Cleary hits 100 in 2016 by Michelle Styles

There are always some books which stick with you. Henry Huggins is one of those books. I can remember my teacher reading it to us and me thinking – yes I want to read that. I preferred Henry to Beezus and Ramona, partly because I felt Beezus was put upon. I too had a younger sister who needed looking after and was a character in her own right.

 Fast forward a few years to me being 11, and I was in my school’s library one lunchtime. I happened across a book called Fifteen. It was also by the same. It told the story of a young girl and her first love in the late 1950s. I can still remember bits. She thought he didn’t like her but he ends up with appendicitis. There is also a reference to Macbeth. Anyway I enjoyed it and looking for more books of that sort and that led me on to Constance and from there, the adult library beckoned and I discovered romance books.

I liked the Henry Huggins books so much that I sought them out in the early 1990’s to be able to read them to my children. This was pre-Amazon and getting hold of North American children’s books (even classics) in the North East of England was difficult. I used to stock up when I visited my relations in the US. Thankfully my children could appreciate the adventures of Henry, Beezus, Ramona and Ribsy.

Beverly Cleary who wrote the Henry Huggins, Ramona the Pest and Fifteen books turns 100 this year in April. She is still very much alive. And this year people are celebrating her centenary (particularly during April which is DEAR month – Drop Everything And Read – and promotes sustained silent reading).  I happened to click on something about this earlier this month and a whole host of memories welled up. I had totally forgotten about Fifteen but onc

e I saw the name, I knew the story and how much I had enjoyed it.

I am thoroughly delighted that someone whose first book was publishe

d in 1950 and whose books have been such a great influence in children's literature and literature in general remains alive.

So who else is a Beverly Clearly fan and which is your favourite Clearly novel or character. If you can quite remember – try visiting her website  to jog your memory. There is also a good article about her from 2011 Atlantic Monthly.  I plan to keep DEAR month. Actually thanks in part to Cleary, I don't need an excuse to read. I just do it. Maybe I could have a DEAR day today...

And because Harlequin put these out or Valentine’s Day and I pressed send on my latest Viking:

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance in a wide range of time periods, including VIkings. Her latest Viking  Summer of the Viking was published in June 2015.

YOu can learn more about Michelle and her books by visiting www.michellestyles.co.uk 

Christina Hollis— Happy Valentine's Day!

A Valentine, just for you.

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s not only we humans who are in the mood for love at this time of year. Wildlife is warming up, too. 

Tradition says St Valentine's Day is when birds choose their mates. In actual fact, they start scouting round for partners and possible nest sites as soon as the hours of daylight increase, and the days get noticeably longer. 

We’ve had small birds chasing and displaying around our garden for weeks now.  Last week, I found the outer shell of a wren’s nest in the ivy behind one of our outhouses. That’s not to say we’ll be seeing babies in it any time soon. Mr Wren builds several homes, then invites a likely female to inspect all his available real estate. The birds only really get down to the business of raising a family when the female has chosen her favourite site.

During one very mild winter a few years ago, our local news reported a blackbird sitting on a nest she’d built behind a store’s Christmas display of plastic reindeer. The decorations had to stay in place until the beginning of February, to give the chicks time to safely fly the nest.

My surprise anniversary present

My husband is wonderfully romantic. We met on a blind date. He swept me straight off my feet, and they’ve hardly touched the ground since that first meeting. He chooses a Valentine card according to the words inside, rather than the picture on the outside (although that has to be good, too). He also manages to think up lovely surprises. I don’t know how he’s going to top the reconstruction of my wedding bouquet he commissioned from our local florist for our most recent wedding anniversary, though!

What’s the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to you? I’ll pick a comment at random after 19th February, and the winner will receive a copy of my latest release, Heart Of A Hostage.

When she isn't cooking, gardening or beekeeping, Christina Hollis writes contemporary fiction starring complex men and independent women.  Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and she’s sold over two million books worldwide. You can catch up with her at her blog, on Twitter, and Facebook and see a full list of her published books here.

