Authors Rock Out

In 2006, I was a participant in the Texas Library Association's TALL Texans (Texas Accelerated Library Leaders) leadership retreat. During the week-long program, we were emersed in a variety of leadership sessions (advocacy, career planning, coaching, strategic planning, etc.). It was during this time I met Steve Brown. He was the incoming president of the Texas Library Association.

In the weeks that followed, Steve put together the Dallas area local arrangements committee for the 2007 annual conference. I was asked to chair the Entertainment portion of the conference (average attendance 6000). I knew I could not pull this off alone, so I asked my dear friend Terry (and she remains my friend to this day), to help me plan for the following events:

• Opening General Session Entertainment
• group or band to play while attendees arrive
• Conference Welcome Party
• locate a venue, schedule musicians to play, order food, etc.
• Book Cart Drill Team Competition
• recruit, register, organize teams for competition, enlist judges (3) and an emcee, etc.
• President's All-Conference Party
• locate a venue, hire a band or group for entertainment, plan food, decorations, etc.

Think of the planning for these events like you are planning four (yes FOUR) weddings which will all happen within a matter of three days. Do you see why I am SO happy Terry is still my friend?

Well it was during this time I was trying to book a band I discovered the Rock Bottom Remainders. I knew as soon as I heard them and saw the members it would be an amazing fit for our conference. Well, when I contacted them, it was a no. They were still active at that time, but we were not a good fit for them. I guess in hindsight it would have been difficult to pull all of these amazing authors together to come to Dallas for a one night gig. I do have to say, I was crushed.

When my husband served as the president of TLA in 2016-17, I would have loved to have them perform during his annual conference, but by then the band had active since 2015 when they reunited for a special performance in Tucson.

I still love to watch their videos and see some of my favorite authors in interesting costumes perform their hearts out. 

Last night, I discovered this supergroup, also know as the Remainders, came back together - COVID-19 style - to perform a variation of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" to support the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC). This is such a great way for these authors to help those who sell their books during this very difficult time in our country.

Please, watch the video and donate to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. These funds "will assist booksellers affected by COVID-19 with serious medical expenses, eviction prevention, funeral expenses" and more. 

Here are the links again. Enjoy and please Donate.

Rock Bottom Remainders Video

DONATE

Gripping, Suspenseful...Harlan Coben Delivers...Again!

When thinking of edge of your seat, page turning suspense-thrillers, the name Harlan Coben should be one of your top five authors. I was first introduced to Coben in 2001 with his novel Tell No One. I have been obsessed with his writing ever since.

I guess you could say I am a very lucky person. I got to meet Mr. Coben in 2012 during the Texas Library Association Annual Conference . Most recently I was selected as one of Penguin Random House First to Read members to preview The Stranger. This exciting thriller will be released March 24, 2015.

The Stranger
by Harlan Coben

I am purposefully writing my first impressions and review now because I do not want to provide any spoilers for those of you who will not be able to get your hands on this great spine chilling stand alone novel for another two weeks. I have approximately 80 pages left in the book and can hardly wait to finish reading. The suspense is actually driving me to write faster so I can get back to reading. That is what Coben does, he forces you to make a decision, turn the page and continue reading or take care of your every daily responsibilities...work, chores, family, etc. Sorry, family, but  I'm going to read just one more page, chapter...I'll see you when I have finished this book!

The Stranger (not only the title, but one of the characters) comes to you and reveals a secret (or lie), yours or that of a loved one. Is it more beneficial to you to allow your secret to be told or to pay to keep it hidden? Everything about this tale takes me back to Sir Walter Scott's epic poem Marmion and the line, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" To what lengths would you go to protect a secret and your family? Little white lies, where can they lead? What are the consequences that must be faced when / if you are revealed?

I highly recommend reading The Stranger as soon as you can get your hands on a copy. It will not only keep you turning the pages through the night, but it will also keep your mind running, pondering choices and decisions you make every day.  It is a fabulous, quick read (because you don't want to put the book down!). I'm cutting this review short simply so I can go find out how the book ends.

*To comply with the guidelines set by the Federal Trade Commission, Penguin Random House, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.

November Challenge - Texas 2x2 Tuesday

November 25 - Texas 2x2 Reading List

My plan was to spotlight another great book from the Texas 2x2 Reading List for today's blog post. Then I realized this is my last for Texas 2x2 Tuesday for this 2014 November Challenge. I started to get very sad until I realized the power I have to share ALL of the titles (300 to date) ever named to the Texas 2x2 Reading List. Now, don't get all anxious. I am NOT going to review every one of the titles. I am merely going to provide you with a way to quickly obtain a list of all of the titles, authors, illustrators, and the year the book was named to the list. This is actually a document I began working on about seven years ago. I wanted to quickly be able to locate the authors and illustrators of the 2x2 books and be able to find out how many times a specific author or illustrator had been named to the list. There was no such document, so I (being the CDO person I am - yes, it is CDO - it MUST be in alphabetical order) created one.

All you have to do is scan this QR code in order to go directly to the Google shared document. If you cannot scan the code, that is fine. Here is the URL - bit.ly/Texas2x2ReadingList.

When you first scan the QR code, you will
be directed to an advertisement, just wait a few
seconds and you will be directed to the document.

If you have a young child in your life and you are looking for the very best books to read to them, or purchase as a gift, I suggest checking out the titles, authors, and illustrators on this list. It is interesting to note, a number of the books named to the Texas 2x2 Reading List in early January of each year by the Texas 2x2 Reading List Committee (a project of the Children's Round Table, a unit of the Texas Library Association), have also been honored with distinctions from the Association of Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. Some of these include - the Caldecott Medal and Honor, Geisel Award, and Notable Children's Books.

You can also view all of the Texas 2x2 Reading List titles on Shelfari.