Sara Reyes | What's in a Name?

I was passing time with a fellow reader this week, waiting for books to arrive for processing and our conversation wandered as most readers do to books: what we're reading, what we're looking to read and pet peeves. This time it was two biggies; where do they get these "weird" character names and electronic book devices. We'll let the devices linger for the future but concentrate on the character names.

Now, I've read my share of books with totally unpronounceable (for me at least) names but it usually doesn't bother me because I just give them a nickname. For example, Iphiginia Bright in MISTRESS became "Ippie" to me throughout the entire book. I was so entranced by the story I didn't let an unfamiliar name bog me down. On the other hand, when there are too many "s" or "p" names in the same book, I give up and start to skip scenes for one or the other "S" character. Not sure if it is a deep-seated personal problem or if it just clashes too much in my head for me to continue. I can't remember the name of the book but it had a Steve and Stephen in it. Ridiculous! Seriously, couldn't they have come up with "Samuel" or "Smithers" if they were so entranced with "S?"

But I was very surprised when my friend said she tries to pronounce every name in the book and if it's unfamiliar or strange she quits. In fact she'll even check the names on the back cover to see if she can pronounce them! Honestly I was surprised. I had never considered it possible for a name to stop a reader from reading a book but why not? Most of the reading goes on in our heads and our imaginations so if they names become a stumbling block, then I can imagine it would slow them down to the point of non-enjoyment.

I was amused this week when I read a book I borrowed from another friend, trying to catch up on some backlists of authors I've just discovered. Someone had written in the front flap of the book "good story but too many characters to keep track of." At first I was horrified that someone had the gall to defile a book in such a manner. If you know me you'll know care is taken with books which means: no creasing spine, no breaking spine, no dog-earing of pages, no folding of pages, no eating while reading (especially if you like stuff that leaves yellow or colored fingerprints) and NO WRITING IN A BOOK unless it's a text book and then all bets are off. So, writing inside the front cover of a book and it wasn't even the author's signature or a cute note from a gift giver sorta appalled me. But after deciphering the message, and yes it took me a bit since it was an unknown person and had been written all over around the promo blurb, I was touched that the previous reader had taken the time to give her synopsis of the book for future readers. I went into it expecting a cast of at least 20 but could only remember 8 or four couples. Hmm, that was too many for me? NOT!

So, what do you think about character names or quantity of characters...

Until next time...
Get out there and READ a book...

Sara Reyes

DFW Tea Readers Group
Join us at Readers 'n 'ritas November 13-15, 2009!

Connie Cox | Defending My Reading Choices

How many times have you had to defend your reading preferences? If you read mysteries, science fiction, or even thrillers, I’ll bet you’ve rarely had to explain their appeal to a doubting audience. But if you read romance, that’s a whole different proposition.

Why do I read romance? Because the women never settle. They expect--and get total respect from the men in their lives. They expect—and get unconditional love. That’s it. They expect—and get the mate who is perfect for them. That’s the whole answer in a nutshell.

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Alexandra Benedict | The Reunion Romance

For me, the main appeal of a reunion romance is the prospect of getting a second chance at love. Have you ever wondered "if only ...?" or "I wish I had known then what I know now"? Time and experience seasons us, and the reunion romance offers characters the opportunity to right past wrongs.


As an author, writing a reunion romance can be fun (I get to start off with the passion and emotion), but it can also be challenging as the lead characters already know each other; there’s no "getting to know you" period, for the hero and heroine already share a history. I, then, have to inform the reader about the characters’ pasts, weave their time together "off stage" into the central story. In the end, the effort is worthwhile.

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Rebecca Cantrell | Like a First Love, Berlin Never Lets You Go...

“Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret!” sings Sally Bowles in Cabaret, the movie musical set in 1931 Berlin.


Who wouldn’t want to hear the singers? Watch the scantily clad dancers? Try to guess who was a woman and who was just dressed like one? Taste illegal absinthe?

So I went. My novel, A TRACE OF SMOKE, is set in the world of 1931 Berlin. It’s where cabaret nightingale Ernst Vogel, the murder victim, flitted from one dangerous man to the next.

Need to know more? Of course you do, so read on...

