New Door Books

02/20/2025

This is the conclusion of Janice Deal's "interview" with Flo, the protagonist of THE BLUE DOOR.

In the novel, Flo is about to reunite with her daughter, who was convicted of murdering a teacher. During a long walk, Flo seeks to come to terms with her daughter, with herself as a mother, and with the nature of a mother's love.

Full interview here:
https://booksbywomen.org/authors-interviewing-characters-janice-deal/

02/18/2025

When "interviewed" Flo, the protagonist of her novel THE BLUE DOOR, there were some surprising exchanges.

Here Flo explains why the folk tales that spice the narrative mean so much to her. And she hints at the mystery of the blue door, the alternative world it opens into.

For the full conversation, see:
https://booksbywomen.org/authors-interviewing-characters-janice-deal/

02/17/2025

Do fictional characters ever talk back to their authors?

Ours do!

"Janice Deal:
Do you believe in good/evil?

Flo:
That’s a boring concept. Life is more complicated than that. Next question."

Later, though, Flo concedes that she believes in "villains."

And Flo goes on to mention how, in THE BLUE DOOR, she lost "the sense of myself, you could say. I’m still working on getting my . . . confidence back."

Read the full interview here:
https://booksbywomen.org/authors-interviewing-characters-janice-deal/

THE BLUE DOOR How much responsibility and guilt can a mother bear for a child who has done wrong? This is the question that haunts Flo when her daughter Teddy plans to visit after a long separation. The prospect of seeing Teddy brings back painful memories of Teddy’s troubled past–a young teen i...

02/13/2025

We put lotsa love into our books, and there's plenty about love in them.
Suggestions:
Young love on the Jersey Shore: https://www.newdoorbooks.net/mr-boardwalk
Ditto in Kenya: https://www.newdoorbooks.net/busara-road
Love in the sci-fi world: https://www.newdoorbooks.net/the-speed-of-clouds
A mother's love for her troubled daughter: https://www.newdoorbooks.net/the-blue-door
A mother's too-ardent love for her son: https://www.newdoorbooks.net/homing

02/12/2025

The WalkAbout series celebrates all who move at human speed, to serve our very human needs.

In the Preface to WAYS OF WALKING, editor Ann de Forest quotes contributor JeeYeun Lee: To respond to the multiple crises facing us, says JeeYeun, "we need to slow down enough to notice and connect to our environment and the people around us, and feel the histories that have shaped us."

In THE BLUE DOOR by Janice Deal, a long walk in search of a missing dog becomes a spiritual odyssey, replete with strange encounters and revelations.

Discover more about the WalkAbout series here:
https://www.newdoorbooks.net/about-1

02/11/2025

They're here! First copies of THE BLUE DOOR, our new novel by Janice Deal.

What's that mysterious shadow of a dog on the back? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Official pub. date is April 22, so there's plenty of time to preorder from our website, your favorite indie bookstore, or . (Or that giant corporate place, if you insist.)

02/10/2025

Pix of the two very different books that begin our WalkAbout series.

One's a novel, the other a collection of essays. What links them?

Both focus on moving at a human pace, with heightened attention to the environment, the people around us, and the urgencies of our time.

In both, walking leads to unusual encounters, discovery, and surprise.

Both are handy enough to read while walking, but please be careful not to trip!

Learn more here:
https://www.newdoorbooks.net/about-1

02/07/2025

A series is born!

After our collection of essays WAYS OF WALKING drew worldwide interest, we began to think about a series of books with walking as a theme. Then sent us a wonderful novel, THE BLUE DOOR, in which the protagonist takes a long walk that turns into a spiritual odyssey.

That fanned the spark into flame, and "WalkAbout Books" is now a reality.

Here's the catalog page with more detail:
https://www.newdoorbooks.net/about-1

We have other walking-oriented books in the pipeline, and THE BLUE DOOR launches on April 22.

Meanwhile, we're headin' out for a walk.

01/08/2025

Thanks to all who supported our fundraiser in 2024!
It's still going, till 1/17, and we're just 59% of the way toward our goal.

Every little bit helps keep first-rate literature alive and well!

https://newdoorbooks.allyrafundraising.com/campaigns/13129-the-blue-door

12/28/2024

"I used to view the life of the mind as separate and superior to the life of the body. I could not have been more wrong. I understand now that physical strength isn’t a luxury."
- From Beth Kephart's interview with Karen Rile of Cleaver Magazine

Interview by Beth Kephart A CONVERSATION WITH CLEAVER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN RILE Beth: I hear myself through the years asking you questions. About violins and Mozart’s sister. About trapeze art, birds, organs. Rhubarb. The New Yorker. “Hansel & Gretel” (the play version, in which your children...

12/23/2024

Every litmag we follow is asking for money this season!
All are worthy indeed.
But if you can spare a few $$ for OUR fundraiser, remember this: Our budget is small, so we'll love you even more!
https://newdoorbooks.allyrafundraising.com/campaigns/13129-the-blue-door

12/23/2024

In the Washington Independent Review of Books Ellen Prentiss Campbell describes "the strange juxtaposition of impressions: the blasted A-Bomb Dome, the floating Torii gate" from a visit to Hiroshima.
A sober memorial for the holiday season.
https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/portal-to-the-past

The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.

12/20/2024

Book reviewers & booksellers: If your holidays include not just HO-HO but HO-HUM moments, there are still a few printed ARCs left of THE BLUE DOOR, 's forthcoming novel that mixes folktales with the story of a mother trying to cope with her daughter's terrible crime. Contact us at https://www.newdoorbooks.net/contact for a copy.

12/18/2024

Color us skeptical of holiday greetings from businesses. And of holiday templates with snowflakes and such.
Nevertheless . . . (Pause.)
We do appreciate all our friends and readers. And, as a reminder, we have an ongoing fundraiser at https://newdoorbooks.allyrafundraising.com/campaigns/13129-the-blue-door
We'll be floating blissfully like a snowflake if you can chip in, just a bit, to help us continue to publish great literature.

12/03/2024

Double your money!
The money you give to us, that is.
In our campaign to support books that NEED to be published, an anonymous donor will double any contribution.
It’ll make you feel as good as Jan did when talking about her new novel.
https://newdoorbooks.allyrafundraising.com/campaigns/13129-the-blue-door

12/03/2024

It’s again.
This year, for the first time, we’re a pitch-er as well as a pitch-ee. Feels kind of awkward, but here goes.
We’ve set up a fundraiser to support first-rate literature!
So, can you dig some $$ out of your pocket? 5 bucks, 10?

For 35+ bucks, there are some great rewards. Check 'em out, please, and thank you!

https://newdoorbooks.allyrafundraising.com/campaigns/13129-the-blue-door

11/30/2024

For , allow us to suggest a two-fer: Buy a book from an press at an bookstore, supporting two worthy small businesses at once! If the store doesn’t have the title you want in stock, they’ll order it for you.
https://www.newdoorbooks.net/catalogue

11/25/2024

We're closing in on $500 raised in only a couple of days!

Find out how you can join the community & enter the magic of the Blue Door.

https://newdoorbooks.allyrafundraising.com/campaigns/13129-the-blue-door
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