Earlier this week, when Meta announced changes to their content moderation processes, we were hopeful that some of those changes—which we will address in more detail in this post—would enable greater freedom of expression on the company’s platforms, something for which we have advocated for many years. While Meta’s initial announcement primarily addressed changes to…
Jan 09, 2025
3 min read
In 2024, Poker Hall of Famer and 1983 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Tom McEvoy released the 15th book of his career. However, what was different this time was that it was his first non-strategy book.
Poker Pioneer, written with the help of Brad Smith (PR Director for the Casino Collectibles Association), is McEvoy’s autobiography, and it delivers on several fronts. In fact, it deserves a spot on your poker bookshelf right there with Phil Hellmuth’s Poker Brat and Mike Sexton’s Life’s a Gamble, especially if you’re a lover of poker history.
Few people have been around the poker world as long and as intimately as McEvoy, who rubbed elbows with poker legends Benny Binion and Stu Ungar but also benefitted as PokerStars’ first sponsored pro-post-Poker Boom. In between, he helped spearhead the “Poker Smoking Petition,” hosted several high-profile poker events, and lived an up-and-personal life that is sometimes hard to believe.
Tom McEvoy in WSOP action.
So, to say McEvoy has stories would be an understatement, but the best part of it, he doesn’t shy away from telling them “warts and all.” In Poker Pioneer, McEvoy made it a point to be as authentic as possible and make sure not to sugarcoat things. As such, things are not always pretty and McEvoy readily admits that some of the things he shares might rile up certain individuals. To put it another way, if you enjoy poker drama and gossip, you’ll get your fair share, and McEvoy brings receipts.
You’ll not only learn all about McEvoy, but you’ll also hear stories about Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, “Treetop” Jack Strauss, Amarillo Slim, Phil Ivey, Erik Seidel, and dozens more.
The Smoking Petition: How Tom McEvoy Helped the WSOP Become Smoke Free
The self-published book is hefty at 512 pages, but it is spruced up nicely with plenty of photos, many from McEvoy’s personal collection. It’s also high-quality, especially the hardcover version with an iconic photo of 1983 Tom McEvoy on the cover and a modern-day image on the back. McEvoy also received a figurative stamp of approval when Hellmuth provided the book’s foreword in which he called McEvoy one of the most honorable men he’s ever met.
Chad Holloway with Tom McEvoy.
Likewise, some other heavy hitters in the industry offered endorsements.
Jack Binion: “Tom has perfect honor, ethics, and morals. And that’s important. Not every champion in our world is pure. Tom has earned my respect.”
T. J. Cloutier: “Tom has always been a gentleman, at the poker table and outside, win or lose. His reputation in the poker world is definitely impeccable.”
As someone who has read most poker books out there, and has a fondness for poker biographies, I can’t recommend Poker Pioneer enough. It is simply one of the best poker history books ever written and accurately shares the life of one of the game’s legends. You’ll be entertained while learning more than you knew existed about the rise of the poker industry and many of the people in it.
