It’s probably a tad bit selfish to treat myself to goodies during the season of giving, but I just couldn’t fight the gravitational pull toward the mall bookstore. All the new titles with glossy red and green covers were too hard to resist!
Although I didn’t make much progress on the holiday shopping list, I did procure a nice little bundle of Christmassy reads! Thanks to MizB at Should Be Reading, I get to brag about my latest literary shopping spree in this Friday Finds post.
Which one shall I read first?
Holiday Grind: A Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 8
Clare’s grown very fond of Alfred Glockner, the part-time comic and genuinely jolly charity Santa who’s been using her coffeehouse as a place to warm his mittens. When she finds him gunned down in a nearby alley, a few subtle clues convince her that Alfred’s death was something more than the tragic result of a random mugging, despite the conclusions of the police. More…
Silent Night: A Lady Julia Christmas Novella
After a year of marriage – and numerous adventures – Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together – until they find themselves at her father’s ancestral estate, Bellmont Abbey, with her eccentric family and a menagerie of animals. Nevertheless, Julia looks forward to a lively family gathering – but amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs. More…
A Countess by Christmas
The Earl of Bridgemere is happy to encourage his reputation as a curmudgeonly recluse if it repels the grasping females who usually attend his lavish Christmas parties. Helen Forrest is like a breath of fresh air, uninterested in his wealth and not cowed by his temper. Bridgemere’s seasonal duty suddenly becomes a pleasure as he sets about making Helen his countess—by Christmas! More…
A Wreath of Snow: A Victorian Christmas Novella
All Margaret Campbell wants for Christmas is a safe journey home. When her plans for a festive holiday with her family in Stirling crumble beneath the weight of her brother’s bitterness, the young schoolteacher wants nothing more than to return to the students she loves and the town house she calls home. Then an unexpected detour places her in the path of Gordon Shaw, a handsome newspaperman from Glasgow, who struggles under a burden of remorse and shame. More…
Friday Finds is a weekly meme spotlighting books you’ve bought or hope to buy in the future. Hop over to Should Be Reading for more details.
A big thanks goes out to Chrissy Anderson, author of The Life List, for bestowing the One Lovely Blog Award to Chick Lit Café! I just love getting these congratulatory blog hops because usually I get to talk about my favorite subject – MYSELF!
Per the rules, I must divulge seven random tidbits about the fascinating world of Jessica Sinn.
My second-grade teacher sparked my love for mysteries when she introduced me to The Secret Garden.
When I’m not reading and blogging, I work in public relatons at UT-Austin.
I can’t resist doing the Macarena and the Electric Slide at dance clubs and office holiday parties.
I met my husband in Tijuana, Mexico.
I love to shoot skeet with my dad out in the boondocks.
Transylvania is at the top of my “bucket list.”
I’m a closet introvert.
Now it’s my turn to nominate a handful of lovely bloggers for this award:
1) Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
2) Place the One Lovely Blog Award badge on your blog.
3) Tell seven things about yourself.
4) Nominate seven to fifteen other blogs for the award. List them with links to their blogs.
I saw something absolutely horrifying this morning. Keep in mind, I’m an avid fan of zombie apocalypse movies, so it takes a lot to rattle my cage. No, it wasn’t a snake coiled under my bed or a rabid Rottweiler crouched next to my car. It was something far more disturbing. When I flipped on the news, images of ravenous bargain-hunting fiends crawling over each other at Wal-Mart checkout stands flashed upon my TV screen like a bad omen of humanity’s impending doom.
You’re probably thinking, “So what? It’s Black Friday – a fucked up holiday tradition that corporate America has taught us to embrace.” But that’s where you’re wrong. You see, Black Friday is now one and the same with Thanksgiving. Rushing the holidays before Halloween just isn’t enough anymore. Now the big box stores are eclipsing Thanksgiving by launching their big sales on Thursday evening.
