Finding Books via Facebook

I suspect most of my readers would agree that Facebook can be a huge time-suck.  You vow to take a quick look, and before you know it, an hour has passed.  For me, that would be time much better spent reading a book, writing a column, or continuing to work on my next book.

Still, I can’t help myself, and I’ve found one big benefit to FaceBook beyond the delights of connecting with high school and college friends—discovering new books. We’ve all read about Facebook algorithms and how the munchkins that run the site choose what to show us. Well, the munchkins show me plenty of dog and cat videos and pics because I can’t resist clicking on those, but I also see tons of posts about books.

 

I stumbled across a British readers group called Book Connectors and through them have discovered all kinds of books I never would have heard of.  Most of these books are available only from Amazon, not from my local library, either because they’re written by British authors who haven’t made it big in the USA or they’re earlier titles in a series. 

One thing leads to another, and because I often google these titles and wind up on Amazon, I’ve started getting FaceBook ads about other British books. And, of course, after checking Amazon, similar titles appear in my regular Amazon emails.  It’s never-ending.

I order most of these British books as e-books, and one series I enjoy is the Inspector Hilary Greene saga by author Faith Martin.  I’m on book five of seventeen and was addicted long before I made my visit to Oxford last year. Now I get a further kick out of recognizing towns and street names in this series set in an around Oxford.

I also downloaded book one in the Martha Gunn series by Priscilla Masters. The main character is a coroner who resides in Shrewsbury in the Cotswolds, and though I didn’t make it to that town when I was in England, I’m enjoying recognizing names of neighboring towns I did visit. The good news is that my library has some of the later books in this series, so after a few more Kindle downloads, I can switch to paper.

Another Kindle boxset I’m enjoying is the Beatrice Stubbs series.  I’d seen it mentioned in Book Connectors and then started getting ads about it.  The icing on the cake was when an author friend who lives in France recommended it. The Amazon description reads, “Beatrice Stubbs of Scotland Yard: detective inspector, metaphor mixer and stubborn survivor. Battling crime by day and her own demons by night, the question remains: justice or the law?”

As in all experiments, not all of the books I’ve tried have been winners.  I only made it through book one and part of book two in Rebecca Tope’s sixteen book Cotswold Mysteries series.  Despite the pleasantly familiar towns and settings, the plots didn’t grab me. Still, if there are sixteen books in the series, others must see something in them.

I’ve just realized that all of these books have strong female protagonists.  Lest you think me sexist in my reading habits, please be assured I’ve read plenty of mysteries with men as the lead characters.  The DCI Banks series by Peter Robinson come to mind. I’ve read all 25, in order of course, and am eagerly awaiting the next one.

Enquiring minds would like to know. Have you ever read a book because you saw it on Facebook? Let me know at inkpenn119@gmail.com.

Puddin' writes about books for Cat Lovers

It’s Mum’s job to write about books, but I demanded to be the one to write about the best cat books.  I’m sure you’re aware we kitties read by lying on reading material, preferably newspapers, but a book will do.

My Aunt Lisa gave us my all-time favorite cat book, “The Dalai Lama’s Cat.” It’s my favorite because the cat tells the story, and her beginnings are similar to mine. His Holiness’s Cat, HHC for short, was found with his siblings near a trash heap in New Dehli. As the runt of the litter, she seemed destined to return to the trash until the Dalai Lama rescued her in the nick of time.

Like a food wrapper or beer bottle, I too was thrown from a car window into a bush in Midtown Atlanta.  An angel, who was forever rescuing abandoned kitties and finding them homes, plucked me from the bush. My soon to be Mum was searching for a calico kitty and, luckily for both of us, found me online. So, HHC and I I have our near-death experiences in common.

HHC learns, not at the Dalai Lama's feet, as she says, but in his lap; and she shares her adventures and imparts her wisdom in her sweet book.  I must encourage Mum to get the next two books in the series: "The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Art of Purring" and "The Dalai Lamas' Cat and the Power of Meow."

“The Story of Fester Cat: How One Remarkable Cat Changed Two Men's Lives” is yet another book written by a cat. This “feisty feline,” as Fester’s new housemates describe him, wanders into a Manchester, England backyard and stays. Paul Magrs, one of Fester’s pet parents, is a writer, like my Mum. Strange coincidence, right?  It’s Paul who first encourages Fester to write, starting with reviews of cat books. I guess it was natural for Fester to go from book reviews to the story of his life.