For more on the book and a taste of the stories McEvoy offers, check out this interview I conducted with the man himself at his home in Las Vegas:
The Hand I’ll Never Forget: McEvoy Takes Big Pot From Amarillo Slim
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Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
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People attend the 37th Beijing Book Fair in Beijing on January 9, 2025. Photo: Li Hao/GTFeaturing more than 400,000 kinds of books, the 37th Beijing Book Fair (BBF) opened in Beijing on Thursday. More than 2,900 booths at the venue exhibit items never before seen at the event such as the China University of Geosciences Press’ jewelry shop. The jewelry section transforms knowledge of gemstones found in books into tangible products like gemstone charms and fossil blindboxes. Li Yingzheng, a representative of the publishing house, told the Global Times that launching the “jewelry and book” combo is their strategy to connect to people. At the 2025 BBF, the Chinese publishing industry’s “creative transformation” is a very visible trend, Li Ke’an, a book industry analyst, told the Global Times.Seeking “creative transformation” is not just the publishing house’s choice, but a trend shared among the Chinese publishing industry at the fair, which is why a cultural and creative exhibition area has been launched for the first time at BBF. Including Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) and China University of Geosciences Press, numerous publishers have presented their creative products at the fair. Such products are closely related to the publishers’ most notable book IPs. For example, there is an umbrella inspired by FLTRP’s New Concept English, a popular textbook series. It has long been dubbed a must-read for people learning English in China. “If we stick to promoting textbook as books, then we will only reach a very limited group. However, if we use the textbook series as an IP to make new products that can evoke people’s collective memory, then our book products are likely to attract more interest from a wider audience,” a staff member at the publisher surnamed Wang told the Global Times. “Developing book IPs and seeking cross-field collaborations with the creative industry is now a wind vane for the industry. Transforming the intangible spirit of books into something tangible is sure to shed light on the print publishing industry,” Ma Xiang, a book industry promoter, told the Global Times. Besides the new cultural and creative sector, the fair also boasts exhibition areas featuring publishers specializing in categories such as social sciences, sciences and technology, children’s book and culture. Many publishers have become more focused on using trending social and cultural issues as means to produce good works. At the fair, the appearance of Portraits in Black Myth: Wukong, a companion book co-published by CITIC Press for the phenomenal video game Black Myth: Wukong was a highlight. This book was released to capitalize on the game’s popularity. Feng Yuting, a representative of the book’s publisher, CITIC Press, told the Global Times that they also plan to release the book overseas in the future to help foreign players understand and appreciate the Chinese stories from the novel Journey to the West, which inspired the game.”Besides Black Myth: Wukong, other Chinese game companies are collaborating to explore cross-industry innovation and use games as a medium to promote Chinese culture,” she noted.Other than the “book and gaming” combination, the “impact of AI” has also become a popular theme among publishers. Yuval Noah Harari’s NEXUS has been praised by many Chinese readers, according to the book’s publisher CITIC Press.”For the publishing industry, AI is not just a technical tool; it is also a force that is influencing cultural dissemination and literary creation,” she noted.
Monday, January 6, 2025, was a night filled with history for North Dakota State Football. For the North Texas native, Braylon Henderson, the night was filled with emotion as he returned back home to put a bow on an impressive career built on longevity. When the clock hit zero on Monday night, the Bison were crowned champions for a staggering 10th time. The longest career in North Dakota State history also came to an end.
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“Definitely surreal. It’s a great feeling, but definitely been a long journey. Six-years here at North Dakota State but I’m glad it’s going to end back at home just how it started,” said Henderson before his final game in a green and gold uniform.
The pride of Plano, Braylon Henderson made a name for himself less than 15-miles away from Toyota Stadium in Texas. With Frisco a second home for the Bison, Braylon knew NDSU was the place to be.”I recognized the logo. I recognized Carson Wentz and some of the other guys that played on those national championship teams when I was in High School. Getting that call from Coach Roehl and Coach Hedberg was terrific,” said Henderson looking back on the role all those Bison trips to Frisco had on his recruiting. Fast forward six-years and now 73-games later, Braylon’s mark has been left on NDSU Football.”Having this last year definitely gave me the chance to reflect on everything and see the bigger picture of why I am here and what I can do for our team and what I can do for the guys on this team. Stepping back and looking at everything from a wide lens and realizing where I need to build relationships and where I can help guys grow in their personal lives and where I can help guys grow in their relationship with God. It’s definitely been awesome,” said Henderson. It’s a career for the record books and a career Braylon would do all over again in a heartbeat.”He is not the young man I sent up there. The team is a brotherhood and a bond to him. It is something that is incredibly important to him and our family and I have seen him grow in enormous ways because of the brotherhood and the bond he has with that team,” said Braylon’s Mother, Angela Martin.
