RT Untamed Bride Book giveaway!

The New York Times and USA Today best selling romance novelist, Stephanie Laurens, is back with The Untamed Bride and she’s giving away five copies to RT readers. Just send an email to katrinaa@wiredset.com by Nov. 10 with “RT Untamed Bride giveaway” in the subject line for a chance to win the novel, which received 4 1/2 stars in the November issue of RT Book Reviews.

How Do You Explode Your Writer’s Block?

Judging by the number of aspiring authors that attend RT’s annual convention, I am guessing many of you reading this are writers of one degree or another. Whether just starting out or newly published or you have lots of books under your belt, I am sure you all experience the same thing at some point in your writing: writer’s block.

Writer’s block is something vicious and cruel. It can stop you for a few minutes or for a lifetime. It can cause you to be stuck on a chapter, a scene, or just from getting started. Writer’s block is painful for anyone who knows there’s a story waiting to come out but the fingers just aren’t typing the words.

So what do you do when the words just won’t come?

From my extensive reading on the subject (while procrastinating my own writing), here are some of the best tips I have found for busting that block.

- Do something mindless. Can’t think of that next scene to write? Do something that doesn’t require a lot of brainpower. Wash the dishes, files some papers, take a bath. Something that doesn’t involve actively thinking about what you are writing. Often, an idea will appear while you are away from the writing and you can get back to it.

- Go outside. Go for a run or walk. Take the dog out. Take the kid out in their stroller. Get outside and look around you. Inspiration can be found by watching people, enjoying the weather and just taking a good look at what’s around you. Also, just like the tip above, this allows the writing to move to the back burner, giving your brain time to process without getting in the way of yourself.

- Read. Reading may sound counterintuitive, but reading allows you to focus on what works. Pick a book by an author you enjoy and pay attention to what you like about their story. Maybe you can apply it to your own work.

Those are some of my suggestions for blasting your writer’s block out of your way. What tips do you use to break down those barriers to your writing? Share them in the comments!

Nicole

Has anyone seen this?

Does anybody know what's happening here?

Check this this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoRg2bQPaXU

Getting In the Way of My Reading Time

We all have lots of excuses as to why we need to buy a book or why we need to read “just one more chapter.” But sometimes, things get in the way and pleasure reading just isn’t possible.

For instance, while I still read several books a month, they are mostly review books. I haven’t read a book for fun in months and months. Coming up soon, I will be starting school again. My degree will be in writing and literature, which means reading, but really, what are the chances it will be fun reading? Am I going to be able to fit in the newest Jim Butcher or Marjorie M. Liu while I am doing my reading for class? Life gets in the way of my reading time!

I still think you have to make reading a priority if you really want to read. Yes, having a family, a job, hobbies and other life things are important and take up time and energy you might want to spend on reading. But I think anyone who wants to read can find the time if they just set their mind to it. Waiting for a doctor’s appointment? Read your book! Instead of taking that lunch break at your desk, sit somewhere else and read your book. Watching TV before bed? Read a book instead (you’ll sleep better, too).

But sometimes life just gets in the way, even when you make the time to read. Sometimes you need to read that work report instead, or a class assignment. Maybe you read all day at work and the thought of reading for fun when you get home is a drain. Your eyes are killing you, you are too tired to stay up and read anything other than the TV guide, or the kids’ bedtime story took longer than planned and the idea of reading your own book just doesn’t appeal.

So what do you do? Do you just give up and not read? I know I don’t. I will find a way to read my book, if it’s important enough to me. I will read at the dinner table, sneak a peek at the book while my boyfriend is in the bathroom, or even pull out the book of the week while waiting for the movie to start. I find a way to not to let life get in the way of what I want to read.

What gets in the way of your reading time? What do you do when something prevents you from reading? Tell us in the comments!

Nicole

In Honor of Kathleen Winsor, My Top 16 Romance Novels

Going around the blogosphere is the idea to list your top 16 romance novels in honor or Kathleen Winsor’s birthday on October 16. Many people consider Ms. Winsor’s book, FOREVER AMBER, to be the first modern romance novel. Without this book, romance as a genre would be completely different.

So here’s my top 16:

TO TASTE THE WINE by Fern Michaels
JEMIMA J by Jane Green
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION by Lauren Willig
FRENCH KISS by Sandra Brown
WISHES by Jude Devereaux
SINS OF A WICKED DUKE by Sophie Jordan
LIKE NO OTHER LOVER by Julie Anne Long
TO SEDUCE A SINNER by Elizabeth Hoyt
SLOPPY FIRSTS by Megan McCafferty
SOUL FLAME by Barbara Wood
NOVEMBER OF THE HEART by LaVyrle Spenser
RAINBOWS by Katherine Stone
LUCKY IN LOVE: SAMMI’S HEART by Janis Reams Hudson
RIBBON IN THE SKY by Dorothy Garlock
PRISONER OF MY DESIRE by Johanna Lindsey
THE RAINBOW PROMISE by Lisa Gregory

Some of these have been favorites since I first discovered romance novels as a teenager. Others are more recent loves. It was hard to make this list – some things had to be cut and others I forgot the names of, but can think of the plot perfectly. But this is pretty close to my perfect list.

Share your top 16 romance novels with the rest of us. Maybe you will find some new books to try or be reminded of old favorites to revisit.

Nicole

Do Women Write Horror or Paranormal?

I recently read in the Guardian about an argument regarding the role of women in writing horror. The article expresses the view that female horror writers are getting pushed into the “ghetto” of paranormal romance – “not to say it is in any way inferior.”

I read both genres and I have lamented the lack of female writers in horror, while more and more men are writing in paranormal. I know there are great female writers in horror – besides the ones mentioned in the article, Elizabeth Massie comes to mind. But if you think about horror, you think about the biggies and those are all men: Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Clive Barker.

And yet, horror owes it’s birth to Mary Shelley, inarguably the mother of horror. So where are the women?

Well, it could be argued that many of them are currently writing paranormals. I won’t say just paranormal romance because that’s not really fair to some of these writers. Jes Battis, L.L. Foster and Kim Harrison don’t write romances, they write urban fantasy. Their books may have romantic elements, but then, so do Dean Koontz’s.

Despite what the article would have you believe, I think women are not taking their absence in horror lying down. Instead, they are forging ahead by working in a new genre and taking it to new heights. Women like the ones above are giving readers more to chew on that just your standard version of horror.

What do you think? Are women under-represented in the horror genre? Is paranormal romance the “ghetto” version of horror? Tell us in the comments.

Nicole

Authors and Social Media - Too Much or Not Enough?

If you are reading this on Facebook or MySpace, chances are good you are fairly active in online media. You might Twitter, check your Facebook updates on your phone, or just check in once in awhile, but you do use it. And if you are online buddies with RT, there is also a good chance you are "friends" with some of your favorite authors, and maybe even a few you don't know but who looked interesting when they sent you a friend request.

