2011 Challenge: The Alphabet in Crime Fiction Challenge

I've never joined this type of challenge before, but it sounds like a lot of fun.  Crime Fiction is one of my favorite genres so this shouldn't be too difficult and will give me one weekly post that will challenge me, so it sounds fun.  Here is more information about it:

Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise is once again hosting the very popular Alphabet in Crime Fiction for 2011.

Rules are pretty simple, each week, starting Monday January 10, 2011, Kerrie will post a letter to use for the week.  By the end of the week you must post something that uses either the first letter of the book's title, the first letter of the author's first name or the first letter of the author's surname.  The post can be a review, bio of the author or anything that fits the rules.  Posts must be completed by the end of the week and linked back to the post for each week (check Kerrie's blog for the post)

• Each week, beginning Monday 10 January 2011, you write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
• Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
• You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow.

If you would like to join up, visit Kerrie's introductory post and linkiup with Mr.Linky.

Author Interview: Christi Barth

Today I welcome author Christi Barths for an interview.  I will be reviewing her book Act Like We're in Love within the next few days.  So grab your favorite cuppa and see what she has to say.

How did you celebrate when you found out Act Like We’re in Love would be published? 
Quiet exultation. Followed by a few rounds toasts at a party that weekend. When I received the contract for my first book, I screamed and danced. For this second one, it was more of an inner pulse of awareness that I really could do this – I wouldn’t be a one hit wonder. Such a relief!

How would you describe Act Like We’re in Love to others?
My one sentence elevator pitch: a peek behind the curtain at love in the theatre.

Back cover blurb: When two people make beautiful music together onstage, can their love survive once the curtain falls? Linnea Larson is willing to do anything to keep her family's Minneapolis dinner theatre from going under. Anything, that is, besides accepting a date from the Hollywood hunk her father hired to inject a dose of star power into their production of Guys & Dolls. It's a toss up whether his greatest claim to fame is playing a superhero on screen, or a super stud off screen. Neither fact convinces her he's got what it takes to share her stage. And thanks to a life long pact with her best friend, she never dates actors.

Luke Powell has fame, fortune, and an endless string of women, but also a lingering dissatisfaction with his picture perfect life. Looking for a change, he escapes to his theatrical roots. What he finds are wary cast mates, a nervous best friend convinced the show will ruin Luke's career, and an adorable costar who stubbornly refuses to go out with him. Suddenly singing and dancing aren't the only challenges he'll tackle over the summer. Far from the spotlights of Hollywood, can he find happiness in the footlights of a tiny theatre?

Despite Luke dragging her into his daily paparazzi nightmare, Linnea can't deny her mounting attraction to his irresistible charm. And even if she's crazy enough to chance getting involved, their fling would have a guaranteed expiration date. He's leaving at the end of the run, and she's tied to her family's theatre. Why risk the inevitable heartbreak? Their job is to act like they're in love, but will they decide it's worth the leap to fall in love for real?

Where did the idea for Act Like We’re in Love come from?
It was very, very vague. I wanted to write a story that showcased life in the theatre. Not exactly enough to go on, was it? From there I worked to find a musical to showcase that would be relatable to a wide audience, and yet still tie into my plot in several places. Then I had to figure out who the heck the characters were. With my background in the theatre, it was shocking how small a seed of an idea I began with – but luckily it quickly grew. There is a wonderful intimacy inherent to being in a cast that lends itself to a romance. I wanted to share with the world the absolute joy of being on stage.

How much research did you have to do for this book?
A surprising amount! It takes place in Minneapolis, where I lived for 5 years, and is about the theatre, which I lived and breathed most of my life. But I had to go online and make sure I got tiny details right about the city, and I had to do an immense amount of research to come up with just the right action hero (AquaMan) that my main character is known for portraying.

Have you been in plays/musicals, been an actor before?
I’ve been in musicals and opera my whole life – so this really is an insider’s viewpoint of the theatre world that I’m sharing, which makes my book really stand out. The book centers around Guys & Dolls, which I’ve performed in three different productions. Love it!

Did you plan this book out or do you just write and see where it took you?
I am a die-hard plotter. Not only do I come up with an overall plot, but I outline each chapter. Plus, there are lists – one of iconic Minneapolis sites I wanted to work in, the different parts of putting on a musical that needed to be included, as well as character growth. Lots of interweaving, and planning ahead is the only way (for me) to manage it. I can plot anywhere, and far ahead (especially in boring meetings), so when I actually sit down to read there’s nothing left to do but let the words flow.

Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?
I make/find time to read no matter what (although now that I’m writing many evenings, my reading hours have been drastically shortened!). I’ve been a devoted bookworm my entire life, and as a speed reader, I tend to devour books. No surprise – I love romance, especially contemporary and paranormal. Also a huge mystery/thriller fan, but I will read just about anything. About to start Blowing My Cover; My Life As A CIA Spy.

What is your favorite room in your house?
My dining room, because I love to entertain. We have an entire wall of photographs of a trip we took to Banff – breathtaking scenery and great memories.


What is your favorite spot to read in?
Slouched into my beach chair, feet buried in the sand. We spend a week at the beach every summer, and I typically roar through at least 10 books. Love it! But don’t get me wrong; I will read anywhere. Anytime the opportunity presents itself.

What is your favorite snack food?
So hard to choose – I’m a big fan of salty over sweet, so I think I’d lean toward amazing cheese on a cracker. Well, multiple pieces of cheese. And some cornichon.

What is your favorite season?
Spring. I grew up in Los Angeles, which really only has 1 ½ seasons, kind of skipping from autumn straight to interminable heat. Now that I live in Maryland, I revel in experiencing all four seasons, and the delicate unfolding of spring delights me.


Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?
Life happens. So I don’t force myself to produce every day. Rather, I set myself a word count goal for the week – as long as I hit it, whether in one day or four, I’m set!


Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?
I’m guest blogging at Night Owl Romance on February 15 – swing by!


Do you have a new book in the works?
Absolutely! I’ve embarked upon a trilogy (which is MUCH trickier than I hoped), set in Chicago. The first book centers on a wedding coordinator and fallen-from-grace journalist who is biding his time as a videographer. Planning for Love will be chock full of funny wedding snafus. And this summer I finished Cruising Toward Love, which answers the question: can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance – and endless buffets – of a tropical cruise?

Anything else you would like to say?
As much as I love to write, it would be nothing without the readers. Truly, I just want my books to entertain, to lift your spirits and carry you away from your everyday life. The fact that you would spare a little time from today's overscheduled world to read my words is humbling and wonderful.


Thanks you Christi for interviewing with me today.  Stay tuned over the weekend for a review of Act Like We're In Love.


You can find Christi at her website and as a contributor at the Word Wranglers blog.

Book Feature/Mini-Review: Love of a Stonemason by Christa Polkinhorn

Love of a Stonemason by Christa Polkinhorn
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release:July 24, 2010

Paperback, 434 pages

I promised Christa I would review her book today and it was my full intention to do so, but I forgot to schedule in the fact that I had two winter concerts to go to this week and a sickness to deal with as well. 

I am in the middle of reading Love of a Stonemason and I have to say what I have read is beautiful.  Christa makes the words flow so easily and the sights, sounds and textures of the setting come through beautifully.  She really paints the picture of the story with her words.  So far I am loving the characters of Karla and Andreas, they feel very real to me.  I am also intrigued with where life is taking them, both figuratively and literally.  They are traveling and exploring and I am enjoying every minute.   I will post a full review within the next day or two when I finish the book, but know this is a prize of a book if it continues the way it has started and I fully believe it will.



About the Book:

The young painter, Karla Bocelli, is no stranger to loss. When she was five years old, her mother died in a car crash in the south of Switzerland. Her Peruvian father lives at the other end of the world, and a year ago, her aunt and guardian passed away. Now, at age twenty-four, Karla almost gets hit by a speeding car. As if this wasn't fateful enough, Andreas, the driver, turns out to be a sculptor and carver of tombstones. In spite of his profession, Andreas is anything but morbid. Quick-tempered and intense, he exudes a rough-and-tumble energy. After a tumultuous start of their relationship, Karla comes to see in Andreas the "rock in her life," the perfect antidote to her fears of abandonment and bouts of depression. Andreas, however, wrestles with his own ghosts: an alcoholic father who abused him as a child and his own fits of anger. Together, the two artists must confront the demons that haunt them. Love of a Stonemason is a story about the struggle of two artists with their past, their family, their creativity, and their love for each other. Told from the point of view of Karla, it depicts the world through her painter's sensibility. It takes the reader on a journey full of sights, smells, tastes, and sounds from the south of Switzerland to Italy and the Peruvian Andes.

