And Adding Another ...

I was in Barnes and Noble today during lunch because all my friends ditched me. (You know who you are) and I stumbled across this.

I met Jan two years ago at a conference and I really enjoy her books although she dropped of my author radar for awhile there. But she's back and with a brand new Christmas novel. And yay! This is just the first of three with the second scheduled for next December. A three-year Christmas trilogy.

Here's the back blurb:

Reid Barclay doesn’t have time for Christmas, not with trouble brewing at the Crown Seven Ranch. He’s got prize thoroughbreds to protect, and an long-ago wrong that he wants to make right. But the beautiful cook who’s taken over the ranch kitchen is a welcome distraction, even if Ellie Jo Cade burns everything from gingerbread to roast beef. Her sweet face and womanly figure are pure temptation…

Cornhusk angels…bright berry garlands…spun-sugar snow—everything about Christmas holds fond memories for Ellie Jo. She’s doing her best to make peace with an ornery wood-burning stove and make the old ranch house truly festive. All she wants is to believe in Reid…and the only-at-Christmas magic that makes hearts glow…

So this evening I'm curling up with my new read (after the baby is in bed, and the dishes are done, and I do a few pre-Thanksgiving chores, and I check my email, and watch How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory and ... oh dang, there goes my reading time!)

The Dreaded To Be Read(ed) Pile

To Be Read piles shouldn't be a dreadful thing. Quite the opposite actually, they should be a happy little pile sitting next to your bed just waiting for you to pick one up. Unfortunately my TBR pile is growing to monstrous proportions and I've added three more recently. I can't wait to get to them and yet they sit glumly at the bottom, knowing it will be MONTHS before I even crack the spine. Poor dears. 

A Season to be Sinful, however, is one I am reading, despite it's bottom of the pile status - a sweet fellow blogger sent it my way and I am so glad she did because it has me hooked. Sure, the heroine does faint, as all heroines do in Jo Goodman's books but if you come to expect such a thing, it hardly even bothers. Hardly. 

In other reading news, I'm afraid I've missed the Christmas rush. Each year I eagerly anticipate the release of numerous Christmas Romances but it seems this year the selection is wearing a little thin - or maybe its just me. So if you have any good recommendations - new or otherwise, I adore Christmas Westerns. Although I myself (insert shameless plug) wrote a regency Christmas romance, I find the Westerns to be my favorites. Its been awhile since I found a straight up holiday contemporary that I really enjoyed so send suggestions on those my way too! 

I'm Looking Forward To ...

From the author's website:

Lauren Sutherland's sister made a big mistake when she married the powerful and much older Senator Creighton. The senator's son Drew agrees. But the newlyweds have disappeared and even the FBI can't find them. Venturing into the elite Washington social scene, Lauren and Drew discover an elaborate web of explicit photos and blackmail, and a fiery attraction they can barely control...

I sort of stumbled across Starr Ambrose and although I haven't read her previous book, Lie to Me, this one sounds really fun. You can read an excerpt here.

It comes up November 24th, just in time to get me through the Thanksgiving Holidays.

In the Land of Emily

Once upon a time in the Land of Emily there was a girl, Emily who ... 

Oh forget it, clearly I am not a fairy tale writer. 

I was going to write a wonderful little blog post about why I haven't been posting but I don't really have any excuses except:

1. I've been traveling

2. I've been reading and watching Mad Men

3. I've been in a creative mud hole to which my muse refuses to come

4. I've been looking for a job

So. I am no longer traveling, I am nearing the end of Season 2 of Mad Men, my mud hole is drying up and today I got a job. Does this mean you should expect more posts in the future? God, I hope so. In the meantime, here are some of the books I've been reading. I'm on a Nora Roberts kick.

Elsewhere, please head on over to Misadventures of a Super Librarian, Ramblings on Romance, and The Good The Bad The Unread for a fun filled week dedicated solely to Western Romances called, THE GREAT WESTERN DRIVE. My very favorite kind. I cannot wait for this: 

Due out September 2nd or thereabouts. I love Jo. I love this cover. I shall love this book. Is it September yet?