 Her current release, Heart of A Hostage, is part of her Princes Of Kharova series published by The Wild Rose Press. It's available from http://bit.ly/1iNf2Gw in the US, and from myBook.to/HeartOfAHostage around the world. To find out more about Christina, you can sign up for her newsletter here.

Valentine's Day...The Words that Matter

Happy Valentine's...well, almost Valentine's!

Do you have any plans for tomorrow?

My husband and I are going to an RV show.  

Now, I know, you're thinking, wow, Holly your romance authorship is showing!  But I'm going to argue an RV show with my husband is sort of romantic.  

Why?  Because it's with my husband.  After all these years, he's still my favorite person to hang out with.  Whether we're at an RV show, or washing dinner dishes, or reading the paper together.  

The together part is what matters to me.

We're probably not going to exchange cards (we're not card people) and neither of us would fight the crowds to go out for dinner out tomorrow, but we do say the words...the words that matter.  What words are those?  I think they change regularly.  Yes, of course, there's I love you.  And I've always been fond of here I am.  But words like, let's go for a walk.  You are handy. You make me happy.  Oh, and thank you.  Thank you is a very important phrase!

The idea of words having power is a concept that has been woven into so many of my stories.  Sometimes blatantly, sometimes subtly.  

But since tomorrow is Valentine's, I thought the idea of words was something we should talk about.  I hope you have a great day tomorrow...and I hope you remember to say the words that matter the most to you!

Holly

www.HollyJacobs.com

It's that day again - Kate Walker

Well, not quite, today’s the 12th so The Day  - you know the one I’m thinking of. The one where the commercial world  declares that  everyone should be more ‘romantic’  and the stores are full

of mass produced red roses, cards – some in good taste, some with no taste at all – teddy bears with big red hearts on their chests, boxes of chocolates. . .And it’s the time when, because I write romance, people start asking me  what does a romance writer give/get for that day.

For Valentine’s Day.

There, I’ve said it. In spite of a private vow to sort of   keep silent about it this year, I’ve finally buckled and mentioned the V word. But I’m going to  follow that up by  the statement that really and truly I don’t like, care about or usually even observe Valentine’s Day myself.

I suppose that’s something that might shock  some people. I can almost see the headlines ‘Romance Writer ignores the most romantic day of the year’ – but I have my answer ready . And that is that I simply don’t see Valentine’s Day as the most romantic  day of any year. A day when  a partner buys a bunch of red roses because it’s expected (and they saw them in the shop and thought . . Oops! . . . .) Or  when they give a box of chocolates  that their lover doesn’t want  because she’s fighting to lose weight.  And I really really  don’t want a huge teddy bear with a big red heart. No really I don’t!

This year in particular the emphasis on one day for making a fuss and  buying gifts  to ‘show your love’ seems slightly hollow to me.  I’ve never been a fan of mass marketing and as I think I’ve mentioned before, I don’t actually like red roses – golden ones are different, I had those in my wedding bouquet and my DH will sometimes surprise me with a bouquet of those ‘because I saw these and thought of you.’  Now that’s  much more  romantic.

So why this year does this make me feel even more strongly? Well,  I don’t know about you but it does seem that since 2016 dawned we’ve had a string of sad announcements of famous  people who have died unexpectedly and some too soon.  David Bowie, Alan Rickman,  and here in the UK the much loved broadcaster Terry Wogan. They’ve all sadly passed away and even more sadly, if inevitable, they’ve left behind  a grieving partner who had been with them for years and years.

One of the UK papers today had an article about the fact that ‘romance’ seems to be touted as only for the young,  To quote the article in the Daily Mail:   In the literature of love, anyone past the first flush of youth is doomed to mockery, humiliation and sharp regret. Deceived husbands, betrayed wives, deluded old fools led a merry dance by manipulative young minxes - from Chaucer and Shakespeare to Auden and Larkin, the message is clear: wooing is not for wrinklies.

