Kittling: Books

Scene of the Crime with Author Karen E. Olson!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:52:00 +0000

I have a friend with whom I share a lot of reading DNA who recommended the Tattoo Shop mysteries written by this week's featured author. Now... I'm about the last person you'll ever meet who will get a tattoo-- in fact I think the only reason I would get one is if someone told me it was the only way to save my husband's life. But a detail that insignificant isn't going to stop me from reading mysteries set in a tattoo shop, especially when they come highly recommended. (If I only read about things I liked, I wouldn't be able to answer the stray boxing question on "Jeopardy.") Lo and behold, I read the first of Karen E. Olson's Tattoo Shop mysteries, enjoyed the information about tattoos and their creation, liked the story, and loved the characters. Tomorrow you'll be able to stop by and read my review of the second book in the series, Pretty in Ink, but today... let's learn more about the author, Karen E. Olson.

Karen E. Olson

Karen, the creator of two mystery series, finds herself at a bit of a crossroads. She told me:

My fourth and last tattoo shop mystery Ink Flamingos came out in June 2011. I have written another crime novel, it's not a cozy, but much darker, and my agent's shopping it around. I am also working on a young adult book that I'm really excited about, and even my 15-year-old daughter loves it (and she is my harshest critic)! I have loved writing both my series, and I get emails all the time from readers asking for more. But I can't continue the Annie Seymour series because I can't write about newspapers anymore. They've changed too much, and I've been out of the business for six years. And I feel that while I enjoyed writing about Brett Kavanaugh and her tattoo shop, that series came full circle for me and it's time to move on. In some ways I feel that I'm at a crossroads, but in a very good way.

If you'd like to learn even more about Karen, you can visit her website, her blog, or her Facebook page. For more on her books, you can visit her page on Stop, You're Killing Me!

What was the very first book you remember reading and loving? What makes that book so special?

I was a voracious reader as a child and read so many books. But the one that really affected me was Little Women, which I read when I was 9. I loved the four sisters, Jo in particular for her spunky character. By then I desperately wanted to be a writer when I grew up, and I could really relate to Jo's dream of being a writer.

Outside of your writing and all associated commitments, what do you like to do in your free time?

I work part time editing a medical journal at Yale and I have a 15-year-old daughter whom I have to take to various activities after school, so I don't have a lot of free time activities outside writing. But I still read a great deal. I always have at least one book going at all times. I've been reading a lot of YA books, since I'm writing one at the moment, and I have an obsession with Henry VIII and Tudor England, so I have quite a few biographies that I dip into from time to time.

If I were to visit your hometown, where would you recommend that I go? (I like seeing and doing things that aren't in all the guide books.)

Wooster Square ©selam dafla

I've lived in and around New Haven, Connecticut, most of my life. I used my Annie Seymour mystery series to show readers what the city is like (I used to be the travel editor at the New Haven Register, so I pulled those skills into my fiction) by writing about the restaurants and neighborhoods. If you were to spend one day in New Haven, I'd tell you to take a tour of Yale (the Gothic buildings are incredible), eat lunch at Louie's Lunch, home of the first hamburger, maybe take in a matinee at Yale Repertory Theater or the Shubert, check out the shops along Chapel Street, take a walk through Wooster Square (especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom!), and have pizza on Wooster Street.

We have a pizza war in New Haven: Modern Apizza, Sally's, and Pepe's. People are pretty much dedicated to one of the three. My dad grew up eating at Sally's, so that's where I usually go. It's amazing pizza, with a thin crust and the most amazing, buttery tomato sauce.

You have total control over casting a movie based on your life. Which actor would you cast as you?

Parker Posey as Annie Seymour?

I have no idea. I have never thought about it. I was asked once who would play Annie Seymour in the movie, and I picked Parker Posey. I think she'd do a super job.

Who is your favorite recurring character in crime fiction?

I have no favorite, but so many. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone, Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone, Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller, Jeff Shelby's Noah Braddock, Lori Armstrong's Julie Collins, JA Jance's JP Beaumont. The list could go on and on.

Name one book that you've read that you wish you had written. What is it about that book that made it come to mind?

I just finished reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. It was an amazing book and I actually said to a friend after I finished it that I wished I had written it. It's got great characters, an incredible plot, and an ending that hits you with a two by four.

How did you celebrate when you first heard you were to be published? What did you do the first time you saw one of your books on a shelf in a bookstore?

I went out to dinner with my family. I was on cloud nine, since it was my dream to someday be published. I have no recollection of the first time I saw one of my books in the bookstore, but I remember vividly reading my very first Publisher's Weekly review at the Apple Store in San Francisco. We were on vacation and had popped into the store, and I was playing around with one of the Macs and found an email from my editor with a link to the review, which was so stellar. I left the page up on the screen so others could see it, too, although I'm not sure anyone else cared.

I don't know if you've seen it, but I love Parnell Hall's video about book signings. What is the most unusual experience you've had at a book signing or author event?

During one of my book events for one of the tattoo shop mysteries, I was talking about how some people get tattoos of their pets. A woman in the audience jumped up, came up next to me and lifted her pant leg to show everyone the very elaborate tattoo of her cat on her calf.

What's the best thing about eBooks? What's the worst?

I love my new iPad. I love reading books on my iPad. It's like reading a real book, and I can even download library books. But the worst thing is when I'm reading and really into the book and I get the message that there's only 10 percent of the battery left and perhaps I need to power it up. You don't have to do that with a print book.

On Sale Now!

Thank you so much for this opportunity to get to know you a little better, Karen. We certainly appreciate it-- and you have to know that we're looking forward to your next book!

May your book sales do nothing but increase!

I'm Being Serenaded Over at A Novel Source!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:22:00 +0000

Did I catch you before you head out to the grill?

If you've got a minute or two this busy Memorial Day weekend, I hope you'll check out Stacy's cool series, Sunday Serenade, which features fellow bloggers from around the interwebs.

Of course, there's an ulterior motive as to why I'd like you to check out the feature: because the spotlight's on me this week!

I got to answer some tough questions and to show off my favorite reading spot. Which reminds me-- it's time to get out there!

So please head on over to A Novel Source. Not only will you get to find out a bit more about moi, but you'll have a chance to check out one very cool blog!

Saturday Snapshot Has the Ouchies

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:53:00 +0000

To see what other participants have posted, visit Saturday Snapshot's base, At Home With Books. You'll also find the easy rules and regs there, just in case you want to join in the fun. (Of course you do!)

Cacti rely on insects, birds, and other critters to pollinate them-- but do you ever wonder how those critters manage to do it with all those needle-sharp spikes that are usually in the way? Me, too. Denis and I even watched a house finch do it, and we still couldn't understand how that bird managed to get at what it wanted without getting skewered. Oh, for that bird's dexterity!

Click photos to view full size.

House finch looking for tasty morsels. (Ouch #1)

Got it! (Ouch #2)

A Holiday Weekend Weekly Link Round-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:37:00 +0000

Memorial Day Weekend has begun here in the United States. I hope everyone not only has fun this weekend but also remembers exactly why there is such a thing as Memorial Day Weekend. Namely the fact that more than 1,346,000 men and women have given their lives to protect the freedoms you'll be enjoying by the barbeque with friends or with that good book you're going to read. I mention this, not to be a pain in the neck, but because I think it's an excellent idea to always be thankful for what you've got. It can disappear within the blink of an eye.

Before I check to see if I have all the ingredients for Southwest Bean and Corn Chowder, let me rustle up some links for you!

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

Have you heard of the Little Free Library project? You can help!
U.S. eBooks are selling like crazy overseas, and people are wondering if publishing can take their cue from the phenomenal success of Pottermore.
It's almost over, but here's a literature quiz for you all about the Merry Month of May.
Here's a fun little video of Nissan's view of a world without petrol.
BookAnd is an app you can use to create your dream bookstore.
If this program had been around thirty years ago, I would have been interested: living in and renovating an historic home as "resident curator."
According to this list, I'm not a crime fiction addict (or much of one anyway). Some of you might disagree!

I ♥ Lists

50 books your children should read before kindergarten.
10 epidemically overrated books (which I tend to agree with).
25 awesome minimalist book covers.
The best of America's national parks. (One of the few lists I've ever seen that does not contain Yellowstone.)
11 vintage cookbooks (1861-1920)
10 of the weirdest children's book authors of all time.
Five books on China.
10 questions on Jane Austen.

Book Candy

Hold On Tight, an adjustable bookshelf
Take a closer look at this bookcase filled with books and you'll see that it's not what it appears to be.
bookcase bed with hidden storage.
Artist James Hopkins has decorated a series of bookcases all to have the general shape of a skull, but as the decorations used change, so do the appearance of the skulls. Look in the upper right and click on Next to advance through the photos.

New to My Google Reader

Views From My Highland Cottage

That's it for this week! Enjoy your holiday and stop by next weekend for a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!

Desolate Angel by Chaz McGee

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:30:00 +0000

First Line: A man lies dying on the grime-encrusted floor of an abandoned house on the banks of the Delaware.

The man who lies dying on the dirty floor is Kevin Fahey, a second-rate cop, a mediocre husband and father, and the narrator of this book. As Fahey himself now says:

"I am a ghost haunted by my regrets, doomed to walk through a world that is neither here nor there, tasting my fate in my solitude, seeking a redemption I fear will never come."

