An author from a town just outside of Bucks County has released a new novel, and it is already making waves in the literary world.

James McBride, who lives just over the river from New Hope in Lambertville, New Jersey, just had his latest novel published on Aug. 8. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is set in nearby Pottstown and tells the story of a community of Jewish immigrants and African Americans from long ago working together to protect a young boy.

Having been out for just a few days, the new book is already labeled as a bestseller by Barnes and Noble. He began a nationwide speaking tour for the book on the day of its publication.

In recent years, McBride garnered national attention for his book “The Good Lord Bird”, first published in 2013, which tells the story of abolitionist John Brown. The book was adapted into a miniseries by Showtime in 2020, with actor Ethan Hawke portraying Brown.

His other works include “The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother” (1995), “Miracle at St. Anna” (2002), “Song Yet Sung” (2008), and “Five-Carat Soul” (2017).

Learn more about this book and his tour at James McBride.

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Editor’s note: This post first appeared on BUCKSCO Today in August 2023.