This is in response to a new book of Poems by Christopher Matthew  titled A Bus Pass Named Desire.

I’ll have to be honest here and say, well, yes, the novels I wrote do tend to have younger heroes and heroines.  I haven’t written about older characters. But that’s not because I don’t believe in the idea – and the fact  - of ‘wrinkly romance’ (horrible term!) The truth is that I’m living  it myself. My husband and I celebrate our 43^rd wedding anniversary this year. And we’d been together for two years before that big day.

To me there is something hugely romantic  in the proper sense of the term – romantic and loving about  the relationship of two people who have been together through thick and thin for years and years.  They’ve loved each other as young ones. They’ve been through  the newly married stage, the new parents, the teenage angst (their children not the husband and wife!) the empty nest syndrome . . . And that’s why those  losses of well known characters has been particularly poignant this year.
David Bowie  had been with Iman for 25+ years.      Alan Rickman met his partner – later wife  - Rima when he was 19 and she just 18. They were still together at his death at 69 .  Terry Wogan  married his wife Helen – the ‘only woman he ever loved’ in 1965.

That’s romance. That’s the lifetime of love and togetherness and Happy Ever After I wish for my heroes and heroines – and my friends and family.   It’s the sort of loving that, sadly, inevitably leads to a loss that nothing else can fill. But it’s truly special and those every day 24/7, 52 weeks a year moments of love are more romantic than an impulse buy of red roses.

I’m not a total ‘Valentine’s Scrooge’ thought. I hope everyone has a lovely day on the 14^th. I hope that you and your partner share some truly lovely and loving moments on that day – and all the days around it and following it.   I hope you have  some  days that are truly romantic for you and not just what mass marketing says ‘romance’ is on a particular date this year.

Because the truth is that as David Bowie’s wife Iman posted on Twitter just before we learned of her husband’s death  on January 10th

Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

I wish you the happiest of memories of this Valentine’s Day however you celebrate it. 

My most recent book is Destined For The Desert King  - out in Harlequin Presents in December.  I've just sent in the revisions on my latest book

where my brooding Spanish hero meets up again with Rose  the girl who knocked his life off balance ten years ago and I'm waiting to hear what my editor thinks of it. 

And I'm thrilled to be able to say that my other 2015 title,  Olivero's Outrageous Proposal has been re released in the Mills & Boon collection The Best of 2015.  

Carole Mortimer: Regency Romances

Happy (slightly early) Valentine’s Day, Everyone.

I love Valentine’s Day. Even after all these years of being together, my husband and I always send each other a card. And somehow, each year, we manage to find that perfect one that says exactly how we feel about each other. Peter is my soul-mate, I am his. I truly hope that you have all found that in your own life too.

This month I thought I would talk about my Regency Romances, most especially my new series, Regency Unlaced. I’ve been a fan of the Regency since reading my first Georgette Heyer novel when I was 11 – what can I say, I was a precocious child! My very favorite Heyer novel is Regency Buck, and I tend to reread it once a year. Because of my love for reading books set in the Regency period, 1811-1820, in 2009 I decided I would like to write books in that period, as well as my contemporaries. I’ve now written 25 Regencies for Harlequin. And November 2015 saw the publication of The Duke’s Mistress, the 1^st novella in my very own Regency Unlaced series.

An Author’s note: the novellas in the Regency Unlaced series are much hotter, and the language more explicit, than in my previous Regency novels. (I believe the “Unlaced” part in the title of this series speaks for itself!)

This above note is on the blurb to all the novellas in this series, because they really are steaming hot, and the use of language is applicable to the period too.

To my great joy, The Duke’s Mistress has been wonderfully received by readers – thank you so much for your emails and reviews, I really appreciate them. January 29^th saw the publication of the 2^nd novella in the series, Claimed by the Marquis (Regency Unlaced 2) and this has been just as warmly received. The 3^rd novella, Taken by the Earl, is now available for pre-order, and will be published April 2^nd.

There are links at the bottom of the blog to all three Regency Unlaced novellas.

