Tampa Book Buzz

news and notes:book swap of carrollwood, melanie lynne hauser, review of movie becoming jane, a manatee christmas, smith

• Received via email (from JimSam Inc.’s e-newsletter): The Book Swap of Carrollwood has a new owner. “Cynthia Floyd is the new owner of Book Swap of Carrollwood, which has been in business for over 24 years. It is located in northwest Tampa at 13020 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Used and new books are sold at the Book Swap and store credit is given for used books brought into the store. With 3,000 square feet the store has something for everyone, from current best-sellers to the obscure biography. The Book Swap is open seven days a week (Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and has a friendly, knowledgeable staff that will recommend a book or author to you.” Visit www.bookswapfl.com for more info.
• I received an email recently suggesting Confessions of Super Mom and Super Mom Saves the World by Melanie Lynne Hauser as great books for the beach this summer.  “The Super Mom series about a divorced mother with two teenagers who gains superpowers after a Horrible Swiffer Accident has received great reviews.”  Also, Hauser recently released Jumble Pie, a free eBook as a thank you to readers.  Jumble Pie is “a story of two girls, a friendship and a pie.  Visit www.melanielynnehauser.com/jumblepie to learn more and receive a free copy.”  Hauser’s website is www.melanielynnehauser.com.
• Check out this review of the Jane Austen “biopic” movie Becoming Jane at The Stanford Daily.  “Sensible, but a little prejudiced” is a clever title (and the review’s not too shabby either).
• Panama City author Tim Thomas has written and illustrated a new book called A Manatee Christmas.  “It is an environmentally correct children’s book, of a young manatee that asks Santa Claus for a very special Christmas present.  Written to the cadence of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, the story depicts the everyday plight and dangers the Florida manatee must endure to survive.”  You can see sample pages at www.magicmirrorbooks.com/a_manatee_christmas.html.
• Received via email:  “Joy V. Smith has a new book out for children, Why Won’t Anyone Play With Me?  Smith will be signing her children’s book and some of her other books, including Building a Cool House For Hot Times Without Scorching the Pocketbook, at Authors in the Park at the Ybor City Saturday Market in Tampa Saturday, September 8.  Visit Smith’s website to learn more.