no laboring over labor day weekend

I'm jaunting to Paris over the holiday weekend....well, not really. I'm going to Miami...ok, that's not true either. I'm going to my mother-in-law's house for dinner and the rest of the weekend I'm gonna sit around in my pajamas and read and watch movies. Either way -- Paris or jammies -- I'm taking a break from responsibility, including blogging. Back on Tuesday. See you then.

september's book club pick is....

...The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury.

Throughout the month, I'll post tidbits about the book and/or the author, and then on the last day of the month I'll let you know what I thought and hopefully you'll do the same. To join the Tampa Book Buzz Online Book Club -- to vote on the monthly book choice and to access the discussion board -- is easy: email me at tampafilmfan (at) aol.com. Happy reading!

online book club review:the five people you meet in heaven by mitch albom

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is only 196 pages -- brief pages -- long and can be easily finished in one sitting. The message of Mitch Albom's book stays with you a bit longer.

This book is about the life, death and afterlife of Eddie, an 83-year-old widowed war veteran, who has seen his life slide downhill from youthful dreams into a routine monotony of working as a maintenance man at an amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, he dies in an effort to save a young girl from a malfunctioning ride. He awakes in a version of Heaven he never expected; in this afterlife, Eddie meets five people whose lives have intertwined with his in profound and not always obvious ways.

To give details about the five people would give too much away, so I'll only say that I enjoyed Five People That You Meet in Heaven on two levels. Eddie's life story -- full of coincidences, joy, sorrow, sadness and love -- was entertaining in and of itself. The deeper story -- about the meaning of life and the meaning of others in our life -- was expected, but yet welcomed.

What did you think?

book news:mcree, jacobs, kelly, leto, llewellyn, london, rock, st. claire, boucher

• The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative has revamped its website. They now offer downloadable versions of their monthly newsletters, among other things.
  
• Local author David McRee (Florida Beaches) was recently mentioned in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Congratulations!
  
• There are several Tampa Area Romance Authors members who have books out this month: Ann Jacobs (Wrong Place, Wrong Time?); Leslie Kelly (Here Comes Trouble); Julie Elizabeth Leto (The Domino Effect); Kimberly Llewellyn (Tulle Little, Tulle Late); Jeanie London (If You Could Read My Mind); Joanne Rock (The Knight's Courtship); and Roxanne St. Claire (Thrill me To Death). (Thanks go to local author Joy Smith for sending me this list)
• Local author Wendy Boucher earned mega-blogosphere points recently by having one of her posts mentioned on The Daily Kos. Way to go, Wendy!

florida author april star

Sebring, Florida author April Star wrote to say hello and to tell me about her new wanderlust mystery series. Her debut novel Tropical Warnings is due for release in November as a hardback first edition mystery from Five Star Publishing and Thorndike Press.

In Star's mystery series, her RVers/amateur sleuths seem to find murder, mystery and mayhem at ever camping resort they pull into (remind me not to go RVing with Star!). Visit www.authoraprilstar.com to learn more about this Florida author and her books.

st. pete times festival of reading is october 28

Mark your calendars. Pack the sunscreen. Get out your sharpie markers and your bookbag. The St. Pete Times Festival of Reading is scheduled for October 28. Here's the homepage. Here's the most current list of featured authors. Here's their bios. Here's the most current list of booksellers and exhibitors. Here's info on tranquilizers in case you need pharmaceutical help waiting for October 28 to get here.

worldcat.org library search website

The St. Petersburg College Library Blog has a great post about the WorldCat.org website, which sounds like an easy way to search library databases. Read the post here. I haven't had a chance to do more than bookmark the website, but I'll give it a try this weekend.

wordsmith from the tampa writers alliance

There was a large envelope in the mail this week. It wasn't ticking...my address wasn't written in block letters with no return address in the top lefthand corner..there was no visible white powder on it. Inhale deeply, squint eyes and rip it open....

My copy of Wordsmith 2005 had arrived!

Wordsmith 2005 contains winning entries in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, novel, poetry, scripts and the Dr. Ed Hirshburg Award for Excellence in Florida Writing, along with the best of the remaining submissions from the Tampa Writers Alliance 2004 Annual Writing Contest. This is Wordsmith's 16th Edition. (from the back cover)

So far, I've only had a chance to thumb through it, but it's going right to the top of my bedside table stack o' books.

books i want to read

My reading list keeps getting longer. I've come across a lot of books recently that sound very interesting:

• Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl -- People called this "a blockbuster debut" full of "literary and pop cultural references and illustrations by Pessel herself" that "demands attention."
  
• The Ruins by Scott Smith -- Entertainment Weekly called it an "old-fashioned horror story" and Salon.com warns "don't start this book if you are weak of stomach or nerves." The Week highlighted The Ruins as Novel of the Week and Time included it on their list 6 Guilt-Free Pleasures to Read at the Beach.
  