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“I have followed that boy all throughout his six-years of Bison football and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Braylon’s Grandmother, Sandra Hughes added. The tears swelled in Braylon’s eyes when the final seconds of his playing days with the Bison ran out and the realization of another championship was coming back to Fargo. “It’s hard not to get emotional about a place that is so special. Words can’t explain how much this place means to me. It was like a story book. Story book ending too. Everything was so perfect about this year,” he said. Braylon broke NDSU’s record for most games played earlier in the 2024 season in the FCS semifinal round against South Dakota State. His 73-career games is the most in any division of the NCAA.
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Sam Goetzinger
Sam Goetzinger joined WDAY News as a reporter and anchor in 2022 after graduating from St. Cloud State University. Sam worked alongside his Dad in the radio industry for 10 years in his hometown of New Prague, Minnesota before heading off to college. Along with his news responsibilities, Sam also handles play-by-play duties for North Dakota and Minnesota high school athletics.Reach Sam at [email protected] or follow him on X.
WASHINGTON — As they filed into the front pews at the National Cathedral, wearing dark suits and mostly solemn faces, one current and four former presidents came together for Jimmy Carter’s funeral. For a service that stretched more than an hour, the feuding, grievances and enmity that had marked their rival campaigns and divergent politics…
The Prettiest Author in Alabama, otherwise known as D.P. Johnson, is entering Homewood’s book market with plans for growth. Get to know her in the Q&A interview below.
Q: Tell us about yourself and your business.
A: As a mom and author, my name is D.P. Johnson, and I am the proud owner of The Prettiest Author in Alabama, LLC. I sell signed copies of my books and merchandise featuring my logo. My journey as a writer began back in middle school when I discovered my love for books and then my love for writing was born.
Over the years, I filled countless notebooks and laptops with poems, songs and stories. It wasn’t until adulthood that I finally decided to share my work with the world.
I am from Birmingham, born and raised, where I draw inspiration from the beautiful landscapes and rich culture of this Southern state. I especially love our lakes.
I officially started my writing career in 2021 when I published my first romance novel, “The Grey Area.” The positive reception and encouragement from readers inspired me to write a sequel, “The Grey Area II,” which was released in 2022. In 2024, I released the children’s book, “The Brave Little Panther.” It was also in 2024 that I launched my company, The Prettiest Author in Alabama.
Q: Tell us about the story behind your company name.
A: The Prettiest Author in Alabama sounds arrogant, I know. I would think so at first glance too. It doesn’t make sense until I tell the story of the origin. I am an alumni of Woodlawn High School. I wasn’t the most popular kid nor was I the prettiest. Let’s be real. I wasn’t even cute. I needed braces, I was super skinny, and I had no fashion sense whatsoever.
My last year in high school, I colored my hair too close to getting a relaxer and my hair fell out. I had to cut it all off and start over. The only thing that was half way decent as it related to my outer appearance was my hair and now that was gone. The kids called me “Bird Dog” by saying I looked like a mix between a bird and a dog. I would go home crying daily.
Post high school, I put those days behind me and grew confidence from within. When I had my daughter at 20, I vowed to not pass off that low self-esteem.
My daughter currently serves in the United States Air Force. She’s currently stationed in Ramstein, Germany. While parenting 5k miles away, I keep a close relationship with her and constantly thank her for her services. She is the only child and just turned 20. I am and will always be super proud that she chose to serve our country.
Fast forward, not only did I declare myself The Prettiest Author in Alabama, it’s locally trademarked by the Secretary of State of Alabama and I have a pending national trademark with the United States Post Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Nothing wrong with making it a fact after years of the opposite being an opinion, right?
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a writer/author?
A: As a seasoned writer and author, I have discovered that there are different aspects of the creative process that bring joy and fulfillment.
For me, the journey of writing itself is incredibly rewarding. The act of putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and weaving together words to create a story is a deeply satisfying experience. The flow of ideas, the editing process, and the final touches that bring a piece of writing together all contribute to the joy of being a writer.