When it is proved that a young man Fahey and his partner sent to prison for the death of his girlfriend is in fact innocent, this dead detective knows that his best shot at redemption lies with Detective Maggie Gunn, a gifted, empathetic investigator who's taken on the task of not only finding the real killer, but of going through all Fahey and Partner's old cases to see if there's anything else in the files that needs to be straightened out. Although ashamed of how he threw away his life, Fahey is determined to be of as much help to Gunn as he can. Complicating matters is that Fahey's partner, Danny Bonaventura, has yet to retire and isn't taking this examination of the old files very well.

For those who aren't big fans of paranormal mysteries, you'll be happy to note that Kevin Fahey does not become Super Cop on The Other Side. There's very little he can do in this first book to influence the living except by planting the occasional thought in someone's mind. It will be interesting to see if he acquires new skills the longer he remains a ghost.

Maggie Gunn is the type of police officer we wish they all were-- compassionate with the families of victims, respectful (but not obsequious) with her superior officers, Maggie seems able to channel the Energizer Bunny and the most tenacious bulldog as she searches for a truly scary serial killer. In Desolate Angel, the killer's identity is no secret; it's how they're going to find the evidence they need to put him in jail that fuels the action. Knowing the killer in this case ratchets up the suspense by several degrees, and Fahey's despair at being unable to help is palpable.

I ordered this book primarily because I liked the different approach. This time the main character is a failure, a screw-up who gets a second chance to correct his past mistakes, and the author (Katy Munger writing as Chaz McGee) uses that to excellent effect. Aren't there times when every single one of us has wished for a second chance? Kevin Fahey has the best real, live partner to help him with his quest. I really look forward to its continuation.

Desolate Angel by Chaz McGee

ISBN: 9780425228739

Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Genre: Cozy Mystery, #1 Dead Detective

Rating: A

Source: Paperback Swap

Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

First Line: "Wait until the third date to fool around?"

Clinical psychologist Liz Cooper has a practice in Los Angeles and one of those annoying mothers who loves tarot cards (and Liz's snake of an ex-husband). Liz is pre-programmed not to believe in the occult or the supernatural, but when someone keeps tacking tarot cards to her best friend's door and that friend is later jailed on suspicion of murder, Liz has to set her preconceptions aside to help save her friend.

The best way to do that is to team up with her brother's friend, college professor Nick Garfield who's an expert in the occult. Liz's search for the truth turns dangerous when more people begin to die. Could there really be anything to this voodoo stuff?

Liz Cooper is a strong, calm, likable woman whose only real handicaps seem to be her mother and brother. Nick Garfield is handsome, available and definitely shows interest in the psychologist, but between Liz's mother preferring her ex and her brother not wanting his friend to be romantically involved with his sister, do Liz and Nick have any sort of future?

Liz has been friends with Robin for most of her life, and it's admirable how she (almost literally) puts everything else aside to fight to prove her friend's innocence. The new detective who's got the case is focusing on the obvious to the exclusion of all else, and Liz's brother-- who's also a member of the Los Angeles Police Department-- isn't doing much better. However, in Liz's fight to get Robin out of jail, she does cross the line a few times, which could put the police investigation in jeopardy.

Liz's friend, Robin, comes off as a well-meaning but easily distracted person who can't seem to believe that what is happening to her is real. Liz gives her excellent advice which Robin refuses to take several times-- to the point where the reader may begin to think that this woman is really going to wind up in prison.

For those of you who shy away from books with a paranormal slant, there's really no reason to stay away from this one. There's extremely little hocus-pocus or things that go bump in the night. However, there is quite a bit of information about voodoo and similar religious beliefs that are commonly associated with it, and for that reason alone I found the book very interesting to read.

What will keep me coming back for more are Staab's characters, Liz and Nick. They are an attractive couple with plenty of smarts and good chemistry between them. I like how they solved their first case and look forward to others.

Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab

ISBN: 9780425244593

Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Genre: Cozy Mystery, #1 Mind for Murder

Rating: B

Source: Paperback Swap

Scene of the Blog Featuring Julia of Pages of Julia!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:40:00 +0000

The first time I visited this week's featured book blogger, I had to smile. We all love to look at other people's bookshelves, and what better way to feed that curiosity than by using photos of your own bookshelves in the header of your blog?

That's exactly what Julia has done in her blog, Pages of Julia. This competitive mountain bike racer/ librarian reads an eclectic mix of books. One day, you may visit to read a review of a Daphne du Maurier novel, the next day you may find her views on a play by Sophocles or The Dorothy Parker Audio Collection. Whatever she's talking about, I enjoy her blog. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading Pages by Julia, I hope you take the time to at least go over there and say hello!

If you're visiting from Julia's blog-- Welcome! I'm glad you're just as curious as the rest of us when it comes to other bloggers' creative spaces. If you'd like to see any of the photos in larger sizes, all you have to do is click on them, and they'll open in new windows. If you'd like to take a look at previous participants' spaces, click on the Scene of the Blog tab at the very top of my header. There are two ways to search: by Blog Name or by Location. Let's go see Julia, shall we?

Hops checking that the reading coast is clear

Sooo what do we have here? This first picture is of our front porch. It gets too hot in summer, but for about half the year it's a lovely place to sit out in the natural light and watch the world go by, as Hops (one of my reading assistants) does here. It's very cozy in the winter sunshine, especially.

Command Central in Julia's study

This is my study, or library, or "book cave" as Husband sometimes calls it - very unfairly, because it's also very well-served by natural light. If you were to look right of the desk, you'd see...

Click if you'd like to read some spines!

...my main bookshelves where pictures and objects join my permanent book collection (not to be confused with the TBR bookshelves, which have been featured on my blog. These are my comfort-bookshelves, if you will. There's a loveseat for reading as well as this, my blog-station.


Ritchey and Hops: "Come read us a story!"

And finally, when weather (and mosquitoes) permit, I love to be in the backyard on the deck that Husband built us last summer. He got the angle of the back of that bench just right! And the dogs love it too (Ritchey joins Hops in this picture). We can all do our things together out here: Husband grills and works on bikes and cars, the boys chase bugs and bark and sun themselves (we say they are solar-powered), and I read - with a cup of coffee or a beer depending on time of day. :)

Looking at these pictures, I see a lot of natural light, which makes me very happy; really, we're all solar-powered, right? Unfortunately I have to read by electric light sometimes, too! Like most avid readers, I expect, I read everywhere: in lines, in waiting rooms, on my lunch breaks at work, in bed, and on the couch; in tents or at picnic tables when we camp out; over meals. But the above are a few of my favorite spots.

I had to laugh when I read your accompanying copy for the photos, Julia, because I looked at the photos first and said to myself, "She's solar-powered just like I am!"

You have some great places to read and blog-- as well as some pretty terrific reading assistants. Thanks so much for allowing us this glimpse into your life and home, Julia. We, the curious, certainly appreciate it!

========

Don't forget to stop by next Wednesday when I'll be featuring yet another book blogger from our worldwide community!

Cronies by Adimchinma Ibe

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:01:00 +0000

First Line: It was a hot, sunny April afternoon, so I hated it.

It's hot in Nigeria, and Detective Tamunoemi ("Tammy") Peterside hates the heat. He'd rather try to stay in places that have air conditioning, but when the call comes out that there's been a murder, Tammy has to leave the air conditioning and go out to the scene of the crime.

Edward Okeke was shot five times in the chest and once in the head in what appears to be a gang execution. The only lead they have is a witness who can identify a man getting into a car at roughly the same time the murder occurred. If you've read any of the Tammy Peterside books, you know that being a witness is an extremely dangerous occupation, and it's no different in Cronies. The witness is killed, and Tammy has to begin turning over every stone he can find in order to track down the killer.

Detective Tammy Peterside doesn't always follow the rules, but it's the only way he can survive to do his job in a country that's rife with corruption. He also has a bad track record with his girlfriends-- treating none of them particularly well-- but he didn't have much time to mistreat anyone in this lightning-fast thriller. Peterside may be flawed, but he will not stop until he can close a case and see justice done.

Adimchinma Ibe's portrait of Nigeria is often chilling, and it adds an incredible amount of detail to his books. Peterside (who's the type of cop who does his thinking while he's running) and his paperwork-loving partner make a very effective crime-fighting duo. While Peterside forges ahead to a solution, his partner follows along "dotting the i's and crossing the t's" in his wake.

Seldom do I ever complain about the length of a book, and when I do, it's normally to say that the book is much too long. In the case of Cronies, I'd have to say that the opposite is true. The book feels too short. Peterside is such an interesting character, and the case gets solved so quickly that I'd love to see more "meat on the bone" to develop Tammy as a character and the storyline as well. I also have to say that the editing of the first twenty to thirty pages of the book were rather uneven, with awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices (for example, "flare" instead of "flair") that slowed down my reading a bit. Fortunately the editing became much smoother and was no longer an issue for the rest of the book.

I look forward to reading more of the adventures of Detective Tammy Peterside, and I recommend them to anyone who likes fast-paced mysteries set in parts of the world that may be unfamiliar.

Cronies by Adimchinma Ibe with Victor Schwartzman

ISBN: 9781466407671

Paperback, 160 pages

Genre: Thriller, #3 Detective Tammy Peterside

Rating: B-

Source: Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Are You a Book or a Movie?