Fester is a grown streetwise cat before he takes up residence with the men, but they take good care of him, and the story of his new life is another sweet read.  As I write about these two books, I realize that must have an affinity for books written by cats, not necessarily books about cats.

 Mum requested I mention another of her favorites.  You may remember Cleveland Amory who for many years was a television critic for TV Guide. He was also an animal rights activist, and his first cat book was “The Cat Who Came for Christmas.” It was #1 on the NY Times bestseller list for twelve weeks in 1987.  Polar Bear, a little white stray, was the star of that book, though Polar Bear didn’t write it. Amory wrote two more books about Polar Bear: “The Cat and the Curmudgeon” and “The Best Cat Ever.”  All three were bestsellers.  Mum says that even though the white kitty didn’t write the story, it too is a heartwarming tale.

It must be something about cats that our stories are always sweet. Mum says that even though we can be demanding little things, we can steal your heart in a flash. Dad agrees and says there’s nothing better than reading in bed with me snuggled against his shoulder with my head beneath his chin. I wonder whether there’s a book in my future, a book written by me, that is.  We shall see.

Princess Puddin’ Penn resides in Georgia with her dad, her mom Kathy Manos Penn, and her canine brother Lord Banjo. Please send comments, compliments, and questions to inkpenn119@gmail.com. 

On becoming a star: Part 2

First I got a spiffy velvet robe,  and then Mum threw me a party. You can't believe how many oohs and aahs and belly rubs I got. Well, actually, if you know anything about me at all, you probably can believe the attention I got. After all, the Royal Pooch is hugely popular and handsome and sweet.

 Even though Mum is well known locally because of her columns, she joked that folks would be more interested in seeing me than they would be in seeing her, and you know what?  She was right.  We caught one person on camera saying, “We didn’t come to see the Royal Mum, we came to see Lord Banjo!” Proof positive, I’d say, that I’ve won the popularity contest.

You would have no doubts about my popularity if you could have seen my fans throwing their arms around my neck or neck or kneeling at my paws as they gazed adoringly at me. My loyal subjects came to the Royal Bash bearing gifts!  That’s right; I received a plush purple rug, several squeaky toys, and even brownies.  I hardly got a peek at the brownies before Dad snatched them up. Maybe best of all was the cute little boy who brought his toys to share with me. We two had a grand time playing on the floor together.

If my Great Pyrenees ancestors could see me dressed in my royal robe and crown, I'm convinced they'd be proud of me.  Louis XIV may have declared those gentle giants the Royal Dogs of the French court, but I bet they didn’t have a Royal Bash or a Royal Seamstress. To complement my royal robe and crown, the Royal Mum wore a tiara, and Dad donned a purple robe. The entire family looked spiffy that day—except, of course, Princess Puddin’.  

We didn’t invite my calico sister to the party, and I’m sure she’d have thrown a little fit had we tried to dress her up. Do you think the term hissy fit comes from kitty behavior?  Puddin’ is a sweet girl, but she throws a spectacular fit when Mum brushes her. On those occasions, the entire neighborhood knows the Princess is not happy!  I can only imagine how the fur would fly if Mum attempted to dress her in a tiny velvet cape. Me? I love my new duds and wish Mum would let me wear them more often.  She insists they’re only for special occasions. The rest of the time I must make do with the sporty bandanas the Royal Groomer gives me. 

After the hoopla of the Royal Bash, the Royal Abode seemed unnaturally quiet. I got my usual belly rubs from Dad and a few rubs from Mum as I dozed beneath her desk, but having only two people to make over me was no longer enough. “Hey Mum,” I barked, “You need to fill my schedule with weekly appearances to ensure I continuously get the respect and belly rubs I’m due.” Suffice it to say, those words resulted in a snippy response from Mum, and she proceeded to educate me on the difference between polite requests and rude demands. 

Eventually, Mum calmed down and proceeded to fill my schedule, and I have been enjoying the nonstop adoration ever since. This week I have my third appearance at a local summer camp where twenty-five young campers will hug me and love me and read aloud from my book. Yes, life is good.

Lord Banjo lives in Georgia with his Mum, Kathy Manos Penn. Find similar stories in his book, “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch,” available on Amazon. Contact him at inkpenn119@gmail.com.