My favorite thing is the moment when I see my book published and hold it in my hands for the first time. The feeling of flipping through the pages of a physical book that contains my words, ideas, and stories is indescribable. It’s a mix of pride, awe, and a pinch of disbelief—“Wow… this is me? I did this?.” Seeing my name on the cover of a book is a surreal experience that never fails to bring a smile to my face.
Q: What do you hope people take away from your books?
A: Well, it’s no secret that my first two books are heated romance novels. From “The Grey Area” series, I hope that open minded readers take away the ability to think unorthodox. Those books represent the imaginative and single woman that I obviously am.
“The Brave Little Panther” is an extreme 180 for sure. It shows the aspect of me being a parent… a mother. I want kids, and people of all ages actually, to take away that regardless of how big or small you feel in this world, that does not equate to the impact that can be made.
So, being open minded from “The Grey Area” series and courage from “The Brave Little Panther.”
Q: Where can people find your work?
A: My books can be found at the following websites and stores:
The Prettiest Author in Alabama: www.theprettiestauthorinalabama.com
Amazon
Dede’s Book Rack, 104 S Chalkville Rd STE 105 in Trussville.
Words on Pages Bookshop, 200 E. Michigan Ave in Paw Paw Michigan.
Q: What drew you to want to become a part of the Homewood book scene?
A: My day job, my favorite lunch place, my favorite dinner place, and my spa are all located in Homewood. It’s a wonder that I do not live here, however I definitely feel like a resident.
I think even though I’m not necessarily a resident, I still feel a connection to these cities since I am in them as much as I am in my own city. It’s time I meet more of my neighbors.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: In summary, I am extremely excited about the upcoming opportunities for networking with fellow business owners, connecting with like-minded individuals, and exploring possibilities to distribute copies of “The Brave Little Panther” to as many children as I can.
Building relationships within these communities is paramount, and I look forward to engaging within various events. Whether it’s setting up a table with my logo amongst the other business owners for business or a simple light community mixer, I’ll be there will bells on, with hopes that my welcome is highly received.
LOADINGERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday advanced a bill that would require the detention of undocumented immigrants who commit certain crimes, a priority for the new Republican majority following GOP victories in last year’s election. Unlike last year, when Democrats objected to its quick passage on the Senate floor, this week a majority…
Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She’s the editor/author of (DON’T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.
View All posts by Kelly Jensen
We haven’t had many YA adaptations become blockbusters in a few years. At least, not on the big screen. Several small screen adaptations, including The Summer I Turned Pretty and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder have been big hits for streamers, with the latter earning a rare renewal for a second season from Netflix.Unfortunately, it turns out that good reviews and even decent ratings aren’t quite enough to keep some adaptations afloat, as we saw with Prime’s My Lady Jane in 2024. Too often, it is the works by female creators who seem to be on the one-and-done schedule with streamers. Is it that we are overwhelmed with the number of options available (yes) or is it that these adaptations don’t seem to have a lot of marketing and publicity associated with their releases (also yes)? Despite covering YA extensively for well over a decade, several adaptations slipped from my attention in the past year simply because I never saw news or press for them.Although there are a handful of YA adaptations to hit the big screen in the new year, chances are that they won’t be quite as huge as one we’re all anticipating for 2026: Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest from the Hunger Games franchise. The press for this one began the moment it was announced. That said, it won’t be surprising if we see the small screen be the place of some wildly popular YA adaptations this year, especially from the series mentioned above that have already found devoted followers and are no longer in their premier season. As we enter into 2025, let’s take a look at some of the films and small-screen YA adaptations we can anticipate this year. All of the titles here are either confirmed with release dates or by those involved in the projects. I’ve not included titles that have been optioned for film, as we don’t know whether or not they will happen at all (an option is just that: the ability to hold onto a project for potential adaptation). Titles in pre-production or production per IMDb status, such as The Children of Blood and Bone and The Inheritance Games are also not included, though some titles that are in post-production may be included here. Pre- and currently in production adaptations do not indicate anything about a release date, especially if they have yet to have any casting news or filming updates.
