Summer is officially underway and we at John F. Blair, Publisher are soaking up the sun (and the great reviews!) with some of our newest releases.

From an inspirational story of reconstruction and hope after one of the worst natural disasters in history, to tales of economic struggles and scandal in the south's banking capital, to facinating and educational guide and self-improvement books, Blair's titles offer something for everyone!

Check out more of the buzz on Blair books below.

NewSouth Books is pleased to announce that Ted Dunagan's novel A Yellow Watermelon has been named one of the 25 Books Every Young Georgian Should Read by the Georgia Center for the Book.

Learn more about this great honor here.

Get your own copy of the book here.

With the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history still devastating the Gulf of Mexico, Kathleen Koch and her new book Rising from Katrina remind us of the resilience and strength of the region’s residents. In her timely and heartfelt opinion piece posted on CNN.com, Kathleen once again fights for the rights of her family, friends, and neighbors on the Gulf Coast.

Kathleen also spoke to Bruce DePuyt of NewsChannel 8 in Washington D.C. about her new book and the struggles, both past and present, that have faced the people of the Gulf.

In addition, MediaBistro announced the release of Rising from Katrina on their FishbowlDC blog, citing it as “#4 in Bestsellers on Mississippi, #7 in Bestsellers on Hurricanes and #15 in Bestsellers on Natural Disasters” on Amazon.com.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Rising from Katrina news on our blog and on twitter. You can also follow Kathleen on twitter.

"While the insider’s glimpse into the sky-rocket success and collapse of the illustrious banks reminds us of the Queen City’s deflated financial dynasty, it’s clear that Rothacker’s insight and story-spinning prowess really are too big to fail. " - CharlotteMagazine.com

Rick Rothacker and his new book Banktown: The Rise and Struggles of Charlotte’s Big Banks

For another taste of Banktown, watch the sneak peak of Blair’s very first book trailer!

Keep watching our blog, twitter, and Facebook for more information on this exciting upcoming release.