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It’s another busy week for book lovers in New York City! Brave the frigid temperatures and endless snow and ice to warm up at some of these amazing literary events.

This week offers a panel of brilliant women discussing all things geeky at Housing Works, a reading by National Book Award winner Phil Klay at WORD, several celebrations for debut authors, and another installment of Pete’s Reading Series. Best of all: every event featured this week is totally free.

It's easy to assume famous writers were recognized as geniuses in their own time. A classic now is a classic then is a classic always, right? Not so. In fact, sometimes the authors themselves died first and went to their graves with no idea about their impending cultural and literary prominence. Here are few examples you might not have expected!

While the Oscars always highlight adaptations of books with their Adapted Screenplay category, this year’s Original Screenplay selections feature something a little unusual. Birdman arrived last fall and built up some serious and unexpected hype by the year’s end, eventually earning nine Oscar nominations, tied only with The Grand Budapest Hotel for most nominations this year. And at its center is a well-loved short story, published over thirty years ago but never adapted for the big screen.

Birdman, co-written and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, is not actually an adaptation – it’s an original work about an adaptation. The film portrays the struggles of a former Hollywood superstar named Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) as he attempts to stage a theatrical version of Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” that he’s adapting, directing, and starring in himself. It is not going as well as he’d hoped.

In November of 2013, Quirk published Winter Cocktails, the debut cookbook from the uber talented duo of Maria Del Mar Sacasa and Tara Striano. Fast forward to 2015, and we're really thrilled to be publishing their followup. Summer Cocktails!

Full of drinks for warm sunny days and tasty snacks perfect for nibbling on the porch, it's a really fun book that will look PERFECT next to your copy of Winter Cocktails on the bookshelf. And I'm happy to give you all a little sneak peek at the book! 

First, here's a note from the book's editor, Tiffany Hill (@tiffanylhill):

I know, I know, it's 12 degrees outside and snowing. Shhh, let's talk about summer. When I got my advance copy of Maria del Mar Sacasa's Summer Cocktails, I knew there was only one proper way to celebrate: with a Salty Lime Soda. It's as good as it looks in Tara Striano's gorgeous cover photo–cool, bright, and refreshing. It would be perfect at a summer cocktail party. (And it wasn't bad in February.)

My favorite part of Summer Cocktails, though, is the collection of infusions, shrubs, and syrups featuring summer fruits and herbs. Picture a cocktail made with Rhubarb Syrup straight out of your garden. That snow will start melting any day now!

The book comes out in April! For now, enjoy some pics, and enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one! You can also enter by telling us about your favorite summer cocktail in the comments. Three people will win! 

Interested in a review copy for your blog? Email Suzanne ([email protected]). 

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2015 is the Year of the Goat. The Chinese Zodiac has a twelve-year cycle where an animal has been designated to each year. The Year of the Goat is the eighth year of this cycle.

Fun fact: Authors Doris Lessing, Iris Murdoch, and Alice Munro were born in the year of the Goat. So were Toni Morrison and John le Carré.

It is said that the year of one’s birth sign can be unlucky. So, for those born in the Year of the Goat, 2015 might turn out to be a tough year. But don’t worry. Each Chinese Zodiac animal comes with its own set of lucky numbers, colors, directions, and months. Based on what is lucky for Goats, we have selected some books to read until the Year of the Monkey takes over in 2016.

The books are almost always better than the movies. At least, I can't think of one example where the movie is better. Sure, sometimes the movies are as good as the books, but then watching the movie has (most likely) spoiled the pacing of the book for you. Or it's made you imagine the characters in a way you never would've. Or it's just made you less likely to read the book. 

Well, you will think to yourself, I have watched the movie, which is almost like—nope, no don't even finish the thought. Instead, let's all make the commitment to read those books before we watch their movie adaptions.