Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Buy a raffle ticket and get a chance to win a helmet worn by Ron Hornaday with a design by Jason Beam. All proceeds benefit Cystic Fibrosis! For details go here.

Nothing like a rainy Easter to put a damper on the ole egg hunt–but on the plus side, leaves you more time for decorating with the kids. :)

A strange thing happens as soon as an author hears their book is out there in the world–they become number obsessed. Never mind that these numbers usually mean NOTHING. They can’t help themselves they spend hours scouring the web for numbers, any numbers they can find that gives some picture of how their book is selling.

In case any of you fit this profile, I thought I’d share a link a friend shared with me (I am concealing her identity to protect the obsessed). This particular link explains one of the most addictive places for meaningles numbers–Amazon. Read, obsess, enjoy. :)

Lori

You know how at the end of the year there are all these nominations for best this and best that, but by December you have no clue what you read in February? Well, I’ve decided to keep track here on my blog. So, if you scroll down you will find Best Books of 2006, according to me and what I’ve read. :) Right now there is only one book there, but I’m hoping to add to it soon.

Lori

ToBeRead today–stop by. :)

Just a brief note to tell all of you that a fellow Your Virtual Book Bag fellow author, Darlene Marshall, was nominated for Best Historical novel at the Smart Bitches blog. Other contenders you have seen mentioned on this blog are Gail Dayton and Kelley Armstrong.

Sure this contest won’t get anyone on the NY Times list, or guarantee them a six figure deal, but what else do you have to do? So, instead of sitting around, staring blankly at your computer screen, buzz on over and vote. :)

Okay, I am really cheap. ( I may have mentioned that before here.) So, for me to lay down hard cold, foldable cash for a book, I have to be pretty confident I’m going to love it. But as unused birthday credit would have it, I found my self with a nice little gift card, a couple coupons and an hour to myself. Off to Borders I went.

Standing at the new-in-paperback display, I ran into Jane J. (AAR reviewer, bookstore employee and librarian extraordinaire). Jane isn’t like me–Jane is an author’s dream. Not only does she BUY books a lot, she buys new-to-her-authors in hardback!!! If any authors out there would like to send Jane personal thank yous, small gifts, etc. just let me know and I will forward them on.

So, anyway, back to cheap me. As I said, this was a special book buying day and I loaded up. Here’s what I found:

• Dates from Hell–I am not a short story/novella type reader. In fact there was a time in my life when I only bought books at least 2 inches thick–3 to 4 being my preferred thickness, but a book with both Kelley Armstrong AND Kim Harrison? Then Lori Handeland thrown in? Come on, how could I pass that by?
• Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton–That’s right I have never read an Anita Blake book. I tried a Merry Gentry, so this isn’t completely buying cold (as in an author I haven’t read) and the books are set in St. Louis where I used to live plus, of course, you would have to live in a cave to not know what people think of these books (the early ones apparently being most loved). So, there you go–I bought it.
• Doppelganger by Marie Brennan –This was my risk book. I have never read this author. (I believe it is her debut book, but I do like supporting debut authors.) I had heard nothing about this book, but it has a fab cover. (Yes, it’s true I am a sucker for a good cover.) And I love witches, and I really liked that it sounded like neither character was pure evil. So, two good guys pitted against each other. I like less than clear-cut characters (as in misguided, but good or evil with good intentions.)
• Moon Called by Patricia Briggs–Another new-to-me author. I was walking on the wild side wasn’t I? But Patricia Briggs was recommended by a number of people–and have you seen the cover? Well, enough said. ;-)
• Mystic Rider by Sharon Shinn–This I got for my husband. I might read it too, but she sounds like someone he might like. Neither of us have read her books. So, yet ANOTHER new-to-me author.
• Why do Horses Neigh–For my daughter. Pretty sure it’s a new-to-her author, but I’m thinking she won’t care.
• Spot’s Show & Tell–For my son. He is a spot fan, so no big risk here. :)

So, how about you? Do you buy new-to-you authors? Or do you try them at the library or used store first?

Okay, I have made three new discoveries in the food line. All fairly healthy or at least low calorie. So good I have to share…

• 
  Campbell’s Select Gold Label Roasted Red Pepper Soup
• 
  Soy Crisps - barbecue flavor
• 
  South Beach Peanut Butter Cookies

Snack away, dieters!!

Lori

who finds this a tad depressing???

890 Calories!!!