Lord Banjo on Becoming a Star: Part One

Once upon a time, before I gave any thought to writing a book, I spent my days by Mum’s side . . . well, mostly at her feet. Whether she was on a conference call for her corporate job or quietly working on her newspaper columns—yes, Mum’s a writer too—I could be found snoozing beneath her desk.

I might take a walk with Dad, but when we got home, I’d wander upstairs, get a treat from Mum, and settle beneath the desk to snooze—until, that is, Dad mentioned lunch. I managed to join him in the kitchen for a bite of ham while he fixed his sandwich, and then it was back to Mum.

Writing a book meant I spent more time awake at her feet, dictating my story while she typed. By then, Mum had retired from her full-time job and could devote her every waking hour to typing my book and writing her columns. After we put in a good chunk of work time, I’d accompany Mum downstairs where she’d fix dinner while Dad and I watched the news.

It’s hard to say how we established our daily routine, but I’ve always stuck to Dad in the evenings. I lie beside his recliner with his hand all but glued to my belly. If his hand leaves my side, I give him a tap with the royal paw, the signal for him to put his hand back where it belongs.

I may now be known as the Royal Pooch, but our weekday routine has remained pretty much the same. Sure, the royal revelations in my DNA results made me swell with pride and put a bounce in my step; and, sure, I made a few teensy-weensy demands as befits a descendant of French Royalty.

I must point out that the only demand my Royal Parents met was that they now occasionally refer to me as Lord Banjo. They have yet to give me table scraps, and they’ve never invited me to sleep in their bed. My life remained pretty much the same, until, that is I finished my book “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch.”

I thought it was great fun to bark my story as Mum typed and had no idea that writing about my privileged life was only the beginning. They—whoever they are—say we dogs live in the moment, and I guess that’s what I did because I never gave much thought to what would happen after my book came out.

First came the new wardrobe. In preparation for my debut as an author, Mum enlisted Miss Beth as the Royal Seamstress to make a robe and crown. Those two laughed and laughed over Mum’s sewing skills or lack thereof. It was Miss Beth who put in Mum’s zippers way back when they were in high school Home Ec class. Mum learned to cook but never took to sewing.

No worries; we spent the day with the Royal Seamstress as she designed and produced a magnificent robe—purple velvet lined with lavender satin, topped off with a white fur collar and gold clasp. How was I to know the robe was only the beginning? To read the rest of the story, be on the lookout for my next blog post.

Lord Banjo lives in Georgia with his Mum, Kathy Manos Penn. Find similar stories in his book, “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch,” available on Amazon. Contact him at inkpenn119@gmail.com.

An Evening with Louise Penny

Whenever I write about my favorite mystery authors, I mention Louise Penny so when I heard she was going to speak in Hickory, NC in March, I immediately got tickets to see her. This was a chance to see a bestselling author whose books I treasure. It was well worth the drive and overnight stay, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

The auditorium at Lenoir Rhyne University was packed, and Penny was onstage for 90 minutes, presenting and fielding questions.   I was struck by how funny she is, given that her novels are serious character-driven mysteries. Her comedic timing and openness made for an engaging evening.  An example? She and her husband took the advance for her first book and went to lunch—at McDonald’s.

She described herself as a fearful child who liked to be in her room, alone, reading.  As you might expect, she was afraid of spiders, but what you wouldn’t expect is that it was while reading Charlotte’s Web that she realized she wanted to be a writer.  She was enjoying the story so much, she didn’t immediately realize that Charlotte was a spider, and was inspired by the power of writing, the power of words, to lift her fear.

Still, she had a fear of writing and for twenty years was a journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation before she made the leap to writing fulltime.  She laughingly said she endured five years of writer’s block before completing her first novel, “Still Life,” book one in the Inspector Gamache series. That was in 2008, and she’ll publish book fifteen, “A Better Man,” this August.

She credits her move from Montreal to a small village, much like the fictional village of Three Pines in her books, to helping her overcome her writer’s block. We all laughed when she told us she’d joined a ladies’ group called Les Girls who met weekly in the town’s bistro over café au lait and croissants.  To anyone who has read her books, that scene will be familiar.

In that group of creative ladies—painters, writers, sculptors—she learned that the creative process can involve starting, going back, going forward again, honing and shaping.  It was during that time that she had the aha to “write a book I would read.” As a writer and an avid reader, I was happy to hear her say, “Reading is as creative as writing; you must be a reader to be a good writer.”

