Congratulations to the winners of the last giveaway. Diane K. from Darien, IL won The Secrets of Bones. Of Mutts and Men goes to Jeannette G. from Benicia, CA. The books are going out in the mail today.
This week, I’m giving away mysteries set in the book world. I have two copies of Victoria Gilbert’s first Booklover’s B&B mystery, Booked for Death. Widow Charlotte Reed inherits a B&B from her great-aunt Isabella. The newly renovated inn hosts a roster of special events celebrating books, genres, and authors. When a book dealer claims Isabella was a thief, Charlotte is shocked at his accusation that she founded Chapters, the B&B on her ill-gotten gains. When the man ends up dead, his daughter accuses Charlotte of killing him. Charlotte looks for the truth, assisted by her older neighbor, a visiting author, and members of a local book club.
Or, maybe you’d prefer a Victorian Book Club Mystery. A Study in Murder is the first in Callie Hutton’s new series. In Bath, England in 1890, mystery author Lady Amy Lovell dumps her fiance, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent after receiving an anonymous letter about him. Two evenings later, when he ends up dead in her library, the investigating bobbies assume she’s the killer. Lady Amy teams up with a member of her Bath Mystery Book club, Lord William Wethington, to clear her name and find the killer in this humorous mystery.
Which title would you like to win? You can enter to win both books, but I need separate entries. Email me at Lesa.Holstine@gmail.com. Your subject line should read either “Win Booked for Death” or “Win A Study in Murder.” Please include your name and mailing address. The giveaway will end Thursday, August 6 at 5 PM CT. Entries from the U.S. only, please.
Lesa, I just didn't have time to comment yesterday, but I wanted you to know I am still here! And I totally get your feelings about travel and theatre, even though neither is as important to me as it is to you.
However – and I do know I am really lucky to have trees and a river at the end of the garden, plenty of nice places to walk, and most importantly, a sane First Minister who, partly through refusing to put money first, is doing her utmost to chart Scotland through this (and our numbers are currently very low) – I was chatting to my youngest yesterday, and we both agreed that some of the things we most missed just don't bother us any more. I thought I would never not want to meet friends in cafes, but although I'd still like to do that, I've realised that there are only a few places that I genuinely miss, and I actually now prefer meeting friends for walks. I think I often drank coffee after coffee just because I was there – and of course that all adds up financially as well.
Travel – well, I would like to see much more of Scotland, and I would like to return to Ireland some day, but apart from that I don't actually want to go anywhere. I do understand, however, that lots of people – including you! – do. And I do think you will have the opportunity again.
The cancellation of the Edinburgh Festivals was a blow to me – I knew it was coming but it still seemed to hit me, and lately I have been wondering if they will ever happen again, as so many events take place in tiny makeshift venues – rooms at the back of pubs, basements, etc. But even then, when I thought about how much dross I have seen just to uncover one or two gems, I began to wonder if I was just obsessing about something that I could really let go.
Last week I attended a virtual preview for a new art exhibition – I have been avoiding 'virtual' events for some reason, but this was in fact a good experience, and although the curator whizzed through 400 years of art and design from the Indian Subcontinent, so I missed some of the info, I enjoyed researching it all afterwards for the article I was writing. The exhibition is at the Queen's Gallery, so all the stuff is from the Royal Collections, either given to or collected by various monarchs over the years (not stolen as with, eg, Tutankhamen's tomb treasures..) and there is some very interesting information about the various tours the royals have made – and especially about Queen Victoria (she never went there but was extremely interested in it and even learned Hindustani from her Indian servant) and George V & Queen Mary, who were the first reigning monarchs to set foot on Indian soil in 300 years. So now I feel I will probably 'attend' more of these virtual events, and in fact I enjoyed being able to watch from home and not dash around the gallery trying to make notes without anything to lean on! (The Gallery is in fact open now, but as I am not currently in Edinburgh I did it from here – another bonus.)
Second part of extremely long ramble…
'The one event we had planned to attend was the Islay Jazz festival. My husband is confident that it will happen next year. I don't know if he's right, and I do very much enjoy it every year – for these small events, the camaraderie of being together with many other regular attenders certainly would be hard to reproduce on a screen, but if it doesn't happen, well I will just find something else to do. Travelling around Scotland is good enough for me, there are so many beautiful places.
And as you say books – what DO people do who don't read? And being able to order them online is such a boon, isn't it? And to borrow ebooks from the library – that just would not have been possible a few years ago.
But please don't think I am always Mrs Positive – very far from it. We all have bad days and weeks, and we should not beat ourselves up about that because others are sick or out of work – of course all of that is absolutely terrible, and we know we are lucky, but we all have our own ways of coping, and we all need to let it out sometimes. You very kindly give us a platform to do that here – so make sure you lean on us too, we are all here for one another, no?
Best wishes, Rosemary'
Luckily I found both of them at my library and put them on my list. If I can find a book I'm interested in at the library I leave the contest for those that cannot. I do love your contests.
And, I've done some virtual theater events, which have been fine, but not the same.
There's the difference, Rosemary. You live someplace beautiful where you can get out and walk, or walk with friends. I live near an interstate highway, behind a furniture store, in an apartment complex. There's no good place right here. You can get in a car and drive someplace to walk, but it's not quite the same.
I'm over the gray period. But, I did say to my best friend (I can't hug her or go to dinner at her place) that all I really have as pleasure right now are books. Theater and travel are my joys in life. And, it doesn't have to be Broadway. I've gone to terrific community theater & college theater. But, it's live theater.
So, yes. I am missing life, and, unlike you, we have a jerk in charge who hasn't done anything to make this any better.
Thank you, Gram! And, I'm glad you could find the books in the library. Sending a hug for today.
Hi again Lesa – you are so right, that is the difference, and what a huge one it is. I am so sorry you don't have anywhere to walk – I do wish you could be over here in my house just now, I am sitting with the window open and I can hear the water flowing over the stones in the brook (and unfortunately also someone's annoying electric strimmer thing – what is it about some men and power tools?!)
I was going to comment about that jerk of yours on your FB post about President Obama, but I thought what I said might be too inflammatory. I am truly shocked at DT's behaviour, and what everyone I know is even more shocked by is that many Americans still seem to think he is great. We have enough of a jerk in charge of Westminster – but if you stand him next to your guy he actually looks almost sane. (I only said 'almost' – and everything's relative..)
Take care Lesa – and one day, when you can, come to Scotland and see me – you know you are always welcome 🙂
I do know I'm always welcome, Rosemary. Thank you.
I know. He is a jerk, and as you can tell, most of my friends feel the same way. I think I've dropped the few "friends" I had who didn't.
Enjoy your day. It sounds wonderful.
Of course, I know I can tell all of you when I'm feeling down, Rosemary. Thank you. If it's a safe place for you to speak,it's safe for me. This week couldn't have been any better at work, so there are ups and downs. This week was really good.