I am a child of the Internet and I love what it has done for the world at large, and for the reading and writing community specifically. Without it, research would be harder and finding like-minded people to share your interests with wouldn't be as simple as booting up your computer. I wouldn't be writing this blog, you wouldn't be reading it, and we wouldn't have a conversation about whatever comes to mind.

That said, I think there are some drawbacks, too. Like getting author overshare. I do have author friends and online author "friends" both on my Facabook and MySpace accounts. The in-real-life friends are because I do care about them and what they are doing. The others are because I am a fan of their work and their updates and contests are something I want to be able to read about. Oddly, it's my real friends that hardly ever post and the others who ... well, let's just say some need to step away from the computer more often.

I don't need to know the political leanings of my favorite authors. As a budding writer, learning about the writer's life from such an intimate perspective is interesting, but when sprinkled with personal anecdotes and what their results were from some stupid quiz, it can be a little too much. When it comes to some authors, a little goes a long way. I have found myself not liking the person and that can sometimes bleed over into not liking the books. There are a couple of authors that I have met in person whose personality so turned me off, I cannot read their books without that clouding my judgement. Online social media makes that even more likely.

Not to mention the pain/pleasure of hearing an author discuss their progress on the next book in their series. Knowing they just made an interesting twist in their character's lives, or have just sent off the manuscript to the publisher can be both wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time. It's almost the "so close, yet so far away" effect.

There's a line between oversharing and giving the fans what they want. Fans often want to gobble up everything they can get their hands on about an author or series they love, but do we really need the rest of it? One author who knows how to do the social media thing perfectly is Rachel Caine. She uses her Facebook updates to give small snippets of the next book, as well as discuss the progress of her books and tours. Rarely does she share something personal and when she does, it is judiciously done.

What do you think, my online friends? Do you think authors can go overboard with their personal musings or can you not get enough of it? Tell us in the comments!

Nicole

Who Said Anthologies Don’t Sell?

I was recently told, by a few people who just might know, that anthologies are a tough sell, at best. I laughed each time I heard that, because, in every group of books I buy, at least one is a collection.

I recently read STRANGE BREW, edited by P.N. Elrod. It includes stories from Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs and other major and coming up paranormal authors. It was fun to read different snapshots from authors I love and to discover a series I want to read: Jenna Maclaine’s Cin Craven series.

I let my friend take MEAN STREETS with her on a trip overseas. What better to read on a plane with distractions galore than a book with a collection of stories? It’s hard to concentrate on a long novel, however lighthearted, but an anthology or quadology (as many romance anthologies have lately been produced as), can allow people to finish a book even in challenging outside circumstances.

There are so many others, full of authors that are fantastic. There are books with big names, mid-range names and up and coming authors. How else are you going to find out if you like a new author? Getting a new anthology lets you not only experience an author you might love, but get to know new ones. For example, I discovered Heather Graham through a Christmas anthology in 1988.

Or, let’s say you pick up a themed anthology (such as TERRIBLY TWISTED TALES), you will find new voices with new takes on the same general theme. You can truly see the breadth in literature when you pick up an anthology. They are learning experiences, not just a collection of stories brought together for no reason.

What are you favorite anthologies? What have you discovered by reading a collection of authors’ stories? Tell us in the comments!

Nicole

Mourning the Loss of Kate Duffy

It is with great sadness that I bring you the news that a dear friend and colleague, Kensington editor Kate Duffy, 57, passed away suddenly on September 27 after a serious illness.

Kate worked in publishing for more than 30 years. Few know that she began her career in the trenches as a lowly assistant at Warner’s Popular Library imprint. She then advanced her editorial career as founding editor of Silhouette Books (which originated at Simon & Schuster and later became part of Harlequin). After a stint at Pinnacle Books, she moved to Pocket Books, where she discovered Judith McNaught’s classic Whitney, My Love, and worked with many of today’s bestselling authors, including Heather Graham, Julie Garwood, Jude Deveraux and Mary Jo Putney. After Pocket she went to London, England, and joined Paddington Press as a senior editor.

Returning to New York, she signed on as editor-in-chief of two startups: Meteor Publishing and Tudor Publishing, founded by Ron Busch (formerly of Simon & Schuster). She was instrumental in getting both companies off the ground and edited many diamonds in the rough, including Marilyn Campbell, Sharon Sala, Lacey Dancer (aka Sara Chance, Sherry Carr and Sydney Ann Clary), Suzanne Brockmann and Patricia Hagan, to name a few.

For the past 10 years, she was an editorial director at Kensington Publishing, where she established the Brava imprint. She was much loved by company founder Walter Zacharius and the entire Kensington family. She had an illustrious professional career to be sure, but what Kate will always be remembered for is her sharp wit, dry sense of humor, her huge heart and her genuine love for the books and authors.

Bertrice Small sent in this note that sums up the Kate we all knew and loved: “Kate Duffy was a legend in the world of romance novels. Those of us who were fortunate to work with her knew what a wonderful editor she was. She had a large Irish heart, and a dry Irish sense of humor. ‘Why on earth,’ I once asked in her presence, ‘would RWA hold their conference in Florida in August?’ ‘Purgatory was booked,’ Kate riposted back sharply. Romance has lost a great lady, and a wonderful friend.”

We will have a special tribute to Kate from friends and colleagues in the next issue of RT. Those of you who would like to share your thoughts can send them to Carol Stacy at CStacy@RTBookReviews.com. Tributes will appear in the magazine or on the website.


The wake will be in New York today at Frank Campbell Funeral Home

Wednesday, September 30
Vistation
3:00-6:00 pm
7:00 – 9:00 pm

Frank E. Campbell
1076 Madison Ave (at 81st Street)
NY, NY 212-288-3500

Inside a Book Signing

Most people experience a book signing from the front of the table, book in hand, a smile on their face as their favorite author signs a book or two for them. But what’s it like from the other side?

This weekend I had the supreme pleasure to witness a book signing by not one but two authors. Pat Simmons and Lisa Y. Watson were here in Houston to promote their books with a dual signing. Ms. Simmons was promoting her second book in the Guilty Series, NOT GUILTY OF LOVE. Ms. Watson had her debut novel, WATCH YOUR BACK. Each woman writes very different books, but as a team, they are perfectly matched.

The table was small, but covered in books. All three of Ms. Simmons’ books were represented in tall piles, while Ms. Watson’s covered the entire front of the table. One author stood by the table, one worked the doors. While these ladies are not household names (yet), they know how to handle themselves.

It’s hard to get people to come see what your book is about when they have never heard of you, or in Ms. Watson’s case, you have your first book just barely out on shelves. You have to work the crowd – pass out bookmarks or postcards about your book, smile and say hello to everyone walking through the door. You can’t judge by appearances, either, because you never know who is going to be interested – I saw men and women of all ages and races come by that table to see what these ladies had to offer.

One of the more critical aspects is the “elevator pitch.” Most people who want to write are familiar with this concept – sum up your book in 30 seconds or less. You want to draw people in, not let them pass you by, and then you have time to get into the details of your book.

