Like any crush, this goes back to a love at first sight experience though I guess love at first reading would be a better description. I purchased Long Lost, the latest Myron Bolitar mystery, a few months back and devoured it.

What can you say about characters that just leap off the page and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end? You say: “I’ve got to have more!” Then you start searching bookstores or Amazon if you don’t have time to get to the nearest bookstore. Because of our frequent reading and listening to these books, I’ve decided to call this hot season the summer of Myron Bolitar.

In my case, the next Myron Bolitar mystery I got was the audio book version of Long Lost, performed by Steven Weber of Wings fame. He’s a consummate actor on screen who did a good job with the voice performance. I thought my daughter would enjoy listening to it as we made treks to her various doctor appointments. She liked it so much that we listened to it again as we traveled to our house in the Hill Country. So did I. In fact, I immediately visited Mr. Coben’s website and made a list of the other books in the series.

The Myron Bolitar Series

Deal Breaker, book 1, nominated for an Edgar® and the Anthony® which it won.

Drop Shot, 2nd Myron Bolitar Novel.

Fade Away, 3rd Myron Bolitar Novel which finally won the Edgar®.

Back Spin, 4th Myron Bolitar Novel.

One False Move, 5th Myron Bolitar Novel.

The Final Detail, 6th Myron Bolitar Novel.

Darkest Fear, 7th Myron Bolitar Novel.

Promise Me, book 8.

Long Lost, book 9.

Then I paid a visit to Amazon, my usual place to drop lots of bucks, and went crazy. I ordered books 1 – 4 on audio. So far we’ve listened to Deal Breaker, book 1, and Drop Shot, book 2, during our trips to the Hill Country. I am amazed at how I can’t figure out whodunnit until the end. I’m always surprised, but when you look at the story in its entirety, it makes sense and isn’t something pulled out of left field.

Books 1 through 4 are performed by the amazing Jonathan Marosz. He shines and makes one wonder why he wasn’t contracted to perform Long Lost, the first audio book to which I’d listened. Mr. Marosz has performed in regional national theater from Shakespeare to contemporary works. He is simply astounding as an audio book performer.

At the moment, we have an unabridged Elizabeth Peters loaded into the CD deck in the car. It’s a massive 10 CD audio book and is superb with Barbara Rosenblat as the performer. However, I can hardly wait until it’s finished so I can load up book 3, Fade Away.

Takeaway Truth

If you want humor, gripping mystery, and characters that come alive, run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore and get a Myron Bolitar Novel. Whether you get print, digital, or audio, you’ll not be disappointed.

The Fever Series

This accidental experiment started when I downloaded, for free, Karen Marie Moning‘s Darkfever, Book 1 of the Fever series. I was hooked from the first sentence. Feverishly, pardon that adverb, I raced through Darkfever, finishing it beyond midnight.

I could not wait for morning, and I couldn’t sleep so I turned on the wireless on my Kindle and purchased Book 2 of the series, Bloodfever. I read a few pages which turned into a few chapters. Only the thought of early morning appointments forced me to turn the Kindle off and lay it on the nightstand.

The next evening, I dived into Bloodfever, finishing it in the wee hours. Did I wait for morning? No, I did not. I went to the Kindle store and purchased each book of the rest of the series: Faefever and Dreamfever. Now I’ve finished those, and I have to wait until January for Shadowfever if I want it on Kindle. I haven’t checked yet to see when the print edition comes out.

No! All those months to wait? How can I wait when I’m in a fever pitch to find out how the series ends?

Free Books Sell Other Books

I don’t think we can make a sweeping statement that offering a free book will make readers order your other books. However, I think we can safely say that if a reader downloads the free book and loves the story, the reader will seek out other books by that author. Since I don’t read much paranormal, and I certainly don’t read fantasy so I’d never have pulled any of these books off the shelf. I don’t even shop in those sections of the bookstore.

A free book introduced me to a wonderful series of books. From free, I sought; I bought. I don’t know how I’ll manage to wait an entire 6 months for the last book.

Takeaway Truth

Free  is a good way to try something you’d ordinarily not select. Like me, you just may find books that are keepers and authors you will follow to other books, and you’ll gladly pay the cover price.

