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January 20, 2006

Last night I was looking over this week's lineup and smiling. To me it's one of those quintessential weeks where the lineup just speaks to why I love doing what I do.

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Interview: Raymond Khoury, author of The Last Templar

Jan 20, 2006

Bookreporter.com's Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Team (Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek) interviewed veteran screenwriter Raymond Khoury about his novel, THE LAST TEMPLAR. Khoury discusses how he first became interested in the mysterious order of knights on which the book is based, and reveals the long and arduous process of writing and publishing this debut work of fiction. He also comments on the recent popularity of religion-themed thrillers, compares and contrasts screenplays with novels, and even recommends a few titles for further study on the period's history.

January 13, 2006

What a week to be a reader it has been! Thanks to James Frey, books were a news topic and the news buzz was about reading. Imagine that. Wondering what I think about this? Then read my Blog entitled, "My Week in January with James Frey." Here's a line to get you started: "What does it say that a memoir that clearly was moving and emotionally packed required any fiction? Do we readers need 'more' than the truth to make a memoir work?" Piqued your interest? Read the rest of my musings on the topic here. Nothing like a scandal to jumpstart January.

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Interview: Richard Hawke, author of Speak of the Devil

Jan 13, 2006

January 13, 2006

Bookreporter.com's Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Team (Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek) interviewed Richard Hawke about his debut work of suspense, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. Hawke reveals how the novel's plot naturally progressed from a humorous writing exercise and discusses his characters' roots as literary archetypes with contemporary twists. Read on to learn more about Hawke's influences, the ways in which he challenges himself with open-ended storylines, and the future of this very promising series.

What book (you can name up to 3) did you buy in spite of reviews that were less than stellar?

January 6, 2006, 10 responses

January 06, 2006

Happy New Year! Yesterday I was telling a colleague that a lot of time has been spent this past week saying "Happy New Year and how was your vacation?" Probably enough to have had time to read an entire book. This week demands those niceties. Those people who know me know that emails from me rarely have warm fuzzy openers. They just have questions or rambling thoughts or answers. This week I found myself slowing down to add the above line. I am hoping that there are a few more Happy New Years left and then I can go back to being good old dash the note me! Not that I mean anything less by this sentiment.

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December 2005

The Christmas holiday is one of my favorite times of year. I love the goodwill that I feel in the air. I love reaching out to family and friends. I love the connections that come from touching the hearts of people who have meant so much to me all year.

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December 16, 2005

As I wrote the headline to this newsletter, I was humming it like a song in my head. Much progress in our house on the holidaze front. My gifts are wrapped, except for the ones that are still on order. I have been wrapping gifts as soon as they arrive trying to keep from the Christmas Eve wrapping marathon where there's never any tape and I contemplate bandaids for closure.

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Interview: Alan Lee, author of The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook

Dec 16, 2005

December 16, 2005

Artist and conceptual designer Alan Lee played a major role in bringing Middle Earth to life in Peter Jackson's big screen adaptations of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In his latest endeavor, THE LORD OF THE RINGS SKETCHBOOK, he recounts his experiences on this monumental project and details how his ideas progressed from their original concepts to finished art. Bookreporter.com's contributing writer Stephen Hubbard interviewed Lee about his interest in art and architecture, and how he combined his knowledge of these subjects with historical background information and his own imagination in his renderings of Tolkien's famous settings.

What book (you can name up to 3) did you buy in spite of reviews that were less than stellar?

December 16, 2005