I talked my local librarian into giving me an extra copy of a new-book catalog he had lying around (although he made me promise not to clog their online system by adding all of them to my library holds list). There are too many fascinating, intriguing titles to mention them all here, but here's a few that piqued my interest:

• Social Intelligence:The New Science of Human Relationships by Daniel Goleman (out September 26th)
  
• The Birth House by Ami McKay (August)
  
• Renfield:Slave of Dracula by Barbara Hambly (September)
  
• Considering Doris Day by Tom Santopietro (September)
  
• Brainiac:Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs by Ken Jennings (September)
  
• Women of Valor:The Rochambelles on the WWII Front by Ellen Hampton (September)
  
• Reading Like A Writer:A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose (September)
  
• Dead Center:Behind the Scenes at the World's Largest Medical Examiner's Office by Shiya Ribowsky and Tom Shachtman (September) .

So many books, so little time!

local author k.l. "kathy" nappier

I met local author K.L. "Kathy" Nappier a couple of weeks ago at a Tampa Writers Alliance meeting and have been reading about her online ever since. According to her bio on the Double Dragon Publishing website, Nappier's been writing for 20 years and her supernatural thriller Full Wolf Moon placed in the Draco Awards’ Final Three in the Horror Division, placed in the Kay Snow Awards and was a finalist in the New Century Awards, along with another of her novels.

Her other works include Voyagers and a short story in Twisted Tails: An Anthology to Surprise and Delight. In October, Nappier will be a presenter and panelist in the Muse Online Writers Convention (participation is free, but requires registration).

Purchase Nappier's e-book here, listen to her podcast interview, watch the webcast of her Dragon Page Radio interview here (NOTE: On this site, once you click on "Listen", select show#224 from the menu and slide the audio bar to approximately the 7 minute mark to access the interview segment of the show.), or bookmark her Amazon.com blog.

Whichever you choose, definitely keep your eyes on this local author.

books this week:ann rule, dean koontz and meg cabot

I have been a reading fool this week (as opposed to just a regular fool). Last weekend, my Second Job accidentally - blissfully - left me off the schedule, so on Saturday I read Heart Full Of Lies:A True Story of Desire and Death by true-crime goddess Ann Rule. I would read the tax code if Rule wrote it; her writing is compelling and draws you into the story from page one.

On Sunday I started Velocity by Dean Koontz. In the mid-90s I discovered Kootnz and read everything he'd written up to that point. Then, when there was nothing more of his to read, I sort of forgot about him for a few years. He puts out at least one book a year, so it looks like I need to go on another Koontz reading spree to catch up.

Yesterday I finished Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot, which was a book club pick at the South Tampa Barnes and Noble women's fiction book group a month or two ago. The library waiting list was a little long, so needless to say I didn't make it to that particular book club meeting. Meg Cabot is the author of The Princess Diaries and many other books, but I'd never read her stuff before now. Size 12 Is Not Fat is the first book in her Heather Wells mystery series and centers around a nosy, crime-solving, ex-pop star, slightly overweight, single but looking, late twentysomething woman who works in a New York college residence hall. It was fluff, but additive, fun fluff.

florida bibliophile society fall meeting schedule

The Florida Bibliophile Society is returning from its summer hiatus with a full schedule:

September 17 (Largo): guest speaker will be James Tarpley, award-winning Sarasota bookseller

October 15 (Tampa): touring Special Collections at the University of South Florida

November 19 (Largo): guest speaker will be Frank Russell, woodcarver and author of many books on woodcarving and other topics

Visit www.floridabibliophilesociety.org to learn more or to get a membership application.

dan poynter in plant city august 19

Author, publisher and frequent lecturer Dan Poynter is the guest speaker at this month's National Speakers Association Central Florida meeting in Plant City August 19. Known as "The Book Guy," Poynter will give a speech titled "Turning Your Speeches Into Books."

Click here for meeting registration information.

(Thanks go to local author Eric Sturm for letting me know about this.)

bookreporter.com's beach bag of books this week

This week's Beach Bag of Books promotion on www.bookreporter.com features Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell.

Click here to read their review of Lipstick Jungle and to enter the sweepstakes.

argentinean-american author mariel dabbah in tampa August 24

The South Tampa Barnes and Noble is hosting Argentinean-American author Mariela Dabbah on Thursday, August 24, at 6:30 p.m. Dabbah will discuss and sign two of her Spanish-language books.

From the press release received via email:

Como conseguir trabajo en los Estados Unidos: How to Get a Job in the United States will help every immigrant master the necessary steps in the process of looking for a job in the United States. It offers specific information, taking into consideration that many of the readers may not have proper documents to apply for all job openings. It identifies alternatives that will suit their individual situations. It also deals with cultural issues.

Ayude a su Hijo a Tener Exito en la Escuela Guia Especial para Padres Latinos: How to Help Your Child be Successful in School (A Special Guide for Latino Parents) helps Latino parents understand the U.S. school system, and how to get the most for their children from the system. It begins with an overview of the U.S. system, and continues with the differences and similarities to the familiar Latin American countriesÂ’ educational systems. It encourages the parents to set aside their fears and directs them to work with the appropriate person within the school facility.

Mariela Dabbah received her MFA from the University of Buenos Aires. An immigrant from Argentina in 1988, she originally came to this country as a tourist. She eventually received her green card and has started several companies. She lives and teaches in New York. She has written fiction as well as non-fiction, with the non-fiction having an emphasis on topics related to the assimilation process of immigrants and factors that contribute to their success in America.

The South Tampa Barnes & Noble is located at 213 N. Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa. For more information, call 813-871-2228 or click here.

(cross-posted at Sticks of Fire)

sword of truth miniseries?

I saw on ReadersRead.com that director Sam Raimi has optioned the film rights for Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. OMG!! I had no idea who Terry Goodkind was in 1998 when I worked weekends at Waldenbooks, but I bought a copy of Wizard's First Rule for him to sign when he came in for a book signing one afternoon. When I finally got around to reading it, I was enthralled. I absolutely loved -- adored -- LOVED -- the first four or five in his Sword of Truth series. (Didn't like the one before last so much and haven't read the newest one yet.)

I hope the movie does the book series justice and I don't have to post "why did they do that?" a year from now.

my speech on whether or not authors should blog

I've found a way to squelch my nerves before speaking in public: Tylenol! On Wednesday I stayed home sick from work because I had a headache, so I was mega-dosing Tylenol all day long. When it came time to give my presentation to the Tampa Writers Alliance Wednesday night, I did a good job, if I do say so myself. I explained what blogging is, listed some of the different types of blogs, gave examples of authors who blog and what they blog about, listed the pros and cons of blogging, and discussed some online marketing tips.

Blogging is my second-favorite subject to talk about (myself being No. 1, of course). I also turned in my TWA membership application, so now I'm an Official Writer and everything. In addition to seeing the usual suspects Skip Allen (who showed me the artwork for the cover of his new book), S.L. Juers (who gave me some insight into how he came up with the main character in his book Eternally Yours) and TWA president Sandra Kischuk (who is an absolute dear), I had a chance to meet:

Kathy Astl, TWA secretary, paralegal and legal textbook author (which means she's way smarter than the rest of us);

K.L. (Kathy) Nappier, author of Full Wolf Moon, who sat in the back of the room directly in my line of sight and helped me out a lot by nodding occasionally, which was very encouraging;

Chris Jackson, author of Deathmask and a fellow blogger, whose website I've only had time to glance at so far, but plan on going back to because he's written some very interesting sci-fi and fantasy stuff (plus he was a super nice guy);

and Michael Darling, author of Hoplite Renegades, who gave me a copy of his book before getting lost in the library with me as we tried to find our way back to the parking garage. With his interest in military history and science fiction, he reminded me a lot of The Husband, but with a long ponytail. When I told The Husband that I proudly told Michael that I recognized the word "hoplite" he told me that I was wrong: "hoplite" refers to the shield the ancient Greeks used and not to their clothing, like I thought. Michael was polite, though, and didn't correct me. He was ... a darling (sorry, couldn't resist).

I met several other TWA members also, but without their business cards to refer to, I'm afraid that their names escape me at the moment. All in all, it was a good night.

To blog or not to blog: that is the question!

this month's book giveaway on tcm

This month, TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is giving away copies of the new biography of Elizabeth Taylor by J. Randy Taraborrelli titled Elizabeth. Click here to read about this new book and to enter the sweepstakes.

local author vicki taylor

Local author Vicki M. Taylor has written her third novel. Here's part of her press release:

Trust in the Wind, a novel written by Vicki M. Taylor, has just been released by Mundania Press. This is Taylor’s third novel, all of which are based in Florida. She spent the last ten years living in Florida and enjoys the casual life. Her novels reflect the community of Tampa and its surroundings.

When pregnant teen Joanne chooses single motherhood, she loses everything, including her family. Four years later, she’s fiercely independent, trusts no one and is barely keeping her head above water. Roy is a Hillsborough County Sheriff, and a widower who lost his wife and child during a burglary gone terribly wrong. Six years later, he still refuses to love for fear of losing it again. Together, these two just might get a second chance to learn about trust and love. When you can’t count on people, Trust in the Wind.

Taylor lives in Tampa with her husband, dog, and parrot. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, National Association of Women Writers and more.

Visit www.vickimtaylor.com for more information.

(Thanks go to Tommy at Sticks of Fire for forwarding this to me.)

book buzz:eternally yours by s.l. juers

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed reading a book as much as I did Eternally Yours by S.L. Juers. If the term "vampire fiction" turns you off, I implore you to read further, because Eternally Yours is so much more than that.

This book is a suicide note, written because "I need someone to understand. My death holds as much purpose as my life. I want it understood, I was rational and justified in the end." The author of this suicide note is Rudolph Sonthofen, who was a normal child growing up in late 18th century North Carolina until a vicious animal attack changed his life forever.

Rudolph doesn't change into the sadistic and thirsty vampire often found in these stories; he merely develops a sensitivity to the sun, ages far slower than normal and has the overwhelming need to consume blood whenever the moon is full. For a few decades, Rudolph lives an almost-normal life, carefully tracking the lunar cycles to make sure he has animal blood available and periodically moving to different parts of the country to avoid questions about never looking any older. Then he learns what his future holds for him: watching friends and loved ones grow old and die, continually having to assume new identities and relocate to begin a new life, and never finding a cure for his curse.

Juers has created an amazing story that is impossible to put down. Eternally Yours is a fascinating first-hand look at our nation's history by a fictional character in the position to live through it all. Rudolph was a hunter and trapper, an outpost store owner, a California gold miner, a participant in the Underground Railroad, a member of two Native American tribes, a New York factory owner, a photographer and much more throughout his 228 years.

It's also a heartbreaking, touching story of friendship, love, loss and loneliness. And, finally, it's a fresh look at the familiar genre of vampire fiction. Rudolph embraced modern medicine so that his vampirism could be studied and hopefully cured. He embraced the new visual art of cinema and used movies to forget about his life, all the while hating the portrayal of vampires on the movie screen. "I was in tears while I watched the dramatic and, somewhat romantic portrayal, recalling parts of my life and reliving the anguish of my need...I knew the word 'vampire' would be known to all who dared to purchase a ticket to the affordable experience."

To S.L. Juers, let me say that this fan is "eternally yours."

local romance authors' book signing august 5th

There's a multi-author book signing at the Carrollwood Barnes & Noble from 2 - 4 p.m. on August 5th. Here's the list of Tampa Area Romance Authors members who will be there (according to author Kimberly Llewellyn):

Kimberly Llewellyn
Karen Rose
Susan Kearney
Roxanne St. Claire
Beverly Brandt
and a few more...

(Thanks go to Kimberly Llewellyn for sending me this info.)

august's online book club pick Is...

...The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. Throughout the month, I'll post tidbits about the author and the book. On the last day of the month, I'll post my review and hopefully you'll post a comment or two letting me know what you thought of the book.

Tampa Book Buzz Online Book Club members determine the monthly book selections and have access on online discussion boards through Target's Bookmarked website. If you're interested in joining, email me at tampafilmfan (at) aol.com.

Happy reading!

online book club review:the lovely bones by alice sebold

Alice Sebold has created a unique narrator in The Lovely Bones: a 14-year-old dead girl looking down from her “Heaven” telling the story of her murder and its impact on her family. Before I read this book, I thought this idea sounded a little creepy and was wary of reading it. I was wrong; oh, so wrong. The Lovely Bones is sadly beautiful. It’s a poignant look at one family coping with unspeakable tragedy that changes their lives forever.

Susie Salmon watches her friends and family disintegrate after her death: her father becomes obsessed with finding her killer; her mother detaches and uses every coping mechanism she can think of to get by; her baby brother becomes attached to his father and grows up to secretly resent his dead sister; her sister starts lifting weights and shows no emotion to anyone; her classmate becomes obsessed with Susie and believes she can communicate with her. Meanwhile, Susie spends her years in "Heaven" visiting dead relatives, playing endlessly, making new friends while missing her old ones, watching Earth, and living vicariously through her friends and family.

The ending seemed a little rushed, as if Sebold got tired and wanted to tie up all the loose ends in a hurry. Ending aside, The Lovely Bones is refreshingly original and very moving.

What did you think?

news--alicia r. warren, ersula knox odom, tampa bay association of black journalists, kimberly llewellyn

*Local author Alicia R. Warren has a written a sequel to her book The Chances We Take. It's called One More Chance and is available now. Warren was recently interviewed by www.tampabayin.com. Click here for the interview.

*Speaking of www.tampabayin.com, local author Ersula Knox Odom was also recently interviewed on that site.

*The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists has announced that Rene Syler, co-host of CBS’ morning news program The Early Show, will serve as keynote speaker for its Second Annual Griot Drum Awards and Scholarship Banquet November 16th in the Poynter Institute for Media Studies.

*Kimberly Llewellyn's newest book Tulle Little, Tulle Late is out.