What's A Wallbanger?

Most of us know what a wallbanger is. Or what it used to be. A book that was so terribly written, or that had such an unsatisfactory ending, that out of sheer frustration a reader would either literally or figuratively, throw it against the wall.

With the advent of ereaders, and tablet computers, I'm thinking we need a new term. I don't know about you, but I've come across a couple novels I would consider wallbangers recently. In light of the cost of my handy, dandy portable reading device, I practice restraint and don't toss it across the room.

But that doesn't negate the fact that there are still books that raise that emotion. So what do we call them now?

Is there a new phrase I'm not aware of? Or can we think of one?

What do we call the modern day wallbanger? Using a term that's acceptable in a PG13 situation, of course.

Looking for input here. Please feel free to comment. And after that, have yourself a great weekend!

Hot Authors to Help You Stay Cool

Haven’t posted all week and I apologize for that. It’s just that I feel like I should post something charming, witty, brilliant, or perhaps an expose on how to write the next bestseller. And nada. I got nothing.

Working in the heat makes my brain empty. So, in lieu of my own banter, if you’re looking for a summer read to take your mind off of this infernal weather we’re having, check out some of my favorite authors. I highly recommend them because by turns they’re charming, witty, and brilliant.

 

Buy It Here

 

She never imagined love could happen twice—until her husband returned from the dead.

Cassidy thinks she’s getting on with her life just fine after her husband’s fall to cancer. Life is quiet, which is just the way she likes it, half a continent away from her overbearing Irish family.

Niall doesn’t want to scare the fragile Irish rose, but her husband, supposedly two years in the grave, has been caught on security tapes at a secret government laboratory.

Together, they unearth evidence of industrial espionage and identity theft...and frightening connections to the Irish Mob that will put more than just their own lives at risk.

Sex, bullets, more sex, intimate body piercings and a few red roses. What more could a girl want?

Buy It Here

Madison Lee thought she'd put her European vacation behind her, until the full moon turned her into a hairy beast. A year later she has come to grip with her new life, now her whole world is blown apart. The man who gave her a night of incredible passion and an uncontrollable urge to howl at the moon shows up in town with his sights on taking over her family's business.

Hot on his heels a stranger comes to town with more than the rustic scenery on his mind. He's a monster hunter out for Nicholi's blood and just maybe hers if he finds out her not so little secret. How is a Southern Deb supposed to deal with lovers, killers and the biggest Cotillion of the year all at the same time? Madison soon learns Where there's a Were, there's a way and it leads straight to love.

Buy It Here

 

Has this frog finally found her prince?

 

From the moment Colleen confesses her deepest desire -- to experience the same passion she's read about in books -- she is swept away on the most daring escapade she’s ever experienced. Dressed in nothing but green paint, she attends a Halloween party searching for the man of her dreams. She finds him, but then fears she won’t be able to give him up.

Since the death of his wife five years ago, Dan's life has been on auto-pilot. But from the moment he meets Colleen, he starts to feel alive again. And he knows he can’t let this would-be princess stride out of his life…

Hope you'll check out these awesome reads. That's all for this week. Stay safe out there in the heat. Until next time...

Do Your Reading Tastes Change?

In case you’re not on Goodreads, I’ll tell you I’m currently reading An Echo In the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I’ve been a huge fan of hers since Outlander, and I’ve read most of her books more than once. But I confess, I probably won’t post a revue of this book and here’s why.

She would get plus five, for research. As an author, I empathize and totally appreciate the intensive research it must have taken to write another fantastically done period novel.

She would also get plus five for her dynamic prose. I read some of the passages of description or dialogue, and just marvel at the word usage, and the imagery she provides. It’s amazing.

And the characters. It’s like meeting your oldest and dearest friends for tea. Friends you haven’t seen in years, and are thrilled to welcome back into your life.

