Cover Reveal for CLOSE TO HOME!

 

The cover for Thor's next book, CLOSE TO HOME, features design-work by the talented Ann Kirchner at Basic Books, and and the lovely art of Lisa Graa Jensen.  The book will be released on March 11, 2025.  Pre-order now from any bookstore!

STAR AND THE MAESTRO On Sale Now!

 

Thor's latest children's book, STAR AND THE MAESTRO, is now available!  Published by HarperCollins/Greenwillow and illustrated by the wonderful Matt Schu, it tells the true story of the starling Mozart bought from a shop in Vienna after he heard it singing one of his compositions!  On sale now at your local independent bookstore or through any online retailer.

Audio Edition of THE IMPENETRABLE FOREST!

Thor is happy to finally announce the release of an audio edition of his first book, The Impenetrable Forest.  It is read by the wonderful Andy Ingalls, who also narrated Feathers as well as the UK edition of Hurricane Lizards.  Andy gives perfect voice to the story of Thor's years in Uganda, where he worked with local guides and trackers to develop a mountain gorilla tourism program in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  You can download the full recording from Audible.com or iTunes, and it is also available alongside the paperback and e-book versions at Amazon.

Cover Reveal for STAR AND THE MAESTRO!

Greenwillow Books has released the cover for Thor's new children's book, featuring wonderful illustrations by Portland artist Matt Schu!  Star and the Maestro: How a Musical Bird Made Melodies with Mozart will be released on September 24th.  Visit Greenwillow/Harper Collins to learn more and find links for pre-orders!

Thor Featured in Dan Aykroyd's UnBelievable!

 

As a guest on The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd, Thor helps explain the science of everything from headless chickens to The Oracle of Delphi to the glowworms of Waitomo Cave. Tune in to this fun and informative ten-episode series on The History Channel.  Click here for broadcast schedule and streaming options.

HURRICANE LIZARDS Now in Paperback!

 

 

A NY Times Editor's Pick and finalist for The Pacific Northwest Book Award, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid is now available in paperback across North America!  For a review, check out this one in The New York Times, and for an introduction to some of the stories in the book, here a video Thor did for WIRED.

National Book Award Finalists Announced

 

 

More than 600 titles were submitted for consideration in the nonfiction category for the 2022 National Book Awards.  Thor and four other judges have winnowed that list to five finalists:   

Meghan O’Rourke, The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness

Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House

 

Imani Perry, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation

Ecco / HarperCollins Publishers

 

David Quammen, Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus

Simon & Schuster

 

Ingrid Rojas Contreras, The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir

Doubleday / Penguin Random House

 

Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, His Name Is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice

Viking Books / Penguin Random House

All of these are spectacular books worthy of attention.  The winner will be announced at the National Book Award Ceremony in New York on November 16th.  Read more about the award and the finalists here.