Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Do we know how to party, or what?


I'm working on the final details of the April issue. Hope to get the PDFs out tonight and printed copies out tomorrow. I've had to do a last minute fix when I discovered a book I had listed had been previously published in 2008. Doh! Filling in the blank spot.

Steve doesn't have shooting tonight. There' s a class at the gun club tonight -- and he's not helping with it tonight. He will help with the class tomorrow night and Saturday. There are gun shows on tv that he usually misses on Wednesdays that he'll get a chance to watch now so he's not too unhappy.

I'd like to finish the poetry book tonight that I'm reading for the book festival.


Here's the PK's Notes for the April issue:

I have brought you all here today to discuss….murder. Sound familiar?
Do you read crime fiction to solve the puzzle? Are you in a race to figure out whodunnit? Or, in some cases, whydunnit? That was the purpose of the early mystery novels. The reader goes up against the author who was supposed to play fair and provide all clues in order for you to solve the crime prior to or without having the detective explain it to all who were gathered for the exposition. So what is considered fair? First and foremost the villain must appear or at least been mentioned plainly in the story fairly early -- no out-of-the-blue bad guy of whom we’ve never heard. There must be clear motivation for the crime and not be a random, roaming killing. The key to the solution of classic mysteries is that the victim is the most important clue. Discovering all about the kill-ee often leads to the killer. It’s all about motive and opportunity, baby, and someone who had no choice but remove an obstacle.
Years ago I stage managed a production of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” in summer repertoire theatre. The gimmick of the play – and the villain -- was to remove a statue from the mantle each time there was a new victim. From behind the set, I was in charge of removing the figurines by taking out the square piece in the flat and slipping out the next statue, hopefully unseen. Ah ha — another Indian figure removed and another character was a goner! Unfortunately, there was one point in the play where the only opportunity timing-wise I had to do the disappearing act was apparently always seen by the audience and I could hear twittering in the audience. This was a bad thing because the actor playing the killer was actually on stage at the time and couldn’t have “dunnit”. Not a brilliant moment — and not playing fair. Why do bad guys do that anyway – making these useless, dramatic gestures? Or go on and on explaining how evil and smart he or she is until the hero saves the day? But that’s an essay for another time.
In my own reading, I actually do not try to solve the crime before the end of the book. For me, it takes me out of the flow of the storytelling if I am constantly putting everyone’s words and actions under the eyeglass. I think the art of detecting involves facial expressions, body language, and unguarded moments of people who aren’t in the spotlight, so to speak. Catching these "gotchas" can’t be done on the written page unless the author literally points it out to us. Detecting, to me, means looking in the places that we’re not supposed to in order to uncover and discover secrets; the author in crime fiction puts the flashlight — or “torch” in Brit mysteries —where he/she wants it and reveals the puzzle on his schedule. So instead, I just hang on to the coattails of the sleuth and enjoy the ride.


Gotta keep busy... Have a good night!


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, March 28, 2011

Go ahead .... resist me, I dare you


Well, did the interview. I think I did okay. Perhaps not spectacular but okay. May be a couple weeks before hearing if I make it to the next round.


Meanwhile, I've just about completed the April issue and will be getting that out and off to the printer. I need to start one of the book festival books. Maybe the poetry one, that should go quickly.


Otherwise just a Monday. Woke up to snow on the ground but it's gone now. I just tell people who complain about it that that is how the grass gets green. :)


Much love

PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday


Why can't the premium tv channels coordinate? Hmmm? There was a big lull in February and March of good miniseries but noooooo. They all have to air their miniseries at the same time in April.



Friday April 1st is the premier of Camelot on Starz. http://www.starz.com/originals/Camelot.

Yes, I already saw the preview of the first episode but the one showing on Friday looks to be longer, perhaps. Ok, so that's Fridays along with Say Yes to the Dress. Luckily, it looks like Camelot will be on at 8. It's about Camelot, duh. Though I don't like the actor playing Arthur there are other good things going for it. Give them kudos though for picking Friday (Spartacus always did well for them on that night).



Sunday April 3rd:

Not a premium channel but AMC is starting a new series called The Killing. http://www.amctv.com/originals/the-killing/about/ The Killing is based on the wildly successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen and tells the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation. It's on at 7 and is a two hour premiere. Of course.



On Showtime, the long awaited The Borgias premieres, yes at 7pm and yes almost two hours long. http://www.sho.com/site/borgias/about.sho It chronicles the corrupt rise of patriarch Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) to the papacy, where he proceeds to commit every sin in the book to amass and retain power, influence and enormous wealth for himself and his family.



By all means let's add HBO to the mix later in the month. On Sunday April 17th is the premiere of The Game of Thrones which is based on a most fabulous epic fantasy series by George R R Martin (hey, maybe this would break his writer's block of, what, 10 years and maybe he'd finish the damn thing). http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/index.html# In a world where the approaching winter will last four decades, kings and queens, knights and renegades struggle for control of a throne. Some fight with sword and mace, others with magic and poison. Beyond the Wall to the north, meanwhile, the Others are preparing their army of the dead to march south as the warmth of summer drains from the land.



I hate them. I hate them all.



Today I'll be doing laundry and prepping for interview tomorrow (4:00 by phone). There is another miniseries starting tonight (oh yes) but I don't think I'll make the commitment. It's a remake of Mildred Pierce starring Kate Winslet. Sound a bit depressing.