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As has been the case for the last several years, there have been a lot more books by authors of color optioned for adaptation, but few of those options have been exercised. The bulk of adaptations are still by white authors. Hopefully, we will begin to see some of those options come to fruition soon.
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts by Ying Chang Compestine (No date yet)
This short story collection has been in the works for a bit, and as you’ll see here, the pilot episode trailer was released in summer 2024 as a tease.
In Chinese tradition, if someone dies unjustly or hungry, they come back to haunt the living—while some are satisfied by food, others continue their haunting. The stories in this collection travel through China’s history, and each includes a recipe and historical notes for taking the stories off-page, too.
There hasn’t been news yet on where the adaptation will be released, but it will be animated.
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare (Theaters, May 9)
A Summer Scares pick from 2022, Cesare’s terrifying clown-themed horror novel will be hitting the big screen in May. The story follows Quinn and her dad, who have moved to small Kettle Springs, Missouri, for a fresh start. Unfortunately, Kettle Springs is anything but that. Ever since the corn syrup factory shut down, there has been a divide between the adults desperate to make Kettle Springs cool again and the kids who want to just get through school and get out of town.
Enter Frendo, the mascot for the defunct corn syrup factor. He’s alive, and he’s coming for the kids in town alongside a host of his killer clown friends.
There are three books in the series and all are out, but this first title easily stands alone. It is guaranteed to be a terrifying theatrical experience (one that I cannot wait to experience!).
Fear Street: Prom Queen by R.L. Stine (Netflix, no date yet)
Small-screen horror adaptations have done well over the last few years—including the first three Fear Street adaptations in 2021—so it’s little surprise to see that another Stine classic will get the treatment. This story follows the one-by-one murder of a number of Prom Queen candidates and the girl who realizes she might be next on the list. It has a different cast of characters than the other three films made from the series, so you don’t need to be familiar with any of those to enjoy the latest adaptation.
Forever… by Judy Blume (Netflix, early 2025)
Two years ago, Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret hit theaters and created an opportunity for both those who grew up with Blume’s stories—as well as the current generation of young people—to see the classic middle grade novel brought to the big screen.
In 2025, we’re going to see a modern take on Blume’s young adult staple, Forever…. It will be presented as a series on Netflix, featuring the classic first love story through two Black lead characters, with a 2018 Los Angeles setting. The lineup of those involved in the project is pretty stellar: Anthony Hemingway and Regina King are directing episodes of the series, and the leads will be played by Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Season Two (Netflix, no date yet)
Five years ago, Andie Bell was killed by her boyfriend, who then killed himself right after. Pip, like so many others, has never quite shaken the story off. But unlike others, she’s made it a mission to get to the bottom of what really happened to Andie that day.
Price’s novel and the subsequent series have been hits in the US, UK, and elsewhere throughout the world since their publication.
The second season will film in 2025, so it is likely this will hit streamers later in the year.
I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan (Theaters, July 18)
This isn’t the first, nor is it the second, take on Duncan’s teen scream classic. It is the third. The original film hit theaters in October 1997, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Ryan Phillippe, among other stars of the time. The second take ran as a streaming series on Amazon starting in 2021. Now, we’re seeing it hit theaters once again and yes, it will feature at least one of the original cast members in its new iteration.
Is it a summer of teen screams in 2025? It sure looks like it.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (Netflix, no release date yet)
Westerfeld’s been on a roll with his YA finally seeing their adaptations come to light. Last year we saw Uglies hit Netflix, 20 years after it was initially optioned. In 2025, an animated take on Leviathan—the first in a trilogy—will hit Netflix.
