Heroes Caught Reading

Today's hero comes courtesy of my hero yesterday, Lesa Holstine:

Let me tell you about my hero, my mother, Elizabeth Growel. She's a woman who knows about picking up and going on with life. She's a mother who lost a son when he was only 2 1/2. But, she was still a mother. And, she loves, supports, and taught her three daughters. All three of us love books and reading because my parents read. But, it was my mother who drilled me on my spelling words, and listened to me read when I was in first grade. She was a role model, who not only modeled reading, but went to work in a high school library. All three of her daughters followed in her footsteps, and went to work as pages in the public library when we were in high school. I went on to get a Master's degree in Library Science, and work in public libraries. 

My mother was widowed young, in her fifties. When, I was widowed in my fifties, my mother said, "Your life will never be the same. But, it can be just as good." She models that every day, with her travels, her volunteerism, her love of family, and her love of books. She uses Facebook to follow family. She's the friend who has the computer knowledge, and does research for her best friend. She's proud of all her daughters and her grandchildren, and celebrates our accomplishments.

My mother taught me to read, taught me to love books, and, now, she celebrates my accomplishments as a reviewer. She slips my business cards into books, and shows off the books I've blurbed. I talk about books with my Mom and sisters, and call them up to suggest titles. Often, we're all reading the same book at the same time.

My mother is my role model for so many reasons. First, she taught me to love the books that are so important in my life, and then she modeled how to go on with life, and live it with laughter.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Lesa's mom and I can attest that she lives life with laughter! I'm so glad to have the chance to highlight her here today. Who taught you to read and modeled reading for you when you were young?

Heroes Caught Reading

To kick off this week of Heroes Caught Reading I would like to share with our Lesa Holstine.

When I started blogging, Lesa was a person I turned to with questions and frustrations. She was never too busy to take time out to help. When I wanted feedback on ideas, she was supportive and helpful. In other words, she was my blogging mentor--which you've heard me say before, I'm sure. It's easy to get frustrated with a blog, but when you have a cheerleader as motivating as Lesa, you can't help but soldier on! But that's only the smallest reason why she's earned hero status for this month.

Besides being a great blogger, Lesa is a librarian. Well, actually, she's a library administrator now, but unlike many when they hit that "administrator" level, she has maintained a passion for what she does. She's never forgotten why she entered the library field to begin with. She still pursues programs and projects with a vigor and enthusiasm to rival the most ambitious new graduate. And she loves--truly loves--reading. Lesa has touched people around the country, working in Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and Indiana. She helps people find great books both in her library and online. Librarians are a precious commodity, and ones like Lesa are absolute gems.

To add a cherry on Lesa's hero sundae, she's a compassionate animal lover, a great friend and overall kind human being. I am blessed to know Lesa, and I'm so happy to feature her here today:

Fittingly, Lesa is reading STILL LIFE by Louise Penny,
one of the authors she turned me on to!

Sunday Odds and Ends

Well, despite the fact that I abhor snow, and we've been getting plenty of it, January is off to a great start for me. I hope that's true for you, too.

Today I thought I'd do a little round-up of various things I've seen on the web this week. But first I wanted to remind you that time is running out to enter my blogiversary contest to win one of two signed books from Steve Hockensmith's Holmes on the Range series. You can enter here.

Speaking of blogiversary, it will be two years ago on Tuesday that I started Jen's Book Thoughts. Do you know what else is Tuesday? Yep! The release of THE FIRST RULE. Coincidence? I don't think so! Thanks R.C. and Putnam for helping to celebrate my blog's birthday. And R.C.'s visit to Ohio is closing in. Two weeks from today! Can't wait!! If you're going to be in Dayton to see R.C., make sure you drop me a note and let me know so we can make a point of meeting and saying "hi."

I was over the moon to see some authors scheduled at Mystery Lovers Book Shop. You can see their entire line-up here. I've already got my spot for Jo Nesbø's and Alafair Burke's events in March. And I'm also planning to attend the Festival in May. I have it from a good source that Brad Parks is scheduled to be at the festival this year.

