The Wrestling Match In My Head
I’ve noticed, as I’ve grown older, that I have a spatial gap memory deficiency. One second I’ve got a list of things to Read the rest of this entry »
Acronymania
Posted: 25 in family, personal, what I know, writingTags: acronyms, comments, dialogue, freebie, fun, gender gap, memory, mother-son, short story
Photography 101: My other mad skillz
Posted: 18 in photography, travelingTags: bad pics, basics, creativity, discussion, global warming, graphic design, offering services, photography, real estate, Ryan Leung, secret bridge, Zachary Leung
Chico Rebels vs. Napa Force 2013 – Boy’s Varsity (cropped down from across the field)
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Doughnuts & Indie Bookstores
Posted: 4 in discuss, My booksTags: alternatives, Annie Bloom's, author, Book Carnival, book signing, bookstores, Broadway Books, Broadway Inn, Circa 2009, Clues Unlimited, Donna Hole, Eugene, indies, Kelli Stanley, Miranda Corbie, Mysterious Galaxy, Pie Dudes, Poisoned Pen, Portland, Seattle Mystery Bookshop, second avenue second hand, VooDoo Doughnuts
The Pie Dudes in April 2009 visiting Powell’s
After the publication of Second Avenue Second Hand and a very cool reception and unproductive meeting with the local indie bookstore when attempting to arrange a signing with fellow author, Donna Hole; I considered other options. Immediately I thought of Powell’s. I used to be a big fan of the bookstores out of Portland, OR. It was a fun family weekend excursion to run up to Portland (usually to escape the oppressive heat of California’s Sierra Foothills), spend a day roaming through Powell’s, stop off down the street at Voodoo Donuts for a Texas doughnut to nibble on during the drive back home, taking with us another over-sized doughnut a piece for the morning after, staying in Eugene at another family favorite, Broadway Inn. It would have been my dream come true to arrange a signing there, but in trying to get in touch with someone, I couldn’t find the author links on their site that I had seen many times before. Puzzled, and sidetracked by the growing of my twin boys, I let it go.
Pictured Above: A Voodoo Doughnuts & Broadway Inn Photo Essay Circa 2009
But then Kelli Stanley, author of the Miranda Corbie novels, published a scathing post about the bookstore. Seems that there’d been a change at the helm which you can read here. While I removed as many of the links to the Powell’s website for purchasing the anthology after reading about this, replacing them with links elsewhere, but not the preferred indie store, I decided to ask Kelli what she recommended by way of other indie stores. And this is what she said:
“A friend recommends Annie Bloom’s or Broadway Books in Portland. Outside of Portland–and specifically for crime fiction–there’s the Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Clues Unlimited in Tucson, Book Carnival in Orange, CA, and Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego (they also carry science fiction and fantasy). The latter stores are heavily patronized by the crime fiction writing community, so whatever book you’re looking for, they’re sure to be able to get it signed and delivered.” .
Sadly, our family tradition of excursions to satisfy our inner cravings will be missed. But now we have the opportunity to start new ones as we hope to visit the stores Kelli suggested. Tell me, though, do any happen to have doughnut stores like VooDoo?
Do you have a favorite indie bookstore?
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Jake and Chuck
Posted: 1 in characters, discussTags: Chuck, comments, Jake, part 1, series, Winslow
Winslow, CA
So who is this calamitous duo, Jake and Chuck? They are cops in Winslow, California (a fictitious town, see map on left) in northern California. Jake is the younger of the two, early thirties (fresh out of the Butte College academy when they were first paired), a self-proclaimed bachelor-for-life while Chuck, fast approaching retirement, is a bit odd, happily married to Marilyn, and more often than naught the catalyst for their misadventures.
Interview with Jake:
KL: So, Jake, tell us about the first time you met Chuck.