Oh sure, we’re still given a small window for turkey eating, but you can forget about wasting time on all of those little things like catching up with family, beating your big sister at Monopoly or watching a post-feast movie. As a matter of fact, all of that banter around the dinner table is just a distraction from your bargain hunting emails and apps. And geez – why did Grandpa Joe have to waste a whole five minutes on the blessing? All of that talk about being thankful for family, food and American freedom almost made you forget to text your BFF about the newly marked down iPhone.
Good thing you were able to catch up on the latest bargains by watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the world’s longest commercial. You know, I used to enjoy that parade, but this year did it seem like the producers said, “Let’s throw a little parade into our commercial”? Eventually I had to turn it off before Santa’s appearance because my hand was getting tired from all the fast-forwarding.
Maybe it’s the same old parade. And maybe this Black Thursday business is just a new way for retailers to get back on their feet. Perhaps I’ll learn to let our society’s infatuation wtih consumerism roll off my back. But right now, I’m pretty irate about greedy corporate giants and the millions of dedicated shoppers who allow them to exploit their workers. Next time you’re shopping at Wal-Mart, be sure to be a little nicer to that disgruntled cashier. Don’t take it personally when they ignore you or respond to your questions with a dismissive grunt. They’re probably just a little bitter because while you’re asking about what kind of apps you can download on the new Google tablet, they’re probably thinking about all the fun their family is having without them at Thanksgiving dinner. Or heck – they could be dying a slow painful death because they’re unable to afford their health insurance premiums.
So on this retrospective day when we should all be breaking bread with our loved ones, storming the “door-busters” should be the last thing on our minds. Techy gadgets, designer jeans and 50-inch flat-screens will not hold your hand at your grandmother’s funeral. They will not drive out of their way to help you fix a flat tire. They will not hold you close on a cold winter’s night. I love a good sale as much as the next girl, but I think it’s worth it to pay a little extra at the mall than to ditch my friends and family – and the meaning of Thanksgiving – for a bargain basement deal.
On this blessed day of thanks, I’m grateful for family, friends, good books – and most importantly – PIE! Oh how I love me some warm, gooey, scrumpdiliumptious pie. Nothing beats the down-home goodness of a freshly baked pie. From the sugar-ensconced fluffy meringue toppings to the rich, decadent chocolate cream fillings – these delicious dishes evoke some of my fondest childhood memories.
When it comes to the nostalgic bliss of pie, nobody says it better than Beth Howard, author of Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie: “Pie is accessible, affordable, all-encompassing. Pie is meant for sharing. Pie connects people. Pie knows no cultural or political boundaries. Pie makes people happy. And happy people make the world a better place. That’s why the world needs more pie.”
In honor of America’s most iconic dessert, here is a little taste of two pie-themed books.
In Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie, Beth Howard shares how her lifelong love of pie helped her get through the pain of bereavement. After her husband’s untimely death, she seeks refuge in the art and craft of pie baking. With some help from good friends and her own inner strength, she sets forth on a cross-country pie-baking documentary project in her husband’s Winnebago. Filled with a multitude of pie analogies, this book is both heart-warming and gut-wrenching. Like a big hunk of chocolate cream pie, this journey of self-discovery will stick to your ribs long after you devour it. Go to her website to read all about her book, pie-baking tips, and her American Gothic house.
I should also mention an upcoming book by one of my most favorite chick lit authors, Lauren Clark. In Pie Girls, a spoiled Southern Belle must return to her hometown and rebuild her life after it all falls apart in the big city. Somehow she finds herself involved in a Pie Lab, which is based off of a real restaurant that offers job training for high school dropouts and people in need of vocational skills. Sounds like a tasty read to me! Go to her blog for a sneak preview.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sneak a bite out of my delicious pumpkin pie while my husband isn’t looking! I’m sure our guests won’t notice that tiny little dent…right?
In honor of Sunday – a day I reserve for reading and lollygagging – I bring you a short and sweet book review!
From the publisher: Amy Goodnight’s family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.
