Sara Edmonds | Taking An Inexpensive Vacation To An Exotic Locale

With winter here, I have often wished to be in a nice tropical locale for a few weeks. I realized though that while I was reading TWENTIES GIRL by Sophie Kinsella, that the best vacation is right in my own books.

As some of you may have read, I very rarely notice or need a lot of location in the books I read. The one thing I do notice though, are the locations that if I hit the lotto today, I would be on a jet plane in a minute.

I have always loved the way that Nora Roberts intertwines her characters and makes them one with the places they are. Her favorite far off locale is Ireland. TEARS OF THE MOON was one such book that after reading, made me want to go and spend some time in Ireland.


Susan Elizabeth Phillips' novel, BREATHING ROOM, has my favorite all time location--Italy. Of course, being half Italian, I am always partial to anyone who can place the background setting of Italy into the story in such a way as I look forward to the next destination. Katie MacAlister sets her Aisling Grey series on the streets of London, with some nice traveling to other locations nearby. These are the types of vacations I like to take- great travel rates, distance is not a concern, and I never end up with jet lag. Always a good deal.

What are some of the favorite locales of your favorite authors. Do tell-

Sara Edmonds

DFW Tea Readers Group

Fresh Pick | THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX by Sally Koslow

May 2009
On Sale: May 19, 2009
Featuring: Molly Marx
320 pages
ISBN: 0345506200
EAN: 9780345506207
Hardcover
$25.00

Paranormal, Women's Fiction
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow

The circumstances of Molly Marx’s death may be suspicious, but she hasn’t lost her joie de vivre. Newly arrived in the hereafter, aka the Duration, Molly, thirty-five years old, is delighted to discover that she can still keep tabs on those she left behind: Annabel, her beloved four-year-old daughter; Lucy, her combustible twin sister; Kitty, her piece-of-work mother-in-law; Brie, her beautiful and steadfast best friend; and, of course, her husband, Barry, a plastic surgeon with more than a professional interest in many of his female patients. As a bonus, Molly quickly realizes that the afterlife comes with a finely tuned bullshit detector.

As Molly looks on, her loved ones try to discern whether her death was an accident, suicide, or murder. She was last seen alive leaving for a bike ride through New York City’s Riverside Park; her body was found lying on the bank of the Hudson River. Did a stranger lure Molly to danger? Did she plan to meet someone she thought she could trust? Could she have ended her own life for mysterious reasons, or did she simply lose control of her bike? As the police question her circle of intimates, Molly relives the years and days that led up to her sudden end: her marriage, troubled yet tender; her charmed work life as a magazine decorating editor; and the irresistible colleague to whom she was drawn.

More than anything, Molly finds herself watching over Annabel – and realizing how motherhood helped to bring out her very best self. As the investigation into her death proceeds, Molly will relive her most precious moments – and take responsibility for the choices in her life.

Exploring the bonds of fidelity, family, and friendship, and narrated by a memorable and endearing character, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx is a hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking novel that is part mystery, part love story, and all heart.

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SARA EDMONDS | TAKING AN INEXPENSIVE VACATION TO AN EXOTIC LOCALE

With winter here, I have often wished to be in a nice tropical locale for a few weeks. I realized though that while I was reading Twenties Girl by Sohpie Kinsella, that the best vacation is right in my own books.


As some of you may have read, I very rarely notice or need a lot of location in the books I read. The one thing I do notice though, are the locations that if I hit the lotto today, I would be on a jet plane in a minute.

To read more of TAKING AN INEXPENSIVE VACATION TO AN EXOTIC LOCALE please click here.

Fresh Pick | DEWEY by Vicky Myron, Bret Witter

October 2008
On Sale: September 24, 2008
288 pages
ISBN: 0446407410
EAN: 9780446407410
Hardcover
$19.99

Non-Fiction Biography, Non-Fiction Pet-Lover
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

Dewey by Vicky Myron, Bret Witter

The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.

Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director, Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, (for a cat) and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.

As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming town pulling its way slowly back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

The luckiest cat in the stacks.

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Sara Edmonds | The World Of E-readers

If you are like me, you have wondered and contemplated buying one of the e-readers on the market, but have yet to make the plunge for various reasons. To help you in your hunt, I have evaluated a bunch of the best features of the various e-readers on the market.

