Campbell Makes Love* and goodwill at bookstore

Just finished reading the second book by B-List cult movie and TV hero, Bruce Campbell. Make Love* the Bruce Campbell Way is a novelized "what-if" casting himself in a big budget film.

It's a hoot, in an irreverant, not take yourself too seriously way. Not only is it entertaining, but when meeting him at the local bookstore signing, he was a really nice guy; asking each person (over 400 were there) about themselves, their job, the summer heat etc.

It didn't start out looking like it was going to be a fun time, what with the arrows taped in serpentine patterns outside the store on the sidewalk of another 95 degree + day; cashiers and stacks of books also outside, ticket placeholders for access to the actual signing upstairs and the "RULES" sheet. Must buy book, only one item signed, only store personal operate can take photos, yada yada yada...

Since we got there early, we managed to be in the fourth group of 50 allowed up the escalator into Bruce's orbit. More taped arrows, on the carpet this time, die hard Army of Darkness fans weaving alphabetically thru the cookbook and literature/fiction sections. Finally, a big "X" (that's right, taped on the floor) signaled it was my turn to meet the man himself.

And, like I mentioned earlier, he was a really personable guy. Sort of makes you long for Brisco County Jr. to come out on DVD to see more of him. He also has a new film due out in November.

Ed McBain moves on...

It must be the season. Although I thought it was usually in the late fall or winter, but another "great" has passed.

Evan Hunter, Writer Who Created Police Procedural, Dies at 78 - New York Times

We've got a ton of his books in our collection, not unusual since he wrote 55 of the 87th Precinct series and they were ground breaking in their way. The life and minutiae of being "the police." Plus he holds a special place in our memories as the screenwriter for THE BIRDS with Alfred Hitchcock under his other pseudonym -- Evan Hunter.

What I'm reading...

Well for some reason this thing isn't allowing me to load all my pictues I wanted to, so there's just one here.

What am I reading this week? Well I finished a couple books this past week. I finished Once Upon a King by Holly Jacobs , though I think that was actually last week. LOL

I finished Forget Prince Charming by Natalie Stenzel, which I started last weekend. It was a good story and must have been the one that started the "frog" stories trend since it's a couple years old. Now that theme is all over the place. LOL It was a cute story about a young woman who catches her boyfriend getting it on with his secretary they day before the couple was supposed to go away for a romantic holiday weekend. So she decides she's swearing off the "Princes" of the world, the buff, gorgeous, sexy men and is going to focus on the "frogs." Her plan of action? Head to the library, hobby shops, computer stores etc, to find a nerdy guy to date since she's convinced they won't give her the grief her past few princes have. But her plans go awry when she meets her sexy new neighbor, who may be a frog in Prince's clothing.

I also finished Kiss of the Blue Dragon by Julie Beard, though that may have been last week too. They all run together for me time wise as much as I read and as many as always have going at once. LOL


Right now in paper I'm reading The Shadow Within by Karen Hancock. I've had this book for over a year. It was actually one that was accidentally sent to me as a review copy and it got buried and I just found it again last week. Whoops. So now I'm reading it. It's an Inspirational Fantasy that is quite interesting. A long lost prince, whom everyone that fled in fear 6 years ago has suddenly reappeared and within hours of arriving, kills a sea monster that has been destroying ships that are his kingdom's livelihood, when no one else could kill it in the six months it's been terrorizing the shores. But the prince didn't really flee all those years ago, he was sold into slavery by his brother who wanted the crown. Now He has come back to claim the title rightfully his, but he has to keep his religious beliefs secret or he'll be persecuted for them. As he works his way back into life in his land, he comes across many servants and neighboring lords who share the same beliefs. This is actually the second book in a series that so far is three books long, but I didn't realize it when I started it. So I of course had to order the first one Light of Eidon from Amazon to read too. The third book isn't out yet but I preordered it.

In audio, I'm working one the first book In Nora Roberts' Key Trilogy. I'm only two tapes out of 8 into it so still too soon to tell if I'll like it or not. I finally finished Lake in the Clouds by Sara Donati in audio also. And I also listened to the first volume of four (in audio) of the anthology, Legends. The book is all fantasy stories by masters if the genre, and the stories they wrote are related to their famous series. The first volume had a story by Stephen King called Little Sisters of Eluria, which is a prequel to the Dark Tower saga. The second story in the series was by Robert Silverberg and was called Majipoor: The Seventh Shrine. I've never read anything of his but I guess he has a series of the Majipoor books. Others in the book in future volumes, all of which are in my car waiting listening, are Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, Robert Jordan, and many others. Those are just the big names I can remember off the top of my head.


In electronic I'm still on Soul of a Witch by Angela Verdenius, but I'm almost finished with it. It's gotten REALLY good and is keeping me up longer in to the night to read. LOL

Happy Birthday to USA...

I'm spending the day (and weekend) working! Sheesh, you'd think there'd be time for at least a little recreational reading on a federal holiday weekend, but noooo, I've got homework books -- php and CSS stuff -- to read and absorb. I tried to sneak in a little lite reading but got sidetracked by two weeks old Newsweek and the weekend Guide. Geez, I do need to find out where all the local fireworks displays are!

Anyway, I've got two books set aside (on my bedside table) ready and eager to be opened -- CASE OF LIES by Perri O'Shaughnessy and BOOK CLUB by Mary Alice Monroe. I'm looking forward to the chance to read both of them in the next few hours.

But for every one in the US, wishing you the best reading this holiday weekend. Hope it doesn't rain too much, not TOO hot and the bugs don't nibble! Happy Birthday, USA!