Speaking of Brad Parks. The scoundrel put my reputation through a blender this week in his interview with Pop Culture Nerd.

I went back and forth this week with Tom Schreck about the need for sidekicks to have sex. You can weigh in on the topic here.

The folks over at the Criminal Minds blog are growing in number. Have you been there lately? Stop over and wish the new contributors a warm welcome. And some changes are going on over at The Outfit.

And today, Lesa Holstine has posted her first video production to her blog. She's highlighting some cozy mysteries from Penguin, and she did a fantastic job.

I still have three reviews from books I read in 2009 that I need to finish to have last year totally wrapped up. I'd love to get those done this week. Then I have four others that I've finished reading so far this year. Geez, already starting off the year behind! I'm also doing a lot of behind the scenes prep work for some things to come, so if I'm a little sparse, that's what I'm doing.

Hope you have a wonderful (warm) week filled with great reading!

Saturday Around the Web

Hi all. Hope your holiday season is going well. I'm stuck in car-buying hell right now, so as you read this I'm probably back out car shopping. Say a little prayer that Saturday is the last day I have to do this and that I manage to come home with a car.

But I wanted to leave you with some fun things around the web I've found this week. The first two come courtesy of Jon Jordan at Crimespree Magazine. This is the only time I will look like I have ANY semblance of rhythm. (Warning: do not drink while watching.) For your enjoyment, here are some of the Crimespree Gang...or as Jon calls us, the Crimespree Elves. And then here we are in the hip-hop version.

I'm very excited for Brad Parks and the mention of FACES OF THE GONE here. Congrats to Brad; so well deserved! Obviously they heard me raving about this book and got with the program - just kidding.

Since I'm having car-buying issues, I was over reading this article Tom Schreck wrote a couple years ago. There are actually two articles at this link: the first one dealt with the driver's manual and made me cry, I was laughing so hard. And right now it's good to laugh-cry, because I really want to cry-cry this process is so painful. If you have the urge to read some more of his articles, you can find them here.

Hilary Davidson has her "Undying Love" short story available at The Feral Pages. I'm so looking forward to her debut novel in 2010.

Some folks have started to post their favorites lists. I'll be working on mine soon, as all the books I have to read now are '10 publications. But until I get my list up, you may want to check out Lesa Holstine's list or Oline Cogdill's or Sarah Weinman's or Dick Adler's. Here are Marcus Sakey's favorite reads from this year. Micheal Koryta is even mentioning his favorite reads from the second half of the year.

I hope everyone's holiday season is going well, and if I don't see you back here before, have a wonderful, wonderful New Year!

Happy Reading!

A Very Special "You Have the Right to Six Words"

This week we are recognizing book bloggers for their tireless efforts in promoting and sharing their love of reading. So, this week's "You Have the Right to Six Words" is going to mirror that appreciation. I had planned initially to wrap the whole series up with these memoirs, but when the series continued on this long, I thought this would be the perfect week to celebrate these folks because they too do what they do because they love to promote and share books. So, please help me recognize them today.

First up is a lady you hear me mention regularly here on Jen's Book Thoughts. Most of us know Lesa Holstine as the wonderful blogger at Lesa's Book Critiques. But there's a blessed community of folks who know her as their Library Manager. She's forever organizing wonderful activities and events that celebrate the joys of reading, especially reading mystery books. And when she's not organizing them herself, she's off attending other ones or writing book reviews for mystery publications and websites. I find it especially fitting that Lesa even met her husband, Jim, at the library! These days Lesa and Jim call Arizona home, but Lesa's shared her love of books and the library with folks in both Florida and Ohio as well as the blog-o-sphere. In addition to her love of books, Lesa enjoys many sports and can often be found cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes! Lesa is an integral part of the book community and especially the crime fiction community. It's a wonderful thing that she

Found life's passion in sharing books.

Lesa helps to spread the word about great crime fiction through her work in the library and on her blog. Jon Jordan and his wife Ruth help spread the word through CRIMESPREE Magazine. As co-publishers and authors of the magazine, they work to bring mystery lovers around the globe together. Jon also published an Anthony Award-nominated book called INTERROGATIONS. INTERROGATIONS is a collection of 25 interviews of people in the crime fiction community. Music, comic books, movies, and good tv are also on Jon's list of "good things in life." Jon says that sleep is optional but caffeine is not. That explains how he just keeps going and going and all because

I want everyone to read more.

