So, I haven’t been writing much lately.  Cue the ominous music.  I’m slowly (very slowly) getting back to it.  In the meantime, while I haven’t been doing a lot of writing I’ve been doing a lot more reading.  I’m funny like that-- the more I’m writing, the less I’m reading.  So, I do like to take advantage of the lull in creativity and catch up on some books. 

I plowed through two of the last three Laurel K. Hamilton Anita Blake books (I think I’ll wait for Skin Trade to come out in paperback) and the last two Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.  It’s fun to revisit familiar characters (and after 15 Stephanie Plum books and, what?, 18 Anita Blake books, I feel like I really know the characters) even when the stories start to run together.

My waiting room book right now is Jennifer Weiner’s Little Earthquakes (about three pregnant/new moms, appropriately enough) before I delve into her new hardcover Best Friends Forever (which I just read is the NYT #1 best seller!).  I scored her newest book from Simon & Schuster on Twitter during a BEA promotion in May.  So I’ll be reviewing Best Friends Forever here and on Amazon. 

(See, Twitter is not entirely the time waster some people think it is!  Okay, it is, but you can also get free stuff.  That’s something, right?)

Oh, and by “waiting room book” I mean the book that I only take with me to doctor’s appointments or wherever else I might be happen to be waiting.  It gives me something to look forward to when I’m dreading the two-hour wait for a fifteen minute office visit.  Am I the only one that has a special book just for waiting rooms?  Please let me I’m not.

I picked up Afterbirth: Stories You Won’t Read in a Parenting Magazine (edited by Dani Klein Modisett) after my cousin sent me a link to Caroline Bicks’s hilarious essay My Date With Dr. Ferber.  I’m looking forward to the wit and wisdom in this book, though I’m afraid I’m horrified by some of it (see Bicks’s essay about what a rebellious toddler can do). If nothing else, it promises to be more fun than reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

I am looking for pregnancy/motherhood/parenting book recommendations (both practical and entertaining) while I still have time to read such things.  So, if there is a book I must read before this baby arrives, let me know!  I’m currently reading On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep because I’m determined to have a child who sleeps better than I do!  For fun, I had to buy Hatched! The Big Push from Pregnancy to Motherhood when I was at Borders yesterday.  Had to. Seriously.

In anticipation of the movie, I am finally going to read The Time Traveler’s Wife.  I have wanted to read this book since it came out six years ago-- which is why I no longer let myself buy books in hardcover.  At least this particular hardcover was a gift and not one of my many, many bookstore purchases.

That’s just a little taste of my summer reading list.  There are so many books I hope to read before the busy, busy fall season-- which will be even busier than usual for me.  But I’m such a book nerd, I’m really looking forward to the many, many children’s books I’m going to be purchasing over the next few years!

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading at 09:28 PM Permalink

Can I just say how much I love this cover?  I don’t smoke, but I love black and white photography and I love the 1940s look.  Isn’t it just a luscious cover? 

I also love that the always gracious and terribly clever Alison Tyler edited this book.  Did I mention that every story has a smoke/fire/heat-themed title?  I told you she’s clever. 

The thing I love best of all is that I have a story in this beautiful book!  “Where There’s Smoke” is pretty hot (if I do say so myself) and proves that one man’s fantasy is another woman’s reality. 

Alison has set up a blog for Playing With Fire to highlight some of the lovely reviews the book has been getting.  Do stop by and say hello, you never know what surprises Alison has in store! 

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading in Writing at 07:18 PM Permalink 9 comments

Cynthia D’Alba (known as ArkansasCyndi on Twitter) asked me to be a part of a Black Lace Seduction feature she was posting today at Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers and her own site, Cynderella’s Castle. 

Shayla Kersten, Shayda Royce and I are sharing snippets from our Seduction stories and Cyndi is giving away a copy of Seduction to one lucky commenter. 

Do stop by and read a bit of my story “The Rancher’s Wife” and be sure to post a comment for a chance to win!

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading in Writing at 01:57 PM Permalink

I need books.  Okay.  I really don’t need books because I have piles and piles of the things, but I need books for my job.  Doesn’t that sound so much better?

I’m reviewing books for the Erotica Readers and Writers Association now.  I’ve mentioned that before, yes?  I have a long history as a book reviewer-- which basically means I found a way to take my love of reading and books and turn it into a bit of a job.  The job rarely pays-- except in books-- which is just fine by me since it keeps me from buying more books.  Which is sort of a payment in itself, right?

In any case… if you have a book you would like me to review for ERWA, .  I’m open to reviewing just about anything, but it must somehow be related to sex-- erotica, erotic romance, memoir, how-to, whatever.  I’m particularly interested in reviewing erotic romance right now, so if you have a new or forthcoming release, get in touch!

For a sample of my reviewing style, you can take a look at my reviews for Pam Rosenthal’s historical erotic romance The Edge of Impropriety and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel’s essay anthology Best Sex Writing 2009.

(Disclaimer: My goal is to review a book or two a month, but due to ERWA deadlines and my own writing deadlines, it may not be possible for me to review every book.)

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading at 05:26 PM Permalink

The good news is I’ve had three new sales since I got hit with the super virus!  Coming soon to a bookstore near you are:

My story “In the Bakery” in the XCite Books anthology Ultimate Curves, edited by Miranda Forbes and due out in May.

My tale “A Campfire Story” in the fabulous Alison Tyler’s newest Cleis Press anthology Pleasure Bound, due out in July.

My third appearance in a Black Lace anthology with my story “Glove Love” in Sexy Little Numbers, due out in August.

Lovely, lovely news-- especially when there wasn’t too much else to be happy about in the past week or so.  It’s freezing here and there’s still a little snow on the ground, but it looks like summer is going to be hot!

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading in Writing at 05:13 PM Permalink