It's being an overcast day out there but not raining yet. Makes for good napping and reading weather. :)


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster


Saturday, March 26, 2011


I'm not being gung ho today but I do have a lot to do.

I signed up for an adult ed "class" that meets on Thursday evenings for eight weeks, entitled Writing (& Selling) Creative Nonfiction. I put that in quotes because at my first one I released that it really seemed to be more like a critique group. In short, we can apparently write anything. In fact, one member is writing a book and will be continuing it. Four of the six students have followed this teaching leader from class to class and just meet, as I suggested, as a critique group. And I'm not being mean when I say that these people are straight out of central casting. The teaching leader is an unorganized absent-minded professor-type whose speech meanders and leaps to the point that one wonders what the heck he's talking about and ohmygod will these two hours ever be over? The four regulars include three older men and a woman. If you have a picture in your mind of people who think they can and want to write but really probably can't but really want to have that audience....this is they.

In this class, we have to read something we've written aloud each week and then have it open to the critique of the others.
I had hoped it would be something from which I could learn but I believe it will something more that I will have to self-teach if I want to really get something out of it. I want to continue it because I need the kick in the butt to really do this. I've been resisting writing for 30 years. Maybe it will be that this is the time that I'll make something happen because I've paid for this experience so I don't want to waste that and I have to present something each week.

So this weekend the priorities will be finishing up the April issue, prepping for the interview, figuring out what to write for the upcoming class, and as mentioned yesterday, reading a High Plains Bookfest book. And napping. A bit tired from the week. :)


I would have been at LCC in Santa Fe this week/weekend if things had gone differently. I'm glad I'm not. Steve is still having a hard time about Tug. He needs me here. I may suggest we go to a movie this evening. We'll see.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, March 25, 2011

Or it is a Friday of a particularly long week...YES!


Sorry, didn't have time last night to post. I didn't come home between work and my class which I'll tell you about tomorrow.



Today... I picked up the books that I'm supposed to read for the High Plains Bookfest in the category of Best First Book. Oh boy.





My blog is probably way obscure enough and the festival is small enough that me saying what books I'm reading is not a big deal.





HUMP by Ariel Gordon. A book of poetry -- "Month by month, stanza by stanza, Gordon attempts to adequately represent the wonder and devilment of being-with-child."




BALLAD OF THE NORTHLAND by Jason Barron "is a story about a young boy who grows up poverty stricken in the wild bush country of interior Alaska."





THE RED CORNER: the Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana by Verlaine Stoner McDonald "chronicles the meteoric rise and decline of Communism on the prairies of northeastern Montana."




STROKE PREVENTION NATURALLY by Felix Veloso, MD., F.R.C.P. (C), F.A.A.N. "provides recognized natural healthy lifestyle strategies that can prevent up to 90% of strokes (along with dementia and heart attack).





Well, don't they sound fun? I just finished Louise Penny's most recent, BURY THE DEAD which was a "wow" book.




Tonight I have Say Yes to the Dress to watch. This weekend I'll be finishing the April issue, doing laundry now that the dryer is fixed, prep for phone interview on Monday afternoon for development job, figure out a project for the class I'll tell you about tomorrow and start reading one of these books. Steve has a class to teach tomorrow.




Gotta go make dinner...




Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Yes, Manuel, I'm ready for my massage


Very quickly, sorry, almost forgot to post and it's close to my bedtime. I went to Walmart for groceries after work then stopped by B&N for a look around. Our neighbor works there so chatted with her about Tug for a little bit. Got home, dinner, and got to watching some HGTV. Whoosh, the evening is gone.


I signed up for an evening class that starts tomorrow on writing and I believe goes for 8 weeks. I have a phone interview Monday for the development job, I imagine as a sort of "first sounding out" kind of thing. So I have some prepping to do this weekend for that.


I've gotten into the Penny book now. So I'll go read that as soon as I'm done here.


Otherwise, the week is going very very slowly. Each morning I've woken up with the feeling that it is closer to the end of the week than it really is. Oy. Afternoons just drag.


Sleep tight.


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Kissing?! More like vacuuming your face!


Nobody said life was easy but does it have to be difficult every time? A friend and I went to a job fair this afternoon and I got a very good lead... but there may be a kink in the deal. I worked for that employer for one day and decided I didn't like the job description at the time. Would that person hold that against me? That makes my stomach tie up in knots, dammit. But I would like the job and the pay. I've applied and I'll just have to grin and bear it and pray for an interview.

It's snowing today. Ya know, it's only March, the possibility exists for the white fluffy stuff and I don't understand people who are complaining or shocked or whathaveyou. Somehow, things have to turn green therefore we get moisture in all forms.


Steve has an orientation at the gun club tonight. Dinner will be quick. I'm hoping maybe to read then the rest of the evening. The newsletter is done except for some fine tuning this weekend.

I'm currently reading, I guess, BURY YOUR DEAD by Louise Penny. In some aspects it's been slow going. She writes very evocatively and this somewhat continues a storyline from the previous book so I expect I'll get grabbed soon. I hope to take a big chomp out of it this evening.



Have a lovely evening...


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, March 21, 2011

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Strike a pose...er, yes, I guess you can wear a helmet...


I'm just going to be working on my newsletter today and doing laundry. I may be reading BURY YOUR DEAD by Louise Penny now. I've started it but not sure if I'm committed to it. I've had it on my Kindle for a few months now. Maybe it's time.



