Awhile back, I had the privilege of getting an early peek at Ellen Urbani’s much-anticipated forthcoming novel, Landfall. Set in the midst of Hurricane Katrina, the novel is not so much about the storm but about the maelstrom of our human lives and, specifically, the sudden collision of two pairs of women, mothers and daughters, black lives and white lives, privilege and poverty. It’s a beautifully written story (you can read my blurb for it at the publisher’s website), and you’ll want to read it when it arrives in your bookstores this August.
But if you belong to a book club, you have an opportunity to enjoy more than the novel! Urbani and Forest Avenue Press are promoting a “50 in ’15 Challenge” — they’re looking to find at least one book club in each of the 50 states to host Landfall, and in return, book club members will get a range of cool extras: autographs, invitations to special Landfall events, a chance at discussing the book directly with the author (by Skype or possibly in person!), and an exclusive prologue to the novel only available to participating book clubs!
They’re calling it the “50 in ’15” because they’re looking to sign up 50 book clubs this year, but you don’t have to read it this year — you can put it on your calendar for 2016, so long as you sign up in 2015.
To get in on the fun, contact the author directly through her website, ellenurbani.com, before midnight on Dec. 31. And tell her I said hi!
Samuel Snoek-Brown 
You’re such a dear for all the care you’ve invested in helping advance my work. I look forward to repaying the favor!
As both a reader and a writer, I love to celebrate good books. Yours is a great book! It’s my privilege to share the news!