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

You Are a Book

You are a deliberate thinker. You don't like to gloss over anything, and details matter to you.

When times get tough, you get philosophical. You never forget the meaning of life.

If you're facing a problem, getting away for a couple days always helps you clear your mind.

You always consider the past, present, and future. You believe every little event shapes your life.

Are You a Book or a Movie?

Scene of the Crime with Author Adimchinma Ibe!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:02:00 +0000

I first became aware of Adimchinma Ibe when I read his debut novel, Treachery in the Yard, the first Tammy Peterside mystery. This Nigerian writer is very talented, and readers can learn a great deal about his country through reading his books. Tomorrow you'll be able to read my review of the third Tammy Peterside mystery, Cronies, so stay tuned for that. Before we move on to the interview, I'd like to share a short bio and a synopsis of Treachery in the Yard provided by the author:

Adimchinma Ibe

Adimchinma Ibe is a writer and was born on May, 05 1977 in Umuehihie – Amuda, Isuochi, a small town in Umunneochi L.G.A, Abia State of Nigeria.

Although Treachery In The Yard isn't the first novel he's written, it is his first novel to be published. The novel is about Police Detective Tammy Peterside who is drawn into the politics of Nigeria when a bomb goes off at the home of Pius Okpara, an important politician in the middle of an angry nomination battle to head the National Conservative Party’s banner.

A previous “peace meeting” between Okpara and his rival ended up in fighting between their supporters which left one person dead. Peterside is not happy with the investigation of the bombing, or with the politics involved.

When he learns that his mentor is protecting the suspect, Peterside knows something very wrong is going on, and he becomes obsessed with getting to the truth. His Chief does not see himself as corrupt, but rather as a balance between the different forces threatening to tear Port Harcourt apart. The Detective is able to bring them all to justice, but learns only at the end that the Chief has been in effect protecting him, grooming him as an eventual colleague.

If you'd like to know more about the author, you can check out his pages on Facebook and Twitter, and read other interviews given on Romance Meets Life and Geosi Reads. You can also read more about his three published novels at The Book Depository.

What was the very first book you remember reading and loving? What makes that book so special?

James Hadley Chase’s This Is For Real, first of the Mark Girland series. Robert Carey was an American spy, who had defected to the Eastern bloc. When the news leaked out that he had changed sides again, a ruthless manhunt was on - from the glamour of Paris, to the scorched wastelands of West Africa. There is CIA agent Rossland who does not recognize trouble when it sits on his lap. There is astute Girland, a dissolute, ex-CIA agent, who is greedy for money and women, but still has scruples. Janine Daulney, who fatally plays both ends against the middle. Malik, the ruthless blonde, green-eyed Soviet agent, who stops at nothing to achieve his ultimate goal. And there is sinister Radnitz who has his own personal reasons to trap Carey and obtain certain papers from him. To achieve this, Radnitz hires Girland.... but Girland is not that unscrupulous....

Outside of your writing and all associated commitments, what do you like to do in your free time?

Well… I don't have much free time, but when I do, I listen to music. I do it all the time when I am at home, even if I am doing something else, even though I'm not fishing for trade publishers anymore. But I do the same things outside of writing that I did while I was still pitching my novels to trade publishers: Wake up around 2 AM in the morning, write till around ten in the morning, take a break that consists of brunch and a nap, watch movies, go out and enjoy being outdoors, hang out with friends, etc. I found out that for me, the difficult part was figuring out what to do with my free time; finding new things I will enjoy doing outside of writing, since it was all too easy to fall back on the same old habit or routine.

You have total control over casting a movie based on your life. Which actor would you cast as you?

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson. I specially love his movie, "Pulp Fiction," where he was cast as Jules Winnfield. Still love that movie!

Who is your favorite recurring character in crime fiction?

It’s easy to guess… Mark Girland. Still my favorite even if I seem to live in the past!

Name one book that you've read that you wish you had written. What is it about that book that made it come to mind?

I wish I had written James Hadley Chase's Mark Girland Series for one, because he always emphasized that crime or lust did not pay. It is a pity that Girland appeared in only four novels, and that the savvy hero, Girland faded into quiet oblivion, as compared to Ian Fleming's James Bond, who continues even today, in all his flamboyance.

How did you celebrate when you first heard you were to be published?

When I first heard I was going to be published, I had mixed emotions. I didn’t know quite how to react until it registered that I was going to be a published author finally. Afterwards, it felt great! I knew how hard I had worked to make it happen, and once I realized that, it was a fantastic, warming feeling.

What's the best thing about eBooks? What's the worst?

One of the great advantages of ebooks is that anyone can write and sell one themselves – anyone can become author and publisher in their own right. I read on the internet that most trade publishers' chains went bankrupt last summer and all houses have cut their lists because there are fewer and fewer point of sale venues.

So, with the low prices for the books, the ease of downloading, the ease of publication, the high royalties, the saving of paper, and many other advantages, I really do not see what there is to dislike here.

It's a gamble, but several new writers that couldn't find publishers have had success selling ebook versions of their novels on the internet. I don't know how long that's going to last. The book market is really imploding in the U.S., while ebook sales just continue to grow, and it may be a better bet to try catching this new wave. Paper books are still my favorite though. They don't need batteries, and I can read them just about anywhere. Time will tell whether ebooks are a viable alternative!

On Sale Now!

Thank you so much for spending this time with us. It was great to have this opportunity to get to know you a little better.

May your book sales do nothing but increase!

Craig Johnson @ The Poisoned Pen!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:14:00 +0000

My favorite bookstore, The Poisoned Pen

I don't attend many things at night if it means I'm driving because I have wonky eyesight and oncoming headlights have a tendency to blind me. All that's going to change after this evening, I am happy to say. Craig Johnson (one of my Top Five Authors) appeared at The Poisoned Pen (my #1 bookstore) tonight, and although Denis would've loved to go, he had to work. I'd had seven chances to see Craig and had missed them all because Denis was working or I was being a chicken about night driving. I decided it was time for that nonsense to come to an end. How did I manage to put a stop to missing Craig Johnson when he's in the Valley?

I drove my husband's Jeep. You know, the one that's jacked up high so Denis can negotiate rough trails out in the middle of nowhere. The one that's jacked up so high that there are days when I want to call up to Denis, "Throw down a rope!" Yes, that Jeep, the little beauty. It's a little beauty because it sits up high enough to keep my eyes out of the line of fire from oncoming headlights. That one little detail all on its lonesome is enough to make me dance around the house, but wait-- there's more!

Craig Johnson and Barbara Peters at the Poisoned Pen

Getting to meet Craig Johnson was sublime. He's one of the few authors who's come to The Poisoned Pen to sign each one of his books-- even though he had to hop on his motorcycle to come down here when his publisher said "no tour" for his second book.

Craig and the incomparable Barbara Peters (owner of The Poisoned Pen) began the evening by talking about "Longmire," the television series based on Johnson's books that will debut on A&E on June 3. Some of Craig's friends advised him to retain the rights to his books for as long as possible. The wait is over, and the professionals who are filming the series seem dedicated to doing the books and the characters justice. Craig has been enjoying the entire process, especially going over the scripts which is where he feels he's of the most use.

Barbara Peters remarked that "Longmire" reminded her of "Bonanza" which made Johnson chuckle, but Peters backed up her remark by saying that the same things that made "Bonanza" such a long-running television series-- characters, relationships, and place-- were at the heart of "Longmire."

Robert Taylor

When Judy Johnson first saw the rangy, six foot four Robert Taylor, she said, "He moves like a Westerner." She also looked at her husband and said, "He's the Hollywood version of you: taller, better looking, and with a better voice."

When Craig Johnson first heard that Robert Taylor was being considered for the part of Sheriff Walt Longmire, he said, "He's dead." Once he understood which Robert Taylor was being referred to and had gotten a chance to meet the actor, he was pleased with the choice.

Lou Diamond Phillips

Johnson is also pleased with the choice of Lou Diamond Phillips to portray the Cheyenne Nation-- also known as Henry Standing Bear. He impressed Johnson when he tested for the part. The lines he was to speak were riddled with contractions. Phillips spoke his lines-- with no contractions. Johnson thought to himself, "That [man's] read my books!"

Phillips has portrayed Lakota and Navajo characters in the past, and he knows each tribe has its own customs and ways of looking at the world. The actor took the time to spend a few days on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and he was actually adopted by the tribe. Craig looked at us all and said, "You know... I've been writing these books for eight years, and I haven't been adopted into the tribe!"

Katee Sackhoff

At first, Johnson was uncertain about the casting of actress Katee Sackhoff as Victoria Moretti. She looked good, but that's just superficial. How did Sackhoff's character match up with the fiery Vic? He looked up one of her interviews on YouTube. Sackhoff told the interviewer that she grew up with four brothers, who are all loggers in Oregon. Johnson also noted that Sackhoff's language was liberally sprinkled with words beginning with F. "She's perfect!" Johnson declares.

When Peters asked him if he thought television was going to have a big effect on how he writes his books, Johnson replied with an emphatic "No!" going on to say that he lives a very insular life. He's only written eight books so far, and the first season of "Longmire" consists of ten episodes. He feels that the series and his books are both free to go their own way and still compliment each other.