I didn't get to see the Super Moon last night because it was so overcast. Ah well.

I tried to walk yesterday but had I guess a little anxiety attack and had to return home. I may have to walk in places other than the neighborhood for a while.

Nothing on tv for me that I recall. While working on the newsletter yesterday I played a few Netflix things, Romeo and Juliet, Gosford Park, the first season of Bones.


Gotta keep moving.


Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, March 19, 2011

I'd say it's more like: what, you can't see? Oh so sorry...


I've been working on my newsletter most of the day. I'm currently up to the "L"s in author last names. I'll put in another hour or two but I would also like to take a walk today. Steve is at the shop.


I'm not sure what we'll do this evening. I'm sure Steve will be pretty worn out. There's Cops to watch on tv. I'd like to go to a movie in the near future. I'd like to see The Lincoln Lawyer. Usually, books to movies don't work out. This was a really good book by Michael Connelly. However, the author himself is very enthusiastic about the movie which gives one pause. Is he happy, laughing all the way to the bank? Possibly. I would be. And if it is successful enough they will continue the series and have even more profit. But in an interview, Connelly said they kept the grittiness. It is the opening weekend so I'm sure it would be too busy to go tonight but something to think about.
Last night there was not much on tv but wanting to cuddle with Steve we finally found something to watch. Now, I don't know if you remember or paid attention, but back in the 80s they made some pretty bad epic fantasy movies. They just don't do that kind of cheesy anymore. So we wound up watching Red Sonya, starring Bridget Neilson and Arnold Schwartzenegger. Bad. Seriously cheesy bad movie. The best kind of bad movie that's fun to make humous comments throughout. Yes. We watched the whole thing.


I'm still kind of piddling around in my next to reads. I've started both the next Louise Penny and the Michael Jecks.


I'm having a bite of lunch before heading back to the newsletter. Have a good Saturday...


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, March 18, 2011

That makes me laugh



I finished THE FLEET STREET MURDERS by Charles Finch last night. I'm now figuring out what to read next although I may not the chance and I'll explain in a minute. I've taken the Mary Stanton book out of the running for being not my cuppa tea. I felt gray cells dying. I hate that.


I stopped by Barnes and Noble today to just be around books and take a look around. A friend of mine from, man, 25 years (?) stopped me. Lori and I worked together at Waldenbooks in the mid 80s. Yeah. Wow. Anyway, she asked me to be a reader for the High Plains Bookfest for the best first novel category. I have to read four books by the end of April. After that, I don't know. She's dropping them off this weekend therefore I probably shouldn't get too committed to a book of my choice. It's nice that she thought of me and all that but it will be difficult for me to get through these books. They will be "regional" books, meaning about Montana, Wyoming, etc. The double whammy of regional and contemporary fiction, I have ... problems ... with. I find them boring. But I'll do it. It would interesting to be involved in the process.


Say Yes to the Dress is on tonight. I won't be going in to work tomorrow. They've cut back overtime hours to five maximum. The overwhelming workload of the past couple years of unemployment is winding down and this is being reflected in the cutting of OT and ultimately the cutting of the temp positions. Good, but not good for me. I'm thinking I won't be helping Steve tomorrow either because I really really really need to work on my newsletter. I only have two weekends to work on the April issue left and I've not made a lot of progress. This weekend has to be a big crunch on it.


I hope y'all have a good weekend. Don't forget to look at the SuperMoon tomorrow. It was amazing this morning and will be even better tomorrow. :)


Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, March 17, 2011

40 shades of green .... Ireland


Happy St. Patrick's Day! My favorite holiday. Not much going on. I'm not going out and drinking green beer. I'm not buying Irish things from QVC. I didn't wear green but I did wear my Irish cardigan. I'm not making corned beef and cabbage for dinner. And it floored me how many time I had to explain that the picture I had on my computer background was shamrocks and not four leaf clovers. Oy. No, shamrocks are not milkshakes at McDonalds. Ugh.

Last night I spent the evening filling out online applications for positions while my favorite movie played -- Gosford Park. Tonight, I just applied for another then after dinner I may just read and then get some sleep. Steve might be joining me sooner rather than later. Looks like he's pretty worn out from putting in big doors at Exxon today.

Chatting with Steve about our days, we had the tv on here a few minutes ago. And on one of the premium channels was Hercules from the 1990s. Oh, how I loved those campy shows. And Kevin Sorbo was pretty nice to look at. :)


I'm about 2/3rds done with the Finch book. Time to narrow down the next two options.


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Can you tell it's getting close to MY day? Irish Coast...


And the winner is.....


THE FLEET STREET MURDERS by Charles Finch.
3rd of 4 in series featuring Charles Lenox, a gentleman sleuth, in 1860s London. Here is a summary:

It’s Christmas, 1866, and amateur sleuth Charles Lenox, recently engaged to his best friend, Lady Jane Grey, is happily celebrating the holiday in his Mayfair townhouse. Across London, however, two journalists have just met with violent deaths--one shot, one throttled. Lenox soon involves himself in the strange case, which proves only more complicated as he digs deeper. However, he must leave it behind to go north to Stirrington, where he is fulfilling a lifelong dream: running for a Parliamentary seat. Once there, he gets a further shock when Lady Jane sends him a letter whose contents might threaten their nuptials. In London, the police apprehend two unlikely and unrelated murder suspects. From the start, Lenox has his doubts; the crimes, he is sure, are tied, but how? Racing back and forth between London and Stirrington, Lenox must negotiate the complexities of crime and politics, not to mention his imperiled engagement. As the case mounts, Lenox learns that the person behind the murders might be closer to him--and his beloved--than he knows.


