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.

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

Leanne signs copies of Feet First Originally uploaded by freshfiction. We had a fabulous time on Wednesday night at the GRAND LUX CAFE at the Galleria Dallas. Appetizers were plentiful and varied, entrees were delicious, with enough for everyone to have a “lunch” bag, even those who shared, and the desserts — well, you just had to be there *grin* And, oh, yes, a delightful guest! Ms LEANNE BANKS regaled us with stories of her family — so like ours — her books and her life on the road, uh, just navigating in Texas, etc. *grin* FEET FIRST is now available and it is a fun fun read. We highly recommend it and hope to see Leanne again when she hits North Texas once — can’t always promise you a convertible, though. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Well, survived another holiday weekend — why do they always seem to be so busy? It’s supposed to be a weekend for kicking back and instead you end up doing more around the house and in this case, for my “job.” Well, not to complain, too much. We’re getting ready to have an author dinner — Leanne Banks. Her latest book is FEET FIRST and it’s about SHOES. I think that goes with feet theme, don’t you? From those in the group who’ve read it, they say it is great fun! I’ll try to get a copy before the dinner. This past week it was hard for me to concentrate on much of anything, the horrors on the television, the radio, and even my inbox, were hard to understand and to absorb. New Orleans holds a special place in my memories — my entire family has spent some good times, uh, scary adventures (some people in the family are directionally challenged) there and it is hard to connect the broadcast images with memories. I thought perhaps I’d read some books set in NOLA, but I found I could not. So, instead I read a book set in another steamy locale…

Well I finally finished Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair last night. I had a hard time with this one due to not a whole lot of reading time and getting confused over some of the technical aspects of her world. That’s why I usually stick to fantasy more then straight sci-fi. But I stuck it out, even only squeezing in one chapter at a time here and there and finally finished it last night before bedtime. It got really good the more I got into it and there were some big surprises in the final third of the book. After that I started Dark Desires by Eve Silver, and advance copy for I got for a book being released in November. In audio I have Fiery Cross Part 2 going t work, Left Behind 6 in the car and I’m trying to do Luanne Rice‘s Follow the Stars Home at home. But it’s from the library and I’m on tape 2 and so far both tapes have been really messed up and can barely hear them. I’ll have to report that when I take them to the library so they can try to fix them. I’ve also got Left Behind…

Well, it’s been forever since I posted about what I read. I know you’ve all been sitting on pins and needles just waiting for me! (If anyone including me believes that then I think we all have another think coming!) Before I get to the fun stuff let me take a moment to offer my prayers and thoughts to any and all who might have been affected by Hurricane Katrine. If anyone knows where I might donate some mens clothing I’d love to know about it. Mike has a bunch of stuff from his skinny days that he can’t wear, and probably won’t ever have need of again. I tried to do some searching, but seems like everyone needs/wants cash. That is unfortuantely not something I can really offer at the moment. School has started, and I’m looking to books to escape. I’ve read some good stuff, and some probably not so great stuff. I have to stretch my memory skills to remember what I read in August. Oh wait…I can use my booklist! Ahhh…the one area of my life that I’m almost totally organized in. Here goes..in no particlar order:Almost Perfect and Just Perfect by Julie Ortolon. These are…