Priceless Autographs

If you could have three books signed by the actual author, what books would they be?

~Elizabeth

More Than Just Paper

Today’s post is one I’m hoping you can help me with…

Some of the best comments will be shared on my Facebook Fan page over the next few weeks (first name attribution only)…

1) What does reading mean to you?

2) What is your fondest memory involving books/reading (if you have more than one, that’s fine, too)?

~Elizabeth

A Little of This, A Little of That

**If you read my lead-up on Friday to our weekly Bits & Pieces, you know I was craving (and I mean CRAVING) a hamburger with a vanilla milk shake on the side.

Soooo, as the saying goes, all good things come to those who wait…

Boy, was that good. And the shake…there wasn’t a single solitary drop left in either the original glass or the little silver back-up thingy. Mmmm…

**I just got word that Book # 6 in the Southern Sewing Circle series has had a slight name change. Now, the book will be called, REAP WHAT YOU SEW.  Cute, huh?   But wait! If you’re scratching your head counting the books already out, you’re right…# 5 is the next to be released. That one is titled, DANGEROUS ALTERATIONS and will release on November 1st.  Both books are available for pre-order now!

**And finally, I’m currently reading Wendy Wax’s latest book, TEN BEACH ROAD.  What are you reading?

~Elizabeth

An Alternate Ending

 I have a fun question for all of you book lovers out there today…

 If you could rewrite the ending of ANY book, what book would it be and how would you end it?

~Elizabeth

What’cha Reading?

I’m off to the bookstore tomorrow to find something new to read. I think I already know what I’m going to buy, but I’m still open to suggestions.

So, what are you reading at the moment? Would you recommend it?

~Elizabeth

Postcards From The Road (Part 2)

One of my favorite parts of traveling for book events is trying some of the native food to that area.

This time, it was eastern North Carolina barbecue for the Lethal Ladies (Kate Carlisle, Hannah Dennison and me). My favorite part was the hushpuppies.

The waitress was awesome at this place. And the hushpuppies were de-licious! Yum!

If we go back again one day, this will be a must-stop restaurant for us.

Here we are in front of the sign outside the restaurant. We took this because I had a very hard time saying the name of this place.

~Elizabeth

A Real Page-Turner

Two weeks ago, I mentioned that I had started reading a book called, Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo, and that it had me in its grip. Well, I managed to finish it the other day despite a page-long to-do list that really left no time for reading. 

Anyway, if you haven’t read this book, you need to give it a shot. It is really, really, really good. It’s a bit dark at times (I don’t usually read dark), but the writing is so good and the characters so well drawn that you can’t help but be sucked in from the very first page.

Here’s a book blurb:

In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She’s certain she’s come to terms with her past—until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past—and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.

Next up for me? My friend’s labor of love.

What are you reading right now?

~Elizabeth

**A side note: A good friend (and book seller) turned me onto SWORN TO SILENCE as an example of a thriller set in the Amish world. It was interesting to read since I will be penning an Amish cozy mystery series that will debut with Berkley/Penguin in June 2012!

All I Want To Do Is Read…

Remember that goal I mentioned a few weeks back? The one about finding more time to read because it’s something I enjoy?

Well, I’m not doing so well.

I have the book next to my bed. And I’ve really enjoyed the few chapters I’ve read so far. But finding the time to pick it up and actually read it?

Um, no.

Which means I need some help figuring a way to squeeze it in around all of the things that seem to push it to the side each day (like writing and life). So tell me, when do you read? Is it something you do naturally or do you push yourself to make the time?

~Elizabeth

Plucked From The TBR Pile

So what are you reading right now?

I just started SWORN TO SILENCE by Linda Castillo. I’m only about four chapters in but, Wow. Very unsettling so far.

I’m also about to start reading a dear friend’s manuscript. Can’t wait!

~Elizabeth

Back To Books

As I was flying home from L.A. on Saturday, I realized just how much I was enjoying the opportunity a six hour flight gave for reading. I couldn’t return phone calls. I couldn’t check my email. I couldn’t post updates on Facebook. And I couldn’t do laundry, dishes or any of the other stuff that takes so much time at home. I could essentially write (which I opted not to do), sleep (which I did for about an hour), watch the in-flight movie the airline was showing (wasn’t interested) or read.

And read, I did.

Reading has always been a wonderful escape for me. I love that I can be transported somewhere else without ever leaving my couch/bed. I love that for that hour or so I’m reading, I can be someone else, experience something new. In fact, I’ve been an avid escape-from-the-real-world reader since I was fourteen. And I miss that. A lot. 

Don’t get me wrong. I read. I’m just more of a binge reader–going nuts when a window presents itself and then going cold turkey the rest of the time. But it’s that “rest of the time” that leaves me feeling like I’m missing something. Feast or famine, you know? 

So, starting now, that’s going to change. Sure, I still need to write, and clean, and keep up with the kids’ schedules…but I can read more regularly, too. In fact, it’s on my “personal goals” page of my new notebook: READ MORE.

How many hours a day do you read? Or, if you can’t quantify it that way, how often do you start a new book? And, last but not least, do you keep a written log of the books you’ve read?

~Elizabeth