For those unfamiliar with the term “woobie”: a woobie is a much-loved blanket that may have holes or stains or be far too small, but it gives one comfort in a chaotic world. Most of us had woobies as children. Some of us still have woobies as adults. *raises hand*     So, it seems to me like avid readers […]

  I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately. It’s what I do when I’m sick, stressed, can’t sleep, or just need an escape. So, I’ve been adding rapidly to my list of books read in 2015 as well as my list of flawed characters.  But, lately, I’ve been looking for a different sort of book: shifter books. I’ve aimed for […]

  So, my story in the Accidental Valentine anthology is getting great reviews. Wanna know more? How about the first line? There were times when you just had to say “this is not acceptable, no matter how good you look in your jeans.” How about a few of my favorite lines? “You want to get dirty with me in the […]

  So, once upon a time, I wrote this short story about a paleontologist and a painter. It was a bit too…racy for me to ever put on this blog, but I loved it with all the love of a mother for a wild child who tells inappropriate jokes. Rock My Bones is in this anthology:   Accidental Valentine – […]

  Oh c’mon. We’ve all gone through it. And, believe me, it blows. When reading fails you, it’s a dark day indeed. There are a few types of book burnout and thus different methods of solving them. Here are the primary types of book burnout: 1. Singular Book Burnout Diagnosis: You’re halfway through the book you’re reading…and you’re still halfway…and…wow…are […]

  Every so often, I run across an author that I can buy without worrying about whether I’ll like the book or not. The one-click-buy is nearly reflexive. Sure, there are a few slips from grace that you excuse by saying “it’s like it was written by someone else” and then you go on snatching up their books like hotcakes. […]

Many of you know that I have an atrocious memory. It’s partly due to my OCD meds and partly due to my chronic insomnia. It’s also the reason I keep a separate doc file of books I’ve read so that I’m not rereading lame books all the time. This year I read enough books (467–see the list) that they all […]

  When I say I’m an avid reader, I’m not kidding. Luckily, I also read fast…and never sleep. I tend to have comfort genres and while, most years, I try for more variety–this year I let myself get away with just reading what I felt like reading. I’m posting the list, but only showing the ratings on books over four […]

  I have a confession…I’m a moody reader. Though I don’t dress up like the woman in the picture and strike poses…I should…but I don’t. I have to be in the mood for a book in order to pick it up. Usually it has to fit into whatever binge I’m currently in. Sometimes I do read outside my mood for […]

  Everything has already been done. But has it been done well? And can it be done differently? I think there’s a certain appeal to fairy tale retellings or reimaginings in that beyond the classic elements crossing over from the fairy tale–there’s also the fact that you “know” the story and you’re curious how they’ll do it differently. This Weakness […]