Jake: Oh man. (laughs) I honestly thought this dude had sat firmly on top of one of our famous Sequoias. That first day he was tense, barked at me for every stupid little thing, and at the end of the day, walked off without even saying good bye or see you tomorrow. (Shakes his head, laughs again.) Boy did I have it all wrong. Read the rest of this entry »
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Obsessions
Posted: 29 in discussTags: author, bloggers, blogs, conflict, critiques, fallicies, FBI, Gillian Flynn, holes, Karin Slaughter, obsession, Orphan Black, Robin Williams, Tatiana Maslany
Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl became an obsession for me. I don’t even remember how I happened on the book, but I do remember that it’s been a very long time since I’ve been able to pick up a book and just read. That little red pen in my brain doesn’t meander out and interfere when I’m reading a Flynn novel. I hope she’s writing more as I’ve devoured Dark Places and am presently relishing Sharp Objects. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Adventures of Jake and Chuck
Posted: 2 in characters, flash, freebies, miscellany, My books, promo, short stories, shorts, snippets, writingTags: blogging, character development, Christmas, dastardly duo, Facebook, freebie, fun, Jake & Chuck, mild language, New Year, resolution, short story, snippets, vignettes
Jester (Photo credit: mrpolyonymous)
A while back a couple of characters from a novel-in-progress crept off the pages, demanding to have their own story told. Those two havoc wreaking souls did just that and come Christmas 2012 their first short story, “Jake and Chuck Blow Sh…tuff Up” warmed the hands of my family. This recently passed Christmas crept by without the second vignette making it off the dogearred notebook pages, titled “The Twelve Misfortunate Years of Jake and Chuck’s Christmases”. Other commitments and my well-honed ability to procrastinate got into the way. Read the rest of this entry »
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Signed Copies for Sale
Posted: 22 in For Sale, My books, short stories, Signed CopiesTags: Book, Canada, For sale, Paperback, PayPal, Personalized, Purchase, second avenue second hand, Shopping, Signed Book, WordPress
Cover
You can order your very own copy of the anthology, Second Avenue Second Hand, via me and receive a personally signed copy.
Complete the following form (I can’t set up my free WordPress page to accept payment, so you must supply a PayPal address for me to bill off below).
Don’t have a PayPal address? You can email me at kathie(dot)blot(at)gmail(dot)com to work out other options.
I will sign the first page and the page where my short story Put a Ring On It appears. If you would like, I can add a message and make it out to an individual too. Just put that information in below in the message section.
All books will be shipped to one address when ordering more than one. Alternatively, you can always complete more order forms if you wish to buy more than one yet have it shipped to another location. Read the rest of this entry »
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This is THE Anthology of the Year!
Posted: 3 in My books, short storiesTags: anthology, author, digital, Fiction, fun, Goodreads, horror, Kathie Leung, Lemon Twist Press, literary fiction, on sale now, print, published, Put A Ring On It, second avenue second hand, short story, shortstories
Get Your Copy Today!
It doesn’t matter what genre you prefer to read or even what your preferences are when coming to reading a short story, this anthology is amazing! Second Avenue Second Hand anthology by Lemon Twist Press features ten authors from all around the world that come together to tell a story that weaves around a quaint second hand shop in Bottle Bay. Each tale is unique, each author’s voice is very different, and the stories range from cheeky humor to dark horror. What makes this anthology shine is how the publisher/editor selected the individual stories to tell an overall story. You won’t want to put it down until you’ve reached the end and then, you’ll be wanting more!
Print and digital versions are available now. Here’s my link to Powell’s Books for Second Avenue Second Hand
My story, Put a Ring On It is one of the stories in this anthology, but don’t let that be the selling point in either direction. This truly is a unique anthology. I would love to hear your feedback when you do read my story and thank you in advance for taking the time and effort to leave feedback.
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Justin Time
Posted: 2 in My booksTags: anthology, Domain, ebook, Justin Time, kathieleung.com, lemontwistpress, northern coast of California, release, second avenue second hand, Sherwood Forrest, summer camp, whew
Back %# years ago, I spent my summers counseling at a camp in the Redwoods along the northern coast of California. One of the weeks during the summer was dedicated to a young crowd and the theme, Sherwood Forrest, meant that as counselors we needed a plucky character name. Mine was Sunshine, and not for a cheerful disposition, rather for the fact that my favorite color, yellow, matched the sun. Another counselor and my co-leader of a merry band of bed-wetting, eager faced, scared of the dark charges made a play on his name, Justin; Justin Time (as in just in time). Cute.
I’m reminded of Justin today when I announce that in less than 24 hours before my story is released in the anthology published by Lemon Twist Press, “Second Avenue Second Hand” and the one with the unchangeable domain name I lost in the between time, I have successfully reclaimed my domain! So on with the show! Get your digital copy tomorrow, October 3rd at Apple, Smashwords, Kobo and B&N. Print copies will be available, more on that soon!
Call Me Augustus Blook
Posted: 29 in other authors, reading, tbrTags: A Girl Could Stand Up, Alison McGhee, Amanda Eyre Ward, Augustus Gloop, author, comments, conflict, Dani Shapiro, Family History, Greg Iles, Harlan Coben, How To Be Lost, Jack Reacher, Jeanette Walls, Lee Child, Leslie Marshall, literary, literary fiction, mystery, Oprah's book club, Patricia Cornwell, Picturing the Wreck, Sandra Brown, Shadow Baby, Sleep Toward Heaven, summer reading, suspense, The Glass Castle, thriller, Was It Beautiful?
Books Instead of Candy & I’m a Regular Augustus Gloop
It’s officially summer and you know what? I’ve got nothing for a reading list to fill the long, hot (dreadfully so, especially since our A/C is out and we can’t afford to fix it) summer days and sultry summer nights. Read the rest of this entry »
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