One of my favorite parts of the holidays is the tradition of the Secret Santa Book Swap. It is the perfect marriage of the holiday spirit and sharing the book that stole your heart this year. While I was living abroad in Asia, I could not find a fiction book group that lived up to […]
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#GiveaBooK and Give That New Book Smell
By now, you’ve probably noticed that readers are posting and Tweeting #GiveaBook everywhere this week, and it warms my heart. It is always important to encourage friends to share the magic of reading, and support their local authors, but this month the message means even more. Penguin Random House has chosen Save The Children […]
Continue readingRound-up: Beloved Winter Books for Children
We all have them. Classic stories or poems that remind us of holiday candlelight, blue mittens on a string, sugar cookies and snow ball fights. The loved ones, teachers and librarians who introduced us to these stories gave us a gift that will last our entire lives. Since every time I drive by our local […]
Continue readingDiverse Books Open Minds
A fabulous, chatty, funny, energetic, little girl in my life is turning six. Let’s call her Cousin Giggly. I went looking for a book or two for her and wondered what she already had on her shelf. And what might be new or different for her. From Twitter, (yes, every once in a while, Twitter […]
Continue readingThe Lust for Motherhood: “Bargaining”
How far could the passion for motherhood drive a woman? That is the question that I asked myself last spring while working on a new short story. I have had my own challenges in trying to become a Mom, and I am familiar with the pang of longing. I began to wonder: if this pang […]
Continue readingSpecial Guest Blog: Short Stories Come to Life
by Kessika F. Johnson As an employee of Spider Road Press, I have had the pleasure of helping our recent collection, Eve’s Requiem, come to life. Now some of my jobs seemed small and seemingly not super book-related. I typed. I proofread. I went to Target. I ordered cupcakes. Other tasks were obviously connected to the […]
Continue readingFive Things That I Learned from my Book Launch Push
I’ve edited and published two books in the last 14 months. That’s either ambitious or kind of crazy, depending on one’s point of view. I also contributed a short story to the most recent one. A story in a new genre for me, no less (historical mystery fiction). I feel proud, humbled, grateful and damned tired. […]
Continue readingThe Colors of Suspense
Catching up With Horror/Science Fiction Writer and colorful crafter Lani Longshore…. Hi, Lani. Your work is truly original. But everyone has their influences. Which mystery, thriller, suspense or horror writer has had the most influence upon you? In brief, why? Every author I read influences me in some way, but let’s start with first ones […]
Continue readingGear Up for All Hallow's Read with Horror Writer Eden Royce
My favorite season of spooky literacy, All Hallow’s Read, approaches. It makes perfect sense to a fan of horror fiction that books and Halloween go together like chocolate and…pretty much everything. Haven’t heard of All Hallow’s Read? The movement to give the gift of a scary book (along with all those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups) […]
Continue readingInterview with Mystery Writer Pamela Fagan Hutchins
Thanks for dropping by, Pamela, to chat about writing and writers. Which mystery, thriller, suspense or horror writer has had the most influence upon you? Why? Wow, this is a hard one. I think the one I admire most is Ruth Rendell, and while my writing doesn’t resemble hers, her imagination and versatility admires me […]
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