When Barbara Peters mentioned the colorful titles to his books, Craig replied, "Colorful books! It must be the French influence [where Johnson is so popular]-- chartreuse. Don't leave it on your nightstand, it'll keep you up all night!"

He mentioned that he prefers having a completed book "in the bag" before he starts a book tour. He does have a finished book, but he's not happy with the title, so we'll just have to wait to see what the winner is.

When Craig told us that he has a two-sentence contract-- "It must be a mystery. It must have Walt Longmire." -- I had to smile, and I also smiled when he said that there was definitely a non-Walt book in the future. (Of course, I'd start reading the phone book page for page if I found out Craig Johnson wrote it....) There are many possibilities in the future of the Walt Longmire series of books. For instance, how about Saizarbitoria running for sheriff?

As the evening drew to a close, Johnson jumped back to the topic of the television series when Barbara asked him if the role of Dog has been cast. He made us all laugh when he told us he was asked what breed of canine Dog was. When Craig started listing all the different breeds that comprised Walt's faithful companion, the production team was horrified. "He's a mutt?" they cried. The reason for their unhappiness is the fact that they are required by law to have four dogs ready for filming. It can be difficult enough to find four suitable purebred dogs to cast as one single character. The odds of finding four comparable mixed breeds was not going to be easy!

Craig signing As the Crow Flies

Before we reluctantly adjourned for book signing, Johnson had one more story to share. He's been able to inject his special brand of humor in the "Longmire" series, which led to his telling us about a friend who was out camping and pouring himself a cup of coffee from a Thermos when he looked up to see a grizzly bear standing there. Having heard that you can scare some bears away by making loud noises, Craig's friend began banging his Thermos and cup together.

Unfortunately, the bear was a trash can habitué, and the metal objects clanging together sounded like his favorite food containers being delivered right to his door. All I can say is that, by now, I've heard so many ways to scare off bears that I hope I never meet one in the wild... I'm hopelessly confused!

If you get the chance to meet Craig Johnson while he's out and about on his As the Crow Flies Tour, by all means take it-- you're in for a very special treat! (That goes triple if you haven't read any of his books. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of meeting Walt, Henry, Vic, and all the rest of Craig's splendid cast of characters. I won't even go into his stories that keep a person up well past her bedtime!)

A Blazing Saturday Snapshot

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:52:00 +0000

To see what other participants have posted, visit Saturday Snapshot's base, At Home With Books. You'll also find the easy rules and regs there, just in case you want to join in the fun. (Of course you do!)

If a person visits a place called the Desert Botanical Garden, they expect to see a cactus or two. You'll definitely find more than two at the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix, and it's always a treat when they're in bloom. Cacti have some of the most amazing, most brilliantly colored blooms I've ever seen.

The blooming cactus I'm going to share with you today is called a Red Torch cactus. It's not difficult to see why. What is rather strange and unusual is the visual image those blooms put in my mind. (Not that my imagination ever runs away with me!)

Red Torch cactus in bloom

When I looked at the blooms on this cactus, they put me in mind of tiny hands reaching out of whirlpools... tiny hands reaching for help. Go ahead-- call me weird. I'm used to it!

Click either photo to view full size

Working Up a Sweat for This Weekly Link Round-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Most of the time Denis and I time our big yard clean-ups to coincide with the quarterly curbside trash pickups, and that's what we did this time. We got up much earlier than normal to try to beat the worst of the sun and heat, put our sweatbands, hats and heavy gloves on, and got to work.

All in a morning's work....

Denis was in charge of raking and bagging, while I did pruning, trimming, weed pulling and bagging. For part of the pruning, I was standing close to a hummingbird feeder and in the midst of blooming shrubs, and I faced a constant stream of hummingbirds trying to bully me into stopping what I was doing. Alas, the poor little devils failed. Once we combine all those black bags in the photo to the left with the other things going out to the curb (anyone in the market for an old plaid recliner?), and haul them all out to the street tomorrow morning, we'll be done.

I'm pleasantly tired right now, but inside I'm beginning to hum with excitement. I'm deserting Denis this evening (before he goes to work and deserts me *wink*) and driving over to the Poisoned Pen. I have my book buy list printed out, my notebook and pens ready, my camera batteries charged.... Not only will I be seeing fellow book blogger Lesa Holstine again, I'll be seeing Craig Johnson for the first time. Since he's one of my Top Five authors, I don't know whether to laugh, pop, or dance a jig!

Maybe I'd better get all these links posted for you before I do any of the three?

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

Bancroft Press is running a fun contest to promote Elizabeth Leiknes' newest book, The Understory. The winner will receive eBooks of both Leiknes' titles, and their choice of two more eBooks from the Bancroft catalog. To read the rules and to enter, visit Bancroft Press's Facebook page.
Good news for mystery lovers who love their mysteries on television as well as the printed page: three of Deon Meyer's thrillers are being adapted for TV with Sean Bean to star as DI Benny Griessel, and Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce mysteries have been optioned for television movies.
The real-life "House at Pooh Corner" is for sale.
Burlington, Vermont has a new bookstore in town, and I love the sign in Phoenix Books' window.
Now there's a phone app to prevent cricked necks while reading the spines of shelved books.
Booksellers v. Libraries? Publishers v. Amazon? These are the wrong battles to fight (and I agree).
There's a Harry Potter manuscript on display at the British Library.
Would you live without running water? Neither would I. But we seem to want tens of thousands of Native Americans to do it. Read the article and think about this whenever something goes wrong in your life. (Doing things like this helps keep my thoughts in perspective....)

I ♥ Lists

The ten best historical novels
The top ten most read books in the world
Amazon announces the most well-read cities in America.
Extremely silly photos of extremely serious writers

Book Candy

Got any spare orange crates lying around?

New to My Google Reader

It's now time to start primping for the Poisoned Pen, so I have to love you and leave you. Don't forget to stop by next weekend when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!

Miss Lizzie by Walter Satterthwait

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

First Line: The days were longer then, in that long-ago summer at the shore, and the air was softer, and the sunlight more golden as it winked and wobbled off a bluer sea.

It is 1921 and Prohibition has just begun. Thirteen-year-old Amanda Burton is staying with her father, stepmother and older brother in a house along the Massachusetts coast.

Amanda finds out their next-door neighbor is the notorious Lizzie Borden, the woman who was acquitted of taking a hatchet and cutting her father and stepmother to pieces. Amanda meets Lizzie, and they become friends-- meeting almost every day so Lizzie can teach the young girl card tricks.

Amanda and her brother loathe their stepmother, and when Amanda wakes up on the hottest day of the summer to find the woman hacked to bits in a bedroom in their house, suspicion falls squarely on the shoulders of neighbor Lizzie. Amanda doesn't believe that Lizzie did it (she doesn't believe Lizzie killed her parents either), and with Miss Lizzie taking the initiative to hire both a lawyer and a Pinkerton detective, the unlikely pair sets out to find the real killer. Their investigation uncovers a nest of secrets. All they have to do is find the guardian who's willing to kill to keep his--or her-- secrets hidden.

Satterthwait's writing style captured me from the first paragraph, and another scene set in the fog actually had the hair standing on the back of my neck. The story is told by a much older Amanda who seems very nostalgic for the innocence she had during those days. As the story progresses and suspicion shifts from one person to another, the reader can easily begin to doubt all the characters-- even Amanda herself.

Satterthwait's poetic style brings the era to life in a swiftly moving plot that shifts nimbly through the fog of secrets and suspicions until the reader is deliciously lost. Amanda and Miss Lizzie are now one of my favorite detective duos, and I have more of the author's books on their way to my doorstep.

Miss Lizzie by Walter Satterthwait

ISBN: 9780312034009

Hardcover, 342 pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: A

Source: Paperback Swap

The Rifle by Gary Paulsen

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:34:00 +0000

First Line: It is necessary to know this rifle.

This short little book traces the history of one flintlock rifle from its creation during the American Revolution to the 1990s.

The rifle's creation is a months-long labor of love by a journeyman gunsmith named Cornish McManus. When completed, it is most definitely a "sweet rifle" (meaning one of stunning beauty and accuracy). In desperate need of money, Cornish reluctantly sells the gun to John Byam, a sharpshooter in the Revolutionary War who dies of dysentery.

The rifle, intended as a gift to a son killed in battle, is tucked away and forgotten as the centuries pass. In the 1990s it is found, and changes hands a few times until it rests above the mantel of a home in Missouri. Tragedy will ensue because-- during all this time and through all the hands it's passed-- no one has ever checked to see if the rifle is loaded.

The first part of this book is wonderful. The craftsmanship that goes into the making of this rifle is phenomenal, and Paulsen brings the entire process to life. The rifle's "life" while in the hands of sharpshooter John Byam is also vivid and well done.

But the book falls apart in the end. It's obvious that the author wants to teach children how deadly serious guns are, that no matter how beautiful they are or how innocently they are kept, guns are made to kill-- and they will kill. But it strains credulity to the breaking point to believe that a gun loaded in the 1770s will still fire first-time true in 1993.

Paulsen does not believe that "guns don't kill people, people kill people," but the tragedy that occurs at the end of the book is due entirely to humans who don't care about simple gun safety. The ending of the book, in particular, bothered me: "And in the meantime the rifle sits in the gun cabinet. Waiting." Guns are not inhabited by evil spirits who lurk patiently until the unwary come within range. (Although all too often they are owned by people who have no business having them in their possession.)

