Friday, September 29, 2017

Catching UP!

No Books went to Press this week:

Galleys went out for the following books this week:
LAKE EERIE: Haunted Homicide, by Thornton Parsons
   The police photographer snapped pictures of the body in the rowboat. Special Agent McCreary ruminated on the initial K that Renda had written in her own blood—she had recognized her killer! Trapped in a dark future between here and the hereafter, Renda Rousseau finds that even in death, she cannot escape the weasel with the Coke-bottle glasses who murdered her family. Despite her ethereal rage, she is unable to contact her twin sister, Brenda, who knows that Renda is still at the lake house. But, why? Renda will capture your heart as you join her on her heart-stopping quest to leave her ghostly realm and join David and her children in Heaven. But how? Is she doomed to haunt the lake house for eternity? Relive this riveting tale of love, betrayal, and death with Renda as she makes her way back Home. Or does she?

IS JESUS SERIOUS? A Garro Guide for Christians

    If, like me, you struggle with some of the behaviors Jesus asks of His followers and with St. Paul's telling us we are called to be saints, I write this 4th Volume in The Jesus Series, "Is Jesus Serious?" to speak to Christians' personal struggles to meet Jesus's and Paul's expectations.



Work began or continued on the following, this week:
DELICATE DAMES, by Barbara Grengs, author of the popular teen Toby Martin series.
Four filthy rich, entitled, spunky old broads livie in an upscale senior high rise in Mendota Heights, Minnesota where they fight their boredom by playing games, but their usual games of  canasta and poker have lost their allure. So what do the girls do to add excitement, adventure, fun and satisfaction? They invent Pop Goes the Weasel, a game where they plan to pop deserving old coots. Whats not to like about conspiring to commit murder? 

Jack's News!
  by your Official Bookstore Cat,  
and Gossip Columnist.
HI Everyone, 
   Jack here, your favorite bookstore cat.  

  Heard from Jan Shapin this week, and she's had some wonderful reviews on her latest book RED YEAR. Here are some excerpts:
Tina Says….
    “I knew going into Red Year that I knew very little about China or the Soviet Union in the 1920s. And what I discovered is that there was a lot of interesting and exciting things taking place in this part of the world then... While this is a work of fiction, the events of the time period are fascinating...  I love that Shapin was able to bring this era to life and develop a story around it….A delight to read.”

Kahakai Kitchen
   “I do admire Rayna's bravery, spirit, and tenaciousness, but I was challenged by understanding her motivations beyond getting and staying close to Borodin (who seemed to mostly regard her as a fascinating inconvenience). How much of her motivation was to fight for a cause versus a strong attraction that she felt was love and/or as she thinks at one point in the story, "...a way to dispel her morbid fear of an ordinary life." Is she a heroine, or a woman wanting an adventure who got caught up in the turmoil of history--or maybe a bit of both? At the end of the day, I'm not sure I know the answer--and maybe I'm not supposed to know. If you enjoy historical fiction and find world history and politics in the 1920s interesting--especially in Russia and China, Shapin does an excellent job in portraying them and making them vivid and full of life.”

Wining Wife
   In Jan Shapin’s Red Year, the themes of passion, integrity, and justice are explored within the backdrop of a communist Russia and China. Rayna faces a huge choice after applying to a Soviet espionage school – does she spy on Mme Sun? Does she stand up for the widow? Does she go home with her husband to Chicago? The research Shapin put into the backstory of the novel is very detailed, and the tale she weaves is fascinating. If you enjoy historical fiction, check out this novel
As for around here, nor much has been going on. We used to get to watch the kids next door, at Little Angels Day Care, run and play outside. They had a lot of fun and we all miss them, especially Roger. He loved every one of them. Me and Spunky, my baby sister, used to sneak out and watch them from the little copse behind the house, but it sure is quiet over there.  
The place is "For Sale" though, so if you know anyone who wants to run a Day Care Center, Roger will be quite handy to be their Handy Man...
Meanwhile, Miss Carol (Patrick) and Miss Brenda (Era) stopped by to see us one day this week and they brought  Spunky and Me Both CatNip Toys!!! Despite her all night adventures with Leroy Brown (the homeless boy who lives down near the river), Spunky didn't quite know what to do with hers. But I attacked mine with real enthusiasm! 