About the Author:
Christa Polkinhorn, originally from Switzerland, lives and works as writer and translator in Santa Monica, California. She divides her time between the United States and Switzerland and has strong ties to both countries. Her poems have appeared in various poetry magazines. She is the author of Path of Fire, a collection of poems published by Finishing Line Press. Love of a Stonemason is her first novel.
 

Website

Blog

Author’s page on Amazon with the ebook for Kindle and the trade paperback version

Christa's page on Smashwords with a variety of ebook versions


FTC Information: I received this book from the author for an honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

2011 Challenge: Show Me the Free Reading Challenge

 

Since I received my Kindle this past February I have obtained a lot of free ebooks from Amazon and have yet to read one of them.  So when I saw the Show Me the Free Reading Challenge hosted by The Unread Reader, I knew I wanted to join.

To find out more about the specifics of the challenge, go here.  To sign up and obtain the buttons you can go here.

I am going to sign up at the Coupon Clipper level which is the minimum, 12 Books.  I'm doing the minimum because I know how hard it is for me to get to the books I own versus the books I need to review.  But this way I'm committing to reading at least 1 book a month.



Here are some of the books I am contemplating but this list is subject to change depending on what comes out in the next year:

1. Code Blue by Richard L. Mabry
2. The Paradise War by Stephen R. Lawhead
3. Deeper Waters by Robert Whitlow
4. House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo
5. Thirsty by Tracey Bateman 
6. The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
7. Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier
8. The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal
9. Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson
10. St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb
11. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
12. Critical Care by Candace Calvert

I'll update on this post as I finish books and post the reviews.

Author Interview: Christa Polkinhorn

Today I welcome author Christa Polkinhorn for an interview.  I will be reviewing her book Love of a Stonemason tomorrow.  So grab your favorite cuppa and see what she has to say.


How did you celebrate when you found out Love of a Stonemason would be published?
When I saw the cover and the book on Amazon and held the first copy of the paperback edition in my hands, I was overjoyed. I had worked on the book for a long time and put my whole heart and mind into it and seeing it finally come to fruition was really exciting.


How would you describe Love of a Stonemason to others?
Love of a Stonemason is a story about the struggle of two artists with their past, their family, their creativity, and their love for each other. Told from the point of view of Karla, a young painter, it depicts the world through her painter’s sensibility. It takes the reader on a journey full of sights, smells, tastes, and sounds from the south of Switzerland to Italy and the Peruvian Andes.
Blurb on the back cover: The young painter, Karla Bocelli, is no stranger to loss. When she was five years old, her mother died in a car crash in the south of Switzerland. Her Peruvian father lives at the other end of the world, and a year ago, her aunt and guardian passed away. Now, at age twenty-four, Karla almost gets hit by a speeding car. As if this wasn’t fateful enough, Andreas, the driver, turns out to be a sculptor and carver of tombstones. In spite of his profession, Andreas is anything but morbid. Quick-tempered and intense, he exudes a rough-and-tumble energy. After a tumultuous start of their relationship, Karla comes to see in Andreas the "rock in her life," the perfect antidote to her fears of abandonment and bouts of depression. Andreas, however, wrestles with his own ghosts: an alcoholic father who abused him as a child and his own fits of anger. Together, the two artists must confront the demons that haunt them.

Where did the idea for Love of a Stonemason come from?
The initial trigger was a personal experience. At the end of 2005, I lost my mother and found myself to be the sole survivor of our immediate family in Switzerland. Death and its impact—the pain of loss and loneliness—plays an important in the life of the main character in the novel. Although there are elements from my personal life in the story, such as the places I lived as well as my travels to Peru and Italy, the final product was a completely fictional story. While writing Love of a Stonemason, I was rarely conscious of any one particular person, incidence, or experience, which influenced me. Some of it came to me much later. One of the most fascinating aspects of the creative process is the way consciousness and the unconscious work together to produce something unique and new.

You are from Switzerland and they say to write what you know so you definitely did. Are you familiar with Peru as well? How much research did you have to put into this book with it taking place overseas?
I was in Peru twice for a few weeks. My niece is married to a Peruvian from Cusco. Because of these connections, I got a more personal impression of the life of a Peruvian family than if I had been there just as a tourist. I have been to Italy many times. When I wrote the book, however, I realized that I needed to go back to get a feeling for those places again. Besides, I forgot a lot of the details that were important to the story. Since I love to travel, that part of the research was the most fun. I also found a lot of information on the internet and in books.

