Brilliant Books Presents: Tirzah Price and Wendy Heard
We had a fantastic evening with authors Wendy Heard and Tirzah Price as we celebrated the launch of their new books: She's Too Pretty to Burn and Pride and Premeditation, respectively. If you weren't able to join us live, we've put together the video so you can watch it at your leisure. You can also check out their mini author-interviews and, of course, both their books (and all those they recommended during the event!) are available below.
An Evening with Tirzah Price & Wendy HeardIn celebration of Tirzah Price's debut novel, Pride and Premeditation, and Wendy Heard's YA debut, She's Too Pretty to Burn, both authors sat down with Brilliant Books' own Anthony Ascione to talk Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, murder, mayhem, and more!
Posted by Brilliant Books on Wednesday, April 21, 2021
P.S. Here's the link Wendy mentions for the original illustration by Max Reed that was the basis for her gorgeous cover!
The inspiration for Pride and Premeditation.
The inspiration for She's Too Pretty to Burn.
Also by Wendy Heard.
Also by Wendy Heard.
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Recommended by Tirzah as one of her favorite adaptations.
Mentioned by Anthony as a translation that provides a new lens to an old story via context.
Tirzah mentioned author Caroline B. Cooney as one of her favorite writers for younger readers and a source of Tirzah's love of mystery.
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Wendy mentioned author Christopher Pike as one of her favorite authors from her teen years.
Another highly recommended title from Wendy, who recalled reading it as a early teen and enjoying how much it shows the range of YA as a genre, from the kind of family and societal drama found in books like Homecoming, to, as she puts it, delightfully trashy horror: "YA is just a really interesting and cool genre."
A newly released Peter Pan retelling. In the words of Wendy Heard: "It's awesome!"
One of Tirzah's favorite adaptations of Pride and Prejudice: "Just a tremendous, amazing adaptation!"
A new retelling of Persuasion and high on Tirzah's list of books to watch.
A retelling of Emma—Tirzah says "If you like Jane Austen retellings in YA, this is your year!"
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Wendy recommends this adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic stories, as retold by some of YA's top authors.
Tirzah seconds the above recommendation, and adds the newest batch of retellings edited by Dahlia Adler, this one based on Shakespeare's work.
Wendy: "Ooh, Shakespeare retellings! Foul is Fair. That's a good one. It's very lyrical."
A retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Shanghai in the 1920s. Wendy: "This cracked the New York Times bestseller list and has the title that I am most jealous of of any title that has ever existed. Such a great title."
Keep an eye out for Caleb Roehrig's queer take on Romeo and Juliet (scheduled for release in 2022). Meanwhile, check out White Rabbit, which Tirzah says is "So good."
Wendy: "I would be really interested to read a modern retelling of something like 1984 or Brave New World because I'd be really interested to read a book like that written by a modern author. Like, what do those themes look like to us now?"
One of the favorites from Tirzah's days as a librarian hosting a teen book club, this is also a favorite here at Brilliant Books!
Wendy's current must-read title: A trans boy is cast in Romeo and Juliet and, through art, learns to navigate reality.
"Really, really beautiful. I highly recommend this bad boy right here."
Tirzah's current must-read title: The daughter of a con artist with her own bag of disreputable tricks and skills finds herself in a bank just as it's being robbed.
"I really enjoyed this one. I liked the bi representation, and it's already been optioned for a film. Great book."
"I do love a good heist," Anthony said in response to Tirzah's selection of The Girls I've Been. For further heist adventures, he recommends The Gilded Wolves.