminder: today is the last day to enter to win TRUE GRIT prizes! Go here to learn more and enter!

Today we're giving away three of our new editions of P.G. Wodehouse titles. One of Overlook's most popular authors, we're re-releasing all of his works in stylish new editions. These have been incredibly well received both for the signature Wodehouse humor and the beautiful Overlook cover designs.

We'll be giving away A Pelican at Blandings, A Prefect's Uncle and Eggs, Beans and Crumpets, all of which are newly available from Overlook.

TO WIN: Leave a blog comment, Tweet this contest, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. You can enter once in every area and we'll announce the winners tomorrow morning as we announce what you can look forward to for the tenth day of Overlook Christmas!

Upcoming: one more book for young adults, one more set of signed books and the final day of Christmas next Tuesday!


Previously:
Nonesuch Dickens Christmas Books
Autographed Bliss, Remembered
Penny Vincenzi novels
Autographed Drawing is Thinking
True Grit, True Grit, TRUE GRIT! (ongoing)
The Gilded Stage: A Social History of Opera
Freddy the Pig in paperback
Street Knowledge

On the eighth day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me...

...AN ADVANCE COPY OF THE NOT-YET-ON-SALE STREET KNOWLEDGE BY KING ADZ!

First, congratulations to yesterday's winners Mystie (right here on the blog!) and Jeannine (on Twitter), who will get the three just-released-in-paperback copies of FREDDY THE PIG! Also, a reminder that our TRUE GRIT contest ends tomorrow. Go here to learn more and enter0!

Next up, a copy of one of our coolest books ever that goes on sale this February--STREET KNOWLEDGE, by King Adz. It's an encyclopedia of street culture for those who love Banksy or Irvine Welsh and want to know about the cutting-edge talents who are shaping street art. This is a gorgeous book in and of itself and is sure to start a conversation on any coffee table or bookshelf. But for those interested in the sometimes subversive but always fresh styles of street artists, this is a goldmine of information.

STREET KNOWLEDGE includes works by and interviews with the most bold-faced names in street art, including Banksy, David LaChapelle, Kelsey Brookes, Quik, Tony Kaye, Tama Janowitz, The KLF, Shawn Stussy, Obey, Irvine Welsh, Martha Cooper, and Benjamin Zephaniah, as well as lesser-known and up-coming talents who are literally coming up from the streets.

And the author, King Adz, is a fascinating person as well. He left his former life as a filmmaker and advertising exec to pick up a pen and do what he loves best. In his current incarnation as writer, cook, and street culture aficionado, he roams the globe to touch, taste, and experience what’s happening on the ground and document his findings. Who better to teach you the ins and outs of street art?

TO WIN: Leave a blog comment, Tweet this contest, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. You can enter once in every area and we'll announce the winners tomorrow morning as we announce what you can look forward to for NINTH day of Overlook Christmas!

Still upcoming: another book for young readers, PG Wodehouse and more!

Previously:
Nonesuch Dickens Christmas Books
Autographed Bliss, Remembered
Penny Vincenzi novels
Autographed Drawing is Thinking
True Grit, True Grit, TRUE GRIT! (ongoing)
The Gilded Stage: A Social History of Opera
Freddy the Pig in paperback