Book Crisis

I had a bit of a book crisis this weekend when I wanted to start reading my second book choice for the Once Upon a Time Challenge (the lists over on the side are not in any order). As I was in the mood for something light and different than my other two books I was reading, I thought I’d start with Artemis Fowl.

I looked on my shelves and found nothing and then I remembered it was my husband’s book. So I asked him for his copy and he looked at me like I was crazy.

You see dear readers, the copy he has is a German translation of the book. Ack! Of course my husband didn’t miss a beat and reminded me that I really should learn German. Yes,yes, whatever.

Most importantly, there goes my resolve to only read books from my stacks for the challenge. Luckily, BookMooch came to my rescue and I found a copy to mooch. Book Crisis solved for now. Although I think my next book crisis will revolve around the fact that I’m very behind on my challenge reading and I haven’t even posted links to the other challenges I’m joining.

...Read More

Type of Writing

Heather recently tagged me on a one question meme. Should be easy right?
“What’s your Favorite Type of Writing? And, I should mention, your favorite type of writing to do as opposed to your favorite type of writing to read.”

My love affair with writing started when I was in fourth grade and I decided I wanted to be a writer. I wrote a story about two girls and a treasure hunt. I drew the picures and even bound my little book using yarn as ties, and I gave it to one of my teachers. I know she still has this. Oh man, can I get it back? ha.

In college I graduated with a Journalism degree although I had no plans on becoming a reporter. My concentration was in public relations so I spent some time working for PR firms and also working in marketing. I got to do a lot of writing but it was all about how wonderful our clients were. So to fill my need for creative writing I signed up for creative writing classes and workshops any time I could.

Over the years I’ve dabbled in short stories and poetry. I actually have had several poems published in small journals so that is something I’m quite proud of, and at one point I thought I’d write a novel. I think almost every reader has had this idea right? But for now, I’m quite happy being a reader. Who knows, maybe one day that yearning will come back and maybe not. I still enjoy writing poetry and I have scribbles written everywhere but the one writing that’s always been a constant for me has been my journaling.

Here is proof that I like to journal. These are only a few of the journals I have filled over the past couple of years.

journals
I won’t tag anyone else because it’s Sunday and I’m being lazy but if you want to borrow this please go ahead. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on the type of writing you like to do.

...Read More

Meet the Author

I just got home from going to the Ian Rankin book signing at one of local Borders. What fun that was although at first I wasn’t so sure it was going to be a good experience. The podium and 40-some chairs they set up for the reading was only a few steps away from another event, a live broadcast for some radio station. Hello? Who thought this was going to work. Luckily the radio folks packed up their gear and left pretty soon after the talk started.

Ian Rankin talked about his latest book, The Naming of the Dead, which has Inspector John Rebus tracking the murderer of a recently released criminal. Meanwhile, most of the other officers are trying to provide security for the G8 Summit. Oh wow, does this mean Rebus might get to meet George W. Bush and give him a piece of his mind?

The author also talked a bit about what it’s been like to write for the past 20 years the Rebus character. The next book he is working on is actually the ‘retirement’ book but he said he still has a lot of options for Rebus. He could “stop the clock” and just not let him age as he’s been doing since the series started, or he could have him retire and come back to provide assistance on special cases. Either way, I’m thinking Rebus still has a lot of work left to do. At least I hope so.

Well, Ian Rankin sounds like he’s a busy guy too. Aside from working on the next Rebus novel he’s also got a novella about an art heist set in Edingburgh and will be serialized in the New York Times starting on May 3rd. He is also working on a comic book for DC Comics and a libretto for a Scottish opera.

I got my book and stood in line for a good while and when I finally got to meet Ian Rankin I told him that I’d just discovered his books not too long ago and I had just finished reading Mortal Causes earlier this year. He said he hoped that I continued with the books as I haven’t even gotten to the good ones yet. Oooh…

Here’s my signed book! For any of you who like police procedurals I highly recommend this series.
me

...Read More