My role was what I call the wingman. Having read two of the four books on the table and being very familiar with the books and the authors, I could help answer questions when the ladies were busy with other customers or were signing books. The wingman is not a requirement, but can be helpful. This is where your friends and family come in handy – if you have someone there saying how good your book is, people are more likely pay attention.

For authors, new and established, book signings are hard. You wonder if you have enough – enough books, enough information about your book, enough energy to stand for two hours. You wonder if you can get customers interested in your book or if you are going to be sitting alone at a table, surrounded by piles of unsigned books. But if you come prepared to work, you can have a successful experience.

Other than at RT, have you ever gone to book signing? Have you discovered a new author thanks to an author signing in a bookstore? Tell us in the comments.

Nicole

Falling in Love with Romance… Again

I recently read Tracy Anne Warren’s SEDUCED BY HIS TOUCH. It was
good, with heartbreak and romance, misunderstandings and sweetness –
not to mention some hot sex. This book is the second in her Byrons of
Braebourne series and I enjoyed it nearly as much as I enjoyed the
first one, TEMPTED BY HIS KISS.

I am about to read Julie Anne Long’s SINCE THE SURRENDER. Knowing I
had read something of hers before, I went back to check. LIKE NO
OTHER LOVER was the one I was thinking of and I think I wrote about it
in the blog. It reminded me of all the good things about falling in
love.

I read so much romance that sometimes I think I get immune to its
charms. Ms. Warren’s recent book reminded me how much I enjoy this
genre. Romances, even the darker ones, are about finding love, and
really, what can be better than being loved? My great-grandmother
still loves her romances and she hasn’t been married or in love in
many a decade. But reading these reminds her of what it’s like,
something she wants to hold on to.

I had been getting bored with my reading, anxious to move on to other
genres. But as I continue with my pile of romances to read, I realize
that the fault was not with the books I was reading, but was with me.
With a romance you often get it all – action, the full spectrum of
emotions, and that grand gesture every woman yearns for from her mate.
Getting a reminder as to why I read these books, when I could be
reading something else, is priceless and gets me ready to tackle my
TBR pile with enthusiasm.

Coming up, I have a wide range of romances to read and I plan to share
the very best of them with you.

What books are your favorite romances? What makes you remember why
you read romance? Tell us in the comments!

Nicole

Top Producer Release Party!

It was a gorgeous late summer evening in New York City, and the
view from the 61st floor of the Empire State Building was amazing. Pity
debut author Norb Vonnegut, who was hosting a book launch party for his
financial thriller Top Producer (Minotaur) -- he was too busy autographing
copies of his book to check out the view!

But RT Book Reviews Mystery Editor Diane Snyder and Managing Editor Liz
French had a little more time to take it all in. The entire floor (empty
except for a few bars, tables and chairs) was given over to Norb and his
fans, and he sure had a lot of them. The signing line never flagged during
the two-hour event, and the crowd differed from the usual book-signing
groupies. Most looked more like they were from Wall Street than Publisher's
Alley, like Norb, who worked for years as a wealth adviser and on the "sell
side" at a white-shoe brokerage.

Thriller writer Emily Benedek was spotted chatting with a friend and looking
out the south-facing window; Minotaur publicity people Hector DeJean, Sarah
Melnyk and Anne Gardner, along with other St. Martin's staffers, mingled
with guests; trays of traveling hors d'oeuvres wafted through the crowd; two
full bars slaked attendees' thirsts; and Norb smiled and signed, smiled and
signed!

Maybe the author was worried that if he stopped, he'd be bumped off in front
of all of his party guests, as the best friend of Top Producer hero, Grove
O'Rourke, is. But that's fiction, and if that's what you're interested in,
read a review of the book in our October issue, log on to www.NorbVonnegut.com.
or, buy Top Producer, it's officially on sale today.

photo credit: Toni Agovino

Catching Up On Book News

After taking time off for Labor Day, I come back only to find myself
inundated with book news. I thought I would share some of it here.

As the world knows, Dan Brown’s newest book is released Tuesday. When
I went to Borders the other day, I was told if I reserved my copy of
his book, I would get it at 40% off, “more than anyone else is doing.”
But it was just for this book, even though they allow you to reserve
other books.

I was disappointed that I wasn’t offered the same deal if I reserved
John Twelve Hawks’ THE GOLDEN CITY, which came out last week. THE
GOLDEN CITY is the third book in the Fourth Realm Trilogy. While it’s
having some mixed reviews on Amazon, I am still looking very forward
to it and I can’t wait to pick it up – even in hardcover.

Lots of biographies and memoirs are making the news. As RT noted
before, Ted Kennedy has a comic on its way out, but there is also a
biography due to come out soon. While the print addition comes out,
the publisher is holding off on e-book editions “indefinitely” Sue
Monk Kidd, author of THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, and her daughter have
written a memoir that tells readers more about the events that
inspired the bestselling novel.

But what I find most interesting is Jon Krakauer’s latest book. WHERE
MEN WIN GLORY: THE ODYSSEY OF PAT TILLMAN, tells the story of football
player turned soldier Pat Tillman, whose death and subsequent cover up
have been news fodder ever since. It’s an intriguing choice of
subject, even for a man known for his coverage of intriguing men.

The boyfriend recently watched the movie STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE,
about the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. One of the main players in that
scandal, Lynndie England, is suing her biographer. While sales of the
book aren’t going well, according to the biographer, England is suing,
citing multiple issues with him. Not sure this is helping to improve
her image, as she had been hoping the book would do, but then, I am
not in her shoes, either.

Most aspiring writers find it hard to sit down and write their first
novels or short stories, so writers like Nora Roberts, who produce
several books a year, tend to be a bit in awe. Well, this will really
knock them on their butts: James Patterson will be producing and
publishing 17 books by the end of 2012. Most of those are adult
books, like his Alex Cross series, some are his YA books like Maximum
Ride, and one nonfiction book. Good grief, that’s a lot. Granted,
many of his books lately are co-written, making one wonder how much of
Patterson’s books are really written by Patterson. Or are they more
like V.C. Andrews ghostwriters?

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Will try to share more later
this week. If you have any comments about any of the above, feel free
to comment!

Nicole

Novel NYC Happenings

One of the best things about having the RT offices in New York City is that
we're right in the thick of the publishing industry. This means when
industry-focused conventions come to town, we're there. When a big author is
in town meeting with her editor and doing a small book reading, yup, there's
us! And, best of all, we get invited to parties! It's such a treat to mingle
with publicists, agents, authors and readers in person, instead of over the
phone or through the computer.

And now that summer is over, the party scene is revving up again!
Tonight some RT staff will be attending an event at the Empire State
Building for former Wall Street executive Norb Vonnegut's debut, a financial
thriller called Top Producer. And this Thursday we're going to one of our
favorite annual events, the New York City chapter of RWA's Golden Apple
Awards (Visit RWAnyc.com/, and click the GAA link for more).

As always, we'll keep you updated on any and all happenings!

Elissa and Stephanie Dish About New Fall YA Titles

Elissa: Hey, Stephanie

Stephanie: Hey, Elissa

Elissa: I'm so glad we went to Teen Author Reading Night on Wednesday!

