On the bookshelves!

"The Single Dad Finds a Wife," my new Love Inspired novel, is now on store shelves. Here's a photo from the Tabb Walmart in Yorktown, Va.

Where have you spotted it? Take a pic of you reading the novel and post here.

At the end of May, I'll pull a name and send the winner a goodie bag.

Post your picture and a note below.

What's your favorite book?

Un-journal Prompt 2

Favorite book

Short answer: There are way too many to name in choosing a single favorite book. Besides, I have favorites in various genres and themes.

Longer answer: How about if I tell you about a favorite series by a favorite author. The series and author I’ve selected to rhapsodize about is Robert B. Parker. In hindsight, I really should have selected another favorite author, one a little less prolific. There’s so much out there by and about Dr. Parker that this could very well turn into a dissertation. However, it’s Parker I chose because it’s Spenser I love!

Spenser, a Boston private investigator, has been the PI in more than 30 novels written by Parker who died in January 2010. It’s no exaggeration that Parker has been called the dean of American crime fiction. He won tons of awards; and more than 50 books, graduate theses, and scholarly papers have been written about Parker and his work. His widow Joan contracted with mystery writer Ace Atkins to continue the Spenser series. And I must say, Atkins has been true to Spenser. In addition to the Spenser series, Robert B. Parker wrote three other series: one featuring Jesse Stone, a small town police chief with an alcohol problem; one featuring Sunny Randall, a female PI; a western series; and several stand-along novels. His estate now has four writers continuing the work one man did!

Anyway, back to Spenser. I was introduced to Spenser via the television show, “Spenser: for Hire.” Robert Urich was Spenser and Avery Brooks was Hawk. Both of them were gorgeous! J The show (1985-1988) was well done with lots of action and snappy dialogue. The spin-off show (one season 1989) featuring Hawk was called “A Man Called Hawk.” When the two dramas went off the air, I was bereft. Really! It wasn’t until the early 1990s when the first of several TV movies aired that I found out, realized and/or discovered that the weekly programs and the TV movies were based on books!! Out I dashed to the nearest bookstore to get my Spenser fix. That’s when I found out that this author by the name of Robert B. Parker had been writing these Spenser novels since 1974!! The rest is … well, you know.

For the last several years, I’ve read each new Spenser novel via audiobook. Joe Mantegna, who portrayed Spenser in several A&E movies, reads all of the Spenser novels. In my mind’s eye, Spenser, his long-time love Susan Silverman, and Hawk remain the characters I used to see on TV. In the books, Spenser is always in his 40s, even though time does pass - a neat trick!

As for which of the books in the series is my favorite, I’d have to pick “Now and Then” from 2008. Here’s an excerpt from my 2008 Reading Log (and, yes, I've been keeping an annual reading log that long!):

“Now and Then” is truly classic Spenser with Spenser, Hawk, Susan; and the backup players Chollo, Quirk, Belson, etc. In this case, the rift between Spenser and Susan that happened 20 years ago is back in the forefront as Spenser investigates an adultery case. The couple ends up dead – he an FBI agent, she a college professor having an affair with a probable terrorist. Susan winds up in danger and it takes all of Spenser’s crew to protect her. This was one of the best Spenser cases in a while.

Chipotle and The Art of the Two-Minute Read

People who say they don’t have time to read have one less excuse today. Chipotle, the fresh food fast-casual restaurant chain, is launching an easy and intriguing way to get people reading. They are putting short stories and essays on their cups and bags. The two-minute reads have some stellar contributors, too, an eclectic mix of heavy hitters and pop culture favorites, from Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison to “Saturday Night Live” funnyman Bill Hader.

“These stories are meant to entertain customers while exposing them to some of the most creative and influential people of our time,” Chipotle said in a press release announcing the venture.

I’m more of a Moe’s Southwest Grill type of gal, but this is a great way to get people reading and I’m all for that. Kudos to Chipotle!

Here from the company’s press release is the list of writers participating in the “Cultivating Thought” series:

Jonathan Safran Foer – series curator and author of “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” “Eating Animals” and “Everything is Illuminated”

Judd Apatow – Golden Globe nominated writer/director/producer, “This is 40,” “Bridesmaids” and “Girls”

Sheri Fink – Pulitzer-prize winning reporter/author, “Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital”

Malcolm Gladwell – New York Times best-selling author, journalist and speaker, author of “The Tipping Point,” “Outliers” and “Blink”

Bill Hader – Emmy-winning comedian/actor/producer, “Saturday Night Live” and “South Park”

Michael Lewis – New York Times best-selling author and journalist, “Flash Boys,” “The Blind Side” and “Moneyball”

Toni Morrison – Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning author of “Beloved”

Steve Pinker – award-winning experimental psychologist, renowned writer on language, mind and human nature

George Saunders – New York Times best-selling short-story and essay author, “Tenth of December,” “The Braindead Megaphone”

Sarah Silverman – Emmy-winning actress/comedian, “The Sarah Silverman Program,” “Saturday Night Live” and “School of Rock”

Read the complete Chipotle corporate press release here. 

And check out an interview with Foer about the venture in Vanity Fair.