Why I picked this book: Confession – I had absolutely no business buying another book because I have a stack of review copies to attend to. But how could I pass up a book titled “Texas Gothic”? I spent a good 20 agonizing minutes at BookPeople picking up the book, setting it down, picking it up again and then setting it down. My conscience was telling me to be practical and wait until after I read my stack of books…but the devil on my shoulder always wins. Come to think of it, this is the exact process I go through in the ice cream aisle at HEB. Texas Gothic is the literary equivalent of a big calorie-laden tub of Blue Bell.
Why I loved it: OMG – where to begin? The hot cowboy next door, the foreboding “Mad Monk,” the Nancy Drew mystery, the hilariously quirky main character – everything about this book roped me in like a steer at a Texas rodeo! Plus it’s set in the Texas Hill Country, a deeply storied region steeped in ghostly legends and lore. And if that’s not enough – the author (a fifth-generation Texan, I might add!) researched a forensic archeological dig project at my alma mater, Texas State. As a student, I was always interested in the body farm, so this was a real treat. I’ve also been very fascinated by the ghosts and legends of the Texas Hill Country, specifically the Devil’s Backbone. I consulted with Bert Wall, author of a series of books about the haunted hill country, and the Texas Ghost Hunters for a special Halloween story for my college newspaper. Read more about it here.
The romance: The chemistry between Amy and Ben McCullough, the rugged cowboy next door, really revved my engine. They have the whole love-hate thing going on – and it works! Imagine pairing up Nancy Drew with a young, hot Clint Eastwood and throwing some ghost-hunting and witchcraft in the mix. I’m not sure what was more fun, solving the mystery of the missing gold mine and the evil “Mad Monk” or watching Ben and Amy’s relationship develop.
Favorite scene: The author did a fine job using the eerie backdrop of the hill country’s lonely roads and rugged canyons to her advantage. I really got the creeps when Amy pulled over on the side of the road on a dark, moonless night to investigate a ghostly apparition. Lo and behold, she falls down a sinkhole and finds herself trapped in a dark cave caked with bat guano. The thought of being inside a dark cave with a dangerous ghost – and possibly some murderous gold-digging humans – on the loose, really gives me the heebie jeebies!
What I want more of: I’m hoping the author will write another novel about the Goodnight sisters, but with a focus on Phin, the absent-minded genius of the family. I got a big kick out of her nutty experiments and scientific theories. And unlike her self-conscious sister, she has no qualms about waving her “I’m a magical witch” flag around in public. The dynamic between the two sisters is quite hilarious.
Overall: This book is a surefire winner for fans of whodunits and the supernatural. It’s a welcome departure from high-fantasy YA thrillers filled with fairies, sprites, swoony vampires and Hogwarts rip-off academies. If you’re in the mood for a good paranormal-infused mystery with fun characters and hilarious dialogue, give this book a shot.
There’s no denying that The Watcher in the Woods is one of the darkest, spookiest Disney movies ever made. The old, paled-faced Bette Davis shrouded in black, the isolated estate surrounded by dark woods, the clairvoyant little girl – everything about it gave me the willies back when I was a kid. Oh heck – who am I kidding? This movie still gives me nightmares!
So when I stumbled upon the book at an obscure used bookstore, I couldn’t believe my luck. Who knew there was a literary version of this creepy cult classic? Considering the book is always better than the movie, I knew I was in for a treat. Boy was I mistaken.
Let me break it down for you like this. Here are three reasons why I loved the movie and how the book failed to deliver.
Spoiler Alert!Karen’s Otherworldly Disappearance: In the movie, Karen’s disappearance was caused by a group of kids playing around with the occult. Aligned with a solar eclipse, the ritual opened a door to another dimension, causing poor Karen to be spirited away to the great beyond. Spooky stuff, my friends.
In the book, however, it was all one big alien-conspiracy acid trip. This book was written back in the early 80s – the tail end of the “dazed and confused” era – so I’m wondering if the author was chasing the white rabbit while writing about alien stalkers. The philosophical ramblings also had me scratching my head at times.
