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A Series of Fortunate Events
In recently reading a series, one I was not particularly enjoying, I realized there is a lot of difference in the writing of a book that is part of a series and a book that is a stand alone. I finally gave up on the series and handed it over to my sister to see if she could enjoy it more than I had. I rarely give up on books, but this one just wasn't holding me in like I wanted. This, after reading a book that was entertaining plot-wise, but was not written as smoothly as one might have hoped. Here's hoping STRAY by Rachel Vincent lives up to its hype. A lot of paranormal books nowadays are part of a series. The Blood Books by Tanya Huff, The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton are all series where there are overarching themes, but they can also be read as stand alones. The entire series is written much like many TV dramas - each book has it's own plot, but it also fits into the series as a whole. This allows for a lot more tension and drama. There is a difference between these series and a romance series - in part, because your main character can only fall in love the one time, so each book in the series is usually about secondary character in another book. I have read several series by Nora Roberts and Jude Devereaux. Each has themes that interrelate them, but are individual books by themselves. The pace is more realistic that way, and I think it makes the stories more interesting. However, when a book is written with a series in mind, the drama can often go a lot slower. The action is held off so as to make the series more interesting and to keep readers involved in the plot. Sometimes this backfires. The attitude going in makes a difference in how a book is written, or so it seems to me. If the first book was written as a stand alone, and the series was written after it, there is an appreciable difference. A newer example of this style is the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig (the next book, THE SEDUCTION OF THE CRIMSON ROSE comes out January, 2008). Her books are multilayered stories with the action continuing from one book to the next, but each one also centers on the adventures of spies who just happen to fall in love while extracting themselves from one crazy (but historically entertaining) situation after another. The frame story about a graduate student doing research on the spies during Napoleon's reign also provides continuity. To me, that's what a series should do - lead you from one to the next, while entertaining you on every page.  Nicole 
Selected Short Thoughts
Recently, I read the short story Stephen King published in the current issue of Esquire magazine. Esquire claims they are trying to bring back the publishing of short fiction in their magazine, building on a tradition begun with serializing Truman Capote's BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. King himself is no stranger to odd formats - a few years ago he published a novella called THE PLANT, where readers could donate, or not, if they so chose.  All of this got me to thinking about all the different forms we find literature in. Not just short stories, novels and novellas. But also finding stories on the Internet on author's web sites, serializations, sample chapters in the back of new releases, magazines and movie tie-ins. I like to think I like short stories, but the truth is I have the hardest time sticking with a collection. I can read some random one-offs, like if I find a story on a favorite author's web site, especially if it's connected to something else I have read by them, those are no problem. But as many short story collections as I have, I have rarely managed to get all the way through them. I think of it as reverse ADD - my attention span is long enough that I don't like getting interrupted by the end of the story and the beginning of the next one. I also tend to skip over fiction that is published in magazines. I am not sure why. Maybe I just like to think of magazines as my place for nonfiction articles and having a random piece of fiction in the middle of it throws me off. On a related note, I have also been thinking about the actual physical format of books and how that relates to reading pleasure. I know some people who prefer to read their books in hardcover and others who prefer mass market. Having just read King's story in Esquire, I do know that the magazine format is hard when reading a piece of some length. Generally, I prefer trade paperback, as it's easier for me to hold while reading in bed and while eating, the two most common ways I read. Publishers started coming out with super-sized mass market books recently, in an attempt to shore up the flagging mass market sales. Supposedly, they are aimed at the baby boomers and their, ahem, aging eyesight. All I know is that when I see them and picture them throwing off the lines of books on my bookshelves, I get annoyed. But maybe that's just me. Currently, I am reading Shannon K. Butcher's NO REGRETS. I was very lucky to meet Shannon and her husband, Jim Butcher, at the RT Convention this year. They are a very sweet couple who were high school sweethearts. Shannon credits Jim with showing her how to write and her next book, NO CONTROL is set for 2008. So far, the story is intriguing. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Nicole
Tales From the Young Side
I have long been a fan of the "teen genre", whether it be books or movies. However, I stopped reading young adult books around the time most of my friends started reading them because I was already moving on to more adult fare. While I loved Christopher Pike's scary books, it was not worth it to buy a book I would finish within a couple of hours (happily, he also writes adult novels now). Recently, I rediscovered the fun of reading young adult books and I hope you will consider reading in this area of literature. Below are some reasons why you should think about exploring a different section of your bookstore: - YA books are cheaper than many adults books. Even if you take into account the price of the average mass market, many young adult books are cheaper. Looking for a good classic novel like JANE EYRE or WUTHERING HEIGHTS? Check the children's section - they likely have it for less than their adult counterparts. And, if you are trying out a new author, it's not as expensive as in the adult section.   - Beyond price, the stories are just as good, if not better. And, best of all, most YA have the common thread of being about growing up and feeling weird. Everyone went through puberty, and even if you were one of those lucky ones who didn't have any heartache during that period, you are likely experiencing some as an adult. Everyone can relate to YA books because we have all been there at some point. - If you are busy and don't have a lot of time to read, these (sometimes) shorter reads will fit in your schedule. Publishers have been claiming that readers are wanting shorter books, not the larger 350+ page books I prefer. If you are one of those, many YA series will fit right in. - Many of your favorite authors are writing YA. Can't wait until the next James Patterson, Meg Cabot or Rachel Caine book comes out? Look no further than the young adult section in your favorite bookstore. Many authors are exploring the realms of YA. Fans of Kim Harrison will be thrilled to know she is starting a new YA series - the first story of which can be found in the recent release, PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL.  - You can share your favorite YA books with the kids in your life. As a parent (or a big sister) sharing books can help bring you together. My 12-year-old sister and I have been bonding over books, including the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine and the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. Many parents want to get their kids involved in reading and sharing a book you both enjoy is one way to do that.   I recently finished the second book of the Morganville Vampires series. A friend of mine introduced me to the series and requested I pass it along to my sister to see what she thought of it. We have all really enjoyed the books and can't wait for the third one, which comes out in October. The series is about a 16-year-old girl named Claire who is starting college in a small Texas town. Another girl harasses Claire to the point of attempting to kill her. Claire seeks refuge in a house with 3 roommates - Eve, Michael and Shane. As she tries to figure out what is going on, she learns that the entire town is run by vampires and that there is no way to escape them.   I love this series in part because of the very real way Claire is drawn. She acts like a 16-year-old would act, even one with a higher IQ than many of her fellow students. Her relationships develop the same way they would in real life. And even though there is a lot of suspense and action, there isn't a lot of violence or terror, still keeping its realism without sacrificing tension. I have seen a thread on the Forums about reading YA so I know some of you are big fans. If you have any suggestions for authors or books to try, put them in the comments section. Nicole
A Brief History of Nicole
Hello, everyone! Some of you may have met me at the recent RT Convention in Houston. I had never been to a book convention before - I hadn't even really known there were things like that. It was an amazing experience, especially for someone like me. For those of you who weren't able to attend, I thought I would introduce myself a little. I have been known as a bookworm for most of my life. I was that quiet kid in the corner who always had a book in her hands. My mother could never understand how I could read multiple books at a time, but for me it was about trying to absorb as many books as I could. I was always reading far ahead of my peers. I started reading my mother's books in elementary school, including Dean Koontz and Margaret Atwood. My teachers either loved me because I was always reading something, or they hated me because they rarely saw me reading what they had assigned us in class. I got my first romance novels around the time I was 10. Since my family always gave me books as presents, I received romances mixed in with the classics such as HEIDI and LITTLE WOMEN. The inestimable Nora Roberts, Fern Michaels and Amanda Quick provided me with much of my early reading material.   Now, I read everything. I have several bookcases in my home, most of them with multiple layers of books. I like to hold onto my books for several reasons, including sharing them with others. I have rarely gone into a bookstore and purchased only one book at a time. And while I love the theory behind libraries, they just aren't for me. I want to surround myself with my books. My family is also full of readers. My mother collects first editions and small press editions of some of her favorite authors. My pre-teen sister and I share young adult books, most recently the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. While I tend to read books based on my moods, I seem to have been in the mood for lots of urban paranormal. Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Charles de Lint and Tanya Huff are some of my favorites. I am also looking forward to upcoming releases by Patricia Briggs, John Twelve Hawks and Charles de Lint. But I also fit in other types of books. Thanks to the RT Convention, I have lots of new books and authors to try. My good friend Pat Simmons also has her first book coming out in September called GUILTY OF LOVE, and I can't wait to read it!  Recently, I finished the fourth book in the Retrievers series, which I was really looking forward to. The first couple of books were a little uneven, but Laura Anne Gilman really has stepped up her game in this book, called BURNING BRIDGES. The action is continuous and even the longer stretches of dialogue manage to keep you riveted. I am sated... for now. I am always looking for something new to try, therefore I am looking for recommendations for future reading. Are there authors you think I should read, worlds I should explore? Do you have a favorite author you think everyone should know about? Tell me in the comments and I will try to fit them in. Nicole
Meet Our New Blogger, Nicole
Dear Readers,  It is with great pleasure I introduce to you, Nicole, the latest member of the RT online team who will be writing the RT blog. Nicole will focus on books and authors and she welcomes your comments and participation. Nicole has been reading fiction of all kinds since she was in elementary school. In fact, she admits to reading Stephen King and romance novels when she was really too young to do so. Not only does she read nearly everything, but she has been seen to leave bookstores with armfuls at a time -- we all can relate to that!!! She currently works for a newspaper in Houston, Texas and lives with three cats who respect her need to cuddle while reading a good book. She will officially begin this Friday and will post a new blog at least once a week if not more often. Please welcome her warmly by dropping by to say hi. Sincerely, Carol Stacy Publisher of Romantic Times BOOKreviews
A Great Summer Read
I just returned from a week in the Poconos where we have a little cabin in the mountains. We hardly get up there anymore so we spent the week doing chores and catching up on projects. Not exactly a vacation but very relaxing nonetheless. And the kicker was that 2 miles into our trip back home (down a lovely country road!) a 100 foot tree fell on the car as we were driving. Thank goodness we were not hurt — especially our cutie little two-year-old dog Sally who happened to be sleeping in my lap. The tree missed the front of the car and only got the back, so $13,000 worth of damage later we are in a rental for the next few weeks but grateful to be alive!!! I did manage to squeeze in some reading while I was up there and I read a great book by journalist and researcher turned debut fiction author Nancy Horan titled LOVING FRANK. It’s a novel based on turn-of-the-century architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair with his mistress, Mamah Cheney — told from her perspective.  As the promotional materials reveal, little was written about this extraordinary woman because Frank and Mamah were each married to other people (both with children) and she was mercilessly shunned by society. The intelligence and lyricism of the prose and the attention to period detail enthralls and the love story is palpable. If you are a fan of the Arts & Crafts movement of the early 1900s and the craftsmen of the era (which is what interested me in the book) you will appreciate the story about this architect icon and how his love affair influenced his genius. But I guarantee even if you are not a fan of the movement, you will still find this a beautifully written, fascinating book with a powerful ending. It’s not a romance in the traditional sense but it is most definitely a love story. If you like mainstream fiction, you will love this book. If you do read it I’d love to know what you think. Happy Summer!! Carol Stacy
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