Big Water by Andrea Curtis

I am going through my stack of Orca Books that I purchased at TLA. Big Water by Andrea Curtis is based on the historical event, the sinking of the SS Asia in 1882 on Georgian Bay. Teenager Christina McBurney has lost her twin brother to consumption. Mourning his death, Christina decides to leave home without telling her parents. She boards the SS Asia, a freighter where her cousin works. The freighter is carrying people and livestock. When a storm comes in, the Asia cannot withstand the storm. Christina manages to get onto a lifeboat where she watches all the passengers die, except for the mysterious Daniel. We also learn about the internal struggles of the two teenagers: Christina often feels guilty about her brother's death and Daniel makes an ethical choice in regards to his uncle's business.  The two teenagers are the only survivors and eventually drift onto land and are rescued. 

The Astonishing Thing

April 21, 2018

Just finished reading The Astonishing Thing by Sandi Ward.

It’s about the break-up of a marriage seen through the cat’s point of view.

https://www.sandiwardbooks.com

Feathered Serpent Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico

April 21, 2018

I am reading Feathered Serpent Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico by David Bowles. My friend Kathy and I met the author at the TLA Conference in Dallas.  Take a look at Cinco Puntos Press, one of my favorite publishers, www.cincopuntos.com

Max New Family Member

Since my last post, we have a new furry family member, Max.

He looks a lot like Rufus. He showed up at our back door last winter.

I spent about six months gaining his trust and finally brought him into our home.

He loves to follow Dexter around the house and sits with him on the cat tree.

Dexter new family member

Dexter, a Siamese mutt, has joined our family.  He is about twelve weeks old.  I brought him home from  my mom's house in Pasadena.

Rufus and Ellis are adjusting.

Texas Library Association Conference in April

I had a great time in Houston at the Texas Library Association Conference. Interestingly, the big publishers brought few books for adults.  The independent and university presses had excellent selections in fiction, non-fiction and poetry.  I visited my favorites: Arte Publico Press, Cinco Puntos Press, Orca Books, and the university presses: Texas Tech, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University. I picked up some interesting titles that will be reviewed in later posts.

Eerie Books Closed in Wylie, Texas

Eerie Books closed earlier this year.  Randy created a great bookstore with an excellent collection of books and memorabilia.  I was sorry to see another great indie store close. 

Eerie Books in Wylie

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  At Eerie Books it is Halloween everyday.

Eerie Books in Wylie, Texas has an eclectic collection of books, calendars, and movies.

Horror is defined in a broad sense.  You can find books by Anne Rice, Stephen King, and Peter Straub. You can find Christian fiction by Dekker and Perreti.

Eerie also has an excellent offering of H.P. Lovecraft.

You will also find reprints of old classics from small independent presses.

The independent presses are my favorites to discover.  I recently purchased Theodore Sturgeon's Some of Your Blood (Millipede Press) and Thomas Tyron's The Other (Millipede Press). These two are my Thanksgiving reads.  Millipede Press is now Centipede Press at centipedepress.com

Randy Ray, owner, leads a Horror Book Club the first Thursday of each month.  In December, the club is reading  The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

Visit Eerie books online at eeriebooks.com

Rufus Joins Our Family

Rufus is our new Indie Reads cat.  We adopted him from the Wylie Animal Shelter.  He is a beautiful, big grey and black Tabby.  Ellis was suspicious at first, but as I write, he is sitting next to Rufus on the cat tree.