Linda Brown, the assistant manager at The Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles, helps us all do just that. Where would the crime fiction world be without enthusiastic book sellers like Linda? Not only is she a book seller, she's also a crime fiction fan. I know I feel reassured to know that I'm not the only one out doing the wide-eyed adoring fan bit. Need book recommendations? Linda's got plenty for you. Want to attend an event in L.A. but live in NYC? Linda will Tweet it for you. Gonna be in the L.A. area? I assure you that she and the entire staff of The Mystery Bookstore will make you feel right at home. Linda tells me that she's the mean one at home, but somehow I think her two cats, Lulu and Betty, may have Linda wrapped around their little paws.

Linda grew up moving from place to place since her father was in the military. After college she did some non-profit work and then about 15 years in the film industry before she discovered her calling in the mystery book world. Now she's firmly rooted in the crime fiction community, and I for one am glad to have her stability:

Took a while. Found my place.

In case you were unaware, this picture shows Linda moonlighting. When she isn't recommending books to customers and helping them feed their crime fiction addictions, she's Detective Linda in Robert Crais' CHASING DARKNESS! Get those bad guys, Detective Linda!

Most everyone who visits Jen's Book Thoughts regularly knows that I am a big fan of the audiobook as well as the printed book. I have now established some fairly regular narrators as my "favorites" much like I have the authors who are my favorites. So those audiobook narrators are essential to this industry for folks like me. And that is why I am absolutely over-the-mood giddy to introduce to you the man I would rate the greatest living audiobook narrator. He has recorded over 850 unabridged novels over the last 20 years and won 2 consecutive Audie Awards. George Guidall also spent 40 years in the theater and has appeared on television shows such as Law and Order and Spenser for Hire! George's narrations include the likes of CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, A WIDOW FOR ONE YEAR, and I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. He has also narrated the novels of Tony Hillerman, John Grisham, and Lillian Jackson Braun. But probably his most endearing works for me are his narrations of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series. Bringing together my favorite narrator and one of my favorite authors and series created an explosive result. And while George's memoir is

So many books, so little time

I'm especially glad he made time for the Walt Longmire series! I'm also humbled that he made time to share a memoir with us today. I hope that you will join me in acknowledging all of the contributions each of these individuals make not only to the crime fiction community but to the entire book community. Thank you Lesa, John, Linda and George for being a part of this project and representing the folks that we maybe have a tendency to forget play such a vital role in this world we all love.

See, I told you this week was extra-special! And I still have more! So hang in with me and check back here same time next week for more fun with memoirs! And make sure you take some time this week - if you haven't already - to visit your favorite book bloggers and show them your appreciation! Happy Book Blogger Appreciation Week, everyone!

P.S. - As a little side note, I forwarded a flyer about an event that George Guidall does for libraries, if any of the libraries in my area host George, can you be sure to let me know? I'll promote here, but mostly I want to come myself!!! And if you would like the flyer but I didn't send it to you, let me know and I'll forward you a copy.

Appreciating Book Bloggers This Week

Welcome to Book Blogger Appreciation Week everyone! One of the topics that is suggested by the Book Blogger Appreciation Week committee is to blog about our favorite blogs that didn't make the short lists in award nominations. There are so many great blogs available in this blog-o-sphere of ours. Sometimes they get lost amidst all the ... sorry ... crap that's out there. Yeah, there's plenty of that, too. So, please allow me to share with you some outstanding blogs that deserve recognition every day:

Lazy Thoughts from a Boomer is absolutely one of my all-time favorite blogs, period. My great Boomer friend, Michael doesn't always blog about books; it's much better than that. He mixes in music and movies and "kids say the darnedest things." It's absolutely wonderful. And he's my go-to guy on recommendations for audio books. He is IN THE KNOW about great narrators and excellent recordings. And on top of being one of my favorite bloggers, he's also a great friend. When I traveled to SoCal to attend the L.A. Times Festival of Books, he met me, chatted up authors with me, secured my panel tickets, bummed around with my sister and I...he just made my trip a million times better than it would have been without him. So he's a prime example of the Internet creating friendships that wouldn't have otherwise existed. I hope you'll take a few minutes to recognize Michael's great blogging work; stop over and say 'hey.' I'm sure you'll enjoy his blog as much as I do!

