Joseph Pittman To Launch New Mystery/Thriller Imprint, Dagger, at RAB

RIVERDALE, NY – May 28, 2014 – Riverdale Avenue Books is pleased to announce that Joseph Pittman has joined its team as the Editorial Director of Dagger, Riverdale’s new mystery and thriller imprint.

Joseph Pittman, a twenty year-plus veteran of the publishing industry, has held editorial posts at Bantam Books and New American Library, as well as Executive Editor at Alyson Books and Editorial Director for the start-up imprint Vantage Point. He has also been an editor for Bookspan, served as Contracts Manager for the Berkley Publishing Group, and most recently as Publishing Coordinator for E-Reads.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Riverdale Avenue Books. I have long-admired its independent spirit and fierce loyalty to its authors. I share that spirit and look forward to publishing many great authors–both new and established–on the Dagger line. Publishing may be ever-changing, but the desire to work with and discover talented authors remains a constant.”

“Riverdale Avenue Books knows the mystery and thriller readership is a strong and voracious one. We are delighted to bring our speed-of-light publishing know-how to this dedicated readership with such a talented editor,” said Lori Perkins, Publisher of Riverdale Avenue Books. “Joseph Pittman is sure to strike the heart of the mystery/thriller market with our Dagger imprint.”

Several of the books he acquired and edited have won awards, including the Edgar, the Shamus, and the Lambda Literary Award. Among the many authors he has worked with are Stephen King, Martha Grimes, Lawrence Block, Jeff Abbott, Max Allan Collins, Greg Herren, Neil Plakcy, Michael Musto, Bentley Little, Robert J. Randisi, Judith Gould, Mary Rockefeller Morgan, and Joan Collins.
Pittman has also published ten novels, including the acclaimed “Linden Corners” series and the Todd Gleason mysteries.

Pittman can be reached at joseph@riverdaleavebooks.com.

Between the Covers Reading Series has New Manhattan Home in East Village June 6th

Riverdale, NY – May 27, 2014 - Riverdale Avenue Books’ monthly erotic romance and erotica book reading series, Between the Covers will be moving their downtown reading to People Kitchen starting on Friday, June 6th. The monthly series will feature best-selling authors the first Friday of every month, as well as their signature Dirty Word Raffle for free books and prizes.

The readers at the first reading in the new location will be Lambda nominated Donna Minkowitz, author of Growing Up Golem: How I Survived my Mother, Brooklyn and Some Really Bad Dates, IPPY Award-winner D.L. King, reading from Her Wish is Your Command, 21 Erotic Fem Dom Stories, Sheela Lambert, editor of the newly published Best Bi Short Stories anthology and Ann Herendeen, best known for her erotic interpretation of Pride/Prejudice.

“Between the Covers” features a unique dirty word raffle where each participant is encouraged to write their favorite dirty word on a piece of paper (with initials because dirty minds think alike). The June 6th reading will feature raffle prizes from hipsandcurves.com corsets (a $150 value), samples of Dude Wipes, Simply Slick Oil Based Lubricant and Uberlube Silicone Lubricant from MySecretLuxury.com, and books by the readers.

“Authors of erotica and erotic romance don’t often get the chance to read at the local bookstore or library, so we are pleased to offer an opportunity for them to mingle with their fans, “ said Lori Perkins, Publisher of Riverdale Avenue Books and an a erotica author herself. “And since Fifty Shades of Grey has sold 300 million copies world-wide, we know there are a lot of fans out there.”

People’s Kitchen is located at163 Allen Street and the readings will begin at 7:00pm.

Riverdale Avenue Books also hosts a Between the Covers reading at Bael Bocht Café, near the Riverdale Avenue Books’ company’s headquarters, to entice book lovers located in Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut to attend.

The Bossman - Why Mobsters and Spanking Go Together

By Renee Rose

Writing about spanking has its challenges.  For those of us who love spanking romance, we like non-consensual and yet we want it fair. We want it real but we live in a society in which corporal punishment is no longer acceptable. For this reason I often choose to write historicals, where a non-consensual spanking is far more likely to occur. 

But what if you want to write contemporary spanking romance?  Then you’re looking for the kind of scenario where it might fit--some environment in which a macho guy might not have any problem delivering a little physical chastisement to his woman.

Enter the mobster: commanding and powerful. Not unwilling to ignore society’s rules about violence. The perfect spanking romance hero!

