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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER
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QUICK TAKE ON THE BOOK
Sloane Jacobsen is a leading trend forecaster.
Fashion, lifestyle, tech, and other
global companies pay to hear her opinions on the future of everything
from clothes to gadgets, food and families. But not far into her current
contract with the tech-giant Mammoth, she
finds herself wanting to overturn her own predications. Sloane begins
to sense a growing movement against electronics that will see people
embracing compassion, empathy, and "in-personism" again. While
hopelessly
out of sync with her employer's mission (and her partner’s opinion),
Sloane becomes convinced that her instincts are the right ones,
and goes on a quest to bring humanism and compassion to others, while
finally allowing the love and connectedness she's long been denying
herself.
TOUCH is a poignant reminder to keep our heads up and our hearts open in our modern lives – and is
a thoughtful, of-the-moment exploration of real-life concerns that explores prescient issues of technology, family, and artificial intelligence with Courtney Maum’s signature biting wit and
keen eye.
Courtney Maum is the author of the novel I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You and the chapbook “Notes from Mexico.” Her short fiction, book reviews, and essays
on the writing life have been widely published in outlets such as The New York Times, Tin House, Electric
Literature, and Buzzfeed, and she has co-written films that have
debuted at Sundance and won awards at Cannes. At various points in her
life, she
has been a trend forecaster, a fashion publicist, and a party promoter
for Corona Extra. She currently works as a product namer for M·A·C
cosmetics from her home in Litchfield County, CT.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BOOK
"Sweet
and funny. . . A sharp yet feeling satire,
Touch bristles with insights into the longing for warm, messy,
inefficient, and imperfect human life buried in our increasingly
streamlined, disembodied now."—Interview
"A satirical but sincere look
at our thirst for 'in-personism.”—Departures
”[A] trenchant satirical novel . . . Maum has such an incisive grasp of
where tech and culture meet that she could add sociologist to her resume
. . .
A perceptive, thought-provoking read.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“With a weirdly nurturing driverless car, a
family emergency, a sexy art director, and wrenching and hilarious
confrontations and meltdowns,
Maum’s incisive, charming, and
funny novel ebulliently champions the healing powers of touch, the
living world, and love in all its crazy risks, surprises, and sustaining
radiance.”
—Booklist, Starred Review
"Maum perfectly captures the zeitgeist of our era as technology battles with humanity.
Her thought-provoking, humorous
book will inspire readers to forgo the electronics and get back to
basics as simple as human touch."—Library Journal
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Drawing on her own professional experience as a trend forecaster and product namer for
M·A·C cosmetics, Courtney Maum (I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You)
brings enormous authenticity, humor, and timeliness to her story,
examining the salient issues of technology, family, and artificial
intelligence in a sophisticated and entertaining way. Among the most
pressing questions Maum raises is:
Can our humanity save our inhumanity? The idea that personal
electronics have allowed us to distance ourselves from what matters
most—our relationships with our families, friends, co-workers,
neighbors, and fellow human beings—is now widespread. But
how do we break the electronic chains that have come to shackle us?
More importantly, why should we want to?
Displaying the same blend of wit, compassion, and sincerity that won Maum’s debut novel so many fans,
TOUCH will only enhance her growing reputation as a radiant new
literary voice—a natural storyteller with a distinctive perspective and a
hilariously keen eye for social observation.
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Courtney maum on tour for touch
Washington, DC – East City Bookshop, in-conversation with Jennifer Close, author of
The Hopefuls – Tuesday, 5/30 at 6:30 PM
Houston, TX – Brazos Bookstore, in-conversation with Alyson Ward, Books Editor at
The Houston Chronicle – Wednesday, 5/31 at 7 PM
Wichita, KS – Watermark Books & Cafe – Thursday, 6/1 at 6 PM
Saint Paul, MN – SubText Books – Friday, 6/2 at 7 PM
Corte Madera, CA – Book Passage –Saturday, 6/3 at 7:00 PM
Oakland, CA – DIESEL, A Bookstore – Sunday, 6/4 at 3 PM
Seattle, WA – Elliott Bay Book Company – Monday, 6/5 at 12:00 PM
Portland, OR – Powell’s City of Books, in-conversation with Samantha Hess, professional cuddler – Monday, 6/5 at 7:30 PM
Ann Arbor, MI – Literati Bookstore, in-conversation with Callie Collins, Co-Director of A Strange Object independent press – Tuesday, 6/6 at 7:00 PM
New York, NY – Summer Reads Panel at the Bryant Park Reading Room – Wednesday, 6/7 at 12:30 PM
Brooklyn, NY – WORD at
Villain, panel discussion – Wednesday, 6/7 at 7:00 PM
Madison, CT – R.J. Julia Booksellers, joint event with Julia Fierro, author of
The Gypsy Moth Summer – Thursday, 6/8 at 7:00 PM
Chattanooga, TN – Starline Books – Friday, 6/9 at 6:00 PM
Norfolk, CT – The Norfolk Library with Oblong Books, in-conversation with Jane Larkworthy, beauty expert – Sunday, 6/18 at 2:00 PM
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GIVEAWAY
**Partnering with Putnam Books to give away a copy of TOUCH**
USA ONLY
May 23 to May 30
Enter Here