Lesa's Book Critiques is a definite must-read for mystery-loving readers. This amazing librarian keeps all of us in the know on the latest and greatest in the mystery genre! I've often said to Lesa that I view her as my blogging mentor. I'm regularly pestering her with ideas to see what she thinks of them and if I should try them. And she never seems to tire of my pestering either. Lesa and I share another link, and that is the state of Ohio. Lesa was a librarian in NE Ohio in a previous life, and we let her get away. Now she's in Arizona hatching up all these amazing programs for her library and I'm wishing she was running MY library! Although, I've been trying to coax her into getting web cam set up so I can experience virtually! ;) Lesa hosts a series called Authors at the Teague, and she regularly shares those events on her blog. She also shares the Brown Bag Luncheons that she sponsors for her staff and for the community. Every week she hosts a fantastic book give-away. And of course, her blog is full of reviews and interviews and guest posts. But one of my absolute favorite features of Lesa's blog is her "Treasures in my Closet" posts. Here she shares with us mysteries that are upcoming releases so we can wait on pins and needles for them to make it to our bookstore shelves.

Kaye Barley is one of the most well-known folks in the mystery community. She writes the Meanderings and Muses blog. While she doesn't consider herself a reviewer, she is definitely an appreciator of great mystery literature. All this year she has been hosting guest posts from various folks throughout the mystery community. And she's more than generous to share with us experiences she has at author events. And what is especially fun is when she blogs about special topics like hats and inaugurations and tea parties! If you don't feel at home and loved at this blog, there may not be much hope for you, sorry. I hope you'll visit Kaye and soak up a little of the love that emanates from Meanderings and Muses every single day.

There are three published authors who have blogs I read religiously. Of course I often mention Alafair Burke who blogs about everything from her books to her job as a law professor to pop culture. She also has a knack for finding the best video clips from UTube.

Tim Hallinan's blog is very artistically centered. He hosts guests who talk about the creative process and what works for each of them. He's shared segments of books he's working on, and he's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to great book recommendations. He knows the genre well.

And finally, the most recent blog to be added to my must-read list: Louise Penny. In my eyes, her blog is just like her Three Pines series: quaint, funny, warm, inviting. A little less murder, though. She is a consistent blogger and it's nice to feel that regular connection with her. Maybe it's intimidation, I don't know, but I mostly lurk there; I've never left a comment. It's just nice to BE at her blog. I simply love it.

And finally, I want to recognize two collective blogs, each hosted by a group of mystery writers. First is a new blog this year: 7 Criminal Minds. They are comprised of Gabriella Herkert, CJ Lyons, Rebecca Cantrell, Sophie Littlefield, Kelli Stanley, Shane Gericke, and Tim Maleeny. I look forward to reading this blog every day. It is a virtual panel where each of the authors responds to the same question - a new question is posed each week. From questions like "Do you control your characters or do they control you?" to "What characters would you most like to see in a cage match?" This blog is never boring! The second blog I want to mention is The Outfit. This is a group of authors representing Chicago. It includes ten different authors: Sean Chercover, Libby Hellmann, Marcus Sakey, Sara Paretsky, Laura Caldwell, David Ellis, Barbara D'Amato, Michael Allen Dymmoch, Kevin Guilfoile, and David Heinzmann. And here you can find any kind of post from some of crime fiction's greats. Again, it's never boring on The Outfit!

There are so many more blogs that deserve recognition on this day. Blogs that didn't make the short lists. But I wanted these particular blogs to know that they are on my short list every single day! Thank you for all your hard work! Happy Book Blogger Appreciation Week!

Note: I usually try to post just once a day, but for this week's celebrations, I'll have an additional post later today. Hope you don't mind.