Stephanie: Me too! And I was really glad to see the huge turnout.

Elissa: It was a very back-to-school thing to do, even though we don't go back to school anymore.

Stephanie: Oh, I miss back to school. I might have to go buy some new pencils later. Just because.

Elissa: I miss the back-to-school outfit!

Stephanie: There were some great back-to-school outfits at the reading. Plus, you know, a lot of fantastic YA authors reading. I loved the way E. Lockhart kept cracking herself up.

Elissa: Yes! I have loved E. Lockhart ever since reading her very exceptional The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. It was neat to hear her reading from The Treasure Map of Boys for the first time, even if she couldn’t say ‘boobs’ without laughing.

Stephanie: BOOBS! Her new book seems pretty funny. I remember those horrible shopping trips with my mom. When she'd come into the changing room with me and it was all horribly embarrassing.

Elissa: Oh and the fights! There was a lot of fighting in those dressing rooms between me and my mom

Stephanie: Definitely. You know who else was really funny? Bennett Madison.

Elissa: He was funny!

Stephanie: Terribly droll, even if I took issue at his comment about no one being naturally blond.

Elissa: It's true you should have stood up and shouted that hair color really is destiny.

Stephanie: IT IS. I’M HAVING MORE FUN THAN YOU. And then I could have laughed maniacally.

Elissa: As a brunette who streaks her hair with pink, I might have to disagree. I also loved how he talked about how he used to work at The Gap, and how the only interesting thing that would ever happen there was when people would steal.

Stephanie: Oh, I worked retail too. I remember…

Elissa: His book, The Blonde of the Joke, sounds great! I loved the passage he read, about the mall, because as a teenager from New Jersey, I spent quite a lot of time at the mall.

Stephanie: I really liked the relationship between the two girls, when in the passage he read the skateboard rolled up to her feet -- OBVIOUSLY she should have had dibs on the injured guy.

Elissa: OBVIOUSLY! Yes, it was very realistic. You know what WASN’T realistic? Scott Westerfeld's neat-o illustrations from Leviathan!

Stephanie: YES!

Elissa: Leviathan really looks to be the book of his heart, to use a romance parlance.

Stephanie: Absolutely. I really loved Leviathan. The illustrations of the alternate history add a lot to the tale. And now I want a pet thylacine

Elissa: Who doesn’t? (Except maybe my cats.)

Stephanie: Totally. It’s too bad that Scott's wife, Justine Larbalestier, wasn't able to be there, because I really enjoyed her October release, Liar, too.

Elissa: Yes! Well next month is shaping up to be a great event too, with Libba Bray and Natalie Standiford. We’ll have to make sure to get on down to the Jefferson Branch of the New York Public Library on Oct. 7th to check them out.

Stephanie: We'll have to get there earlier next time -- maybe we'll get a seat!

Ted Kennedy Comic Book Tribute

from Jason Schultz, Bluewater Productions:

Ted Kennedy spent a lifetime in politics and in the spotlight of the public eye. In November 2009, the "Lion of the Senate" will be the featured subject of an upcoming issue of Bluewater Productions' Political Power biography comic series.

Considered by many to be the voice of the modern Democratic Party, Edward "Ted" Kennedy triumphed over tragedy and scandal to carve out a legacy that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his celebrated brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy.

POLITICAL POWER: TED KENNEDY, scheduled for release in November, examines Kennedy's eventful life from his youthful competition with his brothers and dealing with their untimely deaths, to the Chappaquiddick scandal that nearly destroyed his career; his failed bid for the presidency in 1980 and his distinguished career in the Senate.

"You might not agree with his views, but you have to agree that Ted Kennedy is an American icon of politics," said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis.

"We could have filled several volumes with his accomplishments and failures, " Sprecher said. "However, in 23 pages, I think we created an objective and insightful portrait of Senator Kennedy and his impact on the national landscape."

For more information, visit: www.bluewaterprod.com

To find a comic book store near you, go to the comic shop locator: www.comicshoplocator.com

Rob

Videos from Lady Jane's Salon 8/3/09 in NYC

Check out our videos of the featured authors at August's Lady Jane's Salon romance reading:


Johnny Diaz - 8/3/09 Lady Jane's Salon, NYC


Anna DePalo - 8/3/09 Lady Jane's Salon, NYC


Delilah Marvelle - 8/3/09 Lady Jane's Salon, NYC

Lady Jane's Salon takes place on the first Monday of every month. If you're in the NYC area, come to Madame X, talk to authors, and have fun!

Rob

Judging People By Their Books

Slate recently wrote an article that analyzed what President Obama was reading on his vacation. His choices:

THE WAY HOME by George Pelecanos
LUSH LIFE by Richard Price
HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED by Tom Friedman
JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough
PLAINSONG by Kent Haruf

Besides being geographically diverse, I don't know how much this says about the President. Slate basically says it's boring, and I must say, I don't disagree. None of these, except HOT, FLAT AND CROWDED would have been on my list of summer reading.

So it got me thinking - what does one's choice of reading say to others about them? Many people use book covers to disguise their reading material, and I don't think it's so much about shame, but about not letting people have a certain impression about them.

Then there are those who flaunt what they are reading - whether it's the newest Dave Eggers, political thriller, or sexy erotica, there are those who like others to know what they are reading and take a particular perspective from it.

I was recently told by a neighbor that I didn't seem the "bookworm type." I wasn't sure how to take that, as I showed her my wall o' books. Then, she couldn't believe I had such a wide variety of books.

And I wondered some more - does that make me look indecisive? Or does that make it look like I enjoy learning? Or like I have ADD or even possibly kleptomania? What does my book collection say about me?

So what do you think this reading material says about the President? What about your choices in books - what does it say about you? Do you judge people by what they are reading?

Nicole

RT's September Email Newsletter

Our September email newsletter just went out! If you haven't already signed up to receive our monthly newsletter, you can do that here:

RT Newsletter Registration

You can read our recent newsletters on that page, too. Happy reading!

Rob

Ask the Author: Cathy Maxwell

Cathy Maxwell (THE EARL CLAIMS HIS WIFE, IN THE HIGHLANDER'S BED) is our current Ask the Author forum guest. She will be answering your questions until September 6, 2009.

Go say hi and ask Ms. Maxwell some questions:

RT - Ask the Author

Thanks,

Rob

Guest Blogger: Author Phyllis Marie Campbell

Ms. Goodie Two-Shoes / Mr. Hot Pants

Heart thumping, palms moist, she settles her shaky fingers on the keyboard. Millions of thoughts run through her mind, those that aren't very good...at least that's what her momma had told her as a young girl. Squeezing her eyes closed, pictures of half-dressed men float through her mind and her mouth turns dry. SEX! No, it couldn't be time to write the sex scene, could it? Her religious leader would certainly kick her out of church for fear of a bolt of lighting spearing down from heaven. What about her parents? Would her own husband disown her? Her poor children would have to walk down the streets with their head ducked from now on. But she's a romance writer. It needs to be written! She swallows the lump of fear lodged in her throat and takes a deep breath. Once her eyes are open, she focuses on her story. Reminding herself it's a natural thing, she proceeds, her fingers fly across the keyboard as if they had a mind of their own. His masculine scent of leather and spice fills the air, consuming every breath she takes. In her head, the scene unfolds, the hero sweeps the heroine off into another world where seduction and passion rule. Seeking fingers, curious kisses... The more she writes, the wider her grin spreads. Her heart now beats a different rhythm. Her palms are moist for entirely different reasons this time. And in her chest...love grows. This excitement is the thrill she needs -the energy that gives her the courage to continue and not be afraid.