Again, we all chuckled when she said that the first three places she put on the map of Three Pines were the book store, the bistro, and the bakery. She fielded questions about who inspired her various characters and shared the poignant fact that her husband whom she lost in 2016 was the inspiration for Inspector Gamache.

I found it both astounding and inspirational that she didn’t publish her first book until she was in her 40s. Her process? Once she sits down to write a book, she doesn’t stop until it’s done—no days off.  She sets herself a daily word count goal and writes until she reaches it. The next day, she polishes what’s she’s written and moves forward. Before she starts typing on day one, she’s already spent about a year jotting down ideas and has some sense of who did it and why—who committed the crime and why they did it.

The two of us who made the trip especially enjoyed meeting other fans in the auditorium and at our hotel.  One gentleman said he’d read the books four times.  Four times is a bridge too far for me, as I’m always thinking, “So many books, so little time,”  but still, I’m considering reading them all one more time. If you haven’t yet read Louise Penny, be sure to start with book one and be prepared to be hooked.

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Find my books “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday,” “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch,” and "Coloring with Lord Banjo" on Amazon. Contact me at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow me on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

Black dog means what?

It’s known far and wide that the Royal Mum is a huge reader, a word nerd, and a grammar geek.  I think I’ve covered all the bases.  One of her word nerd pleasures is receiving emails from Wordsmith.org--A Word a Day—and I get to learn at her feet, so to speak.

One week’s theme was words derived from animals, so I was expecting some fun.  Here’s how Anu Garg, who manages this informative website, introduced the week:

Earthworms, dogs, monkeys, and humans. We are all cousins in the great journey of evolution … Our language shows our close relationship with our evolutionary mates, the non-human animals, in a vocabulary that’s filled with words derived from animals. Some of these words are obvious, others not. A constable is, literally speaking, a count of the stable …This week we’ll see five terms that have animals peeking from them. We’ll meet dog, fly, calf, pig, and bird.

Imagine how excited I was when Mum read the first word—black dog.  Guess that’s more than one word, but no matter.  I couldn’t wait to hear what wonderful meaning those two words had taken on. Mais non,  I did not find the meaning to be wonderful.  Black dog means—wait for it—depression.  Depression?  Whoever determined that was the meaning?

Originally, black dog meant exactly what it says, a black dog.  Why couldn’t the word nerd powers that be leave well enough alone?  Next, the phrase was used to refer to a counterfeit coin, but it was Samuel Johnson in the 1700s who used it to mean depression. Did this guy ask any dogs what they thought?  I don’t think so. Here’s what he had to say: “When I rise my breakfast is solitary, the black dog waits to share it, from breakfast to dinner he continues barking.”

Mum tells me he wrote “A Dictionary of the English Language,” which I guess makes him some kind of authority. Worse yet, Winston Churchill, whom Mum and Dad both revere, also used black dog to describe his depression.  I wonder whether this characterization has anything to do with black dogs being less likely to be adopted?  Do people think we’re less lovable? Horrors.

In this age where we hear so much about diversity and inclusion among humans, who’s looking out for us dogs? Isn’t this a heinous affront to black dogs everywhere?   I believe all black dogs should rise up in protest of this slander.

I can see it now, a march on the American Kennel Club or, better yet, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organization for those of you who don’t speak French like moi). This organization is the largest international federation of kennel clubs. I have a vision of leading a congregation of New Foundlands, Giant Schnauzers, Bouviers des Flandres, Flat-Coated Retrievers and more to the Federation’s headquarters in Belgium. With the largest breeds out front, we should get plenty of attention and soon garner the respect we are due.

To ensure all interested dogs get to participate, we welcome any black or mostly black dogs to join our protest group. I may be a Royal Dog, but I am not a purebred, so I’m all about inclusion. Are you with me?  Please have your pet parent contact the Royal Mum to sign up. To paraphrase Arlo Guthrie, with enough of us involved, “… friends, they may think it's a movement.”

Good news for dog lovers!  Lord Banjo’s columns will be included in his new book coming out in 2019.  He welcomes fan mail at inkpenn119@gmail.com.

Books, Bookshops, and cats, oh my!

