Readers’ advisory for historical fiction

For Immediate Release
Tue, 10/28/2014

Contact:

Rob Christopher

Marketing Coordinator

ALA Publishing

American Library Association

312-280-5052

rchristopher@ala.org

CHICAGO — Whether set in ancient Egypt, Feudal Japan, the Victorian Age or Civil War-era America, historical fiction places readers squarely at the center of fascinating times and places, making it one of the most popular genres in contemporary publishing. Jennifer S. Baker’s new book, “The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Historical Fiction,” published by ALA Editions, emphasizes an appreciation of historical fiction in its many forms and focuses on what fans enjoy. The definitive resource for librarians and other book professionals, this guide:

  • provides an overview of historical fiction’s roots, highlighting foundational classics, and explores the genre in terms of its scope and style;
  • covers the latest and most popular authors and titles;
  • discusses appeal characteristics and shows how librarians can use a reader's favorite qualities to make suggestions;
  • includes lists of recommendations, with a compendium of print and Web-based resources;
  • offers marketing tips for getting the word out to readers.

Baker works at the Seattle Public Library's  Reader Services Department as a reference and readers' advisory librarian. She currently serves on the Listen List Award committee, sponsored by the Reference and User Services (RUSA), and she has also served on the Reading List Council. She reviews historical suspense for Booklist, is on the consulting team for EBSCO Publishing's Adult Core Collection, and has authored several readers' advisory articles in Library Journal, NoveList, and Reference and User Services Quarterly

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.