West of Mars\' Rocks \'n Reads

Yep, my friend Mary sent me a cereal box full of books. When she told me this, I thought she was joking.

She wasn’t.

She didn’t even bother to cover it in brown paper from a grocery bag, like I would have done. Nope. Just tossed the books in, slapped a label on, and went to town with the tape.

I now know what cereal my friend eats for breakfast. This will be important if she ever comes to visit.

In the meantime, let me tell you about the books:

Tales from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway, by Marley Brant
gods behaving badly, by Marie Phillips
But enough about Me, by Jancee Dunn
AND
Paul is Undead, by Alan Goldsher

Be sure to check in at The Story Siren and The Printed Page for more Mailbox stuffings. Books are meant to be talked about (especially mine!).

After having a quiet and empty mailbox last week (for which I was grateful and celebrated by picking a few pebbles off the TBR mountains), I wound up with two last week.

Well, three, really. I’ll get to that third in a bit.

Let’s start with the two.

First was an ARC copy of India Edghill’s newest, Delilah. I LOVED her first two Biblical historicals (Queenmaker and Wisdom’s Daughter), to the point that they’re on my Best Reads EVER list. My book club, who I read India’s previous books with, couldn’t say no to Delilah. So now I’ve got it for when we’re ready. HUGE thanks to Marie Burton for sending me the book (I owe her the most excellent Daughters of the Witching Hill. Review coming to this space soon!).

Continuing the Jewish-themed books for my book club, I came across mention of Ariana Franklin’s Mistress of the Art of Death. I looked it up and wow! My book club ladies would LOVE this book. (I think) So… off to PaperbackSwap I went and … a copy is now here in my home. We’ll have to see what they all think of it; I see potential here.

And that third book? It’s another proof copy of Trevor’s Song, MY newest book. I wasn’t thrilled with the way the cover art reproduced, so we tinkered a bit and … we’re good to go. I’m checking the text one last time and then we’ll be off and running.

I’ll post the cover soon. I just need the time to set everything up. Time’s been scarce this summer — but never too scarce for books. Be sure to check out The Story Siren and The Printed Page for more mailbox goodies. It’s always fun to chat with fellow book lovers!

I can’t believe this is my first Mail Call since May 30. But it is.

I also can’t believe I haven’t read anything that’s called me to review it here. With the end of school and the adjustment to having the Boy Band and the Girl Band underfoot — not to mention the focus on finishing up my own novel — time’s been short.

So here’s what showed up in my mailbox the past two weeks:

Faithful, by Janet Fox. I know I won a copy of this from one of my Win a Book bloggers, but my mind’s worse than a sieve about these things. And you guys say I never enter contests…

This week, PaperbackSwap.com came through for me again, as a wishlist book popped up. It’s Matthew Jarpe’s Radio Freefall. I’ll definitely be reviewing this one here, as it’s got a rock and roll theme to it.

So… that’s the mailbox action around here. I’ve sent out a bunch of books, including a copy of The Demo Tapes: Year 1 that had been damaged at a book signing. I put it up at BookMooch and am hoping it found a happy new home.

Now, to focus on getting Trevor’s Song out and available to you, so that it may show up in YOUR own mailboxes… As always, the way to do that is to check out The Story Siren and The Printed Page for directions to every other lucky soul who had books arrive this week.

Since I was at the Pennwriters Conference, I haven’t had time to report in about the books that have arrived here. (Although you can read about my conference adventures here and here).

I actually had four books to report on the week of the conference.

I got two Random Act of BookCrossing Kindnesses (RABCK), each with two books inside. Four books!

First was Towelhead, by Alicia Erian
Next in the package was Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, by Judy Fong Bates

Pretty good. I love getting wishlist books. It barely makes a dent in the list, but every last bit helps, ya know? Sort of like pennies.

The second package was equally as awesome:
God’s Mountain, written by Erri De Luca
The White Russian, written by Tom Bradby

Both of these weren’t only wishlist books, but they’d been on my list FOREVER. I’m talking 2005 and 2006 forever.

Yeah, okay, that’s not so long. But in book terms? You’d better believe it’s long, cookie!

