Integrity

I don't usually like to blog about serious or downer subjects, but this one is getting me down. Lately my writers' loops have been filled with links to sites that upload copyrighted material and allow you to download books for free. This is stealing. Ok, maybe you don't have sympathy for the "big" publishing houses, but it's also stealing from the author, and as an author I can tell you that my writing "income" hasn't been "income" in any year--not when I was published by a big NY house, nor when I was published by a small press.

What's the difference between reading a book on line from someone's free upload or going to the library to take out a book. Well, the library had to buy a copy or several copies of a book and has a limited area of access. A book uploaded reaches the entire world...at least where you can get internet. If every library in the US bought my books to have on their shelves I would be thrilled. My book available as a free download off the internet... not so much. I spend six months working on a manuscript (sometimes longer, sometimes less). It IS work, and while I write because I love to write, you're stealing from me if you're downloading it for free. You wouldn't dream of taking somebody's painting and hanging it on your wall without paying for it. You wouldn't dream of asking a chef to cook for you for free. Why do you think it is your right to steal my books without compensation?

Of course, I'm not a big enough author to worry about free downloads, but that's not the point. The point is doing the right thing. What has happened to integrity? Is it no longer considered a virtue? Is cheating OK now? A study recently came out that showed that 64% of students have cheated on tests, 36% have plagiarized, yet 94% were satisfied with their ethics (David Crary Associated Press, December 1, 2008). Look at the fat cats CEO's bankrupting their own companies while walking away with their golden parachutes of millions of dollars. Look at the mud slinging in the latest election.

Maybe that's why I like fiction, especially genre fiction, so much. In my books, good guys win, and bad guys get their just deserts. Ahh, the Polyanna in me.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Flashback by Nevada Barr
Agnes and the Hitman by Jennfier Crusie and Bob Mayer
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (yes, again)

The Post Thanksgiving Blahs

I cooked, I ate, I shopped; it was good. But now I'm still battling whatever made me ill last week (not a cold, slight fever, a cough deep in my chest, and thank you, but I don't need a diagnosis) and I have to get back to work tomorrow.

So the blahs have hit. I know, I know, I could start decorating for the next holidays, but my husband hasn't even removed the Halloween stuff from our living room yet (Yes, I know I could do it, but do I want to?) So instead I'm taking today to wallow (and correct homework papers) and just enjoy being out of sorts for a day.

On the other hand, the writing is going well. This historical feels like coming home and slipping into something comfortable. Of course, if my paranormal sells, I will love to write the next two stories that are in my head. Let's just say, I really feel like a writer first and a teacher second, a good place to be.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading:
The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
Tall, Dark, and Texan by Jodi Thomas
Deep South by Nevada Barr
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

T-shirts and bumper stickers

I don't wear T-shirts often, except when I'm at home or I work out (which should tell you how rarely I wear T-shirts. I know, I know, I should work out more) and I don't put stickers on my car except when I have to, but that doesn't mean I don't like the sayings printed on these two media. I'm a sucker for a good pun or witty turn of phrase. So here is a random sample of some of my favorites:

I am the Grammarian about whom your mother warned you.
I am an English major (you do the math).
National Sarcasm Society (Like we need your support)
There are 10 types of people who understand binary: those who do and those who don't.
Visualize Whirled Peas
When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.
Hyperbole is the best thing ever

And for you cat lovers, this is a warning. Don't read the following!

So many cats, so few recipes

(Don't send me hate mail. It made me laugh. I can't help it if I have a sick sense of humor.)

So, do you have any favorites?
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Dark of the Moon by Susan Krinard
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Ill Wind by Nevada Barr

Changes

No, this isn't a blog about the election (And how many people did you have calling your house today to vote? We stopped counting at 16). It's about changes and the things we want to change and the changes that are thrust upon us.

