Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes

brenda_novak_basketThis is a wonderful example of the sense of community and charity among writers and readers. New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak started this auction to raise money for diabetes research after her child was diagnosed with diabetes. This year, her goal is to raise one million dollars.

The Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood is donating a basket of gift items. It includes regional specialties from all over the world – Alaska and Australia are represented in there. Also several books and 3 partial critiques. I’m including a Gooey Louie butter cake from St. Louis as well as a critique and a butterfly swords souvenir charm. All the other sisters have pitched in as well. The pile of giveaway items is growing in my basement. It feels like Christmas!

But tempted as I am, I know these goodies are meant for a generous bidder and not for me. Follow the link to our basket — and then you can browse the other items as well. I’m watching several already and can’t wait to bid! I’m eyeing some promotion packages (because I have to get ready for that) as well as a deep edit from Margie Lawson, lunch with Jamie Ford, and a trip to London for two.  Wish me luck!

Bidding on the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood gift basket opens on May 1st. Some other items will open tonight.

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Bitten By the Reading Bug

In addition to rediscovering the library during my short bout of unemployment, I also signed onto the All About Romance forum to search for a pirate/highwayman book from my youth that I wanted to read again. Between the two, it seems the reading bug has bitten me. I’m catching up on a favorite series from fantasy reading days, discovering classic Mary Jo Putney (who gave Butterfly Swords an awesome quote! *little hearts and stars*), and getting back into big epic books that hurt if you accidentally drop them on your toe.

So here’s my current bookfix list:

Guy Gavriel Kay‘s Under Heaven: MWAHAHAHAHAHA….I’ve been waiting for this one for months. I bet I can get it in before I start revisions. Maybe it will put me in a sweeping epic sort of mood.

Under Heaven US

Guy Gavriel Kay‘s Ysobel: I’m so behind. Am I the last fantasy reader on Earth to read this book?

Ysabel

Mary Jo Putney‘s Bartered Bride: I just finished China Bride and can’t wait to see what happens with Gavin in this one.

bartered bride

Jennifer Roberson‘s Sword-Born & Sword Sworn: The readers at AAR brought this up in a thread and I was tickled pink. I read book 1-4 before I became a romance reader and even recalled swapping Sword Dancer with my BFF for Gift of Gold by Jayne Ann Krentz when we decided we’d see what the other liked to read.  I stopped reading the series after book 4 probably due to heading off to college or discovering boys or something like that….

The Sword Dancer series and Tiger and Del are a HUGE influence on my stories. I’m getting warm fuzzies at the thought of revisiting them and finishing the series.

sword-born

sword-sworn

Hmmm…It must have been a fantasy bug that bit me. What’s on your list?