Okie Bookshelf
New from the Okie Bookshelf.
War Party in Blue: Pawnee Scouts in the U.S. Army by Mark van de Logt.
Facts: Published by the University of Oklahoma Press : 2010.
Hardcover ISBN: 9780806141398.
368 pages
A history of the Pawnee Scouts, from their perspective Between 1864 and 1877, during the height of the Plains Indian wars, Pawnee Indian scouts rendered invaluable service to the United States Army. They led missions deep into contested territory, tracked resisting bands, spearheaded attacks against enemy camps, and on more than one occasion saved American troops from disaster on the field of battle. In War Party in Blue, Mark van de Logt tells the story of the Pawnee scouts from their perspective, detailing the battles in which they served and recounting hitherto neglected episodes.
Employing military records, archival sources, and contemporary interviews with current Pawnee tribal members—some of them descendants of the scouts—Van de Logt presents the Pawnee scouts as central players in some of the army’s most notable campaigns. He argues that military service allowed the Pawnees to fight their tribal enemies with weapons furnished by the United States as well as to resist pressures from the federal government to assimilate them into white society.
According to the author, it was the tribe’s martial traditions, deeply embedded in their culture, that made them successful and allowed them to retain these time-honored traditions. The Pawnee style of warfare, based on stealth and surprise, was so effective that the scouts’ commanding officers did little to discourage their methods. Although the scouts proudly wore the blue uniform of the U.S. Cavalry, they never ceased to be Pawnees. The Pawnee Battalion was truly a war party in blue. —Excerpted from the University of Oklahoma Press website.
Power Thoughts by Joyce Meyer. 
Facts: Pub. Date: September 2010
Publisher: FaithWords. Format: Hardcover, 272p.
- ISBN-13: 9780446580366
- ISBN: 0446580368
From Publishers’ Weekly :
Bestselling author and TV preacher Meyer takes a step beyond her bestseller Battlefield of the Mind. She offers a 12-step program to help readers conquer the negativity that naturally plagues the mind, leaving readers free to enjoy life and pursue their goals. Using themes from other books in her ample catalogue–worry, perseverance, managing emotions–Meyer breaks her suggestions into several digestible lists, backed by a “Power Pack” of Bible verses at the end of each chapter. She offers enthusiastic encouragement, but also requires action, here in the form of practice, discipline, and continual meditation on the 12 motivational thoughts. Critics of the positive thinking movement (Meyer obliquely acknowledges a debt to the pioneering Norman Vincent Peale) will continue to find downsides in this book, among them failure to sufficiently acknowledge the pain of suffering and an ignorance of intractable mental illness. Critics of Meyer will say she sounds like an infomercial (“You will see amazing results”). Yet her many fans will continue to appreciate her upbeat attitude and her ability to offer practical tips on the toughest topics. (Sept.)
The Echo of Violence by Jordan Dane.
Facts:
ISBN: 9780061474149; ISBN10: 0061474142; Publisher: Avon ;
Format: Mass Market PB; Pages: 384; $7.99
Inside the book it says the fourth in the Sweet Justice series, but I think it is the third, with the fourth one, Reckoning for the Dead not out yet.
The man she’d trust with her heart could sabotage everything…
When terrorists attack a Haitian missionary school, brutally killing their hostages and posting videos of the senseless murders online, time is running out. Sentinels’ agent Alexa Marlowe is forced into an unlikely alliance with a relentless mercenary. But he is no stranger.
Jackson Kinkaid witnessed the raid, and only he can track the killers to their mountain stronghold. Guarding a dark secret, rumored to sell his services to the highest bidder, Jackson is not the same man Alexa once knew. And although he can lead her to the terrorist leader she’s been ordered to take alive, how can she be sure he won’t sabotage her mission to save the one person who got him through the worst nightmare of his life?
—-excerpted from the Jordan Dane website.
Comment: She’s a good author to read for suspense with a romantic twist.
Romance is King
Young Bill Young here.
Love makes the world go around. No one knows that better than the authors and readers of Romance, one of the most popular genres of fiction. In fact, Romance is the king of the publishing world right now, outstripping sales of most other categories of books in this uncertain economy.
Many Oklahoma writers are riding this wave of success in the Romance field, and librarians and readers enjoyed a chance to meet nine of these authors at Romance in the Stacks last Thursday at Hardesty Regional Library. The event was sponsored by the Oklahoma Center for the Book.