Since both main characters in Love of a Stonemason are artists, are you an artist in addition to being a writer?
My father was a painter when he was a young man. I have several friends who are artists. As a child, I loved to paint and draw. I still do and I take art courses occasionally. My real passion, however, is writing.

Did you plan this book out or do you just write and see where it took you?
I began to write without an outline or even a firm grasp of how the novel was going to turn out. To my surprise, once I started, the novel took off almost by itself. I have always admired authors who were able to write novels. I was used to shorter pieces. I wrote poetry for many years but shied away from long pieces of prose. Ironically, my first draft turned out to be too long. I had to cut quite a lot and I did many revisions. Fortunately, I had an excellent editor, Scott Nicholson, who was very helpful. In fact, I found your blog by following his recent blog tour.

Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?
I love to read and I read all kinds of fiction and poetry. I enjoy reading the classics as well as contemporary and experimental fiction. I gravitate toward books that deal with love and relationships. Lately, however, in part as a result of publishing my book independently and doing research on the indie movement in literature, I have discovered many new authors in genres such as paranormal romances, thrillers, ghost stories, and mysteries. The indie movement and the availability of inexpensive ebooks make it very convenient to try new genres and new authors.

What is your favorite room in your house?
Right now, I’m in my family home in Switzerland and my favorite room here is the living room because it has a wood stove. I love to watch the fire and smell the scent of burning wood. It’s very comforting and cozy.

What is your favorite spot to read in?
On the sofa or in bed.

What is your favorite snack food?
Swiss chocolate, apples, peanuts, corn or potato chips

What is your favorite season?
I love the times of transition, in other words spring and fall.


Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?
I try to write every day but it doesn’t always happen. My favorite time is early morning when the snatches of dreams are still fresh and before the everyday hustle and bustle begins.

Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?
So far I have been promoting my book mainly on the internet, on my blog, on Twitter and Facebook, by word of mouth, and through interviews such as these.


Do you have a new book in the works?
Yes, I finished the first draft of a new novel. It is actually the precursor so to speak of “Love of a Stonemason.” I couldn’t let go of my main character Karla yet, so I wanted to go back in time and see what made Karla become the artist and the human being she is in my current novel. An Uncommon Family (the working title) deals with Karla as a child, with her aunt and guardian and with her first painting teacher. Both novels are independent from each other and can be read in any order.

Anything else you would like to say?
I am grateful to have found your blog My Reading Room. Thank you for the opportunity of being interviewed and featured here.

Here are some links, where readers can find out more about me and my book:

My Website

My Blog

My author’s page on Amazon with the ebook for Kindle and the trade paperback version

My page on Smashwords with a variety of ebook versions

Thank you so much for joining us today Christa!  We look forward to hearing more from you in the future.

Book Review: Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs

Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs
Publisher: Berkley
Release: December 7, 2010 (Today!)

Paperback, 336 pages
A Cackleberry Club Mystery #3
Cozy mystery/thriller

My Review:
Why I read this:  The author contacted me to see if I was interested in reading her book.  I have heard of the author and this series sounds fascinating so I agreed.


How is the novel driven:  Tough call, it's obviously a mystery/thriller so plot is important, but the characters are just as important in this one as well, so I would say it's a great mixture of the two.


My thoughts:  Bedeviled Eggs was a pleasure to read.  From the first page I was sucked into the world of The Cackleberry Club with Petra, Suzanne and Toni.  As I have mentioned before, I love books and series centered around small-town life and this one delivers on that.

I thought the mystery was well-done and I did not figure out who the bad guy was before it was revealed to me so that was a plus.  The story was finished well and the mystery/suspense plot kept me going through the book.  I'm not sure why I don't read more cozy mystery/thrillers, but after reading this one I will be sure to pick up the first two in the series.

Bedeviled Eggs has a serious mystery to it, but I like the fact that it's light and easy to read, the characters really make it and I didn't have to think too hard while reading it.  I just sat back in my chair and enjoyed where the story took me.  I really enjoyed getting to know the three main characters, Suzanne, Petra and Toni.  They are an interesting bunch, each one different but they work so well together.  I also enjoyed reading about The Cackleberry Club and the various functions they put on, it sounded like a wonderful restaurant and knitting and book store combination.

This is the third book in the series, but the first one I have read and while I think I would have known more about the characters had I read the first two, but I never felt lost at all while reading this one, so if you want to jump right in, I recommend it.  Bedeviled Eggs makes a great stand-alone, but I bet like me, you will want to read the first two when you finish this one.

