In March, we took our family trek to Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee to see our families. Not only do I always enjoy visiting with parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and good friends, but I have the luxury of fairly unstructured time. And that means .  . . reading! 

Actually I read every day, even when I’m under a writing deadline. It’s as important to me as food (which is pretty darned important, unfortunately). But when I’m in my regular routine, I usually only get a few minutes to read before I go to sleep at night. No matter how late it is or when I have to be up in the morning, if I don’t get my reading “fix”, I won’t sleep well.

My love of reading started from the time I was a baby and my parents read to me–it was always my favorite time of the day. I got very involved in those stories, let me tell you! Then I was able to read on my own, and we went to the library every week, and I ordered Scholastic paperbacks (remember the book order forms we used to get at school?). I was never without a book.

In my case, my love of stories, the characters, and the words themselves translated into me becoming a writer. I think most writers are also avid readers.  So when we took our annual trip this year, I was loaded down with books to read and I luxuriated in some incredible stories.

I read Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward; Warlord by Elizabeth Vaughan, Charmed & Ready by Candace Havens, and Seventh Key by Evelyn Vaughn. They were all excellent books, and it was heavenly!

Now, although I’m back into the daily routine, I’m eagerly eyeing my TBR pile, my fingers itching to pick up the next book. The top three on the pile are Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris, Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day, and Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh. I can hardly wait to dig in!

So, what are you reading?

~ Catherine

Unlike so many of my peers, I don’t go out and work in my garden in the spring.  I live in a condo and I could fit my front yard in my living room, though I do have a few flowers out there.  It takes about 20 minutes a season to keep them up.

Because I have an August release, spring for me this year mean the business end of writing–promo to remind you that SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH will be in stores soon.  The picture to the left is Paxton Castle on Paxton Island, which sits between Salem and Marblehead Massachusetts (only in my imagination) and it’s where Harmony Cartwright and King Paxton share their story.  I wish I could go there to write. 

It seemed the perfect spring scene to share with you.

Spring for me means taking my laptop out to my deck.  There is so much beauty in the woods behind us and the birds, foxes, deer, turkeys that roam the grounds, and the sun, blessed be, the sun is finally shining here in New England, that you don’t want to be working anywhere but outside.  I’ll also drive to the shore to sit on a blanket in the sand with pen in hand to plot while the waves of the Atlantic break on the coast. I’ve been a full time writer for a year now and the beach in spring is the best gift I give myself.  It spells freedom to do what I love in a solemn and creation-inspired environment.  There’s also a babbling brook near a local library where I like to go and sit with pad and paper to create.

Not that I don’t have deadlines, I have two book deadlines, going on five it seems, and galleys due in a week, and a book to read and give a cover quote for, and I have to prep for a workshop that I’m giving at a Massachusetts library tonight.  Meanwhile, I’m working on NEVER CROSS A WITCH WITH PMS, the second in my Triplet Witch Series, about Storm Cartwright.  Then THE LADY IS A WITCH, the third in the Triplet Witch Series.

I’ve had some good news in the past week.  MY FAVORITE WITCH has finaled in four contests for:  The National Readers Choice Award, The Write Touch Readers’ Award, The Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the HOLT Medallion Award–in the single title or romantic comedy categories.  In addition, THE SCOT, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE has also finaled for the Write Touch Readers’ Award–in the paranormal category.  A good spring so far.

Its not only a time for writing, though, it’s time to take the little ones to the playground, the zoo, the aquarium and my personal favorite: to ride the carousel.  I’m sure I enjoy that every bit as much as they do, though I believe their giggles are my favorite part.  Meanwhile, I wish you a spring filled with peaceful seas, colorful butterflies, giggle-filled carousel rides, and awe-inspiring places to read or write. 

HAPPY SPRING!

Annette Blair

www.annetteblair.com

I’m knee-deep in writing and working at the moment so rather than waste time rattling on about nothing in particular, I thought I’d share my newest cover with all of you. If you can’t see the cover on this post, go here. What do you think? Destiny’s Warrior hits book stores this December! I’ve also included the back cover blurb.

I thought I had missed my designated day on the blog because in my neck of the woods, it’s already Monday, but thanks to the magic of the timeline, here I am blogging on Sunday. Thinking about timelines was what gave me the idea for this blog - I thought we’d talk about where we like novels to be set. I don’t mind what country/city it’s in so long as the author sells me on the location as fitting to the story.

What about you - any preference? And what’s the most interesting/memorable setting you’ve ever read?

Here’s why I’m extra excited about my fifth Coffeehouse Mystery novel: Decaffeinated Corpse…

Katie, my editor, is so happy with the popularity of the series, she’s just signed me up to write 3 more Coffeehouse Mystery titles beyond next year’s #6, which means Clare Cosi and her gang of crime-solving baristas will continue to staff the historic Village Blend coffeehouse through at least nine books (maybe more if the fans agree)!

Here’s the cover and a little sneak peak inside my latest baby (hitting store shelves in just two months - July 2007)…

 COFFEEHOUSE MYSTERY #5: DECAFFEINATED CORPSE…

At the Village Blend, Clare Cosi’s caffeine-loving baristas may refer to a decaf espresso as a “why bother?”, but Clare knows a good percentage of her customers prefer the neutered brew. So when a handsome Brazilian named Ric Gostwick develops the world’s first botanically decaffeinated coffee plant, Clare can see why her business partner (and ex-husband) gets into bed with the deal.

Unfortunately, Ric is also getting into bed with more than one woman. And when an attempted murder happens right outside the Blend’s back door, Clare suspects more than Ric’s plant has its roots in some dirt.

As she begins to investigate Ric’s background and business connections, a trail of clues leads to a pile of casualties and an international roster of suspects. Now Clare knows she’s got to find the murderer before one of her near and dears takes a fall. Otherwise, her latest addition to the menu will prove to be a real buzz killer…

Till next time!

Cleo Coyle…author of the Coffeehouse Mysteries, where coffee and crime are always brewing…

#1 On What Grounds, #2 Through the Grinder, #3 Latte Trouble, #4 Murder Most Frothy, and coming July 2007 - #5 Decafeinated Corpse…(with four future titles under contract, wahoo!)

Most authors have more ideas than they will ever use, or at least that’s the way it is with me.  At any given time I have a multitude of ideas ripening - or perhaps fermenting - in my brain, some written down on paper, others filed in computer document files, some fully fleshed out, some just jotted down.

But the sad fact of life is, there are a finite number of positions on any major publisher’s calendar.  Print books are expensive to create, requiring dozens of people, hundreds of man (woman?) hours of work, a publicity budget, etcetera, etcetera.

So what’s a poor writer to do with all these ideas that languish in the dark and mossy corners of our brains?  

E-books, my friends!  I know they’re not for everyone to read; most of us spend far too much time at our computers as it is, but now many are purchasing e-books to read on PDA’s, laptops, notebooks and even dedicated readers. My e-book publisher, Blackfriars Books, has published four of my novels so far, with more to come.  Though e-books have been condemned by some for the cheesy covers (I’ve seen some that make me cringe for the poor author) I happen to think my cover designer is the absolute best in the business… and no, it’s not me.  I don’t have the technical ability nor the imagination.

For those interested, here they are:  

So, has anyone here read an e-book?  What did you think of the quality?  Some have been condemned as second rate, poorly written, poorly edited, or technically lacking.  I think it probably depends on the publisher.  

What I like is the freedom to have some control over so many things, the subject - one can write currently unpopular formats - for instance, Absentee Heart is a traditional Regency - and with most e-book publishers you can say and do whatever you feel is necessary.

I think they’re here to stay, and make a great alternative to paper books for some folks.  I don’t think, though, that they’ll ever replace the feel and smell, as well as the portability and convenience, of a print book.  There’s just something about a book. 

However I do think that the day will come when more and more textbooks, especially, will be electronic; think of how great it would be if instead of a stack of ten heavy hardback textbooks, you could just load them all into your laptop!  I would have loved that when I was in university, and the cost would have been less, especially considering that many texts in the sciences are changed every single year.  Or am I behind the times… has this happened already?

‘Nuff said; I’m obviously sold on the viability of e-books, but what about you? 

It seems like I’m hearing more and more about Myspace!  Readers and writers everywhere are sending out emails asking to "be my friend".  I’m the mother of grown children, so I know a few things about Myspace…but aside from my kids and their buddies coming by to check out my space, I’m wondering if this is a viable way to promote my books.

Many of my friends think Myspace has its benefits.  True, it’s very time-consuming, and they take anywhere from five minutes to an hour a day accepting friends and responding to comments…but they believe the networking is worth the time and effort spent.  Since I’ve been trying to spend more time and energy on promotion, I decided to take the Myspace plunge.  Well…sort of.  I went on Myspace last night and started my account.  I added a current photo, and after a few minutes, I decided I needed to wait until I wasn’t so tired to fill in the rest of the information.  Or perhaps I’m just procrastinating, knowing that I’ll have to spend precious minutes of each day maintaining myspace.  Time away from writing.  Will it be worth it?  I sure hope so!

So what are your thoughts on Myspace?  Waste of time?  Worth the effort?  Readers and Writers alike…I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Oh, and to all you Myspacers out there—if you get an email from me later on this week that asks you to "be my friend"—I hope you say yes!

This month we wanted to talk about all things Spring……

I’m a big believer in spring cleaning.  I clean out my closet and box up all my winter clothing, save for a few sweatshirts or sweaters (I live in rain country). Then I get busy with the house and give it a thorough cleaning–inside and out. 

Julia Templeton

Well, really, my spring ritual is all about the clothes! 

 

                                                             

Spring is my absolute favorite season.  As soon as the weather starts to turn warm, I start cleaning up my front and back yards.  At the same time, I begin touring the grounds, looking at the hostas, black eyed susans, daffodils, annual phlox, day lilies, and woodruff coming up through the the cold earth.  We drive down to D. C. or to Kenwood, Maryland, to see the cherry blossoms.  And then comes the best part–the dogwoods and the azaleas.  I have lots of gorgeous azaleas in my yard.  But the most awesome display in this area is at Brigton Dam which is planted with acres of beautiful pink, fuchsia, apricot and white  flowering azaleas, many so tall that they tower over you.  Some come out early.  Others bloom later.  So we always make at least two trips out there in the spring to walk along the paths and marvel at the natural beauty.  And we love introducing friends to this wonderland.

Rebecca York

                                                         

Cleo Coyle’s Spring Ritual:

“Please God, let it fit!”

 

 

I live in New York City, which means four seasons of clothing items and zero space to hang the suckers. Spring for me always means (1) digging out those clothes that I tightly folded away last fall and packed in boxes or suitcases (don’t ask what happens when I have to travel and actually use those suitcases!); and (2) doing the big switcheroo. "What’s the switcheroo?" you ask. I free the summer clothes and pack away the winter stuff.

 

At the moment in NYC, warm weather’s just a tease (that slut!). We’re getting occasionally sunny days but the temps are still cool. And yet…I know those warm days are coming, so I need to get out the shorts and t-shirts I wore last year—you know, those months BEFORE Thanksgiving pie and Christmas cookies, Valentine chocolates and Easter jelly beans. UGH!

 

So what’s my spring ritual AFTER I clean out my closets and do the switcheroo between the winter and summer clothes: you guessed it, work outs, work outs, work outs! In the meantime, it’s back to Old Navy for that larger size pair of jean shorts. Arrrrrrgh!

                                                                    

                                

What’s my spring ritual? Spring cleaning, of course! Odd as it sounds, I get really excited about stuffing away the winter clothing and opening up the house. Airing out and cleaning up. Getting the yard in order. It just feels fresh and good. I love getting outside, starting my gardens. I grow herbs, vegetables, and of course, flowers. My father made me a porch swing, and I spend every evening outside, sipping tea (or wine!), and enjoying the breeze.

 

Another spring ritual—dieting. As summer looms, it’s hard not to start worrying about how you’ll look in shorts and tank tops and I always fall victim to self-consciousness.  Of course, my diets never last more than a day or two (and usually result in weight gain lol), but I try.                      

 

Alyssa Brooks

 

 

 

 

 

So what are some of YOUR spring rituals, traditions or memories? Share!

Comments (15)

April 14, 2007

Seeing red and cover stuff

[The Berkley Babes, Catherine Spangler] — Catherine Spangler @ 6:57 pm

Hey everyone! Happy Saturday! Well, I received two things on my upcoming book TOUCHED BY FIRE (the second Sentinel book, which will be available October 2, 2007). The first great news is that my editor loved the story and is very excited about it. I am, too, because it’s Luke’s story, and is he hot! Secondly, I got the cover. And I saw red—literally. It’s really, really red. The guy on the motorcycle isn’t exactly how I pictured Luke, who has very long hair. I think most authors have at least a small shock when they see their new covers. Most of us have absolutely no control over our covers, and usually don’t see them until they’re a done deal. I did ask my publisher if they’d consider making Luke’s hair longer (just an airbrush stroke here and there), but they said no, they no longer put long hair on contemporary heroes—not hip enough. Hmmm. Interesting.

Okay. So I have a very red cover with a fairly hunky guy (with short hair) on a cool motorcycle (Luke rides a Harley). And he is wearing the Sentinel pendant, just like the one the Berkley Babes are giving away in our April contest. The bright red will catch the eye and hopefully entice a reader/potential buyer to pick it up and look at it. All in all, a decent cover. Thank you, cover fairies!

So, what do you like to see in a book cover? What attracts you, draws your attention? And what ultimately convinces you to buy the book?

~ Catherine

Comments (3)