Cynthia Cannell Literary Agency

11/29/2022

A beautiful and haunting story from CCLA author Danielle Dutton in this week's issue of The New Yorker:

“Something is waiting to happen, I think. This is just the lull.”

09/20/2022

"Rodgers is never anything but candid, forgiving and witty. So, take a seat and let the curtain rise." Lovely to see SHY by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green (out now from Farrar, Straus and Giroux) as one of Ron Charles' fall picks:

Our critic offers some fall reading recommendations, from a new novel by a Nobel Prize-winner, to the latest page-turner from a bestselling author of political thrillers.

08/31/2022

"[A] joyful chronicle of a life well lived and a box-seat view on some of the best, brightest, and most idiosyncratic creative minds of the 20th century.” Entertainment Weekly picks SHY by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green as one of its "Best new books of August 2022":

Here are six of the most intriguing novels and deep-dive nonfiction — including Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest — to add to your queue in the last weeks of summer.

08/09/2022

Happy publication day to SHY, the memoirs of Mary Rodgers, written with Jesse Green. Enjoy an excerpt in The New York Times today:

In this excerpt from “Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers,” a Broadway musical is born at a summer camp.

07/19/2022

It's pub day for DEATH BY LANDSCAPE! Congratulations to Elvia Wilk on her "elegant and powerful" (—Publishers Weekly) collection. Come celebrate tonight at McNally Jackson Books. RSVP here: https://www.mcnallyjackson.com/event/elvia-wilk-presents-death-landscape

July 19th 7pm McNally Jackson Seaport RSVP Required — details here From the acclaimed author of the novel Oval comes a book of “fan nonfiction” about living and writing in the age of extinction. In this constellation of essays, Elvia Wilk asks what kinds of narratives will help us rethink our ...

07/05/2022

An announcement from Cynthia Cannell: https://mailchi.mp/ff33f852273c/announcement-from-cynthia-cannell

05/17/2022

"Taken together, the essays are elegant and powerful. This one packs a punch." Thanks to Publishers Weekly for this terrific *starred* review of Elvia Wilk's DEATH BY LANDSCAPE, out in July from Soft Skull Press: https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781593767150

Novelist Wilk (Oval) brings together memoir and her literary criticism and reportage in this superb collection. The essays “have...

11/23/2021

"This cookbook... is my most-turned-to this year, and its pages have the tomato sauce splotches and translucent oil stains to prove it." NO-RECIPE RECIPES by Sam Sifton makes a wonderful gift, writes Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/photos/2021/11/the-best-cookbooks-of-2021-gift-guide

Whether you’re gifting a collection of literary-inspired recipes or serving guests a cocktail from a compendium of jewel-toned drinks, these are the cookbooks that will keep spirits soaring.

11/18/2021

Whether you're in Chicago or somewhere else entirely, you'll be able to enjoy Padgett Powell in discussion with Book Post's Ann Kjellberg for a virtual event with The Seminary Co-op Bookstores on 12/9: https://lnkd.in/gtufv3D9

About the book: Gathering pieces written during the past three decades, Indigo ranges widely in subject matter and tone, opening with "Cleve Dean," which takes Padgett Powell to Sweden for the World Armwrestling Federation Championships, through to its closing title piece, which charts Powell's l...

11/09/2021

A very happy publication day to Padgett Powell and his first nonfiction collection INDIGO, out now from Catapult! The New York Times has a fantastic review from Christian Lorentzen: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/06/books/review/padgett-powell-indigo-essays.html

The novelist’s first nonfiction book, “Indigo,” collects wide-ranging essays unified by his unmistakable voice.

10/26/2021

"[A] liberating take on cooking that yields delectably satisfying results." Here's Sam Sifton's THE NEW YORK TIMES COOKING NO-RECIPE RECIPES (Ten Speed Press) on Publishers Weekly's list of "Best Books 2021!" https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2021/lifestyle /book-4

Best lifestyle books, Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora [A Cookbook], Bryant Terry, Flavors of the Sun: The Sahadi’s Guide to Understanding, Buying, and Using Middle Eastern Ingredients, Christine Sahadi Whelan

10/14/2021

Enjoy Padgett Powell reading the first page of his forthcoming and first nonfiction collection INDIGO (out in November from Catapult), thanks to Poets & Writers: https://www.pw.org/content/indigo_arm_wrestling_snake_saving_and_some_things_in_between_by_padgett_powell

10/05/2021

Wonderful to see Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology I'M SPEAKING NOW, co-edited by CCLA author Breena Clarke, included in Publishers Weekly's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20211004/87516-holiday-gift-guide-2021-nonfiction.html

We’ve got more than 250 PW editor recommendations and bookseller suggestions that will make this holiday season one for the books.