So what’s coming up next, you’re probably wondering. Well at least 5 more Regencies before the end of 2016, the start of a new contemporary series, title Knight Security, and an anthology with 4 other great authors, coming out very soon. I will also be writing a Presents trilogy for Harlequin this year, due to be published 2017.

Somewhere in there I will also be spending time with my wonderful husband and family – oh, and sleeping occasionally too, I hope!

Have a great February,

Carole x     

The Duke’s Mistress (Regency Unlaced 1)

Claimed by the Marquis (Regency Unlaced 2) 

Taken by the Earl (Regency Unlaced 3)

Website: www.carolemortimer.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CaroleMortimerAuthor

Email: contact@carolemortimer.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@carole_mortimer

Newsletter: www.epurl/2rfzz

            

Jeannie Watt: Tosser Envy (Not the Rude Kind)

I’m moving. I love where I live now, but it’s time to move closer to my parents, so my husband and I are pulling up stakes this summer and moving to Montana. I’m excited to be closer to my mom and excited to have a new house, however…there’s this one small problem. I haven’t moved in twenty-two years.

My new view--as of this summer. So excited!

Do you have any idea how much stuff a person can accumulate in that length of time?  

A lot.

My house has a full basement and I have packed that sucker to the gills. Now I have to sort and toss and prioritize…and convince myself that the object is not the same as the memory.

Hard lesson—especially when I keep finding cool things I’d forgotten about, like, say, the velvet pants I wore in high school. Surely I’ll be a size 2 again and hip-hugger button-front crushed-velvet jeans will come back into style. Right?

The engagement boots--35 years later.

And what to do with the engagement boots? My husband and I met in college, where we were geology students, and instead of buying a ring, we spent the money on something we honestly needed—well-made his and her hiking boots. I still have mine. His wore out long ago and we can’t remember what happened to them. I’ll probably find them while packing up the rest of the basement.

But I can’t move everything, so I’m going to hire a hit man. I’ll put the stuff I need to get rid of in a certain area of the basement and ask my son to haul it away. And then I’ll hope that he gets the right stuff, because otherwise, he’ll be back at the donation place buying it all back.

Are you a saver or a tosser? Let me tell you—right now, I’m suffering from a huge case of tosser-envy.

Find out more about Jeannie at her website or on Facebook.

How I Cast Characters – Kandy Shepherd

People often ask me where I get ideas for my characters. I find it difficult to answer because they seem like real, living, breathing people to me from the earliest stages of imagining a story.

Yet they’re not real people—they’re purely imaginary and not based on anyone I know. That’s not to say my characters might subconsciously contain snippets gleaned from people I’ve met over the years or even elements of myself!

But when I start a story, I do like to get a strong image of what those characters look like. I have fun “casting” them from actors and celebrities. My daughter is a great help, as she seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of hot stars.

For example, for my March release, Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride, I started off with actor Theo James as my hero, Tristan, Crown Prince of the fictional European principality of Montovia.

For my heroine, Australian party planner Gemma  I cast actress Gemma Arterton.

(To see some of the images that kickstarted my imagination for the book, take a look at my Pinterest board, “Gemma and Tristan”).

But, as always seems to happen, as I wrote the story Tristan and Gemma developed into their own people. Theo James has brown eyes, Tristan’s are a vivid blue. Gemma began to look different to my actress muse, too, with cinnamon eyes and bright auburn hair. By the end of the book, my mind’s eye saw Tristan and Gemma as unique individuals with their own looks and personalities.

Here’s how Gemma and Tristan look on the lovely cover.

Then, of course, the nature of the reading experience means readers get their own images of how the characters I created look.

An early reviewer of Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride sees Tristan as Richard Madden and Gemma as Lily James, the stars of the recent Disney remake of Cinderella. I was delighted, as I loved that movie and those characters and the book definitely has a fairy-tale element to it. (I actually have Lily James as muse for a character in a future story…)

I love it when readers write to me to tell me they think one of my books would make a great movie and give casting suggestions for the hero and heroine. It’s such an interesting experience for me as a writer—because they have never been the same actors I have used as character muse for that story!