I don't know about most writers, but I've certainly experienced this a time or two (or three or four) since I first started writing. Those who don't read romance stories label us as 'smut' writers. All we think about is sex - twenty-four hours a day. My husband tells me this numerous times...and it isn't for flattery. But there's a bigger picture. The overall picture that nobody sees but romance writers. We aren't writing about sex - we're writing about love.

HOWEVER...this doesn't mean I'm not going to have sexual tension in my stories. In fact, I live for sexual tension. In one of my critique groups, I've been labeled Queen of Sex Scenes. I've even been called LoverLips. My reviewers have labeled me Queen Of Sexual Tension. Should I be offended? Heck no! I'm thrilled!! Don't tell my husband. He'll just roll his eyes again.

I write Sensual...don't you just love that word? It rolls across your tongue like a lover's passionate kiss. Makes you want to deepen your voice in a sexy tone, lower your lids half-mast and part your mouth. Maybe even swipe your tongue across your dry lips...

Okay, I'm getting carried away again. I need to get back to the point here. You can still be a Goodie-Two-Shoes and write about Mr. Hot Pants. The characters you write about are real to you and especially to your readers. Write about your characters' feelings, about their hearts pounding like a tom-tom against their ribs. Write about sweaty palms, shaky limbs, and out of control breathing. Write about shivers of delight that cascade over your characters bodies, passionate tremors that seem to have a mind of their own. And write about the glorious moment when your characters come together. If you feel like religion should be added, then have one of your characters praise God at that point. But the fact is, these feelings are real! This is real life! You're not writing porn just because you're writing a sex scene. You're writing about love.

And think of the alternative: you could be writing about murder, killing, and torturing other humans. Nah, not for me! I'll stick to romance thank you very much!

I have a list of books on my website that are full of sexual tension. Even my covers are yummy. I just adore my covers, but so far my favorite is from my romantic suspense, DANGER IN HER ARMS.



Taylor Marshal and her daughter need protecting, yet the bodyguard assigned is the one man she fears the most.

Three years earlier, Taylor gave her heart and body to stranger. After a whirlwind affair of unbridled passion, her hopes were crushed when she finds out her lover, Cory Ross, is a hit man. When she witnesses him take another man's life then watches her new found love fall from a cliff after being shot, her heart shatters. The only thing left to soothe Taylor's broken soul is the little life growing inside her. The last thing she expects to find is Cory Ross alive - and back in her life as her own personal bodyguard.

Cory thought his luck had changed after his near death experience in the Bahamas. But when he looks into the eyes of the woman who he suspected had something to do with his accident, he realizes his new assignment to protect Taylor and her young daughter will be pure hell. But to fall in love all over again with Taylor Marshall will be sheer torture.

Also, check out the awesome book trailer.

~Phyllis~
www.phyllismariecampbell.com

(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)

Stack, Pile, Box or Shelve Your Books?

(click to enlarge)

When I moved into my current apartment, I estimated I had 2,000 books, though I am sure the friends helping me move suspected it was more than that. A few years later and I am guessing it's now a minimum of 3,000. This may be small or huge to you, but to me it's a good size.

Recently, I asked some friends to help me clean up my apartment and get it much more organized. One of the ways they did this was to build me some bookshelves. The results are in the picture above. This represents about 2/3 of my collection, with many of those shelves double deep. There are several other bookcases and one that is devoted to books I don't consider "reading" books - craft books, art books, cookbooks, etc.

I do plan to purge soon. I expect to get rid of about 500 books or so (and hire movers when I leave this apartment). That's still a lot of books, which I am good with. I am happiest when surrounded by books.

My timing, of course, was impeccable. I was going to mention here how the project was going when I noticed that Barnes and Noble was asking people to send in pics of their collections. Check out their Facebook page for what was sent in (as well as for lots of other neat tidbits).

I haven't sent in mine, but I am curious to see yours. How do you have your books organized? Are they even organized at all or are they piles? If you're on Facebook, post them on RT's profile. If not, leave a comment and tell us about it.

Nicole

Guest Blogger: Author Ginger Simpson

Piracy: A Thin Line

Pirating e-books is a hot topic on the Yahoo loops these days. More and more sites are cropping up, offering free PDF downloads or shared files in lit, doc, HTML, Mobi, HiBook, eRocket, and other formats. Authors are taking this so seriously that they've formed groups to help find solutions, recognize possible offensive sites, and make their peers aware that no one is safe from having their work illegally sold.

A short time ago, I discussed on my own blog, my confusion about what makes a pirate a pirate. For years, I saved paperback books I'd read, then sold them at yard sales without a thought to the author who penned the novel. Did this make me a pirate? My family and friends have shared paperbacks for years. Were we breaking laws? My understanding is that if you purchase a book, you can do anything except have it reprinted or write it again and claim it as your own work. Then you've gotten into plagiarizing, a totally different kettle of fish.

I didn't see any difference between my selling the books as opposed to the myriad of used book stores who have done the same for years. I didn't distinguish a difference between checking out a book at the local library from my loaning out a book to a friend. It's human nature to share, but should we feel guilty because we are cheating an author out of revenue? Funny how one's perception can change once they start writing.

I haven't read much about this issue at the mainstream level. I believe those authors are less likely to be concerned unless the pirating is done on a major scale. They receive royalty checks, enjoy promotional help, and realize recognition as truly being an "author." Things are vastly different in e-publishing. The recognition is coming, but it's taking baby steps. Very few e-publishing companies pay royalties (I haven't been fortunate enough to find one), the majority of promotion is done at the author's expense, and our books are rarely found in real "brick and mortar" stores because our publishers don't have the budget or accommodations to do mass market printings. "Print on Demand" books are much more costly, thus harder to sell in an economy where people have cut back on their spending. So why do Print on Demand, you ask? Because the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is especially true when trying to convince readers to read on their computer over actually holding a book in their hands. We're making progress, but still...baby steps.

The return on our investment is minimal, so when you add in people who think it is perfectly all right to offer our work for sale without sharing the profit with us, it becomes downright maddening. BUT... It's also a problem I doubt we can combat. File sharing has been a nightmare for the music and video industry for years, and now e-books are joining the ranks. I'm not sure which bothers me most...file sharing sites where you can request books of your choice at no charge, or those who actually offer the book for sale. A perverted side of me finds it gratifying that any of my work would be so coveted.

