George

The Night of the Comet Catalogue Description

Just got this–the publisher’s catalogue description of my new novel, coming out next summer.  What do you think?
The Night of the Comet
A Novel
George Bishop
Reminiscent of The Wonder Years, a sensitive and insightful coming-of-age story by the author of Letter to My Daughter, who Pat Conroy hailed as a “novelist to keep your eye on.”
It’s the summer of 1973 and 14-year-old Alan Broussard is navigating the chaotic and disillusioning course of adolescence: awakening to the joys of first love, learning the meaning of disappointment, and getting accustomed to the perpetual embarrassment caused by his parents. And this is especially the case when Alan’s father – his high school’s geekiest science teacher – becomes obsessed over what he predicts will be the astrological event of the century: the sighting of comet Kohoutek. As the sleepy town of Terrebonne, Louisiana, gets caught up in the comet craze, Alan is preoccupied by his telescope’s ability to grant him access into the world of the beautiful girl who moved into the house across the river. But what he comes to see most clearly is a reality that’s been hidden from him his entire life – his father’s inadequacies, his mother’s growing unhappiness, his sister’s struggle to find autonomy and his own loss of innocence amidst it all. Bishop pens a delicate story about growing up – both its pains and pleasures – and the idea that hope and love can be found in the stars.
ON SALE 8/6/2013
BALLANTINE BOOKS
HARDCOVER

Cover for New Book

My next book, The Night of the Comet, comes out in the summer.  It’s a story about a boy, his father, and a comet.

I was looking for images to inspire the art team at Random House and I found this, from an old National Geographic.

What do you think?  Evocative?

 

Super Cheap at Amazon

I’d normally recommend that book lovers patronize their local independent bookstore, but I see that the bargain price has returned for the hardcover edition of Letter to My Daughter on Amazon.com, and it’s hard to beat: $8.00.

That’s less than a pizza.  Also, you can read it again and again, but a pizza you can only eat once.

Here’s the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Letter-My-Daughter-A-Novel/dp/B007K4JZOG/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1

Good People at Goodreads

Thanks to all the good people at Goodreads who are reading and recommending my book. Like Melissa, who recently wrote:

“I was a little iffy about picking up this book. I wasn’t too sure that a male author could really write a book based on a female’s point of view and make me want to read it.  I was completely surprised to find that Mr. Bishop did exactly that.  From the moment I picked this book up I couldn’t put it down . . . ”

Thanks, Melissa, wherever you are.

http://www.goodreads.com

New Novel

Just received word that my new novel, The Night of the Comet, will be coming out next year, the summer of 2013, with Ballantine Books.

Yes, you can break out the champagne now.

LOUISIANA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE + TEEN VAMP

Enjoyed meeting librarians and signing books (my book, that is) at the Louisiana Library Association’s conference in Shreveport on Thursday.
Last time I was in Shreveport was two decades ago, for the filming of that little known but much beloved movie classic, Teen Vamp.

Faulkner Society Words and Music Festival, Saturday, Nov. 12th

I’ll be moderating a panel discussion this Saturday with authors Mark Yakich and Pamela Ewen and agent Elise Capron at the Faulkner Society Words & Music Festival in New Orleans.
If you’ve ever wondered how “The Old Verities of Story Telling Still Apply as Inspiration for 21st Century Literature,” come check us out. We’ll tell you, I guess.
Saturday, Nov. 12
11:00 a.m.
Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom, Hotel Monteleone