Tomorrow, the small but mighty Black Diamonds RWA chapter is having an author appreciation tea at a tea house here in town. Can’t wait! But I have to tell ya, while they do a good job, a couple of gfs and I went to a quaint B&B in Alameda a couple of Sundays ago to scout out a venue for my other RWA chapter’s holiday get together, and O.M.G! The Innkeeper had the scones nailed!!! The Devonshire cream was Devonshire cream flown in straight from those Devonshire cows in England! The tea was the best I’ve ever had, as well as the savories, and the everything else. I love high tea and well, I want to be able to make scones like Susan at the Webster House does.

Okay, I want one of those scones, now! It’s Friday so, y’all know I’m over at Murder She Writes blathering away. I have a busy ass weekend lined up, and while I’m writing today, I think I’m going to take the hubster out to dinner tonight. I want a steak. A big, fat, juicy, rare steak, a fresh green salad with lots of blue cheese crumbles on top, and a really mellow oaky glass of cab.

Mmm, scones and steak. I need to eat breakfast!

We go out at least one usually two nights a week for dinner. We live in a small town so the options are limited, so we usually have Mexican food, which I love, but Thai too, and sometimes Italian, but tonight we’re going out to the Delta to a restaurant that has a great grill.

What’s your fave out to dinner cuisine?

K*

Drum roll please, Amy Pierpont, Sr Editor at Grand Central!!! She also acquires for Forever! Whoo hoo! Yay! Tossing confetti!!! Amy is one of those elusive dream editors. I met her a few years ago at the Reno conference when she was at Pocket. Loved her then, love her more now.

So that is part one of my good news, here is part duex: I asked my friend uber bestselling author Monica McCarty if she would read MASTER OF TORMENT, and if she liked it would she give me a cover blurb. She was most anxious to read, and here is what she said:

“Sumptuous, Sexy, Superb! Master of Torment grabs hold of you on page one and doesn’t let go. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect Medieval series, this is it. Karin Tabke does for Norman knights what JR Ward has done for vampires, with hot alpha heroes and the fiery heroines who tame them. I can’t wait for the next book!”

Wow. I loved the book too, but I don’t think I could have said what she said.

So, pre order, ladies! Preorder!!!

Ciao for now. And start honing those first lines, November is just around the corner!!!

K*

Is it the book cover? An excerpt? A back cover blurb? Could a blog post sway you? Or how about a free book? If you like it great, you want to read more, but what if you don’t? Do you chuck the book and refuse to never read the author again? Even if her next book gets crazy buzz and is much better?

I know how I’d answer these questions, and sadly, I am not a very forgiving reader. But I have to remember that as I have grown as an author with each book, so then do other authors, and I want readers to give me a second chance, so then I should give the same opportunity to authors I don’t initially flip over. But sometimes, I just can’t…

For me it comes down to trust. I’m a wuss. Don’t get me wrong, I like a gritty, edgy book but I want an HEA. I need one. If there is none then I do not read the book. I don’t read to be depressed or to cry sad tears. Ok, well, sad tears so long as I know there is an HEA.

I need to trust the author not to hurt me or the characters I have come to love. So, no matter how good a story is, if in the end there is no HEA, I will not read the book. It’s why I never watched Titanic. The guy dies! Had I even suspected how Cold Mountain would end, no freakin way would I have put my heart out there on the chopping block.

But oddly, one of my all time fave books is Gone With the Wind. I suppose it’s because I have such confidence in Scarlet. I know Rhett will be back. How could he not? Miss Scarlet always gets what she sets her sites on.

So, back to my original question: What makes you buy a new author? And are you a wuss like me?

K*

and to y’all down there in the Gulf Coast, how are you doing? I’ve been glued to the tele.

Edie, emailed me this morning to let me know MASTER of SURRENDER was reviewed over at Publisher’s Weekly, by one of Barbara Vey’s goils. I met Barbara at National this year, and she’s just as bubbly in person as she is on her blog. The women gets around too! She hits all of the conferences. If you haven’t visited, hop on over. Always lot’s of good stuff going on! And thanks again, Edie for the heads up! And to PM for the great review!

http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/post/
1460032346.html?nid=3383

Ciao, oh and PS, I’m just rambling over at Murder She Writes today.

K*

Would y’all rather have an A list agent as final judge or an editor from one of the New York five? Please chime in. I’ll give y’all until Sunday and make my decision based on the comments. And don’t forget, I’ll be chatting over at Murder She Writes Friday.

K*