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. What’s not to like about conspiring to commit murder? 

Cover Not Set

THE FLYER, Legacy Series, Vol. 4, by Elena Dorothy Bowman

   Finally! The last volume in the ever-popular Legacy Series, a 4 volume time-travel series that is every bit as intriguing as Outlander.   

Cover not set.

BACKWOODS MEMORIES, By Shelley Abbott   A collection of memoir essays by famed singer and songwriter, the Eastern Shore's own Shelley Abbott.

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!