Still, the fact remains that piracy is a very real problem, but there is a thin line between what is legal and what isn't. Someone asked, "Where are the copyright police?" Most authors pay to have a registered copyright to protect their books, but I'm wondering if the line is so blurred even The Library of Congress can't determine the differences. Many of these sites operate from abroad and are out of the scope of punishment, if even caught.

The Internet provides endless possibilities for dishonesty, as we've seen with scams, viruses, and harassment. Identify and expose one site, and they change names and move to another IP address. Resolving this problem seems to be to be as difficult as searching for someone in London fog. Still, as I mentioned, some authors are really intent on shutting down these pirating sites. I don't even know where to start in the battle, so I'll bow to those more prepared to win the war and sit on the sidelines and cheer them on. Might not sound like I'm taking a proactive stance, but I'm more concerned with the fate of our country than I am with my royalty checks. Whether I can buy one Happy Meal or two at this point, doesn't really make a big difference. Now, if I were Nora Roberts...

Ginger Simpson

Web site:
http://www.gingersimpson.com

Blog:


(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)

Guest Blogger: Author Amanda McIntyre

25 Blogs in 25 days...the TORTURED tour!"
TORTURED, erotic medieval, Harlequin Spice, August 2009, Amanda McIntyre


August 13, 2009, day eight of my blog tour:

"I'm not interested in psychotics. I'm interested in the person you don't expect to have a story. I like Everyman." ~John Hughes, director

This week marked the end of an era as far as I'm concerned with the passing of the brilliant director, John Hughes. Chances are, you 've seen at least one of his movies in your lifetime. (Pretty in Pink, Planes,Trains and Automobiles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.)

He launched the careers of a number of the "brat pack" of actors-Anthony Michael Hall, John Cusack, Allie Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Mary Stuart Masterson, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson and worked with the likes of Steve Martin, Matthew Broderick and John Candy to name a few. His films made us laugh at ourselves, see the humor, laughter, struggle and love in every day living. He was able to broach those painful, often awkward, subjects in life and make us realize that we weren't alone.

I've enjoyed his films, but it wasn't until this week that I read this quote and determined why I probably like his work so much. Not that am anywhere near the caliber of this man's talent, but I knew I liked him for some reason. Because it is very similar to my philosophy in my writing.

Now, I have written in many genres from contemporary to historical and about everything in between. I spearheaded and co-edited a non-fiction compilation called CRUMBS IN THE KEYBOARD-stories from writers on how they juggle life. The common denominator in nearly every story that I have written is that it is the ordinary person stepping up to the extraordinary circumstances in his/her life.

The "everyday" hero. Never was this brought home to me in such a real and poignant way as when we were on vacation this summer in Washington DC. Our hotel happened to be on the Virginia side of the Potomac. At one point in our attempt to find the entrance into Arlington National Cemetery, we wound up having to turn around in a parking lot on the backside. Across the road, surrounded by a tall chain link fence was a grove of small seedling trees-Japanese maple, I believe. I later discovered that this was where the plane on that fateful September morning went down at the Pentagon. The site, now a memorial, has this grove of trees, and each tree has an illuminated bench beside it, engraved with one of the persons killed that day-ages 3 to 71.

As we were taking the Arlington Tram tour later, chugging up one of the hills, we were directed to look at the top of a cluster of tall stately evergreens. Their tops had been sheared off, the guide said, by the plane that hit the Pentagon. They have left them as a reminder and memorial inside the hallowed grounds of the cemetery as a memorial to those passengers. It was a sobering moment. The "everyday" hero/heroine. And it further validated why I tend to gravitate toward this type of hero/heroine in my writing.

In my erotic historical romance, TORTURED, the setting is the Dark Ages. My heroine is a Celtic woman, daughter of a Druid Priestess, who is imprisoned and kept alive for the private purposes of a ruthless Saxon warlord. She is no alpha female, possesses no skills in swordplay, nor shifts into a panther at will. She is, for her day, the every day person placed in extraordinary circumstances. And she must choose to stay where she is or make the move to change her life, no matter the risk.

Mariah Carey made popular a few years back, a song called "Hero." If I could dedicate a song to my heroine, Sierra, this would be the song. I admire her tenacity and her will to survive her circumstances. And I hope that you will, too.

In celebration of the Everyday hero/heroine, I'd like to give away a copy of TORTURED today. There are many kinds of heroes/heroines, many character types that we fall in love with. What qualities do you find most appealing in the heroes/heroines in your books? I'll choose a winner at random from comments left here at RT Book Reviews.

August 14, next stop on the blog tour:
The Romance Studio - http://theromancestudio.blogspot.com

May the wind be at your back~

Amanda
www.amandamcintyre.net

(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)

Author Jeaniene Frost - RT Video Interviews

Check out our new YouTube interview videos with author Jeaniene Frost:


Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress Series


Jeaniene Frost's newest release Destined for an Early Grave


Jeaniene Frost Takes a Vampire Quiz

Jeaniene's latest book is DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE. Thanks Jeaniene!

Rob

How Does B&N's E-Reader Stack Up?

There's lots of talk about Amazon's Kindle, but Barnes & Noble's new e-book reader and program seems worth a look.

B&N recently started promoting their e-book reader through emails and their web site. Their reader is supported on BlackBerry, PCs, Macs and Apple products, and other electronic devices.

If you download it, you also get six free e-books: THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, LITTLE WOMEN, DRACULA, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and a pocket dictionary. This is an interesting combination of books - two Jane Austens? I am suspecting they are aiming this combination more at women and the choices of books they feature are definitely more female-oriented than not.

As of right now, they offer over 700,000 titles, many offered at $9.99 and some are under $5. Each week they feature a book and offer a sample. This week's title is JULIE AND JULIA. Also, James Patterson is offering a free title: MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGLE EXPERIMENT. (Of course, what isn't he doing to promote his books in every form available?)

Not sure what I think of this so far. I mean, many books are available in PDF format now, so they can be read on many devices, with more handheld devices adapting to these features every week. And if you buy directly from the publisher, many of the books are inexpensive.

So far it looks like the reader has lots of neat features - highlighters, changing the layout and themes, and if you buy a book online, it checks for recently purchased books upon opening the program. I will give this a try - I have several other e-books, but I am having trouble getting them into the reader.

Have you tried it? What do you think of B&N's attempt at getting into the e-book market?

Nicole

Audiobook Giveaway

I'm a longtime fan of audiobooks, either downloaded from sites like audible.com or on CDs that I upload to my computer. Transferring them to my iPod allows me to "read" while doing things that require my hands and eyes, but not necessarily my full attention (chopping vegetables, doing dishes, knitting...) and helps me keep my to-be-read list from getting completely out of control. I'm partial to listening to mysteries like Sue Grafton's Alphabet series or Anne Perry's Victorian-set tales and exciting YA titles like P.C. & Kristen Cast's House of Night series or the audiobooks that RT is currently giving away: Alyson Noël's fantastically popular EVERMORE and its follow-up, BLUE MOON. The riveting stories will thrill veteran audio fans -- or win some new ones.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio, we've got three sets of Noël's EVERMORE and BLUE MOON on audiobook to give away! E-mail elissa@rtbookreviews.com by August 15th for a chance to win!

