Introduction Armchair Book Expo 2017

 Celebrating 10 years of random blogging!

According to my Twitter description I am an actor, director, singer, reader, reviewer, and genealogist not necessarily in that order.

 

Currently I have been on dialysis for almost a year while waiting for a kidney transplant. It has made it difficult to concentrate and enjoy reading. A huge truck delivers my medical supplies once a month.

I love literate mysteries and getting my picture taken with my favorite authors. Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series is a must read. Start at the beginning with STILL LIFE.

My favorite thing to do is attend and review productions at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan. It was started twenty-five years ago by actor Jeff Daniels and the quality of the productions is amazing.

My current read is Becky Masterman's A TWIST OF THE KNIFE. It's her third book in the Brigid Quinn series.

My summer plans are to spend time at the lake while reading although I am also committed to directing a show about women's views of their bodies. It's a comedy.

These are some of the lovely women in my book group called IN GOOD COMPANY. We're about eating, drinking, and passionately discussing what we read.

I started my blog, Book Keeping back in 2007 when I was retiring from a career in the library world. I spend time on Face Book, Twitter, and Instagram although my thoughts range beyond books and reading. Lots of my reviews come courtesy of NetGalley.

Short Takes 4/25/17

15 Ways to Be a Literary Advocate

Book Riot put together some wonderful suggestions for how to support books, reading, and libraries.

Dennis Palumbo on Between the Lines Barry Kibrick of NPS talks with Dennis Palumbo, renowned psychologist and Oscar nominated screen writer, about his new book Phantom Limb, fourth in his mystery series set in Pittsburgh featuring Daniel Rinaldi. I have read, loved, and reviewed all four.

Wednesday, May 31-Sunday, June 4, 2017

"Armchair Book Expo is an online conference that runs in conjunction with Book Expo in New York City. There are a large number of people around the world that are not able to join in the literary celebrations of Book Expo, so Armchair Book Expo brings the celebration to you by allowing networking among other book bloggers, authors, and publishers as well as special coverage of the event, all from the comfort of your very own armchair."

 

MY RANDOM INTRO FOR ARMCHAIR BEA

Is there an award for being the oldest blogger? There should be. I'm approaching 71.

My earliest memories are of my grandfather, who lived with us after my grandmother died, reading OZ books to me. Although he was actually my step-grandfather, he had raised my father and was probably responsible for the 21 OZ books in my father’s collection. By the time I inherited them, two generations had colored the illustrations and the bindings were falling apart.

Books were everywhere in our home. I bragged that I could find a book on any topic the teacher assigned that would at least get me started on my report. And then there was the library.

I don’t remember ever going to the library with my Mother. It was always my father and he had a very distinctive browsing style. It included the entire collection of our Philadelphia branch library. Sadly it no longer exists.

Questions:

1. What is the name you prefer to use? My grandmother insisted that my mother name me Dorothy, which was my mother's name; but from the day I was born I was called Annie. However, no thanks to the TSA and Homeland Security, I am Dorothy in all official capacities. My friends and family still call me Ann or Annie.

2. How long have you been a book blogger? I retired from a lovely library career in 2007 and immediately started my retirement book blog because books have always been a part of my life. (I have notebooks of everything I have read going back many, many years.)

3. Have you participated in ABEA before? You can check out my 2013 Introduction.

More Questions:

1. Do you have a favorite book? The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I read it at least once a year.

2. What is your favorite genre and why? I tend to read mysteries and psychological thrillers interspersed with something more literary or educational to assuage my guilt.

3. If you could recommend one other book blogger, who would it be and why? This is the blog I want to write when I grow up. It's professional, helpful, interesting, and visually appealing. Beth Fish Reads - Reading, Thinking, Photographing

5. If you could create a playlist that reflects your bookshelf, what would be the first song you choose?  Alexander Hamilton

7. What book are you most excited for on your TBR? What are you most intimidated by?

Theresa Rebeck, an American playwright, has written several novels and was responsible for the television show Smash among others. I loved her two earlier books so I am looking forward to I'm Glad About You.

I've started reading Alice Dreger's Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and one Scholar's Search for Justice. She is an American bioethicist, author, and former professor of Clinical Medical Humanities and Bioethics at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. I am totally intimidated. I feel like I have to take notes.

