HelenKay Dimon

I received a copy of Mariah Stewart’s Mercy Street in the mail. It’s a hardcover. Her first hardcover release, I think. Stewart is one of those authors where I see her covers all the time and do the “I need to try her” thing. Then I forget because my short-term memory is spotty. Stewart is also billed as a New York Times Bestseller, which makes me really wonder how I missed her before now.

Mercy Street sets up what I assume will be a new series for Stewart. Basically, a rich guy whose wife and child disappeared gets reluctantly involved in providing the financing to solve cold cases. Mercy Street is not the rich guy’s story – unfortunately because I really wanted that story. It’s the story about a discredited former copy named Mallory and a case where two teens are missing and two others are dead. The hero (not the rich guy, which was a most excellent choice on Stewart’s part because I did not want this guy to find love yet) and heroine are interesting and strong. The mystery part of the book didn’t totally click for me because I wanted it to be more of a whodunit (something that might be more my issue than Stewart’s), but the highlight for me was the rich guy. I wanted to know his story. I got sucked in and started wondering where his wife and kid are and how they got there.

In other words, Stewart hooked me in. I’ll now wait (impatiently) for the next installment to see if I learn more about the rich guy…and I better or I’ll be disgruntled. Maybe Mercy Street was not perfect for me, but Stewart somehow managed to make me want to read more and read it right now. That’s a skill.

Anyone read Mariah Stewart? Leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win a copy. Did I mention it’s a hardcover? The requirements: (1) one entry per person; (2) you need to have a blog of some sort or access to one; and, (3) you need to read the book and post a review – you don’t have to love it, just be respectful – by mid-June. I’ll pick a winner on Thursday.

Here is the book I brought along on my trip to New Jersey and NYC: A Good And Happy Child by Justin Evans. I bought it because the back cover says it was a Washington Post Best Book Of 2007. News to me. It’s described as literary horror. Also news to me. Thought I’d give it a try. I’ll let you know.

We are in New Jersey attending the wedding of our friends, Matt and Beth.* I could not find a photo of just the two of them, but here’s one from my book party for YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY. Matt is in the light blue and Beth is on the far right.

Congratulations!!!

*People are staying at my house. We have a dog and a security system, so don’t even think about it…

There’s been a lot of talk lately about racism and the romance industry. I thought about the subject again yesterday when I saw a bulletin from RWA. The bulletin highlighted the 2008 Romance Slam Jam and referenced the Emma Awards which, according to the bulletin, were “selected by readers and authors of black romance.” Here are the winners:

* Favorite Anthology: Cuffed by Candlelight by Beverly Jenkins, Gwyneth Bolton, Katherine D. Jones, and Simone Harlow (Parker Publishing)
* Favorite Hero: Reese Anthony from Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins (Avon)
* Favorite Heroine: Teresa July from Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins (Avon)
* Favorite Novel: Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins (Avon)
* Favorite Novella: “Prisoner” in Cuffed by Candlelight by Beverly Jenkins (Parker Publishing)
* Favorite Sequel: Only You by Francis Ray (St. Martin’s Press)
* Favorite Steamy: Whisper Something Sweet by Deatri King-Bey (Parker Publishing)
* Favorite Suspense: Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins (Avon)
* Cover of the Year: Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins (Avon)
* Debut Author of the Year: LaConnie Taylor-Jones
* Author of the Year: Beverly Jenkins

Here’s what I was wondering:
(1) How many of us knew about the Emma Awards?
(2) How many us have read these books?
(3) How many us have have read Beverly Jenkins, the woman who is up for, what, 10 awards?

I’m not saying RWA is racist or that readers are bad people or anything even like that. I’m just thinking we’re all missing out on a whole bunch of talent…and that’s a shame. Not sure what the answer to this problem is.

I’ve ordered Beverly Jenkins’ DEADLY SECRETS. That doesn’t make the situation right – of course – but I’m intrigued to try the book.

In case you’re wondering, here’s the copy:

Though her Lexus may be broken down on the California freeway, Jessi Teresa Blake is no damsel in distress. Rich, smart, and beautiful, JT, or “Lady Blake,” as she is called, is one of the toughest sports agents around. She’s negotiated megabucks contracts for every superstar in the business, and only the most confident of men can match wits with her. Men like Reese Anthony, the impossibly sexy trucker who gives her a lift back to Oakland.

Continuing my weekly discussion about HARD AS NAILS, my July release (June 24th, actually)… HARD AS NAILS is an anthology of three related novellas. Two of the men appeared in my very first published novella in WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD BOYS – Cole and Adam. They each get a story in HARD AS NAILS, as does Ray. I, of course, adore all three of them.