The Foreshadowing: The little hairs on the back of my neck still stand on end when I think about the funhouse scene where a blind-folded Karen appears in the mirror maze mouthing the word “help.” Or when the little bratty sister falls into a trance and writes the name “Karen” backwards on a dusty window. And who can forget the motorcross scene where a message from beyond saves Jan from getting reamed by a flying motorcycle?
These spooky elements are few and far between in the book. Aside from a couple broken mirrors and a psychedelic TV scene, the author didn’t really get too creative with foreshadowing.
The Ending:WTF? That was the question running through my mind as I polished off the last couple pages. There’s a plot twist hidden in there somewhere, but I just didn’t get it. The movie did a fine job tying up the story with a neat little bow, but the book left me with more questions than answers. I think someone got sucked into a wormhole through space and time, but I’m not quite sure. Shit man, I don’t even know if the alien was good or evil! If you fully grasped the convoluted turn of events, please post a comment and fill me in!
I’m about halfway through with this fun little Texified thriller – and let me tell ya – it’s downright addictive! Somehow this author found a way to mesh a super creepy ghost story with hilarious hijinks without getting too cutesy. Plus it’s set in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, so I’m an instant fan!
On a side note, in her acknowledgements, she thanked my former internship supervisor, Jayme Blaschke, for helping her research Texas State University’s body farm. Never have I been so proud of my alma mater!
Without further ado, I bring you a funny little snippet from Rosemary Clement-Moore’s YA thriller, Texas Gothic:
“They lived in the limestone caves that riddled the hills, and dusk brought them out to hunt bugs. I was generally pro-bat, except when I was trekking through the dark trying not to think about the inevitably dire fate of every horror movie character stupid enough to go into the dark with a flashlight and check the fuses.”
Gizmo’s portrait has arrived and it couldn’t be more perfect! The artist, Elizabeth Wade, did a fantastic job capturing his ever-curious expression and all around adorableness. I won this through Carolyn Haine’s book review contest for Bonefire of the Vanities. The 12th installment of her popular Southern Belle mystery series, this rollicking adventure takes amateur sleuth, Sarah Booth Delaney, to a “psychic healing” resort filled with disembodied voices, ghostly apparitions, scheming psychics, murder and mayhem. I especially enjoyed this book because of the creepy setting and the four-legged sidekicks. Go here for the full review.
In addition to authoring my favorite cozy mystery series, Haines is a devout animal lover. She has rescued many orphaned critters and champions animal rights causes. So basically, she’s my hero. A big thanks goes out to Carolyn and Elizabeth for giving me a timeless piece of art that I will treasure forever!
Like a little kid on Christmas Eve, I’m going to toss and turn tonight thinking about author signings and fried things on sticks! Tomorrow is the Texas Book Fest and boy do I have a full day ahead of me! I’ve got a pretty tight schedule, but hopefully I’ll get to meet these authors.
Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale by Lynda Rutledge
From the publisher: On the last day of the millennium, sassy Faith Bass Darling, the richest old lady in Bass, Texas, decides to have a garage sale. With help from a couple of neighborhood boys, Faith lugs her priceless Louis XV elephant clock, countless Tiffany lamps, and everything else from her nineteenth-century mansion out onto her long, sloping lawn. More…
Let’s Pretend this Never Happened ( a mostly true memoir) by Jenny Lawson
From the publisher: Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the #1 New York Times bestseller, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor. More…
The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James
From the publisher: Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. More…
The Swamp Whisperer by Sylvia Dickey Smith
From the publisher: In this latest Sidra Smart mystery, Sid takes a bumpy road trip with her Aunt Annie. In the meantime, Boo Murphy – a cranky old swamp-rat who prefers to spend time in her pirogue, hunting and fishing, to spending time with people – is pulled into a strange world when she discovers a deserted brush-hut deep in the bayou. Read the post below for more details!