Mr. Shyamalan has a certain rep for movies that build to a twist conclusion. Even though I knew the content and origin of The Last Airbender was a Japanese graphic novel, I still expected Mr. Shyamalan to deliver.

For me, sadly, the movie really was what you’d think a graphic novel targeted to a teen audience would be: tween and teen fare that, dare I say it?, rather bored me.

Cast

Noah Ringer as Aang, the eponymous airbender. Dev Patel as the evil in training Prince Zuko whose heart just isn’t into the evil, and Shaun Toub as his wise Uncle Iroh who is a bit misguided since he’s obviously good but switch hitting on the evil side. Nicola Peltz as water bender Katara, and Jackson Rathbone as her brother Sokka.

The other evil baddies are Aasif Mandvi as Commander Zhao and Cliff Curtis, who I really like, as Fire Lord Ozai. I’d probably watch Mr. Curtis in just about anything because he has charisma. He’s believable whether he’s the FBI special agent in Live Free or Die Hard or the psychically talented in Push.

Such a talented cast, but for an adult audience, this movie was just too much of a teen/tween flick. Even worse though was the ending, which I confess I should have known from the get go. It was nothing but a setup for the next movie.

You’d think a guy as talented as M. Night Shyamalan could come up with something a bit more thrilling and satisfying. I understand there will be 3 films. Sorry, I won’t be buying tickets for those.

Takeaway Truth

If you want me to plunk down some hard-earned bucks at the theater, then at the very least give me an ending that satisfies, not irritates as it shills for the next film in the series.

Peg Herring, author of Go Home And Die, lives in northern Michigan and has published, both traditionally and electronically, novels, short stories, plays, and articles. Mysteries compose most of her body of work and are based on her theme: Strong Women, Great Stories.

Because of her interest in e-publishing and her love of the mystery genre, Peg is one of the guiding forces behind the MysterEbooks website. Peg said: “For some time it has bothered me that there seems to be no site online where a person can read about ONLY mysteries published as e-books. With some trepidation and a lot of help, I’ve decided to attempt to change that.”

Opens Monday

Peg, with the help of a friend who established a blog dedicated solely to e-published mysteries, plans to begin posting books on Monday, July 26. They’re experimenting with the submission process so be patient if there are a few problems at first. They hope that authors will learn of the website and tell them about their books by following the template found on the new site.

Follow Instructions

Be among the first to be listed. If you have a book that’s an e-published mystery, exactly follow the instructions on the site so that your book can be listed. Be warned: if you fail to follow the template, your book will not appear.

Their Criteria

In order to list books that provide a quality reading experience, they’ve made the difficult decision to respectfully refuse listing books that have been self-published since very few self-published books are professionally edited. Career writers like Peg just don’t have the time to vet every submission for quality so, to me, it’s reasonable to limit the listings to credible publisher produced e-books.

MysterEbooks describes mystery as a book where the solution of a crime must be the dominant theme. So if you’d like to submit a book for consideration, go to MysterEbooks. Study their sample submission, and use the template.

Then send the completed submission form to mysterebooks@yahoo.com. They’ll let you know the date your listing will appear on MysterEbooks. Of course, they plan site promotion so readers will learn where they can go to find e-mysteries. If you like reading on electronic devices, visit them to find more about new options for e-reading.

Takeaway Truth

Reading a good mystery is like giving yourself a little vacation — complete with excitement, thrills, and chills — without leaving the comfort of your home.

Rita can be found at her website and her blog, Rita’s Not-So-Daily Word. She offers a free newsletter on her website and an archive of Talk To Me, her blog talk radio show wherein she interviewed creative people.

Now, let’s chat with Rita.

How many years from your first manuscript to your first sale?

For Sweet Bitter Love, 1 1/2 years; for Painting The Invisible Man, 3 years.

What has been your best experience as a published author?

Having the opportunity to go into schools and talk with kids about writing.

What has been your worst experience as a published author?

Can’t say I’ve had one.

What has surprised you most as a professional writer?

The sometimes profound effect my stories have had on people . . . on their self-exploration.

If you could write any story, without regard to it selling or any of those other business issues, what would you write?

I write those stories now. There is never a guarantee one’s work will sell.

What do you love about your career?

The freedom to explore myriad concepts, points of view, emotional and intellectual expression through my characters.