Great characters, wonderful suspense/mystery, and a lot of small-town fun make Bedeviled Eggs a wonderful book to spend a lazy afternoon reading.  I started it and could not put it down and I enjoyed spending the afternoon immersed in the world of Kindred and it's inhabitants.


Ms. Childs also has two other series besides The Cackleberry Club, she also has the Tea Shop Mysteries and Scrapbooking Mysteries.  I plan on checking those out as well.


My Rating:  4.75/5.0

About the Book:

The ladies at the Cackleberry Club café are busy preparing for Halloween. But someone's jumped the gun on the tricks. As mayoral candidate Chuck Peebler leaves the café, he gets struck with a crossbow arrow and is killed instantly. And when another murder occurs on the historical society's Quilt Trail, the Cackleberry Club needs to sniff out the bad egg-before he strikes again.

About the Author:
Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.
 
Website



FTC Information: I received this book from the author for an honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Ice Cream Theory by Steff Deschenes

The Ice Cream Theory by Steff Deschenes
Publisher: Book Surge Publishing
Release: July 14, 2009

Paperback, 282 pages

My Review:
Why I read this:  The author contacted me to see if I was interested in reading her book and being a part of her blog tour.  I have to say I love ice cream and was intrigued by the premise of the book.  I don't read much non-fiction, but thought I would give this one a go.


My thoughts: I tweeted this last night, but you absolutely cannot start this book without some form of ice cream in the house.  Let that be my serious warning to you.  No it doesn't matter that the northern hemisphere is quickly approaching winter and we even got snow flurries/sleet on the coast of NC last night (that doesn't happen often), you will want ice cream while reading this book.


Okay, how fun can a book that relates people to ice cream be.  Just from that simple statement it sounds fun right?  I know I thought so and I was right.  I laughed through this book. Ms. Deschenes has a wonderful sense of humor, and she uses it every chance she gets as she tells the story of different people in her life and how they relate to certain kinds of ice cream.  She uses all sorts of humor and the book is just genuine fun.  


I really am not a big non-fiction person but this book read really fast for me - the humor moved it forward and I loved seeing how each type of ice cream was represented by a different type of person.  Her insights are interesting and I know I will remember them as I go through life.  I know for sure I won't look at ice cream or people the same again.    


So go run out and grab this book, you won't regret it, in fact it will probably cheer you up, give you some insight into human nature and even give you cravings for that ice cream you use to love but haven't had in years.  Come read and enjoy Ms. Deschenes' insights, I don't think you will regret it.


My Rating:  4.75/5.0

About the Book:

The award-winning book, The Ice Cream Theory, is ice-cream guru Steff Deschenes's charming exploration of the parallels between human personalities and ice-cream flavors, a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the variety inherent in a well-lived life.  The Theory was hatched when Deschenes was trying to make sense of her first heartbreak.  In the midst of that grief, she realized that, in the same way humans have ice-cream preferences, humans have people preferences. Like ice cream flavors, social preferences shift based on age, experience, even mood. There are exotic flavors that one craves when feeling daring, comforting flavors to fall back on, flavors long-enjoyed that eventually wear out their welcome, and those unique flavors that require an acquired taste. Like people, no ice cream flavor is perfect every single time . . . and it is in this realization that the crux of Deschenes's theory lies.  Deschenes neatly brings together anecdotes from her own adventures with broader-reaching social commentary to help others recognize the wisdom and joy inherent in a beloved dessert.  With its cheeky self-help slant, The Ice Cream Theory is an endearing and light-hearted addition to any bookshelf.  It's a must read for anyone bruised by life's tough lessons and in need of a cheerful pick me up!

About the Author:
Despite a failed attempt at majoring in ice cream in college, Steff Deschenes is a self-taught ice-cream maker. She has researched her craft all over the world, and believes that the ice cream found at home is the best there is. In addition to researching her food theories, she enjoys traveling and playing the guitar. She lives in Maine with her bunny, Boone, and is diligently researching her next book, The Burrito Theory.
 
Website
Facebook
You Tube

Giveaway: The author has generously offered to give away 1 copy of The Ice Cream Theory to one of my blog readers.  We'll keep it simple again today since it's the busy holiday season.  Just leave a comment with your email address and you are entered.  Open to US/Canada only.  Open through 12/13/10.


FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.