22 Harlequin Historical romance writers have teamed up for their version of the Christmas Advent Calendar contest.
Every day until Dec. 25, readers are prompted to go to a featured author's website to find either a hidden ornament or to answer a trivia question. Participants enter their names into the daily draw to win free books as well as the grand prize for an Amazon Kindle. Even if you are leery of entering online contests, this is terrific way to explore new authors and give you a head start on compiling your "what's next" reading list.
Not to mention, opening this daily advent door won't add pounds to your hips!
--May
May's Comment: Okay, so J.C. was aghast when she discovered that I had never read a Nora Roberts book until last year. What can I say? I'm more of professed historical romance reader than a fan of the contemporary stuff. Since my so-called 'confession', I have read a couple of her books, mainly her latest works, Vision in White (not as good as I would have liked) and Bed of Roses (much better than expected). So far I like what I managed to read by her but if you are a huge fan of the author, then you might want to check out The Official Nora Roberts Companion !
Summary: With insights into the #1 New York Times bestselling author's life, work and career-and little-known facts about her most popular novels-this beautifully designed book celebrates Nora Roberts's enduring legacy of powerful, passionate storytelling.
* The books: a complete, cross-referenced list of Roberts's books-including those written as J.D. Robb--with trivia, quotes, and family trees
* The career: a timeline of Roberts's career, with a list of major milestones
* The fans: inspiring true stories of how Roberts's books have changed her fans' lives, a list of fan clubs, photos of her with her fans, and "favorite" lists-Best Kiss, Best Hero-all voted on by fans
* The phenomenon: romance writers, industry insiders, booksellers, reviewers, and fans talk about Roberts's success
Plus, Roberts shares her travel adventures and discusses the fine art of writing romance.
Want to read more of Nora Roberts' books? Are you more interested in listening to Roberts' books or watching movies based on her books? Then click on this link to find all of the library materials related to Nora. Enjoy!
Well-known Regency romance writer Mary Balogh is one of the guest celebrities at the "Spotlight on the Past: Celebrity Readings from Archives in Saskatchewan". The event takes place at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum Theatre (corner of Albert Street and College Avenue) on Thursday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m.
This event, hosted by CKRM Radio’s Roger Currie, will showcase a wide variety of documents from archives across the province. In addition to Mary, there will be appearances by mystery writer Gail Bowen, whose first book was a romantic novella entitled "1919: The Love Letters of George and Adelaide”; TV personalities J.C. Garden, Rod McDonald, and Jill Morgan; and former Saskatchewan Roughrider Scott Schultz. The event is open to the public and a reception will follow the reading.
"Spotlight on the Past: Celebrity Readings from Archives in Saskatchewan" caps off Archives Week celebrations here in Regina. Archives Week (February 1-7, 2010) honour our province's rich and vibrant documentary heritage and the tremendous work that has gone into ensuring its ongoing preservation, and to promote the continuing importance of archives in our communities.
P.S. Don't forget to attend the free viewing of A Prairie Romance the night before!
For those of you who can't wait to read Lisa Kleypas' Tempt Me at Twilight (newest book in the Hathaway series), then you might to check out this incredible freebie!
Click on this link to take you to the MacMillan website to register for your free PDF short story featuring Merripen's and Win's wedding. Enjoy!!!
Check out this heart-warming and thought-provoking article by novelist Teresa Medieros on why she writes romance novels.
This begs the question, "Why do YOU read romance novels?"
Cultural Gutter has a great article on Saskatchewan's very own Mary Balogh. Looking at her life, her influences, and her new series, this is not an article to miss. After reading about Balogh's background, and the thoughtful study of class that she brings to her Regencies, I've decided I must check out her newest title First Comes Marriage, and apparently I'm not alone because there are a few holds on it!
Kathleen Tessaro has come out with a funny new book called The Flirt, about a man who is hired as a professional flirt to bring a bit of excitement to unhappy women, and ends up falling in love himself.
If you aren’t familiar with Tessaro, try her earlier books Elegance and Innocence.
I tend to binge on various things like candy and pop, and I'm no different when it comes to my reading habits. I will find an author, read all of her books, and when I am finished, I am left with that empty feeling of "what do I do now?"
Well, if you are anything like me, you will find the Author Readalikes in the Novelist database incredibly useful. Just search for your favorite author, and then click on the "Author Readalikes" tab to browse a list of authors that might suit your mood. (Remember: You will need a library card number and PIN to log on to the database.)
