Talkin' bout the birds & the bees

Dr. Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Mehmet Oz get candid with a group of teen girls and their mothers. If you have a young daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc, you need to join this honest conversation and read THE BODY SCOOP FOR GIRLS.Also see Parts 2, 3, and 4 of Dr. Ashton's appearance on The Dr. Oz Show.

Magneto attracts YALSA

Greg Pak and Carmine Di Giandomenico's X-MEN: Magneto Testament receives more acclaim:

The poignant story of villian Magneto has been chosen by The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) as a 2010 Great Graphic Novel for Teens!


In other Pak buzz, IGN has begun its eBay auctions for Haiti relief -- and Greg has donated a signed copy of every comic book he's written that involves the Hulk! All proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.

Click here for more info on this cool charity event.

What's the translation for "body condom"?

We just got the very cool news that LEVEL 26, by Anthony E. Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski, is a bestselling book in France and Germany!

Have you explored the Dark Origins yet?

Happiness in the Bay

Elizabeth Somer spreads the good word on The View from the Bay.

A Twitter remembrance for Molly Ivins

Tomorrow (January 29), PublicAffairs, VintageAnchor (Molly Ivins’ publisher) and the Texas Observer will be celebrating the life and legacy of Molly Ivins in observance of the 3rd anniversary of her death by organizing a “Twitter remembrance.”

Tweet your favorite Mollyisms, stories and memories using the hashtag #MollyIvins.

@Public_Affairs, @VintageAnchor and @TexasObserver will be tweeting about her throughout the day tomorrow. Spread the word to other Molly fans!


Here is some of the favorite material that Tessa Shanks (senior publicist at PublicAffairs) encountered while working on MOLLY IVINS: A Rebel Life for inspiration:

A loving feature on Molly by reporter Brad Buchholz her hometown paper, the Austin American-Statesmen

Erica Alterman asks “What Would Molly Say?” in the Nation

Biographer Bill Minutaglio remembers Molly in the Daily Beast

Allison and Margaret Engel—sisters and playwrights of Red Hot Rebel, on writing a play for Molly Ivins and casting Kathleen Turner

Rachel Farris misses Molly in the Huffington Post

Ivins always said that she was particularly proud of two honors: having the Minneapolis police force's mascot pig named after her, and being banned from the Texas A&M campus.

More quotes from Molly Ivins

Paul Krugman’s obituary for Molly Ivins in the New York Times

Molly Ivins on breast cancer in TIME, “Who Needs Breasts Anyways?”

Obituary from her Creators Syndicate column editor Anthony Zurcher

Archive of Molly’s columns from Creators Syndicate

ITW finalists

DHS Lit rockstars Tom Piccirilli and Greg Rucka are finalists for the International Thriller Writers Thriller Award!

Best Hardcover: WALKING DEAD

Best Paperback: SHADOW SEASON

The 20 finalists will be further whittled down in April, and winners will be announced at ITW's ThrillerFest in mid-July.

Get yourself a stack of Benjamins

Hurrah for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON!

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has chosen this lovely graphic novel, adapted by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, with art by Kevin Cornell, for the

-- drumroll, please --

2010 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens, saying it's "Like the movie, only funnier and closer to the book"!

Putting on the x-ray goggles

Props to J. H. Williams III for a Best Cover of 2009!

"this Williams cover [for DETECTIVE COMICS #857, written by Greg Rucka,] works best because of the link between our heroine and "Alice." Williams, in his own way, makes this cover about the interior, which is nice."
- Greg Burgas, CBR

Greg Pak nabs 2 besties

Greg Burgas (CBR) posts his Best of 2009 list and double taps INCREDIBLE HERCULES.