With me, you just know there’s a ‘but’ coming don’t you? Right now I’m about a third of the way through, and it’s the first time in a long time I feel like I might not finish a book. And one by a beloved author? Well that just makes me sad. And makes me ponder.

It took several days of ruminating to come to the conclusion, it’s not her. Nor anything she’s written. It’s me. Over the years apparently, my tastes have changed. Maybe it’s reading one too many LKH books. But really, is there any such thing as too many? I guess these days, I’m looking for a fast paced, action packed, thriller type of story.

I’m in a bit of a quandary. As an author I have nothing but raves for her dedication to her work, and for the product that dedication produces. But as a reader, I’m really not enjoying it this time around. And it’s not her fault. So rather than write a less than stellar review, which she in no way deserves, I’ll just say nothing. And that leaves me feeling a little empty somehow.

What would you do?

Readaholics Anonymous?

Does anyone know if they exist? Maybe this post should be titled confessions of a reading addict.

When computers first hit the market, everyone proclaimed they would get rid of the paper in our world. Everything would be electronic. Then along came ereaders, and they were going to get rid of hardback and paperback books.

Thus far both have turned out to be bovine efluvium.

Now there is not only a TBR stack or three in my office, there are TBR files on my computer, and my ereader!

Not to mention the actual magazines that come in the mail. I'm not resubscribing, in an effort to actually be more environmentally conscious, but I must have gotten on somebody's list once because I get quite a few. And I've found with some, even if I don't resubscribe, they keep sending them anyway!

Then there are several email newsletters, okay, more than several.

It seems as though everywhere I look there's something to read. If confession is good for the soul, I admit, I'm the cause of this. I had to subscribe, I have to find out the end of the story after reading the blurb, I want to know what the rest of the world is doing. And the way I do this is by reading! And let's not even mention the social networking stuff, egads.

It seems as though these new geeky gadgets have really just tripled the workload, instead of making things disappear. Some days don't you just feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of it all?  How do you handle it?

Manic Monday

Pretty sure you've all had one. If it's today, my heart goes out to you.

Lots of away from the keyboard things going on today, just wanted to let you know what's in store the rest of the week.

Starting tomorrow, we'll get the Writer Biz segment up and running. I'll spend a day or two on a quick review, and bring us up to speed on the marketing plan, and we'll take it from there.

At the end of the week there'll be a new segment starting up, called Not New Review or What's on the Back List. Tell me which title you like, and we'll use that one.

The rule is, it has to be at least two years old, or older. No current releases allowed.

Have you ever read a brand new release, loved the author and then went hunting for the books on their back list? I've done that with several authors, and just want to pass along some stories I've enjoyed very much, in hopes that you'll enjoy them too.

Stay tuned!

TBR Everywhere You Look

It's no secret that writers are also voracious readers. Our To-Be-Read piles are legend. Tell me, was I the only one so naive as to think that getting an ereader, and an app to read books on my BlackBerry, would eliminate the piles of books which multiply like rabbits all over my house?

You have got to be kidding me. Not only do I have an overflowing TBR pile, I now have a very large TBR file. The whole renovation thing is taking up most of my spare time, and working on a manuscript I'm behind on, is taking up the rest of the time, so there isn't any time left over to read. That's really okay for now. But the aforementioned problem still exists. Ten-fold!

Here's a short list of what's in my TBR's. These are the ones I can see at a glance.

Pile

Original Sin by Allison Brennan
Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
Atlantis Redeemed by Alyssa Day
Hot Westmoreland Nights by Brenda Jackson
What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty
The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Ms. Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
Serpent Moon by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

File

A Bitch Named Karma by Stephanie Haefner
The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles
Jack Daniels Stories by J.A. Konrath
AfterGlow by Pamela Vee
Under The Dome by Stephen King
A Darker Trinity by Candace Gilmer
Bright Star by Greyson Reyes-Cole

Yep, my tastes are eclectic. I'm one of those weirdos who reads the back of cereal boxes too.

What's in your pile?