Middle school children may well take Paulsen's message to heart, and I hope they do, but for most of the adults who read along with their children, the aim of his story is going to fall short.

The Rifle by Gary Paulsen

ISBN: 0440219205

Paperback, 105 pages

Genre: Childrens Books

Rating: C

Source: Paperback Swap

Scene of the Blog Featuring Cath of read_warbler!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:46:00 +0000

This week's featured book blogger has been one of my favorites for a long time now. Cath hails from the southwest of England, and I love how her blog, read_warbler, is a blend of her life and the books she loves to read. Friday, Cath posted about the new books she'd gotten, but began with a photo of the coast of Cornwall complete with Godrevy Lighthouse. (Cornwall and lighthouses? Two of my favorites!)

Cath's reading preferences are wide-ranging: crime, fantasy, SciFi, Horror, YA, Victorian ghost stories, classic lit, and non-fiction such as travel books, history and biographies. If you've never visited Cath at read_warbler, you're in for a treat. Please take the time to pay her a visit, and don't forget to say hello while you're there!

If you're visiting from Cath's blog-- Welcome! I'm glad you stopped by to take a look at where all read_warbler's magic happens. If you'd like to see any of the photos in a larger size, all you have to do is click on them, and they'll open in new windows. If you'd like to check out previous participants' blogging spaces, click on the Scene of the Blog tab at the very top of my header. There are two ways to search: by Blog Name and by Location.

Let's go visit Cath!

Cath's study-- A room of one's own

I think of my little study, where my pc is, as my sanctuary. Okay it's quite small, only about 12 ft by 6, but into that little space I've fitted quite a large modern desk, a run of seven long bookshelves and a small stand-alone book-case. This little space is where I do my blogging and where I'm in touch with all the online friends I've made all over the world, mostly via blogging, but other things as well. Years ago the way I did that was via pen-palling - now there are no envelopes through the door with pretty stamps on *but* communication is more instant and, for me personally, more interesting. I like to be surrounded by my 'stuff' so, as well as my pc on that shelf, there's a pretty blue paper-weight my husband gave me as a Christmas present not long after we were married, a little wooden box I keep foreign stamps in, a book-mark of a cardinal also given to me by my husband, a painted stone with a scene of St. Michael's Mount near Penzance in Cornwall, where I come from and, on the other side - Vivian, a painted stone of a ginger cat, named after the late ginger cat of a close American friend. The scene on my pc is of a painting I saw a few days ago in Cardiff museum and fell in love with. It's called Forest Cove, Cardigan Bay (in Wales) by John Brett.

The view from Cath's study window

There are two windows in my study. One is behind my pc with not much of a view. But to my right, and by far the bigger window, is this view of part of our back garden, exactly as I see it from my computer chair. There's a lot more garden behind the hedge - soft fruit beds and more lawn - and veg patches to the right in front of the greenhouse. My husband and I are keen gardeners, although you might not think so from the length of the grass: it's yet to have its first cut after the winter! (It has now.) The first of the rhododendrons is out, likewise the grape hyacinths by the path and primroses not in this shot. Spring is on the way. And yes - that is a stuffed pterodactyl in the foreground of the photo...

Some of Cath's bookshelves

To the right of my pc is the start of my bookshelves, starting with more stuffed cuties: Hong-Kong Phooey, the owls were made for me by a lovely friend met through book blogging, the cardinal bought in the US (I do seem to have a 'cardinal' thing going on, don't I?) and so on. The books you can see here are mostly books for reading challenges I'm doing this year - chunksters, WW1 themed, fantasy for the Once Upon a Time VI spring challenge, sci-fi. There are a lot more books you can't see, basically I use my study to keep the books I love the most in. That's not to say I don't love the rest of my hundreds of books all around the house... I just like these a tiny bit more.

One end of Cath's large desk

This is the left-hand side of my desk. More stuff. I love notebooks so on the end is my hard-copy of the books I read throughout each year. Underneath, a notebook keeping the list of books I've read and will read for my personal American challenge. Under my glasses case, a notebook full of loads of books I've seen around the blogging world that I've checked out and decided I want to read one day (when I win the lottery). Next to that, a little black book of books to look for in libraries - not just my own local one but any I 'happen' to visit. The photo is of myself and my two daughters and grand-daughter at my youngest daughter's wedding ten years ago. Back then we lived elsewhere and that was our garden then.

Thank you so much to Cathy for giving me the opportunity to feature on her blog. I feel very honoured and not really worthy, but have greatly enjoyed the visit.

Cath, it's always a thrill for me when I'm able to feature a book blogger whose blog I enjoy so much! I, too, have a room of my own that looks out over the back garden, and in many ways it's my favorite area of the house. I, too, used to have snail mail penpals, and I also prefer the speed of email now. And your desk! It's wonderful to have a nice, large desk, isn't it?

The greenhouse you have reminds me of the one my husband built in Hertfordshire. Many years have passed since he put it together, but it's stood the test of time. And that "thing" you have for cardinals? They're such pretty, cheery birds. They're quite common where I grew up, but they tend to live out in sparsely populated areas here in the Sonoran Desert. It's always a thrill when I hear and spot one flashing through the trees.

Thank you so much for allowing us this glimpse into your life and into your home. All of us appreciate it so much!

============

Don't forget to stop by next Wednesday when I'll be featuring yet another book blogger from our worldwide community!

As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:58:00 +0000

First Line: "I wanna know what Katrina Walks Nice did to get kicked out of a joint like this for sixty-one days."

In two weeks, Sheriff Walt Longmire's daughter will be married, and wedding planner Walt isn't doing so well in working through Cady's to do list. When her chosen wedding venue isn't available, Walt and his best friend, Henry Standing Bear, travel to Painted Warrior cliffs on the Cheyenne Reservation to see if it would be a suitable substitute. The last thing Walt needs is to see Audrey Plain Feather and her infant son plummet from the top of the cliff.

Audrey dies, but Walt's faithful four-legged companion, Dog, finds the infant Adrian and refuses to be parted from the tiny person even when they arrive at the hospital. Walt knows his daughter's wedding is his priority, and he's just about to hand off the investigation when he runs into the "nascent volcano" known as Tribal Police Chief Lolo Long. Lolo, a returned Iraqi war veteran, is pretty new to the job. She's fired all her officers, drives like A.J. Foyt, and has so much anger bottled up inside that Walt just can't walk away. He knows that, if she's willing to listen, he just has to take her under his wing... or she's not going to live very long. But how will Cady react to all this? Walt is stretched thin as he tries to be the father of the bride, a mentor to Lolo, and the one who brings the bad guys to justice.

Since his first book, The Cold Dish, in 2004, Craig Johnson has been one of what I call my "auto-buy authors". When I hear that he's got a new book coming out, I automatically buy it; I don't have to know what it's about. In eight books, he's never disappointed-- in fact, he just keeps getting better. This man knows how to write a blend of mystery, humor, action and character that's impossible to beat.

The mystery is a good one. Johnson includes an excellent piece of misdirection that threw me right off the trail. While Walt does his investigating, we also get the opportunity to meet several of the inhabitants of the Cheyenne Reservation.

For those of you who've missed Walt being at home with Henry Standing Bear and Dog, you're going to enjoy this book even more. If you're a fan of his undersheriff, Victoria Moretti, you might pout a bit. Vic is pretty much absent in this go-round, but there's a good reason for this. Tribal Police Chief Lolo Long is such an intense, strong female character that Johnson made a wise decision to let Lolo get her feet set before meeting Vic. And I certainly do hope that this isn't the last time we see Lolo. What a wonderful character! (Even though I did want to deck her the first time I was introduced.)

As the Crow Flies has everything long-time fans of Craig Johnson's writing have come to expect: an interesting storyline with plenty of action that moves swiftly and surely, laugh-out-loud humor in all the right places, down-home wisdom, a cast of characters that are as beloved as our own family and friends, and a scene or two that can bring tears to your eyes.

Haven't read a Walt Longmire book before? Never fear, this one stands alone quite well, but be warned-- after you finish As the Crow Flies, don't be surprised if you find yourself tracking down all the rest of the books in this series. They're that good.

As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson

ISBN: 9780670023516

Hardcover, 320 pages

Genre: Police Procedural (and so much more), #8 Sheriff Walt Longmire mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Net Galley

The Train Oracle

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

You Are Plucky and Brave

You enjoy variety and new challenges. You're always looking to shake things up a bit.

You are deeply emotional. You are a very soulful person, and at times you're downright fiery.

When you want to get your way, you're assertive and gusty. You are a good actor, even when you're not feeling brave.

You are easily excited and inspired. You are engaged with the world in many different ways.

The Train Oracle

Scene of the Crime with Author Liz Strange!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:17:00 +0000

It was my pleasure to be introduced to this week's featured author earlier this year as a member of the mystery and thriller panel for the Independent Literary Awards. Liz Strange's book Missing Daughter, Shattered Family was on the short list, and I enjoyed getting to know her character, David Lloyd.

Liz Strange

This Canadian author has spoiled me a bit by sending me a brief bio and a few links, so let's reveal all these goodies before we move on to the interview. (Thank you, Liz!)