First, there are features that technology and competition has given every reader:

-They now all use e-ink technology, which helps the text you are looking at look like a real book page. The problem for some - there is no backlighting and it will not have the look and speed of other electronic devices, like your iPhone;

-There is at least a 6" display screen for the standard e-readers. The pocket e-readers are smaller of course, and Kindle is trying to put distance between them and everyone else with a new bigger display screen, but more on that later;

-They all have a light weight of about 10-11oz and are less than .05" thick;

-Lastly, they all have some adjustable features, such as changing the font size to make it more comfortable to read.

And now for the differences-

I start by examining the new e-reader from Barnes & Noble, the nook. The basic lowdown on specs can be found below. What I want to focus on is the differences that make the reading experience different than that of the Kindle or Sony Reader.

This October, Barnes & Noble introduced what may perhaps be the closest competition to Amazon's Kindle. The best feature of the nook is its touch screen. The nook has a color touch screen and has a virtual keyboard if you need it, a difference from Kindle's stationary keyboard. The nook also allows you to flip through a book's cover art in color, something else the Kindle does not focus on. This makes the nook sleeker and takes away the extra frame.

One foot note to the touch screen however - it's only available on the color part of the screen. In other words, you can flip through your menu and options in color and with a touch, but you can't touch the text screen or turn the pages with just a touch. Sony keeps ahead of the nook here- you can turn pages with just a touch on their e-reader, but their options and menu is all in black and white.

Another great feature of the nook, is that it is wireless and uses AT&T's 3G wireless network. Barnes & Noble's stores also allow complimentary Wi-Fi in their superstores.

The nook is also great for readers who like to trade books with friends and family. It allows a reader to lend a book free of charge to someone else for up to 14 days. What if the person you want to lend the book to doesn't have a nook? No problem- books can be sent to someone's iPhone, iPod touch, select BlackBerry and Motorola smart phones, or a PC or Mac with the free downloadable Barnes & Noble eReader software. And no awkward asking for your books to be returned, as after 14 days your book comes back to you. Kindle users can in some cases share items, but it involves sharing accounts and you may not be up to having some you don't want on your Kindle account.

Read the rest of Sara's experience with the Nook...

Fresh Pick | DOG ON IT by Spencer Quinn

Chet And Bernie #1

February 2009
On Sale: February 10, 2009
320 pages
ISBN: 1416585834
EAN: 9781416585831
Hardcover
$25.00

Mystery Pet Lovers
Buy at Amazon.com

A Fresh Fiction read for 2009!

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, who works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school ("I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved"), but he's a detective through and through.

In this, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of Madison, a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. A well-behaved, gifted student, she didn't arrive home after school and her divorced mother is frantic. Bernie is quick to take the case -- something about a cash flow problem that Chet's not all that clear about -- and he's relieved, if vaguely suspicious, when Madison turns up unharmed with a story that doesn't add up. But when she disappears for a second time in a week, Bernie and Chet aren't taking any chances; they launch a full-blown investigation. Without a ransom demand, they're not convinced it's a kidnapping, but they are sure of one thing: something smells funny.

Their search for clues takes them into the desert to biker bars and other exotic locals, with Chet's highly trained nose leading the way. Both Chet and Bernie bring their own special skills to the hunt, one that puts each of them in peril. But even as the bad guys try to turn the tables, this duo is nothing if not resourceful, and the result is an uncommonly satisfying adventure.

With his doggy ways and his endearingly hardboiled voice, Chet is full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief. He is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding -- like divorce, child custody, and other peculiar human concerns -- is enormously likable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way.

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Happy Holidays from Fresh Fiction!

Season's Greetings

May your holidays and New Year be filled with happiness and great reads

From your Fresh Fiction friends
and Peaches!