Why I'm Not Posting Armchair BEA Stuff

I have lived in Michigan for more than thirty years. Yesterday I became a real Michigander when I struck and killed a deer. It is a rite of passage but not a particularly happy one.

Although I am fine, having my first accident EVER was a disconcerting experience and has interfered with my concentration and reading.

Here's what my car looks like.

You can see that the deer actually ran into me. It was the middle of the day on a four lane highway.

Everyone from the tow truck driver to the police officer to the body shop manager was more than kind. My car can be fixed, but you can imagine the time it took to take care of all the details yesterday.

Therefore, I am most likely not going to be catching up with everyone participating in Armchair BEA. I will try to do some commenting to cheer everyone onward!

Armchair BEA 2013 or What am I Doing Here?

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

Armchair BEA is a virtual event created for book bloggers unable to attend

the BEA Bloggers Conference or Book Expo America (BEA) in New York City,

My Reading Chair 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

I am known by my glasses

I have kept a book journal of one sort or another going back to the late 1980s. When I retired from the library world in 2007, it seemed appropriate to create an online way to keep track of my reading and share it with friends and colleagues. Books have been a major part of my life since I was a child going to the library with my father. In third grade I won the prize for reading the most books over summer vacation.

Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures.

Tiger Lilies by the pond

In the palm of the Michigan mitten, I can curl up in my chair and gaze out the window at the Grand River not far from its headwaters, where it is neither grand nor what one would call a river.

Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event?

At BEA I actually met Hello Kitty!

Until discovering Armchair BEA last year, I had been a solitary blogger. I had attended BEA in the past, not as a blogger, but as a librarian, and found it a wonderfully stimulating experience. The idea that I could continue to be part of the event from home was exciting!

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 

I feel extraordinarily blessed by the reading choices I have made this year.  Kate Atkinson's LIFE AFTER LIFE had an enormous effect on me, but I am a total fan girl for Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. (You can see the books I have read if you look on the right side bar.)

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.  

I am passionate about theater and especially musical theater and watched the television program SMASH to the bitter end!

Gone Girl (2012)

My Christmas present this past year was a Kindle Fire, to which I have not entirely adapted. I've collected several books to read but still pick up 'real' books when the opportunity presents itself.

But then a couple of exciting things happened. I turned on my Kindle and it immediately downloaded Gillian Flynn's third novel, Gone Girl, which was just released on June 5th! Raves are popping up everywhere and the prediction is best seller lists in a week! On top of that, word is out that her 2009 title Dark Places will be a film. Guess I know what to read next!

The other exciting thing I discovered was something called Buzz Books 2012. The blurb in this weeks Entertainment Weekly read:

This new free e-book offers something usually reserved for publishing insiders: previews of major titles months before they're released. Read excerpts from more than 30 fall books by big-name authors like Dennise Lehane, Junot Diaz, and Barbara Kingsolver.

You can find this online at Amazon.com for free! And I did! Scanning the introduction, which covered other titles likely to be in high demand, I jotted down what appealed to me to take a more careful look. It will be interesting to see if my reading habits will evolve as I pursue the elusive perfect 'read' during the second half of 2012!.

Armchair BEA Conference Day 4

Yesterday at Armchair BEA was a washout for me because my computer decided it couldn't handle all the tasks I was giving it to do. I'll try to get some time in today but it's already afternoon. The problem with trying to attend from home is that life has a tendency to intrude.

Friday is the last day and the topic is The Future of Book Blogging. I don't want to miss that!

Having been lucky enough to attend a real live Book Expo America in the past, I can vouch for the video clip from Day 2 shared by Emily of  Emily's Reading Room.

Worthy 2012 Titles

These are not necessarily books published in 2012 but rather the best of what I have read so far this year. They are listed in the order read from oldest to most recent. They are a random mix of non-fiction, juvenile, romance, mystery, and thriller. #BUTHATSJUSTME.