Stephanie Klose
RT Senior Editor/Reviews Coordinator

I Want to See This Made Into a Movie

We always hear one of two things about books and movies:

"The movie/book was better." And, "This should be made into a movie!"

As I watch more movies lately and I scan the upcoming titles in my Netflix queue and the major releases, I find myself saying, "Yeah, I read the book" or "That was based on a book, too." I didn't realize how often I said it until the last few weeks.

So when MSN Movies did a piece about books that SHOULD be made into movies, I paid attention.

The basic gist of the piece is 10 novels not currently in production that should be.

The first book mentioned is one of my favorites and one that plays like a movie in my head every time I read it: THE LONG WALK by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman). It's psychologically gruesome and portraying that on screen could be a problem. I have also long thought that RAGE (of the same Bachman books) would be an excellent movie, but he was too ahead of his time with the school rampage thing (though the ending is not quite like in the news).

Other books include GEEK LOVE by Katherine Dunn, RINGWORLD by Larry Niven, THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER by Octavia Butler, and a twofer: NEUROMANCER by William Gibson and/or SNOW CRASH by Neal Stephenson, both of whom I would love to see write for the big screen. Lush and lyrical, I bet their movies would be horrifyingly beautiful - or beautifully horrifying, I'm not sure.

I think the authors were brave to include George R.R. Martin and Robert A. Heinlein on their list, since both authors are often polarizing. You either hate them or you love them, but few can find an inbetween.

I am thrilled to see TIME TRAVLER'S WIFE coming out (finally) and hope they made it just as thrilling and interesting to watch as it was to read. I am sure there are lots of kids excited to see CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS.

What are you excited to see in theaters? What do you think SHOULD be in theaters? What should be left alone? Let me know!

Nicole

Guest Blogger: Author Teryl Cartwright

If you've faced the loss of a loved one to the vile thing they call cancer, you know how hideous it is. Yet when someone once asked me about how I could have faith through and after that awful despair, I had to reluctantly praise God for it. You see, I got a longer time to say goodbye than those who suddenly and unexpectedly lose someone and never have that chance, such as in a car accident. I got to see and share the courage and grace of my wonderful and inspiring husband, who reached out to others while miserable and was back on the job preaching less than three months after diagnosis and emergency surgery, even though he could hardly stand. From then on he gave his sermons sitting down, but he was even able to tell jokes about it. I grew up a lot in that time and am so thankful for the people who supported and helped us through it. Writing might have been something for me, but I was only able to do it because of them.

I started to write again during that time to have control over my fictional characters and their lives, but discovered God had his say even in my quirky little romance novel. How else can you explain how perfectly the Bible verses fit the story as I changed them to the historical accurate King James English when I hadn't ever read that version? I was the one who had a few "wow" moments of joy when re-reading what I wrote because I actually hadn't remembered writing some of it. (Yes, writers can actually read their own books to see what happens next.) My point to rambling--we can't control much in our lives, but our reactions and actions in it. I think that we are promised a happy ending in the next life and yet how important it is not to forget to grab onto our happiness now and celebrate it in the little things. Humor is a part of that and I look for it everywhere. Whether suffering through Seinfeld for the sake of my son or trying to understand Gilmore Girls for my daughter, I have to laugh at it all, even if I still prefer Far Side and Carol Burnett.

A multitude of things influence my writing, so like every author, when you read my words, I hope you might understand some of the emotions and unnamed thoughts underneath--where words cannot travel, but where we all can still connect.



Teryl
http://www.terylcartwright.com

(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)

Lady Jane's Salon 8/3/09 in NYC

If you're anywhere near NYC and love romance, Lady Jane's Salon is the place to be tonight, August 3! This month's featured readers are authors Delilah Marvelle, Anna DePalo, and Johnny Diaz.

Lady Jane's Salon is a book reading series here in NYC devoted to romance fiction and a good cause.

Monday, August 3 (the first Monday of every month)
7:00-9:00 p.m.

Madame X
94 Houston Street
New York, NY 10012
212-539-0808

Admission is $5.00 or one gently used romance novel. Proceeds to benefit Share The Love, which reaches out to women in crisis and transition.

I'll see you there!

Rob

By the Book

Elsie Morales, the customer services rep at RT Book Reviews, recently went to Newport, R.I., to tour some of the gorgeous mansions there. Before she left for her vacation, she ordered two mysteries by Anne-Marie Sutton, MURDER STALKS A MANSION and GILDED DEATH.

Here's a photo of Elsie (left) with the author at a signing in Newport:


(click photo to enlarge)

Here's what Elsie has to say about their meeting:

I met Ms. Sutton at the Breakers Mansion, which many of you may know was one of the Vanderbilt family's summer homes. She was very gracious, a bit shy perhaps, because I made a big to-do with my blue linen hat and blue sequined blouse sure to catch her eye. To my surprise she remembered sending my books to Brooklyn, where I live.

I mentioned how I purchased her books knowing I would be visiting Newport and hoped that she and I would meet. She autographed my books and went a step further, writing a personal inscription expressing how happy she was about our encounter at the Breakers.

More info about the author and her mystery series is available at: NewportMystery.com

Liz French
RT Managing Editor

St. Martin's STORM CYCLE Video Game

St. Martin's Press has teamed up with Oberon Media to create a free online video game promoting STORM CYCLE, the new thriller by bestselling mother-son writing team Iris and Roy Johansen.

The game follows the plot of STORM CYCLE and is based on the popular video game franchise Jewel Quest. It took me a few minutes to get the hang of it, but it's a lot of fun! Give it a shot: www.StormCycleGame.com

Rob

RT's Summer Reading Challenge!

As the executive editor of RT I read a lot of books in a lot of genres. Some I love. Some I hate. Every once in a while though, I find a book and I wonder why more people haven't read it. So I've decided to issue a summer reading challenge. Here are some titles that I think deserve a wider audience and I'd like you, the reader, to pick at least one of these books and try it out. See what you think. You may find a new must-read author or a new genre.

Ready? Set? Go ...

* TWIST by Colby Hodge and COUNTDOWN by Michelle Maddox. These two titles were issued last year as part of the now-defunct Shomi line and are roller-coaster reads. Both stories deal with futuristic Earth, but the sci-fi elements are minimal. What endures are the stories, the characters and the struggle to survive. If you like shows like Lost and Stargate you'll probably love these titles.

* The Black CATs trilogy (FADE TO BLACK, PITCH BLACK and BLACK AT HEART) by Leslie Parrish. If you like suspense of any kind, you must buy at least one of these romantic suspense novels set around an FBI cyber investigation team. The heroes and heroines have compelling back stories and must overcome a lot to find love.

* Harlequin Intrigue - OK, I know this technically isn't a book, it's a series, so I'm going to leave it up to you to decide which book to read. All I'll say is that this line boasts some great authors and some great ongoing miniseries and stand-alone novels. While the books are slightly shorter than they have been in the past, this 25-year-old imprint is still at the top of its game.

