Summer's almost gone, but no need to be sad- this fall brings New York Times bestseller Garth Stein and his latest novel to a bookstore near you!

A Sudden Light, a haunting tale of mystery, family tragedy, and redemption, reaches stores on September 30. Demand is already high for this October IndieNext pick, so if you'd like to make sure your local bookstore has a copy available for you, stop in and pre-order it. Support your local independent bookstore!

But the hardcover of A Sudden Light isn't the only thing you'll find at your local bookstore. Starting September 30, Garth will hit the road for more than forty-one bookstore and library events across the country. Stops include Minneapolis, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, San Diego, Houston, Austin, and more. For a full listing and more information, check out the sidebar calendar or visit Garth's updated website.

As a special appreciation for his fans, Garth will send a personally signed bookplate to anyone who pre-orders his book before September 19, 2014. Visit his Facebook page or website to find out more!

"There's much more to this story than the average spooky tale. With a sincere narrator, dizzying flights of prose, and tightly bound relationships, the supernatural is almost beside the point. Less spine-tingling than heart-wrenching, A Sudden Light is haunting in all the right ways."

--Booklist, STARRED review

This fall's good news doesn't stop with A Sudden Light! On October 7, Enzo returns to bookstores as he makes his children's book debut. 

In this new book from

New York Times bestselling author Garth Stein, Enzo the puppy embarks on an action-packed adventure as he makes the long journey from the farm to the city (bark twice for faster!), discovers just how big the world is, and finds the family that was truly meant to be his.

Fans of Bad Dog, Marley! and Charlie the Ranch Dog will delight in Enzo's antics and unforgettable personality, while R. W. Alley brings Enzo's fabulously funny personality to life with fantastic illustrations in this heartwarming story.

Keep an eye on Garth's event calendar for news on family-centered, Little Enzo events!

Get ready for the release of A Sudden Light by finding out Garth's thoughts on writing it. Prior to attending the Lewisburg Literary Festival in West Virginia this August, Garth answered a few questions for Cindy Martin of  WV South.

Cindy: You obviously spent years doing research for this novel. What inspired/motivated you to write A Sudden Light?  What was the spark that ignited the flame?

Garth: "Spark that ignited the flame.  That's very funny.  Because there are sparks and flames in my book!

"I'll say this, it was more of a smolder than a spark.  I grew up in a neighborhood north of Seattle, just down the hill from a very wealthy enclave called The Highlands.  The Highlands serve as the basis for the fictional The North Estate:  a gated community on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound.  When I was a kid exploring the creek and the ravine across the street from our house, I would often look up at The Highlands and wonder who lived in these great mansions.

"In 2004 I had an idea for a play, which I wrote and which was produced in 2005 in Los Angeles.  It was titled Brother Jones, and it took place in the town of Aberdeen, Washington, in a decrepit old mansion that was haunted.  Many of the characters from that play are also in A Sudden Light, others are new, some did not make the final cast of my novel.  Having written the play, I knew I wanted to explore the history of the Riddell family much more deeply, and so I began this novel.  I'll say that it took a lot more exploring than I had initially bargained for-many of the issues and situations that Ben and Harry and Elijah grapple with came to me purely from their characters.  In a sense, I populated a world with some characters and they then acted out their histories for me.  We writers like to pretend we're in control of everything, but in reality, we aren't in control.  Our story and our characters are in control, and it is our obligation to be faithful to them."

For more, catch the full interview on Garth's website.

What are your plans for September 30? Garth will kick-off the release of A Sudden Light with a party/fundraiser at the Richard Hugo House, a Seattle landmark and supporter of writers and literary lovers from all backgrounds.

The Rejections (and Trailing Spouses), will open the evening with a couple of songs, followed by a conversation between Garth and author Peter Mountford. Elliott Bay Book Company will donate 10% of the proceeds from the evening's book sales to the Hugo House, and Garth will match the donation.

Garth also plans to make the rounds of his home town bookstores in Seattle over the next year. First up is Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, on October 7 - coincidentally the release date for the first Enzo Races in the Rain! children's book! Evening highlights will include original music for A Sudden Light composed by The Bushwick Book Club Seattle, plus a conversation between Garth and Seattle radio personality Steve Scher.

Garth will also be appearing at Eagle Harbor Book Co., Liberty Bay Books, University Bookstore, Queen Anne Book Company, and Secret Garden Books throughout the fall and winter. For details check Garth's event calendar. 

 

*Picture courtesy of the Richard Hugo House

First auto racing, now tree climbing? Garth took a page from his own book and climbed a coastal redwood this summer, much as several characters from A Sudden Light also climb forest giants.

Michael Barnard from Rakestraw Books (Danville, CA) and climbing instructor Tim Kovar of Tree Climbing Planet joined Garth for his 200-foot-plus climb up an ancient redwood, using ropes and ascenders so as not to disturb the tree.

"I loved climbing in the afternoon with Michael and Tim," Garth said.  "That evening, back in my hotel room, Tim called me.  'Have you ever seen a sunset from the top of a redwood?' he asked.  'Meet me at Grandfather in half an hour.'"

'Grandfather' is the name given to the tree they climbed, since there are many other young redwoods in the grove.

Garth met Tim and they climbed Grandfather again, reaching the top moments before the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

"It was magical," Garth reported.  "There's no other way to describe it.  Sublime."

See more cool pictures from the climb on Tree Climbing Planet's Facebook page.

 

In addition to allowing Director Tom access to some valuable track time, Garth fed Tom the traditional lapping day lunch of chicken with broccoli and egg rolls, and made it clear to Tom that the movie must be something Enzo would be proud to watch on late night TV, or the fans of The Art of Racing in the Rain would revolt. Tom assured Garth he was up to the challenge!

 

Filming is scheduled to begin in January, 2015 and the picture is slated for a Christmas 2015 release. But don't hold your breath... Hollywood is famous for a long, dramatic tease!

 

 

We've overhauled and updated Garth's website. Now it's easier to keep up with the latest news, view the latest photos, and stay in touch.

Head to GarthStein.com and check it out. Then tell us what you think!

Can't wait until September 30 to find out more about A Sudden Light? Check out these advance reviews from book bloggers!