Best Ongoing Series:
"a blast to read. Pak and van Lente have been exploring the mythology of Hercules while keeping the action going, and this year saw more problems with the Greek gods and goddesses who were mostly in the background last year"

Best Single Issue:
"[The Incredible Hercules #136 has] phenomenal and hilarious sound effects, which makes this issue a delight. But it's also one of the better superhero fights we've seen in the past few years, and when we get a lot of superhero fights, that's saying something. Pak and van Lente are in top form"

Helping in Haiti

Since arriving in Port-au-Prince on Friday night, CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton and a team of doctors and nurses from the University of Miami School of Medicine have been working around the clock in "Civil War"-like conditions.

Here are some of the recent reports from Dr. Ashton:


Watch CBS News Videos Online



Watch CBS News Videos Online

Who's on first?!

Congratulations to Stefanie Pintoff!

Her debut novel IN THE SHADOW OF GOTHAM, which was the inaugural winner of the Minotaur Books/MWA Best First Crime Novel award, is nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel!

Action & atmosphere

Audible.com features PROBABLE CAUSE, by Theresa Schwegel, in its "Hear & Now" fiction mailing.

Download this terrific thriller today!

The incredible Planet Hulk premiere

The Planet Hulk DVD had its bicoastal premiere last night in NY and CA!

Check out some online goodies on Greg Pak's website, including a film clip, podcasts, and more.

In other mean, green updates, Newsarama has snuck an early look at INCREDIBLE HULK #606.

Is that Deadpool, or is it Deadpool?

For your viewing pleasure, BSC Reviews has posted preview pages of the special, double-sized issue of DEADPOOL: Merc with a Mouth.

Issue #7 "Are you there, Deadpool? It's me, Deadpool", by the talented Victor Gischler, lands in your nearest comic store on Wednesday, Jan 20!

Health & Wellness with Dr. Jennifer Ashton

Listen to your doctor

Noted medical writer Richard Reece, M.D., says Phillip Miller, Dr. Louis Goodman, and Tim Norbeck's newest book is "guaranteed to rivet the attention of doctors, patients, policy makers, and Americans as a whole.

[IN THEIR OWN WORDS: 12,000 Physicians Reveal Their Thoughts on Medical Practice in America] is a highly authoritative, deeply personal, and fully documented account of the state of primary care doctors in America. The book is of fundamental importance as we debate health reform."

Visit Dr. Reece's blog for the foreward and outline of the book.

And the nominees for Best Comic Book are in

DETECTIVE COMICS is shortlisted for the 21st annual Media Award from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Way to go, Greg!

Stumptown is your best shot

"Stumptown is first-rate crime fiction with a main character you'll quickly connect with. Shaping up to be an engaging mystery, this comic is full of shady characters and twists and turns.

Artist Matthew Southworth provides a cinematic feel with his capable way of condensing details...Stumptown definitely proves worthy"

- Henry Chamberlain, Newsarama.com

Stefanie Pintoff's top debut

Stefanie Pintoff's debut novel is a Top 20 book of '09!

S. Krishna Books.com said she "wasn’t expecting how amazing the mystery would be, nor how vivid the historical details would be!"

She goes on to give a rave review, awarding the book a "4.5 out of 5

In the Shadow of Gotham is Stefanie Pintoff’s brilliant debut novel, though it’s hard to believe she isn’t a seasoned mystery novel writer from the quality of this book. Detective Ziele is an intricate, wonderfully developed character...and I was sad to say goodbye to him when the novel ended.

The mystery in In the Shadow of Gotham is complicated in the best way. Pintoff doesn’t make the answers easy – it’s impossible to guess which twists and turns the author will take the reader on next. The historical details in this novel are impressive and really create a wonderful atmosphere for the reader.

I can’t say enough good things about In the Shadow of Gotham, so I will just say to go and read it!...I already can’t wait for her next novel!"

Shout -out a go-go

High-fives for Lake Mills Library in Wisconsin! They're onboard with the zany genius of Victor Gischler's VAMPIRE A GO-GO.

Eye sees Greg Pak

ROBOT STORIES is a top 20 film of the decade for Eye On Indies.

"Subtle and sublime presentation of human nature in a technological-worshipping society."