There's nothing like a good book, Like Alice Orr's soon-to-be-releasedA TIME OF FEAR AND LOVING to make Arline sit down and shut up and there's nothing like really fresh catnip to put a little excitement into your old friend, Jack's life!
Meanwhile if any of you, my favorite authors, are going to conferences, holding book signings, or have any news or some good gossip for me. 
Just drop an e-mail to: arline@mail.com  

with

"News for Jack" 

 in the subject line, and
I'll make sure it shows up here  
for all the world to see!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Catching UP!

NO Books Went to Press this week:


Galleys that Went out this week:


DELICATE DAMES, by Barbara Grengs, author of the popular teen Toby Martin series.
Four filthy rich, entitled, spunky old broads livie in an upscale senior high rise in Mendota Heights, Minnesota where they fight their boredom by playing games, but their usual games of  canasta and poker have lost their allure. So what do the girls do to add excitement, adventure, fun and satisfaction? They invent Pop Goes the Weasel, a game where they plan to pop deserving old coots. Whats not to like about conspiring to commit murder? 

Work began or Continued on the following:
LAKE EERIE: Haunted Homicide, by Thornton Parsons
   The police photographer snapped pictures of the body in the rowboat. Special Agent McCreary ruminated on the initial K that Renda had written in her own blood—she had recognized her killer! Trapped in a dark future between here and the hereafter, Renda Rousseau finds that even in death, she cannot escape the weasel with the Coke-bottle glasses who murdered her family. Despite her ethereal rage, she is unable to contact her twin sister, Brenda, who knows that Renda is still at the lake house. But, why? Renda will capture your heart as you join her on her heart-stopping quest to leave her ghostly realm and join David and her children in Heaven. But how? Is she doomed to haunt the lake house for eternity? Relive this riveting tale of love, betrayal, and death with Renda as she makes her way back Home. Or does she?


IS JESUS SERIOUS? A Garro Guide for Christians
    If, like me, you struggle with some of the behaviors Jesus asks of His followers and with St. Paul's telling us we are called to be saints, I write this 4th Volume in The Jesus Series, "Is Jesus Serious?" to speak to Christians' personal struggles to meet Jesus's and Paul's expectations.



Jack's News!
  by your Official Bookstore Cat,  
and Gossip Columnist.
HI everyone, 
   Jack here, your favorite bookstore cat.
   As for here at home  Not much is going on, so I was sure glad to hear from the following Authors!
   Members of the Writers Bloc reported on the launch for at Heritage Days in Mardella Springs went very well last weekend. Here's some quotes:

From Ann Foley:
   At next month's meeting, Tom plans to open discussion of the fifth anthology, so come prepared. Should Andy be allowed to suggest another theme? Should we even have a theme? If so, what? George suggested every story contain an recipe. He and Tom kicked edible titles around, but again I wasn't taking notes.
   We're nomads for the next couple months while the library refurbishes in October and uses its meeting rooms for their November book sale. Watch this space for exciting details of coming locations.

   I most ardently and profoundly hope that the theme decided upon will be "Pets and Other Non-Human Critters" The title alone should generate more interest in both wordsmiths and the reading public. Besides...I have a good one already written and ready for polishing!

From Aleta Davis:
   It sounded like a lot of fun in Sharptown.  I will be at Layton's Chance on Oct. 27th talking about my Spirit History book and other ghostly things, hoping to of course sell some books,  so will be thinking of Andy as well.  Aleta.

From Andy Nunez:
   Sorry to have missed Sharptown. I was in Cambridge that day at noon speaking to the Dorchester Historic Society.  Subject -- Ghosts, what else?

   Andy also reported that he is almost finished  with GHOSTWS III. I know Arline has been looking for it, because he will want it for Halloween and that's Next MONTH!!!
Meanwhile,  if any of you -- my favorite authors -- are going to festivals, or holding book signings, or have heard any good gossip, please let me know so I can pass the news along right here for all the world to See. 

Just drop an e-mail to: arline@mail.com  

with

"News for Jack" 

 in the subject line, and
I'll make sure it shows up here  
for all the world to see!

Friday, September 15, 2017

Catching UP!

NO Books Went to Press this week:


Work began or Continued on the following:
LAKE EERIE: Haunted Homicide, by Thornton Parsons
   The police photographer snapped pictures of the body in the rowboat. Special Agent McCreary ruminated on the initial K that Renda had written in her own blood—she had recognized her killer! Trapped in a dark future between here and the hereafter, Renda Rousseau finds that even in death, she cannot escape the weasel with the Coke-bottle glasses who murdered her family. Despite her ethereal rage, she is unable to contact her twin sister, Brenda, who knows that Renda is still at the lake house. But, why? Renda will capture your heart as you join her on her heart-stopping quest to leave her ghostly realm and join David and her children in Heaven. But how? Is she doomed to haunt the lake house for eternity? Relive this riveting tale of love, betrayal, and death with Renda as she makes her way back Home. Or does she?

DELICATE DAMES, by Barbara Grengs, author of the popular teen Toby Martin series.
Four filthy rich, entitled, spunky old broads livie in an upscale senior high rise in Mendota Heights, Minnesota where they fight their boredom by playing games, but their usual games of  canasta and poker have lost their allure. So what do the girls do to add excitement, adventure, fun and satisfaction? They invent Pop Goes the Weasel, a game where they plan to pop deserving old coots. Whats not to like about conspiring to commit murder? 

IS JESUS SERIOUS? A Garro Guide for Christians
    If, like me, you struggle with some of the behaviors Jesus asks of His followers and with St. Paul's telling us we are called to be saints, I write this 4th Volume in The Jesus Series, "Is Jesus Serious?" to speak to Christians' personal struggles to meet Jesus's and Paul's expectations.


Jack's News!
  by your Official Bookstore Cat,  
and Gossip Columnist.
HI everyone, 
   Jack here, your favorite bookstore cat.

I'm pleased to announce the long and eagerly awaited arrival of Eastern Shore Noir, along with a second Edition of Eastern Shore Life and Lore, whose popularity exceeded the supply.

Both will be available Tomorrow, Saturday, at Sharptown for Heritage Days. Our meeting will be at the regular 1 to 3 hour, but those interested in vending can bring their wares and participate at the Bloc's stand. Please let Andy or Tom know if you're bringing books or whatnot so we can try to have good room for all.

The festival schedule says "Free Admission. Timed Events: 7 a.m. Town Wide Yard Sales; 9 a.m. Main Street Closed, Vendors/Museum/Town Hall Open; 10 a.m. Parade; 11 a.m. Bake off Contest; 12 p.m. Nanticoke Indians; 1 p.m. DUCK Race, Winner of Bake off Contest; 2-3 p.m. Winners Announced of Various Raffles. 

And Equally pleased to say!

 
   Helen Chappell, our neighbor over to Oysterback, has a new book out and Arline says it's Real Good! She laughed so hard she almost fell out of the chair. I wanted to read it, but she wouldn't let me have the Kindle, and Sid has the spare.

   All is well here, although Arline forgot her medication two days in a row. It'll take her 3 or 4 days to get back to normal now, but in time she'll get back on track. Until then, we'll all just have to be patient with her.

   If anyone knows how to get an adolescent baby sister to Shut UP, please e-mail me. Spunky snuck out again and sang with Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown, the Tom Cat who lives half a mile down the road that goes to the river. They sang to the moon a cappella all night long, right under Roger's bedroom window. He was not amused!

   Spunky may not sing on-key, but at least she isn't very loud. Leroy, on the other hand, sounds like he has fish bones stuck in his throat and has more volume than Alice Cooper.
 
Meanwhile,  if any of you -- my favorite authors -- are going to festivals, or holding book signings, or have heard any good gossip, please let me know so I can pass the news along right here for all the world to See. 

Just drop an e-mail to: 

arline@mail.com  

with

"News for Jack" 

 in the subject line, and
I'll make sure it shows up here  
for all the world to see!