Lisa Was Here

Lisa came to us this time!  Not really but close.  She is touring indies...Independent Book Stores, that is.  When we saw that she was going to be in Arlington, we KNEW we had to go.  After getting into Arlington WAY too early (always so eager to see Lisa), we walked by the cute One More Page bookstore and realized that they weren't even really set up yet, we got back in the car and drove around a bit, came back and had dinner and then walked over.  Technically, we were "First In Line" but by the time we got back, there were other people there seated.  

It was entertaining as always!  She had Laura (her friend and assistant) with her, which it is always nice to see her.  After her talk, she did her signings and we got to chat for a few minutes - she was concerned that we have heard all the stories before - she said WE could stand up there and tell her stories for her!!  And we talked about her upcoming book club party (making sure we were coming, asking us "veterans" what she could do differently.  She's going to be on travel up until the day before the first book party so we offered to help if they needed.  Of course we are planning to go!

So excited to finally get our hands on Someone Knows!!!  

Book Club Party

We were so excited to be invited back to Lisa and Francesca's Book Club party!  We really had a blast and she always makes us feel like family.  

It's kind of amazing that a best selling author would open up her home to 1000 of her biggest fans.  She feeds us, let's us wander around her home and then entertains us.  What's not to love about her?!?  Oh, and let's not forget that if you pre-order her next book, she GIVES you a book for free?!?  

We really make a whole day of it.  We drive up early, go to a wonderfully delicious popcorn store to load up on popcorn then go to her house. On our way home, we stop at a travel center and have a sandwich from the Earl of Sandwich and then go home.  SUCH a great day!  

Hugs all around

Chilling in her new sun room

Laughing all the time

Visiting Lisa and Francesca at Nora's Book Store

An Afternoon at Lisa's

Being invited to Lisa Scottoline's home for a book club party was such an honor. We had a fabulous time. As usual, she and Francesca were the perfect hostess'. We were treated to a wonderful afternoon, spending time in her gorgeous house while browsing her extensive book collection. The ladies entertained us with hilarious stories and Lisa discussed her new book. As luck would have it, we were able to pre-order the new book "Corrupted". Stay tuned - we will review it once we read it. 

National Book Festival

We had a great visit to the Nation Book Festival in Washington DC.  As much as we like to read, I am surprised we have never been before.  It was great seeing Lisa and Francesca and hearing them both speak.  They really are like family (as Lisa has said many times before). We look forward to attending the book club meeting at Lisa's house next month.  

It's camping season!  And what better way to kick it off than with the newest Lisa Scottoline book?  

GoodReads, Amazon Kindle Unlimited and Other Stuff - thoughts by Sheri

I love social media.  Not going to lie - I am addicted to Facebook.  I love seeing what people are doing (even those I haven't seen in over 30 years), love keeping track of all my kids comings and goings and love watching funny goat videos.  I also Tweet (some). And now, we have a social media for reading - GoodReads.  I can see what friends and family are currently reading and what they want to read.  I can read what others think about books that I am considering, which is cool!  Reading AND social media - I am in heaven!!!  

Because GoodReads isn't quite enough for me, I also just joined Amazon's Kindle Unlimited which offers a huge collection of books that you can read for free.  Well, free after you pay $9.99 a month - so not free. But you know what I mean.   Both of these are great ways to get introduced to authors you are not familiar with.  Because I read SO much, I have to fill the void until my favorite authors next book(s) comes out.  

Looking over our blog, I realized that most of what we write about is Lisa and her books.  Which is fine and great and wonderful but we do have other "favorites".  We both like to read Nora Roberts.  I'm not a huge romance reader.  I am more into ghost stories. I like psychological thrillers.  Back in the 90s, I discovered Barbara Michaels (Mertz) and read every spooky book she wrote and went to every reading/signing she did. She was the first author I really came to know on a personal basis and I was so sad when I learned that she passed away.  I feel fortunate to have met her and gotten to know her.   Not only were the stories scary, a lot of the them took place locally which I love!  

While surfing Amazon about two years ago, I stumbled upon an English writer - Sarah Rayne, who I feel writes very similarly to Barbara and immediately became smitten.  From Amazon.com, "Much of the inspiration for her dark psychological thrillers comes from the histories and atmospheres of old buildings...."  LOVE THIS.  I read everything that Amazon US had to offer and begged the publisher to offer all of hers available in the UK to us.  They listened!  I feel a personal connection with her as well, we communicate via email every few months or so.  

I have had to overcome by feeling of being disloyal to Lisa and Sarah and know that it's okay to like what others write.  And I have the internet to thank for the ability to read whatever I want.  Without the internet, there would be no Amazon, no GoodReads. Ahhh...so many books, so little time.