Stephanie Bond | How to Refill Your Creative Well

I’m coming off a crazy-hard writing year where I wrote 3 manuscripts for my BODY MOVERS humorous mystery series so they could be released back to back. I also wrote 3 manuscripts for Harlequin Blaze, (romantic comedies), also for back to back release. And I wrote 2 manuscripts for novellas. The schedule tested me physically and mentally, and afterward, I confess, I was zapped. My brain was mush—I could barely remember the names of the characters I’d written, much less come up with something new. But I had more projects on the horizon (after a short break), so I knew I had to do something to recharge my batteries. Here are some tips to regain your creativity if you’re in a slump:

Adjust your Zzzzzzzs. Physically, you need to adjust your sleep patterns up or down to get 7-8 hours sleep. I got way too little sleep most of last year, so now I’m making an effort to go to bed an hour earlier. Conversely, though, too much sleep can leave you feeling lethargic, so if you’ve gotten into the habit of sleeping in, you might want to set your alarm to get up a little earlier and get a jump on the day.

Get moving. Exercise truly is a panacea for the mind and body. Try to break a sweat at least every other day and keep moving for 30 minutes. Cardio exercise delivers oxygen to the brain and makes you more alert. I jump rope for 5 minutes shortly after getting out of bed. For a quick pick-me-up during the day, I do jumping jacks.

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Jillian Burns | Saying Goodbye For The Summer

Tonight is the season finale of one of my favorite TV shows, THE MEDIUM. In fact, this week a lot of my fave shows have season finales. So, I sadly bid farewell until the new season—which nowadays starts not in September or even October, but January! It’s depressing to think about all our favorite shows ending for the summer, but there is a positive side. Think of all the free time I’ll have in the evenings! I’ve made a list of all the things I can do this summer.

1. Write. Since there’ll be nothing to watch on TV, this is a good time to work. Especially since, beginning June 5th, my kids will be home all day, every day, for an entire three months (Ack!) and I certainly won’t get any writing done during the day.
2. Catch up on my reading. My To Be Read pile—ok, PILES--are getting so ridiculously high I’m afraid they might topple over and give me a concussion while I sleep. If I don’t start reading some of them, I might be forced to cull through the stacks and pare them down to only the ones I actually think I might someday read. And how could I do that? It would be easier to choose which child I’d like to send to a relative to raise for the rest of their lives.
3. Have meaningful conversations with my kids. Without new episodes of Medium or Lie To Me to watch, I might—stress might—talk to my kids. That is, about something other than homework, school projects, upcoming band concerts, volleyball schedules, PTA meetings, or their bad grades. Instead, we can talk about boyfriends, girlfriends, clothes, makeup, driver’s ed, video games, movies, malls, relationships—um, when does the New Fall Season start again?
4. Ditto for my husband. Hmm, a conversation that is NOT about the kids. What does that leave? I’m not sure I remember how to talk about anything else with the man I’ve been living with for more than twenty years. This may require a date night and alcohol. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get lucky.
5. Take a long soak in a Bubble Bath. Which leads to…
6. Paint my nails. I haven’t painted my nails since before I was pregnant with the last kid. How sad is that?
7. Go out to dinner with my girlfriends. Ahhh, more alcohol
8. Have long phone conversation with a friend who lives far away
9. Cook a magnificent gourmet meal. There are a few new things I’ve been dying to try.
10. Clean out my office closet—Yeah, right. I’ll NEVER be that desperate!

So, what will YOU do with your lazy, hazy summer evenings?

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Sandi Shilhanek | Thank you Mother

When I sat down to write this blog I really wanted to write something that would honor the connections between books and mothers. My first instinct was to talk about some books were mothers where featured prominently such as Shades of Grace by Barbara Delinksy, but then I worried that you as readers of the blog would want to know some impression I had from the book and while I read it and can remember totally loving it, I can’t remember anything else about it, and felt that was cheating.

So now I think that I’m going to take this opportunity to publicly thank my mom, Betty for fostering my love of reading. Growing up there were things I didn’t want to do such as wearing my glasses, taking various meds when ill, doing my math homework if I did these things for a specified period of time I would get a new book. What a wonderful treat!

So with the thought of honoring a special woman in your life is there someone who helped to foster your love of reading? How did they do that? If you can’t recall a special woman who fostered your love of reading, is there a special book that touched you and featured a mom who made you think of your mom fondly, or make you wish you could be that sort of mom to your own children?

I hope that all the moms here have a very special Mother’s Day. I hope that all the sons and daughters, who read this entry, remember to kiss their Mom and tell her they love and appreciate all she does for them.

Until next week I hope you all have happy page turning.