I finally got around to a few books on my To Be Read list and one was “The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend.”  A bookshop is a central feature, almost a character, in this delightful book set in Broken Wheel, Iowa.  The back cover blurb captures it well: “A heartwarming reminder of why we are booklovers, this is a sweet, smart story about how books find us, change us, and connect us.”

 

Booklovers will get a kick out of the references to books and authors and be thankful for the lists in the back of the book.  I was reading about one of the characters being taken with Idgie and was tickled that I finally recalled that Idgie was a character in “Fried Green Tomatoes.”

That book prompted me to think, “Gee, I think there are other books I’ve read that take place in bookshops,” and I was right. There were a few whose titles I couldn’t recall, but I’ve come up with most of them.

Years ago, I read the Carolyn Hart mysteries that take place in and around the Death on Demand bookshop on Broward’s Rock, a South Carolina island. I likely read the first five or six and enjoyed all the references to books and authors.  I wasn’t surprised to learn there are 26 in the series, and I may have to get back to them.

 

You don’t have to be a Jane Austen fan to enjoy Charlie Lovett’s “First Impressions,” a tale of a previously unknown Austen manuscript. The heroine is recently graduated from Oxford and works in an antiquarian bookshop in London.  Since I just last year took a trip to England and visited Oxford, I especially enjoyed recognizing the Oxford references.

I discovered John Dunning’s series of books featuring bookshop owner and former Denver police officer Cliff Janeway when my sister passed along “Booked to Die,” the first in the series.  Now I know there are four more in the series, so they’re going on my TBR list.

I’ve mentioned Nina George’s book, “The Little Paris Bookshop,” in a previous column, but this whimsical story of a bookshop housed on a boat belongs on this list as well.  Wouldn’t you love to visit a floating bookshop?

Still on my TBR list is “The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry,” about the owner of Island Books on the imaginary Alice Island located somewhere near Boston.

 

Another book I’m looking forward to reading is “The Diary of a Bookseller,” a Christmas gift from a friend who knows me oh-so-well. This one is nonfiction, written by Shaun Bythell, who owns The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland. Described as “a wry and hilarious account of life at a bookshop in a remote Scottish village,” it promises to be a behind the scenes look at the life of a bookseller.

As for cats, as I recalled these books, I couldn’t help but think about Books Unlimited, a cozy, inviting bookshop in Franklin, North Carolina, where Nancy the cat roams from the chair to the window to the counter, perfectly at home. If you’re lucky when you visit, she may even curl up in your lap. And, if the books I’ve mentioned end up on your reading list, Nancy and the book shop owner will happily find them for you.

Please send comments and questions to inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

A Bookaholic Problem

We bookaholics would say you can never have too many books,  but I’m beginning to think I have too many on my TBR (to be read) list.  I can’t help myself.  I see book reviews in the paper and add books to the list; I get Amazon emails with book suggestions and add more to my list; I get BookBub emails and do the same; my friends make suggestions on GoodReads and many of those titles go on the list.  Do you see my problem?

Never mind reading all these books; the way I keep my list is problematic too.  I scribble titles and authors on scraps of paper by my easy chair or near the glider on the screened porch.  Eventually, those scraps make it to my office and then three different lists take shape.

I start by checking the library online to see if they have the books either in hard copy or in e-book form. Reading two books a week means the library is always the first stop.  If I’m lucky enough to find the titles there, I put them on my library wish lists so I can later place the book on hold. Because the library system tracks e-books separately from hard copies, I have two lists there.

If the books aren’t available at the library, which is the case for books early in a series or for many of the British mysteries I like, then I visit Amazon. There too, I can add books to my wishlist. This process means I am constantly updating three different lists, and sooner or later I have to find time to order and read the darned things.

Don’t get me wrong, I live to read.  I must read for at least 30 minutes before I turn out the lights at night.  Often, the time stretches to two hours, yet I can’t even begin to get to all the books on my multiple lists.  Perhaps if I hadn’t taken up writing, I could devote more time to reading, but that’s another story entirely.

Curious readers may wonder, “What books are on these lists?” Let’s start with a handful from the hard copy library list, and, omigosh, there are 55 books on that one: Finding Atticus, My Sister’s Grave, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Janus Stone, The Butterfly Garden, The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars, The Wife Between Us, Let the Devil Sleep.

On the e-book list are those that aren’t available in paper or a few that I may want to take on a trip, where Kindle reading is preferable. Phew, there are only 15 there: Body on Baker Street, Sweet Little Lies, Every Last Lie, Different Class, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, A Spool of Blue Thread.