Also, check this out a four book a day giveaway. It's a great new site called The Season dedicated to historical romances. My love for historicals will never cease. 

And this post by Jenny Crusie made me happy this morning. 

I think that's it. More later. 

New Historicals!

Thanks to Facebook, I ran across this website called The Season and I have to say, I love it! Published every quarter, Beverley Kendall gives us a glimpse of what is coming up in historical romances. How did I not know that Julia Quinn's new novel comes out next Tuesday? Joy! 

An Interview With Author Tracy Madison

Good morning happy readers! Today I am pleased to introduce Tracy Madison, author of A Taste of Magic and the upcoming, A Stroke of Magic. Tracy and I "met" after I did a review of A Taste of Magic and luckily, I was able to get my hands on an ARC for A Stroke of Magic. Look for my review of Stroke in the next few days. But until then, enjoy reading more about this magical writer!

First off, as a writer and avid reader, one thing I always want to know from published authors – when was The Moment when you knew you were going to be a writer?

I don’t think I ever had one defining moment. To quote my mother, I’ve always had an “impressive” imagination. Add that to my love of books, well…deciding to become a writer was more of a gradual realization.

Do you read books over and over again? What are your favorites?

Not as much as I did when I was a kid. I loved the Trixie Belden mystery series and had to have re-read each book multitudes of times. That being said, this past year, I’ve re-read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Lightning by Dean Koontz. Those two books right there will show you how varied my fiction tastes are! I have favorites in nearly every genre, which means I have far too many to list, and literally every week my answers would be different. This past week, for example, I’ve been reading Iris Johansen and loving her Eve Duncan series. Next week, I’m reading a debut women’s fiction title (A BUMP IN THE ROAD) by Maureen Lipinski, and I can already state that I’ll be loving it.

Each month on my personal blog, I share the titles I read in the previous month, and even I’m surprised when I type my list up each month, because I really do read a little bit of nearly everything!

You participate in the Novel Girls Blog. Tell us a little about what you do there. How did you get involved? Do you always know what you’ll post beforehand or do you write at the seat of your pants blog entries?

I love my fellow Novel Girls! We’re a group of women who each had/has a debut book releasing in 2009. We virtually met last summer when Jenny Gardiner (author of the awesomely hilarious book Sleeping With Ward Cleaver) hooked us up. As to what we do there, well---we mostly share our opinions and experiences as debut authors, along with slices of real life stuff. We choose our topics usually a month or two ahead of time, and on my day (Mondays) I post on that week’s topic. And no, normally I don’t pre-write them, but I usually have already thought about what I want to say so the writing of each post is fairly simple.

Allow me just a minute to brag about the rest of The Novel Girls. Our “first” release in 2009 was Lesley Livingston’s amazing Wondrous Strange. It’s a young adult novel filled with fantasy and fairies, and is truly a delight to read.

Jillian Cantor’s release coincided with the release of my debut, A Taste of Magic. Her novel The September Sisters is a young adult drama that is poignant and heartfelt and brought a few tears to my eyes. She tells a powerful story of loss, love, and coping through the eyes of a young girl.

On June 9^th, Maureen Lipinski’s debut A Bump in the Road released. It’s on my list to read next week, and I can’t wait to delve into it! The story follows how one woman’s unexpected pregnancy alters her life in humorous and emotional ways. Maureen is an exceptionally funny woman, so I am positive I’ll be chuckling through A Bump in the Road.

Last, but not least in any way, is Lisa Patton’s debut release, Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter, which is set to release on September 29^th. She tells a story about a Southern belle who moves to rural Vermont to open a B&B with her husband. The book is described as heartwarming and hilarious, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

I know you have four children and a very busy household. Is it difficult to find time to write?

My household is loud, busy, and sometimes more than a little crazy. Unfortunately for me, I’m one of those writers who cannot write new material in the midst of noise that belongs to me. Meaning, if I’m at home, then the noise of kids playing, arguing, etc., belongs to ME, and I can’t *not* pay attention to it…but if I take my laptop to the library or a coffee shop then that noise doesn’t belong to me, so I can focus. Weird, I know, but there you have it.

