Book Club Rewind - Linda Conrad

Linda Conrad, proud mama of a new Bichon Frise puppy, joined us over the phone last night for our book club chat. She is currently living in the Florida Keys, but spent most of her adult life in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and was first published in 2002.

The inspiration for creating the Night Guardians series (readers often call it the Shadow series because of the titles) was from research Linda did for Between Strangers (Silhouette Desire). She does not have any Navajo ancestry. The hero in Between Strangers, Lance White Eagle Steele, is half Navajo. During her research, she visited the four corners Navajo reservation and learned about the Skinwalker legend. The four corners area is very rural, but she said it has some of the most fabulous natural wonders.

The Night Guardians books can each standalone, but there is a thread running through all of them. Her heroes, the Brotherhood, learn a little bit more about the Skinwalkers in each book. The upcoming sixth book, Shadow Whispers, will end the series. We also asked about the possibility of a future standalone title for this series, but she says there are no real plans for one.

On to cover art...because, well, Shadow Warrior has a memorable cover! Last night's dinner theme was New York deli and we had Cosmo-tinis to go with it. Let's just say that after Cosmo-tinis everyone around the table was trying to strike the cover pose. Linda is allowed minor input on the cover art. She is sent a survey asking various questions about the book and asked to provide three scenes she would like to see depicted on the cover. That said, none of her scene selections have made the covers.

Beyond the Night Guardians, Linda just sold a three book set to Silhouette Romantic Suspense that she is calling the Safe Keepers series and should be out some time in 2008. Safe Keepers will tell the stories of two brothers and their sister who are all magical. The siblings go into business together opening a bodyguard agency focusing on children.

Some of Linda's notable quotes from the evening with our book club:
- "I've got a twisted brain."
- "No ladies. I make this stuff up."

New Look to the DFW Tea Readers Group website

You may not be as excited as I am, but if you spent the time and effort upgrading and making it look pretty, well, I'd say why not shout about it?

DFW Tea Readers website has a new look with more information about teas, club meetings and signings in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

If we're missing any signings or appearances, please contact us! We'd be happy to add them!

Plano Book Club - Note from this month's author, Linda Conrad

Man, how I love reading good books! And geez, how I hate finishing one! If it’s a really good book that hooks me into the characters’ lives, then I want to know more! What happens next? I want to know whether the best friend finds her own true love. I want to know if the brother will ever change his ways and find a woman who can tame him. I just want to know more!

I guess that’s why I almost always write linked books and make up my own mini-series. Some readers tell me they feel the same way I do, that they love books in series. Others seem to feel somehow cheated that they must find and buy more books to satisfy their curiosity. I make sure each book tells its own story, but I guess I can’t help hinting that there might be more to it. And I suppose therein lies the problem. Sigh.

Which brings me around to my newest series of books, the Night Guardians, and the reason I'm so looking forward to talking with the bookclub!

The Night Guardians is a series of six books I've written for Silhouette Intimate Moments (now called Silhouette Romantic Suspense) The series tells the story of a new cult of shapeshifters spreading evil and terror on the big Navajo reservation in New Mexico and Arizona . These shapeshifters, known as ‘Skinwalkers,’ are familiar to the Navajo from their ancient stories and legends. The heroes of the Night Guardians are Navajo medicine men, calling themselves the Brotherhood, who have banded together to fight the evil.

My latest book is book number five in the series. Called SHADOW WARRIOR, it’s the story of Michael Ayze, a professor of Anthropology at Dine College . He knows the most about the ancient legends and feels the answer to conquering the Skinwalkers lies there instead of fighting them openly. As if he doesn't have enough troubles, his younger brother’s widow and son have now appeared in the midst of the danger. One look at her reignites deep emotions in Michael that he’s denied for years.

It seems unseen universal forces are trying to bring Michael to his knees. Respect for tradition, natural disasters, even his own mother are pushing him closer to the woman he only wants to protect from the deadly dangers waiting in the night.

I had such fun researching and writing this series. I'd love to talk to the bookclub about it! Depending on the quantity of food and drink consumed, we can chat about just nearly anything! Any of the Silhouette Desires I have written in the past or any of my plans for the future. Everything is fair game except the surprise ending to the Night Guardian series! I can’t wait!

Thanks for you help!

Linda Conrad
http://www.lindaconrad.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/lindaconrad
2007 RT Reviewers Choice Award winner for SHADOW FORCE!
WisRWA '07 Write Touch Readers Award second place for SHADOW WATCH!
2007 Desert Rose - Golden Quill Award nominee for SHADOW WATCH!
Don't miss the final book in the Night Guardian series:
SHADOW WHISPERS - Silhouette Romantic Suspense - coming September 07