Today on BookSmartTV.com, Romantic Suspense author, Jacquie Biggar reviews Suzanne Brockmann’s latest book, Seal Camp. Hold on to your seats! Take it away, Jacquie. Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jim “Spaceman” Slade’s got a problem. A SEAL Team is only as fast as its slowest member—and right now, thanks to his battered knees—that’s Jim. He reluctantly takes medical leave, but he’s a SEAL, so he spends his … Continue reading SEAL Camp from Suzanne Brockmann
by Diana Belchase I’m a bit more conservative than most authors. Gorgeous guys on book covers are not my personal style. Still, this gorgeous cover for Gwen Hernandez’s Blind Fury, the first in her Men of Steele series, really has me thinking. Do I really need to be that shy about my heroes best physical assets? I was once asked to contribute a photo of a … Continue reading How Naked Should Your Book Cover Hero Be?
by Diana Belchase Like thousands of other Americans, I eagerly awaited the release of the movie, A Wrinkle in Time. As a kid’s fantasy adventure, it contained the special effects, star-studded cast, and fast action designed to create a modern blockbuster. A film you waste a couple of hours on and then forget. It’s not the type of film to change anyone’s life, and that is … Continue reading Why “A Wrinkle in Time” Missed the Mark
Today on BookSmart, I’m interviewing historical romance author, Valerie Bowman. Her novels are smart and fun and I’m a big fan. Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the … Continue reading Valerie Bowman Says “Yes” to the … Rogue!
Find out how Greek food became an essential plot element in Joanne Guidoccio’s new book, Too Many Women in the Room. Thanks Joanne for sharing your post today on BookSmartTV.com. by Joanne Guidoccio Gilda Greco, protagonist of Too Many Women in the Room, and I have a special fondness for Greek cuisine. We appreciate the simple and elegant flavors of foods and beverages that can be … Continue reading On a Greek Culinary Journey
Gothic novelist Anne Rice was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the author of over 30 novels. Her first novel, Interview with the Vampire, was published in 1976 and has gone on to become one of the best-selling novels of all time. Rely heavily on concrete nouns and action verbs. Nothing conveys immediacy and excitement like the concrete noun and the … Continue reading How I Do It: Anne Rice on Writing
The fabulous Ellen Byerrum has a great new mystery out. The Masque of the Red Dress — a terrific play on the title of one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous stories. In celebration, Ellen has launched a fun series of fashion tips drawing from her own lifelong love of fashion, research for her character, and advice from the most interesting people. In this clip, … Continue reading Ellen Byerrum is Well Suited
This week’s guest, author Jacquie Biggar talks about what it’s like to release her first audio book and details the process. Congratulations Jacquie! It’s hard to express the feeling I had this week when Audible released Missing: The Lady Said No to audiobook. Hearing your hero speak for the very first time is indescribable. I’ve been waiting for ACX- (Audible Creation Exchange) the company that produces audiobooks … Continue reading Creating an AudioBook WriterTips with Jacq Biggar
Diana Belchase here: Criminals, police, and bicycles? Mimi Matthews once again regales us with a funny story about mayhem in New Jersey as the law tries to keep up with the newest technology of the 19th Century. Enjoy! Welcome guest blogger, Mimi Matthews: In September of 1896, British newspapers reported the remarkable use of a bicycle in a New Jersey murder case. The case involved … Continue reading A Victorian Era Criminal Leads Police on a High Speed Bicycle Chase
Author Kathryn Jane‘s very funny take on the vagaries of Vancouver weather. Enjoy! Hello, Mother Nature? It’s me again, Kathryn Jane. Just a quick question. Do you have another rooky at the helm? I mean since the idiot who sent us a snow storm a couple of weeks ago? Um, may I suggest you set your margarita aside, peek out from under your beach umbrella and check … Continue reading Snow joke
Author Mimi Matthews astounds us once again today, not only with her encyclopedic knowledge of history, but with this delightful piece about a proposition to tax old maids of twenty-seven! I know you’ll enjoy. Now, here’s Mimi Matthews: The 1777 edition of the London Magazine includes an interesting letter to the editor in which a gentleman—who signs himself as ‘A Friend to the Community’—has appended a … Continue reading A Proposed 18th Century Tax Bill Targets 27-Year-Old Spinsters…And Their Cats!