When you’re reading a book, do you ever imagine an actor, celebrity or someone you know as one of the characters? Or simply believe in the characters the author has created? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Make a comment if you’d like to be in the draw for an advance paperback copy of Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride. Please include your email address if you want to be in the draw.

Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride will be released on March 1, 2016 and is available for pre-order now.

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Katherine Garbera: The Valentine Gamble

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays.  I mean who doesn't love a day that celebrates love.  From my earliest memories my Mom always made the holiday about love not about dates or having a date so I've never been upset if I didn't have a date on Valentine's Day.  She used to leave notes and presents on our beds (I have two sisters) and then we'd make a special dinner together to celebrate.

Not everyone thinks of Valentine's Day the same way.  But I have a calorie free treat for you this Valentine's Day.

The Valentine Gamble co-written with my good buddy Eve Gaddy.

Here's the blurb:

Johnny Gamble isn’t afraid of anything.  Except Fiona Lannigan’s effect on him.  It’s not just that she sees through his love ‘em and leave ‘em ways, she’s also his partner in Whiskey River’s most prestigious law firm.  He believes she deserves better than him until they “matched” at the annual Valentine’s Day dance and the night turns into one of the most romantic of his life.  Convincing him that he’s found a woman he doesn’t want to leave.

Fiona is all for a good time with Johnny.  There have been sparks between them from the beginning, but more than one night between the sheets isn’t in the cards. Or so she thinks, until Johnny turns on the romance.

Can Johnny convince Fiona that this is one Valentine’s Gamble worth taking?

Tell me your favorite thing about love to be entered to win a Cheryl's Cookie Card and e-book of The Valentine Gamble.  I'll announce the winner on next month's blog.

Kathy :)

Valentine Giveaway!

Since this is February I thought I'd celebrate the time of year with a Valentine's Day gift for one of Tote Bags' visitors.

Two signed books - I've pictured a couple of recent ones but the winner can choose from my backlist - and some truly scrumptious raspberry infused Belgian chocolate from Choc On Choc, a company that produces amazing chocolate a couple of miles up the road from me in the historic village of Rode.

Do click on the link and take a look at some of the amazing stuff they make!

For a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment. Maybe tell us about your most special |(or awful) Valentine's Day. Or favourite chocolate. Or romantic movie. It's international so spread the word! I'll pick a winner on Tuesday (9th)

Meanwhile here's the famous -- make that infamous -- first date with my own best beloved, written for a Valentine's Day feature in a newspaper here in the UK.  (We’ve been married for 43) years.

Liz was late. She very nearly hadn’t come at all. Despite the fact that the annual Cinema Club Ball was the social highlight of the year, a blind-date was always a risk. But the manner of the invitation had been intriguing.  The torn half of a double ticket to the Ball delivered anonymously by messenger suggested a man with imagination, passion.

A man of mystery.

And she was a sucker for a mystery.

She glanced again at the torn card she was holding, the part that said, “The St Valentine’s...”

Someone had written “9 pm” in bold script across the corner. You could tell a lot about a man from his handwriting. This said ... strong, purposeful, determined.

But who was he?

She’d spent all week trying to figure out who could possibly have sent it. Who had the other half? The piece that said, “...Day Massacre Ball”?

She paused in the entrance to the Ballroom. The only lighting came from the strobe effect of the film projected against the walls that offered momentary glimpses of  faces, features flattened out  by the flickering monotone images making them hard to recognise. And the clothes didn’t help.

Everyone had taken the 1920s Chicago theme to heart. The girls were shimmying to the Charleston in their beaded flapper dresses, the men were anonymous, almost unrecognisable in gangster-era suits, their faces shaded by wide-brimmed hats.

Touching the band around her own forehead a little self-consciously, she peered into the darkness.

She still had time to cut and run, but even as she took an uncertain step back, a man’s arm reached out of the darkness, placing the matching piece of the ticket against the one she was holding. The hand that had written “9 pm”, matched the script. Strong...