Terri Adams Samantha Andrick Tammie Ard Angela B. Anne Barringer Tracy Benninger Rosie Bindra Karla Bostic Kathy Boswell Missy Brown Sue Burke Mandy Burns Tonya Callihan Lexi Carter Christi Caudill Sharon Galligar Chance Morgan Chilson Rosemary Clement-Moore Kamela Cody Laura Collier Betty Cox Lynn Cunningham Tanzey Cutter Leanne Davis Laura Denton Lynne Dillon Rachael Dimond Sonya Eastham Sara Edmonds Alan Ewing

Mindy Ewing Viki Ferrell Jacqueline Fleming Kate Garrabrant Vicky Gilpin Heidi Gleason Jude Gregoire Lisa Guertin Taylor Guzman Candy Havens Stacey Hayman Courtney Hedrick Stacey Herman Kymberly Hinton Lenore Howard Tammy Kamerer Melissa Kammer Darlene Kendall Paula Latham Audrey Lawrence Loa Ledbetter Gabrielle Lee Heather Lobdell Ruth Locke Heather Long Sherri M Sabrina Marino Lory Martin Danyel McDaniel Faye McMichael Eddie Munoz

Paula Myers Margaret Ohmes Katherine Petersen Ed Pichon Allyn Pogue Denise Powers Kay Quintin Sara J Reyes Tom Reyes Gwen Reyes Emily Rowe Shayne Sawyer ReneeLynn Scott Audrey Sharpe Sandi Shilhanek Lissa Staley Annette Stone Beth Swanson Shanna Swendson Marie Toussaint Suzanne Tucker Cathy Tudon Jennifer Vido Lisa Watts Tracey Wellman Louisa White Brenda Wilch Suan Wilson Patricia Woodside Sandra Wurman

We hope to see you at readers events, conferences, and author signings in 2010! Be sure to say hello! Check our schedule here

http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=2218

Mary Lydon Simonsen Interview

We had so much fun with Mary Lyndon Simonsen and so many unanswered questions, we asked Mary to come back and visit with us. So settle in and relax with author, Mary Simonsen. If you have questions too, please leave them below and we'll try to get more answers.

What was the first Jane Austen book you ever read? Did you read it for pleasure or because it was part of a course you were taking and was required reading?

Click here to read the rest of the interview...

Fresh Pick | THE WICKED WAYS OF A TRUE HERO by Barbara Metzger

March 2009

On Sale: March 3, 2009
Featuring: Daniel Stamfield; Corie Abbott
352 pages
ISBN: 0451226348
EAN: 9780451226341
Paperback
$6.99
Romance Historical
Buy at Amazon.com

The Wicked Ways Of A True Hero by Barbara Metzger

The lies are undeniable--but the truth is harder to see.

THE Lies are undeniable— but the truth is harder to see...

Daniel Stamfield has become invaluable to the British Army for his ability to detect the truth from the enemy’s lies. After years of service, Daniel finally takes a respite for some wine, wenches, and wagering.

Unfortunately, he didn’t bet on the lovely Miss Corisande Abbott and her unsavory reputation to swagger back into his life.

But as time passes, Daniel realizes he wants to make an honest woman of Corey—and an honest man of himself.

Daniel Stamfield can't be around anyone who lies for long..



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Matthew Peterson | FROM ANNE RICE TO DEAN KOONTZ

I really should be writing the next book in my best-selling and award-winning Parallel Worlds series, but a little thing like a fire destroying my house has put a kink in my plans. My new online radio show, The Author Hour: Your Guide to Fantastic Fiction, has also consumed most of my time. Soon after the fire, a representative from VoiceAmerica invited me to be the host of the new show. Little did I know that when I said yes I would be interviewing the top fiction authors in the world.

In the past two months I've interviewed international best-selling authors like Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, Meg Cabot, Terry Pratchett, Diana Gabaldon, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Terry Brooks, Christopher Paolini, and Kate DiCamillo. The list goes on and on. Several of my guests have sold over 100 million books. The authors on just one of my up-coming episodes have sold a combined total of 3/4 of a billion books. Yeah, just crazy!


Read the rest by clicking here

SANDI SHILHANEK | HOW WILL YOU SPEND THE NEXT WEEK

As the holiday shopping season is ending I am wondering did you have to make a mad dash to the mall for one last gift? Did you order your presents online? Or perhaps you even regifted something to someone.

I did all of the above this year. Early on my oldest found what he wanted for Christmas, and it was a web only deal. I did however have to go to the store to pick it up in person; it wasn’t delivered to my home. My youngest found what he wanted in a Black Friday ad, so I was up and out dealing with the crowds. Then, there was the gift I gave that was actually something I got in a gift exchange, and knew I wouldn’t use, but hoped the recipient would enjoy.

To read more of HOW WILL YOU SPEND THE NEXT WEEK please click here.