Last but not least, there’s the Amazon list: Don’t Let Go, Sherlock Holmes and the Shakespeare Globe Murders, Queen of Camelot, European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman, The Forever King.

If you look these titles up, you’ll find mostly mysteries, many set in England or Europe. A few books dubbed literary fiction also show up, as do one or two about dogs or cats.

What, you may ask, is wrong with having long lists of books to read? Perhaps it’s realizing there’s no chance I’ll ever get to read them all unless I cease adding new titles. Cease adding new titles?  Horrors.  Any bookaholic will tell you that’s not likely.  And so, I may have to resign myself to never reading all the books that interest me.  I guess there are worse problems for a gal to have.



PS. 'Tis the season. If you're looking for unique gifts, please visit my website or Amazon page. My little books make great stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, and more.  A customer at the local Hallmark shop recently bought SIX of each book for Holiday gifts. 

Find my books “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday,” “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch,” and "Coloring with Lord Banjo" on Amazon. Contact me at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow me on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

Mystery Novels set in California

Though I’m partial to mystery series set in England, I also follow several set in the US. It’s hard to beat my long-time favorite, Robert Parker’s Spenser and Jesse Stone mysteries set in the Boston area, but two LA series also rank high on my list.  Published in 1992, Michael Connelly’s “The Black Echo” introduces Hieronymous Bosch, an LAPD cop, named for a Renaissance painter by that name.  Who does that to a child? Fortunately, he goes by Harry. Bosch is Connelly’s protagonist in twenty novels with the 21st coming in October this year.

In the first book, we learn Bosch was a tunnel rat in the Vietnam war. Both the war and the early death of his mother were defining experiences for Harry.  In twenty novels, Connelly explores Harry’s complex personality and what drives him. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book and have binge-watched each season of the Amazon original series “Bosch” starring Titus Welliver. Fair warning, both the books and the Amazon series are dark. If Harry ever smiles, it’s a fleeting expression.

Connelly also wrote five novels with defense attorney Mickey Haller as the lead character. “The Lincoln Lawyer” was the first and was made into a movie starring Matthew McConaughey. Bosch is a darker character than Mickey, but both series are enjoyable.

Robert Crais’s series, also set in LA, starts out a bit quirkier, a bit more humorous than Connelly’s.  That’s more a product of his main character Elvis Cole’s quick wit than it is of the plots. Elvis is closer in personality to Parker’s Spenser, witty but with a code of honor that drives him to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost.  In the first book, readers discover that Elvis has a Felix the Cat clock in his office, the one with the tail that wags.  I see that clock as emblematic of his personality.

Spenser has Hawk, and Elvis has Joe Pike. Starting in 1987 with “The Monkey’s Raincoat,” Crais has published seventeen Elvis Cole/Joe Pike mysteries, and we learn more about the personalities and histories of the two as the series progresses.  From time to time, Joe Pike takes the lead, and Elvis has his back instead of vice-versa. 

When I have the opportunity, I like to start with the first book in a series. In doing so, I’ve been able to notice the Elvis Cole stories grow in complexity and seriousness. That makes this recommendation from Robert Crais intriguing:

“I always suggest [readers] begin with “L.A. Requiem, or even one of the standalones like “Demolition Angel” or “The Two Minute Rule.” It isn’t that I feel the earlier books aren’t as ‘good’ as my more recent efforts—I am intensely proud of those early novels—but my newer books are richer, broader in scope, and way more complex in their structure, so I believe them to be more representative of the work I am doing today.”

If I were reading this today without having read any of the Crais novels, I know I’d still follow my rule of thumb and start at the beginning.  I often discover an author new to me by picking up a book at a library sale and starting in the midst of a series.  When I enjoy the book, though, I set out to find the early ones and read them in order. Whatever your preference, if you enjoy crime novels and serious mysteries, Connelly and Crais are good authors to try.

PS. Don't miss out on the e book sale of Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch through November 15, 2018.

Find “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch” and “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday,” on Amazon. Contact us at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

DOG BOOK SALE

DOG LOVER ALERT: "Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch" is on sale! The e-book, not the dog! 

ONLY through November 15. 

HURRY. 

https://amzn.to/2QiYJ5W 

And for my European friends, it's on sale on Amazon.uk too!! https://amzn.to/2P1Fj9f

Treat yourself TODAY.