So, to answer your question, it’s not really time that’s the issue, it’s the hectic nature of my household. During the school year, I can work around the kids schedules and write during the day, but throughout the summer things become a little tougher. So, in the summer months, I tend to stay up really late and write when the house is sleeping, and then on other days when I’m awake, I’ll steal away to a coffee shop. Most of A STROKE OF MAGIC was written at a Caribou Coffee just up the road from me. :)

Now, light editing and revision work I can manage much better at home, even with the noise. The difference, I think, is that when I’m editing I’m not really in “storytelling” mode, because the bones are already there.

Your debut novel, A Taste of Magic, is a fun ride into the world of magic and romance. The second book, A Stroke of Magic, hits bookstores at the end of this month. Tell us a little about the inspiration for these novels.

For me, all of my inspiration for all of my fiction material starts with character—not plot. And then, almost 100 percent of the time, it’s the heroine who crawls into my brain and refuses to leave me alone. A Taste of Magic started with Elizabeth (who wasn’t actually named at the time). At first, I had no idea there’d be even a smidge of magic in the book, as the story began with the idea of a somewhat bitter ex-wife who has to bake her ex’s wedding cake for his wedding to his new bride—all because of a glitch in communication.

How would she feel? Would she do it? Could she do it? I’ll be honest—I tried to ignore Elizabeth’s voice in my head for a while, as I was working on another project at the time, but dang! This woman wouldn’t leave me alone. So I played with the idea for a while, but something felt flat…wrong, even…and I couldn’t figure out what it was. The idea of the magic, and the Gypsy bloodline, opened up to me then, and I ran with it. I had the most fun writing A Taste of Magic than I’d ever had before. I was hooked.

A Stroke of Magic evolved naturally from A Taste of Magic, as Alice (the heroine in Stroke) is Elizabeth’s sister. I SO couldn’t wait to start her story, but knew there was no sense in spending time writing it if A Taste of Magic didn’t find a home, so I (again) ignored the voice in my head for a long time. And then I sold A Taste of Magic in a 2-book deal, so I was able to tell Alice’s story. I was thrilled! And I had just as much fun writing A Stroke of Magic as I did writing A Taste of Magic.

I love that the heroine’s name in Taste is Elizabeth Stevens. Did Bewitched play a role in the book’s concept? (Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens)

You are (I think) the first person who’s caught on to the Bewitched angle with Elizabeth’s name! As I said, the Gypsy magic wasn’t part of my original inspiration, and Elizabeth wasn’t even named at that point, but yes—once I focused in on her magical bloodline, Bewitched definitely came to mind. No, Elizabeth isn’t a witch (she’s a gypsy)—but the story I wanted to tell was one filled with humor, magic, and some odd-ball family members, which immediately made me think of Bewitched. I’ve been a fan-girl of Bewitched since I was a little girl, so it definitely made me smile naming Elizabeth!

I adore the book trailer for A Taste of Magic. Were you involved in the creation of the trailer? Tell us a little about the process. (you can view the trailer on Tracy's website)

Isn’t it fun? I so love my book trailer for A Taste of Magic! Diane Whiddon-Brown from Novel Website Design created my book trailer, and she did a fantastic job. She asked me some questions about what I’d like to see, the tone I’d like expressed, etc., and then she delivered two different trailers for me to review. I liked one better, but wanted a few of the aspects from the other trailer—which she was happy to include. The end result is the trailer I have now. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to have a trailer created for A Stroke of Magic, but whenever I do have another book trailer designed, I’ll definitely want to use Diane’s services again.

Are you part of a critique group or do you have just one or two beta readers? How did you find your critique partners?

I am involved in a critique group, and let me just say this: my books are better because of their input. Hands down better. I am so lucky to have these amazing gals as my first, second, and sometimes fourth and fifth eyes! I think finding the right critique partners is difficult, but essential. Two of my critique partners are members of my local writing group, and the other three are long-time writing friends. One of them sees my fairly raw writing, while a couple others help me out after I’ve polished once or twice, and the rest are there if I still need another opinion. They all rock.