Liz Strange's website

Liz Strange on Twitter

Liz Strange on Facebook

Bio: Liz’s love of mythology and the paranormal often finds its way into her stories, compelling her to create worlds where just about anything is possible. Her characters may fight supernatural beings, solve ancient mysteries, fall in love, or find themselves travelling through time.

In addition to writing, Liz works at a local hospital and is busy raising her four children. She loves rainy days, spicy food and has seen just about every horror movie known to man. When she has the time she would like to travel the world.

Please feel free to leave her a message at her website.

What was the very first book you remember reading and loving? What makes that book so special?

The every first book I remember loving as a child was The Monster’s Nose Was Cold. I still have a copy.

As an older child I really loved Island of the Blue Dolphins and I re-read it still every few years. Something about this sad tale really touched me and transported me to a world/time/ situation I would never have experienced in real life, and it sparked a love of reading and my ongoing fascination with history/mythology/ cultural studies.

Outside of your writing and all associated commitments, what do you like to do in your free time?

I love to spend time with my family, exercise and read. I am also a huge film/TV fan, so I try to find some downtime every week to allow myself to keep up with what’s going on, and to discover some overlooked gems. I like everything from documentaries, foreign films to blockbusters.

If I were to visit your hometown, where would you recommend that I go? (I like seeing and doing things that aren't in all the guide books.)

Kingston, Ontario

Well, Kingston was the original Capitol of Canada. You’d have to see Fort Henry, City Hall and the original site of Strange House—yes there is such a place. My relatives were one of the founding families of the beautiful city where I live. We are also home to Queen’s University, which is one of the oldest universities in Canada, and one of the most respected worldwide.

We also have a fascinating Haunted Walk tour, where you can hear all the great tales of war battles, criminal misdeeds and unrequited love. Some of the highlights include a haunted Bed & Breakfast where the young woman waiting for her lost love likes to make appearances and the old Hanging Tower (no explanation needed).

You have total control over casting a movie based on your life. Which actor would you cast as you?

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder. I’ve been told I look like her, especially when my hair is dark.

Now if you asked me to cast my books for a movie adaptation, well I could put together quite an impressive ensemble!

Who is your favorite recurring character in crime fiction?

I love Kinsey Millhone from Sue Grafton’s Alphabet mystery series. That girl has spunk and a sarcastic tongue like no other.

Name one book that you've read that you wish you had written. What is it about that book that made it come to mind?

Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. It’s brilliant, haunting, poignant and scary. I don’t think a story gets much better than that.

How did you celebrate when you first heard you were to be published? What did you do the first time you saw one of your books on a shelf in a bookstore?

I took my kids out to dinner, pretty low-key, but I can honestly say it was one of the most exciting and validating experiences of my life. I have always written, right from childhood, so it was a huge personal accomplishment.

I don't know if you've seen it, but I love Parnell Hall's video about book signings. What is the most unusual experience you've had at a book signing or author event?

I haven’t had any strange experiences as yet. To be honest I still find it weird that anyone knows who I am, or has read my stuff. I did get invited to my hometown’s Chapters as a special guest for their mystery book club and that was amazing. I felt so honoured.

What's the best thing about eBooks? What's the worst?

I think e-books are great because the low cost makes books more accessible and makes readers more open to taking chances on authors they haven’t read before.

The downfall I would have to say is pirating. The files are so much easier to copy, share, distribute than a printed version. That of course eats into the author’s financial compensation, and we all need to have an income.

============

On Sale Now!

Thank you so very much for spending this time with us, Liz. It was a pleasure to get to know you a little better.

May your book sales do nothing but increase!

I Got Cozy at CozyCon 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 13 May 2012 07:53:00 +0000

You'd better believe when I received an email from the Poisoned Pen and I saw the graphic announcing the CozyCon, I perked up like a bird dog that had just whiffed a pheasant over in the next clump of grass.

Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, is responsible for putting the whole thing together and rounding up an impressive line-up of writers who are known for creating some of the best traditional mysteries (more commonly referred to as "cozies") in the business. I perked up even more when I saw that some of my favorites would be there-- many fresh from attending Malice Domestic.

The following is meant to be my first-timer experience of this type of event. I tend to be reserved, and I don't do well in crowds. Some of you will know what I'm talking about; others won't. After much thought, the pros outweighed the cons by a couple hundred tons, so I made the call and registered. (I'm mentioning this just in case there are other folks who have hesitated to attend something similar. I had a blast. You can, too!)

For anyone who wants a detailed blow-by-blow account of what happened throughout the day, I'll refer you to Lesa Holstine's excellent post. One of the benefits of attending CozyCon was the fact that I finally got a chance to meet Lesa. We sat side by side at a table right up front, scribbling notes till our pens smoked and taking photo after photo. It was truly a pleasure to meet Lesa and to see how well regarded she is in the crime fiction community.

I arrived early and wheeled right into a prized parking spot in the shade. (In Phoenix, parking spots in the shade are more highly prized than spots right outside the entrance.) I located the room inside the library and made my way to a table up front where I had the best chance of taking halfway decent photos. I then commenced a favorite past time: watching everyone else arrive. It wasn't long until Lesa arrived ("Are you Cathy?" "Yes, I am, Lesa!"), and no time at all before we had a full house and the CozyCon began.

The authors in attendance? Here's the stellar line-up in alphabetical order:

Avery Aames, author of the Cheese Shop mystery series.
Kate Carlisle, author of the Bibliophile mystery series.
Donis Casey, author of the Alafair Tucker historical mystery series.
Jane Cleland, author of the Josie Prescott Antiques mystery series.
Hannah Dennison, author of the Vicky Hill mystery series.
Earlene Fowler, author of the Benni Harper mystery series.
Rebecca M. Hale, author of the Cats and Curios as well as the Mystery in the Islands series.
Carolyn Hart, author of 47 published books, including the Death on Demand series.
Beth Kendrick, women's fiction writer and author of The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service.
Jenn McKinlay, author of the Library Lovers, Cupcake mysteries, Decoupage mysteries, and Good Buy Girls mystery series. (How does she do it???)
Paige Shelton, author of the Farmers' Market and the Country Cooking School mystery series.
Betty Webb, author of the Gunn Zoo mystery series and the Lena Jones series.

CozyCon was to be broken up into a morning segment where we got to know the authors, then time for book signing followed by lunch. The afternoon was to be spent in various panels. It began on a slightly ominous note: an events coordinator for the library informed us that the water was going to be turned off to fix a problem nearby, and if we needed to use the facilities.... Naturally, there was a few minutes' pause in the proceedings!


(L to R) B. Webb, J. McKinlay, P. Shelton, R. Hale

Water notwithstanding, from the very first official minutes of the CozyCon, I knew I was in one of my favorite rooms in heaven. Barbara Peters was perfect as the moderator; I'd almost go anywhere she appears just to listen to her speak.

I loved her story about being mistaken for Barbara Mertz, author of the popular Amelia Peabody mysteries. One time, Barbara Peters happened to be out and about with Barbara Mertz. Of course, Barbara P. was mistakenly identified as Barbara M. There just had to be a devilish twinkle in Barbara Peters' eyes as she responded with "I'm so glad you like my books." Never fear-- Barbara M. can give as good as she gets. When finally asked what she did, Barbara Mertz replied, "I own a fabulous bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona!"

(And before we go any further, I'll let you in on a secret. You have to attend one of these. Why? Not only do you learn things about future books and series, you also get told hilarious true stories that you have to swear never to repeat!)

Carolyn Hart

As the authors began introducing themselves and their books, I really got a feel for the types of people they are. I could have an epic the size of War and Peace if I were to type just the notes from their introductions, so I'll narrow it down to a few highlights. (Sorry, ladies, I wish I could include all of you!)

Carolyn Hart, the author of 47 published books, talked about the first seven or so books that she wrote that simply disappeared into "the black hole of publishing." No one was reading them. She asked for advice and was told that "No one reads mysteries, you need to write a romance." So she did. (Well, it was really a mystery disguised as a romance novel.) When the editor read it, Hart was told that she needed to increase the sexual tension in the book. Sitting down with her agent, Hart asked, "What's sexual tension?" Her agent replied, "Carolyn, you need to write mysteries." She then determined to write the sort of book that she loved to read. Guess what? That book not only sold, but people read it and wanted more. Hart hasn't looked back since.

Jenn McKinlay and Kate Carlisle

An author that I felt a strong identification with height-wise was Jenn McKinlay, although we were raised in very different times. (Jenn, I still can't hear the chorus to the Jolly Green Giant TV commercials without having flashbacks to grade school.)

Jenn is a self-professed Generation X slacker who grew up in front of the TV believing that "Bewitched" and "I Love Lucy" represented normal life. This meant that life was parceled out in 22½ minute segments and everything turned out all right at the end.

As a young'un, she was "freakishly tall and had no filter." It wasn't until her father took her to see "Romancing the Stone" starring Kathleen Turner as a novelist that she realized she could write the books she loved to imagine herself living in.

Midway through the introductions, Barbara Peters stopped the proceedings to announce amidst much cheering and clapping that the water was back on. We were nothing if not an enthusiastic group regardless the topic!