I have always loved mafia stories--I must have recognized the alpha male potential spanker in there somewhere.  The Bossman features Joey La Torre, brother to the don in a Chicago-based Family. 

The first spanking is non-consensual: Joey spins Sophie around, pulls her skirt up and slaps her bare ass when she lies to him over dating another guy. As it turns out, Sophie does not mind so very much (read--it turns her on!), and a domestic discipline relationship is born.

Their story is actually very sweet, the main conflicts not over spanking but over Joey’s role in the Family and Sophie’s unresolved anger over her father’s death but this book is the first in a series and the next mafia spanking romance has a bit more grit to it!  Stay tuned for its release…

Buy The Bossman here,  http://www.amazon.com/Bossman-Renee-Rose-ebook/dp/B00IY0FUVC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1399639665&sr=1-1&keywords=the+bossman

Lambda Finalist Reading at Between the Covers - Laura Antoniou, Tim Teeman & Donna Minkowitz

Between the Covers Reading Series Presents Three Lambda Award Finalists

Gore Vidal biographer Tim Teeman, best-selling kink writer Laura Antoniou and Donna Minkowitz, author of the memoir Growing Up Golem will be reading from their Lambda-Award nominated books on Monday, May 12^th in Riverdale’s literary arts café, An Bean Bocht as part of the monthly reading series, Between the Covers, hosted by Riverdale Avenue Books.

Tim Teeman’s In Bed With Gore Vida: Hustlers, Hollywood and the Private Life of an American Master is a Lambda finalist in the category of Best Gay Biography/Memoir. Former Village Voice reporter Donna Minkowitz’s memoir Growing Up Golem: How I Survived Brooklyn, My Mother and Some Really Bad Dates was nominated for best Lesbian Biography/Memoir.  Laura Antoniou’s The Killer Wore Leather was nominated for Best Lesbian Mystery.

Now in their 26th year, the Lambda Literary Awards celebrate achievement in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) writing for books published in 2013. Winners will be announced during a ceremony on Monday evening, June 2, 2014, at The Great Hall at Cooper Union (7 East 7th Street, New York City 10003). Details on the annual after-party location are forthcoming. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/.

Between the Covers” always features its unique “dirty word” raffle giveaways.  The May 12th reading will feature stunning corsets from hipsandcurves.com, samples of Dude Wipes and books by the readers.

This reading series has picked this location because it is adjacent to the Riverdale Avenue Books headquarters and accessible to readers who are located in upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut in mind—but of course, everyone is welcome to attend. The writer-friendly Irish café, An Beal Bocht, 445 W. 238^th St. (take the No. 1. Train to 238^th Street).

Beginning in June 6th, between the Covers will also host a downtown reading at People Kitchen, 163 Allen Street, on the first Friday of every month.

Lamdba and RAB/Magnus Host Reading at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn for Lambda Finalists

Riverdale Avenue Books/Magnus is co-sponsoring the Lambda Finalists reading with Lambda Literary where 23 authors will read from their work in a 2 hour literary marathon. There will be an after party at The Diamond, a local bar, right down the street from WORD, will offer folks $1 off any draft beer or wine if they say they’re coming from WORD between 8:30pm and 9:30pm.

Confirmed readers include: Michael Klein, Cory Silverberg, Lisa Henderson, Chinelo Okparanta, Jane Hoppen, Richard Bowes, Jerry Rosco, Derek, Palacio, Donna Minkowitz Kathleen Warnock, Jaime Woo, R. Erica Doyle,, Caleb Crain, Penelope Dane, Roberta Degnore, Suzanne Parker, Dominic Ambrose, Sophie Cabot Black, Wally Lamb, Trish Salah, Michael D. Snediker, Lisa Henderson, Michael Amico.

"The Lambda Literary Foundation is proud to showcase finalists of the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Awards who represent some of the finest writers in the LGBT community," said Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director.

"WORD is delighted to host this year's reading for the Lambda Literary Award nominees. We admire the work Lambda does in recognizing new literary voices, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide a space for the community to discover these powerful new writers,” Jenn Northington, Word bookstore events director

“It’s always wonderful to bring readers and writers together, and we are especially delighted to spotlight this year’s Lambda finalists in a neighborhood bookstore, ” said Lori Perkins, Publisher of Riverdale Avenue Books/Magnus.

WORD Bookstores

Brooklyn, NY - Thursday, May 1st, 2014, 6 pm
Co-sponsored by LLF and Riverdale Avenue Books
Word Bookstore (Greenpoint)
126 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-0096