What do you hate about your career?

Not a thing.

If you got a big 6-figure advance for a book, what’s the first thing you’d buy for yourself?

A Tempur-pedic mattress!

What is the best advice you can give beginning writers?

Write every day. Establish a disciplined schedule. Don’t fall in love with your words. Embrace the value of rewriting and honing your work.

What would you like readers to know?

The web site where to buy my books! Seriously, seek out and support new writers. Spend the little extra to buy a new book, not a used copy off Amazon or the like. Authors only get paid when a book sells new.

PS. Looking for some good summer reading? Check out my novel Painting The Invisible Man, and read what it’s like to grow up in a family on the fringe of the Mafia. I hope you’ll tell your friends and family about this engrossing story too!

Thanks, Rita, for taking the time to visit with us.

Takeaway Truth

Make a point to discover a new author today. It’s a win/win situation for you and the author.

TLC has always been one of my favorite direcTV channels. Throughout the years I have loved so many of their shows and specials. One of my absolute favorite reality shows on TLC is the show What Not to Wear. I have always loved fashion, clothing and shopping so this show had me hooked from the very beginning. The basic idea of the show is so easy to get interested in. Watching people who have absolute no sense of style be transformed into glamorous, fashion conscience women is always entertaining. Most of the time, the women on the show are more than deserving of a make over and shopping trip, which makes the reward at the end that much better to witness.

The hosts of the show are by far one of my absolute favorite parts of What Not to Wear. Stacey and Clinton are both extremely funny and fashion forward. The way they work together and take on different fashion victims is always entertaining. Watching them feed off of each other’s one liners and jokes makes the hour long show more entertaining. The show not only shows women how they can dress better, but they give women tips on how to wear their hair and to do their makeup, which is something that I am always interested in.

Her first book Lord of Always, ISBN 9781419925504, has been published by,  Cerridwen Press, an imprint of Jasmine Jade.

You can find this talented and persistent author hanging out at her website or on her Author Page at Cerridwen Press. If you’d like to contact her, she can be reached by email at cynthia at CynthiaWicklund dot com.

First, we’ll warm up our conversational engines with a couple of fun questions.

What’s your fave? Star Trek (old or new) or Star Wars (old or new) and why?

Both of the older series, but forced to choose, I’d say the old Star Trek. I have a real soft spot for the original series and Captain Kirk. I have to say, though, I loved last year’s Star Trek remake. It paid homage to the 60′s series while updating it brilliantly. What fun!

If they made a movie of your book, who would be cast to portray the characters?

For the hero, James Purefoy (The Philanthropist) as the character he played in A Knight’s Tale. Aristocratic in a casual way, refined, but not stuffy. Handsome without being perfect. Yep, he’d do. As for the heroine, maybe Rachel Weisz or someone like her?

Okay, Cindy! Now let’s get to the questions. 16 of them to be exact.

1. How long have you been writing?

Almost 19 years off and on.

2. What number book was this? 5th, 7th?

This was my 5th completed novel. I finished it in 2005 and was fortunate enough to final in RWA’s Golden Heart that year. So I felt it had potential if I could just edit it properly. The first thing I did was remove a 10 page prologue (set up) and replace it with a one paragraph intro. I began to get more interest in it after that.

3. Would you tell us something about your journey from the idea that you wanted to write a book to finally getting a contract for one?

Unlike many writers I didn’t start writing until I was an adult. It was a gradual process for me, from being mostly a dabbler, to joining writers’ organizations, to taking classes, to becoming part of a critique group and entering contests. I knew I was serious about pursuing publication when I finished my first book and submitted it to a real publishing house. When I started getting requests, that was validation enough to keep me going.

4. How did you find that title and do you have a 1 sentence blurb or log line for us?

I have this fascination with the mystical and what part the soul plays in the human it inhabits. Does it guide through intellect or emotion? Both? Who knows? I wanted to show how my hero is transformed when his soul is exchanged for another one. His memories, however, along with his understanding of who he is, are left intact. Obviously, this change creates quite a bit of chaos in his life and the lives of his wife and family.

The title was somewhat evolutionary, and to be honest I don’t remember the sequence of events that got me there. All I remember is the original title was very bland and generic, and bland can be worse than bad.