Tulsa authors participating were Laura Marie Altom, Margaret Daley, Peggy Fielding, Jackie King, Vickie McDonough and Susan Shay. Jaci Burton of Claremore, and Jordan Dane and Malena Lott of Edmond were also on hand.
These are just a handful of the many Romance writers who call Oklahoma home. We’re lucky to have so many talented Romance scribes in the state, and Oklahoma and the rest of the nation is also blessed to have so many Romance readers. According to a New York Times article: Nielsen Bookscan, which tracks retail sales, says Romance sales were up seven percent in 2008, while most of adult fiction remained flat. Barnes and Noble, the country’s largest book chain, expects book sales to fall between four to six percent this year, but Romance sales are up.
InfoTrends, Inc. reports that 74.8 million people read at least one Romance novel in 2008, and that there is a core market of 29 million regular readers of the genre. In addition, the percent of Americans who read Romance has increased from 21.8 percent in 2005 to 24.6 percent in 2008.
The continuing and growing popularity of Romance plays out everyday in libraries according to Hardesty Regional Manager Louix Escobar-Matute. “I would estimate that one out of every three fiction books checked out at this library is a Romance novel,” Escobar-Matute said.
The fact that there are so many writers, and so many different types of Romance stories, means there are always plenty of titles to recommend to people who like a particular style or setting, Escobar-Matute said. That keeps readers coming back for more.
The genre ranges from inspirational Christian Romance, to steamy tomes, and everything in between. Settings range from the Wild West, to modern day suburbia, to historical scenes, to science fiction and fantasy worlds.
But the cental element of all of these books is the universal story of romantic love. Afterall, who doesn’t love a happy ending?
Author panel two, Jordan, Crystal, Mel and Charles.
Second author panel at the Oklahoma Library Association meeting included Jordan Dane, Crystal Inman, Charles Sasser and Mel Odom.
Interesting and some little know facts about these authors: Jordan and Charles like kayaking, but Jordan should probably not go in the same boat as her husband. A boat is just like a car, there can be way too many back seat drivers. Mel has written over 140 books, and Charles has 50 published books and around 3,000 articles to his credit, they both think sleeping is way overrated. Crystal writes steamy romance besides having a day job in a library. Who says librarians are boring.
Sasser has been influenced by Hemingway and Steinbeck. He is a real life action character, no couch potato here. Inman loves romance, and that’s what she reads and writes. Dane grew up with historical westerns and packs action into all her books as a result. Dane and Inman don’t plot first, just go for it. And Mr. Odom “grew up on junk”, thinks Robert Parker is the stuff and admires the storytelling ability of Louis L’Amour.
New projects for these folks include: Sasser is working on a story about Iraq, None Left Behind, a science fiction story called Sanctuary and a book on predator drones used in battlefields. Crystal just finished the last one of the Elemental Guardian Series, available through Amazon’s Fictionwise ebooks. Jordan Dane is working on the third book in the Sweet Justice series. And of course Mel has just a ton of new projects underway; a new Rogue Angel (Archer pseud.), a Shadowrun novel, and something very new in the interactive fiction category.
Very fun, interesting folks with lots in store for us in the future.
Oklahoma Author Blogs, Mel Odom, etc.
I’m a Mel Odom fan and look at his blogs frequently. I’ve noticed he posts many other Oklahoma authors to his blogroll. So here is my attempt to get us looking for those Okie authors and what they have to say about what they’re reading, writing, doing or just opinionating on. I think it’s interesting that more of the SciFi and Romance writers seem willing to get in there and talk to their fans and readers.
Odom has his Adventures in Writing , looks like he’s freezing at home like the rest of us this week. He also has BookHound, my personal favorite. Mel also contributes to Blogcritics magazine.
Gena Showalter, is hot, hot, hot. Start at her blog. And I just mentioned Showalter and low and behold I find her and Merline, on Merline Lovelace’s website in a Youtube video. (Be patient it takes a while to load).
Jill Monroe, who is also on the video has a blog. Jordan Dane, has a three book series out (which I’m the proud owner of, but haven’t finished yet so you won’t get any information out of me). Here is her myspace page blog.
What’s progressing with C.J. Cherryh?
Christine Rimmer is an incredibly generous author who gave free books to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries for our women correctional institutions. Much appreciated.
And I need to add a mystery writer to the list, William Bernhardt, and might I say Congratulations on your marriage!! We just received his new book, Nemesis, at the library.
So start looking for others to add to this list and I’ll be happy to post them.