Congratulations to Manda Collins who has just released another terrific historical. I love blue stocking romances, and if you do, too, I know you’ll love her books as much as I do. Here’s Manda talking about her newest release. Take it away, Manda! Great being here! This is Manda: It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone, but its even harder (for me) … Continue reading Are You Ready to Go Rogue?
Diana Belchase here: Today I’m super excited to welcome guest blogger Chris Campillo to BookSmart! Chris is the kind of person everyone loves — she’s the girl next door, a gal who always has your back, a phenomenal writer with a great sense of humor, and a stand up comic. When this Texas mom isn’t taking care of her kids, her home, and working … Continue reading Once You’ve Flashed Your Podiatrist … You Can’t Help but Become a Writer
Author Sharon Wray brings us highlights from this year’s YA’LL fest — a Young Adult book festival in South Carolina. Enjoy! Last week my daughter, my mother, and I held fast to one of our favorite traditions: Going to Charleston, SC for YA’LL Fest, the largest annual Young Adult Book Festival and book signing. With over forty authors and their publishers, publicists, and book store owners running the … Continue reading YA’LL Fest: Where All the YA Fans and Authors Meet Up!
A chance to win a $25 gift card just for adding your Christmas wish list below. Who would pass that up? Thanks to author Chris Campillo whose fantastic book, “Then He Showed Up,” is out this week! Hysterical. Take it away, Chris! by Chris Campillo, Guest Author Do you remember when you were a kid and this was the most exciting time of the year? … Continue reading All I Want For Christmas
Jess Lourey and Shannon Baker are thriller and mystery writers who have, between them, published a whopping 19 books. When they realized Jess’s thriller, Salem’s Cipher, and Shannon’s mystery, Stripped Bare, were set to launch on the same day, September 6, these friends joined forces for the Lourey/Baker Double Booked Tour. Doesn’t that sound delicious? (I promise you it’s better than double chocolate, chocolate-chip cookies!) … Continue reading Kick-Ass or Quiet? Female Sleuths From Miss Marple to V.I. Warshawski
The dog days of August are certainly here, and while dripping with sweat isn’t all that fun, humor books can give us the lift we so desperately need as we wait for Autumn’s cooling breath. Author and book reviewer, Bella Gavellon, regales us with her wonderful sense of humor as she tells us to fend off the perils of summer and cautions us stay safe … Continue reading My Top Six Summer Humor Reading Picks
Author, Lena Diaz, announces the last, highly anticipated book in her award-winning series. It’s with mixed feelings that I announce the upcoming end of the MARSHLAND JUSTICE mini-series. On August 23rd, the fourth and final book, HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION, makes its way into the world. While I’m extremely excited for readers to experience this incredibly emotional story, I’m sad to see my time in the town … Continue reading A Series Finale, Saying Goodbye to Mystic Glades
Another Laura Ingalls Wilder report by author Kathleen Ernst. I so appreciate Kathleen reminding me how great these books are — both in a literary sense and as history, connoting the hardships of those who came before us, to whom we will always be grateful. Chloe’s Book Club: The Long Winter by Kathleen Ernst The Long Winter has always been one of my favorite books in … Continue reading Chloe’s Book Club: The Long Winter
The story of author Sharon Wray’s journey to publication is so inspiring! Please join me (Diana Belchase) in congratulating her on her sale and for her Daphne du Maurier nomination, too. The following article by Sarah Andre couldn’t have said it better! All About Sharon Wray By Sarah Andre Sharon Wray supplied all these photographs…take a look at them…aren’t they SO Sharon Wray?! She’s … Continue reading All about Sharon Wray.