It was published in 2009 and has 320 pages.


Steve goes shooting tonight. I'm going to do some job searching online and hopefully work a bit on my newsletter. Time is getting away from me on that. I may play the first episode of season two of Damages while I work on the computer. And then read.


What I should do is go directly to bed because I've been so tired lately. But I would like to say I've accomplished at least a little something this evening. :) I'm currently drinking a mug of tea and surfing the Net. Ah lovely.


Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Treasure Hunt


I finished THE BODY IN THE THAMES by Susanna Gregory last night. Good as always. I’m now in the process of figuring out what to read next. These are the strongest contenders and are currently in my home:

Dickinson, David – DEATH AND THE JUBILEE
2nd of 10 in series featuring Lord Francis Powerscourt, an ex-Indian army intelligence officer and Irish peer, working as an investigator in the late Victorian England. Here is a summary:
England, 1897. London is preparing for Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the celebration to mark her sixtieth year as queen and empress of a quarter of the surface of the globe. Fifty thousand troops from across her vast empire will gather in the capital — and the immense importance of the occasion inevitably brings danger in its wake. The troubles begin when a body is found floating in the Thames at London Bridge. Scotland Yard calls in Lord Francis Powerscourt, whose investigation leads him to a mysterious mansion in Oxfordshire with ancient temples in its gardens and more recent secrets in the house. There a second corpse is found, burned to death, in a room locked from the outside. Following the deaths by water and fire, Powerscourt is led into the arcane world of bonds and futures in the City of London, before a cryptic message from an old friend takes him back to his native Ireland and a terrifying night encounter deep in the Wicklow Mountains. Powerscourt's own life, and that of his family, is in terrible danger unless he can crack the riddle of the Jubilee.

Tremayne, Peter – VALLEY OF THE SHADOW
6th of 21 in series featuring Sister Fidelma, a 7th century Celtic sister and legal advocate in Kildare, Ireland. Here is a summary:
Sister Fidelma has withdrawn from her religious house to represent her brother, the King of Muman, and the bishop of Imleach when mountain chieftain Laisre invites negotiations for a Christian church in his Druidic stronghold. On the threshold of Laisre's remote valley she and her escort, Brother Eadulf, stumble across 33 ritually slain bodies. Strangely, Laisre prevents Fidelma, a credentialed Brehon investigator, from pursuing inquiries. At the same time, she learns that Laisre's advisers, powerful sister Orla and Druid leader Murgal, did not approve his invitation to Christianity and are hostile to his plan and to all outsiders. Then why is Brother Solin, secretary to the bishop of Imleach's northern rival, welcome in this hidden valley? No sooner do Fidelma and Eadulf realize the political significance of his presence than Solin is murdered and Fidelma accused. Can Roman Eadulf learn enough about Celtic law to exonerate Fidelma? Are the ritual slaughter and Solin's murder linked? Is there a traitor on the inside?

Finch, Charles – THE FLEET STREET MURDERS
3rd of 4 in series featuring Charles Lenox, a gentleman sleuth, in 1860s London. Here is a summary:
It’s Christmas, 1866, and amateur sleuth Charles Lenox, recently engaged to his best friend, Lady Jane Grey, is happily celebrating the holiday in his Mayfair townhouse. Across London, however, two journalists have just met with violent deaths--one shot, one throttled. Lenox soon involves himself in the strange case, which proves only more complicated as he digs deeper. However, he must leave it behind to go north to Stirrington, where he is fulfilling a lifelong dream: running for a Parliamentary seat. Once there, he gets a further shock when Lady Jane sends him a letter whose contents might threaten their nuptials. In London, the police apprehend two unlikely and unrelated murder suspects. From the start, Lenox has his doubts; the crimes, he is sure, are tied, but how? Racing back and forth between London and Stirrington, Lenox must negotiate the complexities of crime and politics, not to mention his imperiled engagement. As the case mounts, Lenox learns that the person behind the murders might be closer to him--and his beloved--than he knows.

Penny, Louise – BURY YOUR DEAD
6th of 6 in series featuring Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec, in the village of Three Pines, in southern Quebec, Canada. Here is a summary:
It is Winter Carnival in Quebec City, bitterly cold and surpassingly beautiful. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has come not to join the revels but to recover from an investigation gone hauntingly wrong. But violent death is inescapable, even in the apparent sanctuary of the Literary and Historical Society— where an obsessive historian’s quest for the remains of the founder of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain, ends in murder. Could a secret buried with Champlain for nearly 400 years be so dreadful that someone would kill to protect it? Although he is supposed to be on leave, Gamache cannot walk away from a crime that threatens to ignite long-smoldering tensions between the English and the French. Meanwhile, he is receiving disquieting letters from the village of Three Pines regarding events from the previous book. As past and present collide in this astonishing novel, Gamache must relive the terrible event of his own past before he can bury his dead.