So, A Stroke of Magic is due out on June 30^th. Can you tell us a little bit about what you might have coming up?

Well, I wasn’t going to mention this just yet (and it’s not even on my web site yet), but I recently sold the next two books in the series. Yay! Book 3 will likely be a spring or summer 2010 release, and book 4 *should* squeak in before the end of 2010. I don’t have official titles or release dates yet, but I’m happily writing away on book 3. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but for anyone who reads A Stroke of Magic, they should easily be able to figure out who the heroine is in book 3. As to book 4? That will be Scot’s story and I am wicked excited to write it!

I’m a big fan of those email forwards that ask you to describe yourself in five words and then forward to everyone you know. What five words would you use to describe yourself?

You know, this is sort of perfect for me right now, because I’ve become a Sims 3 addict…and in the Sims 3, you get to choose *five* traits to personalize your Sims characters. So…my five traits are:

1. Artistic

2. Bookworm

3. Loner

4. Charismatic

5. Friendly

Tracy, I really enjoyed the interview! Thanks for joining me today!

Thank you so much for having me here today! I loved answering all of your questions! I’d also like to share that I’ll be at Night Owl Romance on June 30^th for a totally cool virtual signing.

And now for the giveaway! Tracy wants to know:

If you could have one magical power, what would it be and why?

Post your reply in the comments and Monday, June 29th and Tracy will choose the one she thinks is the funniest. That person will receive a signed copy of A Taste of Magic.

Where The Wind Blows - Future Book Review

I ran across a trailer for a new book coming in August of 2009. The cover and title are actually what caught my attention. 

From Caroline Fyffe's website: 

Two hearts meant to be together; 
One secret bound to rip them apart.

Chase Logan liked being a loner, a drifter, free and clear as a mountain stream. But one look into Jessie Strong's sky blue eyes and in the span of a heartbeat, he found himself agreeing to be her husband-and a father!

Jessie Strong knew it was all pretend. And only temporary. Just until the adoption went through for three-year-old Sarah. But the longer Chase stayed, the less she could imagine a long, lonely Wyoming winter without him. Times may be tough-supplies short and danger just outside the doorstep-but with the strength of the pioneer spirit and the warm glow of love in their hearts, Chase and Jessie are determined to have a true family at last, no matter WHERE THE WIND BLOWS.

You can view the trailer here: http://www.carolinefyffe.com/

I'm not sure how I feel about book trailers but hey, this one sold me. And since I love westerns so much, look for a review when I pick it up in August. 

What do you think of book trailers?

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society ...

From Emily to Reader

Sunday, May 16th

9:00 pm

I adore it.

Ever Yours, 

Emily

P.S. I was right about Juliet, Dawsey and Sidney, but only after I had written the previous blog post. 

P.P.S. I want more.

Might I Suggest ...

I've heard many good things about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and so I picked it up the other day. And am I glad I did! I read through half of it last night and can't wait to get back too it. I love Juliet! I love Elizabeth (who I haven't even met yet!), Dawsey, Amelia, Isola, Eben, Sophia and Sidney. And my do I have hopes that Juliet will open her eyes and see Sidney. 

Told entirely through letters, this book about the after days of WWII on a small occupied island in the English Channel has captured my imagination and won't let go. Go out. Buy it. Read it. Love it. Then tell everyone else about it. The only sad part, so far, is the book has been published posthumously. It's sad this author isn't here to see what good work her book is doing.

Unexpected Delights - Mailbox Monday

Today I am baby-free and job-free and so I thought I would sit down and READ. It's been a long time since I could devote an entire day to just being lazy and today I am going to take full advantage. Luckily I have two lovely books just waiting to be cracked open. First up is:

I am an avid Meg-fan and I can't imagine why I haven't read this book before. But she's funny and smart and it's a quick read, just the way I like them. And BONUS, it was in the bargain bin for $4.

