The Printed Page

August was a very interesting reading month. I DNF’d more books, six, than I have in any other month in years. Even books that would usually hold my interest I found going by the wayside. I’ve had other readers ask me if DNFing a book bothers me and the simple answer is no. There are so many books I want to read that why would I stick with one that I’m not enjoying. By the time I DNF a book I have pretty good idea of whether or not I think my interest level will pick up and rarely, if ever, do I go back if I’ve put it down. Down is done. Here’s the DNF rule I use: subtract your age from 100; if your current book doesn’t interest you by then move on. That puts me somewhere around pages 60-65 when decision time comes. Though I’ve been known to read much farther than this if I think it’s a book I really would enjoy such as an author I’ve read before and liked or a genre that is of particular interest to me. But I most certainly don’t debate the DNF issue with myself. Not every book is for every reader.

In the last couple of years I’ve drifted away from the books that have completely captured my imagination in the interest of attempting to expand my reading horizons. Unfortunately it hasn’t always paid the dividends I was hoping for. Its never been my intention to become a niche reader, and now blog, but you will start see more of the genres I love. Let’s face it I’ll take fast-paced, pulse-racing action to slow, introspective stories any day but that’s just me. And the new blog look, coming soon, is part of this getting back to my reading roots. I wanted something that gave the allure of mystery, suspense and maybe just a hint of the unknown. The header picture is one I came across last night surfing images at Bing and it instantly held my attention. I just knew I needed to do something with it. It captured the reading mood I’ve been in for a while. Her eyes spoke to me. It will be interesting to see your reactions to this new design.

That said August was a more than decent reading month. Some of you might think I overachieved and maybe I did. After the month was done I bore some resembalance to the little guy on the left. So let’s get the bad news over with first: 6 DNFs. There I’ve written it and now the pain is over. I read (finished) 15 books totaling 5,979 (includes the pages from the DNFs). Six of those books I finished were from  indie authors discovered by reading sample chapters for my Kindle. If you’d like to see some more of what I sampled throughout the month of August check out Marcia’s Kindle Corner. And now for those I read and those I didn’t. I’m trying something new this month with the Amazon widgets if its too slow let me know. You can find my thoughts about these books at Pondering the pages.

I read ‘em and they’re anywhere from excellent to decent:

Amazon.com Widgets

Ugh! I just couldn’t bring myself to finish for whatever reason.

Amazon.com Widgets

Wow it seems like forever since I announced I was taking a Bookation this month and its only been 2 weeks. I have so many ideas rolling around in my head about how I’d like to spend my Bookation. Starting tomorrow I have the next 10 days off and most all it to myself except for the kat kidz (the 10 feline lords & ladies). I’m shipping my hubby out of town till mid next week (sorry guy but I need some me time and you need some golf time).

First off as soon as I finish the book I’m currently reading I’m taking a break from books. I can’t believe I actually wrote that but I won’t be bored as I’ll be tackling the magazine stacks, the DVRd TV shows, updating my catalogue at Librarything, working on blog stuff and a couple of book giveaways to celebrate.

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The blog is getting a new design. Now that’s not anything unusual because I’ve been displaying new themes every month since I started designing my own but this one is a departure from a true book theme. It’s centered around my love of suspense/thriller/mystery stories. The header picture is one I came across last night surfing images at Bing and it instantly captured my attention. I just knew I needed to do something with it. It will be interesting to see your reactions to this new design.

For months I’ve been trying to find the time to finish what I started with some of the blog pages and now is that time. I’ve already started with the About me & Contact Marcia page. I added some bio info about myself. I didn’t give away any great secrets but you might get to know me a bit better. If I do decide to display a picture it will of course be my alter ego. Fat chance you’ll ever see the real me. I’m also tackling The Reading Room pages such updating my series reading list (woefully behind), adding a favorites book page, and maybe a favorite authors page.

As to reading this month you most likely see a lot of suspense/thriller/mystery hence the new blog design mentioned above. In the last couple of years I’ve drifted away from the stories that truly capture my imagination in the interest of attempting to expand my reading horizons. Unfortunately it hasn’t always paid the dividends I was hoping for as evidenced by my DNF reading last month but that’s for another post. When I do pick up a book again I’ll be reading Chelsea Cain’s Archie and Gretchen series starting with Heartsick. This series has been on my radar since it was first published. Now that I received her newest, Evil at Heart through the Librarything Early Reviewers program I have all the incentive I need to curl up with a good book.

Oh and those book giveaways I mentioned before here’s a sneak peek: 5 copies of David Baldacci’s newest, True Blue and 5 copies of Michael Connelly’s newest, 9 Dragons. A big thank you to Miriam from Hachette for providing the books for these giveaways. Both these books have October release dates so be sure and enter once I post the giveaways as you just might win and make those book loving friends and family a bit green with envy.

Mr. Walker’s novel A Note From An Old Acquaintance was published in June.

Brian Weller is a haunted man. It’s been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian’s life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife’s prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love.

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Author bio: Bill Walker is a graphic designer specializing in book and dust jacket design, and has worked on projects by Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Between his design work and his writing, he spends his spare time reading voraciously and playing very loud guitar, much to the chagrin of his lovely wife and two sons. Bill makes his home in Los Angeles.

I’ve been writing since I was eight years old and published since 1993, but I became a graphic designer or, more specifically, a book designer quite by accident. My father was always a gadgeteer, he loved buying and tinkering with new things. Towards the end of his life he started getting into computers and software. One of the programs he purchased was Adobe Pagemaker, primarily because he had a desire to typeset the book he was working on (my dad always wanted to be an author, too). When he died, I inherited his software and I also decided to tinker with the program to see what the current book I was writing would look like in typeset form (Titanic 2012). Like my father, I taught myself how to use the program and ended up completely designing that book. I thought that was it and moved on to writing another book.

Now, I’m also a collector of signed first editions, and Cemetery Dance Publications published many of the books I collected. Over the years, I had become friendly with Richard Chizmar, the publisher. I told him about Titanic 2012 and he wanted to see it. As a lark I sent it to him. He was so impressed with it, he not only made me an offer to publish the book, and he also ended up hiring me as one of their designers. To date, I’ve designed dozens of titles for Cemetery Dance, and others, including books by some very famous names. I really enjoy the creativity that graphic design demands. It seems to bolster and complement the type of creativity involved with writing, so neither one takes away from the other.

Best-selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not — he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan’s audacity. Touched by his friend’s interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is awed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his DVD recorder, Harlan interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron’s film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves. And some of them are dying — their last wish to be on the maiden voyage of the new Titanic.

Trevor is touched that his friend has allowed these people to come aboard, and is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves.

In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history…