Ash, Maureen – SHROUD OF DISHONOUR
5th of 5 in series featuring Bascot de Marins, a Templar Knight recovering from imprisonment in the holy lands, in the early 1200s, in England. Here is a summary:
Templar Bascot de Marins is preparing to rejoin the Holy Wars when he is called upon to investigate a gruesome murder in the Order's own chapel... The shocking discovery of a strangled prostitute in the Templar chapel throws the Order into disarray. Alongside the corpse is a purse containing thirty pence-the same amount of silver Judas received for betraying Christ. Is the murder revenge for a Templar brother's betrayal? Has one of their own broken his vow of chastity? The Order's preceptor turns to Bascot to determine whether an outsider is seeking to dishonour the Templars or a murderer walks among their ranks.

Morson, Ian – FALCONER’S JUDGEMENT
2nd of 9 in series featuring William Falconer, a 13th century university regent master in Oxford, England. Here is a summary:
In 1261, England's King Henry III faces nobles and commoners disaffected with his foreign advisers, while factions in Europe vie for control of the papacy as Alexander IV lies dying in Rome. Into this turbulent stew falls William Falconer, Regent Master of the University of Oxford, who attempts to save some students accused of killing Sinibaldo, the master of cooks and brother of the much-unloved Bishop Otho, Papal Legate to England and a candidate for the Holy See. After the chief suspect is murdered, Falconer applies Aristotle's deductive logic, which he has learned from his friend Roger Bacon, to sift though ecclesiastic and worldly plots. He is aided by Knight Templar Guillaume de Beaujeu, sent from Rome to pursue his own order's ends, and Ann Segrim, the unhappy wife of one of the local plotters.

Lake, Deryn – DEATH IN THE VALLEY OF SHADOWS
9th of 13 in series featuring John Rawlings, an apothecary and associate of John Fielding, in 18th century London. Here is a summary:
Preparing to become a father for the very first time, Apothecary John Rawlings leaves the heavily pregnant Emilia occupied with maternal matters and turns his attention to his business, rather neglected of late. Working in the shop one early afternoon, John is taken aback when a middle-aged stranger rushes in through the door looking panic-stricken. The man is not seeking a cure for a terrible ailment, however, but a place to hide. John agrees and a moment or two later a formidable woman comes to the counter enquiring if the Apothecary has seen anyone answering the description of the stranger he has in his back room. Honoring his promise to the man, John sends her on her way and, intrigued, goes to question the fellow. The man's name is Aidan Fenchurch and his pursuer is Mrs. Ariadne Bussell, a former lover who is reluctant to give up the chase. So reluctant, in fact, that she has been shadowing him for years. Feeling sympathy for Aidan, John agrees to do him a good turn, but is shocked when a few days later the man is dead, ostensibly the result of a street robbery. Suspicious, Sir John Fielding sends the Flying Runners to arrest Mrs Bussell. However, the lady is taken ill in the coach and before she can be thoroughly questioned she dies. The Apothecary recognizes the signs of fatal poisoning. Soon there are more victims, some poisoned and some killed by less subtle methods.

Jecks, Michael – THE ABBOT’S GIBBET
5th of 30 in series featuring Simon Puttock, medieval West County bailiff, and Sir Baldwin Furnshill, ex-Templar Knight, in 14th century Devon, England. Here is a summary:
With scores of merchants streaming into Devon to participate in the Tavistock fair of 1319, a goodly amount of unlawful activity is expected. No one, however, anticipates a murder. The guests of Abbot Robert Champeaux, former Knight Templar Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Simon Puttock, bailiff of Lydford, have been asked by their host to investigate the grisly discovery of a headless corpse by a local butcher. Hunting a killer in the din and bustle of the fair could prove a daunting task, especially with the victim's identity a mystery. But Sir Baldwin and Simon are determined to unravel the complex weave of intrigue, rage, and violence that has brought death to Tavistock -- even if it means courting their own destruction.

Knight, Bernard – THE NOBLE OUTLAW
11th of 14 in series featuring Sir John de Wolfe, the crowner (coroner), in 12th century Devon, England. Here is a summary:
Renovations of a school in 12th-century Exeter are disrupted by the shocking discovery of a partially mummified corpse hidden in the rafters, and the county coroner Sir John de Wolfe is called in to investigate. Richard de Revelle, Sir John's brother-in-law and founder of the school, immediately blames Nicholas de Arundell, a young outlawed knight. As Sir John discovers, Nicholas has good reason to bear a grudge against the unscrupulous de Revelle. With the victim's identity unknown and the motive a mystery, however, the murder remains unsolved. But then comes news of a second violent death, and Sir John is forced to track down the culprit in order to find the answers.

Sedley, Kate – THE WICKED WINTER
6th of 20 in series featuring Roger the Chapman, a medieval chapman (peddler) in England. Here is a summary:
Despite the wintry weather, Roger the traveling Chapman is once again relishing the freedom of his calling. As he journeys west, he finds himself following in the footsteps of an itinerant preacher, Brother Simeon, whose fiery sermons are the talk of the countryside. Roger, who has met the Dominican friar before, and finds his zeal wearying, is less than enthused when they meet at Cederwell Manor, where Simeon has come to pray with Lady Cederwell and Roger to sell her his wares. But scarcely have the two men arrived when Lady Cederwell is found dead, sprawled on the frozen earth beneath the ancient tower she had converted into her private chapel, the circumstances strangely fulfilling the prophecy of a babbling hermit Roger had met on the road. Suddenly the friar and the Chapman are united by their aim--to discover the truth behind the death at Cederwell Manor.