And then, someone new:

The back blurb sounded funny. A baker who has to bake her ex's wedding cake and then discovers she has the magic ability to make fabulous cakes full of revenge. I like it! Also, Ms. Madison has a cute blog at: http://www.tracymadison.com/blog/index.php

It's going to be a happy day!

P.S. I miss my kid!

New Reads

I've been circling this book ever since it came out a few months ago. I picked it up the other day, finally, as a happy birthday present from me to me. I haven't had much time for reading here lately, or much time for anything else either, but I hope to get started on this one soon. 

I was hoping someone would get this for me for my birthday but no such luck. Binchy is an auto-buy for me but these days hardcovers are a wee bit out of my price range. So I'll pick it up from the library and later buy the trade. If I like it. I do wish Binchy would go back to 1950-60 Ireland. 

A Suggestion

Over at Reading Romance Books, Sarah suggested using a new site designed to help you find a book to read next based on books you have already read. I just used it quickly to see what it was like and found I liked the results. I typed in Agnes and the Hitman and got these results:

He Loves Lucy - Susan Donovan Not Another New Year's - Christie Ridgway Anyone But You - Jennifer Crusie Name Dropping: What If Two Very Different Women Had The Same Exact Name? - Jane Heller Knock Off - Rhonda Pollero Ultra Violet - Nancy Bush The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes - Anne Stuart, Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer Not Another Bad Date - Rachel Gibson What Looks Like Crazy - Charlotte Hughes Pink Slip Party - Cara Lockwood 

I've read Christie Ridgeway and Rachel Gibson as well as everything Jennifer Crusie has written but have not yet tried Cara Lockwood, Charlotte Huges, Nancy Bush, Rhondal Pollero or Jane Heller. A quick browse through Amazon tells me I could definitely pick up a few of these based on the blurbs. I think I am going to like this new site!

Here it is: 

http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/books/search

It basically works by using reader suggestions and you have the option to create your own page and recommendations. 

Have You Read? ...

I was shopping for books yesterday (surprise) and came across a James Patterson book that I haven't heard of. I usually stay away from his romantic fiction because someone always dies in the end and I wondered if this were the same. If anyone knows, you can email (elbecher@gmail.com) me so it won't spoil it for anyone else who is interested but here are the details:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND

Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll soon forget him.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE

Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets someone–a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's perfect. His name is Michael...

Future Book Reviews

Today is Tuesday which means it’s Emily’s usual day to post a review. Unfortunately Emily doesn’t have a book to review. Why? Because the holidays have sucked the life out of me and I am slowly trying to reclaim it. So I apologize for the lack of book review today. Instead here is a list of books I am going to review in the future. 

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a contemporary and I am eager to get back into them.

Star Bright by Catherine Anderson – She’s fleeing from an abusive husband and finds refuge on a horse ranch. He’s determined to save her from her past and love her in the future … but can she trust him and herself enough to have the life she deserves?

A Coventry Wedding by Becky Cochrane – a bride running away? I’m hooked. Running to the middle of Texas? Hello, I’m buying. Throw in a dog and a chocolate festival and I say we got ourselves a winner ladies. Let’s hope this book delivers because I am really excited about this one.

And now, back to the historical …

To Seduce a Texan by Georgina Gentry – Set during the Civil War an outlaw kidnaps a banker’s stepdaughter. I wasn’t really convinced until I read the opening chapter compliments of Amazon.

Give Me a Texan by Jodi Thomas, Linda L. Broday, Dewanna Pace, and Phyliss Miranda – Thomas is the draw for me on this anthology of the American West but with three other potential must-read authors, I couldn’t pass this one up.

So, that’s what I have coming up in the future. You may have noticed I read mostly Westerns and Regencies but I am open to contemps too. If you have a book out there you’d like me to review, just drop me a line at elbecher@gmail.com. Until then, happy reading!

Have You Noticed?