‘I knew you’d come, doll,’ a voice, pure Humphrey Bogart, drawled out of the gloom, breaking into the thought and she looked up.

For a moment she didn’t recognise the figure in the pinstriped suit, fedora pulled down at a rakish angle. Then the light caught his face. It was vaguely familiar. She’d noticed him at a recent club meeting. John something....

Despite the pitch-perfect Bogie impression and darkly, handsome looks, her date didn’t quite match the actor’s dangerous aura. But then who could? And heck, it could have been a whole lot worse.

He could have been Edward G Robinson.

Don't forget to leave a comment - 

I'll pick a winner on Tuesday.

Addison Fox: Hearts

“Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable. – The Wizard”

L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

It’s February and that often means our minds are drawn to images of love. From cupids to kisses, February is the month we are culturally awash in love. Center to that are images of the heart. Pink ones. Red ones. Cut out, or hand drawn.

But what about matters of the heart? Cliché or no, we humans spend our lives living with the urges of our hearts. Who we love. Who we hate. What we wish for our loved ones and ourselves. The worries we carry and the joys we keep tucked away.

I thought about this as I visited an older friend in the hospital last night. She’s unfortunately had a series of health problems that have had her in and out of the hospital. Her prognosis overall is quite good, but it’s still a painful time. When I walked into the room, a few other friends had arrived before me and it was so wonderful to see her face lit up, joy in not only the company but the time others had given to make the visit.

It was also a reminder to me that love of others comes in so many forms. At this time of year we often tend to focus on romantic love, but our capacity for love and affection is so much broader, with endless dimensions.

One of the joys I find in writing is that I explore on the page the various things I wonder about, question and seek answers to. I’m amazed how often my work channels the joy I have of family life or personal experiences I can’t yet fully articulate with my own words. Conversely, so often the writing helps me deal with a concern I have in life or a particular problem I’m working through.

I find the same experiences with reading. I’m always pleasantly surprised how a particular book can speak to me at a particular time, at the moment I need to hear it.

Those experiences with the written word help dimensionalize, at least for me, this experience of life. What is truly an individual journey for each of us is somehow made a bit easier knowing others travel the same path. Experience the same joys. Ask the same questions.

Clearly I’m a bit reflective today and I do appreciate you joining me! I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned for February and what you’re looking forward to this month.

XO,

Addison

Despite early ambitions of being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She lives in Dallas and - thankfully - doesn't have to operate on anyone. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her next book, COLTON’S SURPRISE HEIR, will be out in February from Harlequin Romantic Suspense. You can visit her at her website at www.addisonfox.com

Roxanne Snopek: Time For a Change

I’m getting my hair done on Friday. I’ve worn it long for quite some time now – usually in a ponytail or clip – and I’m a little tired of it. I tend to chicken out when it comes to major change, so I’ll probably just get a trim and color touch up. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

"I like this just fine."

"Except I almost never wear it down, so why bother?"

But what if I want to make a major change? A purple streak? An asymmetrical layered bob? A pixie cut? Any suggestions?

I’ve tried a few different styles over the years and my three very fashionable daughters have provided much helpful feedback. “Don’t ever do that again, Mom,” is a favorite comment, when looking through old photos. “I love your hair exactly as it is,” my husband reminds me regularly. Very sweet, except for the glint of fear in his eye.

"Now THIS was a good hair day." Cue evil laugh

"Fantastic day. But not so much the hair."

Change can be scary – but it can be great, too.

My publisher is currently re-covering all the books in my first contemporary romance series, THREE RIVER RANCH. Two of the books are keeping the original art, but updating the look. And three of them have received total make-overs. And let me say, I love them all! What do you think? Do you have a favorite?

http://www.amazon.com/Three-River-Ranch-4-Book/dp/B00VZI5SA8/

And, if you want to see what wild and crazy thing I did with my hair, pop by my Facebook page on Friday! https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneSnopekAuthor/ 

CJ Carmichael: So Many Books... So Little Time

When I was a kid growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan (think North Dakota, only less cutting-edge) it seemed I couldn’t get my hands on enough books. Our one-room school house (think Little House on the Prairie meets Lord of the Flies) received a rotating number of books every month from the local school library system. But I always plowed through those before the month was over. As a results I re-read my favorites many times over.