Saylor, Steven – ARMS OF NEMESIS
2nd of 12 in series featuring Gordianus the Finder, a private investigator in the 1st century BCE in Rome. Here is a summary:
The hideously disfigured body of Lucius Licinius was found in the atrium. The only clues are a blood-soaked cloak, and, carved into the stone at the corpse's feet, the word Sparta...For Gordianus the Finder, summoned from Rome to a luxury resort on the Bay of Naples, the case is agonizing. The overseer of Marcus Crassus's estate has been murdered, apparently by two slaves bent on joining Spartacus's revolt. The wealthy, powerful Crassus vows to honor an ancient law and kill his ninety-nine remaining slaves in retaliation. From the brutal stench of a slave galley to the limpid, sea-glazed beauty of Baiae and the sulphurous pits of the Sybil at Cumae, Giordanus draws closer to the terrifying truth. Enmeshed in a world of desperate slaves and duplicitous masters, extravagant feasts and sordid secrets, he must risk all he loves, including his life, to stop a senseless slaughter-and save the very future of Rome itself.

Stanton, Mary – DEFENDING ANGELS
1st of 4 in series featuring Brianna Winston-Beaufort, a lawyer who inherits a haunted law firm, in Savannah, Georgia. Here is a summary:
With a long list of ethereal clients who need her help, Savannah lawyer Brianna Winston Beaufort's career choice is beginning to haunt her… An already dead businessman needs Bree's help to find his murderer and prove his innocence against the charge of greed, which comes from the mightiest hand of the law, the Celestial Court. And the verdict in this case could put Bree's life on the line--as well as her client's afterlife.

By sheer numbers of books remaining to be read in a series, I should read the Jecks book and I have several in my possession already and need to get moving on it. The Finch and the Stanton books are out from the library, although they are not 14-day books, they need to be returned eventually therefore that might have a priority.

And let me just tell you, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I have sooooo many – in my current possession – to read that I didn’t even include here. It keeps my mind occupied.

I think I’ve narrowed it down to three: THE FLEET STREET MURDERS, DEFENDING ANGELS, and THE ABBOT’S GIBBET because of the library involvement and it has been too long since I’ve read a Jecks.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, March 14, 2011


Getting close to done on the Susanna Gregory book. Less than 100 pages. I picked up Tug's remains after work. It is a nice brown-ish ceramic (?) container with leaves on it I think and a saying on the top about meeting in Rainbow Bridge. They also provided a paw print in some kind of clay. I'm having a glass of wine now and reading emails and news. I'm holding up okay. Had a tough time yesterday. Steve said something that put me in a funk so had to kind of start over again.

Not much going on tonight. I may work a little on my newsletter since there are so many entries for April and time is ticking away. And I may either read so I can finish or get close to finishing THE BODY IN THE THAMES or watch another episode of Damages, beginning season two. I'm not sure yet. I don't think there's anything on TV for me.


Here's a meme I found today:

4 Things in my Handbag
Kindle

Wallet

Small brush

Eye drops


4 Things in/on my Desk
sunflower seeds

Music cds

1000 Island dressing

Electric candle

4 Favorite Things in my Bedroom
books

Crystal lamp

Tiffany lamp

bed


4 Things I Always wanted to Do (but haven't yet)
Go to Ireland and Rome

See shows in NY

Grow a garden

Learn languages

4 Things I Enjoy very Much at the Moment
Watching Damages on Netflix.com

Listening to Music on Pandora.com

Sleep all night in my bed

Planning my next reading possibilities


4 Songs I Can't Get Out of My Head
Theme song to Raiders of the Lost Ark

School House Rock

Tommy by The Who

Whatever the last song is when I drive to work and pull in the parking lot


4 Things you Don't Know About Me
I wish I could read Latin and Greek

I want to become proficient at math/algebra/calculus

I used to want to be a biblical archeologist

I like the Subway commercials that have grownups with kids’ voices


4 Tea Time Things
Tea

Cream

sweetener

teacups




Off you go now...



Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Ahhh, a castle in Ireland


Boy was I exhausted yesterday. I had hoped that helping Steve at the shop wasn't going to take all day but it took most of it. ;) We scrapped and washed the trucks. Made some good cash, too. I'm so very glad I spent the day with him.


And I did find my book! Yes, I had left it at the oil change place. I don't know what I did. I was reading there for an hour waiting for them to get to Moby and when they finally called my name that I was done I don't know if I set it down or left it at the counter. Sheesh.



Today, I need to blast away on the newsletter and do laundry and so forth. I don't know yet what to make for dinner.

It's funny. I realized that when I am under times of stress, I watch more DVDs. Right now I'm watching Damages quite a bit. When I was unemployed for so long I watched Veronica Mars and MI5. When under duress I guess I need diversion of that type.



Have a lovely Sunday.




What the world really needs is more love and less paper work. Pearl Bailey




Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Saturday


I'm not going in to the office today. Steve is a having a hard time and I think I need to spend some time with him so I'm going to help him clean up around the shop today.

I'm watching the third episode of Damages. I'm impressed with the storyline and the structure. I think the series itself lasted for 39 episodes but with this kind of structure I can see how it couldn't be a long term deal.

I can't find my book. I was reading it at the oil change place which turned into over an hour wait because they were so busy. I think I may have left it there so I'll call them when they open this morning. Otherwise, I'll be working on the newsletter and doing the weekend cleaning.

