Linda Stevens's blog

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Submitted by Linda Stevens on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 2:42pm

serendipityI knew very early on that I was destined to be a city girl.  I tend to wilt outdoors, I prefer food that isn't cooked by me, and I really like movies that need subtitled translations.  Or maybe it's just that I prefer to remain anonymous when I visit the 7-11 in my pajama pants.  No matter the reason, in contrast to my everyday life, I can't get enough of small towns and villages in fiction.  They provide a warm and cozy vacation to a place with a personality of its own, complete with a variety of colorful characters that form an extended fictional family.  Judging by the popularity of many of these books, I am not alone.

Everything Old is New Again

Submitted by Linda Stevens on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 2:25pm

sunny chandler's returnWith eBooks, that is, not age -- unfortunately.  One benefit I am taking advantage of from the eBook phenomenon is the discovery (or rediscovery, sometimes) of older titles by authors I really enjoy.  Whether it's through their normal publisher, a digital publisher, or self-publishing, many popular authors are now making previously hard-to-find backlist titles available to the eBook crowd. 

Who's Your Book Boyfriend?

Submitted by Linda Stevens on Mon, 03/11/2013 - 11:25am

shadowfeverI was talking with a friend the other day, and I'm not really sure how this came up, but she said that Jericho Barrons would always be her imaginary boyfriend.  I'm sure her real husband doesn't have a problem with that.  It would be a rare woman who did not think that Barrons was uniquely appealing, but I find that I am a much more fickle reader.

Self-Pub Success

Submitted by Linda Stevens on Fri, 02/08/2013 - 4:51pm

on dublin streetI am not only an extreme book nerd, I am also a book publishing news junkie.  I've been particularly addicted lately, when the latest book publishing trends have such a huge impact on libraries.  One trend that I find fascinating is the change that's taken place in self-publishing over the last few years.  We've come a very long way from the days when John Grisham self-published A Time to Kill and sold it out of the back of his car. 

This trend is most visible in the romance genre, spurred on by the success of ebooks and blockbuster breakthroughs like E.L. James.  Many self-published ebooks that become popular are purchased by traditional publishers and made available in print.  The titles and authors listed below have either had their beginnings in self-publishing or the authors have decided to make a break with traditional publishing, at least for some titles, and give the new business model a try. 

Precinct 4’s Senior Adult Programs at HCPL

Submitted by Linda Stevens on Tue, 01/29/2013 - 11:50am

HC fun for seniorsHarris County Precinct 4’s Senior Adult Program (SAP) will begin offering special programs at the Barbara Bush Branch Library and the Fairbanks Branch Library in February for adults 50 years of age and older. SAP events are part of Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle’s educational and recreational commitment to Harris County residents.

Barbara Bush Branch Library:  Tuesdays, February, 5 and 12:

10 a.m.  Senior Fitness Class
Safe, effective, and fun fitness class designed for active older adults!

1 p.m.   Art Class
Pursue any type of artwork, in any media, in this class led by an award-winning artist. Students work at their own pace; no prior experience is necessary. A list of supplies for the media you choose will be provided in class.   

Fairbanks Branch Library:  Tuesdays, February, 19 and 26:        

10 a.m.  Senior Fitness Class
Safe, effective, and fun fitness class designed for active older adults!

1 p.m.   Art Class
Pursue any type of artwork, in any media, in this class led by an award-winning artist. Students work at their own pace; no prior experience is necessary. A list of supplies for the media you choose will be provided in class.

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