Those days are long over. Now it seems I am flooded with books. Every time I go on Facebook or Twitter, or visit Amazon, Kobo or Audible, I see dozens of books I’d love to read. And don’t get me started about Goodreads! Or bookstores!

The most amazing thing of all, is that having identified a book that interests me, I can have it purchased and downloaded to my Kobo, Kindle or iPad within five minutes (or less)!

Buying books is easy, fun…and addictive. But time to read them is increasingly scarce.

So…how to decide what to read next? For me I usually circulate among the following:

·        The monthly  reads chosen by the “Happy Bookers” my Calgary reading group

·        New releases from my favorite authors

·        New releases getting a lot of “buzz” on Goodreads, Publisher’s Weekly, or the Globe & Mail (think New York Times, Canadian style)

·        Older books I always meant to read…sometime

·        Classic titles I haven’t yet gotten around to

 

What about you? How do you decide which book you’re going to read next? Do you, for instance, pick up titles you see discussed on Facebook or Twitter? Do you receive author newsletters and buy a lot of books from those? Or do you subscribe to discount newsletters like Book Bub or ENT? And hey, does anyone browse actual book stores anymore?!? I do. Witness this photo taken in Portland this summer...

I really want to hear from you on this! To prove it, I have a lovely mug and totebag which I will be sending to one randomly chosen person who comments below with their top 3 ways of picking their next read. If your name is chosen you need to contact me with your mailing address (via Facebook or my website) so I can send you your prize! (Just follow the links under my name.)

Oh, and while I have your attention, why not enter my website contest for a grab bag of 10 books? (If you win you won’t have to worry about what to read next for a long time!)

Happy Reading!

C. J. Carmichael

C. J. Carmichael Website

C. J. Carmichael on Facebook

Sally Kilpatrick: Bittersweet Creek & Shakespeare

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou* Romeo? –Juliet, Romeo and Juliet

Julian McElroy, wherefore art thou* such an a$$hole? –Romy, Bittersweet Creek

Okay, I gave in. I melded my English major’s love of literature with my country girl’s desire to write a story about the rural area where I grew up. One of the things that’s always struck me about Shakespeare is how we view his works as highbrow now, but they were written for the common people. Shakespeare’s plays are full of wit and puns and carefully crafted dirty jokes, and there are very few things in this world that I love more than wit and puns and carefully crafted dirty jokes.

In Bittersweet Creek I give you Shakespeare. . . . with cows. I had a lot of fun with this one by translating feuding families to the south. The Satterfields drive Fords and like cats. The McElroys drive Chevorlets and prefer dogs. The Satterfields are by the book folk, but the McElroys like to bend the law. The Hatfields and the McCoys set off their feud with a stolen hog, but the Satterfields and the McElroys are going to finish their feud over an illegitimate calf. Romy and Julian have been drawn to each other since they were kids, but can they overcome the animosity of their families?

What’s your favorite version of Romeo and Juliet? Is there a Shakespearean play that you think deserves more love? Or can you share your favorite Shakespearean dirty joke? Answer any one of these questions in the comments below and consider yourself in the running for a copy of Bittersweet Creek. I’ll have one of those random number generators pick a name.

*A lot of folks think Juliet was asking where Romeo was. Really, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” is closer to asking “Why do you have to be Romeo?” That should help you understand Romy, my heroine. She conducted her balcony scene, it should be noted, from the barn loft.