I did pick up the books at the library. So I have Andrew Taylor's THE ANATOMY OF GHOSTS, Gary Corby's debut THE PERICLES COMMISSION, and THE FLEET STREET MURDERS by Charles Finch. Two of them are 14-day books so we'll see if I get to them.

Well, I think I'd better get ready for the day. Sorry the blog hasn't been up to snuff lately.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, March 11, 2011


Today at work we have some kind of three hour training seminar in the morning. I would rather keep working.

While working on my newsletter yesterday evening I had the first episode of the tv series Damages playing. This series I think has ended but I always meant to check it out. It stars Glenn Close as a cut-throat lawyer. I liked it and the seemingly long-running storyline. It takes the place of music in keeping my mind occupied.


I'll be working tomorrow to get some extra overtime. I didn't get very much in the last two-week period and the extra always helps. :)


I only read for a half hour yesterday so the progress in the Gregory isn't great. I've decided to not pick up the holds at the library until Monday I think. They'll wait and it will give me time to finish the current book.


Gotta go get ready for work. Have a lovely day, all.


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Thursday


I have to run some more errands today. I need to get the oil changed in Moby. I have to pick up a couple holds at the library. And I have to pay some bills.

Currently still reading THE BODY IN THE THAMES by Susanna Gregory but with the new 14-day books from the library, I may have to set it aside again for these.


Steve stayed home last night from shooting and watched ... shooting shows on tv. :) What I am to books, he is to guns so I don't complain and actually understand.


We received in the mail a couple things from the vet yesterday. A card that I couldn't look at because it had a photo of Tug and a print out of Rainbow Bridge and a flyer on grief. Steve read both. He's not doing well. I can't let myself think about things or else I lose control so he may think I'm being stone hearted but I have to keep it locked away. But Steve did think of a great place to bury the urn when we get it. Instead of out on the Madsen land, we're going to bury it outside the front porch because that's where he loved to lay and watch the world when we let out in the front. It's perfect.


So, staying busy at work again and listening to music.
Sorry I can't do funny pets right now.


Have a good Thursday, everyone.


Much love, PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The Long and Winding Road...


I did okay at work yesterday. My co-workers were very nice, I knew they would be, they all signed a card for me and Steve. I couldn't look at it right away and later in the day when I thought I could I started crying again. They asked questions because they didn't know the details so I had to tell them and sometimes I was okay and sometimes not. To quote my beloved Beatles, it's getting better all the time.

So the order of the day again is to keep busy, keep my mind occupied, and have music playing to fill in the gaps.

Steve has shooting tonight but he may not go. I kinda asked him not to leave me alone tonight and he said he was already contemplating it. However, last night he had to go out on a call to Greyhound so I was alone anyway. Best laid plans and all that. I read my book and then true to form got tired and was lights out between 8:30 and 9. So we'll see what happens tonight.

I have to get groceries after work. I may either work on my newsletter some more or work on cleaning the spare bedroom. Projects, always.

Have a lovely Wednesday....

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tuesday


Going back to work today. Keeping my mind occupied, staying busy and listening to music.

I very much appreciate the warm thoughts I received yesterday. It has been really very difficult but each day will get better.


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Monday, March 7, 2011

My Tug


My baby Tug passed away this morning. He got ill yesterday and never recovered. I was holding him when he left us at 3 this morning. I don't know what it was. He had been on pain/inflammation pills for about 6 weeks or so, maybe it damaged his liver though the vet said a couple weeks ago at testing that it wasn't. Maybe the damage happened quickly. He would have been 8 years old soon. He was the most loving and lovable dog. We had gotten him at the Animal Shelter when he was 5 months old, already 40 pounds and had big feet so we knew he would be big and that's what we wanted. A gentle giant at 150 pounds of Lab/Malamute. He knew he was so loved by us and now he isn't suffering anymore. He's at Rainbow Bridge. He's going to to be laid to rest at the Madsen land next to Steve's dog Bruce.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Sunday, March 6, 2011

A simulation of PK looking up from her reading...hmm?


It's here! I worked until noon yesterday and there it was in the mailbox. I'm stunned and gobsmacked! Therefore...



I'm currently reading WHERE SHADOWS DANCE by C.S. Harris. This is 6th of 6 in series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, an investigator in Regency England. Here is a description:



Surgeon and "anatomist" Paul Gibson, illegally buys the cadaver of a young man from London's infamous body snatchers. A rising star at the Foreign Office, Mr. Alexander Ross was reported to have died of a weak heart. But when Gibson discovers a stiletto wound at the base of Ross's skull, he can turn only to Sebastian for help in catching the killer. Described by all who knew him as an amiable young man, Ross at first seems an unlikely candidate for murder. But as Sebastian's search takes him from the Queen's drawing rooms in St. James's Palace to the embassies of Russia, the United States, and the Turkish Empire, he plunges into a dangerous shadow land of diplomatic maneuvering and international intrigue, where truth is an elusive commodity and nothing is as it seems. Meanwhile, Sebastian must confront the turmoil of his personal life. Hero Jarvis, daughter of his powerful nemesis Lord Jarvis, finally agrees to become his wife. But as their wedding approaches, Sebastian can't escape the growing realization that not only Lord Jarvis but Hero herself knows far more about the events surrounding Ross's death than they would have him believe. Then a second body is found, badly decomposed but bearing the same fatal stiletto wound.



It was published March 2011 and has 352 pages. This is a terrific historical mystery series. I'm in book heaven after waiting a year for a new release by this author.