Too often we are complacent in our lives and not wanting to risk anything that might upset the status quo. But I believe, and I always have, that most change is good. It helps you grow, it helps you learn, it helps you live. Change can be painful, but in most changes bring positive energy into your life. At least they have in mine.

I've been meditating why lately I've been afraid to take those risks that bring change. Goodness knows, I would enjoy a change in my life right now (and no, I'm not talking about changing husbands or children for that matter). And I guess I've had change--my daughters are off at college, but that really was just a natural extension of events--but I'm looking for some sort of personal change. I have set some wheels in motion, so now I an actively pursueing a change. I'm certainly ready for a change in the writing career.

So, Universe, are you listening? I'm ready for a change.
--Gabi

--Books I'm reading now:
Men in Kilts by Katie MacAlister
The Undead Next Door by Kerilyn Sparks

Red River again

It's that time of year again. To leave the the city and head for the mountains of New Mexico and Red River. Our annual writers' retreat (our non-conference) happens this weekend, and I am looking forward to it. And the ducks. Gotta love the ducks.

Watch this space for a rejuvenated me after I return.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
The Warrior by Kinley McGregor
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

A Pet Peeve

As many of you know, I speak three languages. One of my biggest pet peeves is when authors or movies or TV shows speak in a language I know and the language is wrong. Case in point: Chicago (the film of the musical). Not until the second viewing did I realize that the one innocent woman on death row (who gets hanged) is supposed to be speaking Hungarian. The accent was atrocious, the intonation abysmal, and the words barely understandable. My mother, who is native born Hungarian, didn't believe me when I told her they speak Hungarian in the movie. I showed her the scene and she didn't understand a word. Keep in mind that my mother still reads books in Hungarian and most of her friends are Hungarian and she speaks Hungarian every day.
If the producers spent that much money making a movie, the least they could have done is hire someone who speaks the language and fix it!

The same thing happened in a book I read recently. The story takes place in Germany (Prussia, which in the story is right next to the Black Forest!). The German was wrong from the start. None of the nouns were capitalized, and the word endings were wrong in spots. But my first real guffaw came when the hero called the heroine "messe," and she said in English something like, "Yes, I am messy. Just look at me." And the hero said, "No, I mean messe. Messe means fair in German. " Well, it does...only it means a fair like a state fair or a convention. It's a noun, not an adjective.

It got better (or worse; opinions may vary). During a love scene, the hero is kissing her and using German words like Liebchen (which is fine, except it wasn't capitalized), and messe (Again, and it wasn't capitalized as nouns are in German), but the worst was when he used the word Leiche (not capitalized). The author must have used a German/English dictionary to find the word body. Leiche is body...only it means dead body or corpse. Good thing I wasn't drinking milk at the time. Would have had fountains from my nose.

I have written a novel with Spanish in it, and I freely admit that I don't speak Spanish, but I had three different native speakers translate and check it for me. It isn't that hard to find native speakers of a language. This author should have found one.

And now, back to work.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart
Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle

Short stories

We have just finished our short story unit at school (you do know I'm a teacher by day, right?), and my students had to write their own short story for class. I gave them prompts, but they also had the option of writing something of their own. For the second year, I joined them in the writing. I have great respect for short story writers. It isn't an easy task. To write a truly great short story requires discipline and talent. A short story has to pack so much into just a few pages. Mine have turned out to be three and five pages respectively. Like my romances, they spring into my head almost fully formed.

The odd thing is that unlike my romances, which I hope have humor and wit and lightness, my short stories turn out rather twisted and dark. Hmmm. I wonder what that says about me.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
The Daughters Grimm by Minda Webber
Where's My Hero Anthology by Lisa Kleypass, Julia Quinn, and Kinley McGregor

The Political Beast

The U.S. is getting close to an election that I believe will be very important. I've tried to stay away from politics on this blog because I believe that my blog was just for getting to know me and my writing and other sundry things, but I'm almost to the point of letting loose here.