Now, that's what we're talking about!

Per doctors' orders

EAT YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS is on a roll!

Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen (the YOU docs) recommend Elizabeth Somer's newest book for a good night's sleep, because "[g]etting 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night can make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger."

More acclaim for Minutaglio & Smith

The Daily Kos says "You'll have no idea how much you missed her until you get the chance to read snippets of her again.

How sorely we miss and need Molly Ivins these days hits you like a four-by-four when you crack the pages of Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life...[a] thoughtful biography...

Ivins has been blessed with two biographers [Bill Minutaglio and W. Michael Smith] who treat her with respect and make it unnecessary for the subject to be as self-examining as we expect in this day and age; they do the heavy-lifting there for her—and for us.

As a biography, A Rebel Life is a model of how to assess a larger-than-life personality and outsize accomplishments while still keeping in mind the small, mundane moments -- camping trips, mornings alone, dark nights of the soul -- that make up the years of life. It's a keeper of a book."

IGN praises Stumptown #2

"Rucka and Southworth's Portland crime series continues to impress. Stumptown is the quintessential Greg Rucka comic, complete with a strong, fully-formed female protagonist, a gripping crime plot, palpable noir atmosphere and razor sharp writing. Like so many of Rucka's heroines, Dex [Parios] seems like she can step right off the page into the real world...due to how brilliantly realized the character is.

Rucka bolsters his engrossing, masterfully crafted plot with some of the strongest, most human scenes I've read in a comic in some time.

In Southworth, Rucka has found, pardon the pun, the perfect partner in crime. Southworth does a lot of the heavy lifting in a number of key scenes, and each time he nails it with a subtlety and level of nuance you don't find too often in mainstream comics...Southworth also happens to be a brilliant storyteller. If that wasn't enough, his back-up article about his creative process and the nature of film vs. comics also happens to be incredibly insightful."


While you're scoping out comics, also keep an eye out for Rucka's BLACKEST NIGHT: Wonder Woman #2 and SUPERMAN: World of New Krypton #11 -- both out on stands today!

Let's bring in the moms

This morning, Dr. Jennifer Ashton shared with mothers of the teen girls she chatted with yesterday.

Hear the moms' reactions and thoughts in this video:


Watch CBS News Videos Online



THE BODY SCOOP FOR GIRLS also impressed This Full House, the first stop on Dr. Ashton's TLC Book Tour.

"What makes this different from other teen health books I've read (like, American Girl) is that the author 'talks with' and not 'to' her readers in an attempt to help us reach out beyond our comfort zones in better understanding the female body.

The author references 'real girls' dealing with 'real life' situations, like her patient Jodi, who had heard it from health class (even her mother) but, still wasn't totally clear on why we get periods.

The Body Scoop for Girls is filled with easy-to-read bullet(ed) lists of informative facts and misconceptions (I failed most of the true or false sections) and multi-colored food for thought boxes, like 'Aren't You Glad I'm Not Your Mother' making it a quick and really easy read.

Now, that's something a teenager can relate to, right? Me, too!"

Elizabeth Somer scores!

EAT YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS is a Time magazine Top 10 Notable New Diet Book.

Woohoo, let's check the recipe section for a yummy -- and healthy -- dessert!

Dex in part deux

Take a break today with preview pages of STUMPTOWN #2.

"in this second issue Rucka gets to introduce us to some of the more peripheral characters in Dex’s life, and spend some time developing the characters. It’s all great character stuff, and Rucka executes it beautifully, with very three dimensional characters, natural sounding dialogue, and some genuine emotional moments.

Greg Rucka is great at taking a character and fleshing them out until they feel like a real person. I think that’s part of what makes his writing so good, because once the readers feels like they know the character, they start to live the story with them – they experience every up and down, and every trial and tribulation.

Matthew Southworth provides us with another issue of gorgeous artwork, which I think is actually better than the art in issue #1.