Today, I'll walk Tug -- in the snow -- and then work on my newsletter for most of the day. Steve went to his game night last night -- guys get together, network their computers, and play an all night session of a first-person shooter. He got home at 4 so I won't be seeing him today, maybe at dinner. He's worked hard all week putting the door in at the Metra so he needed some fun and now sleep. :) Not my kind of fun but there it is.



Otherwise, I believe I'll be reading.



Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday, March 5, 2011

It's ok, there's always books...


While I'm waiting for the CS Harris book to show up from Amazon, I'm currently reading a library that came off hold, FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT by Darynda Jones. This is 1st of a debut series featuring Charley Davidson, PI and "Grim Reaper" in New Mexico. Here is a description:



Charley Davidson's police-officer father and uncle began consulting her for help in solving murders when she was five years old. Charley has a special gift --she sees and talks to the victims. Her job is to point the recently departed to the light, but those who have been murdered want her to make sure their killers are caught. Charley's latest clients-from-beyondare three personable lawyers, all murdered by the same person at nearly the same time.

It was published February 2011 and has 320 pages. It is fluffy and paranormal and that's what I'm in the mood for while I wait for the main meal.


I'm going in to work this morning for a few hours of overtime. Steve has to keep working on the 4000 pound door they're putting in at the Metra. When I get home I'll walk Tug, maybe take a nap, and then get started on the April issue of Premeditated.


Several months ago I had contacted those who are in charge of the upcoming Left Coast Crime conference in Santa Fe in March about having free issues of this issue in the gift bags. They said sure. In the past month I've sending emails and Facebook messages to find out how many and where to send them. No answer. Finally yesterday I heard from them: thank you but no thank you. Something about they're only including mags who have given money to the convention. "Supporting" Ok. How is providing free copies of a 44-page newsletter that I would be paying for myself not supporting the convention? Fine. I was suspecting something was up because of the silence for so long. And it is a mixed blessing. Yes, that means no one sees my newsletter therefore no new subscribers but I would also be hard pressed to afford to make the printed copies. So we go on in obscurity.


Gotta go get ready.


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Friday, March 4, 2011

Friday


The NRA banquet last night....was an exact repeat of the previous two years. We didn't win anything, no, of course not. As Steve said, if we didn't have bad luck we'd have no luck at all. :) The same people running it, the same kid at the front table the auctioneer used as schtick to start the bid or get the bid going, the same baaaaaaaad food. It runs about 5 hours, actually this year I got by on 4.5 hours. I'm blessed tired this morning.


It started to snow again last night but not massive amounts it looks like. So yes, it's still winter, people. It's only March.


Still no delivery of the CS Harris book. I do have a notice from the library about a hold so that will get me by. Watch, the book will be delivered today just to be spiteful.


Tomorrow I'm working to get some overtime in for the coming week. (The weekend in our pay period starts the week not ending it).


I have errands to run today when I can on breaks: I need to put gas in Moby, pick up the taxes so we can sign them, go the library.... I tell you, work interferes with my real life. :)


Before waking up this morning I had a dream about an impending train crash on a bridge. It was weird, we were on a parked train car and we knew something was coming like another train (?) and efforts were going on to help the situation but there was a feeling of impending doom/fatalism and we were trying to get off the bridge knowing it probably wouldn't help. Weird.


Definitely going to bed early tonight. I have Say Yes to the Dress to watch tonight, I'm hoping but no more Spartacus. This weekend I have to start the April issue of Premeditated and move things onto the new shelves in the storage closet.


Gotta go get ready for work. Have a good day!


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Twas a toss up today: fluffy white kitten sleeping or this...


Amazon has a nice feature where one can track the packages that one is expecting to receive. The bother is that one can track how freakin' SLOWLY the package is wending its way across the US. I am expecting the new CS Harris. It apparently really liked Denver because it spent two days there. Yes, it only left Denver a few minutes ago. Bah! I WANT MY BOOK! Best case scenario, I get it tomorrow. I would accept that because then I could have it for the weekend. What I suspect will happen is I won't even get it until Monday or Tuesday of next week.


I must be changing. Survivor and America's Next Top Model have apparently been on for 2 or 3 weeks and I haven't watched or frankly even cared enough to watch. I found out about Top Model last night and really much preferred to read and then go to bed.


Speaking of bed, boy could I go back to bed right now and sleep for a couple more hours. I'm writing this again before going to work. It worked out well to do that yesterday -- less pressure of things that have to be accomplished after work and tonight we have a comittment which I'll tell you about tomorrow. But I am a morning person, there is no doubt, but more sleep, by Thursday meaning it's not Friday yet, just sounds good. Of course, if I'm able to work overtime on Saturday that means I'm getting up early an extra day so what am I whining about? :)


Gotta go figure out what to wear and all that jazz. Have a lovely day.


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

These flowers tickle!


I'm not sure if I'll be able to have time to post a blog this evening so I'm doing a quick one this morning. I'm hoping to maybe spend some time with my baby Tug when I get home tonight. We'll do a longer walk.


Steve had a board meeting last night for the gun club, tonight he has shooting. Tomorrow is the NRA banquet -- do you sense a theme? :)


Not much else going on, just working through the day and doing the usual in the evenings and crashing by 9 (sometimes earlier).


I'm currently reading a palette cleansing romance book while waiting for the new CS Harris to show up. Pins and needles, I tell ya....


Have a very lovely day!


Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster