Publisher Books Illuminated has released a holiday reading list featuring five new titles that challenge traditional genre boundaries, offering gift options for readers seeking unconventional narratives. The selection includes works ranging from supernatural comedy to climate action guides, reflecting the publisher's strategy of acquiring manuscripts with potential for adaptation across multiple media formats.
Leading the list is Guillermo X. Márquez's "DISPOSSESSED: A Very L.A. Ghost Story," described as a supernatural comedy novel that explores life, love, and loathing in Los Angeles through the story of a haunted house. Márquez previously gained attention with "EVIL'S EDEN: Only Murders in Los Angeles," which blends true crime investigation with fictional elements to examine notorious Los Angeles cases including the Black Dahlia murder and Manson family killings.
Clark Hilton's "BAMBOO: A Post-Apocalyptic Odyssey" presents a different approach to dystopian fiction, framing a teenager's quest for love in a brutal future as folklore from a distant civilization. The novel raises philosophical questions about humanity's trajectory while maintaining a narrative focused on personal connection amid societal collapse.
In the non-fiction category, Felicia Fairhope's debut "2 Weeks 2 Utopia: Let's Mend the World in 14 Days!" offers a climate action guide that combines practical steps with artistic elements. The book includes poetry, illustrations, and interactive components like an eco-puzzle, positioning environmental activism as an accessible, engaging pursuit rather than purely technical reading.
For younger readers, the second edition of "The Odd Ms. Bodkins and the Big Crunch" by Brother Goose returns with new illustrations by a Disney-trained artist. The children's story features interactive elements including a bonus crossword puzzle designed for parent-child collaboration, emphasizing shared reading experiences.
These releases demonstrate Books Illuminated's acquisition philosophy, which prioritizes manuscripts with "ancillary market potential" across motion pictures, streaming series, animation, music, fine art, comics, graphic novels, audiobooks, toys, games, and fashion according to their website BooksIlluminated.com. This approach reflects broader industry trends toward intellectual property development beyond traditional book publishing, where successful narratives can generate revenue across multiple platforms and formats.
The holiday list's emphasis on genre-blending works addresses evolving reader preferences for narratives that transcend traditional categories. By offering supernatural comedy alongside climate action guides and interactive children's literature, Books Illuminated provides options for diverse reading interests while maintaining a cohesive focus on adaptable, multimedia-friendly content. This strategy positions the publisher to capitalize on cross-platform opportunities in an increasingly integrated media landscape where successful books often serve as source material for visual and interactive adaptations.