Stumptown #2 is a wonderful follow-up to an explosive debut issue. I don’t normally review both the first and second issues of a series, but after reading Stumptown #2, I felt like I had to let people know just how great this comic is! This is crime comics done right, with interesting cases, a suspenseful plot, and believable characters. This is an essential purchase for fans of crime fiction, and your pull-list is incomplete without it!"
- Edward Kaye, Hypergeek

Hitting up the comics

Keep up with Hope. She's one of the Ten for '10.

"For the past two years, writer Duane Swierczynski has sent the young mutant Hope hurtling across time and space in the pages of CABLE. In the far future, Hope and Cable battled against murderous monsters, the Brood and an obsessed fellow time-jumper intent on ending their lives. But all of that will prove just child's play compared to the current 'Homecoming' arc, which finally returns the pair to the present and kicks off the final chapter in the Messiah trilogy."

Find out more in the Tuesday Q&A with Duane yesterday. Cable #22, the second installment of Homecoming, is out today.



And in other delightful comic news, now you can get your Punisher fix in one shot! The trade paperback hits shelves on January 13.

"[Victor] Gischler's Punisher is terrific," Garth Ennis says, "More of this sort of thing, please."

Get The Body Scoop

Watch CBS News Videos Online


On CBS' The Early Show this morning, Dr. Jennifer Ashton sat down with some teenage girls for a no-holds-barred talk about sex, puberty and more.

"Ashton says, 'I found that teens and tweens just didn’t have a clue about their bodies, and no one (parents, teachers, friends) was giving them the right information. I wanted to be the person to make a real difference in their adolescent years; I wanted to give them the inside scoop on their bodies so that they would be empowered!'"

Also check out Dr. Ashton's article in the Huffington Post while we're waiting for part 2 to air tomorrow morning!

Rucka rocks the decade

Tara Chace (Queen & Country), Kate Kane/Batwoman (Detective Comics) and Dex (Stumptown) all grace Kelly Thompson's list of the 10 Great Female Comic Book Characters Of The Decade!

Kate Kane/Batwoman is also one of Newsarama's key characters for 2010.

Edward Kaye at Hypergeek calls Detective Comics the Best Established Ongoing Series, and also shortlists Stumptown for Best New Ongoing Series.

Molly Ivins the Troublemaker

The New York Times' Sunday Book Review features MOLLY IVINS and remembers one of its own.

"What fearful fun Molly Ivins would have had with Glenn Beck, the birthers, Sarah Palin, Representative Joe (“You lie!”) Wilson and, of course, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas — he of the secessionist aspirations and wonderful hair. And how pained she would be, while never losing hope, as she showered President Obama with tough love over his policies in Afghanistan and Iraq, and his difference-splitting diffidence on health care reform.

Ivins, who died in 2007 at the age of 62 after a battle with breast cancer, was that rarest of endangered species, an unreconstructed Texas liberal. As a newspaper reporter, syndicated columnist and public speaker, she built a body of work enlivened by political passion and rollicking wit. She lampooned the Texas Legislature, the business establishment, the power elite and most of all George W. Bush, whom she immortalized as “Shrub.” But, as suggested by Bill Minutaglio and W. Michael Smith, in “Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life,” her greatest creation was herself...[the book is] chockablock with colorful anecdotes and psychological insights"

Armadillos in the glossy pages

People magazine (January 11, 2010) pins three and one-half stars (out of 4) on James Hime's newest novel!

"When Sylvester Bradshaw, the ornery cuss who serves the best fried catfish in all of Texas, goes missing (along with his invention, a food de-toxifier) in the midst of an E. coli outbreak, it seems every eccentric in town is a suspect. With the local sheriff sidelined by rumors about his amourous inadequacies, it is left to the rueful retired Ranger Jeremiah Spur to sort the truly evil from the hilariously greedy. But the true star of this hoot in hardcover is author Hime and his mastery of Texas colloquialisms As the whodunit's pages rapidly turn, readers will savor every 'Do what now?'"