Mel Odom’s

Barnes & Noble reviews, and ordering information. Look at the reviews on Amazon for Rising Tide. That should be enough to tempt you. I’m not a “Realms” game person, wouldn’t have a clue, but I like the fantasy world novels, and authors like Mel Odom and R.A. Salvatore .

 If you like adventure, sea settings, or just good reads pick up this volume and you’ve got 3 times the enjoyment. Also good purchase for a Young Adult on your Christmas list.

Just the facts:

Author: Mel Odom

Title: Threat from the Sea   (includes Rising Tide, Under Fallen Stars and The Sea Devil’s Eye)

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

Year: 2009

Got my copy at the Red Dirt Book Festival, ISBN: 978-0-7869-5055-3

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Join us for Oklahoma Landscapes:  A Literary Tableau, featuring readings by Rilla Askew, S. E. Hinton, Billie Letts, N. Scott Momaday, and Michael Wallis, 7 p.m., in the OSU-Tulsa auditorium. The readings are part of the Oklahoma Landscapes project. Authors will also be autographing books.  Tickets are $10.  For more information, contact Teresa Miller at (918) 594-8215.

And to go along with this literary feast, start reading from their Oklahoma Landscapes Book Club.  All the titles listed are a must read for any self respecting Okie.

Stacia Kane throws many twists and turns in this book. It’s not just your standard, girl meets demon, girl makes love to demon, girl lives happier ever after. Even her minor characters, Malleus, Maleficarum and Spud, demon bodyguards are clever and endearing. Megan has to confront her own personal demons, save her lover, learn to be friends with a witch and stay true to her real self.

I’m sure you can tell I thought this was a very good debut novel. Looking forward to the next in the series, Demon Inside. My bad self borrowed this from the interlibrary loan stack of a fellow co-worker (my own personal demon made me do it) and I promised her I would get us both the next in the series.

There seems to be this controversy about the book whether it falls under Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance. I think we all get a little crazy with these subjective category labels. Does it really matter? I mean are there some hard and fast rules which is which. I just went to an event in Tulsa presented by nine romance writers and it seemed clear from the discussion they feel comfortable using elements of any category that work for the novel at hand. (See previous post by Young Bill Young)

Just the facts:

Author: Stacia Kane

Publisher: Juno Books

Date of Publication: 2008

Series: Megan Chase

For a complete list of other titles by Stacia Kane, go over to her website, http://www.staciakane.net/books/printable-list/

Author blog: http://www.staciakane.net/blog/

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?

Billie Letts graciously signed books so I have one Christmas present taken care of. She also did a talk on Saturday and all my work chores were done so I got to see her as well as attend book talks by three librarians. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the booktalks. Judy Day and Jenny Stenis, Pioneer Library System and Lisa Wood, Metropolitan Library System did two “Reading Red Dirt” booktalks. They were very inspirational to me in recognizing  the power of reviews (booktalks) to get people to read and experience new titles. 

I’m so glad I attended this book festival, I wish more people would come out and see what this kind of event is all about. The Pioneer Library System does an excellent job in acquainting us with the literary community in Oklahoma. They combine free events, lunches, panels, seminars, booktalks and book sales to get us involved.

A BIG Thank YOU

to all the people that made this event possible.

I hope everyone has signed up for Red Dirt  Book Festival in Shawnee this weekend, but if not there are still events you can get in at the door. So don’t be afraid, come on over. I’ll be there, lots of authors, vendors, publishers, panels, Billie Letts!, and just come to see what’s literary in Oklahoma in November. Meet an author, you’ll be surprised how nice they are.   

It’s mostly free (except for a few meals) and lots of fun. Get your book signed, listen to the authors, ask questions, hang out, and I hope you’ll like this event as much as I do.

Young Bill Young, here. I’m working with the Oklahoma Center for the Book, arranging an event in Tulsa to celebrate Oklahoma’s romance writers. Obviously, we wanted to invite authors representing different genres within romance: i.e. Christian romance, romantic thrillers, historical love stories. It was interesting that our invitation list did not include any African American romance authors who call Oklahoma home.

During my search, I did come across some interesting information. For example, the incoming president of the Romance Writers of America is African American. In fact, RWA will have its second black president this decade. The news comes from Angela T and her blog, Saving Black Romance. Angela T is also a contributer to Romancing the Blog, and she offers this recent column on the marketing of African American romance novels. (Be sure and read Angela’s related posts and the comments to get a better gist of this issue.)

Love stories are universal, and they are relevant in all cultures and times. Michigan’s Beverly Jenkins (whose book “Captured” illustrates this post) specializes in African American romances set during the 19th Century — a time rife with all kinds of political, social and, er, lustful possibilities. And just think about the kinds of black romance novels that could use Oklahoma history as a backdrop, a history that includes black slaves coming to Indian Territory, the movement of black families into the Territories, the Green Corn Rebellion, the lunch counter sit-ins. No matter the times, places or situations, love finds a way.

So does this white boy want to read a steamy black romance? Maybe. I could always use a break from my sci-fi stories and geeky graphic novels. My Twitter friend Literary Nobody in Tulsa is a writer who’s always looking for different subjects and issues to address. Hey, LN: want to write us a love story?

And, of course, if you’re a black romance author in Okieland, or you know one, I’m depending on you to set me straight!

Dark Mirror: A Brock and Kolla Mystery by Barry Maitland.  Gotten to page 6 so I best not comment, except to say it’s good so far. 

Stalking the Dragon by Mike Resnick. On Page 25. This one is really different. There’s a life size office cat, a talking mirror, a lost Dragon that basically resembles a Paris Hilton pet and a demon suspected of kidnapping.

Now to clear off my desk, load those dishes in the dish washer and begin.

The comic is written in the narrative style, no balloon bubble dialog boxes. The story is about evil pirates, a damsel in distress and our hero The Phantom, coming to the rescue.  Mel Odom always writes a good tale. This is 15th century Phantom, a student of Will S. himself. The art is a collage of realistic photos with artistic overlay. I’m sure that’s not a very clear description, but suffice to say, the art is terrific.

This was a good introduction to Moonstone comics, hope Mel will be doing some more for them.

Looking for a pirate tale, try this one on for size. My only complaint was the printing type, I kept thinking the periods were commas and wondering why the sentences were so long. I know I’m aging.  The NewsOk Nerdage guys have a short video review on their  podcast site.

 and Diane Glancy are both signing at Full Circle Bookstore.

The University of Oklahoma Press has new titles out.  The Red Dirt Book Festival is on everyone’s mind. (I’ll be there, probably sitting at the Oklahoma Department of Libraries booth on and off)

Lots of other Okie related book news and events, a great one stop shop for Oklahoma author information. Adding to my Blogroll.