The story revolves around the renovation of a fictional brownstone in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C. My house, the situation and the characters all come from my imagination. Dupont Circle, however, is very real. Everything else is totally fictional. I lived in D.C. for a total of about 17 years (excluding three-year detour to law school in North Carolina). Loved D.C. Loved Dupont Circle. Loved the stunning old brownstones in Dupont Circle. So, when it was time to think about where this the fictional house in HARD AS NAILS would be, Dupont Circle was the obvious answer.

Problem was that I now live in San Diego. I couldn’t just hop in the car and drive around Dupont Circle to get an idea of what I wanted my fictional house to look like. To put the house and setting in my head – yeah, that’s what has to happen for me before I can write – I went on the internet and found a fabulous B&B near Dupont Circle and used that as my guide. Checking out this real B&B helped me to keep the setting center in my mind as I wrote.

The real house I used as a guide? Well, it’s the Aaron Shipman House. Look to the left for the photo from the outside – isn’t it adorable? [Photo is from the Aaron Shipman House website]

It’s a B&B. This place gives off a warm and inviting feeling. Great location, garden, porch, antiques – just lovely. It’s much nicer than anything I could conjure up in my imagination.

I’m thinking I need to visit this real B&B. Maybe check out that special apartment they have… Very tempting.

You Know you’re getting older when you see all of these covers with hot bare-chested males and the first thought that runs through your mind is…what’s with all the tattoos?

Just saying.

I recently read a book called STILL LIFE WITH HUSBAND by Lauren Fox. The back cover did not appeal to me, but I picked it up because Michiko Kakutani, the NYT reviewer known for what one might call nastiness, gave it a great review. The back cover goes like this:

Meet Emily Ross, thirty years old, married to her college sweetheart, and personal advocate for cake at breakfast time.

Meet Emily’s husband, Kevin, a sweet technical writer with a passion for small appliances and a teary weakness for Little Women.

Enter David, a sexy young reporter with longish floppy hair and the kind of face Emily feels the weird impulse to lick.

In this captivating novel of marriage and friendship, Lauren Fox explores the baffling human heart and the dangers of getting what you wish for.

Basically, Emily gets bored with her marriage, has an affair and messes up her life. But, really, that’s too simplistic of a description. The book is more nuanced than that. What is compelling about the book is the unflinching way the author handles the subject of infidelity and all the people it touches. She doesn’t apologize or explain away Emily’s actions. She doesn’t make the husband unlikable so that Emily has some sort of justification for her behavior. Rather, Emily screws up and it’s messy just like life would be.

I actually disliked the heroine in this book. I’m thinking Fox meant for her to be flawed but lovable to the reader in a somewhat reluctant way. I never got the lovable part. Instead, I kind of wanted to smack some sense into her. But, for me, the book worked. I liked the real-life, watching-a-trainwreck feel to it.

We’re not supposed to use the term chick lit…for whatever reason…so I’ll call this smart women’s fiction (the phrase I heard recently). I recommend it for Fox’s strong writing and impressive characterizations. She does not rely on gimmicks or murders or a convoluted plot to keep your attention. The idea is simple and the prose is clean and refreshing. Mostly, however, I recommend it as an example on how to write a flawed heroine and still have the book succeed.

First, I got another call last evening. YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY is also a finalist in the single title category of the Book Buyers Best contest sponsored by the Orange County Chapter of RWA. So, that’s three finalist calls for this book in a week. I’m so happy!

Second, the fabulous Shiloh Walker came up with a fundraiser for Myanmar. A bunch of authors have donated books to the cause. Many of these books, including HARD AS NAILS are not out yet. If you win this bundle, you get all those books early. You bid, you can win and the kids in Myanmar get some relief. Everyone wins.

Here’s the ebay info on the donation so you can bid. It’s a great cause. And, yeah we’ve all heard that much of the aid is not getting where it needs to go in Myanmar. Shiloh took that into consideration, did her homework and is trying to help. Check it out.

My parents are in town, so I’ll be with my mom today. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

I’m about to go pick up my parents at the airport. While getting ready, I got a fabulous call from the lovely ladies at the Greater Detroit RWA Chapter saying that YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY is a finalist in the single title category of the Booksellers’ Best Contest. Yay!!!

Almost a year later and this book continues to kick butt. It was featured in Cosmo and at E! Online. It was a Reader’s Choice nominee at AAR. Now it’s a finalist in the Golden Quill and the Booksellers’ Best. No wonder my editor told me just last week that she loved this book.

For those who haven’t read it, it’s still available in trade. It will be out in mass market (for somewhere around $7.00) in March ‘09. As soon as I mave the mass market cover, I’ll post it.