Sara Reyes | Reader Interrupted, I Hate When a Good Book Butts into Life!

I picked up two sets of books last weekend at ArmadilloCon, both fantasies, one set by Scott Lynch about otherworldly thieves and Patrice Sarath's set in an alternate world of New York about an alternate world coexisting with ours. both have two books in their series and I bought all four books. I even surprise surprise started at book one of each set. Yeah, I'm one of those odd people who can pick up a book and as long as it's interesting doesn't matter if it's book one, seven or three in a series.

Started reading the Scott Lynch thieves books. First off let me say, these suckers are HUGE, as in 700 pages. Which makes for a heavy paperback with very thin paper. But they are also fascinating which makes me wish for days without anything else to do but read. Unfortunately that isn't possible. I have other things crowding my life, such as work, family, even needy pets getting in the way. So I had to resort this past week to sneak reading. Ah, the mark of addiction.

First I'd read at night until my eyes couldn't focus anymore. Who cares about disrupting the house? A pillow over the head keeps most of the light out. Learn to sleep with a little glow. At least I'm quiet unlike a television! That's all I'm saying! It's the eyesight strain that will get me first. So I start off my day of work on maybe two hours of sleep. That was being overly generous I'm afraid so picture me cranky. Then I'd find reasons during the day to take off a few minutes or a chapter here and a chapter there sandwiched in between other chores. Taking a book in the car when I'm carpooling is not a smart thing. Especially a thick book. There is only so much you can read at a stop light. Seriously! And the stops and starts of "car reading" are not my favorite way to savor a good book.

And worse is the distraction by the characters. I mean seriously, Locke and Jean kept worrying me. What were they doing while I was trying to work? How were they going to get out of this new mess? Who was the Gray King? Did the others know it was a double triple cross? Hey, did I really think it was a double triple cross? Maybe that was a ploy? So finally on Wednesday I finished the Lynch adventures and now have to wait so patiently, right, whatever, for the next one. Out this year I think.

Oops there's more, click here to read the rest of the article AND be entered to win!

Jessica Andersen | FROM BOOK TO MOVIE...CHOOSING THE PERFECT CAST

I’m often asked how I would cast the movie version of SKYKEEPERS, which is the third book in a sexy series about a group of magic-wielding warriors, called Nightkeepers, who must fight the demon creatures of the underworld to prevent the annihilation of mankind on the December 21, 2012 doomsday hinted at by the ancient Mayan calendar.

First off, I’d far rather see it be a TV series than a movie. The interwoven storylines, intricate mythology and constantly developing arcs would be tough (imho) to pull off in a two-hour format, but would lend themselves to a (new) Battlestar Galactica-like gritty, character-driven TV series. With more sex. And, as was done in BSG with a few exceptions, I wouldn’t necessarily look to cast known faces in the roles.

Don't stop reading here, you know you want to cast a character in SKYKEEPERS or another book and to enter the one day contest so click here.

Terry Spear | Making Your Story FRESH!

First off, I wanted to congratulate Fresh Fiction on celebrating their anniversary and thank everyone for having me guest blog as part of this momentous occasion!

I was thinking about the title Fresh Fiction, and you know, all fiction is basically the same set of stories. But writers make it different based on their voice. And their voice is derived from their world views, morals, backgrounds, work and life experiences.

Take a for instance: Three women in a local RWA chapter took off running with an idea--same idea...man/woman left at altar...to face a wedding-less day. That was it. Same old story. But two of those women turned their stories into books that ended up selling to the same publisher!

For the readers out there: If you had a chance to create a story that was totally different than you’d ever written, what would it be?

Read the rest of Terry's post and leave a comment just click here...

CELESTE BRADLEY | EXPLORING THE PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIP

In the past nine years, I've written about Regency spies, politics, family dynamics and fairy-tale heiresses. I've written about chimney sweeps, circus performers, pet lions and ruined reputations. What's left?

In my new "Runaway Brides" trilogy, I wanted to explore the meaning of fatherhood. Mine passed away before I turned eight, so this is a lifelong question for me. Fathers remain a strange and elusive species, so I decided to hunt for some among my heroes.

What makes a good father? Is it instinct? Having a good example? A parenting book left on the back of the toilet? (with pertinent chapters highlighted, of course)

To further explore the parent child relationship click here.

AMANDA MCYINTYRE

August 18, 2009

Day fifteen of the blog tour

TORTURED, erotic medieval, Harlequin Spice, Aug.'09-Amanda McIntyre)

See the book trailer at: TORTURED. (Available now, Harlequin Spice, Aug. '09)

"How did you come up with this idea?" This is probably the question I have been asked most since this book was released. It’s a bit darker than normal for me, but it is also a love story, laced with hot scenes, drama, villains, mystery and more.


To read more about how Amanda came up with the idea for Tortured and to enter the one day contest click here.

