Music Monday - "Here Comes The Rain Again " by The Eurythmics (1984)

"Here Comes the Rain Again" by The Eurythmics was popular in 1984.  This was a pivotal year for me;  I was in college and changed majors from Drama to Creative Writing.  This song brings that year back.  Plus, it reminds me of Spring.  And of course, rain.   

I did not have cable in the 1980's and had never seen the video before this morning.  It's like a little movie.  Let me know what you think of it - and this song - in the comments.

Author Interview and Giveaway: A Bookmarked Death by Judi Culbertson

A Bookmarked Death: A Delhi Laine Mystery(Delhi Laine Mysteries)  
Cozy Mystery – 262 Pages • Publisher: Witness Impulse (March 31, 2015) • Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers • ASIN: B00JDKBUXE


Synopsis:

For the first time in nearly twenty years, Delhi Laine’s family is whole. But that doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. With no proof to condemn her daughter’s kidnappers, Delhi’s family is forced to share Elisa with her “adopted” parents. But when they suddenly perish in a mysterious house fire, Elisa is heartbroken…and Delhi’s husband, Colin, is charged with their murder. Delhi knows it’s up to her to prove his innocence, but the deeper she digs, the more it becomes evident that nothing is as it seems. When Elisa goes missing, Delhi fears her nightmare may be repeating itself. If she can’t clear Colin’s name and find Elisa again, there may not be another chance. Twenty years ago she lost her daughter…if she fails now, she might lose everything—and everyone—she holds dear.

Interview with Author Judi Culbertson

1. Your work as a used and rare book dealer sounds fascinating! How did it inspire this book and the Delhi Laine series?

I always wanted to be a writer, but I knew I would need a day job, so I went into social work as a career. I've always been fascinated by people's lives and the choices they make, and in the beginning imagined I would be able to ask them any questions I wanted. I found there was much more to it, of course, but it was a good fit for me professionally. But when I took early retirement, I couldn't wait to get into my other love, books. I relished everything about being a used/rare book dealer--the frantic hunt to seek out wonderful treasures at sales, the people I sold them to who had been looking for that particular book, and the books themselves--their knowledge, even the way they felt physically. When the business ran its course and I reluctantly moved on, I miss it. I never looked back longingly at my social work days, but I felt great nostalgic for bookselling.

So putting Delhi Laine into that genre was a way of staying in it myself and continuing to experience all the wonderful surprises it holds. It was a way to share that world with readers, to get them excited about old books and tell them what books they come across are valuable. I think you have to love what you write about and this series came about just that way.

2. What is a typical writing day like for you?

Nothing very exciting, I'm afraid. We get up early, about 6:00 a.m., and as soon as I have my coffee I settle down to write. I write mostly in the mornings when I'm most fresh, but having a day job taught me to write anywhere: in my car during my lunch hour, waiting for Little League and high school baseball games to start, on trains. I like places like Starbucks where I'm not tempted to clean the refrigerator (joke) and there's a low-level hum of activity. Especially if I'm revising, Starbucks or my local library are ideal spots.

3. Do you have any writing quirks?

The only quirk is where I write. I have a nice upstairs office with a desk my husband made me years ago, and a comfortable wing chair next to a window. When the weather is nice, there's a pleasant back deck. But I gravitate to one end of the living room couch and sit there to write. I write a first draft by hand and then revise as I type it onto my laptop--all squeezed into one spot on the couch.

4. Who are your favorite authors?

I started out in college loving Philip Roth and John Updike and have always stayed loyal to them, but I read widely. I'm partial to Jane Gardam (Old Filth), and Anthony Doerr (All the Light We Cannot See), but as soon as I write that I think of others, especially in the mystery genre such as Charles Todd, S.J. Rozan, Donna Leon. My favorite book will probably always be The Great Gatsby, but I read a lot of non-fiction, In the Garden of Beasts, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and so on.

5. What will your next book about?

With A Bookmarked Death, I've left Delhi with at least some of her life resolved, so I'm not sure where we'll go next.

About This Author

Judi Culbertson draws on her experience as a used-and-rare book dealer, social worker, and world traveler to create her bibliophile mysteries. No stranger to cemeteries, she also co-authored five illustrated guides with her husband, Tom Randall, starting with Permanent Parisians. She lives in Port Jefferson, New York, with her family.

Author Links:
http://www.judiculbertson.net/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/172665.Judi_Culbertson
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Throwback Thursday: Just One Phone

Do you remember having just one phone at home?   I do.  It was a wall phone in the kitchen, and it had a long cord.  If you wanted to talk privately to friends, you had to stretch the cord as long as possible (I got to be a pro at this).  There was, of course, no caller ID ... so there was a thrilling moment of waiting to see who was on the line.  Of course, I love my smartphone and use it constantly ... but somehow I remember the "good old days" fondly as well.

Do you remember the "good old days" of having one phone at home as well?  I'd love to hear your memories in the comments, below.

Review and Giveaway: The Glassblower's Wife by Joanna Campbell Slan

THE GLASSBLOWER’S WIFE
by JOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN
Historical Mystery – short story

Synopsis:
When Jewish glassmakers and their families flee the powerful Doge of Venice, the cost of their freedom is three hundred and fifty-seven mirrors—the creation of the magnificent Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. But the Doge sends assassins to pick off the artists, one by one. Can Ruth Telfin, the mute widow of the head glassmaker, save her people?

Review:

The Glassblower's Wife is a long short story about the glassmakers who created the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.  Although I love history and historical fiction, I was not familiar with the fascinating and sad background of this story.

The central characters are Rabbi Saul Telfin, who is a master glassblower, and his wife, Ruth, who was born mute.  I loved reading about both of them, and found them compelling both individually and as a couple.

The story is beautifully told by Joanna Campbell Slan.  It reminded me a bit of the fairytale-like stories of Isaac Bashevis Singer.  My only complaint is I wish it had been longer;  I would love to read a whole book about Ruth's life.   I cannot recommend this story highly enough!

About This Author

Joanna Campbell Slan is the award-winning author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries (an Agatha Award Finalist) and two other mystery series. Her stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series has been read and loved by millions. Her books reviving the classic heroine Jane Eyre have won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award. In her past life, Joanna was a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter. She is married to David Slan, CEO of Steinway Piano Gallery-DC. The Slans make their home on Jupiter Island, Florida.

Author Links:
Website  http://www.joannaslan.com
Blog http://www.joannaslan.blogspot.com
Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/joannacampbellslan
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/joannaslan
Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/joannacampbellslan
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/joannaslan

Purchase Link:
Amazon

Two Giveaways:
The author is generously offering a giveaway contest for a $50 Amazon gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

There is also a giveaway for this tour stop. The prize is an e-copy of The Glassblower's Wife (your choice of format).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this story from Great Escapes Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
 

Reading - Kindle or Print Books?

Do you usually read Kindle or print books?   I am a lifelong book person.  I have worked in bookstores, I sell vintage children's books, and I was very sure I never wanted a Kindle.  Then, a few years ago, one of my friends got a Kindle.  He showed it to me, with the categories you can make for your books, how easy it is to instantly download books, and I started to rethink my reservations.  That year I got a Kindle for Christmas.  I have to say I love it!   Things I particularly love about reading via Kindle:

• I read a lot of big books, like family sagas and historical fiction, and the Kindle is so light and easy.
• It's easy to make your own categories and organize your books on the Kindle.  I love this feature!  I can look at all my mysteries, historical fiction, classics, etc. easily this way.
• Downloading Kindle books from Amazon is so easy.  I get newsletters with Kindle deals (my blog post with websites here) and the Kindle Deal of the Day books are wonderful.  I've gotten many favorites, like Wicked, The Great Gatsby, The Thorn Birds for $1.99 or less that way.
• The Kindle holds a LOT of books.  This is wonderful for those of us with overflowing bookshelves.
• It's a natural for reading on a trip or in any situation where you want a variety of reading materials (without carrying around a stack of books).
• I love having longtime favorites on one little device, ready to read at a moment's notice.  I am slowly but surely adding the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace and the Jalna family saga by Mazo de la Roche to my Kindle.   A re-reader's dream!
• Your Amazon purchases are held in the cloud, so if you switch Kindles or want to read via iPad or tablet, you can download them there easily as well. 
• Overdrive is a dream!  This is the free library program to check out books digitally in Kindle format (my blog post here).  I have found some newer, popular books on Overdrive that I really didn't want to purchase ... and with a shorter wait than one would have for the print editions at the library.

This isn't to say, of course, that I don't love print books as well.  I love vintage children's books, and will always enjoy having those in print editions.  I also am a great fan of nostalgic, highly visual books, like the Images of America series  ... and those just translate better in print.  

When I review books, I read about 50/50 print and Kindle editions.  It's all great because it's all reading.

What do YOU prefer - Kindle or print?  I would love to hear from you in the comments section, below.