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    A good time …

    7 Comments

    So I attended the book events that were part of the annual Women’s Expo in Kingsport, Tenn. this weekend. There was a dinner Friday night and then a book signing Saturday. (Some folks also signed books Sunday, but I was busy working on Assassin 3).

    I got to meet several authors, including Julia Quinn and Teresa Medeiros. They both write historicals, and both of them were super-nice. Very funny too. Lora Leigh was also there, but unfortunately, I didn’t really get a chance to talk to her, and I only got to talk to Kay Stockham for a few minutes before the signing on Saturday. (If you’ve ever seen Kay in person, you know how gorgeous she is). I’d always like more time to chat with folks. Ah, well. Maybe at the next event I see them at. 

    I also got to speak with some readers and other folks I know, like fellow Smoky Mountain Romance Writer members Jessie Verino and Trista Ann Michaels. And then, I got to talk to folks at the expo who stopped by the table where the book signing was.

    I thought the dinner on Friday night was especially fun thanks to the guest speakers Valerie Ramsey and Joanna Campbell Slan. After raising her kids, Valerie got into modeling — in her 60s! And Joanna reminded us all how very blessed we are with her funny talk. Seriously, Joanna was hysterical and had everyone laughing out loud. If her books are as funny as she is, you will be giggling the whole time you read them.

    Overall, it was a very fun time. I plan on attending again next year (it’s always held the third weekend in October). Jim Butcher is scheduled to be the big guest author next year, and the organizers are hoping to bring in some more urban fantasy writers. If any author or reader out there wants more details, just send me an e-mail, and I’ll get you in touch with the event organizers.

    Note: I actually took some photos this time, but for some reason, WordPress isn’t letting me upload them. Grrr! 👿

    What about you guys? Did anyone do anything fun this weekend?

  • 906 and counting …

    3 Comments

    Finished Thrill Me to Death by Roxanne St. Claire. This is the second book in her popular Bullet Catchers romantic suspense series.

    In this one, Bullet Catcher Max Roper is assigned to protect wealthy widow Cori Peyton, who suspects her billionaire husband was murdered. At one point, Max and Cori were engaged, before Cori’s dad died while out on a DEA drug bust with Max. Of course, Max and Cori are still attracted to each other, and sparks fly as they try to figure out who killed Cori’s husband and why. Was it his jealous stepson? The embezzling lawyer? The grateful housekeeper? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

    I enjoyed the previous entry in the Bullet Catchers series, and I liked this book a lot too. It’s hard to do a story about previous lovers (I always wonder if they’re really going to stay together, since they broke up before). But St. Claire pulls it off nicely. You get a sense of how much Max and Cori cared about each other and how determined they are to make it work this time.

    The setting is Florida once again (as it was in the first Bullet Catchers book), and there are some nice descriptions of the area and Cori’s upper-crust lifestyle. Also, I didn’t figure out who the killer was or even why he/she murdered Cori’s husband until the very end. I always like books that keep me guessing.

    Overall, this is a solid romantic suspense, and I’m looking forward to getting the next book in the series. Thumbs up.

    Up next: Pale Horse Coming by Stephen Hunter

    Books in my TBR pile: About 19.

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    Blowouts …

    As much as I love NFL football, there comes a point when even I will get bored with a game. Like when the Tennessee Titans are up 27-0 over the Kansas City Chiefs with only a few minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

    But did CBS switch me over to a more competitive game? Did they? Of course not. Sigh. :rolleyes:

  • One more reminder …

    I forgot to mention there’s going to be a meet-the-authors dinner on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at Golden Corral on North Eastman Road in Kingsport, Tenn. There are some speakers lined up, and the cost of the dinner is $20. There will also be time for book sales and signings after the speakers. This is a preliminary event to the annual Women’s Expo at the Meadowview Convention Center in Kingsport on Oct. 18. For more info on the dinner or to sign up, call Sharon Robinson at (423) 676-5564 or Lydia Wiley at (423) 782-6356.

    Should be a good time. 😎