Every October, all the big names in the publishing world make an annual pilgrimage to Austin for the most awesome book festival in the nation. But what I love most about the Texas Book Festival is meandering through the book signing tents and discovering emerging new authors. A few years ago, I stumbled across Sylvia Dickey Smith’s book-signing booth and took a chance on her Sidra Smart mysteries, Deadly Sins, Deadly Secrets, and Dead Wreckoning (read my reviews here). How could I say no to a Texas crime thriller filled with strong-willed women, ghosts and phantom pirate ships? Needless to say, I’ve been a fan ever since.
Sylvia was kind enough to chat with me about her new book The Swamp Whisperer, a fun little murder mystery set deep in the dark bayous and swamps of Southeast Texas. Read on to learn more about her unique approach to character development, how her background in psychotherapy factors into her writing, and what she’s working on now!
How did the idea for Swamp Whisperer come about?
Gosh, Jessica, who knows! But for lack of any more believable explanation, I’ve come up with this theory.
Are these three pranksters to blame for the creation of The Swamp Whisperer?
Deep in the frigid north of Rochester, Minnesota, there live three mischievous, trouble-making leprechauns named Alfyn Lee, Alfie, and Dr. Alf. Along with them, resides a neat priest named Johnny, who has long since given up responsibility for their behavior. While I slept, I’m guessing these fellows crawled into my dreams and dared me to write a story about an old swamp woman more concerned with the health of the bayous of southeast Texas than she was her own safety.
Why do they care? Because Boo Murphy, who is the swamp whisperer, gets in as much trouble as they do, and everyone knows fun loves company.
What drew you to the swamps and bayous of Southeast Texas as a setting?
My roots there grow deep—like five generations deep. When I searched for a setting for the Sidra Smart mystery series, my hometown kept calling me back. I had moved away shortly after high school, and have not lived there since, but the area carries its own magic and mysticism, likely left over from the indigenous Atakapa-Ishak Indians and the swamp lands they inhabited. The area is different than any other part of Texas. It is said to carry its very own gravity. You either get out early, or you don’t get out at all.
The dark swamps and bayous meander through town carrying whispers of time pasts, of the dreaded feu follet, of tales of sunken pirate ships and Jean Lafitte’s buried treasures. The area offers so much more than setting. It offers mysterious ambience, smells of rotting vegetation, out-of-the-ordinary, colorful and sometimes weird characters. I know. Many of them were my family. Some folks even say it takes one to know one.
So, I ask—wouldn’t you?
What made you decide to go against the norm and revolve your story around a cantankerous old woman?
Be sure to pick up your copy this Saturday at the Texas Capitol grounds!
Cantankerous old women and men have always interested me. They have color, personality, and they call it like they see it. No beating around the bush or pussyfooting around. Years ago, I dabbled in oil painting and one of my favorite subjects was the character and personality of the elderly.
My brother once told me a tale of an old man who went out in the swamps every day to fish and hunt squirrel. Fascinated by the story, I knew I wanted to write a tale with such a character. Not a man, however, but a woman, and a strong woman at that. So Boo Murphy was born in the third mystery of the series, Dead Wreckoning. Readers fell in love with her and demanded she have her own book. So, The Swamp Whisperer came to life in my heart and mind. I hope I did her justice. If I didn’t, as outspoken as she is, I’m sure she will let me know.
As many cantankerous old people do, Boo Murphy likes critters better than people. The critter she loves more than any other is her dog, Dawg. When he gets kidnapped, there’s no stopping Boo. You just don’t mess with a woman’s dog.
I wanted to write in the voice of an elderly woman because we have so much to learn from her. She carries a wealth of knowledge and experience from which we can all benefit.
It’s obvious you really looked into the history and mystery of the Texas-Louisiana borderlands. How did you go about researching this novel?