Normally I love to argue politics with family and friends, but I get highly passionate and incensed when I do so. Although I may seem upset, I have never felt any less toward anyone who argues against me or disagrees with my views. I may laugh at them to myself afterwards, but I've never lost a friendship over politics. I also prefer to argue in person with people that I'm comfortable with, not put myself out there for the world to see. I do that enough with my books.

But politics is ugly. Always has been, always will be. I don't like ugliness (I'm not talking about appearances here). And now it's become divisive. I can't believe some people think the way they do. Actually I believe they aren't thinking because if they did they wouldn't vote they way they plan to.

So although I hold strong opinions about this upcoming election, I'm keeping them to myself. I won't change anyone's mind who doesn't think like me, and if they already think like me, Why argue? But I do plan to vote.

I just can't believe this election is at all close and considered a legitimate and valid electoral race.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley

Empty Nest?

With two kids off to college this years (twins, doncha know, so I lost two at once), you'd think I was suffering from empty nest syndrome. Nope.

Don't get me wrong. I miss them, and I think they don't call or email me often enough, but it's not that I miss them. I just want to hear their news. Their lives have to be more exciting right now than mine. I just go to work and come home. They are off in new parts of the country, learning new things, meeting new people. I want to hear the excitement in their voices. And no, I'm not living my life through them.

But I don't think I'm suffering from empty nest syndrome. I already moved my remaining daughter into one of her sisters' room, painted the walls, took over her room as an office, painted those walls, and I'm loving having my own space for writing. In fact I'm thinking of having my twins share a room when they come home so I can keep the office to myself. I love having my own place to work and write. I have an extra table in their for when I work on hard copy, I have my own computer (not this one) just for writing, and my floor to ceiling bookshelves that still have space to hold more! It's quite lovely.

Nope. No empty nest. I have my own life.
But I do wish they would call more often.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
The Emergency Doctor's Chosen Wife by Molly Evans

Reading...and painting

No, not that kind of painting. Painting rooms. I spent the weekend repainting one entire room and one wall of my daughter's new room. Since her two sisters are away at college, she moved into her older sister's bigger room, and I moved into her old room. Not exactly. I converted it into my office. And that required paint to change the bright pink walls into a soothing green. My daughter's room now sports an island, the ocean and the bright blue sky. Very creative, if I do say so myself. Latent talent there.

But after two days of painting, I can't move without pain, so no way I'm taking this up as a career switch.

And, yes, I know: you're not supposed to change or get rid of your college bound child's room. They need to come home to it to feel still loved, but we warned the twins, and in our case it wasn't one unused room, but two, so they'll just have to lump it.

I am so heartless.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (makes you love books all the more)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey

Happy Birthday...

Ray Bradbury. I teach a couple of his stories at school and one of his novels. They are spectacularily written, so I thought I'd take this moment and wish him many happy returns.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:

Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey
The Governess wears Scarlet by Sari Robbins

The Olympics...

OK, I've been slow, I admit, but I've got an excuse (that's all it is--an excuse. Doesn't mean I shouldn't have blogged, because I should have, but it's an excuse). First, I had another birthday between the last blog and now, but the biggie is that I'm back at school. Yup, I'm back at the day job, and that's my excuse. And now, well, now there's the OLYMPICS--

All caps. That's right. I'm a fan. A huge fan. I don't follow sports normally. I don't care for basketball, although I've been to a few Lobos games with my husband, who gets season tickets, don't really care for MLB, although if I have to pick my team is the Padres, and I watch the Superbowl for the commercials. But the Olympics were always huge when I was growing up. My father would watch everything he possibly could and would make us watch with him. And I mean everything. I am glued to the TV when kayaking comes on, and yesterday's women's sabre event was thrilling. I wish they would show more of the obscure events. I will watch the entire length of the bike races, the marathon, anything. During the opening ceremonies, I cried. Several times. (I also have to suppress my own feelings of inadequacy--what the heck have I achieved) And I root for the underdog and the stars.

