Graphic Novel Panel for the Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Conference

If any of you reading have a book blog it is not to late to register for the Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Conference.  It started Wednesday and every session is recorded so if you cannot attend live you can listen later.  I highly recommend attending.  Wednesday's sessions were filled with great information.  Go to the BBP blog and check out the schedule for yourself.  Below is one of the Friday Sessions.

David Dabel and Derek Ruiz from Sea-Lion-Books http://sealionbooks.com/
Friday Night - April 15 - 7:15pm EST
Find out more at http://bbpcon.blogspot.com

Thief Taker, Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner by T.F. Banks

Mystery

The Thief Taker is a well-written and complex mystery full of well-developed characters set in Regency London.  

When Halbert Glendinning arrives at a party apparently dead from asphyxiation Henry Morton, a Bow Street Runner,  is called to the scene when someone feels that there is something strange in Glendinning death.  His search leads him on an inquiry into the upper circles of London society.  Morton follows  a complex and strange path before finding the truth behind Glendinning’s death. 

The Thief Taker is the first book in a series that contains only 2 books.  It is a shame because the series and the premise has great possibilities.  I always hate it when good series does not sell well enough to continue.   It would be nice but not likely if the authors could find another publisher to continue the series.

Dell published The Thief Taker by T.F. Banks in 2001. 

I purchased The Thief Taker from Amazon. 

Keys to the Castle by Donna Ball

Modern Romance

Keys to the Castle is a modern fairy tale complete with happily every after.  Donna Ball has written a fun story featuring a middle aged heroin. 

Sara Graves met and married Daniel, a dashing French poet, only to have him die three weeks later.  A year later Sara must travel to France to settle Daniel’s estate.  When she arrives she finds that the broken down castle Daniel talked about is in reality a estate.  Chateau Rondelais, the castle, needs a lot of work but is Sara is soon charmed with the location, the locals and her late husband’s lawyer.  Of course there are problems that at first seem insurmountable but it would not be a story if everything went smoothly.

Keys to the Castle is a feel good read and it will go on my comfort book shelf to join others that I like to re-read. It is nice to have a HEA for those of us who are older.

Penguin published Keys to the Castle by Donna Ball in 2011.

I purchased Keys to the Castle from Amazon.

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

Science Fiction

Agent to the Stars is John Scalzi‘s practice novel.  In the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book he says Agent to the Stars is “the novel I wrote to see if I could write a novel.”  It was never meant to be published and was originally posted free on the web.  I had seen it mentioned several times and even have the free version, which is still available, bookmarked but I really don’t like to read on the computer so I finally paid for the paperback version.

When the Yherajk come to Earth to meet us their first contact is with a talent agent in Hollywood.  They know presentation is everything and they have a small problem.  The Yherajk are ugly and smell like rotten fish.  What they need is a talent agent, someone to present them in a good light.  That is where Thomas Stein comes in.  It is his job to make first contact with the Yherajk a success.

The premise is great and the story is fun.   I think it is worth any Science Fiction fan’s time to read Agent to the Stars. 

Tom Doherty published Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi in 2005.

I purchased Agent to the Stars from Borders.

Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Conference

Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Conference is April 13 - 17th.  This is the second year for the Conference.  I just read about it on another web site and have signed up to attend.  I do this blog for fun but am always looking for ways to improve what I do.  The Conference looks like a good way to improve my blog.  It is also a great way to interact with other bloggers.

Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape

Steampunk

Steam and Sorcery combines steampunk, magic, and paranormal in a satisfying read.  Sir Merrick Hadrian is a Knight of the ancient Order of the Round Table.  On a mission in the London slums Sir Marrick is saved by a band of five children from an attack of vampyres.  When the children offer to help him complete his mission he accepts their help.  Recognizing the unique talent in each of the children and the fact that one of them is a Knight he moves them to his home creating chaos.  What he needs is a governess and it seems his Aunt has just the person to do the job.  Caroline is between jobs having just been dismissed from her last job after her employer tries to take liberties with her person.  Of course Caroline, who thinks she is just ordinary, has talents of her own and soon she, the children and Sir Merrick are involved in a dangerous mystery. 

Steam and Sorcery has it all; monsters, romance, mystery, great characters, and a well constructed plot.    I have had mixed results with the books I purchased from Carina Press.  Steam and Sorcery is one I do not hesitate to recommend.  Steam and Sorcery is an eBook.

Steam And Sorcery is the first book in the Gaslight Chronicles.  Look for the second book, Photographs and Phantoms, to be released April 25th, 2011. 

Carina Press published Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape in 2011.

The Spiral Path by Lisa Paitz Spindler

Science Fiction Romance

Lisa Paitz Spindler has set The Spiral Path in a unique universe.  Terra and Creed are located in different dimensions.  The wormhole that opens up to connect the two is called the spiral path.  Only children with one parent from Creed and one parent from Terra can stay in either dimension.  Others must limit their time when they travel between the two.

Star Ship Captain Lara Soto is a Chimeran, a child of both Terra and Creed.  Lara was part of the Terran Star Union until Terran tried to turn the Chimeran’s into a weapon against the Creed.  When the Creed did the same she became the leader of the free Chimerans.  Lara is drawn back into action with both Terra and Creed when her twin brother goes missing during a wormhole experiment.  She must work with Star Union Commodore Mitch Yoshida, the man she left behind, to mount a rescue operation.  Both must work to overcome the past and rebuild trust or they will fail.

The Spiral Path has romance, tension, conflict, a large cast of characters, and a very good story.  Lisa Paitz Spindler does a great job of working in back-story and world building in a novella length story.  I found myself wishing that she had chosen to make the story novel length.  There is enough depth to support a novel.  Maybe she will continue writing in this world.  The foundation is certainly there.

Carina Press published The Spiral Path by Lisa Paitz Spindler as an eBook in 2011.

I pre-ordered The Spiral Path from Barnes and Noble.

My Pre-Orders

I have the following books pre-ordered from Amazon.  Four are May releases, two are early April releases and one is a late March release.    I pre-ordered in February and March.  Pre-orders are very important to authors.  They are one of the things that publishers watch so pre-order and keep you favorite authors writing and publishing.  (I am a reader not a writer.  I pre-order to help keep my favorite writers writing.)

Alien in the Family by Gini Koch, 

The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi,


Enemy Games by Marcella Burnard, 


City of Ruins by Kristine Kathryn Rusch


Children of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy 


The Lost Fleet: Dreadnaught by Jack Campbell


Betrayer: Foreigner #12 by C.J. Cherryh