This is the blurb I use, as it’s the basic premise of the story: How does a good and honorable man atone for wicked deeds he committed when he was neither good nor honorable?

5. How many under the bed books do you have?

Everything else I’ve ever written. But I still think about those books, and, occasionally, I’ll think of ways to revive one of them. Saying that, I think it’s a mistake never to let them go. Part of being a successful writer is learning to move on to the next project.

6. What do you plan to do with them?

Nothing. I keep them to remind me of where I’ve been and where I want to go. And there’s always that vague hope that one day they’ll see the light of day. Unsold books are like your children – you love even the imperfect ones.

7. What keeps you going when you get rejected, and what’s your favorite “oh crap I got a rejection” food and/or drink to soothe the savaged ego?

To answer the first part, for the first 24 hours, not much. After that, the worst of the sting eases, and I go back and look at the rejection – if I’ve received a personal note – to see if I can find anything positive to hang onto. An editor once apologized for being unable to buy my book, but she couldn’t get it past the final editorial stage. She did, however, tell me I had a great career ahead of me. That one comment kept me motivated for a very long time.

My favorite rejection food is something with hot apples and cinnamon and vanilla ice cream. Won’t fix anything but it helps. A lot.

8. Who are your writing influences?

I read a lot of Victoria Holt in the day. I think that’s where I learned to love the Gothic-style, darker, moody stories. Of course, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is top of my list in that category.

9. What are you working on now?

I have a traditional Historical (Victorian) that’s about two-thirds complete, probably most suitable for a market like Harlequin. I’m also plotting an Urban Fantasy. I know, I know, there are a lot of them out there right now. But that’s what interests me, and I have to like what I’m writing to have any hope of writing well.

10. What do you now know that you wish you’d known when you started?

The pall that trying to get published puts on the old muse. I’m not certain I’d have wanted to know that in advance, however, because I may never have written a word. And that would have been a shame because writing’s given me so much.

11. What’s the best thing about writing?

The creative process. Not knowing how to put into words what you’re seeing in your head and then coming up with just the right phrase or sentence or paragraph that brings that image to life. Words can be tangible things like paint on a canvas. I love working with words.

12. What’s the worst thing about writing?

The pursuit of publication. Working in a vacuum and feeling insecure. Not knowing whether you’re brilliant or deluded. Having many ideas but unable to choose a direction for fear of choosing badly because of that publication thing. That’s more than one worst, isn’t it?

13. Do you have writing goals? If so, would you share some with us?

My goals are somewhat fluid, subject to change. Probably explains why publication has been a long time coming for me. Those writers with the greatest focus, who let nothing derail them, get there the quickest. Talent is part of the equation, but talent alone won’t get you there.

14. What advice would you give someone just starting out?

Listen. Don’t take everything you hear as gospel, but be willing to learn. No matter how good you are, you don’t know it all. A little humility goes a long way. And make writer friends. They will understand and be there for you (thank you, Joan!) when no one else will.

15. Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Know your strengths and play to them regardless of what the newest trend is. I think it’s rare for writers to get published chasing the market unless they’re already established. Besides, if you’re writing something you don’t love, it’s most likely going to be obvious, and you’ve spent all that time writing the supposed next big thing and nobody wants to buy it.

16. Since this is the last question, I’ll make it a two parter. First, name a book or 3 that you were forced to read in school that you think are a time waste and why. (In school because that means dead authors and we don’t want to hurt feelings.) Second, name 3 books, any genre, that mean a lot to you and why.

Okay, I’m going to expose myself as one of the unwashed masses by admitting this, but I’d have to say the works of Shakespeare for books that I was forced to read. Truth is, I’m not all that intrigued by having to struggle to understand what an author is saying to me. I want to immerse myself in a story, not fight my way through it. And his works are just archaic enough to make them more work than fun. Having said that, I’m not denigrating his brilliance. Not for me in no way means not great.

Second, books that mean a lot to me. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was transformational for me as a young person. I asked a lot questions I’d never thought to ask before after reading that book. And the movie with Gregory Peck was just as exceptional.

The Warrior’s Apprentice (and subsequent Vorkosigan novels) by Lois McMaster Bujold. Ms. Bujold took a deformed little man (Miles) and gave him the mind and heart of a giant. To me that character is the poster child to the concept “bigger than life.”

The Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry. A strong Native American woman with a little James Bond in her. She fascinates me.

Wrap Up

If you’d like to read some reviews of Lord of Always by Cynthia Wicklund, visit Single Titles and Night Owl Reviews
I hope you’ll buy this book by this deserving author, not because she’s my friend, though she is; not because she’s persisted so long and hard, which she has; but because Lord of Always is a very good book. I know because I rushed out to get a download copy as soon as it was released.

Takeaway Truth

If you like a romance novel with heart and soul, Lord of Always is your kind of book. Get it today!

(This interview was previously published July 10 on SlingWords.)

However, after viewing 3 episodes, I came away with the impression that a few people got together and said: “Hey, you know Justified is doing great with the critics and the audiences, and it’s set in Kentucky. Why don’t we just move over one state and set a cop show in Tennessee? We can have oddball characters and throw in lots of things about the south. It’s a sure winner!”

News Flash

There’s more to the South than the cliches presented by this show. In fact, this show seems to be stuck in a time warp. They think they’re in the 1950′s. Perhaps I’m being unfair, but I don’t think there’s any police station in the South that stocks sweet tea in a station house.

Another thing that bothered me was the music soundtrack. I liked the soundtrack very much – great music. However, Memphis is touted as the Birthplace of the Blues. The majority of the music I recognized seemed to be Motown, a touch of guitar instrumentals from the 1960′s, and old rock, but maybe I’m wrong and all that’s the Blues. Hmmm. I guess a detective who sings Elvis at the end of an episode is meant to underscore the character’s quirkiness and be endearing. Unfortunately, I thought it was hokey and almost predictable.

George Clooney is the Exec Producer of Memphis Blues, and the creators are married couple Josh Harto and Liz Garcia. One can only hope that this talented group of people take a hard look at the show and re-tool it. Keep the great actors. Keep the characterizations that are working. Learn that quirky doesn’t have to mean campy. Respect the geographic setting you have chosen and learn what’s truly special about it and reflect that in your stories and in the people you choose to tell those stories.

Takeaway Truth

There’s more to the modern South than sweet tea and oddball characters.

Julie &Julia is based on the book by author, Julie Powell, played by Amy Adams, who wants desperately to be a writer, but unfortunately is stuck working in a depressing, bureaucrat job answering questions over the phone regarding 911 victim benefits.

At the suggestion of her husband, played by Chris Messina, Julie starts a blog writing about her experiences cooking every single recipe contained in Julia Child’s famous cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”

The film goes back and forth between the lives of Julie Powell and Julia Child and shows the similar struggles both women face trying to get their work published. The talented Meryl Streep plays Julia Child, and it is Streep’s accurate depiction of Julia that really takes the cake and, in fact, makes the movie worth watching. While Adams’ Julie is occasionally portrayed as spoiled and too whiny to handle, Streep’s Julia is absolutely charming, clever, highly affectionate and humorous to watch.

I enjoyed watching Julie & Julia On Demand, after finding some awesome satellite tv offers, one rainy Sunday afternoon, and I think you will too. Bon appétit!

Iron Chef

Do you enjoy watching chefs compete to create the best dishes in the world? If so, then you will love watching the show “Iron Chef” on the Food Network. This show takes the best chefs and pits them against each other, so they can impress a panel that includes three judges.

Whenever I want to watch an exciting show on the Food Network, I am always sure to tune in to the “Iron Chef” on my Satellite TV with direct tv ppv. This show really depicts the thrill of cooking gourmet meals under pressure. I am always amazed by the creativity of chefs on this show. If you want to see dishes that you have probably never heard of being created, then definitely tune in to the “Iron Chef.”

The show “Iron Chef” centers around the idea that every meal has a secret ingredient. This secret ingredient is what moves meals from being excellent to unforgettable. It is a thrill to watch chefs create their meals using what they believe to be a secret ingredient. Sometimes the judges absolutely adore such dishes, and sometimes they can’t stand the dishes!

I like this show, because the judges always offer a sharp critique of the dishes. Rarely do the judges absolutely adore a dish. When they do, it is a shocking surprise. If you want a food show with excitement, then watch the “Iron Chef.”