I love the Olympics for everything it's supposed to stand for, for the dreams of the individuals, and, yes, even for the patriotism that it inspires. (Although I have to warn you that the Hungarians receive as loud cheers as the Americans--despite their hideous outfits.)

Probably the biggest part of the Olympics for me though is that it is a sort of memorial to my father. He died nearly twenty years ago, and for me and my family, watching the Olympics is a tribute to him. It's when I do my best remembering of him. And I cry. And it's a good thing.

It looks like I've passed on the love of the Olympics to the next generation as well. The kids are glued to the TV with me. So I'm off to watch the Olympics now.

I hope you can make such memories with your families.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett
By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey
Bedding the Heiress by Cathy Maxwell
Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros

Time is running out...

You all know I'm a teacher by day and romance writer by night (hey, The Dark Knight has just come out, and no, I haven't seen it yet). Which means that my summer vacation is almost over. I'm already feeling the pain. I have to report back on August 6. That's right, August 6. Mind you, I"m looking forward to having new students, and as usually, sap that I am (see previous post), hope is growing that I will actually reach many kids this year, but it means that I have to divide my time again. I so enjoyed being a writer and only a writer this summer. The thing is, if I didn't know how great the writing thing is, I would have made a very contented and dedicated teacher. I do like it.

So I have two and a half weeks to finish revisions. I'm not going to the RWA national conference this year (for the first time since 1997), and I have to start thinking about my curriculum. Sigh.

--Gabi
Books I'm reading now:
Bedding the Heiress by Cathy Maxwell
Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz

Sap

I admit it. I'm a sap. I just came home from the movie WALL-E, and I have to say I loved it. It's disturbing on many levels--the environment, the proliferation of communication devices and personal entertainment--but so amazingly good. I believe it's the best Pixar movie yet (Yes, better than FINDING NEMO, which I loved--who didn't?--or Toy Story.)But that's not why I'm a sap. I'm a sap, because I cried. Yes, cried. At a robot (ROBOT--really, a robot). And an animated robot at that.

You want to talk hero's journey? Wall-e is a hero. You want romance? Wall-e and Eve. You want adventure? Well, I don't want to give away the movie, so I won't say more. I will say you will fall in love with Wall-e--an animated robot (Yes, a ROBOT!)

I cried.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner
To Light a Candle by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
When Darkness Falls by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Finished

The WIP(work in progress)is finished. One of the best parts of being a writer is typing "the end." Now I'm giving myself a week before starting revisions, but I love revising. The book needs fleshing out and reduction in some areas and reworking in others. I have to make sure the details are right, the logic isn't ignored, and that it reads well.

There's something so satisfying about finishing a novel. I mean the writing aspect. Yes, finishing one that you've read can be satisfactory as well, but the sense of accomplishment after writing is a magical feeling. You've really done something. Whether or not it ever gets published. You've written a book.

So I'm off now to revising. And believe it or not, I've already started a new novel. I have only three pages, but it's a start.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
In Defense of Elitism by William A Henry
The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Things that Go Bump in the Night

No, I'm not talking about ghosts. I'm talking about real night terrors. For the past two nights, I've had nightmares. Two different ones each night for a total of four different nightmares that wake me up from a good sleep. And I remember waking up from one about three days ago as well, but I don't remember the details.

They all have different story lines (if dreams can have story lines) and they aren't hard to interpret. One had to do with driving my twins off to work beside a swollen river (the tragic flooding in the Midwest) and then a tsunami wipes out their place of employment. (Yes, I know river don't have tsunamis, but it's a dream--cut me some slack.) You don't have to be Freud to figure out I'm beginning to have issues with letting them go to college where I won't have control over their every day lives (not that I do now-- I don't know whom my subconscious thinks she's fooling). The other four were as bizarre or more so, but I don't need to go into details about them. They make about as much sense as, well, dreams.

In any case, I'm having nightmares, and believe it or not, I'm actually happy about it. Why? I read a study in which the authors said adults tend to have nightmares once a month if that. I've always had nightmares at least once a week. Except this past year. For whatever reason, I haven't had any. Maybe because I wasn't sleeping too well, but I think because my creativity shut down while I was teaching. Yes, you have to be creative to be a teacher, but not with the creativity I use in being a writer. And now the nightmares are back, and I am flying with the writing. I am having such fun finishing up this WIP.

So I'm taking my nightmares as a good thing.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
My Favorite Thief by Karyn Monk
The Price of Indescrestion by Cathy Maxwell
In Defense of Elitism by William A Henry
The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler

Ack!!

I didn't mean to have such a break between blogs. I try to get one up a week (OK, every week and a half), but May came and went (like a hurricane) with end of school, husband's birthday, twins' birthday, twins' graduation, mother visit, Father-in-law-visit, ARC re-read, and I fell ill.

But no excuses. It's summertime and I am a writer again. Almost done with the WIP, ready and eager to start revisions, and the next book in the queue (in my head) is stomping to get out as well.

What a difference a few weeks makes. My mind set is completely uncluttered (except for plots) and my creativity has returned. I guess not having essays to correct DOES make a difference.
So I'm off to the writing computer again. I will be better blogging this summer.

Books I'm reading now (and have read these past few weeks)
You've got Male by Elizabeth Bevarly
Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
The Lost Wyndham Duke by Julia Quinn
Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Hollow by Nora Roberts
The River Knows by Amanda Quick
Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey
Twisted Creek by Jodi Thomas
(I probably missed a couple)

Back to work/school

My daughters have senioritis, my students think they're in high school already, and I...well, I resent that I'm still playing "catch up" from my week's absence. I have all these creative needs that aren't being met because I have papers to grade.Sigh.

The first week back went well, although by Friday I was wiped out. And because I've been favoring one side over the other, my knee gave out yesterday, so I'm in pain again.
OK, this blog was not meant to be a whine session (although wine seems to help --LOL). I'm looking to see what promotion I want to do with my September release, and still trying to find time to finish up the WIP. But there's only 28 days of school left and then I can be a full time writer again. For a while.

And I'm excited about getting back in the game full time.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Lori Wilde
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
Bewitching by Jill Barnett
And lately I've gotten hooked on The Office (I know that's TV, but hey, this is my blog)
And I'll be buying Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture. For whatever reason, his name has appeared in my life daily since last week Saturday. It's a sign. LOL

News from the world of drugs

Just kidding. But I do have to tell you that Percocet takes the edge right off that pain. I can't imagine wanting to feel this way if I wasn't in pain (I don't get the whole recreational drug thing), but it sure is nice to have something that works to make me feel better. Even if I can't write when my head is swimming.

My new book cover is up at my web site. Go take a peek (www.gabianderson.com).

My surgery went well, I'm recuperating at home, and trying to get some reading and writing done. It's still a little hard (see above paragraph) but I have one more week to recover before I have to go back to work.

Meanwhile I've decided that I really want to focus on the writing. I have two books waiting to come out that need to wait their turns until I finish the current WIP. I love feeling the creativity return to my life.

A big congrats to all the GH and RITA finalists this year. (see the RWA website if you are unfamiliar with these two contests.)

--Gabi

What I'm reading now:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander
Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Lori Wilde

Posting

I've been pretty good lately, posting something here about every week, and then, WHAM! something happens and all my good intentions fly out the window and I don't get to posting. So I'm giving you all (what? all three people who read my blog) heads up that I won't be posting regularly for about a month. I have health issues in addition to the work issues, so please check back next month when I plan to be really good again.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Give me a Texan Anthology
I'm looking for some good reads to get me through the next few weeks--any suggestions?