Since then, a very recent book showed up. Luanne from A Bookworm’s World was kind enough to send me an extra copy of Mary Sharratt’s new book, Daughters of the Witching Hill. She’s seen me rave over at Win a Book about the Sharratt book I’d read recently, so she did me this kindness.

Lots of kindnesses to report on. You guys are awesome. Thank you.

(Remember to stop in at The Story Siren and The Printed Page for the various mail reports. These are always fun to check out.)

First off, be sure to check out my interview with author David Grant. Remember the books that arrived in my PO Box, covered in beer? You can find out all about them now — and enter to win one of two copies that aren’t covered in beer.

While we’re rockin’ along with the books that like to party, two more rock books showed up for me this week. Both came from my good friend Mary at BookHounds. Mary’s passion for music is every bit as big as mine, only she gets to live it more than I do. Which is very sad for me.

But there are books! And books are what it’s all about.

First is Maria Semple’s This One is Mine, which I’ve been drooling over and lusting for. Mary had an extra, so it headed my way (inside of a fantastic package of stuff from the recent South by Southwest extravaganza).

Keeping it company was a copy of Jim Lindberg’s Punk Rock Dad. I hadn’t even HEARD of this book until Mary asked if I’d read it. Of course, it’s a memoir, so that explains some of the radio silence, but… hell yeah, I’m gonna sit down with this puppy and devour!

While you’re waiting for me to read and review these books here at Rocks ‘n Reads, be sure to stop in at The Story Siren and The Printed Page for more Mailbox Mondays and In My Mailbox posts. It’s fun to see the variety of what everyone’s reading; it really reminds you that these days, there are books for every taste.

Well, two-fer this week refers to the number of books I got in the mail. The books didn’t even come from the same person, or from the same source — one’s a BookCrossing trade and one came from PaperbackSwap.com.

Skeletons at the Feast arrived so that I can read it with my book club. At some point in the distant future… The only other Bohjalian book I’ve read was, of course, Midwives. I loved it. I don’t know why I haven’t followed this author more closely.

My other book this week was a thank-you from a fellow BookCrosser. I sent her a book, she found this on my wishlist… life is good.

Carrie Adams’ The Godmother had been on my wishlist for quite some time. I hope I like this, as her The Stepmother is also on my wishlist. Unfortunately, this has to go hold up the TBR mountain range for the time being…

One day I shall be caught up. In the meantime, why not join me in visiting the others who’ve dropped in at The Printed Page and The Story Siren with reports of their own Mailbox Monday/In the Mailbox surprises.

Yep, it was a light week for the old PO Box. Only one book showed up, but at least it showed up in duplicate (keep your eyes open for the review/interview/give that’ll be happening).

The Last River Child, written by Lori Ann Bloomfield, came to me thanks to the author herself. She saw a post I’d made at Win a Book about it and we started chatting and … as often happens… An author connected with a reader and now I’m off to sit and read…

As always, stop by The Printed Page and The Story Siren for Mailbox Monday and In my Mailbox, respectively.

I bet many of you didn’t know what Rocks and Reads was all about, did you? This is where I’m a bit more of a traditional book blogger. This space is also available if you need an extra place to hang a post or two.

At this rate, I’m going to start going to the PO Box once a week instead of twice.

Yep, it all arrived by Thursday’s box check. Only two this week, which is super fine with me. After all, I’m trying to lessen the number of books here in the house, waiting to be read.

Both were Random Acts of BookCrossing Kindness. And you thought BookCrossing was only leaving books in public places for others to find. HA! Not even close.

First was The Sea, written by John Banville. It was a pleasure to remove this from my various wishlists. I’m eager to read it. It’ll have to wait its turn.

Not so for Corn Flakes with John Lennon, written by Robert Hilburn. It’s another rock and roll book, and my friends Dana and Lauren were gracious enough to surprise me with their review copy. I’m adding this to the stack behind my desk, where my series and my rock books go. Hopefully it won’t languish long… but don’t I say that about everything?

That’s it. What’d YOU get?

Don’t forget to report in at The Printed Page and The Story Siren, where lots of people share what goodies were in their own boxes. It’s a dangerous time to surf; if your wishlist doesn’t grow by leaps and bounds… you’re a better person than I.