Leviathan, originally published in 2009, follows a fugitive prince and a girl in disguise who meet aboard a dirigible called the HMH Leviathan in 1914. Their meeting forever changes the course of history.
My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak, Season Two (Netflix, no date yet)
The first season of Ali Novak’s novel was a hit on Netflix, including hitting the Top 10 lists of 88 different countries. Its second season has wrapped on filming and will hit the streamer sometime this year.
In season one, we meet Jackie, who wants to be perfect in order to get the attention of her parents. They’re the too busy to notice things sort, living a New York City life. But when they’re killed in a tragic accident, Jackie is shuffled off to small town Colorado to live with the Walters. It’s a home with 11 boys and one girl, and Jackie learns that perhaps her desire for perfection isn’t the best way to live her life—even if the habits of those Walter boys drive her up a wall.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Season Three (Amazon, Summer)
We know that the adaptation of Jenny Han’s first YA series will see its third season this year. Previously slated for an earlier release, filming schedules and contract negotiations pushed it back to 2025.
The third season will feature 11 episodes, following Belly and her family while they spend another summer at Cousins Beach. It will once again give the opportunity for Belly to come of age…and tackle the important questions of which of her mom’s best friend’s sons, Conrad or Jeremy, is the boy with whom she’s truly meant to be. Fans who’ve read the book know what happens at the end, so it’ll be curious to see if and how that plays out this season.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Prime, no date yet)
It’s not 100% confirmed whether or not the mega-selling, TikTok-revived We Were Liars will finally hit the Amazon streamer in 2025, but Lockhart has sure been dropping plenty of hints on social media that suggest it will. Filming wrapped up, so the status as of writing is that it is in post-production and about ready to go.
Another clue that the family-centered thriller will land this year? Amazon Studios recently hired a former Disney executive to help shepherd their lineup of new entertainment for YA viewers.
Erica Ezeifedi, Associate Editor, is a transplant from Nashville, TN that has settled in the North East. In addition to being a writer, she has worked as a victim advocate and in public libraries, where she has focused on creating safe spaces for queer teens, mentorship, and providing test prep instruction free to students. Outside of work, much of her free time is spent looking for her next great read and planning her next snack.
Find her on Twitter at @Erica_Eze_.
View All posts by Erica Ezeifedi
First thing’s first: let me clarify that my use of “woke” in the title refers to how a certain subset of the population incorrectly defines “woke,” and that the term as we know it today originally came into use in the Black American community in the ’60s. Read more about that here.
Now for this raggedy app—we are two minutes into 2025, and we’ve already got our first bookish scandal, courtesy of Fable. If you’re unfamiliar, Fable is a book club app we reviewed in 2022, and the issue comes from them trying to to do a little Spotify-esque end-of-year summary that gently roasted its members. But some of the roasts were giving more cross burning than playful jab, if you know what I mean.
Tiana Trammell, a book influencer and Fable app user, shared her reader summary, and…it’s a gross mess. It read: “Your journey dives deep into the heart of Black narratives and transformative tales, leaving mainstream stories gasping for air. Don’t forget to surface for the occasional white author, okay?”
After sharing her reading summary with followers, some of them then shared how they received similarly offensive Fable reading summaries that focused on sexual orientation and disability instead of race.
Fable has since apologized across its social media accounts, and even included a video where a Fable exec comments on the issue and also apologizes. WIRED spoke with Kimberly Marsh Allee, Fable’s head of community, and she mentioned how the company is revising its AI summaries to allow readers to opt out of the “roasting,” and instead just get a straightforward summary of their year in reading. She said, “For the time being, we have removed the part of the model that playfully roasts the reader, and instead the model simply summarizes the user’s taste in books.”
There are, of course, people who think that Fable’s apology, and even their label of “playful roasts,” is too flippant, and think they should not only issue more sincere apologies, but also pledge to get rid of AI altogether.
You can read more about the whole situation at WIRED.
Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
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