Forbes magazine had an article on America's most generous people.  Of course, since it's Forbes, they meant money, but there are so many other ways to be generous.

My grandmother had a belief that the more you gave away, the more that would come back to you.

One of the writers who's been most generous to me is Julianna Baggott.  She's talked me up when I was down, off the ledge when I felt like jumping, and most of all, put me back into my story just when I was straying too far. As her students at Florida State's creative writing program and its motion picture classes can attest, this is a woman who gives. 

She seems to illustrate my grandmother's belief.  Despite taking time with so many people, despite having four children and a million friends, despite sitting down with a nobody like me, and lots of other nobodies, she has managed to produce more books than I have fingers and toes.  Her latest, which comes out today, is bloody AMAZING.  It's her best work yet, and this is a woman Richard Russo and others have said is one of the most talented writers out today.  (Did I mention she's beautiful and exactly 13 years younger than I am?  Not her fault.  Despite this and her skinny body, I LOVE her.  So does everyone I know.)

Here's the dope.  No, not that kind.  And no, I'm not looking in the mirror.

Julianna's newest book manages to cut through the clutter of the day and whisper to you that you've got something fun to look forward to.  When I was reading PURE I found myself getting into bed earlier and earlier just to get back to the characters and escape into their world.  It's that kind of book.   I read it when it was in galley stages and I kept apologizing that I was recommending something that wasn't available yet.  Well, now it is.  And look what some pretty famous people are saying about it, justifying the megabattle over film rights that went on last year. 

"... gorgeous ... You will be swept away."
-- Justin Cronin, New York Times Bestselling author of The Passage

"... extraordinary ... an important book ... by one of our finest writers."
-- Robert Olen Butler, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

"... nearly impossible to stop reading ... PURE packs one hell of an apocalypse."
-- Daniel H. Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse

"... startling and addictive ... Breathtaking and frightening, I couldn't stop reading PURE."
-- Danielle Trussoni, New York Times bestselling author of Angelology

"... glorious ... full of wonderful weirdness, tenderness, and wild suspense. If Katniss could jump out of her own book and pick a great friend, I think she'd find an excellent candidate in Pressia."
-- Aimee Bender, New York Times bestselling author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

"A post-apocalyptic thrill ride ... "
-- Steven Schneider, producer of the Paranormal Activity franchise

"Original and masterfully written ... startling, harrowing and touching..."
-- Jeff Vandermeer, World Fantasy Award Winner, bestselling author of City of Saints and Madmen

Here's where you can order it, unless you've got a wonderful independent bookstore nearby, in which case, please march on over there and get it from them.

indie bound

barnes and noble

http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Julianna-Baggott/dp/1455503061

May the blessings we extend into the world, come back to us, proving Helen Ranger Curran's prediction. Until then, enjoy your reading!