I can see why she finds the stories so delightful. The trilogy about the Cheney girls, reputed to be witches, a label that could easily find a woman being tortured to death during that time, is rich with historical detail and real persons like Catherine di Medici, whose malice is woven throughout the story.

In The Dark Queen, the oldest sister tries her best to avoid marriage with an adventurer who decides a woman who doesn’t want him is extremely intriguing. If you like bigger than life adventure tales of the historical variety with a sweeping love story and emotional depth, you’ll like this book.

Takeaway Truth

If you haven’t read The Dark Queen, do yourself a favor and pick it up. You’ll find it as excellent as my daughter and I.

Thanks to Taylor Rausey for the guest post.

Fox Network’s 24 was one of the most watched shows since its launch in 2001. On the night of May 24th 2010 on directv vs dish network, I alongside millions of other viewers worldwide, tearfully watched the end of Jack Bauer’s journey in this unique show. The story followed the action-packed life of Bauer, skillfully played by Keifer Sutherland as an off-on agent with anti-crime unit, CTU. He at one point or another spearheaded security of the various president’s on the show, most notably President David Palmer who was assassinated during the season premier.

The final season, which was the 8th, followed the signing of a treaty between President Taylor, President Hassan and other heads of state including Russia’s President . It was not an easy journey as Hassan is assassinated and his wife takes over. His personal troubles, a coup in his country as well as the return of the most evil President, Charles Logan, made the final season one of the most explosive yet.

One of the regular characters that struck a chord with many viewers, was witty and cynical Chloe O’Brien, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub. She offered a memorable performance in the last minutes of the finale when Jack considers her a friend and she erases his existence to allow him to start a new life. As the clock uniquely counts down to 00:00:00, the series came to a glorious end.

Backstory

Real life has been vicious the last 13 months, ambushing us at every turn since my daughter began her quest to eliminate her tendonitis problems with orthopedic surgery to correct the underlying problems. Bless her heart, she just had the second surgery, and we’re hoping for the best. I’m just thankful she didn’t pursue her modeling career because she’d never have been able to put up with the rigors of runway and posing for hours on end. But, I digress.

Playlist

Anyway, I’ve added the remaining songs that accompany each chapter of the novel that’s being serialized online. Look on the sidebar at the bottom, and you’ll see the songs on the list. The Player doesn’t start automatically. Just click it if you want to listen. It’ll play until you move on or close it.

If you want to listen while you read the chapter, just open a tab here first. Then open a tab to The Trouble With Love, click the chapter you want to read. Go back to the first tab and click it to start the music then click the novel tab and start reading.

Takeaway Truth

Music can enhance a good story, whether that’s a movie or a book.

The truth is a mixed bag, but for some projects that just don’t fit the traditional New York big publisher paradigm, self-publishing gets the authors work to readers.

Success Story

A big success in self-publishing was a phenom of last Christmas. The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell, a hardback book including an elf doll, flew off the shelves.

First self-published in 2005, by 2009 it was the number 1 seller on BarnesandNoble.com. The package also sold well on Amazon and Borders.com. Success, as measured in sales, meant that their sales were about $7 million in 2009.

If you’ve seen self-published books, you realize that most are not worth the sticker price. They’re poorly written, rarely edited professionally, and boast amateurish formatting and lay out. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that they’re all like that because they’re not.

Takeaway Truth

I predict you’ll find more and more quality books that are first self-published as traditional publishers get more and more scared of spending money on an untried author.

These books, some of my daughter’s generation favorites, were published from 1986 through 2000. In total, there were 213 titles for a grand total of 176 million copies.

As a mom, I was always pleased when my daughter wanted one of these books because I knew the content would be positive and support the values we were trying to instill in her. The popular series was a fun read for girls then, and I bet it will be now too. It’s about time they brought back this great series for girls.

Ms. Martin wrote the very first book in The Baby-Sitters Club series and then proceeded to write more than 60 other titles. Gosh, time flies. I can’t believe it’s been nearly 25 years since the first of this series was published.

Along the way, readers explored the town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut, and met Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill, the original girls of the BSC. The last book of the series was Graduation Day, published in 2000.

Now Ms. Martin has written Summer Before, a prequel to the series, also was published this past April.

Takeaway Truth

How lovely that old books can be new books to another generation.