For months now, even prior to the US economic fallout, there has been rumblings and then proclamations throughout the publishing world that book sales are going to fall drastically. I've generally ignored these rumors because I tend to believe that in times of crisis people turn to reading more often than not as a way to escape the depressing nature of the real world. 

But maybe I am wrong. 

In the past two weeks I've been to Borders three times. Each time I've noticed that bookshelves to be increasingly sparse. It's like they aren't restocking. The tables that welcome you when you walk in are becoming bare. Are bookstores not reordering because they aren't selling? Take in account to the number of email coupons and coupons you get at the register - $5 off when you spend $5 ... 40% off any one item ... surely a good deal but how am I suppose to use these if the stock isn't replenished?

Am I alone in seeing this or have others seen it too? Will the publishing world really suffer?

To Read or Not To Read ~ Historical Fiction

I have a confession to make ... I don't want to read historical fiction. 

(gasp!)

Yes, it's true. I've gone to the library and bookstores, I've read the reviews online, I've picked up the books and thumbed through them and thought "this sounds really good" ... and yet, I can't bring myself to read them. Why?

Because I like a happy ending. And one book ruined them all for me. (cough, cough ... Cold Mountain ... Charles Fraizer, are you listening?)

Let's face it, in most historical fiction novels, the guy isn't going to get the girl. Nope, in most cases, something really tragic happens. Which is why the events were impressive enough to be recorded in the first place. History loves to be gloomy. So when a book is based on a true historical events, you are bound to put down the book feeling cheated out of your happily ever after. And so that's why I don't read them. But lately, the urge to really give one a try has gotten stronger. I mean, maybe I am wrong. Maybe it doesn't always happen that. Maybe I just happened to chose the one book guaranteed to prejudice me against historical fiction for all of time. Maybe. 

And so, in the spirit of trying new things (and since I am out of things to read until a new crop of books gets published), I have turned to the one thing I vowed I would never do. Read. Historical. Fiction. 

My heart actually hurts at the thought of all that time spent reading, enjoying the rich tapestry of the author's world only to be blindsided at the end. But I am going to give it a shot. I really am. I chose three books from the library yesterday and one of them is going to be good. I hope. I already know the story of The Other Boleyn Girl (although I refused to see the movie - just as I refused to see Cold Mountain much as I love me some Jude Law). So I am not going into that one blind. The others? We shall find out. I'll keep you posted. 

Here are the quick book blurbs:

The Other Boleyn Girl ~

When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.

The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte ~

Charlotte Bronte, the beloved author of Jane Eyre, lived a quiet and private life in her father's Yorkshire parish. Or did she? What if a diary was uncovered that revealed her secret involvement in one of the most thrilling adventures of the 19th century?

Upon learning that she has been falsely accused of breaching her publishing contract, the normally mild-mannered Charlotte sets off for London to clear her name. But when she unintentionally witnesses a murder, Charlotte finds herself embroiled in a dangerous chain of events. With the aid of her sisters, Emily and Anne, and of the suspiciously well-informed but irresistibly attractive brother of the victim, Charlotte works to unravel a deadly web of intrigue that threatens now only her own safety but the very fabric of the British Empire. Charlotte is plunged into a perilous adventure and a passionate romance that leads her from the peaceful Yorkshire moors to the crime-infested streets of London, across the seat to the Continent, to the ports of Cornwall, the wilds of Scotland, and the palaces of Queen Victoria herself. Will Charlotte be able to stop a devious invisible villain whose schemes threaten her life, her family, and her country?

The Sealed Letter ~

Miss Emily "Fido" Faithfull is a "woman of business" and a spinster pioneer in the British women's movement, independent of mind but naively trusting of heart. Distracted from her cause by the sudden return of her once-dear friend, the unhappily wed Helen Codrington, Fido is swept up in the intimate details of Helen's failing marriage to a stuffy admiral and her obsessive affair with a young army officer. What begins as a loyal effort to help a friend explodes into a courtroom drama that rivals the Clinton affair - complete with stained clothing, accusations of adultery, counterclaims of rape, and a mysterious sealed letter that could destroy more than one life.