Hannah Dennison and Earlene Fowler

Earlene Fowler came up with one of the more popular ideas during CozyCon. Writers of hard-boiled crime fiction have a tendency to turn up their noses at traditional mysteries. Earlene would love to be a member of a panel consisting of traditional mystery writers and hard-boiled writers. Such a panel has never been done, mostly because the hard-boiled writers decline to participate. No one seems able to put one together....

After seeing and hearing the audience response to Fowler's suggestion, Barbara Peters said, "You know I'm going to take that as a challenge!" That brought on even more applause as everyone in the room envisioned what the panel could be like. Earlene Fowler was encouraged by Peters' reaction and said, "Good! Then they'd have to read a cozy!"

Barbara Peters

Barbara Peters also interjected some very encouraging news about the publishing industry. It always seems as though the bad news gets the most press, and I've lost count of the number of articles I've read predicting the horrible death of the book industry.

Peters disagrees with that dire prediction completely. "I'm thrilled with digital. The Poisoned Pen had its best year ever last year." She went on to tell us that book royalties are rising. Print book sales are not dropping off, and eBook sales continue to rise. I know I'm not the only one who's waiting for the Poisoned Pen to have the ability to sell eBooks online because I know where I'll be buying them!

The author introductions seemed to fly by, and in no time at all, we were lining up for a delicious boxed lunch and our beverages of choice. Once our batteries were recharged, it was time for the afternoon panels. There were four, covering such topics as culinary mysteries, the writing process, romantic subplots, and amateur sleuths.

The first panel was all about culinary mysteries, and the authors fielding questions were Jenn McKinlay, Kate Carlisle, Avery Aames, and Donis Casey. One enlightening tidbit came when the authors explained that, if you wrote culinary mysteries, you had to be willing and able to cook... a lot. Including recipes in books can also be very tricky. You see, the recipe and the ingredients are not copyrightable, but how you do it is subject to copyright. Any recipes in the books have to be thoroughly tested before they can be included.

(L to R) Jenn McKinlay, Kate Carlisle, Avery Aames, Donis Casey

Another question asked the authors about adding humor to their books. Kate Carlisle had us laughing when she admitted that she really, really wanted her next book, Peril in Paperback, to come out in hardcover. You see, her first Bibliophile mystery, Homicide in Hardcover, came out in... you guessed it... paperback. From laughter Kate moved us right into wishful thinking as she described a beautiful handmade set of Jane Austen books that she would dearly love to own. I still drool a little thinking about them!

When asked how they came up with some of the things in their books, Jenn McKinlay confessed that the "Crafternoons" she has in her Library Lovers series came from the fact that she worked at the Phoenix Public Library with some fun co-workers who actually did have Crafternoons. "My whole life is a rip-off," warned Jenn with a twinkle in her eye. "Be very careful!"

The second panel of the afternoon was "The Writing Process," and panelists Carolyn Hart, Donis Casey, Betty Webb, and Jane Cleland shared so many things about how their creative juices work.

(L to R) Barbara Peters, Carolyn Hart, Donis Casey, Betty Webb, Jane Cleland

When asked if they write outlines first or if they just start writing, Carolyn Hart shared a story about Robert Crais telling everyone about the meticulous, highly-detailed outlines he wrote before he ever started writing any of his books. He had several authors thinking that they needed to change their methods and start writing outlines when Mrs. Robert Crais's voice was heard in the room: "Ask him if he follows his outline...."

Carolyn Hart and Donis Casey both start with the main characters, the murder, whodunit it and why. Jane Cleland works from a synopsis-- an "aerial view"-- while Betty Webb admitted that she was a follower of the Robert Crais Method, which meant that she spent three months writing outlines that she doesn't use.

Betty Webb

One thing every single author mentioned was having characters who didn't do what they were supposed to do. Some characters may have been intended to be in only one scene but demanded more. Some characters may have been intended for the long haul, but faded away after a few scenes. Characters have lives of their own, and all the authors can do is listen and obey. I think Betty Webb surprised more than a few of us when she admitted that, in the nine books she's written, only two out of the nine original killers actually stayed the course. A benefit of this is that, if the killer's identity has changed, when it's time to add misleading clues to fool the reader, Webb's are already in place. What she has to do is go back to add clues to the identity of the new killer.

All the authors agreed that revisions were their favorite part of the writing process. Carolyn Hart loves them because it means she has a book written. As Betty Webb says, "First drafts are horrendous, but hey, you can't fix a blank page, and the fixing is what's fun!"

The third panel, Romantic Subplots in Mysteries, was comprised of Kate Carlisle, Beth Kendrick and Earlene Fowler. Earlene told us that her mother had a "twenty romance a week" habit and that romance was in her DNA, but she didn't want to write romances, she wanted to write mysteries.

Her first idea was to have her books be about Benni Harper and her husband Jack solving mysteries, but the book just didn't work. Someone had once told Earlene to "write about what scares you the most." At the time, Earlene was thirty-seven. She had been married since the age of nineteen. What scared her most was the thought of her husband dying. When she wrote of Jack dying, all the pieces of the book began to fall into place.

Earlene Fowler

Bringing a strong Latino character into the books and having him marry Benni brought on a lot of mail from fans. Many of those fans wanted to know when those two characters were going to have babies. Earlene had decided from the beginning that Gabe and Benni weren't going to have children: "You can't take your baby along on investigations. You just can't. If your main character does that, then she's not the type of mother you want to be reading about."

Earlene also had us laughing when she told us that it was bad enough that she had a dog in one book. Benni was taking care of someone's pet, and the first thing she knew, Earlene had to remember to write scenes to feed the dog, pet the dog, walk the dog, play with the dog... it was exhausting. Earlene swears up and down that "if you don't feed kids, readers don't notice. If you don't feed the dog, you'll hear about it!"

The fourth and final panel of the day-- Earlene Fowler, Carolyn Hart, Rebecca M. Hale, and Hannah Dennison-- discussed Amateur Sleuths. In this day and age, it seems that everyone from Amazon on down (or up) insists on being able to categorize every single book. Not all books fit the existing categories. Barbara Peters puts a large portion of the blame for this onto James Patterson's shoulders. Patterson has a background in marketing, and he brought the marketing idea of "branding" to publishing.

Some people may wonder what the big deal is about-- who cares if a book is labeled cozy or hard-boiled? You would care, if you were a crime fiction author. Why? Money, of course. If your books are considered hard-boiled, you get paid more. I know. It doesn't make any sense to me either.

Donis Casey and Carolyn Hart signing books.

There was so much information imparted throughout the CozyCon, and although I scribbled till my pen smoked and laughed so many times that I lost track, here is the pearl that I came away clutching in my hot little hand:

Every single author participating in CozyCon (whether or not I said very much about them) is extremely talented and incredibly giving of their time and of their knowledge. This is the type of event that I will be more than happy to attend in the future.

Had I read all the authors present at this event? No, I hadn't. But I will say that I now have in my possession books written by all the authors I hadn't read. I look forward to sharing their books with you in the months to come here on Kittling: Books.

Is CozyCon the type of author event you should attend? Are you unsure of crowds? A bit shy perhaps? Get yourself registered, and come sit at my table. We'll have a blast!

Fluttering By for Saturday Snapshot

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:37:00 +0000

Click to view full size.

If it's spring in the Sonoran Desert, you just have to visit the Butterfly Pavilion at the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix. If you're lucky (and I'm always lucky when I visit), you'll have a resident-- like this Queen butterfly-- pose for you so you can take its photo!

An Un-Camouflaged Weekly Link Round-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:11:00 +0000

Just to show you that Denis has a mind every bit as devious as mine: I planned a trip to the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store at Desert Ridge. When we got there, Denis decided to go in with me rather than sit in the Jeep and read Deborah Crombie's latest. I have a friend in southern Illinois who mentioned she'd love to have something to hold all their remote controls, and we've been working on a design through emails.

I was looking for items for several projects, but I did need to take a look at yarn for the remote caddy. I picked up a skein of yarn that had most of the colors Jeanie had requested. "Oh, look," I said to Denis, "this one has most of the colors Jeanie wants. The name of the color is 'Camouflage'." Denis took a look and replied, "Perfect! Use it. That way Jeanie can hide the remotes from Frank!" Gotta love that man (and I do)!

This will be an abbreviated round-up simply because I had a lot of other things on my agenda. I also have to put the finishing touches on my post about the CozyCon that I attended last Saturday. I had a blast and want to tell y'all about it!

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

Pottermore sells almost $6 million in eBook editions of the Harry Potter books... in the first month.
An interesting article about some of the independent bookshops in London.
The interest in Pinterest keeps skyrocketing. The new social network is still in closed beta, but it's racking up 4 million unique visitors and 2.3 billion pageviews per day. I have to admit that I'm finding it very useful, and my usage hasn't dropped off at all.
Fantastic news for fans of Ann Cleeves' Shetland Island Quartet books: Red Bones is to be adapted for television!
A rare 270-year-old book is found in a South Carolina library vault.
If you're a fan of Jacqueline Winspear or Charles Todd, here's an article about some of the mysteries set during the aftermath of World War I.

I ♥ Lists

50 Most Influential Books of the Last 50 (or so) Years. (Before the steam starts pouring from your ears, the list is compiled of influential books. No claim is being made that the books are actually good.)
A look at the titles in famous authors' libraries.

Book Candy

I've always wanted some multi-level bookcases.
Speaking of multis, how about a multi-purpose bookend?
I'll have mine medium well done, please!
An architect and a designer have come up with a full-wall rotating library.