The Romance Community

I have to say that the romance writer community is one of the best places to feel loved (no pun intended). These authors are so giving, so caring, so willing to share of themselves that any author should feel priveleged to write romance. Authors come to give talks and they embrace their fellow authors as if they were long lost friends. Yes, they do come to sell books and promote themselves, but that doesn't diminish the true grace and gentility they display. I have spent many a day with a author whom I have never met before and always felt as if I were sharing stories with a friend.

Today in my local paper, the books section (a page, not really a section) threw in a gratuitious blurb on Romance for Valentine's Day (because, of course, Romance doesn't exist the rest of the year and it's also not the bigest share of the mass market fiction market--sarcasm, if you couldn't tell). The headline reads "Romance! Passion! Lust!" (not so bad really), then the subtitle reads "Who wrote the book of love? For a mere six bucks you can set hearts aflame and get those bodices ripping". How long will it take for the media to understand that "bodice-ripper "is a term most romance authors find offensive, demeaning, and belittling? I give credit to the article for maintaing a neutral tone, but really out of the three romance novel examples the author gives, one is twenty years old, and the second is twelve years old. At least the third one is a recent publication. And no mention of Nora Roberts. Nor a mention that of the top ten bestselling authors on the fiction list printed that week (And I don't know if our paper reprints the NYT or if they have another source, but the list only covers hardcover books), two are known romance authors.

I think I'm just too sensitive because, really, nothing negative is said in the article. I guess I just want more. So much positive exists in the romance community that I want to celebrate it and extoll it to the world instead of relgating it to a mere Valentine's Day burb.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Crimes against Logic by Jamie Whyte
Give me a Texan by Jodi Thomas, Linda L Broday, DeWanna Pace, Phyliss Miranda
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Yup, it's that time of year again--teaching it to my eighth graders)

Winter blahs

For two weeks I've been battling the blues. Oh, not the serious blues, but the I've-got-no-talent-who-am-I- fooling blues.Sometimes, when life takes up so much of your time and you can't pursue your dreams, it's hard to keep the faith. And if doesn't help when you find people are advising things like Confucius's saying "Jump and the net will appear." That's all well and good when you don't have many responsibilitites, but if I were to quit my job and really pursue writing full time, who the heck would pay the tuition bills coming up next year when the girls hit college? I've been published. I know what those initial advances and royalties pay, and my kids can't go to college on those paychecks.

So until I can leave work and pursue the dream full time, the dream suffers because my soul is being sucked out of me by the demands of the job. It's a vicious ciricle.

And it's been COLD!

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Crimes Against Logic by Jamie Whyte
The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gillman
Seven books and/or novellas for the RITA contest sponsered by RWA (not releasing the titles of those)

Reading, reading, and more reading

I have been indulging all week. I have been reading and enjoying my time reading. School has started up again, and next week I have papers to correct, but in the meantime I've been coming home and reading. I didn't have much of a chance to read over the break because, for whatever reason, my mother doesn't like to see me reading--even though it was MY vacation. So I've been making up for it since we returned home. How lovely to read. Just read.
Oh yes, and WRITE. I've been writing too.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Th Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
World Without End by Ken Follett
The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren

Happy New Year

Resolutions? Not for me. I don't do the whole "this year I will..." thing. Either I do something or I don't. Time of year doesn't matter. Besides, if you think about it, this whole "new"year thing is pretty arbitrary anyway. The new year used to start in March (Thus the discrepancy in George Washington's age you sometimes find). If you teach, you're only in the middle of the year. And it's winter. How can anyone start anything in winter? (Being facetious here--I know there are people out there who like winter...strange people)

But in the spirit of the season and the need to write new numbers on my checks, Happy New Year to you all. May your year be filled with joy, luck, love, and riches. For me, a new book contract will do.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie (a re-read)
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (not because it's an Oprah pick--this is a re-read before I buy the sequel. Of course I had forgotten how much I loved this book.)
The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren