Blogs

Off to BEA (NYC) via Acela Express train from Baltimore Washington Airport Station to Penn Station. On the train up, I am finishing up My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Olivera. Great reading group pick -- American Civil War, the horrors of war, medical history, nursing, women's lives, a little romance.

Then, onto Damaged: A Maggie O'Dell Mystery by Alex Kava (July, 2010)  Here a summary supplied by the publisher.

On Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard prepares for a Category 5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. When the air crew patrols the waterways, they spot a huge fishing cooler about a mile offshore. Drug traffickers have been known to dump coolers with smuggled product to avoid detection and pay fishermen to retrieve them. But when the crew open this cooler, they’re shocked by what they find: body parts tightly wrapped in plastic.

I'm packing to go to New York City for my annual trip to Book Expo America (BEA) -- leaving tomorrow. I discuss with publishers and authors their reading group picks for the new year. It is plenty of work but great fun -- seeing old friends and meeting new. Throughout the summer, I will let you know some of the interesting gems I picked up.

This year, there is something new and I'm really thrilled about it.

I always like Penelope Lively's work. The Photograph, Making It Up, Family Album, Consequences, and her over 20 other fiction and nonfiction titles. She is a great children's books writer, as well, -- over 25 titles. But my favorite is Moon Tiger, winner of the Booker Prize, first released in 1987. Great characters and many lively topics to discuss in a reading group.

Around the Bend is an On the Bookcase Feature bringing attention to upcoming reading group-appropriate titles.

Such a Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb. (Kensington Books, August 2010)

In this warm, funny, thoroughly candid novel, acclaimed author Cathy Lamb introduces an unforgettable heroine who’s half the woman she used to be, and about to find herself for the first time. 

Two years and 170 pounds ago, Stevie Barrett was wheeled into an operating room for surgery that most likely saved her life. Since that day, a new Stevie has emerged, one who walks without wheezing, plants a garden for self-therapy, and builds and paints fantastical wooden chairs. At thirty-five, Stevie is the one thing she never thought she’d be: thin.

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. 

Today's  Questions: What’s the most useful book you’ve ever read? And, why?

I have two books that constantly "work" for me.

The Chicago Manual of Style is always open on my desk. The book (or tome!) is filled with useful little rules and regulations of grammer, spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, editing tools, and just good and correct ways of writing. I used it more when I was an editor. My style of writing today is much more relaxed and casual but I still like the book by my side.

I love bookmobiles and this one is a humdinger! The Weapon of Mass Instruction. Check it out.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just got back from sunny Sarasota! We went to a wedding of our friends' son. The bride and grooming were beaming and a good time was had by all.

Being in Sarasota reminded me of John D. MacDonald, the author of the great character, Travis McGee.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Meet my friend, Julie Robinson! She runs Literary Affairs, an awesome reading group resource. Literary Affairs offers meetings with authors, conversations with experts relating to books being discussed, and even nationwide and overseas tours!