Romance Authors and Social Media

December 14, 2014December 17, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

After finishing a good book, do you find yourself wanting to learn a little bit about the author? Do you want to know what other books the author has written? Are you reading a series and want to know the titles in sequence? Well, most authors are really into social media and have their own blogs, facebook accounts, and twitter accounts. Some of the author’s blogs are wonderfully entertaining, funny, and loaded with personal information. Some authors even have give-aways, usually books, or bags – even dinner with the author. They also list where they will be personally appearing. They let you into their personal lives, even sharing pictures of their families or vacations they have taken. Do you wonder what authors are reading? They’ll tell you – even promoting and recommending other authors’ books. Romance authors really enjoy their readers and are willing to share just about anything with them. Romance authors are also a very tight knit group. Even though they live all over the country, they form very close friendships among themselves. For example, author Kristan Higgins’ husband traveled out West to attend a ceremony for fallen firefighters (he is a firefighter here in Connecticut) and he actually stayed with author Robyn Carr’s family.

Romance authors give us insight to how they came about writing their novels. Sometimes, they put a call out for readers to suggest names for upcoming characters. Authors read every comment a reader makes and sometimes write novels based on what their readers are looking for. If you have a favorite author, it’s easy to just google their name and see what their website has to offer. Below are two of my favorite Romance authors websites. I try to read them once a week because they almost always give me a good laugh.

Jill Shalvis – Her site is very informative and her blog and facebook page are hysterical! She shares a lot about her daily life and she posts lots of pictures, including what some of the heroes of her books might look like. She has been reprimanded a few times by facebook for posting ‘too hot to handle’ photos! The library has a great assortment of her books here.

Kristan Higgins – Her site is also very informative. She and Jill Shalvis have similar writing styles in books and their blogs/facebook are quite similar. They are also very good friends even though Kristan lives here in Connecticut and Jill on the West Coast in a small town in the Sierra Mountains. The library also has a great assortment of her books here.

Some other interesting Romance authors websites are:

Robyn Carr – website library catalog

Suzanne Brockmann – website library catalog

Susan Elizabeth Phillips – website library catalog

Julie Ann Walker – website library catalog

Elle Kennedy – website library catalog

10 Celebrity Books Worth Reading

December 9, 2014November 17, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

I admit it…..I don’t watch much television or go to movies, so I’m not into the celebrity thing. But a couple articles caught my eye about books written by celebrities that are considered to be quite good. Take a look:

Bossypants by Tina Fey (Biography) – From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon, comedian Tina Fey reveals all, and proves that you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.

Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi (Biography) – A wife of Ellen DeGeneres and actress best known for her roles in Ally McBeal and Arrested Development provides a searing account of the years she spent secretly suffering from anorexia and bulimia, and trying to hide her sexuality, all under the glare of Hollywood’s bright lights.

My Mother Was Nuts : A Memoir by Penny Marshall (Biography) – A Hollywood icon discusses her incredible life, from her starring role on the classic sitcom Laverne and Shirley to her trailblazing moment as the first woman to direct a movie grossing more than $100 million at the box office

Yes Please by Amy Poehler (Biography) – A first-person account by the Golden Globe-winning actress best known for her work on Parks and Recreation and Saturday Night Live includes coverage of such topics as her relationships with caregivers and her friendship with Tina Fey

Seriously……I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres (Biography) – The stand-up comedian, television host, bestselling author, and actress candidly discusses her personal life and professional career and describes what it was like to become a judge on “American Idol.”

Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s Learned by Lena Dunham (Biography) – The creator and star of HBO’s “Girls” documents her coming-of-age in and out of the spotlight, recounting her experiences with everything from dieting and embarrassing sex to dirty old men and performing in less-than-ideal conditions.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling (Non-Fiction) – The Emmy-nominated writer and actress best known as Kelly Kapoor on The Office shares her observations on a wide range of topics from favorite male archetypes and her hatred of dieting to her loving relationship with her mother and the haphazard creative process in the Office writers’ room.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (Fiction) – The stage and screen star best known for her work in such series as Gilmore Girls presents the story of a struggling actress in 1990s New York City who searches for work and the perfect hair product while befriending a rival and resisting her father’s pressure to get a “real” job.