WIRE TO WIRE in a Occupy Wall Street Library

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin (Erik Larson)
"Erik Larson has once again proved he is a master of narrative nonfiction. This is a page turner set during Hitler's rise to power." (2012 paperback)

Bad Things Happen (Harry Dolan)
"Literate mystery fans, rejoice! Crisp, clean writing and plotting draw you in and keep you hooked. Harry Dolan is an author to watch." (2009)

Steal Like an Artist:10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Austin Kleon)
"It doesn't take long to read but it is inspiring and it's better in book format. I've already bought a copy for a friend. This is a great little book!"  (2012)

Wire to Wire (Scott Sparling)
"Intriguing, disturbing, and perfectly balanced, WIRE TO WIRE may change the way you look at the world and your place in it. Read it." (2011)

The Icon Thief (Alec Nevala-Lee)
"A first novel and literate thriller about the Russian mafia, the International Art World, and secret societies that is beautifully written." (2012)

Save Queen of Sheba (Louise Moeri)
"I just had to reread this gem of a story that I remembered from my days of reading juvenile books as an adult. It remains perfect. A wagon train is attacked by Indians and there are only two survivors, David (12) and his spoiled sister, Queen of Sheba (6)." (1981)

After Annie: A Novel (Michael Tucker)
"If you like solid writing, interesting characters, and a good story set in the theater world, you may be willing to put up with the cantankerous Herbie Aaron who is trying to survive his beloved wife's death from cancer. It's worth it." (2012)

Then She Found Me: A Novel (Elinor Lipman)
"Love. Love. Love. Elinor Lipman. She writes charming, literate stories that seem light and airy but underneath - ah, yes underneath - share a message. You want her characters to be your friends." (1990)

#ArmchairBEA Introduction

So today Armchair BEA features introductions from participating bloggers. I have gotten that far in figuring out what I am supposed to be doing! If you don't know what I'm talking about you can visit the Armchair BEA website. This absolutely fabulous idea allows those of us who can't make it to New York to be part of the publishing industries premier event.

The first task is to answer some questions so here goes.

Retired from the world of libraries, I have been blogging for five years to keep in touch with the world of books. I write about random things that appeal to me that have any loosely defined connection to reading and books.

Retirement Reward

 I am (in no particular order) a mother, grandmother, actress, singer, director, reviewer, reader, blogger, genealogist, friend, and time traveler.

My Bunny

Michael Tucker's Living in a Foreign Language (pub. 7/07) is bookmarked and sitting by my favorite chair. I recently read his first novel After Annie (pub. 3/12) and wanted to read more of his writing.

What I'm Reading Now

Sitting down to dinner with Chief Inspector Gamache at the Bistro in Three Pines would be an incredible experience. If he wasn't available, his creator Louise Penny, would be a most acceptable stand-in.

Author Louise Penny

 Recently I have found it necessary to invoke the Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50 (She's such a doll!) and expect that will occur more frequently as I get older. The saying "So many books, so little time." becomes more and more true with age.

Publishing Industry Gathers For Annual Convention

Today is the beginning of BEA (Book Expo America) where we all find out what is going on in the publishing industry. After this gathering we will know what is 'hot' and what is not. Here's a great article to read if you want the inside scoop on the event - Publishing Industry Gathers for Annual Convention.

I signed up to attend Armchair BEA this week and so far have no idea what I am supposed to be doing. That might have to do with the fact that I haven't read the instructions yet.

We got offered a free sofa and have spent the morning cleaning and re-arranging to make room for it. That's probably not a really good excuse but it's the best I can do right now.

More later once I find out what I'm supposed to be doing.

Armchair BEA Holding Twitter Parties

I've blocked out June 4th through the 8th for Armchair BEA and scheduled two of the three possible Twitter parties to attend. Registration has hit 200. Interested?

Suggested for the conversation are:

• What are you currently reading?
• What books are you most looking forward to this Fall?
• How do you connect through books and blogging?
• Name your dream panels - authors and topics.
• What has been the best book you have read so far this year?

(Armchair) Book Expo America 2012

Design credit: Emily of Emily's Reading Room

I am so excited! I am signed up to participate in BEA this year and I don't even have to leave home!

Last year, for the first time apparently, BEA made provisions for those who couldn't make the trip to New York City for whatever reason. It's billed as a conference for book bloggers from the comfort of their own chair and I think it's a brilliant idea. Over 150 are signed up already and my name's on the list!

You can read more about or sign up for Armchair BEA HERE. The dates are June 4th through the 8th.

BookExpo America (BEA) is the largest gathering of booksellers, librarians, retailers, and industry professionals anywhere in North America. I was lucky enough to attend in person a number of years ago when librarians were first included. Before that the focus was on retail book sellers.

This is where the buzz starts about new books and what we'll all be hearing about during the coming year.