“Land of Entrapment” scores a nice review
Posted on December 27, 2009
Hey, this was a nice holiday present. Many thanks to Rainbow Reviews for this review of Land of Entrapment.
And I hope everyone is having a nice Kwanzaa (if you do that) and that you’re getting ready for the new year. Peace!
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Gift Ideas for you and yours!
Posted on December 19, 2009
Hi, all–
Since some of you are having to batten your hatches (major scariness on Eastern Seaboard), maybe you’re doing some online shopping. Well, I’m here to help!
Just remember to share the love and stay safe. Peace out, y’all, and happy holidays!
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Lambda Rising closes
Posted on December 11, 2009
I’m not sure how to nail down how I feel about this. Here’s the Publishers Weekly story on it. To see more on my views, check my blog over at Women and Words.
Hope your Friday is going well.
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Kirkus Reviews and Editor and Publisher to close down
Posted on December 10, 2009
Y’know, this just bummed me out. Within the last couple of years–the last year, especially–I’ve watched so many publishers, magazines, and newspapers shut down that it seems I’ve become jaded about it. But I haven’t. Kirkus Reviews started in 1933. And now it’s gone, with Editor and Publisher.
KR has been a staple for readers, publishers, editors, and people interested in the book industry because of the reviews it’s published. E&P chronicled issues in newspapers for 108 years. I’m not sure what to make of situations like this. The usual reasons were cited: lack of money because there’s a drop in advertising dollars and a drop in circulation. So I wonder–what, then, are people reading? Are they reading? Do they care about books? Or are we so caught up in a sound bite culture that the only thing that sustains us is reality TV, snarky blogs, and a decided lack of attention to detail and deeper thought? I so hope not.
I hate to see things like this happen; I hate to see publications like this come to an end. I only hope that something rises from the ashes. And that it’s something good.
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Back from Seattle!
Posted on December 8, 2009
Hi, all! I’m back from Seattle and I had an absolutely wonderful time at the Seattle Mystery Bookshop. The staff is unbelievably wonderful, knowledgeable, and I bought books for family members who are mystery-obsessed. If you are ever in Seattle, make a pilgrimage to this great resource. Thanks to the folks who stopped by to chit-chat with me and Joan Opyr and get things signed. Thanks, too, to the folks who couldn’t come but who ordered books nonetheless. Dang right I signed ‘em!
Seattle is a wonderful city, with a vibe all its own–think of the dark, mysterious forests from Lord of the Rings filled with Elves (the tall, elegant kind, as opposed to the short, elegant kind). Now add a little bit of the creepy X-Files vibe but serve it up with that awesome cherry pie from Twin Peaks and keep the coffee pouring.
For example, Joan and I went to the Pike Place Market, and fishmongers were engaged in packing up their wares and other vendors were, as well, but it was loud and still busy and some people were wandering through. We ended up at a bar there in the market, but as we were wending our way through the crowd, two women passed us, dressed in vinyl catsuits and stiletto boots. The woman in the red catsuit was holding the leash that was attached to the collar around the neck of the woman in the blue catsuit. And there they were, wandering through the market.
Seattle’s like that. The last time I was there (a couple of years ago), I was waiting at a bus stop around 10 PM and a couple of guys rode by on their bicycles. No biggie, right? Guys on bikes. Everybody rides bikes in Seattle. Well, the difference here was that besides biking shoes, these guys were naked. Yep. Nothing but the shoes, folks. There’s like a normalizing thing about Seattle when it comes to stuff that might seem freaky elsewhere–such that the first thing I thought when I saw those guys was: “dang, doesn’t the seat chafe them?” Not “OMG! NAKED DUDES ON BIKES!” And when I saw those women at the market, I thought: “I wonder what club they’re going to.” Not “OMG! Mistress and slave sighting at Pike Place Market!”
Anyway, I had a great time and a wonderful dinner with Joan and some fine folks from the Bookshop. Hope to go back soon!
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