That's it for this week. Stop by next weekend when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!

The Sky Took Him by Donis Casey

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:46:00 +0000

First Line: The train out of Muskogee was very nearly empty.

Alafair Tucker is going to Enid, Oklahoma, accompanied by her oldest and youngest daughters, Martha and Grace. Lester, the husband of Alafair's sister, Ruth Ann, is dying, and the family is gathering. When they arrive, Alafair learns that her niece Olivia's husband Kenneth has chosen a very inconvenient-- and thoughtless-- time to go on an extended business trip. When he doesn't return on the scheduled date, Alafair has a hunch that all is not well.

The hunch is proved correct: Kenneth is found dead. Everyone is convinced that the most ruthless businessman in Enid-- Buck Collins-- is responsible. So convinced in fact that the investigation begins and ends with him. But Alafair doubts that things could be as simple as that.

Once again, Donis Casey takes us back to Oklahoma in the 1910s, and with a family like the Tuckers, I always savor my visits. (Probably because the Tuckers remind me so much of stories I've heard of my own grandparents and great-grandparents.) Casey gives the reader a true feeling-- without going overboard-- of what life was like during that era. Although I loved the glimpses into a company dealing with early refrigeration units, Enid's Cherokee Strip celebration, and the work involved in drilling for oil, it's her characters, their behavior and their relationships from which I derive the most enjoyment in this series.

The Sky Took Him is no exception. We get to know Martha's beau, Streeter McCoy, but the stars among the new characters are Lu, a tiny Chinese lady, an oil man named Pee Wee Nickolls and his dog, Muddy. They stole every scene in which they appeared.

As each of Alafair's ten children grows to adulthood, Alafair has to get used to seeing them as grown-ups with adult feelings and reactions. I found this process with her oldest daughter, Martha, to be the most touching one so far. One scene toward the end of the book illustrates one of the strengths I find most compelling in Donis Casey's books. Martha has just been in a room with three generations of women in her family. After going upstairs, she happens to look in a mirror to check her hair:

The same face she had just seen on the women downstairs was staring back at her.

"It's like we're all the same woman," she said aloud. Suddenly, she was struck with the idea that she was standing at the very end of a long, unbroken line of women that went all the way back to Eve, all with one great soul, moving forward through time.

Yes, these books are excellent, with their tried-and-true recipes of the era, their depiction of a forgotten time, and their absorbing mysteries that Alafair insists on solving. But they're also for all of us who've ever looked into a mirror and seen a resemblance to a long line of men and women going all the way back to the dawn of time. We've asked the same questions for millenia: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and I love how Alafair Tucker answers them.

The Sky Took Him by Donis Casey

ISBN: 9781590588345

Paperback, 252 pages

Genre: Historical Mystery, #4 Alafair Tucker mystery set in 1910s Oklahoma

Rating: A
Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen

The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots by Tamar Myers

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:48:00 +0000

First Line: It was much cooler in the canyon that lay in front of, and below, the village.

Legends surround the birth of twins to a king in the Belgian Congo of the 1920s. This was the time when headhunters and cannibals still followed the old ways, a time when the birth of twins was a bad omen that must be dealt with swiftly. Due to his cunning, the king's twins both survived and grew to manhood.

Fast forward to the late 1950s. As independence for the Congo grows nearer, even the remote town of Belle Vue becomes acquainted with the stirrings of upheaval. Self-professed spiritual leaders travel through almost daily, speaking to large groups of natives, telling them of the delights to come-- to when they will inherit all the goods of the whites and all their knowledge of how to operate the technology. Some whites are nervous, others-- like Madame Cabochon-- who were born in the Congo and have lived there all their lives, seem willing to fight for their rights to remain in their homeland.

Into this unsettled time for Belle Vue arrive some strangers, a huge snake, and a horrendous storm that literally divides the town in half. As one person, then another, dies, it becomes obvious to readers that someone is willing to kill as many times as it takes for a secret to remain buried.

Tamar Myers' parents were missionaries; she grew up in the Belgian Congo. Her young American missionary, Amanda Brown, shows readers how difficult it could be to get used to the climate, the people, and the customs. In this book, Amanda has definitely become romantically involved with the police chief, Captain Pierre Jardin, and the natives who work for her-- Cripple and Protruding Navel-- are up to their usual tricks. Amanda is learning the language, she's learning the customs, and she feels as though she's becoming friends with Cripple, although there's still a lot she must learn from the wise little woman with the twisted back.

If you're looking for a traditional whodunit where the characters are actively out and about searching for clues, you're not going to find it here. The mystery, the clues, the resolution, all unfold gradually, naturally. Everything has been woven into this colorful fabric of story, and if one thread is pulled loose from the rest, the entire book suffers. Myers is skillful at her honest portrayal of the Congo during that era without becoming overly graphic, but it's the character of Cripple who shines brightest over this entire series of books.

If you've read all of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, and are looking for something in the same vein, try Tamar Myers' books set in the Congo (The Witch Doctor's Wife, The Headhunter's Daughter, The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots). I wouldn't be at all surprised if-- like me-- you prefer reading about Amanda Brown and Cripple!

The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots by Tamar Myers

ISBN: 9780061997730

Paperback, 304 pages

Genre: Historical Mystery, #3 Amanda Brown mystery set in the Belgian Congo of the late 1950s

Rating: B+

Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewer's Program

Scene of the Blog Featuring Kay of Purple Sage and Scorpions!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:43:00 +0000

This is a very special Scene of the Blog for me because I'm featuring one of the few book bloggers whom I've met in the flesh.

Kay and I kept bumping into each other all over the internet, as you do when you share a passion. We kept commenting on the same blogs, and I have no clue which one of us checked the other out first, but I'm glad it happened. We met last year at the perfect place: The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, and although I had a house guest and missed the opportunity of getting together this year, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for 2013. Kay is a fantastic lady, wonderful to talk with, and I felt as though we were old friends from the moment we clapped eyes on each other.

Kay puts out the welcome mat at Purple Sage and Scorpions, which is a friendly, informative blend of books, photography and family. If you haven't visited this lady's blog before, please do so without delay. You're missing out on a treat!

If you're a visitor from Purple Sage and Scorpions-- Welcome! I hope you enjoy the tour Kay has prepared for us. If you'd like to see any of the photos in a larger size, just click on them, and they'll open in a new window. If you'd like to see the creative spaces of previous participants, click on the Scene of the Blog tab at the very top of my header. There are two ways to search: by Blog Name and by Location. Now let's see where the magic happens!

My husband and I live outside of Georgetown, Texas, which is about 20 miles north of Austin. We built this house last year and moved in during one of the hottest and definitely the driest summers Texas has ever seen. It was 107 degrees the day we moved! I was very excited to get to have a library/office of my own, otherwise known as one of the spare bedrooms. Here's a look at it.

Kay's library/office

I will freely admit that I'm one of those crazy people who always has a tidy, clean desk. It's a "need" of mine - a must, must, must. Anyway, I am also a desktop computer person. I just can't seem to manage a laptop. Must be all those years in an office. I have decorated the walls with pictures of one of my favorite places on earth, Oregon. We lived there for 3 years in the '90's and I love my pictures of favorite spots. Mount Hood is to my left and the shot above my computer is actually 3 phases of Mount St. Helen's - before eruption, during eruption, and afterward when the top of the mountain was gone. These are not photos but an artist's rendering that I got on a trip to Oregon last year.

Kay's cozy reading spot

This is my cozy little reading corner. It has lots of natural light. My comfy recliner is well used these days, and I have a little table to my left for a cup of tea or coffee. I love the arched window that looks out onto our driveway and the special old live oak tree that lives right outside.

One of Kay's bookcases

This bookcase used to live in my bedroom, along with its twin that sits by my recliner. Sadly, they don't make this furniture anymore or I would have gotten another bookcase. The picture to the left is of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge - Oregon, again.

A very special bookcase

This small bookcase is special to me because my grandfather made it for me when I was a little girl. It's dinged up and scratched, but it's just perfect beside my desk.

Shhh...Kay's book closet

As I said, I'm a little picky about neatness. However, here's a peek at my book closet. Not so neat in there - my stacks have stacks. When we moved, I got rid of a very large amount of books that were shelved all over our old house. All my books live in my library room in this new house. These will one day migrate to the shelves, hopefully.

Kay's secondary reading spot

My last picture is of my secondary reading location - our covered back porch. Once the awful mountain cedar pollen disappears, you'll be able to find me out here, book or Kindle in hand, reading the afternoon away.

======

I don't know about any of the rest of you, but I want to sneak into Kay's book closet and have a good nose around! The covered back porch looks like a wonderful place to read, and I know from experience with my own that those chairs are comfortable. (Her indoor reading corner is no slouch, either!)

The only other comment I'm going to make is... I wish I had neat desk syndrome. When I worked, I had absolutely no problem in keeping my desk whipped into shape, but that's never translated to my desk at home. *sigh* Do you think you could rub off on me the next time we meet, Kay? Pretty please?

In the mean time, I want to thank you for taking the time to show us your reading and blogging spaces. I know we all appreciate this glimpse into your home and your life!

Don't forget to stop by next Wednesday when I'll be featuring yet another book blogger from our wonderful worldwide community!