Tales of King Arthur

Are there any King Arthur fans out there? It was Mary Stewart’s King Arthur trilogy that hooked me when I was in high school.  I suspect “The Crystal Cave,” published in 1970, was one of the many books I snuck into class and read between the covers of textbooks. I had to wait until 1973 for the second book, “The Hollow Hills,” to come out, and  “The Last Enchantment” arrived in 1979.  Described as the Merlin trilogy, the books are told from his perspective.

I was surprised to find that Stewart had written two more in the series in 1983 and 1995.  Those will have to go on my library wish list ASAP. Before her King Arthur phase, Stewart was primarily a romantic thriller writer, and I have vague memories of reading her novels “Nine Coaches Waiting” and “My Brother Michael.”

As I was searching for details about my favorite books, I came across  a BookBub article, “17 Magical Books About the Legend of King Arthur.” I can’t claim to have read them all, but I’ve enjoyed quite a few. Of Stewart’s books, only “Crystal Cave” made the BookBub list.

Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d'Arthur”  is not on the list either, but it was his tales of Arthur, Launcelot, and Guinevere that became the foundation for all that followed. His compilation published in 1485 was translated from stories written in French and is surprisingly readable. I was well on the way to becoming a life-long King Arthur fan by the time I read it as an English major in college.

My enjoyment of Malory’s tales led me to T. H. White’s “The Once and Future King,” which is on the BookBub list. Published in 1958, it was the inspiration for the 1960 Broadway musical Camelot. I must have first seen the 1967 movie version on TV, and seeing Richard Harris reprise the role on stage is a cherished memory. Of course, I have the CD.

 “The Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley made the list and is one of my favorites from the 80’s, probably because it was a retelling of the story from the female perspective. Reflecting on how much I enjoyed the novel reminds me that there was a 2001 TNT miniseries starring  Anjelica Huston, Julianna Margulies, and Joan Allen. 

My trip down memory lane surfaced three other King Arthur films I’ve seen. First is the 1963 Disney animated “Sword in the Stone,”  also based on T. H. White’s book.  Skip past Camelot, and I must admit a weakness for the 1995 movie “First Knight” starring Sean Connery as King Arthur and Richard Gere as Lancelot.  The 2004 “King Arthur” with Clive Owens and Keira Knightley was yet another fascinating retelling of the tale, this time with Arthur portrayed as a Roman officer.

Of the 17 books on the BookBub list, I found two to add to my To Be Read list. “The Forever King” trilogy is a modern fantasy tale of a young man who stumbles across an antique cup that turns out to be The Holy Grail. It even has an ex-FBI agent in it, a twist that makes it a perfect combo for this mystery addict.

Also on my list now is “The Queen of Camelot,” another retelling of Guinevere’s role in the rise and fall of Camelot.  I’m anticipating reading new books, watching old movies, and winding up in a King Arthur induced coma sometime soon.

Find “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch” and “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday,” on Amazon. Contact us at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

The Ink Penn Newsletter September 2018

Happy Anniversary Lord Banjo!

It's been one year since Lord Banjo published his first book, and he's been a busy boy.

News from the Royal Abode Though he's been having loads of fun, he and the Royal Mum have also found time to get a bit of work done: His book is now carried in eight Georgia shops and three in the NC mountains. With the advent of his column in the Highlands Newspaper, he's fast becoming a local celebrity in that NC town. Read a recent column HERE. "Coloring with Lord Banjo" was such a huge seller at local book signings, we've added it to Amazon so everyone can get a copy. "Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch" and the Royal Mum's book "The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday" are now not only available on Amazon but also at the local library in Dunwoody. Book two in the Royal Pooch series is nearly done.  In the fun department, Lord Banjo thought he'd had all he could stand when he attended Camp Flashback, until that is, he met his favorite toddler!  The Royal Dad and I are a bit worried he may want one of his own. Keeping up with Lord Banjo and the Royal Mum Please visit our website for more of our favorite photos and to access our newspaper columns and blog posts. We're a bit worn out from our last two-day festival in Highlands and plan to take most of September and October off.  Starting October 14, though, we have eight book signings scheduled through mid-December.  Check our website for the most up-to-date schedule.   Find “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch” and “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday,” on Amazon. Contact Lord Banjo and the Royal Mum at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.