Spotlight on Hank Phillippi Ryan

FAKING IT!

Raise your hand—who loves designer purses? We all do. They’re gorgeous, glamorous and desirable—and they look like they cost a million bucks. But wait—you see them in discount stores and on street vendors' tables.  Why? Because many of those hot-looking bags are phony.

Ever wonder where those knock-offs come from? And who’s getting rich? And biggest question of all—how they sell obvious knock-offs without taking heat from the authorities?

In life and love, how do you tell the real thing?

Charlotte McNally #3
Mira
September 2009
On Sale: September 1, 2009
Featuring: Charlotte McNally
288 pages
ISBN: 0778327191
EAN: 9780778327196
Mass Market Paperback
Amazon

Charlie McNally is hot on the trail of knock-off purses in this action-packed mystery.

I’ve spent the last thirty years chasing good stories—and I knew this was a great one! As an investigative reporter in Boston, I went in disguise and undercover to explore the world of counterfeit couture—and the behind-the-scenes business of high-fashion fakes. I also learned some of the secret ways you can recognize the real from the rip-off.

We talked to investigators specially trained by the designers to scout out what’s real and what’s fake. They have elaborate manuals chock full of trade secrets, revealing the actual number of stitches per square inch, placement of logos, patterns—special hush-hush indicators that only the trained eye would know to look for.

But we can reveal: Check the stitching. On a real designer bag it will be perfect and even. Metal and fabric logos will be attached in a way so they can’t be yanked off. The real thing won't come with handles wrapped in plastic and the bags won’t be stuffed with old newspapers. (We found some purses with bags filled with periodicals from Asia! That would never happen with a real designer bag.)

But as a mystery author, I always ask—what if? And I began to imagine the fascinating possibilities in designer duplicates. One of the things I love to do in my novels is take something that’s familiar and give it a twist or two that turns it into something unexpected and unpredictable. Because I already knew the inside scoop—that helped me create a truly workable scheme for my fictional crooks. (I can tell you, when I revealed it to law enforcement sources, they sheepishly admitted my plan was completely plausible!) .

So in my fast-paced thriller AIR TIME (Book 3 in the Charlotte McNally series), an investigation into the glam world of fashion fakes puts Charlie undercover and in disguise in the middle of a high-stakes scheme. (Sound familiar? Yes, I admit, she’s my almost alter-ego.) It’s all beautiful on the outside, but there’s a sinister secret inside one glamorous company. And in a life-changing split second, Charlie must decide what’s real—and what’s fake.

And going undercover is not her only dilemma—how about under the covers? Charlie’s long been married to her career, but now, at 47, there’s a man in her life. Is he—finally—“the one?” In life and in love—how do you tell the real thing?

Sue Grafton calls AIR TIME “First class entertainment.”

And after you read it, I promise you you’ll never look at air travel, fake purses or baggage claim the same way again

You met Charlie in PRIME TIME (which won the Agatha for best first mystery, as well as two RITA nominations), as she discovers secret messages in computer spam.

In FACE TIME (Book 2) Charlie stakes her career on getting an innocent woman out of prison—but what if she’s really guilty?

Suzanne Brockmann says—“I love this series!”

In my TV job, I can only write about the facts. But the facts prove how desire and ambition tempt even the most unlikely characters. Although Charlie’s stories are from my imagination—her stresses, her conflicts, and her determined search for answers are right out of television reality.

Ideas? Thoughts? Questions? Advice? Good stories for Charlie? Or for me? Please come visit me on my website www.hankphillippiryan.com

With unending gratitude

Hank

JOEY W. HILL

Though I’m a devoted fan of the vampire tale, you wouldn’t know it by how few books I’ve read in the genre. That’s because I’m very picky. I’m looking for a vampire story with certain elements:

1) No whiny vampires

2) No mandatory killing of food, because it puts a serious damper on sexual interaction related to feeding.

3) No holds barred on the eroticism.

To learn more about the type of vampire story that Joey W. Hill likes and to comment in the one day contest click here.

SANDI SHILHANEK | TRYING TO UNRAVEL THE KEEPING AND RE-READING PHENOMENON

I think it’s time to share a deep dark secret about me. I don’t as a general rule keep books, and I don’t re-read. I do have a fairly healthy collection of autographed books, and therefore have developed "keepers". If I have read that book which is autographed it gets noted in my list of read books, but it doesn’t get re-read.

To be truthful I don’t see the appeal of keeping books, and re-reading. I have an embarrassingly large TBR pile because I’m not like many of my friends who can read a book or two a day. Therefore I’m not really in danger of running out of books. Then let us consider the fact that while many authors are retiring, or losing contracts there are still new books being published that yell out read me on a regular basis. Why would I re-read something I’ve read, when there is something new to be discovered.

To read more about Sandi Shilhanek's deep dark secret and for a chance to enter our weekend only contest click here