The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin (Fiction) – Daniel, a troubled man who lives alone in a Santa Monica apartment, detached from the world, watching life go by, passes his time filling out contest applications, estimating the wattage of light bulbs, and counting ceiling tiles, until his grown attachment to Clarissa and Teddy helps him rediscover the outside world, as well as love and life in the process.

When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald (Fiction) – A collection of interlinked stories follows a Los Angeles family and their friends and neighbors as they negotiate the deceptions and heartbreaks of everyday life.

(Source: collegecandy.com, Kirkus Reviews)

New Cozy Mysteries for November 2014

November 27, 2014November 21, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

Here’s the list of November’s cozy mysteries! Is your favorite series listed?

Plagued by Quilt (A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery) by Molly MacRae

Lethal Letters (A Books By The Bay Mystery) by Ellery Adams

No Mallets Intended (A Vintage Kitchen Mystery) by Victoria Hamilton

A High-End Finish (A Fixer-Upper Mystery) by Kate Carlisle

Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses (A Happy Hoofers Mystery) by Mary McHugh

A Dog Gone Murder (Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper) by Elaine Viets

On Borrowed Time (A Library Lover’s Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay

Knot In My Backyard (A Quilting Mystery) by Mary Marks

By Cook or by Crook (A Five-Ingredient Mystery) by Maya Corrigan

Book Club Picks – Spirituality

November 23, 2014November 6, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

This time of year it’s the calm before the storm. Soon, it will be one holiday after another! Have your book club settle in with a little spirituality with the following suggested titles.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – A fable about undauntingly following one’s dreams, listening to one’s heart, and reading life’s omens features dialogue between a boy and an unnamed being.

The Gifts of Imperfection – let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are by Brene Brown – An expert of the psychology of shame presents advice on how to overcome paralyzing fears and self-consciousness, and at the same time increase feelings of self-worth, gratitude, and acceptance.

Night by Elie Wiesel – The narrative of a boy who lived through Auschwitz and Buchenwald provides a short and terrible indictment of modern humanity.

The Power of Habit – why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg – Identifies the neurological processes behind behaviors, explains how self-control and success are largely driven by habits, and shares scientifically-based guidelines for achieving personal goals and overall well-being by adjusting specific habits.

Heaven is for Real – a little boy’s astounding story of his trip to heaven and back by Todd Burpo – Presents the story of the four-year old son of a Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven.

One Thousand Gifts: a dare to live life fully right where you are by Ann Vos Kamp – The author reflects on moments of grace in her own life as she invites readers to embrace a life of gratitude and realize God’s presence in everyday experiences.

Carry On Warrior: thoughts on life unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton – A New York Times essayist shares her journey from a self-destructive college student to a devoted family woman and teacher while illuminating the importance of trusting in a higher power and being truthful about life’s challenges.

Proof of Heaven: a neurosurgeon’s journey into the afterlife by Eben Alexander – A Harvard-trained neurosurgeon shares a minute-by-minute account of his religiously transformative near-death experience and revealing week-long coma, describing his scientific study of near-death phenomena while explaining what he learned about the nature of human consciousness.

10% Happier – how I tamed the voice in my head, reduce stress without losing my edge, and found self-help that actually works – a true story by Dan Harris – The Nightline anchor, who had a nationally televised panic attack on Good Morning America, takes readers on a rollicking ride through the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news during which he discovered a way to get happier that is truly achievable.

The Untethered Soul: the journey beyond yourself by Michael A. Singer – Who are you? In this remarkable New York Times bestseller, author and spiritual guide Michael Singer explores this fundamental question, seeking the very root of consciousness in order to help readers learn how to dwell in the present moment. Written in an engaging and uncomplicated voice, this book will open readers up to the radical and powerful experience of simply being themselves.

On Our Shelves: November 2014 Romance Books Are Here!

November 18, 2014November 6, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

Have you been waiting for your favorite author to publish a new book? We’ve just received a shipment of the newest Romance paperbacks. Take a look and see if your author has a new book out.