"Human beings have such a hard time asking for help." In her debut book, published by Grand Central Publishing this week, Amanda Palmer explores the complicated feelings involved in seeking help from others. Included are personal stories about her marriage to author Neil Gaiman and her struggles as an artist and musician.

Author and screenwriter David Nicholls describes his latest novel as a road movie, comedy, and love story about family and marriage. Published in October by Harper, Us was longlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

"In my fantasy, love is a visible thing." Shelly Oria's debut story collection, released today by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, explores international identity and relationships of love and lust.

Bill Roorbach's latest novel, published by Algonquin Books this month, explores the relationship between two strangers trapped in a cabin during a snowstorm. Algonquin Books is one of eleven small-press publishers featured in the new issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

“Horror can be contained within a book, given form and meaning. But in life horror has no more form than it does meaning. Horror just is.” Richard Flanagan reads from his latest novel, for which he was awarded the 2014 Man Booker Prize yesterday.

"Creating is not magic, but work. And anyone can create. Necessity is not the mother of invention. You are." In this forthcoming book from Doubleday, debut author Kevin Ashton explores humanity's greatest creations, and the seemingly unremarkable individuals, gradual steps, multiple failures, and ordinary acts behind them.

Author Lauren Oliver discusses the inspiration for her novel Rooms (Ecco, 2014), a story about the secrets that haunt the living and the dead, and how they are intertwined with an old home.

This novel by Emily St. John Mandel, published by Knopf this month, tells the story of a theatre troupe and their survival through a deadly plague. The book is longlisted for the 2014 National Book Award in Fiction.

Actor Neil Patrick Harris explains the unique, interactive concept behind his forthcoming memoir, Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography (Crown Archetype, 2014). Within the fun adventure of the book, Harris also discusses serious topics from his life.

"I've met very few cabdrivers who set out to be cabdrivers." Where To? A Hack Memoir by Dmitry Samarov includes illustrations by the author capturing his encounters with fellow cabdrivers, drunken passengers, and potholes. Samarov's book was published this month by Curbside Splendor, a Chicago-based indie press that was featured in a previous installment of Small Press Points.