I researched it by talking to those who have been there and done that. I took boat rides out into the swamps and walked the shores collecting potshards and clamshells left behind by the Atakapa-Ishak people. I climbed atop large shell mounds, also called shell middens, which are piles of empty clam and oyster shells, the remains of their foraging for food along the banks of the bayous and rivers. I imagined what it must smell like to rub your skin with oil from alligators to keep the mosquitoes from eating you alive, to bear children with little shelter from the environment, to withstand hurricanes and floods. And to watch your way of life end with the coming of the Europeans.
As far as cantankerous old people, I’ve known enough of them in my lifetime that it didn’t take a stretch at all. When questions arose I couldn’t answer, I called my brother, Pete, who still lives there. He always had an answer for me, and if he didn’t, he made it up.
You do a wonderful job of establishing the yin-yang relationship with Boo’s cousin, Sasha. How did you construct her as both a friend and foil for Boo?
As a retired psychotherapist, I’ve spent a lot of time working with clients on the issue of balance. Black and white, up and down, right and left, negative and positive, hot and cold, north and south, man and woman, clean and dirty, cantankerous and sickly sweet.
Opposites yes, yet neither end of the continuum either right or wrong, only different. Both are simply opposite ends on a continuum, constantly moving toward the other.
I knew Boo needed someone to help balance out her personality and challenge her to address her own imbalance. What better way to do that than with a ‘second-cousin once removed.’ In other words, a cousin you’d just as soon not claim if you don’t have to. I wanted Sasha to help Boo discover her softer side, to learn she indeed does care for people, and for Boo to balance Sasha’s goody two-shoes personality.
What’s the best piece of advice you could give to an aspiring novelist?
Sit in the chair and write!
Could you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on now?
Something totally different. Yes, there will be another Sidra book, but only after I get this novel-in- progress done. It is a contemporary fiction.
Original Cyn is the story is of an outwardly perfect wife of an outwardly perfect pastor in danger of losing her soul. Who would have thought she’d find it by standing up to his congregation after they discover their pastor isn’t so perfect after all.
Where can I find you at the upcoming Texas Book Festival?
Russ Hall and I share a booth in Tent # 2, Space 212, right across the aisle from Bright Sky Press. I really do hope you and all your readers will come by and say hello! I remember, Jessica, that is where and how we met! You stopped by, eager to read a new author, and we were off! How long ago was that, four years, maybe? I love meeting folks who love to read!
I will also have Rosie the Riveter fridge magnets and key chains on sale in case anyone else is a fan of hers like I am.
It’s probably a tad bit selfish to treat myself to goodies during the season of giving, but I just couldn’t fight the gravitational pull toward the mall bookstore. All the new titles with glossy red and green covers were too hard to resist!
Clare’s grown very fond of Alfred Glockner, the part-time comic and genuinely jolly charity Santa who’s been using her coffeehouse as a place to warm his mittens. When she finds him gunned down in a nearby alley, a few subtle clues convince her that Alfred’s death was something more than the tragic result of a random mugging, despite the conclusions of the police. More…
After a year of marriage – and numerous adventures – Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together – until they find themselves at her father’s ancestral estate, Bellmont Abbey, with her eccentric family and a menagerie of animals. Nevertheless, Julia looks forward to a lively family gathering – but amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs. More…
The Earl of Bridgemere is happy to encourage his reputation as a curmudgeonly recluse if it repels the grasping females who usually attend his lavish Christmas parties. Helen Forrest is like a breath of fresh air, uninterested in his wealth and not cowed by his temper. Bridgemere’s seasonal duty suddenly becomes a pleasure as he sets about making Helen his countess—by Christmas! More…
All Margaret Campbell wants for Christmas is a safe journey home. When her plans for a festive holiday with her family in Stirling crumble beneath the weight of her brother’s bitterness, the young schoolteacher wants nothing more than to return to the students she loves and the town house she calls home. Then an unexpected detour places her in the path of Gordon Shaw, a handsome newspaperman from Glasgow, who struggles under a burden of remorse and shame. More…
BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE 