* The Midnighters trilogy (THE SECRET HOUR, TOUCHING DARKNESS and BLUE NOON) by Scott Westerfeld. The Midnighters series follows a small group of teens who try to save humanity each night during a hidden hour (the real midnight). The books read more like movies than novels so they'll fly by. It's probably best to read the trilogy back-to-back as the books are all connected and the story unfolds in a short amount of time.

* THE LAST COLONY by John Scalzi. While any of the books in the Old Man's War series would be a great read, THE LAST COLONY wraps up everything, especially the personal relationships, in a way fans will cheer.

Are you taking the challenge? And hey, let me know what books or authors you think I should be reading. I'm always up for the challenge. Post below and let me know. I'll select a winner at random for a free book bundle!

Faygie
RT Executive Editor

How Much Postmodern Lit Do You Read?

This list of postmodern Lit popped up on the Los Angeles Times and I found it interesting.

Not only do you have at least one representation from the usual suspects (Eggers, Auster, Foster Wallace), but there are also books published in centuries before this one. Some books I have wondered if they were listed as the best representative of that author and if they deliberately left off books by multiple authors. I went over the list below and marked which I have read, along with a few comments.

Have you read any of these, and if so, what did you think of them as representations of PML? For those needing a refresher on PML, check out Wikipedia's entry.

• Kathy Acker's "IN MEMORIUM TO IDENTITY"


• Donald Antrim's "THE HUNDRED BROTHERS"


• Margaret Atwood's "THE BLIND ASSASSIN" - Not one of my favorites by her, but her books do definitely have postmodern tendencies. If you want to start off with the genre, you can do worse than to start with
  Atwood.


• Paul Auster's New York Trilogy - I love that a trilogy has a place on here. Either way, not a fan of Auster, though I do try.


• Nicholson Baker's THE MEZZANINE


• J.G. Ballard's THE ATROCITY EXHIBITION


• John Barth's GILES GOAT-BOY


• Donald Barthelme's 60 STORIES


• John Berger's G


• Thomas Bernhard's THE LOSER


• Roberto Bolano's 2666


• Jorge Luis Borges' LABYRINTHS


• William S. Burroughs' NAKED LUNCH - I haven't read it, but it's been on my radar for some time. Someday, I hope to make time for it.


• Robert Burton's ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY


• Italo Calvino's IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER


• Julio Cortazar's HOPSCOTCH


• Robert Coover's THE UNIVERSAL BASEBALL ASSOCIATION, HENRY J. WAUGH, PROPRIETOR


• Stanley Crawford's LOG OF THE S.S. MRS. UNGUENTINE


• Mark Danielewski's HOUSE OF LEAVES


• Don Delillo's GREAT JONES STREET


• Philip K. Dick's THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE


• E.L. Doctorow's CITY OF GOD - I've tried to read this several times, but it hasn't worked for me yet.


• Geoff Dyer's OUT OF SHEER RAGE: WRESTLING WITH D. H. LAWRENCE


• Umberto Eco's THE MYSTERIOUS FLAME OF QUEEN LOANA


• Dave Eggers' A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS - Ok, yeah, I will definitely give that Eggers is postmodern Lit personified. But I'm not sure I would count this quasi-biographical novel as one. That may just be me though.


• Steve Erickson's TOURS OF THE BLACK CLOCK


• Percival Everett's I AM NOT SIDNEY POITIER


• William Faulkner's ABSALOM! ABSALOM! - Not a bad example of Faulkner.


• Jonathan Safran Foer's EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED - Another one I just couldn't get into and given the subject matter, I thought I would. Goes to show, you never know.


• William Gaddis' JR


• William Gass' THE TUNNEL


• John Hawkes' THE LIME TWIG


• Nathaniel Hawthorne's THE SCARLET LETTER - Still prefer his HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES, but this is definitely a classic. A classic postmodern Lit? Isn't that an oxymoron?


• Aleksandar Hemon's THE LAZARUS PROJECT


• Michael Herr's DISPATCHES


• Shelley Jackson's SKIN


• Franz Kafka's METAMORPHOSIS - On my list of books to read when feeling all "literature." Needs a coffee house and possibly a beret, too.


• Milan Kundera's THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING


• Jonathan Lethem's MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN


• Ben Marcus' NOTABLE AMERICAN WOMEN


• David Markson's WITTGENSTEIN'S MISTRESS


• Tom McCarthy's REMAINDER


• Joseph McElroy's WOMEN AND MEN


• Steven Millhauser's EDWIN MULLHOUSE


• Haruki Murakami's THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLES - I somehow managed to never read this. Can anyone give me a good reason why I should? Really, I want to know.


• Vladimir Nabokov's PALE FIRE - I love Nabakov, but have not read this one.


• Flann O'Brien's AT SWIM-TWO-BIRDS


• Tim O'Brien's THE THINGS THEY CARRIED


• Harvey Pekar's AMERICAN SPLENDOR


• Thomas Pynchon's GRAVITY'S RAINBOW


• Philip Roth's THE COUNTERLIFE - Again, I love Roth, but have not read this one.


• W.G. Sebald's THE RINGS OF SATURN


• William Shakespeare's HAMLET - Really? Hamlet? postmodern? To what, the Dark Ages?


• Gilbert Sorrentino's MULLIGAN STEW


• Christopher Sorrentino's TRANCE


• Art Spiegelman's MAUS I & II - I am pretty sure if I were ever to read these graphic novels, I will be crying too hard to finish them.


• Laurence Stern's THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF TRISTRAM SHANDY - This is on my list, as well.


• Scarlett Thomas' POPCO


• Kurt Vonnegut's SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE - My boss' favorite book, but somehow in my high school English lit classes, I managed to miss it. I've been planning to remedy that for years now.


• David Foster Wallace's INFINITE JEST - Of course.


• Colson Whitehead's JOHN HENRY DAYS

Let me know what you think - agree with the list? Read any of them? Don't care?

Nicole

Alyson Noel's Immortals Audiobook Contest

Now that the only way to get your Edward Cullen fix is by turning on your DVD player, it's high time we find another dreamy hero to pine for. Have you met Alyson Noël's Damen? He's gorgeous, he worships Noël's heroine teen Ever, and to really mix things up, he's not a vampire! As Ever deals with the death of her family, Damen's there to comfort her ... and more. And that's just in the first book in Noël's young adult Immortals series, EVERMORE. The series' second offering, BLUE MOON, takes another dark twist as Damen becomes ill, and Ever must decide between saving him -- and rescuing her family.

Hooked? Want to meet the darkly handsome Damen? Thanks to MacMillan Audio, we've got three sets of Noël's EVERMORE and BLUE MOON on audiobook to give away! You can listen on the way to the beach, or at the pool, or to help pass the time during your hotter-than-usual commute.

E-mail elissa@rtbookreviews.com by August 15th for a chance to win!

Elissa
RT Senior Editor