Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Dinner with Mystery Trio
Guests / October 28, 2005

From left: Susan Winn, Deborah Crombie, Marcia Talley, Kate Charles Really enjoyed having dinner at LeMadeline with Marcia Talley, Kate Charles and Deborah Crombie the other night at La Madeleine in Plano. Then the talk they gave at the signing was very informative. Each of them writes stories in settings they are passionate. Marcia talked about her perks of being an author in Annapolis. Deborah talked about her love of London and trips she makes yearly. Kate talked about women in the Anglican church. And to think, they all write mysteries within those settings! We bought lots of books and had a swell time! Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Wow, it’s been a long time since I listed my reads
Guests / October 27, 2005

I didn’t realize it’s been almost two months since I posted in here. So let me go back through my memory banks and see if I can remember everything I read in the past couple months or so. I’m not even going to try to post cover pics of everything because it would take FORever, though I’ll do a couple of them. In audio, I got through a huge load of books. I’m not even going to try to post cover pics as there are too many and it would take forever. LOL I listened to:To Trust a Stranger by Karen Robards (abridged) – This one wasn’t too bad, but it’s not something I’d rush out to buy either. Good quick listen at only 4 CDs. I was able to do the whole thing in one day at work. I did like how the hero and heroine met… He was on an investigative job and dressed up like a drag queen which provided several pages of the heroine thinking he was gay.Now Face to Face by Karleen Koen (unabridged) – This has been on my bookshelf ever since the book was published however many years ago (my copy had started…

Animal books on the rise…
Guests / October 13, 2005

A frantic day — the MOTOR was late with technical difficulties, don’t we all share those at times — so I was scrambling to re do my schedule and for those who know me well, it isn’t always a pretty sight! but I digress… Dogs — cats — pets. Lots of books on our companions are being shown this week on the talk shows — first one to catch my fancy was the one by the psychic Sylvia Browne and her son, also, gasp, a psyhic, about pets in the ever-after life. Are they running out of things to write about? Sorry, but it was the first thought that struck. However, having lost a beloved family member in the past year, lordie, it’s been over a year now, I still mist up when I think of Larry. Not only that, I have his photo keeping me company every day in my office. Of course, he does have competition from Lex and Winston, Lex being the pushy jealous type. But what kind of people would read a book about their pets in a spectral life? I don’t know, I just like to think Larry (and Lady and Ling) are off enjoying…

Pics from the GMMC in the "Little Apple"
Guests / October 12, 2005

Sorry its taken so long to get my pictures posted, but a dead, possessed (another story), jinxed computer is to blame. Clockwise: In the peacock blue jacket, Fresh Fiction’s own Tanzey Cutter, Joanna Carl, Patricia Sprinkle, Susan Wittig Albert and Shelly Rubin attending the opening tea of the 2005 Manhattan Mystery Conclave. Signings were held throughout the day; this is the best pic I got as both Patricia Sprinkle and Lisa Harkrader agreed to pose for me. Shown here with their latest titles respectively, Who Killed the Queen of Clubs? and Airball, My Life in Briefs This one is during the panel: All About Genres. Seen here (from Right) is moderator Linda Madl,paranormal author included in Trespassing Time, Charlene Newcomb, a Star Wars series author, and C.J. Winters, author of cozy time travel stories set in Kansas and Arkansas. Another panel: Tapping the Past. Author Warren Bull, one of the Manhattan Mysteries short story winners and Susan Wittig Albert, author of the Beatrix Potter Cottage Tales seen here fielding questions on historical accuracy and rights of document use. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Big Mystery Conference in the Little Apple
Guests / October 5, 2005

Manhattan…ah the bright lights, the big city, the corn. Corn?? Well I must mean Manhattan, Kansas which is where the 2nd annual Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave was held last weekend. A great road trip made by Sara and myself started off Friday afternoon with a lovely tea at the local Country Club. The clotted cream was excellent in my opinion but a little too thick according to Sara. A local bookstore provided three varieties of tea; Berry Earl Grey seemed to be the overwelming favorite. The event headliner was “America’s answer to Agatha Christie” Carolyn Hart; writer of the Death on Demand series. Other authors included Susan Wittig Albert, Patricia Sprinkle, Denise Swanson, Marcia Talley, just to name a few. Saturday was filled with thought provoking panel discussion sessions with topics like: Why Read Mystery? where mysteries were compared historically to morality plays and the classic theme of “good vs. evil” and our sense of justice can be satisfied. Knowlege is Golden! broadening your horizon of other fields added to the plot; feng shui, needlework, snipers… Long Gone–or Are They?…Ghosts! A WAY to serious discussion of campfire tales and ectoplasm. and many more but we had to pick and choose…

September reading in a nutshell
Guests / October 2, 2005

CHERRY ON TOP by Kathleen Long (this was a new to me author. I read this book for review for a friend’s website, and really enjoyed it. If you like romantic comedy and you haven’t tried this author I think she’s one to watch for.) COMFORT AND JOY by Kristin Hannah (This I read for review. I love Hannah! I read this all in one day a couple of Sundays ago. It was a wonderful way to waste a Sunday. This is I believe her first Christmas Novella. If it’s not then I’m going to have some searching to do.) FIRST LOVE by Julie Kenner (The last book in The Bridesmaid Chronicles. I thought these books touted as single titles had a category feel to them. They weren’t in depth, and quite easy reads. Not keepers, but if you’re looking for something to fill in these might do it for you.)HARBOR NIGHTS by Marcia Evanick(Read this one too for review. It was the first time I read this author, and I was hooked. Kept thinking I’m off to bed, but found myself having to stay up and finish.)HARD EIGHT by Janet Evanovich (I’m so behind in this series that I…