09/21/2021

Don't miss the latest issue of American Short Fiction, featuring a wonderful new story, "Gloria," from CCLA author Taisia Kitaiskaia: https://americanshortfiction.org/current-issue/

ISSUE 74 Featuring new stories by Sanjay Agnihotri, Mala Gaonkar, hurmat kazmi, Taisia Kitaiskaia, Morgan Thomas, and Kirstin Valdez Quade. Buy the fall

09/14/2021

"[INDIGO] will delight Powell’s fans and should gain him some new ones, too.” It's lovely to see this stellar Publishers Weekly review for Padgett Powell's forthcoming nonfiction collection INDIGO, out in Nov. from Catapult: https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781646220052

Novelist Powell (The Interrogative Mood) makes his nonfiction debut with this winning collection of essays published between 1987 and 2018. With infectious curiosity and sympathy, Powell cove

09/07/2021

In a list of "The Best Short Story Collections for Great Literature in Small Portions," Esquire UK writes YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN by Mary South is "[a]n alluring collection of stories about the ways our pain manifests and the polarised world we live in." https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/books/g15840493/best-short-story-collections-books/

Works by revered writers like Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan, as well as breakthrough names like Emma Cline and Carmen Maria Machado

08/26/2021

"Bring the body into your writing, they said. She wasn’t sure." New flash fiction from CCLA author Danielle Dutton is up today on The New Yorker! https://www.newyorker.com/books/flash-fiction/acorn

“The word was body. Was her own body a word?”

08/24/2021

"Ruth ran toward her daughter’s high-pitched rasp, thinking, Tumor? Water bug? and a slew of possibilities in between, but not s*x tape, God no!" "The Carnal Education" is brilliant new fiction from Jill Eisenstadt in the Bennington Review: https://www.benningtonreview.org/issue-nine-eisenstadt

Ruth grips the rental car keys. She warns the girls to be quiet. “Grandma might be sleeping.” But her mother greets them on her feet. Ivory pumps. Ecru pantsuit. Newly frosted bob. She does not look sick. She even ushers them into the (usually off-limits) Living Room/Antique Store. So she stagge...

08/24/2021

We're thrilled to see this new issue of the Bennington Review, featuring new work from our authors Lore Segal and Jill Eisenstadt!

Please help us say hello to our newest installment,

ISSUE NINE: THE HEALTH OF THE SICK

https://www.benningtonreview.org/current-issue-9

08/19/2021

We spy Padgett Powell's essay collection INDIGO (coming November 9 from Catapult) in terrific company on Kirkus Reviews' list of "150 Most Anticipated Fall Books!" https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/150-most-anticipated-fall-books/ -powell

Weekly book lists of exciting new releases, bestsellers, classics, and more. The lists are curated by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.

08/17/2021

"What was I doing? In the name of honesty, Mother, I’ll tell you: a whole lot of nothing." Read "F**k," a new short story from CCLA author Emily Hunt Kivel, up now on the Southwest Review: http://southwestreview.com/volume-106-number-2/fook/

08/03/2021

"South is one to watch..." London Evening Standard names Mary South's YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN as one of its "best new books to read this year." It's out in pb from Picador books on Thursday: https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/books/best-top-fiction-books-novels-2021-meg-mason-kazuo-ishiguro-b947091.html

Looking for your next fiction fix? These are some of the best books out this year

07/15/2021

"Sam Sifton encourages his readers to embrace adventure in their cooking, trust their own skill and develop more confidence in their ability to create delicious food," writes The San Diego Union-Tribune: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/food-and-cooking/story/2021-07-14/cookbook-on-improvising-in-the-kitchen-helps-reignite-inspiration

NYT food editor Sam Sifton's new collection inspires confidence, tosses strict recipes out the window

07/08/2021

"Memorable reflections on writing and life from an author who pulls no punches." A *starred* Kirkus Reviews review for Padgett Powell and INDIGO, out from Catapult in November! https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/padgett-powell/indigo-powell/

After six novels and three story collections, Powell gathers his magazine articles and other short works in his first book of nonfiction.

07/06/2021

We're looking forward to all of these titles, including Padgett Powell's first nonfiction collection INDIGO: Arm Wrestling, Snake Saving, and Some Things In Between, coming in November from
Catapult: https://lithub.com/lit-hubs-most-anticipated-books-of-2021-part-two/5/

06/29/2021

Before summer envelops us all in its slower pace and long, languid afternoons of reading (hopefully!), we're sharing our newsletter, with exciting updates from our CCLA authors: https://mailchi.mp/2a9539ec31c4/summer-2021-updates-from-ccla?e=9f791509c0

06/22/2021

Wonderful to see Padgett Powell's INDIGO (forthcoming from Catapult) included in Publishers Weekly's Top 10 Fall 2021 Announcements: Essays & Literary Criticism: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/86696-fall-2021-announcements-essays-literary-criticism.html

Artificial intelligence, race, and the immigrant experience feature prominently in a season full of essay collections about contemporary concerns.

06/01/2021

Black women are sharing their truth and the world is listening. Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now is available TODAY. https://bit.ly/2Regvww

06/01/2021

Happy publication day to Breena Clarke and I'M SPEAKING NOW: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope, the latest in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Read more here: https://www.chickensoup.com/book/235516/im-speaking-now

Black women are speaking, for themselves and their families, and everyone is listening. This unique collection of stories is for readers of all colors, not just the Black community, as these contributors share their dreams, their triumphs and failures, and their lives, which have unique challenges a...

05/14/2021

In this fantastic new essay by Jill Eisenstadt for Guernica, an "artistic, s*xually bold, brilliant or flaky, monied, spooky, (probably communist) free spirit has, arguably, become an archetype—if a shapeshifting one." Mark it TBR for the weekend: https://www.guernicamag.com/the-bennington-girl/

A ubiquitous stereotype takes on a life of its own.