Book buzz: Patricia Cornwell is No. 1, Whiting Awards announced

Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY

Alicia Keys' storytelling app is loosely based on her relationship with her grandmother.

Here's a look at what's buzzing in the book world today:

Paging Dr. Scarpetta: Fans of Patricia Cornwell's crime series starring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta have much to cheer about. The Bone Bed, 20th in the series, makes its debut at No. 1 on the list. It's the 12th Scarpetta novel to land on the list at No. 1. Cornwell, who once worked for Virginia's chief medical examiner, published her first Scarpetta novel, Postmortem, in 1990. Cornwell's attendance at thousands of autopsies and her expertise in law enforcement are credited with giving her books their authenticity. -Carol Memmott

Whiting Awards: In 1993, Jeffrey Eugenides was named a "promising emerging writer" by the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation, the same year he published The Virgin Suicides. Emerged he has, with two more novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Middlesex. This week, Eugenides gave the keynote speech as the foundation awarded $50,000 each to 10 new talents. "I'm not quite ready to be the elderly person presiding over them," Eugenides says, but "winning was a great boost of confidence at an early point in my career and was of great practical use as well." The 2012 winners are: Ciaran Berry, Danai Gurira, Alan Heathcock, Samuel Hunter, Mona Mansour, Anthony Marra, Meg Miroshnik, Hanna Pylväinen, Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts and Atsuro Riley. USA TODAY's Deirdre Donahue called Pylväinen's novel We Sinners "a moving story (of) grace, insight and compassion."

'Dancing' champ: Iraq war veteran and motivational speaker J.R. Martinez has a memoir out Tuesday, Full of Heart, about everything from his childhood to overcoming his war wounds to winning Dancing With the Stars.

Halloween books: Costumes set? Candy purchased? Check out four fun Halloween-themed children's books for the little ones in your life.

Her royal hostess: What is it about Pippa? Find out why the younger Middleton is so popular, in anticipation for her book of entertaining, Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends, out Tuesday.

Alicia Keys storytelling: Grammy-winning soulful singer (and mom) Alicia Keys is launching an app for kids, called "The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee," loosely based on her relationship with her grandmother.

Featured Weekly Ad