Sally Kilpatrick

www.sallykilpatrick.com
@Superwritermom  

Susan Sands: All the Things We Haven't Tried

I'm scheduled to speak at a women's service league meeting next month in the town where I've lived for the past twenty or so years. There will be around fifty women attending and they've invited me to sign books afterward. Public speaking for me is exactly like the old adage comparing it second only to the fear of death--or being covered in spiders, while walking through a pit of snakes, then being burned alive. I added the spiders and snakes for dramatic effect. But you get it. Not my thing.

Since publishing my first novel last June, I've been called upon and invited to do that thing which I so fear--and shockingly enough, it hasn't killed me yet. I've sat on panels at book festivals and spoken to countless book clubs. Not dead yet. I can even admit to enjoying much of it.

Now, I'm going to address a fairly large group and do my best to inspire. They will be mostly middle aged women like me. They all have high school aged sons, for sure, because this group is a service league that focuses efforts of mothers and sons working together to help those who need it in our community. How do you inspire? I've been thinking about this a lot. 

I was told they want to know about writing. But maybe it's not so much the writing as how I started writing. How I decided to take the first step in doing rather than just thinking of doing. I really doubt fifty women want to write. Women take care of others. We do for others first most often before allowing time to listen our inner voices that are often only whispers while everything around us roars for our attention. The whispers can be faint for many years, and as the children get older and demands on our time grow less, the whispers become louder and more insistent. The heart wants what it wants. The craving for creative release, ideas for for new pursuits, and things that we've longed to try somehow emerge if we allow them. We must allow them. But instead of waiting until everyone is full grown and the timing is perfectly perfect to begin a painting class, yoga, studying photography, cooking classes, or whatever it is you've always wanted to try--do it now. Please. Figure out a way to carve an hour or two a week and try something new, something you've dreamed about. Something only for yourself. Even if it's an online class or Pinterest.

I charge everyone, not only women, to find joy in something of your own, something that feeds you beyond obligation. I write. I started when I turned forty. I also began painting classes, and cooking even more madly (which my family appreciated). I found my voice in writing and it changed me for the better. I view the world differently, in the best possible ways.

I know this post is clunky in its wording, but it is earnest in sentiment.

Best,

Susan Sands

Author of Again, Alabama and

Love, Alabama (April 2016) 

e-mail snsands@gmail.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/susannsandsauthor

Twitter: @SusanNoelSands

Blog:  Sweet Home Alpharetta at: http://susansands.com

Terri Brisbin: The Big 6-0!

So, yesterday was my birthday. And it was one of those birthdays that mark the end of a decade and the beginning of another -- I turned 60 yesterday.  I have to say that I remember when I thought that 40 was old. Then I turned 40. And I remember my father turning 49 and I thought that was old. Then I turned 50.

And now I'm 60 and I was thinking that 80 is old! But I just went to Ireland in the spring and was out-walked and out-lasted (and, dare I say, out-drank?! the spelling is bad but you get the idea!)  by a friend who celebrated her 80th birthday with us there! So, how old IS old?

Yes, it's all about your perspective in life.

I have friends and family members who make 60 look like 20. I have friends and know people who make 40 look like 70. It's amazing to me how much attitude determines your age. A life crisis doesn't hurt in changing your perspective, either.

The year I turned 50 was the best and worst in my life. I began with a celebration shared with some of my best friends. My oldest son married the love of his life. I was diagnosed with cancer. Most importantly, I was cured of cancer, too, in the same year.

But that year made me realize that nothing is guaranteed. Nothing is for certain. And the only thing you get out of life is what you choose - to do or not do.

And this last decade has been among my best -- my other two sons met the loves of their lives, two new grandbabies have been born, I spent almost a month in Scotland (on my own!), I went to Ireland for the first time, wrote more books than I even thought possible, met more readers, and have made many memories during those years.

Even more interesting to me is that I find I am making more plans for more things to do in the next decade....and trying to decide if I really am too old to dye my hair purple and turquoise.....

So, what's my age again? I'd say the body is definitely 60, the mind....somewhere around that, but emotionally I think I'm around 38.... How about you?

Happy Whatever Birthday You're Celebrating in 2016!!